The Magic of Pan: The Tilly and George Adventures, #3

By Ellen M James

Jenny, an only child, anticipates the arrival of her cousins with some fear and trepidation.  She exists quite happily in her own dream world and sees things that others don't.  It is whilst sitting under the old oak tree in the garden and pondering that she comes into contact with one of the garden 'helpers'- the tree spirit!

Of course when her confident cousins, Tilly and George, arrive they don't believe a word she says - until, that is, they see 'helpers of their own'.

And that is when the adventures really begin.

The children meet Abbos, a very old man and monk-like figure, who becomes their guide and mentor throughout and who appears at some point during each of the tests that they are obliged to undertake.  They discover a world of elementals who should be working and co-habiting happily under the leadershop of their God Pan.  Unfortunately, Pan has fallen into the never ending sleep of great despair, having witnessed the continuing damage that human beings inflict on the world and also their great disrespect for the environment and all that Mother Earth has to offer.

The children have to find a way to wake Pan before there is nothing left but concrete and waste.  They have to help restore the Kingdom of Pan to its former glory and time is running out ........

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellen M James
• Release date: Jul 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393646631

Book preview

BOOKS BY ELLEN M JAMES

The Magic Bubbles

The Magic Clock

The Magic of Pan

The Magic Calling Crystal

Molly and the Grumpy Angel

The Grumpy Angel Strikes Again

The Other House

CHAPTER ONE

Jenny sat under the oak tree in the garden and pondered.  She had never met her cousins before and now they were coming to stay.  She was a solitary child at the best of times and hadn’t many friends.  She never seemed to have time to make any before her family had to move on.  Due to the nature of his work her father was often transferred from one job to another and it seemed that almost before they had time to settle down in one place they were being asked to move to another.  Jenny had got to the stage where she found even the thought of starting all over again utterly exhausting and had decided that she was more than happy with her own company.  She really didn’t know how she felt about the imminent arrival of her cousins.  It was quite possible that they might spoil everything.

At this point in time Jenny was living with her family in a small cottage in a tiny village near Oxford.  It was very old and had a thatched roof full of insects that made Jenny shudder.  The best thing about it was the garden.  It was wild and rambling.  The plants had been left to grow as they pleased and many were now in full bloom.  They stretched high into the air and as Jenny wandered idly along the untidy pathways they seemed almost to reach out to greet her.

Now, under the tree, she gazed round, sighing heavily.  It was so peaceful here; she really didn’t want anyone to come and change anything.  She was sure that her cousins would be boisterous; yes, noisy, robust creatures who probably wouldn’t even like her.  She was never at her best socially.  And what was considerably worse was the fact that she would have to join in with their games and pretend she was enjoying herself, just because they were her cousins and because she liked to please her mother.

She leant back against the trunk of the tree and closed her eyes.  She was so happy resting here at the bottom of the garden, far away from the cottage and almost out of hearing distance of anyone’s calls.  She breathed in the heady perfume of the flowers around her and almost thought that she could hear the tree whispering to itself in the breeze.

Well, at least she’s not a heavy human.  Mind you, she didn’t ask if she could lean all over you, did she?

Jenny smiled and began to drift.  Fancy the tree saying something like that ..........................

Moments later she opened her eyes with a start, feeling that she had been pushed from behind.  She peered round and sat up straight, blinking.  Everything suddenly looked so much brighter.  She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and peered round again.  It was true, everything was much brighter!  The flowers were more vibrant and alive, their colours radiant and vivid!  The grass was a shade of green that she had never seen before, each stalk almost bursting with energy and life.  Even the trunk of the oak tree seemed to be more comfortable to relax against, almost cushioning her.  She settled herself back into position again, massaging her back against the trunk and relieving an itch.

How beautiful, she breathed softly, wondering if perhaps she might be dreaming.

Well it would be if you could stop squashing me for just a moment, she heard in reply.  Jenny jumped.  Where had the voice come from?  Almost immediately she was pushed forward again.

Who did that? she cried.

I did, of course, replied the same voice once more.  Jenny looked round.  She couldn’t see anyone.

Where are you? she asked, feeling a little nervous.

I’m right behind you, was the response.

Jenny looked over her shoulder slowly.  She still couldn’t see anyone.

Hrrrmmph! was the next thing she heard.  She jumped away from the tree and leapt to her feet, raising her fists in the air.  She glared suspiciously at the tree.

Was that you? she asked curiously, staring up into its branches in case there was something hiding there, and shivering slightly, not quite being able to believe what she had just said.

Well, who else would it be? was the reply.  Jenny moved a little closer, frowning doubtfully.  There was nothing in the branches.  She slowly reached out towards the tree and rested her hands on the bark of the trunk.

I can’t see anything, she said, puzzled.

There, is that better? asked the tree.

Jenny stepped back in amazement.  The tree seemed almost to have moved away from itself.  She had felt it move out of itself and to the side.  But that was impossible; trees couldn’t move.  She blinked and looked again.  But no, it wasn’t the tree at all; it was a long, shadowy being that somehow looked like the tree.

Who are you? she whispered in awe.

I am the spirit of the tree of course, replied the shadowy being.

Goodness yes, why didn’t I guess? exclaimed Jenny sarcastically.  You are the spirit of the tree! 

She stared at it but the more she stared the less she was able to see.

Don’t look at me and then you will be able to see me, said the being.  Jenny frowned.  How ridiculous!  She turned away and raised her eyebrows in exasperation.  But the shadowy being was telling the truth.  Out of the corner of her eye she could still see it and it was much clearer this time.  She closed her eyes and opened them again.  It was the tree!  No it wasn’t; the tree was to the left of it.  It was constantly changing shape; first it looked like a tree and then it appeared almost human as the branches became arms and the semblance of a face appeared.

What do you want? she asked.

Me!  I want nothing, was the reply.  I’m surprised that you can see me and I’m also surprised that you can hear me.  I’ve often chatted to you and you’ve never taken any notice until now.  I am most curious; exactly what do you see anyway?

Jenny described her impressions of the tree and the shadowy being and a deep rumble rose up from the depths of it, almost like laughter, if trees could laugh of course.

I know what you are thinking, said the shadowy being suddenly.  Do not confuse me with the tree.  I am not the tree.  If you like, I am the protector of the tree.  I am here to give it confidence and to help it to grow.  I am here to encourage it in the worst weather when it believes it will never see the sun again.  I am here to give it strength when mankind decides to hack at it and cut it down without explaining why.  I am here for any number of reasons but I am never far from this tree.  You seem particularly attached to it and that pleases me. 

The shadowy being appeared to take a deep breath.

Do excuse me, I am not used to talking to humans; it requires a great deal of energy on my part.  When I communicate with the tree I use thought transference; I do not use language.  What you first heard today were my thoughts.

Jenny turned round.  She realised that by not looking directly at the being she could see it very clearly.  It was quite remarkable.

I thought I was dreaming at first, she explained, especially when I couldn’t see anything.  I still feel as if I am dreaming.  I feel as if I have slipped into another dimension or world.

Jenny watched from the corner of her eyes as the shadowy being drifted gracefully back towards the tree.

In a sense you are, it said.  It is not usual for humans to be able to see us at all.  I am tired now and I want to go, and as I said earlier I wish you would not lean against me quite so heavily without warning me first; as then perhaps I could move out of the way.

Jenny blinked and in that instant the shadowy being was gone.  She turned and tried to look indirectly at the tree as before but it was no use.  The being was really gone.  It had disappeared inside the tree.  The brightness had disappeared too and everything in the garden appeared normal again.  Jenny shrugged and plonked herself down again.  She began to relax once more against the trunk of the tree and then she remembered.  She had just been told that she had to ask permission.  For goodness’ sake, it was all a little confusing!  And what a cheek anyway!  Well, she had had enough of the garden for the moment and she certainly wasn’t going to ask permission to rest her back against the oak, being or no being; she would go indoors and see if she could help her mother with anything.  Perhaps she ought not to mention what had happened in the garden though.  Her mother would never believe her.  She would have to sort the whole thing out in her own mind first, and then she would return to visit the tree later. 

CHAPTER TWO

There was nothing much for Jenny to do in the cottage.  The preparations for the arrival of her cousins were well under way and there remained only the beds to be made up.

Could you go upstairs and sort the beds out, please? asked Mother.  Jenny shrugged.  Perhaps she could put horrid