Treasure Hunt by Titania Woods Read Free Book Online

slinging her petal bag over her shoulder. I’ve just got to!

.
    Chapter Six
    â€˜Bimi, are you sure about this?’ whispered Twink as the two friends spiralled down the shadowy trunk. Her best friend rarely broke the rules – and here she was sneaking out of Violet Branch with Twink after midnight!
    â€˜Yes, definitely,’ said Bimi softly. ‘Chirpy, be quiet ,’ she urged her cricket. He sat in his cage squeaking happily to himself, clearly thrilled to be out on an adventure.
    â€˜Here’s the tuck shop,’ said Twink, swooping to land on the dark ledge. ‘Now, how do we get in?’ she wondered. The bark shutters over the counter were firmly locked.
    Bimi’s pretty face creased for a moment, and then she smiled. ‘Easy! Watch.’ Taking hold of the bottom of the shutters, she pulled them towards her until a small gap appeared underneath them. ‘In you go, Chirpy,’ she said, freeing the cricket. ‘Open the shutters for us from the inside!’
    The gleaming brown insect scooted easily through the hole, disappearing from view. Several seconds passed. Twink nibbled her thumb as she hovered. ‘Do you think he understood?’ she asked.
    â€˜Chirpy!’ hissed Bimi, cupping her mouth with her hands against the shutters. ‘Let us in, it’s important!’
    In answer there was a pattering noise, like several sweet seeds falling on to the floor. The distinct sound of munching floated out.
    Bimi tapped her foot in the air. ‘ Chirpy –’ she started. With a faint click , the shutters suddenly swung open.
    The two fairies shot inside. Hastily, Twink closed the shutters again. ‘Glow-worm on!’ she said.
    The tuck shop came into view. Chirpy blinked at them from the floor, surrounded by crumbs. ‘You bad thing!’ scolded Bimi lovingly, picking him up and cuddling him.
    â€˜How do we do this?’ wondered Twink, gazing down.
    When Twink had shown Bimi her gran’s journal and explained where she thought the ring might be, her best friend had had the idea of using Chirpy to find it for them – but there was still the problem of how to get him under the floorboards!
    Walking slowly across the floor, Bimi paused as one of the boards squeaked. ‘There!’ she said. ‘That one’s loose! So if we just –’

    Crouching down, Bimi inserted her fingers into one of the board’s knotholes and tugged. It groaned in protest. Twink added her strength to Bimi’s, pulling as hard as she could. Pop! All at once the board flew out, sending the two fairies flying.
    â€˜Brilliant!’ cried Twink, staring into the dark hole. ‘Look, it goes right under the floor!’
    â€˜Right, Chirpy, in you go,’ said Bimi, scooping him up. ‘And if you find the ring, I’ll buy you candied nuts for a year!’
    Twink and Bimi listened tensely as the little insect crept about under the floor. Once or twice he paused, and Twink’s pulse quickened – but he always continued.
    Suddenly her ears perked up. ‘Listen!’ she breathed.
    It sounded as if Chirpy were dragging something towards them. Twink stared at the hole, hardly daring to move. All at once the cricket’s sleek brown head popped out. In his mouth he held a gold ring with a shiny blue stone.
    â€˜He found it!’ shrieked Bimi. She clapped her hand over her mouth and glanced towards the closed shutters.
    Twink’s heart had leapt when she first saw the ring . . . but now she shook her head sadly. ‘No, that’s not it,’ she said. ‘Gran’s ring was silver, she says so in her journal.’ She took the ring from Chirpy and examined it. ‘Besides, look – it’s got initials inside it. GH .’
    â€˜Geena Honey!’ realised Bimi. ‘It’s Miss Honey’s ring – she must have lost it working in the shop.’
    â€˜Was that the only ring down there,