Jenny and the Stone Egg
Geraldine Aldridge
Chapter 1
Eggs and Excursions
Sunday, 8th April, 2001
“The Stone Egg is dying,” rasped Chark, placing his tiny hand on the rough brown shell. Light from within the egg flickered as he touched it, illuminating Chark and his companions, casting shimmering shadows from their wings onto the wet walls.
The cave smelled damp. Green slime dripped from a fang-like stalactite high in the roof and landed with a plop on Jenny’s shoulder. She flinched. Her hand clasped Sabre’s lead more tightly.
“What laid it?” asked Mike.
Jenny heard the excitement in his voice. He’s not scared, she thought.
“The Earth laid it,” said Chark. “Every thousand years the Earth lays a stone egg like this one, with molten lava at its heart.”
“Up by the castle just now,” Jenny said, “you said you were looking for me. Why me?”
“An ancient legend led us to you,” said Chark. “Only you can save the world from disaster. Something’s wrong with the egg. If it dies, life on Earth will end.”
“But how can Jenny help?” asked Mike. “Why Jenny?”
He’s jealous, thought Jenny. Sabre whined and pressed against her leg.
“Please take the egg,” said Chark, avoiding their eyes.
“I’m not sure I want to,” said Jenny. “I’ll mess it up. Mike would love to. Why don’t you ask him? What would I do with it?”
“Go on, Jen,” said Mike. “I’ll help you. Don’t be such a girl.”
Just because I don’t climb every tree I pass, thought Jenny, or jump onto every wall. I hate caves. I want to get out of here. She shuddered. “Okay,” she said. “But if it dies, it won’t be my fault.”
“We entrust it to you,” said Chark. “Guard it well. Take it.”
The egg’s shell felt cold and rough. Chark and his companions flew to the mouth of the cave, beckoning Jenny, Mike and Sabre to follow. The two children blinked as they stepped out into the sunshine.
Loud music blared out from Mike’s mobile. “Hi Mum,” he said into it. “Sorry, I forgot. We’re walking Sabre round the castle. Yeh, we’ll run.” He turned to Jenny. “We’re supposed to be at home, Jen,” he said. “You’re all having Sunday tea with us, remember?”
Jenny saw the light inside the stone egg flicker and vanish, like a flame caught by a gust of wind.
“I think the egg just died,” she whispered. “I didn’t do anything.” It flared once more and she felt a tingling in her fingers. “Oh,” she gasped.
“You may still save it,” said Chark.
“I’ll try,” said Jenny, “You’ll have to tell me what to do.” She tucked the egg into her bag.
“We’ve got to run,” said Mike. “We’ll come back tomorrow. What’s the egg going to hatch into?”
“It isn’t going to hatch,” said Chark. “I’ll explain later.”
Jenny said, “We’ll have to sneak out very early in the morning. Mike’s coming to stay with us because his mum and dad are going on a geology trip, so we need to be home to see them off,” she explained to Chark. “We’re busy after that.”
“We’ll be waiting on the bank,” said Chark, as Jenny, Mike and Sabre turned to go.
“Well, I’ve never believed in fairies,” Jenny muttered to Mike.
“We’re not fairies,” called Chark after her. “We’re Avielles.” As Jenny and Mike looked back, the Avielles flung cloaks around their shoulders, pulled on beaked hoods and became jackdaws again, just as they had been when the children had first met them.
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