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THE KISS-DIAMOND...Part Six. THE KISS-DIAMOND... Part Six. Passing out through the door, I skirted past the arguing Tri-Courtesans and wandered down a sandy path which had Cockle shells at even spaces and each bearing the miles to the sea. I had reached the one which read... ‘To the Sea, many many miles, even more than seven.’ I sat down on the shell, tears beginning to fill my eyes. I had no idea of the time, or even how long a Fairy-Hour was. Only the Mortals knew about hours and they were so far away. “What’s the matter with you? Have you got sea-salt in your eyes?” I turned to see a Star-Fish staring at me and changing colours each time it spread its arms and jumped. “I need to know where the Hermit-Crab, Horatio is.” I said, drying my eyes. “He’s down there, three shells along. Everyone knows that!” the Star-Fish exclaimed, puffing as its colour changed from red to violet, which caused it to do another Star-Jump. “Thank you so much.” I said, leaving and started to walk further down the path. I had passed another two shells when I heard the high voice of the Hermit-Crab from behind a sand-dune. “Blast it! When am I going to find a shell which will fit me?” This was followed by another “Blast it!” as a large Cockle-Shell whizzed over my head. “Hallo!” I hailed. “Is that you, Horatio?” Horatio’s head popped over the top of the dune then his body, quite naked of a shell. “What do you want? Can’t you see I am busy?” snapped the impatient Hermit-Crab. “I need to find out where the Dark-Clan live.” I said, adding...“The Otter-Folk said you would know.” “The Dark-Clan?” replied Horatio. “Of course I know where they are. But the knowledge is in my last home and a Boot-Lace Water-Snake has taken root there. That’s why I’m looking for another shell.” continued Horatio as he hefted another shell onto its back and, deciding it was too small, threw it down onto the sand. “If I help you remove the Water-Snake, will you tell me where the Dark-Clan live?” I asked. “If you help me get my house back not only will I tell you where the Dark-Clan live but I will lead you as far as the Fir-Tree pool.” came the answer. “Thank you, Horatio.” I said warmly and feeling at last that I was getting somewhere. “You’re most welcome.” said Horatio, now much warmer. “Come, I will show you where my Home-Shell is.” I followed Horatio along a side track and coming out from between two cracks I saw the round dome of a purple-dotted shell. “That’s it.” said Horatio, pointing. “That’s my Home-Shell.” Horatio stood back then hid behind a rock as I crept forward. Reaching the mouth of the shell I listened and could hear the echoes of snoring. “Hallo! Water-Snake!” I shouted loudly and hearing my voice reverberate a thousand times louder as it ran round the inside of the shell. “What! What is that?” I heard the hissing voice of the Snake come from inside the shell and knew I had frightened it with my shouting. Summoning all the breath in my body I shouted… “If you don’t come out I will shout so loud it will burst your ear-drums!” My shouting seemed to fill the whole shell with thunder, so loud that the Water-Snake came slithering out, its long green body slithering over the sand in a Zig-Zag line of having Been-Here and Gone. Horatio came out of hiding, rushing forward to claim his dwelling back and settling the shell on its back and suddenly vanishing inside. “Horatio! Are you there?” I called. He seemed to be gone for some time and I shook the shell as I became worried. “Of course I’m here!” exclaimed Horatio suddenly popping out of the shell and holding a map. “Here it is.” he said, spreading the map out and pointing at a spot which seemed to be covered by Fir-Trees. “That’s where you have to go.” he said pointing at the map before rolling it up and disappearing back into the shell. “You said you would lead us to the Fir-Tree pool!” I shouted. “Did I?” questioned Horatio, his head popping out again. “I must have said that hadn’t I? You would not have thought of that on your own would you?” I agreed. I would never have thought of saying that and his body came down from the inside of the shell and with the shell lifted onto his back we began to walk back towards the castle. Oberon and Titania were waiting at the gates of the castle and I introduced them to Horatio and telling them he would be our guide, taking us as far as the Fir-Tree pool. “Where do we go from here?” asked Oberon. “Now that’s a simple question.” answered Horatio. “We go back from where you came from and start again, everybody knows that!” I had learned never to argue but to just accept what happened. “Please lead on Horatio.” I said. “Wait.” said Oberon. “Let us put our Mask-Rings back on our left hands, Titania. We don’t want others to recognize us." We waited till the royal couple had switched ring-fingers, until they had once again become unrecognizable, masked as Fairy Togs. They declared themselves ready for the journey. Horatio took the lead, taking us back along the sandy-bed road. He stopped every now and again to examine discarded shells. “Halt! Who goes there?” It was Officer-Crab. He was now all dressed up in a red and yellow uniform, his sword flashing as he raised it. “It’s us, Officer-Crab.” I reminded him. “What’s the password.” he demanded, seeming not to remember me or my travelling companions at all. “The password is Madness.” I said with a sigh. “Wrong! It’s the wrong word! That was the last password. We have a new one now!” shouted Officer-Crab, waving his sword at us. "Call out the guard!” he continued to shout. “We have intruders!” Immediately the guard came out from behind their rock-fort, lining up with the larger Crabs to the front. Behind them came the smaller Crabs, then the Prawns and with the Shrimps hidden to the back. “More madness!” I exclaimed, as the guard began to advance towards us. “Halt!” shouted Officer-Crab. “That’s the new password. It’s 'More Madness!” The advancing guard halted and sheaved their swords. “We need you to help us get through the Deep-Cut, to where the Fir-Tree pool is.” said Horatio, coming out from behind Titania. “The Deep-Cut?” quizzed Officer-Crab, his eyes piercing on their stalks as he looked at each of us in turn. “Will you take us there?” I asked in a very polite voice. “I’ll have to think about that.” replied Officer-Crab, giving my request some thought, before replying... “You know it is very dangerous. Those rascals, the Mussels and Whelks live in the Deep-Cut and we are at war with them. If we go there you will have to help us fight them.” “Of course we will fight alongside you.” said Oberon, showing more enthusiasm than I felt. “Good! That’s settled then. Now, what about payment for my troops?” demanded Officer-Crab. “Payment?” I asked. “Yes. Payment, of course! My troops don’t fight for nothing. You need to pay or we don’t go to war!” declared Officer-Crab. “But we have nothing to pay you with.” said Oberon, holding out empty hands. “Then I can’t take you. You don’t suppose I want to get my new uniform dirty, do you? I mean... War with the Mussels and Whelks is a dirty business.” declared Officer-Crab, brushing down the yellow shoulder pads. “I have this” said Titania as she suddenly began taking the hairgrip from her hair. Her golden hair flooded out in a halo of colour. "Here." she said. The hairgrip was in the shape of a small nut. She opened the nutshell which contained a golden pen and taking it out she offered it to Officer-Crab. “Hmmm.” said Officer-Crab, studying the pen then said “I suppose the nutshell goes with it?” “Of course it does.” replied Titania, immediately offering the nutshell. “And some of your hair? I’d like some for my pillows.” demanded Officer-Crab, taking the nutshell and touching Titania’s hair. “No!” thundered Oberon. “You have enough. Take back the nutshell, Titania. We will go on alone!” “How dare you!” shouted Officer-Crab. “Just as I had made up my mind, to take you and fight for you!” he finished. “Well, then…Are you going to take us?” demanded Oberon. “Of course I am. First I will address my men. War is a dangerous business and I need to install confidence in the troops.” replied Officer-Crab before calling for his troops to line up and listen. “Troops”, he began. “You know some of you may never come back or be injured in this fight with those fierce warriors, the Mussels and Whelks. But we shall steel our hearts and minds, fighting for what we believe in.” Then telling us to stay behind his advancing troops, he ordered them to march with swords drawn towards the Deep-Cut. The larger Crabs began to blow on trumpets, making such a racket that I thought this was surely no surprise attack. We had marched for a while, smartly wheeling left and right turns when suddenly, rounding a bend in the path, we came upon the sight of the enemy. They had come from within cracks in the walls and now lined up with the largest Whelks at the front and behind the Whelks were lined the Mussels, then a line of Winkles. Out in front, with sword aloft stood the largest Whelk, warlike and unafraid. “Halt!” shouted Officer-Crab and our lines drew up to face the enemy. Marching stiffly out, we watched as Officer-Crab and the large Whelk marched forward to meet each other. “Captain-Whelk!” saluted Officer-Crab. “Officer-Crab!” saluted Captain-Whelk. Then they both lowered their swords and shook hands. I felt emotion swell in me, seeing these two brave soldiers saluting each other in that way before the fighting and bloodshed. “How brave they are.” I whispered to Oberon. “Indeed, they are.” whispered Titania and she started to cry. 
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I would feel safe having officer-crab on my side in battle, even though he is a cranky old devil   Lovely read
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