Search for the Sunlight

As the wok floated gently downstream, creatures of every imaginable species lined the banks. Some cheered and waved banners, while others threw the most beautifully scented flower petal confetti into the passing vessel.

“Hooray for our heroes!” the fans cried out. Some even screamed!

“Blimey, we’re bigger than the Beetles!” Herbert exclaimed, waving his hand royally at the ever increasing number of well wishers that whooped and hollered. Even in his dehydrated state, he was loving every minute of his new found fame.

Moving on, one small garden party spilled into another and before long every creature, from the smallest woodwatch beetle to the tallest giant, was celebrating the return of the sunlight. In the distance, silhouetted against the clear evening sky, the travellers could see the outline of The Great Forest. Ten thousand lanterns twinkled like stars as the good woodland folks prepared a warm welcome for the returning heroes.

In desperate need of tea now, and struggling to remain conscious, Harry and Herbert lay back on their lapsacks and closed their eyes.

“Don’t fight it,” the Wizard said gently. “Just let yourselves go and don’t worry about a thing. I’ll get you home safely,” he promised.

His words were soothing and his honesty reassuring. One by one the weary travellers succumbed to their exhaustion and slipped off into the land of Nong…

Shortly before midnight, the wok reached a fork in the river. Unsure of the way ahead, Hezzerbah checked his directions by the stars before carefully navigating the craft off the main flow of the Gogo water into a narrow tributary which fed the Lagoon.

‘What a grand place to live,’ the Wizard thought, as he brought the vessel to a gentle halt alongside a purpose-built jetty and stepped out onto the gantry.