‘Order, order!’ Let’s have some order p-l-e-a-s-e! Do I have to remind you that you are elders of the Settlement and so should demonstrate some degree of decorum?’

‘You just did, Boss.’

‘Quite so, Arley, quite so.’

The council chamber gradually quietened down enough to allow the Chair, Leading Elder Boss, to address those present.

‘You are all wondering why you have been summoned to the Council Chamber at such a short notice and on a night like this. Quite out of the normal sequence. Well, frankly it’s a surprise to me but I received a message informing me of grave matters needing addressing by the Council and that a meeting had been called.’  A murmur ran through the meeting until a small yet powerful voice was heard.

‘I called the meeting because I, we, have important news for you all which needs discussion now, not later.’ Madam Gwen stood, hands on hips in the middle of the room, no one had seen her arrive, she was just there. 

‘Why Madam Gwen, how nice of you to drop in, though in a highly irregular way, I must say.’ Boss was showing signs of being a little flustered as well as annoyed, having had his thunder stolen in such a manner and, by a woman. The reason he didn’t explode was that this was no ordinary woman, this was the Oracle, the Seer, the all knowing glasses lady of the community. Generally when she spoke, you listened. 

‘I have, we have, serious news for you, for the Settlement.’

‘Could you not have put it through the normal channels, Madam?’ Interrupted Boss.

‘Too slow, no offence meant, this is far too important to go through all that committee nonsense.’ 

‘My good lady, I’ll have you know all that the ‘committee nonsense’, as you put it, has helped run this settlement for centuries.’  Boss was getting irate now, feeling his very role challenged.

Madam Gwen was feeling a little irritated herself by the unreasonable stance taken by the senior elder of the community, one who should’ve known better, she thought. But, this was no time for playing ‘power games’, this was a time for action and a cool head.

‘Mr Chairman,’ she said in a calm level voice, ‘we have raced here to tell you of possible great danger looming ahead. Great danger for the Settlement and I dare say, beyond.’

‘We do have specific protocols for such matters, Madam, something I’m sure you know of.’

‘Let the woman speak, Mr. Chairman, it sounds pretty dire!’ Came a voice from the body of the meeting.

‘Very well then but we must not make a habit of this highly irregular practice. Do continue, Madam Gwen.’ 

Ignoring the Chairman’s clipped manner Gwen began to relate the story of their rescue of the farmer, Mo Underwood and of his condition and of his discovery and all that followed. Before anyone could jump in she quickly reminded them all of the old, old story of an expected Dragon who would come and protect the Settlement in a time of grave danger and how these events now unfolding were forming a picture coinciding with these facts.

Nobody spoke for a minute or two then Boss, at his most patronising best, said, ‘Thank you Madam for that most interesting account but I feel I ought to remind you that Windy Ho has been visited by a dragon, who did help us out of a slight difficulty which we all agreed,’(*see footnote below) looking around the room with a threatening look on his face as he continued, ‘that that was most likely the dragon of prediction. It’s most unlikely to repeat itself now is it, hmm? Besides, it’s common knowledge Mo Underwood is something of a crank, living on his own on the edge of civilization as he does. And of his love for the Juice. No, I think we are done here. Again, thank you for your bit of news now. If someone will propose that we close this meeting we can all return to our homes.’

‘You’ll do nothing then?’ Madam Gwen said in disbelief and most un-Gwen-like rising anger.

‘It’s late, everyone is tired, the meeting is closed. Thank you and my apologies for having you all dragged from your homes on a night like this. It won’t happen again.’ With that, Boss rose from his chair and made his way to the exit.

Madam Gwen could hardly believe what had just occurred. The entire community had been put in jeopardy and the Council was doing nothing. No, Boss was doing nothing. This was madness. 

‘So,’ said Matt  standing beside her, ‘what now?’ 

‘I don’t believe what I just heard.’ Said Milo. ‘Is that it?’ He added.

‘It is most certainly not.’ Said Gwen, looking over her oversized glasses in the direction of the exit. ‘If the blessed council won’t do anything it’s up to us, if you’re both game, that is?’

Two voices spoke as one, ‘So what do we do?’