Chapter 2

“Sorry about your cows. That seems to happen a lot... my name is Gus, by the way.” Gus held out his hand for Pete to shake, but Pete was to terrified to move. Gus frowned at him. He absently scratched his head, and looked around. “You don’t live here, do you? It’s a bit of a mess...” said Gus.

“No, this is the barn” said Pete quietly, once he had found his voice. Who was this man? He looked slightly frail... as if he spent much of his time materialising in people’s barns. Pete felt as if he could put his hand right through Gus, as if he wasn’t quite there. It was a very strange feeling and it made Pete uncomfortable.

“Oh! I was going to say... oh never mind” Said Gus. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts. Pete still stared. How could this be possible?

“RARGH!” Gus suddenly jumped at Pete.

“AAAGH! What was that for?!” Pete yelled, shocked.

“Perhaps now you'll stop STARING AT ME. I don’t appreciate it.” Said Gus indignantly. Pete blushed.

“Sorry” he said quietly. “But you didn’t need to scare me like that”

“Scare? That’s nothing. You don’t know the meaning of the word scared. Where you're headed, you’re going to get a bit more than scared, mate.” Said Gus.

“Where I’m headed? What do you mean?” Pete asked, thoroughly confused.

“Oh, of course! I didn’t actually tell you yet, did I? Silly me... OK. Right. You're going to Stormy Mountain.” Said Gus, matter-of-factly, as if nothing and no-one could contradict him. Nothing registered in Pete’s mind. He was completely bewildered.

“You're joking”

“I most certainly am not” replied Gus, looking slightly hurt.

“But I’m only twelve!” This was too much for Pete. He was still getting over the fact that this little old man had materialised into his barn. Stormy Mountain was the stuff of legends. The story Pete had written all those years ago looked as if it was about to become reality. But surely, wasn’t that impossible? Harriet didn’t even think the mountain existed.

Pete tried to remember the legend. Words drifted across his mind... Spitting fire... Drowning travellers... Golden Water...

“The Higher Powers seem to think you're perfect for the job” Gus continued. “Personally I don’t see how. I’ve never seen a scrawnier twelve year old in my life, and I’ve lived a long time.”

“Job? What job?” asked Pete.

“Well you didn’t think you were going on holiday, did you? Stupid boy. You're going to collect the water from the Pool of Miracles at the top. You are familiar with the legend, yes?” said Gus sternly.

“Yes, but why me? What do I have to do with anything?” enquired Pete. He was still confused, but the whole idea was starting to rouse his interest. If someone believed in him that much, Pete decided he would do everything in his power to prove them right.

“Questions, questions!” wailed Gus. “I don’t know the answer to everything, boy! I’m just a messenger for the Higher Powers! They don’t deem it necessary to fill their employees in on this kind of thing. If you want answers take it up with them.”

And with that he vanished. He vanished much faster than he appeared, as if on arrival he had wanted to make a big entrance, but now he couldn’t wait to leave.

That night, after his mother had let him out of the barn, Pete lay awake in bed thinking about what Gus had said. Where was Stormy Mountain? Pete was just as confused as before. Why didn’t Gus tell Pete who he was working for, or why? Who was the water for?

The next morning, Pete was woken by his mother shouting and cursing in the kitchen. It seemed that she had tripped over the saucepan that Pete had knocked over yesterday. He had forgotten to pick it up... he was going to pay for that.

A feeling of dread started to sink into Pete’s stomach and it took him a while to figure out why as he got up and let his eyes adjust to the early morning sunlight. And then he remembered; the church picnic. Slowly, he also recalled his mother telling him he had to go, and stay with her. And then he spotted the hideous shirt on the chair beside his bed. Pete got dressed and went into the kitchen.

“What has taken you so long? We leave in ten minutes” barked Mrs Wilson.

“Morning Mum” said Pete cheerfully. He was determined not to let his mother get him angry. As it was, he was feeling optimistic about the picnic. However boring it may be, at least Harriet would be there, so perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad. Mrs Wilson shot Pete a suspicious look.

“Peter, fetch your coat” And together they left.