Kenneth B. Andersen Dream Castle
This fairy tale belongs to
Watch the magic come alive! Make the countdown to Christmas even more magical, and join Leo on an amazing fairytale adventure in December. All you have to do is download the NAME IT app completely free of charge from the App Store or Google Play. Discover an exciting new animation in the NAME IT app on: 1 December 10 December 23 December Kenneth B. Andersen Dream Castle About the author Kenneth B. Andersen (b. 1976) is one of Denmark s most popular authors for children and young people. He has published more than 35 books in the fantasy and thriller genres, including The Great Devil War and the superhero series about Antboy, which has also been made into a film. He has received numerous accolades for his books, which have been published in more than 14 countries. In 2018 his novel The Devil s Apprentice has its premiere as a musical. You can read more about Kenneth B. Andersen at kennethbandersen.com Illustrations by Kenneth Boris Jensen Assistant illustrator and colourist: Marie-Louise Højer Jensen
chapter 1 dark thoughts Good night, darling. Mum bent over and kissed Leo s brow. Are you ready for a good night s sleep? Mmm, Leo murmured, without opening his eyes. The bedtime story had made him drowsy, and he was already half asleep. Now he just needed to fall asleep completely. Preferably before his mother left the room. He nearly managed that, too, but then he heard the little click by the door as she turned out the light. The sound cut straight through his tiredness, and from one second to the next, Leo was wide awake again. He tried not to listen to the sound of his mother s retreating footsteps. Tried not to listen to the sound of silence. Tried not to open his eyes. But... Leo opened his eyes. It was just his room; he knew that. His desk, bookshelves, the globe, his chair, his school bag. Nothing was any different from thirty seconds before. And yet everything was different. Because, now, the light had been turned out. He knew, too, that Leo means lion, but he felt more like a little mouse lying there in his bed, the darkness More magic? Watch today s chapter as a video in the NAME IT app 6 Dream Castle 7
transforming into thoughts that he couldn t control. With all the familiar things becoming unfamiliar. Things he imagined, even though he tried not to. His dad had once taught him a monster rhyme: Monster, monster, go away! Or you won t see another day! It had been fun, and it made Leo and his little sister Tilly laugh. But later, as Leo lay there in the dark, murmuring the rhyme to himself, it hadn t been as much fun. Far from it. Of course, he knew there was no such thing as monsters he was 11, after all but suddenly here he was, talking to them. Threatening them, even! That made them all the more real. Leo tried to close his eyes again, but it was as if they had a mind of their own. Like a curtain blowing to the side all the time. There was a black rectangle over there on his desk. His advent calendar. Today was 1 December. The countdown to Christmas had begun, but Leo had only one burning desire: to stop being so afraid of the dark. Christmas!, he thought, clinging to the idea. He knew it was all about that. Thinking positive thoughts. Christmas. Finally, Leo managed to fall asleep, and he dreamt. About a strange creature that resembled a boy, and yet not quite. His ears were too pointed; his head was a little too big. He wore a red hat with a striped scarf. Don t be afraid, says the boy, who isn t a boy, reaching out a hand towards Leo. Come with me. Leo takes his small hand. And in his dream, he isn t scared at all. 8 Dream Castle 9
chapter 2 the castle in the glass sphere Leo found it the next day, on his way home from school. He was walking through the park, pondering about his dream from the night before. He couldn t remember it. Just that it had been the kind of dream you don t want to wake up from. When his father had called him in the morning, he d really rather have just turned over and gone back to sleep again. Out of the corner of his eye, Leo suddenly saw something shimmering near the ground, and he stopped. From this distance, he couldn t see what it was. It shimmered so brightly in the sunshine that he had to squint. He went over to it. It was a snow globe. One of those things you shake to make a little snowstorm. It was in the scrub at the foot of an old tree stump. He picked it up and peered into the depths of the glass globe, fascinated. There was a castle inside every detail looked impressive. Towers, spires, balconies and waving flags. And it was all chalky-white. As if the castle were made of the snow that settled around it. It stood on a shimmering icy mountain, surrounded by trees. A broad stairway led up to the closed castle gate. There had been a Christmas market in the park the previous day. Leo had been there with his family and ate his fill of pan-fried batter cakes and Christmas cookies. Somebody must have lost this snow globe. Fortunately, it was not broken. In fact, there wasn t so much as a scratch on it. The snow globe looked freshly polished even though it had been lying on the ground all night. The snow and the castle inside gleamed in the sunlight. It was like having a little world in your hand, and the very idea got Leo s heart racing. He turned the snow globe upside down, making the snow fall from the ground to the sky above the castle. The letters L.T. were engraved on the bottom. That had to be the owner s initials. Funnily enough, they were Leo s initials, too. Leo Tarwood. L.T. Almost as if the snow globe belonged to him, and always had. Just then, he got the feeling someone was looking at him. He looked round, but the park was deserted. He was alone. Alone with the snow globe. Leo opened his school bag, popped the snow globe inside and hurried home. 10 Dream Castle 11
chapter 3 once upon a time... His parents and his little sister were in the kitchen, sitting at the table. There you are, at last! his father said. Did you go back to sleep? No, I He didn t really know what to say. But there was no need to say anything else, because at that very moment, Tilly pointed to the window and exclaimed excitedly: Look! It s snowing! There was no doubt about it: there were lots and lots of big, soft snowflakes gently falling from the dark sky. Leo crossed his fingers. I hope it ll settle... Looks like it will, said Mum. He sat on his bed in his room and looked at the snow globe on his desk. He hadn t shown it to his little sister or his mother or father. He didn t really know why not; it just didn t feel right. Like revealing a secret you ve promised not to tell anyone. That castle It looked so authentic. So real. As if you could climb those winding stairs and open the gate at the top. As if you could look in through the little black windows in the white walls. It was like something out of the fairy tales that were read to him and Tilly as bedtime stories. Fairy tales with magical castles and dragons to vanquish. Leo glided a finger down over the domed glass, a fairy tale taking shape in his thoughts. He d always had a good imagination. Perhaps too good, sometimes. Especially when he lay awake in the dark and couldn t sleep. Once upon a time, there was a castle, he said. An enchanted castle, where all your dreams and wishes could come true. But only those specially chosen could find their way there. The castle looked empty and deserted, but it was not. The keeper of the castle lived all alone in the great halls. He made sure the magic didn t freeze, and he had everything he could dream of. Or almost everything. Because he was lonely, and he wished Leo, for the third time! His mother s voice cut through, and Leo blinked, confused. The third time? He hadn t heard a thing! Obviously, he had been far too deep in thought. Breakfast s ready! Coming! he answered. He picked up the snow globe and put it in the drawer. This motion made the snow dance around the castle. It looked magnificent, and Leo wished the snow wasn t confined to the snow globe. He would love to be out on his sledge. 12 Dream Castle 13
It happened again. Like so many times before. The moment Mum and Dad had said goodnight, and the light was switched off, Leo s eyes popped wide open. It was as if the tiredness he had felt a moment ago had been swept from his body. The room was made up of darkness and strange shapes. The globe of the world was the head of a strange being. The football cup morphed into a stunted hand. His school bag looked like chapter 4 it s snowing! Stop it! Leo whispered, pulling the duvet more closely around him. Just stop it! Why did it have to be like this? Why did he have to be like this? Why couldn t he be more like that boy in the story his mother had read to them? Jack, who had planted a magic bean, which grew overnight into a plant so tall it reached above the clouds. When Jack saw what had happened, he climbed up the beanstalk to find out where it led. Without even hesitating. With no trace of fear. The complete opposite of Leo. But, of course, Leo wasn t the hero of a fairy tale. Far from it. Fairy tales He started thinking about the snow globe and reached out his hand from beneath the duvet to take it out of the drawer. A narrow strip of light from the street light shone in through a gap in the curtains and gave the castle in the snow globe a silvery glow. He shook the snow globe and put it on his desk. He looked at the snowflakes whirling around the white castle, and suddenly it was as if his bed felt softer. Softer and warmer, and his eyelids felt heavier. The snow descended upon the castle, quietly and gently. Quietly and gently and Round and round and round. Leo yawned and realised his thoughts were starting to make less sense. His heart, which had been racing moments before, slowed down again. It was beating quietly and gently. Quietly and gently and Round and round and round. Leo s eyes closed. He was asleep. Inside the snow globe, the snow continued to fall. And a light came on in the top window of the tallest tower of the castle. 14 Dream Castle 15
Leo opened his eyes. At first, he thought a noise must have woken him. Then he realised it was the complete opposite. Not a noise, but the silence. Surely it wasn t normally this quiet here? He looked around the darkened room. Something was different. To start with, he couldn t quite put his finger on what it was. Then it occurred to him: the darkness. Of course, it was still well, dark. But it wasn t quite as dark as usual. Leo got out of bed. He went across to the window and drew back the curtain. His mouth opened in a silent gasp. The night was white. Everything was shrouded in a thick blanket of snow, covering roads, cars and rooftops. It was as if the world as he knew it had been replaced by a completely different world overnight. It was no longer snowing, and the stars were twinkling in the dark sky like thousands of inquisitive little eyes. Then there was a noise. Just behind him. Leo turned around. His thoughts felt tangled. There was a big mirror on the wardrobe door, and he should have been able to see himself in it. Should have been able to see the snow-covered town through the window behind him. But that wasn t what he could see, because, reflected in the mirror, was the castle. chapter 5 through the mirror The castle of ice and snow, towering on a high hill, surrounded by trees covered in snow. The white banners waved in the wind. Leo closed his eyes. He opened them again, sure that the castle would be gone. That his imagination had played a trick on him. But the castle was still there. Right there. Inside the mirror. As if it were a window to another world. The world of the snow globe. At that moment, something materialised in the sky above the castle. It started like a little glint of light, like an opening in the sky. It grew and branched out, and soon the whole sky was covered in waves of the Northern Lights, causing the snow and the castle walls to glow all the colours of the rainbow. It was almost like it was reaching out to him. As if the light was calling him with a voice he couldn t hear, but that his heart responded to. Leo raised one hand and laid it on the mirror. He wasn t really surprised to find his hand proceeded through it. As if the mirror were not just a window to another world, but an open window. A strange sensation of butterflies came over him, and for a moment Leo nearly pulled his hand back. He looked at his bed. He half expected to see himself lying under the duvet, his eyes shut. How could this be anything other than a dream? But it didn t feel like a dream. Far from it. But that wasn t the strangest thing. The strangest thing was that he wasn t scared. Not at all. Leo bit his lip. And climbed through the mirror. 16 Dream Castle 17
chapter 6 a winter wonderland He found himself in a forest. Tall fir trees, their branches laden with snow, stood densely around him. Behind him was the mirror. Hanging in the air, as if held up by invisible cords. He could see his own room through it. But that was all he could see. The house itself was gone. The town was gone. Everything had been replaced by a wintry forest under the dancing Northern Lights. Between the tree trunks, Leo could see the white castle, and he could hardly believe it. That he had stepped out of his own room, straight into another world. A world that stood on his desk, in the form of a snow globe. Even though it was the middle of the night, it wasn t dark here. The Northern Lights in the sky took care of that. It was an amazing sight. Like looking directly up into a bright, flashing rainbow. He took a few steps forward. The snow crunched beneath his feet, and it was only now he realised that, although he was in a winter landscape wearing only his underpants and a pyjama T-shirt, he wasn t at all cold. He bent down to caress the snow. He gasped in amazement. The snow was warm. Like sand on the beach on a hot summer s day. Wow! he murmured. Just then, he caught sight of something hanging from a gnarled branch a few metres from where he stood. Something red. He went over to it. His brow furrowed as he realised what it was. A hat. Very soft, and with a yellow tassel. On the inside, there were two embroidered letters, almost worn away. There was an L and something that looked like a a T? No. An F. 18 Dream Castle 19
Whatever was it doing there? Who did it belong to? Leo looked down, but the only tracks he could see in the snow were his own footprints. Just then, he realised there was something moving between the trees, and he turned his head suddenly, looking round. Hello? he called. His voice disappeared in the forest and was swallowed up by the silence. There was no answer. But Leo wasn t alone. He was sure of that. 20 Dream Castle 21
chapter 7 the figure in the forest A moment of silence. Then came an answer, in the form of an echo: Hello? Almost as if he himself was living inside. Leo took a deep breath. Then his heart beating fast but lightly he stepped inside the chalky-white castle. Hello? he called again. Is anyone there? Still no answer. I ve found your hat! Again, something stirred further ahead, and Leo caught a glimpse of a figure that immediately disappeared behind the trees. Who are you? he asked. Please don t be scared. He looked back. He could still see the mirror hanging like an opening in the air between the trees. The passage to his very own world. Perhaps he should just go back. Back to his own room, to snuggle under the duvet, and in the morning all this would just be like a dream. Perhaps that was the smartest thing to do. Leo thought again about the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. He, too, had reached another world, by climbing up the stalk that reached all the way up to the sky. A world that had proved to be dangerous. What if this world, too, was dangerous? But it wasn t. Somehow, he just knew that, even though he didn t understand why. Knew that Please don t be scared, he said again. Even though he didn t feel cold, he put the hat on. It was neither too tight nor too big; it fitted perfectly. He proceeded on and was soon out of the forest. He was at the foot of the hill where the impressive castle towered towards the glowing night sky. The Northern Lights lit up the white walls in giddy colours, and Leo caught another glimpse of the little figure heading up the wide stairway and in through the castle gate, quick as a mouse. He followed. Up the stairway to the white gate. It was closed. Leo looked back. There were tracks in the snow on the stairway. But only his own. Mysteriously, the figure he d been following hadn t left any footprints. He raised a hand to knock, but just then the gate half-opened, silently. Hello? he called. 22 Dream Castle 23
Leo opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling in his room. He pulled the cosy duvet tighter around him, smiling to himself. That was surely the strangest dream he d ever had. So real he had never experienced anything like it. He was slightly annoyed to find he was awa Just a minute. This this wasn t his room. He sat up. The room he was in was white. No, not only white. Like glass. As if the walls, floor and ceiling were made of Ice, he murmured, pushing the duvet away. He went across to the window, to find a magnificent view of the wintry forest. The sun, shining from the shimmering blue sky, made the snow and icicles sparkle like diamonds. Down in the castle yard, he could see things that he first thought must be statues, but which were, in fact, snowmen. There were more than he could count. He was still inside the castle. This was not a dream. Or, if it was, he still wasn t awake. chapter 8 awake? He remembered how he had followed the fast-moving figure that remained at the edge of his field of vision all the time. How he d been led down long corridors and through great halls. Up and down stairs, some as wide as motorways, others narrow and winding, like a corkscrew. Where are we going? he d asked, but he didn t get an answer. Finally, he d reached a door at the end of a passage. He had no idea where the figure had gone, but the room on the other side of the door was empty. There was a bed with a soft duvet, and that bed As soon as he set eyes on it, Leo was overcome with exhaustion. All the things that had happened. All the thoughts buzzing around in his head. He d sat down just to have a little rest. Just for a while. And now he d woken up. There was a stool in front of the window with a pile of clothes on it. They were white, too. As if made of snow. Trousers, top, socks and a pair of shoes. All Leo s size. He took off the hat, which he d slept in, and put on the clothes. They fitted perfectly. The fabric felt soft and warm against his body. Did you lay those clothes out for me? he asked, looking at the hat on the chair. Yes, replied a voice, and Leo spun round. At first, he couldn t see anyone. Then a head appeared through the doorway. Black hair, blue eyes, red cheeks. A boy. That s what he looked like at first glance, anyway, but his head was a little too large for his body, and his ears they were pointed like a deer s. Well, perhaps he was a boy, but he definitely wasn t a human boy. Who are you? asked Leo. 24 Dream Castle 25
At first, the boy didn t answer. He bit his lip as if he didn t know whether he was allowed to answer. Then he stepped cautiously into the room. He was wearing red clothes and a striped scarf. I live here at the castle, he said. You and who else? asked Leo. The boy wrinkled his brow as if he didn t understand the question. Who else? he repeated. Nobody else. Now it was Leo s turn to wrinkle his brow. Nobody else? Do you live at the castle all by yourself? Yes. Who else do you think would live here? Er?, murmured Leo, looking more closely at the boy. Or was he at boy at all? On the one hand, he looked young. About Leo s age. But on the other hand, there was something about him that made him look much older. Old, actually. Like a child and an old person in the same body. So he must have built all the snowmen. Just him. How long have you lived here? For as long as I can remember, the boy answered, adding after a short pause: Maybe even longer. What about your mum and dad? My mum and dad? The boy blinked. I don t have a mum and dad. I don t think I ever did have. Leo stared at him. Don t think? As if he wasn t quite sure. But surely he had a mum and dad? What s your name? asked Leo. chapter 9 a strange boy My name is the boy began, but stopped. His gaze wavered. My name He stopped again and looked down at the floor, as if he were ashamed. When he spoke again, his voice was much softer. I can t remember. I think it begins with A. He looked up nervously, as if afraid Leo would tell him off. What s your name? Leo, answered Leo. Leo Tarwood. Leo Leo Tarwood, the boy repeated. Just Leo, Leo smiled. It means lion. Ohh. The boy s eyes were like saucers. Is that because you re very brave? Well answered Leo, feeling himself blush. He picked up the hat from the chair. Is this yours? I found it out in the forest yesterday. The boy s eyes lit up. Thank you! I only realised I d lost it when I got back to the castle. Hey, maybe that s your name? Leo pointed to the two letters embroidered on the inside. L and F. Maybe the A s just worn off. A-L-F. Alf. Alf, the boy repeated, looking as if he was sampling it. Then he nodded. It s a nice name, so let s say that s it. Can you really not remember your own name? Of course I can, he replied. My name s Alf. Have you forgotten already? Leo laughed. So did the boy Alf. As their laughter tailed off, Leo s tummy could be heard rumbling. The lion s roaring, Alf smiled, turning around. Come this way. I ve already set the table. 26 Dream Castle 27
chapter 10 dream castle Leo walked with Alf along the long corridors and into a breathtakingly gigantic banqueting hall. Obviously it couldn t be, but the room looked bigger than the castle itself. Crystal chandeliers the size of whales filled the room with soft light. In the middle of the room was a table so long that Leo couldn t see the end of it. And it was heaving with food. Did you make all this? he gasped; there had to be enough food here to last several years! If he ate non-stop. Go ahead, Alf gestured with his arms. Just help yourself. There was so much that Leo had no idea where to start. All his favourite dishes were here and more besides. The sight and aroma got the saliva flowing in anticipation. He decided on a syrup pancake, and it was by far the best pancake he d ever tasted. He washed it down with some hot tea with honey. What sort of place is this? he asked, grabbing a buttered roll. It was warm, as if it had just come out of the oven. But the butter was still cold and hadn t even started to melt. A dream castle, Alf replied. Leo paused, mid-mouthful. A dream castle? This is where children come when they dream. And whatever you dream about can be found here. So this, Leo murmured, slightly disappointed, this is just a dream? Alf shook his head. I don t think so. The children I m not usually able to talk to them like we re chatting now. I ve never experienced this before. Neither have I, for sure, said Leo. He found himself pinching his arm before he d considered whether that would be a good idea. What if he woke up?! He didn t want to. Not yet. But he didn t wake up. He was awake. Awake in a dream world. The very idea sent his head spinning. 28 Dream Castle 29
Aren t you going to have something to eat, too? he asked. Alf shook his head. I m not hungry. Leo, for his part, was hungry, and he ate and ate until he couldn t cram another mouthful in. He d lost count of the number of pancakes he d had, but the pile didn t seem to be any smaller at all. If anything, quite the opposite. Are you full up? asked Alf. Absolutely bursting. Leo patted his tummy. Next time, you don t need to make as much. Next time repeated Alf, and his gaze suddenly became distant, as if he was wondering about something. Then he blinked and smiled at Leo. Would you like to see the castle? Why not! As they left the banqueting hall, Leo noticed Alf making a sudden movement. There was a noise behind them, and when Leo looked back, it didn t actually surprise him to see that all the food was gone. chapter 11 behind the dream door They were in a passage that looked so long, it might well continue forever. There were doors on both sides. Hundreds of them. Thousands. In different shapes and colours. Round doors, triangular doors, doors with heavy wooden beams and doors of gleaming silver. Some were ordinary size; others were big, like gates, and others again were no bigger than a cat flap. There are different dreams behind these doors, Alf explained, opening a narrow violet door with a golden handle. Leo gasped. The room behind the door was not a room at all, but a beach of pearly-white sand and waving palms beneath a cloudless summer sky. He could hear the waves lapping gently against the shore. Alf closed the door again, and the sound of the beach disappeared. How many rooms are there? Leo asked. Limitless. Just as there are limitless dreams. Would you like to try one? Try one? Try a dream? Alf nodded and pointed to the doors. Choose whatever you want. Leo stood considering for a while. Then he went across to a little silvery door with beautiful carvings. The handle was shaped like a horse s head. The metal felt cool to his warm hands. He opened the door slightly. Through the opening, he could see green grass and smell the sweet scent of fresh flowers. He looked at Alf. Is it dangerous? Alf shook his head. These dreams are all good. Leo pushed the door wider open and stepped through and he was standing in a meadow full of flowers, surrounded by high mountains. Behind the fluffy clouds sailing across the sky, the sun shone warmly. No, the suns, he realised in astonishment. There were two of them. Like two big, bright eyes looking down at him. He turned and saw Alf through the doorway, which was like an opening in this reality. Alf waved at him and smiled. 30 Dream Castle 31
Sweet dreams, he said, closing the door. Wait! What Leo cried, but then he went silent. A horse was standing where the doorway had been. It was big and as white as freshly fallen snow, apart from its dark eyes, which looked at him in a friendly way. It walked forward, snorting, and pushed its muzzle towards him. Hey, hey! Leo laughed, stroking its soft coat. The horse was almost twice his height, but he felt no fear of this large animal. Don t shove. The horse knelt down in front of him, indicating with its head that he should mount it. Shall we go for a ride? Leo bit his lip. He d never ridden a horse before, but Alf promised these are only good dreams, he whispered, clambering onto its broad back. His heart was pounding, but he wasn t afraid not even nervous. Just excited. You re not going to throw me, are you? The horse snorted, and he wrapped his arms around its strong neck. OK, let s see how fast we can ride, he was about to say, but he never got that far. Right then, the horse unfurled a colossal pair of wings, and the ground vanished beneath them as this Pegasus ascended. They shot up towards the sky like an arrow, and Leo felt the wind and his blood rushing in his ears. The powerful wing strokes were like thunder as they flew up above the clouds, circled the steep mountain peaks, zipped past deep forest lakes and past roaring waterfalls. Faster! Leo shouted triumphantly, punching the air in the direction of the suns. Faster! No sooner said than done! 32 Dream Castle 33
chapter 12 to Leo from Alf How about doing something else? asked Alf, as Leo emerged from yet another dream. This was amazing. There were no limits to what might be behind all these doors. There was one brilliant experience after another, and he had fought against pirates, had super powers, walked around on a strange planet and tamed dinosaurs. When he d had enough, he just stretched out one hand. Then the door took shape in front of him, and he was able to return to the castle. Where there were still thousands of doors left. Hundreds of thousands. But maybe a break would be a good thing, right enough. His heart was still in his mouth after having hand-fed the Tyrannosaurus. Its teeth were as long as his hand, but it was as gentle as a kitten. Besides, Alf was starting to look bored. Yes, why not! said Leo. What do you want to do? Alf thought for a moment. Then his eyes lit up. I ve got an idea. Come with me. Alf? asked Leo, as they walked through the castle, past all those dream doors. You said there are only good dreams here. Yes. Well? But what about the bad ones? The nightmares? Where are they? Alf stopped and looked at him. His gaze wavered slightly, as if Leo s question had made him uncomfortable. Down in the basement, he whispered, as if afraid others might hear. You do not want to go down there. 34 Dream Castle 35
Leo felt the little hairs on his neck stand up, and shook his head. They went on until they came to another giant banqueting hall. And in the middle of the room Wow, Leo gasped, staring at the biggest and most magnificent Christmas tree he d ever seen. No!, he thought. The biggest and most magnificent Christmas tree ANYONE had ever seen. Fifty men couldn t have got around this colossal tree, which was decorated from bottom to top with colourful garlands, braided hearts and glittering glass baubles. The star at the top glowed in the light of a thousand candles. Alf ran up to the tree and returned immediately, embracing a big package. Guess who that s for! Leo accepted the package, which was bigger than him. To my good friend Leo, from your good friend Alf, it said on the card. But it s not Christmas yet, said Leo, amazed at how Alf could possibly have had a present ready for him. Then it occurred to him that nothing seemed to be impossible at this castle. It can be Christmas every day here, Alf said. If you want it. But I don t have a present for you. Alf gestured dismissively with his hand. You have already given me a present. What do you mean? I wished for a friend, he answered, and his eyes shone like the star at the top of the Christmas tree. And that s exactly what I got. Leo smiled and started to rip the paper off. That s so cool! he exclaimed. It was a wooden sledge, big enough for two. He caressed the nut-brown wood with his hand; it felt silky smooth. Thanks a million! Shall we have a go on it? they both asked at exactly the same time. They looked at each other in amazement, started laughing and sprinted out of the castle. 36 Dream Castle 37
chapter 13 cold snow They glided up the hill. But when Leo reached the top, he discovered that Alf wasn t there. He had jumped off and was still at the bottom of the hill. He appeared to be looking for something in the snow. Leo turned the sledge around and zoomed back down to him. What are you doing? It s my magic wand. I was carrying it, but I must have lost it somewhere. Your magic wand? You ve got a magic wand? Alf nodded. Where else do you think the sledge and the Christmas tree came from? And all the food? I also use it to To what? Leo rubbed his hands. It was cold standing still out here in the winter wonderland. Alf looked at him, worried. That s how I realised it was missing. Try touching the snow. The snow? Leo bent down and caressed the white crust with his hand. He didn t notice anything in particular. It just felt like ordinary snow. But then he realised what Alf was talking about. The snow here was not ordinary snow. It had been warm. But now It s cold. They went sledging until darkness began to fall and the Northern Lights once again spread across the sky. The hill outside the castle was ideal for sledging, and the wind made their eyes water as they thundered down it. But the best bit was the sledge itself; you didn t even have to pull it back up the hill. It was self-propelled. Quietly and calmly, as if on an invisible escalator with its two passengers still aboard. My friends would die of envy if they saw this sledge, said Leo, when they d completed another trip, and turned the sledge around so it would climb the hill again. Your friends? Alf frowned. But I m your friend, right? Yes, of course. I mean my other friends. I see. Do you have a lot of friends? Lots and lots. Leo shrugged. Some. Hmm, said Alf. He seemed to be pondering something. Let s do another run. 38 Dream Castle 39
Alf nodded. And without my magic wand, it ll get even colder. Much colder. A wind was blowing, and Leo s teeth began to chatter. He looked at the forest surrounding the castle. Fortunately there was lots of firewood here, but was there anything here to start a fire with? And what about food? How would they be able to get any more food if Alf wasn t able to make it appear by magic? What does it look like? It looks like a white rod. It s difficult to see here in the snow. Alf s breath looked like fog. He had an uneasy look about him. We ve got to find it, Leo. And we ve got to find it soon. I don t know when it ll start snowing again, but if it does, then then we ll never find it, Leo concluded. If you search down here, I ll search up at the top of the hill. He turned the sledge around to travel up. Immediately there was a dry cracking sound as he stood on something in the snow. What was that? Alf stared at him, horrified. Please tell me it wasn t Leo bent down and picked something up. It looked like a white rod. And it was broken in two. Sorry! Leo exclaimed. I didn t see it! Oh, no, no, no! Alf took the broken magic wand and stared at it in despair. He pressed the two pieces together and wielded his magic wand while murmuring something Leo couldn t understand. Nothing happened. You ve broken it! I I didn t mean to What am I going to do? Without the magic spell, it ll get colder and colder here and Sticky tape! exclaimed Leo. Have you got any sticky tape here? Alf shook his head. I could have conjured some up if my magic wand was working. But now We don t even have any food, Leo. Without my magic wand Leo clicked his fingers. We ve got superglue at home. My Dad says it can glue anything, and it s so strong that, if you get some on your fingers, you can t pull your fingers apart again. That ll do the trick. Come on! He started walking. Are we are we going to your place? Alf asked, worried. Leo nodded and pointed to something in the snow some distance away. His own footprints, where he d walked from the mirror through the woods and all the way up to the castle. Even in the twilight, they were plain to see. That s better than a trail of breadcrumbs, he smiled. Breadcrumbs? Alf frowned. What do you mean? Nothing. It s just something from a fairy tale. We Suddenly he hesitated. Fairy tale The words stirred something within him. A sensation of of what? Like he d forgotten something? No, not exactly. Leo? Is something wrong? chapter 14 rescue mission He shook his head. Shook away that strange sensation. No, he said. Come on this way. Just make sure you keep out of sight of my parents. Then another thought occurred to him, and he stopped abruptly. So much had been happening that he hadn t even given them a thought until now 40 Dream Castle 41
My parents! They ve got no idea what I ve been up to. What if they think I ve been abducted? Just as well you haven t been, then. Alf shrugged. So there s nothing to worry about, right? He walked on, and Leo hurried after him. Between the trees, the mirror appeared, and Leo sighed to himself. For a moment, he had feared it might have been gone. That he would be trapped in this world together with Alf. They ran the last part of the way to the opening suspended in mid-air, and peered directly into Leo s room. It s very dark in there, said Alf, alarmed. And it was. Much darker than here. As if it were the middle of the night. Well, not just as if, Leo discovered, as he looked at the clock on the wall above his desk. It was the middle of the night. The same night he had climbed through the mirror. The hands of the clock hadn t moved at all. The seconds hand appeared to be frozen in time. But actually it wasn t, he realised. It was in fact moving, but so slowly that it hardly seemed to be moving at all. Time had not stood still in his world just nearly. It was extended. Like time in a dream. Leo had been away a whole day. Yet his parents were completely unaware of his disappearance, because in his world It s not even a minute later, Leo murmured, looking in fascination at the seconds hand, which had now resumed its normal tempo, as he and Alf climbed through the mirror and into his room. Welcome to my world, he said. 42 Dream Castle 43
chapter 15 discovered More magic? Watch today s chapter as a video in the NAME IT app It s really dark here, Alf whispered, looking around. You can hardly see a thing! Sadly, we don t have the Northern Lights here, said Leo. But don t worry. There s nothing to be afraid of. He was puzzled by his own words. Was that really him saying this? Normally, that was what his mum and dad always said to him as he lay beneath the duvet, staring into the darkness. It was as if he had only now really understood them. Because he meant every word. Of course there was nothing to be afraid of. It was only his room, after all. And the fact that Alf was scared That more or less forced Leo to summon up his courage. Leo went across to his desk, opened one of the drawers and took out his torch. What s that? Alf asked. Then he gasped as Leo switched it on and a circle of light appeared on the wall. You ve got a magic wand too! Leo laughed. It s just a torch. So we can find the glue out in the utility room. Come with me. They left the room. Tilly s room was opposite Leo s, and he could hear his little sister breathing softly. She was sound asleep. He wondered whether she was dreaming. Was she now in one of the rooms up in the dream castle? They proceeded through the kitchen and on to the utility room. The glue was in one of the little drawers that contained nails and screws, and Leo opened one after another, cautiously and silently. Whatever would he say if his mum or dad woke up and found them there? Well, er, this is Alf. He lives in a dream castle in another world. We re just looking for some glue because his magic wand is broken. Well, see you later! Here it is! Leo exclaimed, picking up the tube of superglue. Bring your magic wand here. If you hold the torch, I ll glue it back together. He unscrewed the cap, his tongue in the corner of his mouth. He applied glue to both pieces and pressed them together. 44 Dream Castle 45
Who s that? asked Alf. He turned the beam of light away from his magic wand and shone it on a photograph hanging on the wall. It was from their holiday in Austria last year. Leo, Tilly, Mum and Dad with mountains in the background. That s my family, Leo said. Are they your mum and dad? He nodded. And that s my little sister Tilly. They look Alf paused briefly. They look nice. Leo smiled quietly. They are nice. Most of the time. They can be really annoying, too. He said this mostly to cheer Alf up a bit. After all, Alf didn t have any family. Can they? murmured Alf, but Leo wasn t really listening. His attention was back on the magic wand. The glue was already dry, and he touched it, testing. I think it s holding! Is it? exclaimed Alf, totally forgetting to keep his voice down. Thanks! Thanks a million! Sssh! Leo hushed him, alarmed, putting his hand over Alf s mouth. He stood still, listening, but couldn t hear anything. Let s hurry back. They sneaked back through the darkened house and were just about to enter Leo s room when a voice suddenly called: Leo? What are you doing? He spun round and saw his little sister sitting up in bed. Tilly stared at him, confused. And at Alf, standing there petrified. Who are you? she asked. For a moment, Leo had no idea what to say or do. They d been discovered. And Tilly could never keep quiet when you needed her to. Then he looked at the magic wand, still in his hand. Why are you wearing those funny clothes, Leo? his little sister asked. Who s that you re It s just a dream, Tilly, he interrupted, pointing the magic wand at her. Just lie down and go back to sleep. He knew it wouldn t work. Of course it wouldn t work; that s not how a magic wand works at all, and Tilly yawned, and her eyes half-closed. A dream, she murmured drowsily. It s just a dream. Leo s heart started to pound. Yes, he said. Just a dream. Back to sleep, Tilly. Back to sleep. She lay down and pulled the duvet up around her. Her eyes closed completely, and her breathing became calm and heavy again. She was asleep. Did you see that, Alf? whispered Leo. I made her fall asleep! Alf nodded enthusiastically. The magic wand is working again! Come on quickly! They ran into Leo s room and to the world on the other side of the mirror. Hurriedly, they climbed through. They were hit by a wall of cold. It was like stepping into a freezer and, for a moment, Leo couldn t catch his breath. His breath seemed to turn to ice in his throat. chapter 16 frost and cold But B-but we ve b-barely b-been away more than t-ten minutes! he stammered, his teeth chattering. How c-can it b-be so c-cold here already? It was only t-ten minutes in your world, Alf replied. He, too, was struggling to speak clearly. He pulled his hat down over his ears and took the magic wand from 46 Dream Castle 47
Leo s quivering hands. A lot more t-time has p-passed here. We m-must hurry. B-before we f-freeze. C-can t you j-just say the m-m-magic w-words here? Alf shook his head. I n-need t-to b-be nearer the c-castle. Leo wanted to ask why, but Alf had already started running. Leo ran after him, but it was tough in the freezing cold. He d never felt so cold in his life. The wind felt like shards of glass against his skin, and icicles seemed to have replaced every bone in his body. He tried to blink, but couldn t. The water in his eyes had frozen. He considered running back. Back into his room and into his cosy world, but it was too late. He was already too far away from the mirror, and he knew he wouldn t be able to reach it. The cold was too intense. He staggered out of the forest on legs that felt like tree trunks. He could see Alf making his way up the hill. He saw him wielding his magic wand above his head. Q-quickly, A-Alf! cried Leo. He could barely control his voice. Just as he could no longer control his movements when he tried to rub some heat into his body. He was shaking so much that a dreadful thought struck him: What if Alf s voice was too shaky now, too? So much so that he wouldn t be able to say the magic words to bring back the warmth? Leo felt his muscles tremble; his whole body twitched uncontrollably, and his legs gave way. He collapsed into the snow. It got colder. Colder and colder. Hurry up, Alf! he pleaded, and it felt as if even his thoughts were starting to turn to ice. Just then, something appeared in the sky above the castle. Something that abruptly stopped the Northern Lights. Leo s neck cracked as he leant his head back and stared up at the heavy cloud cover sailing across the sky. Oh no, he thought, as the clouds burst and the snow came tumbling down. He d be covered up within a few minutes if he didn t get up. But he couldn t stand up. He couldn t even move. The first snowflakes landed on his hand; they felt prickly. At first, he assumed it was because of the cold. Then he realised it was for the opposite reason the heat! The snow falling from the sky was warm, and Leo felt his body thawing out. He felt the warmth spread from his fingertips up through his arms and all the way to his heart; he got to his feet and ran over to Alf. You did it! he cried. You did it, Alf! No, said Alf, his eyes gleaming. We did it, Leo! You and me! And the two friends danced joyfully around in the warm snow, which kept falling and falling around them, downy and soft. 48 Dream Castle 49
That magic wand, said Leo, as they lay exhausted in the snow, which once again felt as warm as grass on a sunny summer s day. Above them, the clouds were gone, and the Northern Lights were back. The colours were so intense that their eyes were almost sore looking at them. Can you do everything with it? I mean, can you fulfil every wish? Everything, answered Alf, stretching out his arms. Your imagination is the only limit. Like in a dream. So you d be able to turn me into a three-headed chicken, for example? Easy-peasy. Alf stood up and held out the magic wand. Just watch this. No, no, no! exclaimed Leo, reaching his hands up. I didn t mean that! For a moment, Alf looked most disappointed, but he soon had a twinkle in his eyes again. Then pick another animal. What? chapter 17 Leo means lion Pick another animal. You ll turn back into yourself again, I promise. What do you think you d like to try being? Er An animal? Leo was about to say he had no idea, but that wasn t really true, was it? He knew perfectly well what he d like to be. A lion, he said. Leo means lion, Alf smiled, raising his magic wand. He mumbled something or other, and the tip of his wand began to glow. The light was so intense that Leo had to screw up his eyes. Then the light went out. Leo didn t feel any difference, and he looked down at his body Two arms and two legs. Hands and feet. Well, I don t exactly look like a lion, he said. Alf looked at his magic wand in amazement. It must have used up too much magic on the snow. I think it needs to recover. It s OK, said Leo. Actually, I quite like being myself. He looked towards the forest. He also quite liked being here, at the dream castle, together with Alf. And he could stay here as long as he wanted, because time hardly passed at all in his world when he was here. There were still lots of rooms to explore inside the castle. Lots of adventures just waiting for him to step inside them, but perhaps he d already spent as much time here as he wanted to, in fact. That short visit home had stuck with him. It had been a long night, full of extraordinary experiences, and he needed to go home. His missed his mum and dad. And even Tilly. I really need to be getting back home, he said. Alf blinked. Already? But... Well, I can come back another time. Maybe even tomorrow night? Maybe, said Alf. He sounded sad. No, more than that. Disappointed. But that feels like a long time here. Much longer. Well, I can t stay here forever, said Leo, smiling. Will you walk me home? Alf hesitated slightly, fiddling with his magic wand. Then he nodded silently. OK. Leo was about to set off. Then he looked around, the smile wiped from his face. Leo? What s wrong? My footprints, he said, staring at the ground, which had been covered with a smooth layer of freshly fallen snow. They ve disappeared. Oh no! said Alf. I never thought about that. How will I find my way back now? 50 Dream Castle 51
chapter 18 the end of the world Leo looked around a bit. All the trees looked the same. But he had emerged from the forest slightly to the right of the castle stairway, which meant it was There, he said, pointing. That s where I came out of the forest. They walked in that direction. The snow lay like an unbroken surface between the trees. His footprints were nowhere to be seen. There was nothing to indicate the way back to the mirror. But it had to be in that direction. It just had to be. He entered the forest. Alf followed. They didn t chat while they walked. The only sound was the snow, crunching beneath their feet. No, only beneath his feet, Leo realised. Alf was too light to leave any footprints. They proceeded on. Leo knew perfectly well it was only his imagination, but it was as if the trees were closing in on them. Almost as if they wanted to hide the mirror from him. How long had they been walking? We should be there by now, he said. We should be able to see it. Maybe we went the wrong way? Leo turned and looked around him. He could no longer see the castle. Just trees and snow. Trees and snow everywhere, and, well, maybe they had gone the wrong way. Or maybe we just need to continue a little further, he thought. He hoped. What if he couldn t find the mirror again? What if Stop it! he whispered, so quietly that Alf couldn t hear. They walked on. Deeper into the forest. Deeper. Suddenly, his brow struck something hard. At first he thought it was a branch that he hadn t seen, but it wasn t a branch. There was nothing blocking his way. Nevertheless, he had walked into something or other. Leo? Alf exclaimed. Are you OK? What was that? he asked in astonishment, already aware of a bulge taking shape. He stretched out his hands. And gasped as his palms encountered an invisible obstacle. It felt cool and smooth. Like a wall of glass extending through the forest. Leo said Alf s voice behind him. He could hardly hear it for the rushing sound in his ears. Whatever was this? What s happening, Alf? he whispered. But, actually, he knew, didn t he? He knew very well what this was. This is where my world ends, Alf answered. This is as far as it goes. As far as it goes... repeated Leo, feeling dizzy at the very thought. The idea that this was a wall of glass. The glass of the snow globe. The boundary of this world. And on the other side it looked as if the forest continued. Endless trees. But it was an optical illusion; the trees were reflected in the glass. In fact, what lay beyond was his own room. So near. And yet so far away. Leo shielded his eyes with his hands and tried to peer out, but all he could see was his own weak reflection. We ve gone too far, said Alf. And we ve gone the wrong way. 52 Dream Castle 53
54 Dream Castle 55
They tried again, and this time they went the right way. Leo was sure of that, because That tree! he exclaimed, pointing. I recognise that tree! That s where I found your hat! The mirror s not far away! He started running, but then stopped. He stared around him. He felt his mouth dry. Where s the mirror gone, Alf? Leo looked back at the tree. Had he made a mistake? No, that was the tree. He remembered the hat had been hanging on that branch. Which meant that the mirror should have been right in front of him. Right there, where he was standing now. chapter 19 shut in But it wasn t there. The opening in the air was gone. The passage, Alf whispered. It s disappeared. Disappeared? But we only came through it less than half an hour ago! How can it have disappeared so suddenly?! Alf shook his head. I don t know. Leo felt something heavy and cold unfolding inside him. How will I get home now? I I don t know the answer to that either, said Alf. Leo went across to where the mirror had been. He tried to see if he could feel anything. A chink in the air. An opening. But there was nothing. There must be some way of reopening it. There must be a way! I can t stay here. I have to go home to my He stopped. He suddenly couldn t remember what he d been about to say. Then it came to him. my mum and dad. Alf said something, but Leo didn t hear what he said. He was still thinking about his parents. He could visualise them. Or, rather he tried to visualise them, but their faces were out of focus and he couldn t see them clearly. Like a drawing partially erased with a rubber. He shook his head, but that just made things worse. That erased them all the more! What s happening? he wondered. His head was spinning. His thoughts were disjointed. Full of gaps. What s happening to me? What s wrong, Leo? Alf asked. His eyes did a double-take. Well, what actually was wrong with him? For a moment, he wasn t sure. Then it came to him. I I can t remember, Alf, he whispered, thinking he ought to feel afraid that his heart should be thumping in his chest. But it was beating quietly and gently. Very quietly and gently. Like the warm snow tumbling down from the sky. I can t remember what Mum and Dad look like. Why can t I remember remember? His voice tailed off. Leo? He d forgotten what he was about to say. Forgotten why he should feel afraid. Forgotten He looked at Alf. His best friend. His only friend. Why was Alf looking at him like that? As if he was worried about something. There was nothing to worry about here. 56 Dream Castle 57
Leo? Oh yes that was his name. Leo. The name must mean something or other, but he couldn t remember what. Why are we out here, Alf? he asked. He looked back at the castle, which he could just glimpse between the trees. Where he and Alf lived. Where they d always lived. Why don t we just go home? He started walking towards the castle. chapter 20 a longed-for friend Leo had already gone ten paces before he realised Alf wasn t with him. He turned around. Are you coming? he asked. His brow furrowed. Could he hear snuffling? Alf? Are you crying? Alf looked at him. His eyes looked red and sad. Then he ran over to Leo and took his hands. He squeezed them so hard, it hurt! Your mum and dad, Leo! He was practically shouting. Think of your mum and dad! Visualise them! My mum and dad? he murmured. He shook his head. What do you mean? I don t have a mum or dad. Just like you, Alf. I ve never had a Yes, you have! You have a mum and dad! Can t you remember us being together in your world? I saw the photo of them. Your mum has long, blonde hair, and your dad has a full beard and And something popped into Leo s thoughts. Like a vague outline that you can only just make out in dense fog. Then it disappeared again. Alf, I don t understand Think, Leo! You have to remember! You have a mum and dad! And you ve got a little sister! Again, something stirred inside his head, and a face slowly took shape in his thoughts. No, three faces. A lady with long, blonde hair. A man with a full beard. A girl of about 6 or 7. She had dimples, and he recognised the three of them. He d seen them before. But where? You don t belong here, Leo. You belong with your family. With your mum and your dad and your little sister. She s called Tilly, he said, and suddenly it felt as if his thoughts had started flowing again. From one moment to the next, it all came rushing back. Everything he had forgotten. Which was everything. 58 Dream Castle 59
What s going on? he asked. He felt out of breath, as if he d been holding his breath for a long time. How could I forget them? How could I forget my own family? Alf looked down, and Leo saw a tear shimmering on one cheek. I m sorry, he said. What about, Alf? Why are you saying sorry? Because I did it. His voice was frail. As if he could hardly get the words past his lips. What do you mean? Leo frowned. Did what? It took some time for Alf to answer. I was lonely, he said, at last staring at himself, wringing his hands. All the children who come here while they re dreaming I can t talk to them because they can t see me. All they see is their own dreams, and when they wake up, they vanish. So I started to dream, too. About a friend. Someone who could see me. The castle is built of children s dreams, but my dream it would never come true. Not unless I made it happen. He paused briefly. I opened the passage to your room, Leo. So you could come here. I wanted you to be my friend, and I His voice tailed off even more. I wanted you to stay. You wanted me to Leo stared at him. He could hardly grasp what Alf was telling him. You closed the passage? Alf blushed, ashamed. Tears flowed from his eyes. They dripped down on the ground, making holes in the snow. I just wanted a friend, he sniffed. Now now I wish I hadn t done that. Leo was speechless. He was astonished, and he was angry. What Alf had done was almost unforgivable. But, most of all Most of all, he was relieved. Because if Alf had opened the passage in the first place, he must be able to do it again. You must open the passage, said Leo. You must open it right away. Alf looked at him sadly. I wish I could, but I can t. You saw the magic wand yourself. It s not powerful enough yet. I can t Leo? Leo blinked. His head was spinning first, because of what Alf had told him, but also because It happened again. For a moment, he had no idea what Alf was saying. I m starting to forget again, said Leo, as if a cold hand gripped his heart. He tried to focus. Saw his parents and his little sister in his mind s eye. Held on to that thought. But it was difficult. Like holding a wriggling fish, and he could feel it trying to slip away from him. He broke out in a sweat. You have to leave here, Alf said. Before you forget everything. But there's no way out! Leo thrashed his arms around in desperation. You said yourself that Yes, there is. There s one other way. But that that can be dangerous. What do you mean? Where is it? Alf nodded towards the castle. It s through the basement. The basement? Isn t that where? Yes, said Alf. That s where the nightmares are. 60 Dream Castle 61
chapter 21 the basement of the castle They ran. They gave it all they d got. Through the forest and the snow and back to the castle made of dreams. Dreams and nightmares. You said it can be dangerous, said Leo. Not that it is dangerous. Dreams are never dangerous, Alf answered. And neither are nightmares. But you have to remember that. You have to be able to control your thoughts, and that can be difficult. Do you understand what I mean? Not really. Good. That s good. I hope. They reached the castle gate and continued down the long corridors winding in and out, with connections like a maze. Past the innumerable doors leading to fantasy worlds and colourful adventures. Deeper and deeper into the neverending castle. If I lose sight of Alf, Leo thought, breaking out in goose pimples, I ll never find my way out of here. The very idea was terrifying, and he forced it out of his mind. Perhaps he really did understand what Alf meant about how difficult it is to control your thoughts. They turned down yet another corridor. It was narrower than the others. Much narrower and much longer, and without doors, apart from a single door at the end. It was coal-black with a gleaming red handle. They stopped in front of it, out of breath. The door to the basement, said Alf. He was trying to hide it, but Leo could still hear Alf s voice shaking. He put one hand in his pocket and pulled out a big, clunky key. I wish there were some other way, Leo. He put the key in the keyhole and turned it. There was a click, which made Leo jump. That click seemed to sound in his thoughts, too. What s down there? he asked cautiously. The door creaked as Alf opened it. 62 Dream Castle 63
Doors and darkness, came the reply. Nothing but doors and darkness. As long as you can control your thoughts. That s what it s all about, Leo. Leo stared at the doorway; for a moment, he couldn t feel his own body. Because what he was peering into was his nightmare. The dark. Total, pitch-darkness. It hung down from the doorway like a black cloth. Leo could see the first five steps of the staircase to the basement. The rest disappeared into all the blackness. I hate the dark, he said. Me too. But it can t do you any harm, and neither can the nightmares. They only become dangerous if you think they re dangerous. Think positive thoughts, Leo. Then there s nothing to be scared of. That way, the doors to the nightmares will stay shut. And what if they open? Alf took hold of him and stared him in the eyes. Just run. Run and don t look back. Leo had a lump in his throat. How will I find my way? Follow your nose and you ll get out. I wish I could come too, but I have to stay. So I can shut the door if He didn t say any more, but there was no need to. If one of the nightmares gets out. Just darkness, Leo murmured, approaching the doorway. There s nothing to be afraid of. Exactly, said Alf. Hold onto that thought. Then you ll be home before you know it. Leo looked at him. Goodbye, Alf. And thanks. Thanks? Alf looked at him, confused. But I tried to You re trying to help me, said Leo. And that s what friends are for. Alf smiled gratefully. Have a safe trip home, my friend. Leo took a deep breath. Then he set off down the stairs. chapter 22 through the basement Darkness, darkness and more darkness. It felt like being in an infinitely huge room, yet at the same time like being boxed into a small space. There were eleven steps in the stairway. Leo reached the bottom. None of the steps creaked. The only sound was his pounding heart. He looked back and was surprised to see how far behind him Alf was. As if there were several hundred steps not just eleven. He could see Alf standing in the rectangle of light that was the doorway. Leo waved to him, but Alf didn t wave back. He can t see me any more, thought Leo. Leo couldn t even see himself. His body had disappeared into the darkness hiding the doors to children s nightmares. And hiding the way out of the castle. The way home, and he had to hurry. He was aware that his memories were beginning to crumble again. Alf had said to follow his nose, which meant straight ahead. Keep going straight ahead and keep thinking positive thoughts. That was all. Then he d manage. Leo rushed through the dark basement, thinking about Christmas and birthdays and school playtimes. He thought about holidays and football and family get-togethers, and about Mum stroking his cheek, and Dad tickling him, and Tilly asking if he wanted to play a game. And Leo went on and on, deeper into the darkness of the basement, and he actually didn t think it was too bad down here. He just had to follow his nose, one step at a time, and keep his head full of positive thoughts. Like in the story of Peter Pan, where lovely, wonderful thoughts were the final magic ingredient that made it possible for the children to fly to Neverland. 64 Dream Castle 65
something creaked somewhere to the right of him. Like a door slowly opening. Oh no! whispered Leo, feeling the blood draining from his head as something took shape in the darkness. Something big. Alf had warned him. He d said your thoughts could be difficult to control, and for a brief moment Leo had forgotten to hold on to positive thoughts. He d thought about a dragon, and now now the door to one of the nightmares had opened. Run, Leo! he heard Alf s voice. Run as fast as you can! Fairy tales Those words again. It was as if they were echoing in his head. Why? Because this was the way it always was in these tales? The main character had to manage one last challenge, defy his greatest fear, and Leo s greatest fear was the dark. Walking through this black basement felt almost like the end of a fairy tale and Lonely, he murmured. Alf said he was lonely. Instantly, he understood. He understood everything, and a giddy sensation gripped him. This It didn t just feel like the end of a fairy tale. It was a fairy tale. His fairy tale. Everything fell into place. The whole thing had come true. That day when he found the snow globe in the park. He d sat in his room, and he d thought the castle resembled something from a real fairy tale with magic, and dragons to conquer. That s why he d started making up a story. A story about a castle where all your dreams and wishes could come true. The story about someone living in the castle as the castle keeper. Who was lonely. Alf. It was as if the whole thing had developed out of his story. The whole thing was his story. Somehow, it had come true. He d been interrupted by his mother calling him to supper before he d had time to make up any more of the story. Fortunately, I haven t had to conquer any dragons, he thought, and just then 66 Dream Castle 67
pair of flaming yellow eyes lit up the darkness, glowing so forcefully that the A many doors to other nightmares became visible. Leo could hear its claws scratching the floor as the dragon tramped closer. He could hear its leathery wings unfurling. Run, Leo! He turned to run. It was his only chance. But even through the wave of panic rushing through him, he knew, too, that this wasn t the answer. That he would not stand a chance. The dragon would be upon him any moment, so So he didn t run. Instead, he turned round again to face the dragon as it flew out of the darkness and landed just in front of him. It towered like a creature of pure horror, black, scaly and massive. Leo, no! Alf s voice reached him from far away. Whatever are you doing? I m conquering the dragon, he thought, clenching his fists. It s a bad dream that s all. It s not real. Anyway, I m the hero of this tale. And the hero doesn t just run away. He looks his fear in the eye. And overcomes it. Leo took a step towards the dragon, which cocked its head in astonishment. He thought about the rhyme. Dad s monster rhyme. It had never worked in his darkened room because he d never believed it would work. But he believed it now, because this was different. He was different. Monster, monster, go away! he cried, pointing warningly at the big monster. Or you won t chapter 23 the dragon and the lion The dragon roared, making Leo s hair stand on end. He felt the heat of the monster s breath singe his eyebrows, and for a moment he nearly fainted. He d been wrong. The dragon was real. It was as real as Leo himself, and the castle, and Alf. His thoughts had made it real, and those few seconds when he could have escaped were gone. There was nothing he could do. This was the end of the fairy tale of the dream castle, and the dragon opened its fearsome jaws with teeth as long as swords, and then It hesitated. Its glowing eyes wavered. Leo felt a tingly sensation. At first, he thought it was because of the fear, but it felt different. Something completely, totally different; as he looked down at his trembling hands, he gasped. His hands they were no longer hands, but paws. His claw-like nails were curved. More magic? Watch today s chapter as a video in the NAME IT app 68 Dream Castle 69
For a moment he was at a loss to understand, but then he realised. The magic spell! Alf had tried to turn him into a lion. It hadn t worked because the magic wand had run out of magic. But now it had been recharged. The magic words were starting to work now! And then the transformation began in earnest. Leo got down on all fours, and his clothes ripped and fell off as his body began to change, growing bigger. Much bigger. Raw strength exploded through him, and he could feel the fur sprouting through his skin. Muscles tightening like ropes. Teeth growing in his mouth. Bigger, he thought. I want to be bigger and stronger! He grew bigger and stronger. Because the transformation was not only due to Alf s spell. This was his fairy tale; his wishes coming true, and the terror Leo had felt a moment before was gone. He was no longer the least bit afraid, and he felt the raw power rippling beneath his skin. Leo means lion! he roared, louder than the dragon s roar, and the monster in front of him staggered back a step. Still Leo the Lion kept on growing. He felt the magic coursing through him, and he embraced it. He wasn t just a lion. He was the biggest, strongest and bravest lion ever! He was a lion that ate dragons for breakfast. He was the ultimate alpha-lion, and now he was looking down at the dragon, and when he roared again, the whole castle shook. The dragon fled. Whimpering in terror, the monster spun round and flew away into the darkness. It flew back to the nightmare it had emerged from. There was a clang as the door banged shut behind it. Then silence. And then Leo? It was Alf s voice. Leo turned to look at the doorway, where the tiny figure stood staring down into the darkness. I did it! he said, and his voice it was back to his normal voice, and he looked at his paws. They were no longer paws, but hands. He was back to his normal self. It happened in a split second. I conquered the dragon. Just like in a real fairy tale, he thought. And then another thought occurred to him. 70 Dream Castle 71
chapter 24 the end He looked up at the tiny figure in the doorway. Alf. Alf, who d been at the castle for longer than he could remember. Alf, who was lonely, and said he didn t have a mum or dad. But if this was Leo s fairy tale If, somehow, he d created all this could he also determine how the tale should end? Alf! he cried. Yes? Come with me! With you? But... You don t have to stay here. You said yourself that the way through the basement is the way out. But I don t think it will take us to the same place. What do you mean, Leo? Alf shook his head. I don t understand How on earth was he going to explain? He was struggling to understand this himself. You said you don t have a mum or dad, Alf. But I think you have. You must have. Everybody has. What if the same thing happened to you that nearly happened to me? What if you ve just been here so long that you ve forgotten them? What if you just think you ve always been here because you can t remember any differently? No answer. Just the echo of the words in the dark space. You do have a mum and dad, Alf, said Leo. I know you do. But how? came the voice from the top of the stairs. How can you possibly know? Because that s what I want, he thought. That s how I want this story to end. Trust me, Alf, he said. Come with me. I promise it will work out OK. But what about the castle? It can look after itself. Dreams don t freeze, do they? Alf stood there for a while, thinking about it. Then he set off down the stairs. Are you sure this is a good idea, Leo? The very best, Alf, he said. The very best. I I m scared. Just think positive thoughts. Think about you and me. He soon felt Alf s little hand in his. You and me, Leo, Alf repeated, and together the two friends ran through the profound darkness that engulfed them. They ran and ran and ran, and and suddenly something stirred in the pitch dark. A little glimmer of white, and Leo saw a single snowflake tumbling down. Then another, and another, and They were outside! Out of the basement and out of the castle. There were no walls or doors to get through, but as one step followed another, the total darkness was gradually replaced by a whirling snowstorm. As if someone had given the snow globe a proper shake-up! The snowflakes whirled towards them; it was impossible to see anything. The wind tore at their clothes and hair, blowing first one way and then the other. It was as if the wind were trying to pull the two friends apart and send them off in different directions, and Leo felt Alf s hand slipping. He sensed they had reached the end of the tale. He looked back, but he couldn t see the castle anywhere. Only snow, snow and more snow. 72 Dream Castle 73
This snowstorm Alf shouted. It s not like a normal snowstorm. It s He interrupted his own words with a deep gasp. It seemed as if something had hit him in the stomach hard. I remember them now, Leo! I remember my mum and dad! You were right! I haven t always lived at the castle! It s just that I d forgotten I can see them, Leo! I can see Mum and Dad! Can you see them too? chapter 25 home Alf was still right beside him, but he suddenly sounded further away. He sounded like he was several hundred metres away, and, no, Leo couldn t see them. He couldn t even see Alf. He could just feel Alf s little hand in his. But suddenly it was gone, and the last thing Leo heard was Alf s voice in the distance. It sounded as if it came from another world: Mum! Dad! It s me! It s And that was that. Alf was away. No, thought Leo. Not away. He s home! Just as I wished. All of a sudden, something came flying through the air. It was like a strange bird, but it wasn t a bird, and Leo grasped it just before it vanished into the storm, and he ran on through the snow, falling more and more heavily, and he wished he d soon be home, too, and then he got snow in his eyes, and it was as if everything melted Voices. He could hear voices. Voices he knew. Voices he loved. Leo opened his eyes. He was back. Lying in bed, in his room. Just as he d wished. Just the way he d thought the tale would end. He touched his hair. He expected it to be wet with snow, but it was completely dry. And he was wearing his pyjama T-shirt. As if he d been in bed all night. As if the whole thing had been a dream. But it hadn t been. He was holding the proof in his hand. Alf s striped scarf, which had suddenly come fluttering through the snow, and in his thoughts, Leo could hear the distant voice in the storm of white that had brought both of them home: I can see them, Leo! I can see mum and dad! Leo smiled to himself, pleased that Alf had got home safely. Wherever that was. He looked at his bedside table, where the snow scene had been, and he wasn t too surprised to see that it had gone. Wasn t that just what he d wished for? To get away from the castle? To come home. Leo climbed out of bed and got dressed. On his way to the kitchen, he met Tilly. I had the most amazing dream ever, she said. I dreamt about you. I dreamt you were with a strange little boy with a red hat. Leo smiled. Really? Yes. Or he looked like a boy, but I don t think he was human. He looked sweet. He is sweet, said Leo, and walked on. Behind him, his little sister stood looking at him, puzzled. Away in the kitchen, his mum and dad were busy setting the breakfast table. Leo stood in the doorway and thought it was rather like peering in through one of the doors in the castle. Like looking in on a good dream. 74 Dream Castle 75
Morning, sleepy-head! said his dad, ruffling his hair. We thought you were never going to wake up! His mum opened the oven door and took out a plate of warm rolls. Did you have a good sleep? Leo nodded and felt the fairy-tale adventures of the night coursing through him. His own fairy tale. With a happy ending. His dad shut the fridge door. Have we got any more jam? I think there s some in the basement, his mother said. Leo darted over to the door to the basement, ahead of his dad. I ll go and get it. Thanks, but the bulb s gone, Leo, his dad said. It s very dark down there. He hesitated. Then, raising one eyebrow to pretend he was puzzled, he turned around to look at his dad. Do I look like someone who s scared of the dark? he asked with a smile. And he opened the door. * * * That night, Leo falls asleep instantly. We ll never know what he s dreaming about. But it s a good dream, full of laughter. 76 Dream Castle 77
Leo Tarwood is scared of the dark and always lies awake for ages after the light s been turned out. Until the day he finds a snow globe with a beautiful white castle inside. A magical castle, where all your dreams come to life. Leo disappears into his own dream universe, where he meets Alf, a boylike creature with magical powers who becomes his friend. But he can t find his way back home, and, together with Alf, Leo has to overcome his greatest fear in the hope of getting back home in time for Christmas. How many rooms are there? Leo asked. Limitless. Just as there are limitless dreams. Would you like to try one? Try one? Try a dream? Alf nodded and pointed to the doors. Choose whatever you want.