“As far back as we know. It appears to be growing at a very slow rate. Touch the flowers in the centre, Ed.”
Ed went even closer and put his little finger out towards the centre of one of the tiny flowers. It immediately and instantaneously curled up into a tight ball, leaving Ed aghast. He removed his hand away and was shocked to see it open up as quickly as it closed.
“We call them Tumpleberries. Odourless, harmless and altogether a mystery. Anyway, let’s crack on,” said George, continuing up the stairs, promptly followed by a bemused Ed. The mysterious flowers had certainly taken his mind off the task at hand and relieved his increasing anxiety of what was to come. The climb became steeper and steeper, causing Ed to become more and more breathless with every step.
“Not far now, come on, keep up.”
“Alright then,” sighed Ed begrudgingly as he followed suit, ascending higher and out of the grasp of the odour.
“Strange really, we don’t know anything about each other, George. I didn’t even tell Thomas much about myself. Truth is, it’s still all a bit sketchy,” reflected Ed with concern.
“Don’t worry, maybe you’ll come back. Anyway, it’s too late now. We’ve arrived,” exclaimed George, as they finally reached the top of the stairwell and a small entrance, through which the gushing wind noise could be heard. A light breeze manoeuvred across them, chilling Ed’s bare chest. George directed his guest over towards the entrance and the point of departure.
“This is it, my friend. Take off your shoes and sit on the edge with your feet dangling down. I’ll need a shoe to throw down the stairs to alert Thomas that you’ve jumped and to get ready with the staff. I’ll count to three and on three, you jump and I’ll push. That’s it; job done. It’s been pleasant meeting you.”
“Thanks, George. Nice meeting you as well,” replied Ed, as he bent down, removed his shoes and sat with his feet over the edge. As he looked into the hole, he could see the windy torrent below gushing from left to right. He was directly above it and starting to feel anxious about the jump. Would there be any impact or pain? Would he become nauseous or disorientated? What other horrors might await him?
“I know what you’re feeling, Ed. Don’t worry, just get on with it.”
“Okay. Thanks again for all your support. It’s only been a short time but I’ll miss you both,” replied Ed nervously.
“Maybe we’ll meet again one day. We’ll still be here, the keepers of the flame eternal. Anyway, are you ready?”
“Ready as I will ever be,” replied Ed tensely.
“What if I land on one of the people, souls or whatever they are in the current?”
“Maybe it’ll help you if anything. Perhaps it would cut the risk of going right through. I don’t know, to be honest.”
Ed stared down motionless into the gushing torrent. George could see the tension building and felt he needed to lighten the atmosphere a little.
“What do you call a flea on the moon, no, a crazy flea on the moon?”
Ed stared back round at the dressing-gown-clad individual, slippers looking even more ridiculous in this setting.
“What?”
“What do you call a….” Ed interrupted,
“I know; I just can’t believe this is the right time for a joke. Anyway, what do you call a crazy flea on the moon, George?”
“A Lunar-Tic, a Lunar-Tic, get it?” announced George proudly, bursting out into an uncontrolled giggle.
“Whatever. Now you’ve really made me want to jump,” replied Ed wryly as he glanced up at George’s grinning face before turning to face the abyss once more.
“Good. Shall we go then, Ed?”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s do it,” replied Ed apprehensively.
“Good. I’ll throw the shoe down, give it a few seconds to get to the bottom and for Thomas to be prepared, and then we go. Are you clear? One, two and then we push on three.”
“Yes, good as gold. I’m still full of hope though that this is all nothing more than a dream and I’m about to wake up to a big mug of coffee.”
“Don’t bank on it.”
“I won’t. Anyway, let’s do it and stop talking.”
George hurled the shoe down the stairs. It clattered in increasingly distant thuds as it descended to the bottom. The few seconds’ delay felt like an hour to Ed. He was more than reluctant to jump into the ferocious flow.
“I would think of a prayer right now, but I’m having serious doubts about God,” interjected Ed ironically as George began to count.
“ONE.”
“TWO.”