Catweazle

’Tis
he?’ he cried.
    ‘Yes,
of course,’ said Cyril removing his head phones. ‘Now for heaven’s sake sit
down. I’m going to put you on there as well.’
    With a
great shriek, Catweazle clutched the tape and broke it. Cyril jumped up and
tried to restrain him, but the forward wind button became pressed during the
struggle and tape shot off the spinning spool and began to wrap itself round
the two of them. As they flailed about, Catweazle sat on the other tape-machine
and immediately the sound of an express train filled the caravan. This was
enough for Catweazle. As the express train began blowing its whistle, he broke
free and tore out of the caravan, festooned with tape, while Cyril sank on to
the steps, and covered his face with his hands.
    Back at
the farm, Carrot had found his father on the phone trying hard to get a
replacement for Sam.
    ‘Sam’s
been murdered!’ yelled Carrot, as he burst in. ‘Look!’ and he held up the
shoes.
    ‘For
heaven’s sake Carrot!’ said Mr Bennet. ‘I’m on the phone!’
    ‘He’s
buried in the woods!’ Carrot went on breathlessly.
    ‘Will you
go away?’ asked Mr Bennet putting his hand over the mouthpiece. ‘I’m sorry,
Ken, what were you saying?’
    ‘You’ve
just got to believe me, Dad,’ said Carrot desperately. ‘Sam’s dead I tell you!’
    ‘I’ll
phone you back,’ said his father into the phone. ‘Now listen Carrot - ’ he
continued as he hung up.
    ‘It’s
true Dad. Murdered! These are his shoes. I found them in the caravan.’
    Mr
Bennet looked at his son’s worried face and took him into the kitchen.
    ‘Now
sit down,’ he said. ‘Suppose you tell me this whole thing right from the
beginning.’
    ‘There’s
this caravan,’ said Carrot. ‘In the woods, by Kingfisher lake. And we - I -
went in and found these shoes and I know they’re Sam’s and the man buried him
in the wood and he’s some sort of spy.’
    ‘Now
just a moment - ’
    ‘The
place is full of radio equipment and there’s a map on the wall with flags and
things. Sam must have found out, and that’s why he left us. He was trying to
run away. But they got him!’
    ‘Is
that the lot?’ said Mr Bennet. ‘Have you finished?’ The door opened and Sam
walked into the kitchen. ‘Are you a ghost?’ said Carrot, open-mouthed.
    Sam
looked bewildered. ‘Don’t be daft, Carrot,’ he said. He turned to Mr Bennet. ‘I
come to apologize, boss,’ he said. ‘Wouldn’t have me back would you?’
    Mr
Bennet was only too delighted and apologized too, and while a rather shamefaced
Carrot made some tea, Sam told them all about Cyril.
    ‘Finished
up sitting in a hole waitin’ for him to record some badgers, but he never came
back. Reckon I was always meant to work on a farm anyway,’ said Sam, with a
sigh.

11
     

THE CHANGELING
     
    One morning, Catweazle returned to Castle Saburac from a
foraging expedition to find Carrot waiting for him.
    ‘Come
here,’ said Carrot grimly.
    Catweazle
did as he was told, looking somewhat sheepish.
    ‘What
have you been up to?’ asked Carrot.
    There
was a pause and Catweazle glanced at- two turkeys sitting on a nest of straw in
the corner of the tank.
    ‘Thou
art a prying ferret,’ he said defensively.
    ‘And you’re
a thieving old rascal!’ said Carrot, exploding. ‘What about these turkeys?’
    ‘I
found them,’ said Catweazle brazenly.
    Carrot
sighed. When would he understand about stealing?
    ‘You’d pinch
one of the cows if you could get it up here,’ said Carrot. ‘I try to help you,
don’t I? I mean, look at all the bananas I’ve bought! It’s costing me a
fortune.’
    ‘Ay,
thou art good to my belly,’ said the magician. ‘But thou wilt not share thy
magic,’ he added.
    This
was an old argument. ‘It’s not magic, it’s Science,’ said Carrot patiently,
‘I’ve told you so, many times.’
    ‘Words!
Words!’ snapped Catweazle, ‘Men fly and ’tis not magic? Dost think me a fool?
Tell me the secret of the electrickery!’
    ‘You wouldn’t
understand,’ said Carrot wearily.
    Catweazle’s
beard quivered with fury. ‘Presumptuous
    pin!’
he raged. ‘I am Catweazle, Master of the Mysteries, I understand all things.
Give me thy electrickery!’
    ‘You
can’t have it!’ shouted Carrot, also losing his temper. ‘And if I catch you
pinching again, I’ll turn you in.’
    ‘Into
what?’ said Catweazle, suddenly apprehensive.
    ‘Just
in,’ warned Carrot as he left, throwing down a large