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The Magic Lantern

This may seem a strange story to tell, but I can assure you it is true. The events of that day, forty years ago, are as clear in my mind as if it were yesterday. The faces and voices of those I met still come to me in my dreams.

We were on our way across Farmer Robertson's field just behind my house. Joe had come to call for me earlier and we had decided to go and look for blackberries in West Wood. The best blackberries were on the edge of the wood just on the other side of the field.

'If Farmer Robertson catches us crossing his field, there'll be trouble,' said Joe anxiously. 'You know what he said last time.'
'Come on,' I said. We'll make sure he doesn't see us. Bend down and follow me. It will take us ages if we walk all the way round'. So we set off.

It was a nice day. Mum said it might rain later, but we didn't think so.
'Take your coat, Bill' she said.
'Oh mum, that means I'll have to carry it,' I moaned.
'Go on,' she said, 'take it!' - and I was glad later that I had!

Halfway across the field we heard a sound of an engine.
'Oh no, said Joe, it's the tractor and I think its coming this way.'
'Its OK,' I said, 'if we hurry, we'll be across the field before anyone sees us.' I started to move more quickly but then I lost my footing and fell. Down I went to the ground, but instead of landing with a bump I continued to fall. Down and down I went. The air around me was getting colder and it was very dark I tried to scream but no sound came out.

Suddenly I landed with a bump, but before I had the chance to speak, hands reached out and lifted me up. In silence, I was carried through what seemed like a tunnel. Gradually, my eyes became accustomed to the dark and I saw a faint light in the distance.

At the end of the tunnel there was a huge underground room. The walls sparkled in the unusual light reminding me of my mum's best crystal vase she kept on the mantlepiece at home.
'Rest now, young man,' said the person carrying me, as he laid me down on a pile of fresh leaves. He had a kind voice, deep and comforting, and a gentle face, even though it was a strange shade of green.

Soon the room was filled with more people who had come to see this odd creature from above. There were men, women and children and they all had green faces. Some had whiskers similar to a rabbit's. All of them wore garments that could have been made from leaves. One of them had a string of stones around his neck. The stones sparkled like the walls of the room. Mostly, the people whispered to each other, but occasionally they spoke to me. They all spoke with deep, soft voices, so that I didn't feel scared at all.

After some time, the one with the stones stepped forward to introduce himself.
'My name is Uli,' he said. 'Welcome to our home.'
'Hello, my name's Bill,' I answered. He told me about himself and his people. They led a simple life. Some were hunters. It was their job to provide everyone with food. Others were carers. They prepared the food, made clothes to wear and looked after people who were ill. Finally, there were the builders who repaired the tunnels, made new tunnels and looked after the huge chambers where the people lived.

'Most of the time, our life is simple and safe,' explained Uli. 'Everyone helps each other.' Suddenly, the light in the chamber started to dim. The people around began to panic, running to the edge of the chamber and huddling together in groups. For the first time since I had been there, I heard someone scream.
What's happening? I asked.
'Something's wrong with the light.' Uli sounded worried. 'I must go and see what I can do. Stay here.' He hurried off and disappeared into the darkness. Soon there was hardly any light at all. It was cold and I could feel the fear all around me.

It was then that I remembered my coat. Where was it? I felt around my leaf-bed. Please let it be there. My hand touched the woollen material and I pulled the coat towards me. I couldn't see anything by now as I frantically felt in the pockets of my jacket. No, it's not in that one. Perhaps it had fallen out when I fell. At last I found what I was looking for. I pressed the button and suddenly there was a small beam of light in that huge chamber.

The faces of the green people looked at me in wonder. The frightened voices were quiet. The people gradually moved towards me and sat down around my bed, staring in amazement at the curious device in my hand.

Uli soon returned and the chamber began to glow with its own light once again. The people gathered around him, pointing at him and telling him about my special light. He took it from my hand, smiling like a young child when he pressed the button. 'Please keep it,' I said. He started to protest but I insisted.

'The problem with our light was only a minor one and was soon fixed, ' he explained, 'but my people are afraid when the light goes out. Thank you for your gift and for your help.' He unfastened the chain from around his neck and removed one of the stones. 'On behalf of my people, please accept this'. The stone he put in my hand was the size of a small pebble, and the crystals in the stone, shone and gleamed, reflecting the green faces eagerly peering over my shoulder.
'I will treasure it always.' I told him as I put it in my pocket.

Now you must rest,' he said 'for we have work to do.' I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, there was Joe, my mum and Farmer Robertson standing around me. 'What happened?' I asked.

'I found your young friend here running through my field,' explained Farmer Robertson. 'He said you had fallen and bumped your head. We had a hard time finding you in the long grass, I can tell you, and Joe had to go and fetch your mum to help. Gave us quite a scare, you did!'

So I had bumped my head! The fall, the faces, the voices, Uli, none of them were real. As I rolled over I felt something hard in my pocket. I took it out and in my hand was the stone, the sparkling stone that Uli had given me.

'Where did you get that?' asked Joe. Before I answered I looked in my jacket pocket. My torch was gone!
'You'd never believe me if I told you,' I replied with a smile!