Tuesday 17 January 2012

3rd Saga Part 6

Oggin slowly walked back across the green towards his cottage, hands in pockets and deep in thought. He was a little worried by the sudden appearance of The Shed Master and the offer of help from The Stone Woman. His past experience of dealing with fairy folk and their go-between’s gave him pause to doubt the smoothness of proceedings and this in turn would bring conflict with Kajoa. Something he did his very best to avoid at all times. A movement caught his eye and he glanced over to see Simon Patel, the pie maker, cleaning the windows of his pie shop. Simon’s wife, the redoubtable Janet, stood in the door of the shop, with floured hands and arms folded across her ample bosom. She watched her husband like a cat watching a rat and a slight waft of steam issued from the door above her head. Oggin gave the pair a nod of acknowledgement and received an answering nod from Mrs Patel while Mr Patel simply continued his closely supervised work. As Oggin shifted his glance back toward his front garden he thought he caught sight of two figures passing further down the lane, by his cottage. The pair were walking away from him and seemed to be strangers. One was a tall and lean looking, he was dressed in a short, brown leather coat and bluish trousers and had a wide brimmed hat on his head. Oggin noticed he was wearing a bag of some sort across his shoulders. His companion was also quite tall but thin and seemed to be skipping. Oggin stopped and stared as the figures started to move out of sight and it struck him the second person looked as if he had long tall ears. Oggin closed his eyes, shook his head and looked again but the ears had disappeared and he felt like he was suddenly getting a headache. Turning his attention back to his cottage, he was surprised to see a shimmering light over the small front garden, quickening his pace he took his hands out of his pockets and hurried forward toward this new sight. All at once his ankle struck something and he found himself lying flat out on the grass. When he tried to get up a weight between his shoulder blades pressed him back down and a soft girlish giggle came from above him. Oggin closed his eyes and fought the impulse to struggle, it was the Hasslesnag and he knew it would do no good.

“Good Morning Oggin of Ogg…Are you in a hurry?”

“Good Morning Cara…I was…” replied Oggin, in a pinched tone.

“Oh there’s no need of hurry Oggin…no need at all….In fact it would be better if you slowed down a tiny bit…the delivery is still coming in…”

“Delivery…?”

“Yes Oggin…all that which will be needed for your extension is being delivered….”

“Delivered…?”

“Oh Oggin…for The Mother’s sake please pay attention!....All the materials for the extension are being put in your garden…ready for the build…”

“Where are they coming from…?”

“All the four corners of Oggland and beyond…Flat glass from across the Small Water…seasoned hardwood from the dark forests of Boog…Smooth white timber from Westex….”

“Okay…okay…I get the picture….and I suppose they’re getting here by magic…”

“Well yes….how else…?”

“Of course….silly me…how else indeed…”

At this point, several things happened at once. There was a very loud and piercing banshee wail from a short distance away, this was followed by a quiet ‘pop’ and the weight disappeared from Oggin’s back and suddenly his limited view was filled with a pair of scruffy tartan slippers, with one pom-pom missing. Kajoa!

“Ye lang streak a shite ye...wit are ye daein’ striched oot playin’ thea diddy here weel ma roses is bein’ spoil’et tae bits…ye stupit hawfwit ye…”

“Well my flower….”

“Dinae speak tae me…ye tumshie…ye are as much use as diddys on a dour so ye’are….”

“Extension..!” Oggin blurted out while Kajoa drew breath.

“Whit…?”

“It’s the materials for your extension my rose bud…the extension for you to show off…I mean display…display your Knick Knacks…”

“Oh…oh…why did’ye no say so…ye numpty…”

“It was going to be a surprise my petal…”

“Surprise ye says…weil I’ll be surprised if ye git it done so I weil...”


Oggin kept very still as he let out a low breath. He watched as Kajoa retreated back towards the cottage, her red hair bouncing as she walked and her third best house coat flapping as she went. Much as he loved this woman and he really did, he decided to stay just where he was for a few moments. Just to be on the safe side.