Chapter nine, Dungura Castle Carpark Tears poured down Princess Moppet's face. The fairies
hurried around with their seed pod water containers, catching them as she threw herself
back on the bed, laughing and crying. Thank Heavens, said King Dagda
with relief. Zarara looked at Princess Moppet. She was bright red and gasping.
Maybe they had overdone it. I have a drink, pet, said
Queen Mave, pointing to a jug of water beside the bed. She spilt
a few drops of lavender oil on her pillow. I wish I had brought
some cammil tea. Sarara was exhausted. Gracious did a quick painting on the
wall of Princess Moppett riding a unicorn and wrote Happy Birthday xxx. Princess Moppett
was getting floppy and falling asleep. Bye, Princess Moppett. Thanks for the
party, Zarara said to what looked like a giant pile of sweet wrappers with
arms and legs. The TV still gabbled in the corner. Come on,
let's get out of here, said King Dagda. When they got to the
bottom of the rope, ladder. It was dawn. They had been at
Dungura Castle for exactly twelve hours, and the tide was out again. The
sun rose behind the blue hills and shone low under a dark, cloudy sky,
casting a pink glow on Dunggura Castle, the stone walls, and the
grazing sheep. The little fields towards the fairy village were a bright neon green.
Gracious quickly painted a double rainbow over Dungura Castle to complete the view.
Zarara could see a group of humans in high viz jackets, yapping to each
other and marching along the pavement picking things up. Oh no, said Queen
Maeve, the tidy Town's committee, they are out early. King Dagda had
his hand over his eyes, scanning the rocks below. Short is gone.
They must have picked her up thinking she was litter, added Queen Maeve.
Zararah could feel tears welling up in her eyes. Laura and Jenny started sobbing.
Okay, said King Dagda. Let's put our heads together. I'm sure
we can think of some other way home. What about riding on the crows
that are circling over the village. They roost up at the farm suggested Jenny.
Good idea, but we would probably be spotted and we would have to
wait all day for them to fly home. I have an idea, said
Queen Maeve. King Dagda, can we please have permission to be seen?
Dung Goora Castle opens at ten. We can hide in the car park and
wait to see if any tourists are going up to the fairy village. We
could ask them for a lift. Is that safe, asked King Dagda.
They all believe in the little people, so they will think it's quite normal,
said Queen Maeve. That seems to be our best option. As this
is an emergency, I grant special permission, said King Dagda. Zarara and
all the other fairies hid behind a big fuchsia bush and the buses started rolling
in. Watch out for a car driving in the middle of the road with
a Dublin number play. That'll be the tourists, said Queen Maeve. They
didn't have to wait long. Zarara spotted a rental car appearing around the corner
with its driver and passenger peering through the windscreen. They looked white with fear.
After their journey from Galway down the narrow potholed road it swung into the
car park. An elderly couple got out and started taking photos of each other
with Dungura Castle in the background. Awesomebody. The folks will love that one,
said the lady. Let's go and find the fairy village and have a
cup of tea. She was pointing to the sign for the cafe on the
farm. We can head out onto the cliffs after that result, said King Dagda.