The Binkle and the Catawampus Compass (Binkles and Magic) by Faith [fantasy] Lynella Read Free Book Online Page A

on the rock walls. Could these be road signs for gnomes? I wonder what they say. Or maybe we’ll run into a bunch of dwarfs down here. When asked about what they said, Grikkl just grunted. Although Jeep never found out what the symbols meant, he later encountered similar figures all over the underground domain.
    Before the procession went very far the tunnel ended at a solid wall of rock. Cerberus sat—with the patience one feels while waiting for the light to change. Grikkl set his lantern down, freeing his hands. He majestically raised both arms upward, then chanted, “Gaggoob boonaaa taamooloodem...” Grikkl repeated the melodious cadence four times. His voice was so low it sounded like the earth itself was groaning.
    At the end he dropped his arms and picked up the lantern. For a long minute nothing happened. But then Jeep noticed a tremble underfoot, followed by a rumble, then a breeze. Ever so slowly, the rock slid back just wide enough for the three of them to slip through.
    Once on the other side of the rock wall Grikkl clapped his hands in an irregular rhythm. The rock closed behind them, leaving no sign it ever moved.
    Jeep was getting used to such unexpectednesses (so does that mean they cease to be a surprise?). It’s just the way magic works , he reminded himself, no more amazed than he would be for the arrival of an elevator back home. The procession continued its downward journey until halted by another wall of rock.
    This time Grikkl blew musical notes (ta-ta-tee-ta-dum) on a whistle hanging next to the key. Like before, the rock wall creaked and moved aside. On the procession went, down, down, down, ever deeper into the earth.
    Why are so many protections necessary, I wonder? Surely no one could get in here if they’re not supposed to . Jeep’s thoughts were interrupted when they reached two massive wooden doors that blocked the passageway. Each door had its own keyhole and looked exactly the same.
    At this obstacle Cerberus took charge. The dog sniffed around each door and made tiny woofing sounds. He paused to listen and would then woof more loudly. Cerberus repeated the process as he ran back and forth between the doors. To Jeep’s ears the only sounds he could make out were the ones caused by the dog. Finally Cerberus stretched out in front of the left door.
    Grikkl patted Cerberus, “Good dog,” as he inserted the same key around his neck into the left-hand door.
    Grikkl told Jeep, “One of these doors is enchanted and leads to The Path of No Return. I’ve never figured out where it ends up, but there’s no way back to this world from there. But it’s not the same door every time. Even I don’t know which is safe. But I can always trust Cerberus to make the right choice.”
    ~~~
    The heavily-carved wooden door swung open into a large rock chamber. Inside was so black that their lanterns couldn’t penetrate the darkness. After they entered and closed the door Grikkl mumbled a moment and gestured with his hands. The candles on the walls began to burn, making the room as bright as twilight.
    They snuffed out their lanterns and set them by the door. Jeep asked, “Why do you bother with lanterns if you can just wag your fingers?”
    “There are spells in the tunnel.”
    Jeep rolled his eyes and said with exaggerated sweetness, “Oh yes, that explains it.” Just another answer that doesn’t explain anything.
    Grikkl marched around and through the mystifying piles of strange objects stacked everywhere in the large cavern. Jeep could barely contain his curiosity as he gawked around. Most of the chamber was still in shadow, but Jeep could tell it was huge. The ceiling was probably 20 feet high. In the dimness Jeep couldn’t even see across to the other side.
    As soon as Grikkl reached an area arranged for sitting, he again worked his lighting spell with quick hand motions so it felt like a cozy living room. Then he settled in and gestured for Jeep to do the same. Once Grikkl got his feet