In Which Cola Reads The Prophecies To Gorden

Gorden, David and Plessey got to the school as Cola was packing the last few things up.

"Well," She explained, "As school was called off I thought I'd get some marking done at home." She piled papers into a bag. "The Head Buck's book is at home anyway." She pushed the final piece into her bag and stood up. "I've got to get some shopping in," She said hopping towards the warren, "Do you want to tag along or join me later?" She asked the three quests.

David rolled his eyes and started to make his excuses. Gorden piped up:

"I'd love to!"

"I've got some, ah, paint to watch dry.." David said quietly.

"David and I have some preparations to make," Plessey said over David's mumbling. "You two go ahead and Gorden can fill us in when you've finished.."

Gorden gave David a thumbs-up and hopped after Cola.

"I knew your brother," Gorden said once he'd caught Cola up. "We went truant together."

Cola thought for a moment then,

"Oh, you mean Daniel. I've got another brother, Jack, and then I've got a sister called Rox." She looked at Gorden with a slight smile, "Our Mother had a fixation, you know.." This flew over Gorden's head..

They headed to the small shop in Burrow number 5 and Cola pottered around the shop filling up a small basket.

"Here," said Gorden proudly as she put a small packet of Smash in the basket "I used to harvest those!" She shook her head slightly with a smile on her lips then she selected two bottles of wine. "Never tried those," he said, trying to make intelligent conversation, "I prefer carrot beer."

"I believe you." Cola replied.

They left the shop and padded to Cola's room.

Gorden sat on the sofa as Cola made a small lunch. Gorden kept quiet and looked around the room, not knowing what to say,wondering how two rooms (his and hers) could be *so* different.

Cola dropped a small tray with a bowl of carrot soup onto Gorden's lap. She sat down next to him and they ate in silence.

Following her example Gorden wiped his mouth on the serviette, rolled it into a small ball and dropped it in his bowl, splatting the last remnants of the soup over his chest. Cola tutted and wiped the splash off with her serviette and then took the trays away.

She returned with a large book.

"Can you *really* not read?" She asked.

"Well. I can write my name!" Gorden was proud of that. Cola shook her head and opened the book.

"Well, " she said, "We'll see if you can learn a few words whilst we read this.."

She shuffled next to Gorden and slid the book so that it sat on both their laps. She pointed to the words and begand to read:

"In the beginning was the Carrot, And Roger saw the Carrot and he knew that It was good.."

Finishing the first chapter, Cola cleared her throat and mentioned that she was getting a bit dry.

"It's making my throat dry just listening to you!" Gorden said. Cola got up and opened one of the bottles of wine and placed it on theh ground in front of the sofa."We'll let it breathe first.." She said getting a couple of glasses and setting them down next to the bottle.

She started reading again:

"Then the Great One was heard to say

'What's Up Doc?'

The sun had set by the time Gorden put his hand over hers to stop her.

"It's either the wine or the word." He said "But my brain can't handle any more. I can't remember half what you've said anyway."

"But, how will you know whether you have fulfilled all the signs?"

"I've got an idea about that.." Gorden said with a smile.

.

.

"So," Plessey said as they marched out of the burrow next morning, "Its now 'The Tale Of Joker, Cola.."

"I'm thirsty already!" David butted in. Plessey sighed.

"'The Tale Of Joker, Cola, Plessey and Gorden and the Quest For The Golden Carrot'."

"That's right." Gorden said, shouldering his staff.

The four questors padded into the forest.