Wirl's End Chapter 2.

                   Chapter Two.

 

                        The Door.

          One day, Brian and Lexa were sat on Brian's garden wall idly chatting about the books they had just got from the library when Mrs. Turnkey went past and down the End to her house.

          She had obviously been shopping, to judge by the way she carried her basket of groceries. As ever, before she went inside, she put down her shopping, went over to The Door and tried the handle.

          She was obviously satisfied that it was still closed She picked up her basket and took her shopping home with her.

          A few moments later, Mr. Warder came out of his house and went of towards the town with an obviously empty shopping bag.

          "Have you ever noticed that those two never go out shopping at the same time?" Lexa commented.

Brian looked puzzled.

          Lexa explained. "Mr. Warder only ever goes shopping when Mrs. Turnkey comes back. They never go out at the same time."

          Brian thought for a few minutes and agreed. "You are right, but so what?"

          "Nothing really, it just suddenly struck me, that's all," said Lexa. "They are a bit like the barometer we have. The man only comes out with an umbrella when it is going to rain. The woman comes out when it is sunny. They are never out together."

          "I can tell you when you see them both together at the same time," said Brian, after a minutes thought.

           It was Lexa's turn to look puzzled.

          "You go near The Door," smiled Brian. "Then they both appear at the same time."

            It was true. If anyone had the cheek to go near The Door, both Mrs. Turnkey and Mr. Warder would come hobbling out of their houses as fast as their old legs could carry them, waving their walking sticks and shouting.

          The mention of The Door brought them back to their favourite topic. Both of them were utterly fascinated by The Door. They spent hours wondering what was behind it and why the two old people were so determined to stop anyone from getting near it.

          "I looked at all the maps of the town in the library today," said Lexa.

          "And?" Brian asked. They had tried to find the other side of the wall by going down all the streets near Wirl's End without success.

          "It is daft, but try as I might, I could not find one that had Wirl's End on it."

Brian sat up. "What? On none of them?"

          Lexa nodded. "I looked at every map of the town, right from the earliest one they could find, up to the newest street map, and we are not on any of them."

          "I always thought this street was the back of beyond, now I know it is," muttered Brian.

          They sat and kicked their legs against the wall until Mr. Warder came back with a full shopping bag. They watched him go into his house after first going to The Door and trying the handle. He too seemed satisfied that it was still locked and went into his home.

          "They always do that, you know," remarked Brian. "Try the handle."

          Lexa giggled. "I wonder what they would do if they found The Door open?"

       "I can't remember ever seeing it open," said Brian. "I sometimes wonder if it actually can be opened."

      "It must open," protested Lexa. "Otherwise why else would they keep trying the handle?"

        "Oh, I don't know. Come on let's play ‘Rush The Door’," said Brian.

          This used to be one of their favourite games. They started at their front gate and ran down the middle of the End towards The Door. The aim of the game was to see who could actually touch it and get away before the old people came out. They had both been in serious trouble with their mothers over this game and had been banned from playing it.

          Lexa was feeling rebellious. "Right! Me first."

          She sprinted down the middle of the road before Brian could say anything. Lexa reached the Door. She was going faster than Brian had ever seen her run before.

          He thought he saw a flash of light and then, to his complete astonishment, The Door flew open and Lexa went headlong through it.

          The two old people came rushing out of their houses, but it was too late. The Door swung shut and Lexa was nowhere to be seen. Brian jumped off the wall and ran down the street.

          For once, the old people did not shout at him and threaten him with their sticks. Old Mrs. Turnkey looked to be trying to hold on to something. Brian could just make out the outline of a figure.

          For an old man, Mr. Warder moved very quickly. He ran into his house and came back with a large sack. With Mrs. Turnkey’s help, he managed to get it over whatever it was that the old lady was holding.

          Brian watched open mouthed. He did not know what to do. Once the 'thing' was safely in the sack and the end fastened, it stopped moving and lay on the ground. The two old people both let out a loud sigh.

          Mrs. Turnkey said something to Mr. Warder. Brian could not hear what it was. Then she grabbed the sack and dragged it up her path and into her house. She slammed her front door shut behind her.

          Both Brian and Mr. Warder watched her go. Then, Mr. Warder turned and looked at Brian. He used his index finger to call Brian over to him. Brian felt his legs move him towards the old man. He did not really want to get that close to the man's walking stick, but he could not help himself.

          However, Mr. Warder did not use his stick. He just looked at Brian for a moment before saying, "How much do you care about your friend?"

"She is my best friend!" stated Brian. "Why?"

          Mr. Warder did not answer. He stood for a moment or two, as if making up his mind. Then he sighed and said, "Follow me."

          He did not wait for Brian to speak, but walked into his house. Brian followed. Inside, Mr. Warder stopped and turned to Brian.

          "You are going to have to go through The Door and rescue her. Neither Mrs. Turnkey nor I can do it. We are too old and, besides, someone has to be here to catch whatever comes through when The Door is opened.

          Brian was confused. He shook his head. "I don’t understand. What was that?" He pointed to Mrs. Turnkey's door.

          "Never mind what it is," snapped Mr. Warder. "When you get through The Door, you will have to find her and bring her back. Somewhere on the other side, you will find something that looks like this." He pointed to a bell hanging from the wall with a speaking tube below it.

          "Ring the bell and talk through the tube. If it is really you, I will open the Door for you and your friend. I will ask you for your mother's name before I open The Door. Do you understand?"

        Brian swallowed nervously He shook his head.

          "Humph. Well, there is no time to lose. Your friend is probably in great danger. I will try to explain. If someone or something goes through the Door from this side, then someone or something has to come through the Door from the other side," said Mr. Warder. "Do you get that?"

          Brian shook his head again.

          Mr. Warder sighed. "It is like a seesaw. If someone falls off one end, the person on the other end must also fall off in order for the balance to be restored. Both sides of the Door have to be balanced. One thing in, one thing out."

          Brian nodded. "I think I see," he said. "But why do I have to go through it?"

          "It has to be you," said Mr. Warder. "We have to catch what comes through and keep it prisoner until you and your silly friend come back. They will be weak for a while, but they will get stronger. You will have to hurry."

          "But who are they?" asked Brian.

          "Not who, but what," answered Mr. Warder. "They are the most evil things you could ever imagine. If they get loose, then everything on this side of the wall will be dead." He looked grim.

          "And when I say everything, I mean everything. From people like your mother, down to the tiniest little bugs in the soil in your garden, they will destroy all life. There is no time to lose, you have to go now!"

          Mr. Warder grabbed a large sack from a table in the hall as they rushed past. He led Brian to The Door. Mrs. Turnkey came out of her house and joined them.

          Mr. Warder said, "Right, now as soon as it is open, you run through. You might feel something rush past you, but whatever you do, do not stop."

          "But," Brian objected.

          "No time for that," said Mr. Warder. Your friend needs you."

          He pushed Brian to The Door and turned the handle. Brian felt himself being sucked in. As he had been warned, he felt something go past. He had the strangest feeling of great joy from whatever it was, before he fell flat on his face. He heard the Door close behind him.