The Fantastic adventures of prince Jeremie E-Book

Bruno Houin

• Herausgeber: Le Texte Vivant
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Französisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 446

Beschreibung

The adventure of Jeremie and the Onyx Stone !

When his parents died, Jeremie moved in with Mr Hollbrook, his uncle. Between Chelsea, his young cousin who is unhappy to see the arrival of this new inhabitant, and Prudence, the old both contentious and gruff governess, Jeremie felt more lonely than ever.
Even worse, his new house seems to harbour strange secrets: a flying piano, an old man who appeared and disappeared mysteriously.
Whilst Halloween is in full swing and that the bizzaroides phenomena multiply, Jeremie, Chelsea and their new friends discover the existence of a fantasy world.There, Jeremy knews he has been anointed and commissioned to assist Phoronuus who fought against the Baalamites, the fallen angels who have to destroy humanity.
From the mountain tops without snow to the borders of the Ténébreuse Sea, then Jeremy and his friends are embarking in an epic quest, looking for the Onyx mysterious stone.

Discover without further delay this youth novel and follow the adventures of Jérémie, Chelsea and his friends!

EXTRAIT

The next morning, Jeremie still felt a strong pressure in his arm followed by a solid slap on his buttocks. “It’s time lazy boy !”
“Chelsea?! You are crazy!? I hate you!”
She went out with a laugh and he woke up, really surprised. He was in his bed! And he didn’t remember having gone to bed… So he had not dreamt! But who put him to bed?! The crazy old man? If he had fought against him all night long, this must have produced such a hullabaloo.
“Chelsea ?”
“Yes ?”
The little girl was curling her hair.
“Did you hear some noise from the attic last night?”
She got annoyed.

“No, I didn’t and you are going to be late!”
Jeremie jumped out of bed and got dressed. It was all unbelievable! He was sure that he had fought against the crazy old man all night long. But he did not feel tired. This was absolutely incredible. However, Jeremie decided that for the time being, he would not try to understand anything. He put on his old knee-ripped jeans, the one which madehim look an adventurer. He found it timely because he knew that a mysterious adventure was looming ahead…
During the breakast, Jeremie kept silent. He was in deep meditation. From time to time, Chelsea fixed him with mocking eyes. But he couldn’t, and he wouldn’t say anything to anyone. And who knows? May be the old man would harshly punish and Jeremie was well aware how powerful the man was. He knew he couldn’t make a show of his importance before such a chap. The man could have killed him…

Leseprobe

Bruno Houin

THE FANTASTIC ADVENTURES OF PRINCE JEREMY

THE ONYX STONE

I THE ORPHAN

A sea of guests was crowding in the large lounge, mainly adults, and not so many children. The host, M. Hollbrook had made the most from this reception. Prudence Malaimmer, his 45 years old single governess had largely supported him, whereas Chelsea, his ten years old unique daughter had done nothing to help. No need to raise this point. She never did anything at home. Now the coming of Jeremie, her cousin, in her own family, disturbed her very much. She thought of him as an intruder. Jeremie was 2 years older than her. She detested him even before he was to come. She could not stand seeing her father hug the child, introduce him with pride to the guests, and talk about him as his «adopted child ».Such an attitude impressed the guests a lot and they looked with brilliant eyes to this small prince dressed with a butterfly knot.

M. Hollbrook cleared his throat and addressed the guests, too busy with the cookies and the champagne.

“Your attention please, ladies and gentleman!”

The brouhaha kept on! He insisted. Mr Hollbrook was running on his fifties and was wearing a pair of round glasses. He was going bald.

“I’m pleased to announce the arrival of my nephew Jeremy in the family…”

He stopped and drank some water.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to replace his poor parents, snif… Clemence, my sister…”

He took out a handkerchief and blew his nose loudly. The guests felt awkward. He kissed Jeremie and went on.

“I’ll do my best so that he feels himself at home here. I hope my dear daughter will love him as much as I do and they will be inseparable, like brother and sister…”

He blowed his nose again, but made an awkward movement and dropped the glass of water on the waxed floor. He quickly bent down to pick up the glass but tripped on Jeremie… He performed an amazing leg split that tore his trousers and managed to redress himself. Now he slipped on the glass and grasped a painting on the wall in a panic.

“Aaah !” The guests uttered.

“God bless you” he shouted and disappeared behind the buffet, spilling glasses of champagne and dishes of cookies…

Many guests rushed for help. M.Hollbrook had lost his glasses, and his underpants made out of a hole in his trousers. He felt so confused, he apologised and took leave with a friend to change clothes.Chelsea felt ashamed for her father, shrugged her shoulder and looked at her cousin, who was really upset.

Jeremie didn’t know much about his cousin. He remembered having met her on festive occasions. He came from the city whereas she was from the countryside. He and his parents loved visiting this slightly excentric uncle in his huge gloomy house. It was said to have secret passage and dungeons from the Middle Age.

Chelsea’s mother had left for the United States with another man. Chelsea travelled to Boston once or twice a year to meet her mother. The latter loved her child and spoilt her very much. But the child prefered living with her father.

Chelsea had freckles on her little face. She had cute big eyes, too. She braided her long red hair and dressed like Barbie dolls. She was Scottish by her father, just as Jeremie was by his mother. This could arise sparks…

The little boy remained on his own since his parents’death. He would have been placed in an orphanage but for his uncle’s kindness.Nevertheless, he felt himself uneasy in the world of adults. Jeremie startled because of his uncle’s hand.He noticed the latter had changed his trousers buthe found them as ugly as the former ones.

“I’m going to introduce you to some friends, my son. Some came especially from Scotland to meet you.”

This did not make Jeremie pleased but did he have the choice? M.Hollbrook introduced him to his elder sister, Mademoiselle Sheila Janet Susan Hollbrook, a single, very distinguished and very wealthy woman. He also introduced him to some painters who ran painting galleries, museums, theaters, like him….

Mr Hollbrook’s slovenly look sharply contrasted with that of his guests. He was a head taller than every one. The boy received cuddles and kisses. Then his uncle took him to the buffet and had him served whatever he liked by the maître d’hôtel. Chelsea came and joined him.

“Be nice with him Chelsea, don’t argue with him.”

“But I looove this child, Daddy!”

“All right. I’m going back to my guests.”

As he was going, he tripped over the carpet and was well on his way to fall flat on his face. Jeremie stifled a laugh.

“He’s always there to make a fool of himself”, the little girl whispered.

The governess lectured him severely:

“You two should be ashamed of yourselves, you Miss, and you Mister Jérémie. I saw you smiling. How dare you making fun of a man who is hosting you! That’s not correct.”

“Me?” the little boy exclaimed.

“Yes, you. I hope this will never happen again.”

She turned and left.

Chelsea sticked her tongue out at her.

“You old bat! Passe-boules! Passe-boules! Passe-boules!”

Jeremie was surprised about the governess’s nickname. Chelsea explained that her mouth was so large that a ball could easily pass through. Jeremie felt sorry for his cousin’s attitude towards the governess. It was true she had a big mouth, though. He was not dupe.

“Why do you hate me?”

“You won’t take my father. He’s mine, he’s only for me! Do you hear me naughty boy?!You won’t take him away from me.”

Jeremie dropped his eyes. What would he do? He did not intend to take her father. How stupid of her! He felt unhappy. He took his plate full of desserts and sat by himself. His grand parents joined him. He threw himself into his grand-mother’s arms.

“My poor little one, you will be happy with your uncle. We are too old and in your age, a child is turbulent. But you will come to see us for holidays…”

His maternal grand-mother was a short woman who had run a clothes store during many years. Her husband was a retired doctor. They now lived in a nice house with a garden, trying to comfort themselves for their daughter’s death.

“Granny, I love you so much…”

Jeremie cried. Chelsea observed with a straight and cold face.

Prudence Malaimmer asked her to leave Jeremie alone with his grand-parents and it is with regret that she followed the nanny.

Prudence Malaimmer had known Chelsea since she turned two and Mr and Mrs Hollbrook had always trusted in her. When Chelsea’s mother left home for another man, the little girl was eight years old. Throughout this ordeal, a strong complicity has been forging between the daughter and the father. A complicity that only the governess could disturb. There was an intruder who came to her house to steal her father! This sounded like a great injustice. Her father was the only one with whom she shared her love (too bad for her mother). And this love, this happiness, she didn’t want to share it with anyone.

As she followed her governess, Chelsea cursed against going to bed so early.

“You cousin will go into his bedroom as soon as possible”, Miss Malaimmer reassured her. The two of them crossed the waxed corridor on skates, under a hazy light. The little girl laid down quickly but got up to look out for his “brother”’s arrival, as soon as the governess left.

Jeremie was “the best in show” that night, so he came back late. When he reached the door of his bedroom, he noticed a light under her cousin’s door, his “sister” now. It switched off and the door was half-opened. The two children observed each other covertly.

“Good night Chelsea…” Jeremie murmured.

She had no more her braids and looked less pretty. She didn’t answer and slammed the door.

Jeremie liked his new bedroom. His uncle furnished the bedroom to please a boy. There were Formula 1 catalogue, aircraft and motorcycles models laid out on shelves or hanged from the ceiling. All of his comics were there. There was a worldmap from ancient times near the desk and on the wall just behind, a huge map. Some of the objects were from his home, he found himself in his familiar little space. Jeremie took off his clothes and put on his pyjama “Harry Potter”. He loved Harry Potter’s adventures. He finally slipped under the duvet and turned off the light. He shivered out of joy and fear. His newly renovated bedroom looked like Harry’s room, and even better. He imagined Harry jumping on his broomstick model 2000! In fact, it was the entire house that looked like Harry’s home, as if it was Halloween all the time. It was dark and tragically bleak, just as he loved. The house was very very large, with fifteen rooms and several lounges over three floors.

Jeremie and Chelsea occupied the third floor, almost underneath the eaves, with a bathroom just only for them. Every space was carpeted.

The governess lived below, on the second floor. She occupied a luxurious small apartment. It was wholy furnished and was equipped with a kitchen and a bathroom. Receptions were held on the first floor, in a spacious and beautifully furnished room. Mr Hollbrook slept in a small room on the ground floor.

Jeremie was smoothly dropping off to sleep when strange noises startled. He opened his eyes and wondered where they came from.From the ceiling? No! They would rather come from the attic, from the playing room. The noises sound weird. He sat up in a sudden. Was it Chelsea? Was she playing there? Mmmm. That’s unlikely. He heard stampedings, screams, grazings… Animals up there?... The noises stopped after a while and he fell on his pillow. He felt worn out.

Jeremie had a slight fever and he had to stay indoors. He was completely alone because Chelsea and his uncle would be back late in the afternoon. This made him rather happy, but he wondered how he could fill in that long day with. The electric circuit and the computer would not do much. The hours never seemed to come an end.

Everytime his uncle went away, he used to close all the rooms where he worked, stored his canvas and paintings. Now Jeremie liked spending hours beholding them. His uncle used to exhibit them as far as in Japan and in the States. But now he was interested in the famous playing room, in the attic. He would be eager to explore it because of the noises of yesterday. He got excitedly, took his bath in the bathroom upstairs and slipped in his Harry Potter pyjama again. He could not go out, anyway. The weather was so bad outside. He had his English breakfast: eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, maple syrup, orange juice and hot chocolate.

Then he approached the governess, and boldly asked her the fateful question:

“Tell me, Prudence, are there rats in the attic?”

The governess let a glass drop.

“First thing, don’t address me with my first name! Call me Mademoiselle. I’ve told that a thousand times. How stubborn you are! Just like a Scot! Then, how dare you ask such a question? Rats, here? There’s no attic any longer up there. Everything has been turned into a playing room. Everything there was renewed.”

Jeremie looked at her, fascinated. She had a big mouth, true.

“But… I heard noises from there yesterday, like creaking.”

Prudence Malaimmer was not the kind of person children could bother. She was a qualified governess. Hence, she wouldn’t listen to their ravings, no! She couldn’t bear such things.

“Poor child! That’s the wooden frame! It’s creaking. It’s normal.”

The little boy looked for a possible reply but she added:

“You won’t stick around me the whole day, will you? Go away!”

Jeremie finished his orange juice. He did not hinger around. He made for the attic. He shivered both for fever and excitement. He wondered if the governess was right. He was about to turn open the handle made out of black wrought iron when there was a stampeding noise. He drew back and made for the stairs.

It was nearly midnight. Jeremie was still hearing the hubbubs. He lit his electric torch and directed the light towards the ceiling. How stupid! He knew everything was taking place in the attic. He tiptoed out of his warm bed to the corridor. All was dark. Chelsea was surely sleeping at this time. She certainly would moan after him. Nevermind! He felt so fearful. He knocked at his cousin’s door.

“Chelsea ?”

“Jeremie ?”

“That’s me! Let me in!”

“What do you want ?”

“There’s something serious.”

Jeremie perceived few laughs.

“Come in! It’s open.”

She was sitting straight on her bed, in her night grown.

“Why aren’t you sleeping, you coward?”

The little boy became nervous. He didn’t like that a girl treat him a coward.

“I hear noises from the ceiling of my room. I want to see what’s on.”

Chelsea smiled out of malice.

“And you want me to go with you, don’t you?”

“Yes, right now.”

“OK.”

She jumped out of bed and put on her dressing gown.

“I heard those noises, too. I hope it will be worth it.”

She swiftly combed her long, silky and shiny hair. She looked really pretty and he enjoyed looking at her. They went up the wooden stairs. Jeremy went first despite his funk. He even succeeded in opening the antique oak door with its black iron hinges. It grated for a long while. He hesitated before entering and Chelsea pushed him in. Then she entered and frowned. It was cold because the electric heater was off at night.

“Well, there’s nothing going on, you toad.”

“True! I heard noises.”

“You’re completely stupid my dear cousin!”

“But you told me you heard them, too!”

A malicious spark lit her beautiful eyes.

“I lied! I’m here to investigate.”

She flew into his arms and kissed him on the mouth. Jeremie struggled himself free.

“Are you loosing your head?”

She was about to reply when hidden noises sounded from the rear. A cold fog invaded the room, something like frost. The two children’s teeth were chattering. Chelsea uttered a scream. The piano of the playing room was flying and floating all over the room. It swirled round and crashed on the carpet. Fragments flew everywhere. The piano was in pieces. It did not fall from high, though, not more than 2 meters high. Chelsea pushed Jeremie out of the room.

“Bravo for your magic trick!”

“I had nothing to do with it”, he protested. He slammed the heavy door. “I was scared, too. »

“You, dirty liar! I’ll tell my father. When he knows you’re a sorcerer, he’ll drive you out of here.”

“Do you think I’m Harry Potter?”

She resumed her room and sat down on her bed.

“Swear you’re not a sorcerer!”

“I swear.”

“You’ll go to hell if you lie.”

Jeremie didn’t like her now, but he couldn’t help to see how pretty she was…

“Mom offered me that piano. It’s a wreck now.”

“It made such a racket and no one woke up, though.”

Chelsea giggled.

“Don’t worry, old people are half deaf. But how can I tell Dad my piano is in pieces?” she complained.

Her eyes shone with a challenge look.

“I’ll say it was you; you broke the piano out of envy.”

“Damned liar!”

He threw himself to her. Both rolled on the bed. But his cousin was stronger. She leaned on the wall and sent him off with her legs. Then she burst out laughing. Jeremy felt every frustrated. He got up. A noise came from below: it was the very voice of the governess.

“Run for your life! Here comes the Passe-boules! Clear off!”

Jeremie hesitated, then ran out with regret.

“Aren’t you sleeping, you children?!”

“We are”, Chelsea replied while slipping into her duvet.

The governess was going up the stairs. She was wearing a pink dressing gown.

“I heard some noise from the playing room.”

“I heard nothing Mademoiselle”, Chelsea ventured. She succeeded in putting the light off in the last minute.

The governess entered Jeremie’s room. He seemed sleeping. Strange! She came back to Chelsea.

“Go to sleep Chelsea! It is very late.”

The governess stiffled a yawn and walked round the room.

“You’re hidding me something.”

“Oh, no! I’m not, Miss”, Chelsea replied with her head almost tucked into the duvet.

“Of course you are! You’ve been in the playing room and you dropped something heavy.”

Chelsea blinked her long eyelashes. How to answer? She did not know.

The governes went again and drew Jeremie out of bed.

“I know you’re not sleeping. You’ve broken something up there, haven’t you?”

Jeremie lied uponly. He rubbed his eyes and said:

“No we haven’t Miss. There’s nothing broken up there.”

The governess looked at him with suspiscion.

“Your nose is getting longer, like Pinocchio’s, young man!”

Then Chelsea stamped her feet.

“There is! He’s broken my piano! He’s broken it out of envy, by a magic truck. He’s a sorcerer. »

She broke into tears. Aaaah! She knew how to get round it. Jeremie became motionless. Then he replied.

“You dirty liar! She’s lying!”

The governess reacted:

“That’s enough. I’m going up to the attic! Any of you who has lied will be punished.”

She immediately climbed the oak wax stairs. They heard her open the heavy door and come into the playing room.

“The passe boules will find my new piano in pieces, Chelsea sniggered! My Dad will throw you out of here because you’re a sorcerer.”

Jeremie remained silent. The little pest might be right. Then, he would go far, very far. He would steal money and he would fly to Africa. Yes, he’d go to Africa. These thoughts redeemed his fear at once. The governess came down after long minutes. She looked gloomy. She looked angrily at Chelsea. Jeremie, who was standing in the corner, felt relieved. Bye, Africa!

“I can’t make out which bad trick you’re aiming at when you accused your brother of such a bad thing. But I don’t like it…”

Jeremie felt anxious!

“How is the piano ?” Chelsea stammered.

“It is intact. Yes, you’ve lied to me. You don’t watch TV for fifteen days!”

The little girl went pale. Her sweet little face became distorted. She shivered nervously. She hid herself under her two duvets. She was red with confusion. As for Jeremie, he was shared between giggling and intense fear. He resumed his bed. He felt overwhelmed...

All this matter exhausted him. Jeremie used to spend whole hours in his room when he did not go to school. Chelsea was deprived of T.V. and computer for eight days (her father decided to reduce the punishment) and sadly resumed her girlish music. She would play it very loud, just to annoy Jeremy. The latter was bored to death, but he’d rather die than knock at Chelsea’s door. How lonely he felt…

But something very big disturbed him very much. Chelsea and he saw, they saw the piano fly and smash into pieces!… Now “passe boules” made it clear that the piano was intact. How mysterious! He had been thinking it over and over for 8 days. This mystery should be cleared up, at all costs! Was that a dream? Was that an hallucination? He left his desk and look through the window. The weather was bad. The rain was lashing down and the trees of the park birches, weeping willows, were yielding under the gusts of wind. The swing had turned round the portico. It was a blasted storm. None of his friend would come.

It was getting dark. He didn’t go down for the snack. Passe boules would soon call for their bath, the pyjama and dinner. He recalled his parents. They died in a shipureck. He inherited his light blue eyes from his mother Clemence. He dreamed for a long time. He understood the signification of the word Orphan now. His uncle certainly loved him but he was not his father. M.Hollbrook, “Master Hollbrook” as his students called him, liked only one thing, his job. He won the Rome Prize for painting, and had a Master’s degree at the Harvard University. He taught art history at the University and in schools and colleges.

Jeremy thought again about this story of piano. If only he could return in the playroom, but the governess closed the attic with double keys. Curiously, the noises had stopped. He tiptoed to his cousin’s bedroom and listened attentively behind the door. There was no music tonight. He sighed: “Why does she hate me?! It is not my fault if she’s been punished…”

Jeremie didn’t sleep, he was lying in his bed. The dinner had been burdensome. His uncle was the only one who talked. He was excited because he had new ideas for new paintings. He kept talking so as to impress his audience. The piano’s story was still haunting him. He would have paid the highest price to go to the attic to see the piano intact.

Jeremie felt his eyes closing and his body got heavy. He lyed cozily under the duvet, and forgot the bad weather outside. It was a few days before Halloween and the elements were unleashed. He finally fell asleep and even snored. He really snored. It was funny, he had never snored. He woke up suddenly. His heart got excited. He became extremely nervous. A cold shiver ran through him, the same feeling he perceived in the attic a few days before. He felt as if someone was sleeping aside him… He perceived, not without fear, his slow breathing. He couldn’t see anything in the darkness. Who was sleeping beside him? Was he really asleep? He remained paralyzed.

Time passed and he tried to grope the creature. Nothing. He couldn’t stand it any longer and turned his head and tried to catch something. There was nothing of course. The breathing stopped. Ouf! But what if the thing were hidden in the bedroom? Will it kill him? He didn’t dare to turn on the light, nor move or callfor someone. He was full of fear. And it was only one o’clock in the morning! It was awful. Despite all that, the sleep came. An abnormal sleep.

Jeremie was seeing a long dark tunnel open before him, and then lit up in its center. He clearly distinguished angels spinning around… They were beautiful. Dozens of shiny suns and multicoloured rainbows entailed the angels in a spectacular round. They were laughing as they clapped their hands. A majestic golden-coloured throne adorned jasper, rubies, diamonds, emeralds and topaz came near him. An elderly man was sitting on it. His wrinkled face seemed calm, confident. His hair compaired the snow on mountain-tops, his beard looked like an ice-fall and his eyes resembled hot flames. He held out a hand to all shaking and sweating Jeremy. The voice of the elder roared like billows on the rocks of icy mountainsides.

“Come on little man, you are the anointed one.”

Jeremie cried out of bed.

For days, Jeremie took his routinely life at school. The story of the flying piano seemed far away from him. The punishment had come to an end and the piano which he saw crush in front of him was really intact. It was such a mystery!

Meanwhile, he soon made new friends. His best friend’s name was Etienne. He was 12 years old like him. Etienne was resourceful, inventive and lively. He was exactly the friend he needed. His chestnut hair was never styled and his clothes looked dubious but it didn’t matter to Jeremy. They became inseparable. It was different with Alex. He overtly showed that he was Chelsea’s friend and Jeremy was suspicious of it. He seemed a little bit “foolish”, he only talked about foot and cake. He found him a lousy guy.

Jeremie had never talked to Etienne about his nightmares although he was always thinking about it. Who was this insane old man? What did he mean when he said “you are the anointed”? Was he on the way to become insane himself?

One night, while he was sleeping soundly, something suddenly awakened him, and he started up. Weariness was beginning to impair him, he felt ticked off! He had to get up however. Deep inside of him, he felt the need to go to the playroom. An impulse within pushed him in this direction. Now it was midnight and at that time, the attic was locked up. He put on his dressing gown and took his flashlight. You wouldn’t play Indiana Jones or Harry Potter with candles, would you? Chelsea was really asleep, he could hear her breathe calmly. How lucky she was, she hadn’t heard anything.

The old wooden stairway creaked despite Jeremie’s light weight. Gee, the door was open. He lighted the inside of the room. Cartons filled with comics were piled up in a corner. It was the usual mess. There were the old world map, the monoculars, the cards and pirate books. The piano was at the same place, near the baby-foot. A chest drew Jeremie’s attention. He did not remember having seen it before. He opened it. What a surprise! There was a massive opaque crystal ball in night blue colour on a gold-embroidered red soft pad. It looked fabulous. His eyes widened open like saucers. The crystal ball seemed to come to life. It shone like sunshine. Jeremy was dazzled. He gasped and fell on his back. Then a flashlight dashed out of it…

“Oh no! The child lamented, not him! The bearded man!”

It was the elder man with a white beard! He began spinning around the boy, laughing and winking.

“Ah ah ah! I knew I’d find you again, boy!”

“Go away, Jeremie shouted. You do not frighten me!”

“Ah! You’re not afraid of me?! Beware boy, from now on, we’ll never part again.”

Jeremy turned his flashlight off.

“What do you expect from me?”

“I would like to tackle you.”

The spectrum of the man whirled around the boy, skimming him, passing between his legs, passing through his dressing gown, surrounding him like a belt… Jeremy thumped in vain with his fists. The ghost went on laughing, laughing all the time!

“Are you mocking me, you, old gizmo!?”

“Insolence and courage go great together. Know this: I am not a spectre but a cherub…”

“I don’t care! Go away!”

“How dare you be familiar with me? Great… We’ll do great things together!”

The cherub lifted up Jeremy and made him swirl, hop, ride the piano, lie on his belly and with legs apart… He lost his dressing gown and found himself in pyjamas. He clang to the piano keyboard which made… loop- the-loop! The child rolled and found himself thrown on the carpet. He fell on a pile of old cardboard filled of textiles, books, dishes and other Barbie dolls. He stood up immediately. He was covered with dust but his heart was filled with a strong desire. He stood on his feet, launched an ultimate challenge:

“Well! Let’s go and fight! Let’s go fight Cherub! Come on, let’s fight!”

“O wonderful child, sweet and honey little boy, I knew that I could rely on you.”

A terrible shock catapulted on his back. He felt a bit groggy. He got up and shouted:

“You won that round but you won’t win them all!”

He took a billard cue and he struck the angel each time it materialized near him. Most of the time, he would strike the air. It was an uneven fight. The boy would surely loose the match, but the angel evaluated the little boy’s determination. The latter shooted some strong blows. The angel realised that he had in front of him a determined rival.The fight had become merciless.

“Then remember this, the angel warned him, you will need to win… 42+42+42 how much?”

“126, old fool!”

The cherub ignored the offense as he knew insolence was innate in children. He repeated another numbers :

“1x2x6?”

“12!” Jeremy shouted while fighting, his mental math capacities surprised him.

“12x3?” The angel went on.

“36! the child answered. I don’t care about your numbers, I don’t understand anything!”

“You’ll understand sooner”, the angel replied.

At the same time, he knocked Jeremie out. He collapsed onto the carpet. When he woke up, he rubbed his skull and took his stick again and made swinging motions over his head.

“You knocked me down, you old junk, but you may have a surprise!”

“I’ve never knonw such a valiant boy in my entire life… 3x3 ?”

“9 !”

“x3 ?”

“27, old rubbish !”

“27, 27, 27! the angel swore. 27, 27, 27! the number that every human should never forget…”

“I don’t care”, Jeremie shouted. He pushed back each assault from the cherub.

Jeremie fought the whole night. He showed an exceptional courage. The daybreak coloured the dormer’s stiles in a nice salmon pink colour, Jeremie collapsed out of tiredness. He leant his back and his head against a wall, put his billiard cue on his lap and closed his eyes. He had been wiped out but not defeated yet. The angel was deeply moved. He knelt down in front of the sleeping child. He had never had the opportunity to admire him. His physique was as pure as his soul. And his face was so perfect, so gracious, almost like divine grace…

“Oh marvellous child! You fought against the cherub all night long! Sleep now and may you not lack it. Remember, 27, 27, 27; 42; 42; 42… Great will be your commission. From now on, “Hogmanay” will be your name; Hogmanay, which means “the part of the one you can rely on”. Never tell about what you experienced last night.”

He disappeared and the very second, Jeremy found himself in his bed again, sleeping peacefully. His alarm clock showed midnight.

II THE INVITATION

The next morning, Jeremie still felt a strong pressure in his arm followed by a solid slap on his buttocks.

“It’s time lazy boy !”

“Chelsea?! You are crazy!? I hate you!”

She went out with a laugh and he woke up, really surprised. He was in his bed! And he didn’t remember having gone to bed… So he had not dreamt! But who put him to bed?! The crazy old man? If he had fought against him all night long, this must have produced such a hullabaloo.

“Chelsea ?”

“Yes ?”

The little girl was curling her hair.

“Did you hear some noise from the attic last night?”

She got annoyed.

“No, I didn’t and you are going to be late!”

Jeremie jumped out of bed and got dressed. It was all unbelievable! He was sure that he had fought against the crazy old man all night long. But he did not feel tired. This was absolutely incredible. However, Jeremie decided that for the time being, he would not try to understand anything. He put on his old knee-ripped jeans, the one which madehim look an adventurer. He found it timely because he knew that a mysterious adventure was looming ahead…

During the breakast, Jeremie kept silent. He was in deep meditation. From time to time, Chelsea fixed him with mocking eyes. But he couldn’t, and he wouldn’t say anything to anyone. And who knows? May be the old man would harshly punish and Jeremie was well aware how powerful the man was. He knew he couldn’t make a show of his importance before such a chap. The man could have killed him… He shuddered at these thoughts. Yet the secret was weighing too heavy. He wished he could share it with someone. But with who? Definitely not Chelsea neither to his uncle. He couldn’t possible confide in the governess. She would believe it, best to report to his uncle and the latter would do the same to his daughter. Jeremie was well aware how his uncle cherished his daughter…

Uncle Hollbrook noticed his silence and smiled:

“You’re so silent this morning. Tomorrow night will be Halloween… Your costumes are ready.”

“Super! I want to invite Alex”, Chelsea said.

“And I’ll invite Etiennne”, Jeremie added.

“He will protect you from ghosts!”

“How stupid of you!”

“You’ll invite whoever you want. I’ve decided to sell the small piano upstairs. It will be replaced by a grand one and it will be placed in the lounge…”

“Daddy!” (She rushed to her father and hugged him).

“You’ll learn how to play a musical instrument that suits you. Mrs M… will teach you. She’s an old expert concertist.”

The governess raised up her arms.

Jeremie broke the general enthusiasm and asked his uncle:

“Where will we celebrate Halloween?”

“Here!” Chelsea shouted with authority.

“You’re right, dear.”

The governess cleared her voice gently.

“You’ve surely forgotten that it can’t be held here, Sir.”

The uncle blushed and changed his mind.

“Well my lovely chicken! It won’t be possible…”

“Father? How dare you say no?”

She was not used to wipe up a denial.

“You will go to Alex’s, his Mother Valerie is organizing a party from 7 pm.”

“Great! That’s at my friends’s!” she said and she kissed her father.

“Mrs Malaimmer will leave for a few days, uncle Hollbrook continued, and I will spend tomorrow in Paris. I will come back and fetch you at Valerie’s.”

“Dad, there won’t be anyone at home and it would be a chance for us to be on our own…”

“It’s not possible! Adults also need to be present. “

Jeremie did not care at all about where they could celebrate Halloween. Celebrating it with Alex did not please him. However he was angry with his uncle. He always wanted to make her daughter happy, the sweetheart, the beautiful angel, the adored doll. She prevailed above all: the piano, the Halloween party, the Christmas’s ski in the station of her choice and also her father’s car mark! What next?! This seemed too much for him. He thundered against it.

“I am not going”, he suddenly shouted.

“Why is that?”

“I hate Alex and no one asked for my point of view!”

“Who cares about your point of view, what you think counts for nothing!”

Chelsea knew when and where it hurted. She struck. Now that he had an adopted son, how was his uncle was going to react, would he defend him? He remained so silent, letting cowardly his daughter to triumph. Jeremie burst out before such injustice:

“I hate you, you crane! I hate all of you!”

“Watch your language Jeremie”, the housekeeper ordered.

The uncle gave an embarrassed smile.

“Come on children, it’s Alex’s mum who wanted to invite this year, there’s nothing strange in it.”

Jeremie yearned after his mother so much…a muted anguish suddenly compressed his chest. He felt breathless. He avidly inspired while his heart ached.

Oh!Something really important is going to happen during this Halloween night…

Chelsea was slumped on the Skoda’s leather seat. She stiffled her anger. Alex’s father, that idiot, picked them up very late. It seemed that their journey was so long. Fifteen kilometers of country roads, muddy and rainy roads, via Ermenonville. The moon was shining and, it curiously reassured Jeremie though he was continuing to chew over dark thoughts. About a quarter of an hour after, they stopped in front of a large, all lit up house. Alex’s mother was a tall and distinguished beautiful woman. She had brown hair and was wearing black rimmed glasses. She was waiting for them on the landing.

“Ouf! We were waiting for you. Please come in.” 

The party really took off. Chelsea was already looking for Alexandre. They put off their coats, a giant buffet awaiting them. The room was decorated with giant spider webs and brooms were suspended everywhere, even on the ceilings. A magical and mysterious clarty prevaded in the living room and the dining room due to the amounts of pumpkins. Several mothers seemed busy. About fifteen children were dancing and having fun. Princesses, Barbies and witches were in couple with Peter Pan, pirates and Draculas. The subdued lighting printed shadows on the walls and ceilings, making mysterious silhouettes alive.

Chelsea was dressed like a “Pretty woman” and had effect on boys. It was not an Halloween costume but she had decided that tonight will be the night of her declaration of love to her darling and she had to add everything on it: red skirt, white boots, black tights, white handbag, mid-length black gloves… Her clothes contrasted sharply with those of the other girls and that was she wanted. Her braids were well arranged and her make-up perfect. A real display doll. Alex was astounded…

Jeremie was dressed up as Harry potter and he realized that he was not the only one. Alex that simpleton had had the same idea. His little round glasses gave him an intello air that somehow did not fit him. Observing Alex, you could already imagine him getting old, 40 years, with a belly, bald in a business suit in a restaurant, surrounded by pretty girls, smoking a cigar while his driver was waiting outside in a sumptuous black sedan!

“Eh! You had the same idea than me!”

“You stupid, Jeremie retorted. He had sensed the attack. It‘s you who had the same idea than me!”

Alex became livid. He did not expect a reply.

“I would not respond an orphan… and it’s my mum who invited you, not me!”

He was about to add: “Now you can’t reply”. But Jeremie cut down with “leave me alone, Alex, will you!”

Jeremie proceeded to the buffet line where lots of boys he did not recognize were talking. Some were in his class, but most were from Alex and Chelsea’s.

“What would you like to drink, my dear?” Alex’s grandmother inquired. She was a very distinguished lady with white hair and sunglasses.

“Euh, Champomy, please” Jeremie hesitated, wondering why she was still wearing black glasses in such a dark room.…

“Do you drink?”

He cringed.

“Look Harry?! What do you think about that?”

Jeremie’s face illuminated. He recognized Etienne in his high-pitched voice.

“Whoa”! He shouted out of a spontaneous and sincere admiration.

Etienne was in fact disguised as a Rahan. He was wearing white shorts and the two skins of beasts his elder sister made for him. His father lent him his Corsican knife in a dark blue leather case.He was proudly wearing it around his waist. His thighs and his legs were painted in yellow and the other in red.

His face, from his forehead to his nose was coloured with a carmine make-up, the rest of his face was bright yellow. He outlined his eyes in black. He scanned you in an intimidating manner. He was wearing an indian wig with braids and nibs.

“You are a funny Rahan!” Jeremie laughed.

Etienne jumped cheers and hugs from the Sioux. They were served Champomy and they drank. The bell rung at the front door. A few children could hear it despite the noise and they told Valerie.

“I don’t expect anyone else…” Alex‘s mother was surprised.

She made her way through the crowd. It was like an apparition. A sublimely beautiful childstood at the doorframe. He was dressed in a shiny white costume and wearing red boots with a thousand lights and ermine’s gloves embroidered the gold wire. But his face capted the attention: perfection and grace. Her mid-long golden hair protected her miraculous face. It worked like a box. Could it be a girl or a boy? No one could say. A closer look at the traits, really radiant showed their delicacy, the purity of a little girl but also the virile severity and tenderness of a boy. His white skin contrasted deliciously with his pinkish-red mouth. His eyes were beaming like two emerald. Several girls stamped there feet: “How beautiful the child is!!” Many of them took their masks off to admire him.

Alexandre’s mother, recovered his spirits, after some time.

“My little angel (that’s true), come in, will you! You must be cold.”

“It may be a girl!” a Peter Pan said.

“Oh no! It’s a boy, a princess Aurore answered, and I shall marry him!”

The child was holding a beautiful flower bouquet which aroused everyone’s interest.

“These flowers are so beautiful, my dear! It’s too much. Will you thank your mother for me?” Valerie complimented.

“How extravagant she is”, Etienne’s mother was amazed.

Valerie asked the child: “will you give it to me?” in a tender voice.

The child hesitated then gave it to her. Surprise! The moment she took it, the bouquet turned flame red in her hand. She screamed and dropped it.

“Ouh!? I burned myself! Shame on you!”

The child picked up the bouquet and held it out. Everyone moved back.

“This bouquet is for Hogmanay”, he asserted very seriously.

The girls expressed their disappointment. Valerie burst out laughing.

“You should have said it’s for your fiancé!? That’s cute! How sweet! How sweet!”

“Damned too sweet!” Chelsea echoed ironically.

Everyone looked for a little Hogmanay. There was none that named, of course. Jeremie’s heart beat madly… He approached, with Etienne and Alex.

“Hey baby! Look here at theman! Rahan shouted to her and swelled out his chest.”

“What’s your name, sweetie? Do I know your parents?” Valerie questioned her.

“Who drive you here? Your mum? Is anyone waiting for you out here?” Etienne’s mother inquired.

“That is so strange”, Valerie added.

Suddenly the angel’s face lit up… he saw Jeremie!

The children uttered exclamations. All were amazed.

“Hogmanay! You fought my grandfather for a whole night…”

Everyone was amazed .Some held back their laugh. Jeremie uttered a long sigh and stifled a tear.

He knew from the start the bouquet was for him. Now the spell was cast. The angel made his way through the group of boys.

“She’s going to offer the bouquet to her lover. Quick! My camera!” Valerie commented and rushed to her bedroom.

“Hey, you fought with her grandfather a whole night, didn’t you? Damned you!” Etienne murmured to Jeremie.

Then he went on giggling.

“Listen! We’re not on a game” Jeremie stamped his feet.”

The seven boys laughed not longer. The angel was standing in front of them. He knelt and offered Jeremie the bouquet.

“Hogmanay…”

“Why does she call him Hogmanay?!” Etienne wondered.

Jeremie took the bouquet and it blazed. The children were bewildered. They cried out and clapped their hands. Valerie took shot after shot.

“Is she your girlfriend?! Does she call you Hogmanay?” Chelsea asked.

“Stop! I’m lost here!” the boy protested.

Valerie and her mother soothed everyone.

“Come on, kids that was an excellent magic trick. Let’s put the bouquet in the water now.” Alex’s mother concluded.

She grabbed the bouquet and it turned into a bouquet of thorns and nettles! The old lady dropped it, with horror. Everyone was amazed. This time, some fear took hold of them.

“Don’t touch it any more, Jeremie ordered, only me can take it…”

All shared fear and marvel. They waited Jeremie touched the thorns and nettles and the bouquet became the most splendid bouquet ever seen again. Everyone was delighted and full of enthusiasm. Someone brought a vase and Jeremie put the red and golden bouquet in it. All this was incredible. All this crowd around Jeremie. How wonderful! Valerie kissed him on his two cheeks. Jeremie couldn’t say a word. He felt so weary…

“Hey! The creature has vanished away!” a child shouted in a sudden.

“Vanished where? Did she leave without permission?!”

All were surprised, where had the girl (or the boy) with bouquet gone?

“She was beside me and hey, she disappeared”, a young sorcerer assessed. He was obviously shocked.

Everyone burst out with laughter. Jeremy knew that it had to react quickly.”

“I don’t know this young girl! he said. He realized he had better hush. No one would understand him anyway.”

“You’re kidding me, Alex accused Jeremie! Where’s your girlfriend gone?”

“She must have gone back home”, Alex’s grandmother answered.

“That’s it, she went home!” Jeremie said and he decided to cut short the discussion.

He knew that this child was a messenger. He had followed him to here, but for what reasons? He could not make out the reasons. He could not tell the story to his friends. They would take him as the mad.

“Hey man, what are you going to do, now? Are you going to make me disappear like your girlfriend?” Etienne mocked him.

“You idiot!” Jeremie retorted.

A lot of children were no more interested in the incident and they resumed the dance. Others, such as Kevin, Alex and Chelsea, observed closely this mysterious bouquet which was full of lights, in the vase.

“It is astounding yet” Chelsea said to Alex’s mum. The party went on. Jeremie and Alex seemed in good terms again. The latter came to him with a friendly gesture.

He put his hand on Jeremie’s shoulder and said: “You know, until this evening I held you as an idiot but that is over now.”

Alex patted Jeremie’s hand but there was no reaction. He got upset and left. Jeremie’s dear cousin , Chelsea noticed how hurt her lover was. She clenched her teeth and threw him a fierce look. She was too proud to acknowledge he was somewhere what superior. One question was still lingering: what would happen next? Suddenly Kevin called : “Come and have a look here, Jeremie.”

Kevin had been scanning the bouquet for some time and he found it interesting. Jeremie, Alex and Etienne rushed.

“Have a close look at the petals of the tulips and the roses.”

“They are fading at a wild speed”, Etienne noticed. His voice expressed a muffled anguish.

“That’s another devilish trick”, Chelsea murmured.

“Shut up” Jeremie yelled.

The petals were writing in pain, then they changed colours. Even the petals of the roses turned black…

“They are dropping!”

Everyone opened their eyes wide, like saucers.

“Don’t touch them!” Jeremie warned.

Etienne took his hands away. Chelsea huddled up in Alex’s arms. The petals were taking geometric shapes as they were looking, flabbergasted. Kevin who shone in Maths, frowned.

“The numbers are in the reverse order.”

“What’s this?” Etienne asked.

“They are numbers that you read upside down from a mirror Kevin exclaimed. Quick, give me a pen.”

The others ushed. They were flabbergasted. Kevin came back with a paper and a pen and Chelsea brought a mirror for a doll.

“13, 67, 6 and…74.” Jeremie wrote.

The petals went on falling on the pedestal table.

“That’s not another magic trick” Kevin asserted.

“It’s a more serious matter.”

“An extraterrestrial message, may be?” Alex wondered.

“Why not?” Etienne replied. He was getting more and more excited.

“Look! Jeremie said, another numbers!”

Then a final exclamation fused out of their chests. It was stunning. The stems and the petals were transferring, they took the shape of a number, then disintegrated…

They had to be quick noting the numbers. Some numbers merged with others. They shouldn’t make any mistake. The message meant to be important.

Jeremie took off his glasses from Harry and Kevin, his mask from Dark Vador. Alex threw everything away in the room. All was fantastic, all was truly frenetic.

“28, 6, 4”, Alex said loud.

“No, no! Not 28, 22.”

“That’s it, 22 and here…13.”

“13 ok… and 14 and 16… No, 6 I said 6 not 16.”

“OK 6, no lezard, please!”

“Don’t omitt the 1, Kevin,…1 again”, Chelsea said.

“How many?”

“1 plus 1, 1 twice.”

“That makes 2.”

“No! 1 and 1. Each number matters”, Jeremie hammered.

“OK, noted down.”

“15? They are inverse… No, no, it’s 15”, Etienne hesitated.

“15”, Chelsea confirmed.

“Don’t talk at the same time, you all!”

They were getting nervous. The moments were so historical, so hysterical! A message from the outer space... A new group formed little by little around them. However Jeremie demanded that they be alone. Etienne saw to it by force, making very little children protest noisily.

“Please children don’t make too much noise”, the mothers warned them.

Kevin noted the final list:5,9,14,9,20,3,8,5,22,15,1,1,19,9, again,21,18,3,20,14,13,26,20,15 and 9!

“What a gibberish!” Jeremie complained!

Isadora Bellebranche had come with her children, Aubepine, 10 years old and Parfait 11 years old. Her Majesty Aubepine was disguised into a marquess and his Excellency Parfait into a marquis of course. At such parties, there was no second hand clothes from Emmaüs or from the Catholic relief. Here only embroidered five materials , lames, fitting with the best velvet, powdered twigs, scarves made of silky muslin, a few family jewels from grandmothers, fine leather gloves and luxury leather, patent mocasins and fur shoes…This family had such a refined teste and such modesty, such simplicity above all. Aubepine didn’t want to go to this party at first. She said it was intended for the poor people”. Poor people? That’s easy said. But her mother obliged her and her brother. The latter was reluckant to come, too.

Chelsea and Jeremie didn’t like Aubepine or Parfait, they were too snobbish. But let us pay tribute to Mrs Bellebranche, and especially her charming daughter because thanks to her Jeremie’s life would change for ever.

“Everything’s fine, children?”

“Yes, Mrs Bellebranche”, Jeremie answered.

“What are you at now?”

“We’re trying to untangle a brain teaser” Etienne retorted nervously.

“My daughter, my sweet treasure, is going to help you. She can solve the hardest problem.”

“That’s too much!” Jeremie fumed inside.

The little girl came closer. She looked down at Etienne, the “wildboy”, the backward “outdated croc- magnon” and slipped herself between Kevin and Alexandre.

Kevin explained: “Well, there’s message hidden behind all these numbers. As I see it, they are zodiac signs or they situate stars. We would need a sky map to decipher them.

Jeremie yelled:

“She’s got nothing to do with it!”

He knew the angel sent him a codified message. Only he should decipher it. Now it was long and arduous. Etienne was the first to give up, then Alex and Chlesea followed. They resumed the party. Jeremie noticed that the sum was 301.

“That’s an impair number, Aubepine said, where do these numbers come from?”

Jeremie answered: “it was top secret.”

“Oh, well…” The little girl felt upset and struch the boy with her look.

“Don’t think you’re indispensable”, Kevin added.

“I’ll stay as long as I want to.”

Kevin started to seethe with anger. He kicked Parfait out when the latter protected his sister. He warned him he would make a bullet for guns out of her if she came back.

The small boy ran to his mother.

“Go and run, you coward”, Kevin whistled in his teeth.

The children made progress in deciphering the message.

They had the numbers divided by 2, by 3. They multiplied to infinity… The code must have come from another galaxy. Kevin dipped into astronomy books, made researches on google:heliocentric, position, declension, ecliptics… He went through everything. He felt like pulling off his hair! Nothing came out, none succeeded.

Jeremie said: “These numbers show a longitude and a latitude here on earth.”

Well how about using an earthly globe. They brought one and resumed their calculations. 22.40 pm, Halloween night would end within an hour. They should operate quickly.

Aubepine demanded a pen and a copybook. She looked down at the boys, turned to Jeremie.

“Go and fetch me a notebook. I need to write.”

“No! How dare you give me orders?”

“Gallantry, Sir, mere gallantry from a boy towards a girl.”

“Ok. I’m going.”

Kevin laughed up his sleeve; Jeremie gave Auberpine what she asked for. She thanked him with hypocrisy. They resumed the work on longitudes and latitudes. The little girl kept on writing on her side.23h30. The party was about to end.

Kevin asked her what she was doing. He got no answer. They were to their limits. She finally stopped writing and eyed them up and down.

“Both of you are silly boys; you are the two boobies of the Comtesse deSegur…”

Her brother laughed. She nailed in and proudly announced:

“Think these numbers represent one letter from the alphabet.You’ll get T, C, H, N,I,E,M,U,I,A,E,Z,O,C,T,I,S,O,I,R,U,T,A and N. Now, you find a message out of these 24 letters. I’m not interested in childish games.”

She left the copybook and the pen on the pedestal table and joined her friends. Something like a cloud hang above the two boys heads… Jeremie was the first to move.

“Well done! She’s right.”

Kevin was full of mistrust.

“It’s just one lead, one like many others.”

“No! There’s a message. Let’s find it!”

They buckled down to the work.

“It’s written ‘join’”, Jeremie said.

“Yes, and ‘you’, ‘tonight’…”

“I’ll note the numbers and you‘ll do with the letters.”

“Ok Kevin.”

“It’s written ‘come with self’.”

“That means nothing, Jeremie and mind the mistakes!”

“Or ‘come with me tonight’.”

“I don’t like crosswords”, Jeremie moaned.

They heard neither the music nor the surrounding noise, they were too busy stringing numbers and letters.

Suddenly, Jeremie cried out victoriously.

“I found it! Look 3,5,19,15,9,18,1,22,1,14,20,21,9,14,9,20,3,8,5,26,20,15,9,13! All the 24 letters are there.” He got his breath:

“This is the message: ‘at your home tonight, before midnight’.”

Alexandre and Etienne were approaching to get the news.

“Have you found it?”

Jeremie was about to answer when he stopped. Wasn’t it a secret? Kevin was already destroying the papers. Better not tell anybody.

“How did you know the message is for you?”

“I know, that’s all!”

“So what?” Alex got impatient.

“I’ve got to go back home right now”, Jeremie decided.

“What about Chelsea?” Etienne inquired.

“How are you going? Will you walk?” Kevin worried.

Chelsea was come to inquire about the latest news and they told her the situation. Suddenly a violent lightning lit the house. A tremendous thunder roared after. A storm broke out and all the lights went out. The house was thrust in an oppressive darkness. Everyone was amazed.