Neil unwound the length of striped silk that served as his turban. “If you swim round Loch Ness waving this,” he said, “someone would be sure to see it. You’re really famous in Scotland, you know. The television cameras would be there, everyone would be watching you. You’d be on TV!”
Nessie had been bored for too long to turn down such an inviting suggestion. She’d no idea what teevee was, but it was obviously something wonderful. “I’ll do it!” she said decisively. “Give me the flag!”
“It’s no good going just now, Nessie,” Clara said. “It’s night time and it’ll still be dark outside.”
“Yes,” agreed Neil. “No one will be able to see you until tomorrow morning when the sun comes up.”
“Oh, that’s not a problem,” Nessie said, casually. “I can make today into tomorrow quite easily.”
Clara felt a spinning sensation and looked at Neil who shook his head dizzily.
“There,” Nessie said comfortably, “that’s that done. Now, Neil, give me the flag and I’ll be off! I can’t wait to see my Arthur again!”
Neil handed her the strip of purple and gold silk and they watched in relief as without any further ado, she grasped it in her mouth, slid off the rocky shelf and disappeared below the waves.
30. Nessie flies the Flag
In the huge cavern under Arthur’s Seat, time passed slowly and still there was no news of Neil and Clara.
“Every bird and beast in Scotland is on the lookout for them,” the MacArthur assured the Ranger. “The stags on the mountains, the grouse on the moors and the sea-birds round the coast. They’re all on the alert but nothing’s turned up so far.”
“I know you’re doing everything you can,” the Ranger said, “it’s just that Janet’s making herself ill. She didn’t sleep at all last night!”
“We’ll find them, don’t worry! Even Kitor and Amgarad are out searching for them. They’ve gone over to the west coast and are checking the mountains round Ardray. It’s only a matter of time before they’re found, believe me.”
Although his voice was calm, the MacArthur was nevertheless seriously worried and so, too, was the Sultan, who felt personally responsible for the danger they were in. They were all doing their bit, however. Jaikie, Hamish and Archie were taking it in turns to monitor the crystal round the clock and Casimir and the Sultan had gone to Morven with Lord Rothlan to visit the Lords of the North, hoping that with their help the children would soon be found. He sighed. It was difficult to know what else could be done!
Hope suddenly sprang in his heart, however, as he noticed two of the magic carpets unfurling themselves and setting off across the cavern.
“Whose are they?” the Ranger asked, turning his head to watch them leave.
“One is Sir James’s,” answered the MacArthur, “and I think the other is the one we gave to Lewis.”
“Let’s hope they have some news at last!” the Ranger said, his voice lightening.
Sir James and Lewis arrived on their magic carpets at much the same time. Both had been watching lunchtime television and had seen the same thing. So excited were they that they almost fell off their carpets as they approached the MacArthur and could barely speak so full were they of their news.
“The Loch Ness Monster!” Lewis said excitedly.
“She’s on television!” added Sir James.
“What?” Arthur, the great dragon, sat up straight as the MacArthur leapt to his feet, relief sweeping through him.
“She’s on television,” Sir James repeated. “All the channels are full of it!”
“This morning,” Lewis said, “people driving along the side of the road saw her and phoned Sky News. They’re getting loads of pictures of her! And she wants them to see her! She’s cruising up and down Loch Ness like a … like a movie star!”
Sir James strode over to the Ranger. “That’s not the most important thing, though,” he said gripping him by the shoulders. “She’s got something in her mouth …”
“Purple and gold,” nodded Lewis, his eyes shining.
“It’s part of Neil and Clara’s costume, John. She’s showing us where they are!”
“Thank goodness!” the Ranger said shakily. “I … I must go and tell Janet!”
“Wait a minute, Ranger,” Hamish said, adjusting the crystal. “Don’t go yet. I can find her in a minute. There … there she is! Look!”
Even Arthur lumbered over, his head rearing above them as they crowded round the crystal. Sure enough, there was Nessie! Urquhart Castle loomed in the background as she sailed up and down Loch Ness in all her majesty, carrying a floaty piece of silk in her mouth. Everyone recognized it. Striped in purple and gold, it was part of one of the pantomime costumes.