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THE SOUL-PEARL... Part Thirteen. THE SOUL-PEARL... Part Thirteen. Inside the room there sat an old wizened Crocodile, leathery skinned and wearing an old waistcoat that sported a watch and chain across the chest. On his head sat a Turkish Fez-Hat with a long tassel. “Who is he?” queried Slippery-Fish. “Please be quiet.” said the Crocodile as his glasses nearly fell from his long nose so that he pushed them back up with a very loud sniff. The three friends stood watching as the Crocodile threw some clay on the Potter’s wheel and began to pump his foot on the pedal so the wheel began to turn with his hands working on the clay. They watched as he fashioned a cup and saucer and then held the cup and saucer to the light before throwing the cup and saucer back onto the table and, squeezing the clay, began to model again. “I’m the ‘Plate-Spinner’.” said the Crocodile suddenly before stopping the wheel and turning to face the three friends. But the three were not listening because4 their eyes held fast to the large clay figure of a semi-clad female. “That’s Venus in Clay.” instructed the Plate-Spinner, following their gaze to the alcove where the figure stood. “She’s very lovely.” said Stinger-Scorpion. “So beautiful.” echoed Nipper-Crab. Slippery-Fish just stared, not saying a word and remembering the last beautiful Mermaid he had seen and what had happened to him. “Don’t you want to learn how to make cups and saucers?” asked the Plate-Spinner as he now threw some more clay on the Potter’s wheel and starting to fashion more cups. “I would rather make a model of this beautiful Venus.” remarked Stinger-Scorpion and still not taking his eyes from the vision before him. “So would I.” said Nipper-Crab. “Me as well.” added Slippery-Fish, now overcome by the clay model of the beautiful Venus. The Plate-Spinner stopped his work and turned to look at the three friends. “It’s no good being lustful over a clay figure.” he said, the glasses sliding down his long snout once more so that he pushed them back up with a loud sniff, while the tassel on his Fez swung wildly as he shook his head. “Why can’t we make our own model of Venus?” insisted Stinger-Scorpion. “Come on then.” replied the Plate-Spinner and moved to a long table and placed three lumps of fresh clay at intervals. “Here you are. Now the three of you can make your own Venus from the modelling clay.” he said, pointing to the table. Taking their eyes from the clay Venus, the three friends moved quickly to the table and began to pinch and mould with the damp clay, each totally enwrapped in their work. “Have you finished?” asked the Plate-Spinner, after some time. Stinger-Scorpion stood back and nodded, although not completely satisfied how his Venus had turned out. “What do you all think of each other’s work?” asked the Plate-Spinner, as Stinger-Scorpion, Nipper-Crab and Slippery-Fish stood back, their eyes going from one figure to the next. “Well I’m not best pleased with my Venus.” said Stinger-Scorpion. “But it has to be better than the Venus made by Slippery-Fish. Look at her! She has one eye lower than the other and a mouth almost up her nose! And the Venus made by Nipper-Crab is no better! I mean to say... Just look at her! Her head is too big while her nose has fallen off!” “Oh yes! So I suppose yours is better, Stinger-Scorpion!” exclaimed Nipper-Crab as he patted the head of Stinger-Scorpion’s Venus with a hard hand and squashing it flat. Slippery-Fish began laughing so much that he fell onto the table, which tipped the table up and causing the three heads to topple from the table and splatter onto the floor. This caused the three friends to shout and roar with laughter, slapping each other on the back in good companionship. “You see how silly it all is, how you have become infatuated and lustful over something which is not real?” exclaimed the Plate-Spinner as he scooped up the fallen clay and righting the table before placing the clay once again. Then he walking over to the alcove and resting a hand on the head of Venus, he turned again to face the three. "Let me show you something.” With a swift and sharp tug he pulled the head from the figure of Venus. Going back to the Potters Wheel he dampened the head with water and began to squash the head and began re-shape it. The three friends had stopped laughing and now stood watching the Plate-Spinner as he worked. “What’s he making?” whispered Slippery-Fish. “I have no idea.” Nipper-Crab whispered back. “I have no idea at all, although I would rather have seen the head back on the clay Venus.” whispered Stinger-Scorpion. Suddenly the Plate-Spinner stopped working and stood up to point at what he had fashioned from the clay. “Do you see now what I have changed the Venus head into?” he asked. “It’s a big clay ‘Goblet’.” said Nipper-Crab as her strode up to inspect the model. “Yes. We can see it’s a large cup.” remarked Slippery-Fish. “Don’t you think so, Stinger-Scorpion?" “I quite agree with you both.” agreed Stinger-Scorpion. “Now watch what happens to the cup when I glaze it white and fire it in the kiln.” said the Plate-Spinner, taking hold of the cup. The three friends watched as the Clay-Spinner dipped the cup into a tub of white glaze-paint and, walking over to a hot oven, he placed the cup inside. “This is called a kiln.” explained the Plate-Spinner, pointing at the oven. “It bakes the clay so that it becomes pottery. With this done and the Plate-Spinner satisfied, he invited the all to sit down and wait till the glazing was finished. “Ah, it’s ready now!” said the Plate-Spinner as he opened the oven door and took out the cup, which now shone in a white porcelain glaze. “This.” he said as he held the cup for the three friends to see. “This is called a Chalice.” “That sounds quite magical.” said Nipper-Crab, taking hold of the Chalice which the Plate-Spinner offered him. “It’s quite light for such a large cup.” said Stinger-Scorpion as he took the offered Chalice from Nipper-Crab and after weighing it in his hands he handed it to Slippery-Fish. Slippery-Fish held the Chalice closer, staring at it and feeling most strange, almost as if the Chalice had become hot and then heating in his hands until he could hold it no longer and let it go. The sound of the Chalice hitting the floor was like a baby screaming as the Chalice smashing into a million fragments. There was a long silence as the three friends stood staring down at the pieces of broken Chalice which littered the floor. “I’m so sorry.” said Slippery-Fish, beginning to cry. “Don’t cry.” said the Plate-Spinner, touching Slippery-Fish with a comforting hand. “I rather think it was meant to be, that the Chalice was meant to be broken. Here…” he added as he handed Slippery-Fish an empty bucket. “Put all the pieces into the bucket for me.” Slippery-Fish knelt and began to pick up the pieces of broken Chalice, placing them into the bucket. “Have you got it all?” asked the Clay-Spinner and took the bucket which Slippery-Fish offered. “I believe I have.” answered Slippery-Fish as he scoured the ground with sharp eyes. “There’s a piece over there!” exclaimed Stinger-Scorpion, pointing to a piece of broken pottery which lay just under the table. “This is not the same as the other pieces.” exclaimed Slippery-Fish, picking up the piece and examining it. “Where is your shopping-bag?” enquired the Plate-Spinner. “It is there.” answered Slippery-Fish, pointing to the bag which hung from the back of a chair. “Then might I suggest that you add that piece of broken pottery to the other pieces in the bag?” suggested the Plate-Spinner. “I don’t know why we have to carry that shopping-bag about with us.” moaned Nipper-Crab. “What is the point of those broken bits of pottery?” he continued. “I want to carry the shopping-bag.” asserted Slippery-Fish, “There’s something about those bits of broken pottery which have a special meaning!” “I wonder…” began the Plate-Spinner in a quiet voice. “If you have ever tried fitting all those pieces of broken pottery together?” “I doubt if they fit together. They are all different shapes and sizes.” said Stinger-Scorpion, scoffing at the very idea that the pieces would fit. “How do you know if you have never tried?” asked the Plate-Spinner, taking no notice of Stinger Scorpion’s scoffing and looking at Slippery-Fish instead. “I suppose I could try putting the pieces together. There is no harm in trying, Stinger-Scorpion.” said Slippery-Fish, turning to appease Stinger-Scorpion. They all stood around the table and watched intently as Slippery-Fish took out all the broken pieces of crockery and laid them out. “It’s like a jig-saw puzzle.” said Nipper-Crab, picking up a piece and examining it. “Well Slippery-Fish seems to know what he’s doing.” said the Plate-Spinner he watched as Slippery-Fish, his tongue poking out in concentration, began to put the pieces together, bit by bit… Until… “Look! It’s a ball! It’s a big round ball!” exclaimed Nipper-Crab and they all stood back to stare at the ball which now sat on the table. “It would look much better if it was glazed. It will hold its shape.” said the Plate-Spinner and taking the ball he dipped it into the chalky glaze and placed it carefully into the oven. “Let it bake in the kiln for a while.” said the Plate-Spinner as he sat down at the table to wait. “Hello, all of you. What are you up to?” said Warty-Toad, arriving from thin air and now looking at the three friends with a smile. “We are waiting for the ball to harden.” said Slippery-Fish, going on to explain what had been happening. The Plate-Spinner had brought some food to the table and they ate as they listened as Slippery carried on with his explanation. “Most interesting.” said Warty-Toad when Slippery-Fish had ended his story. “I will be very interested in seeing the ball when it comes out of the oven.” “Then I shall bring it out of the kiln now.” said the Plate-Spinner, walking over to the oven and opening the door. From out of the oven the Plate-Spinner drew the ball which now sizzled and smoked from the heat. Then, when the heat had died away, all eyes lay on the gleaming perfect ball which the Plate-Spinner then laid on the table. “It’s a giant Pearl!” breathed Stinger-Scorpion, staring at the luminous globe. “It’s more than that.” exclaimed Slippery-Fish. “It’s the Soul-Pearl!” No-one spoke. Not for a longest time. “I think you should put the Soul-Pearl into your shopping-bag, Slippery-Fish.” said Warty-Toad at last. “Put it into the bag and let’s move on to the last room down the corridor. The Plate-Spinner smiled as he turned back to the Potter’s wheel and, throwing down some clay, he began to make a new head for the beautiful Venus. He did not look round as the three friends and Warty-Toad shut the door behind them. “This is the last room.” said Stinger-Scorpion as he pointed up at the door number. “Number SEVEN” read Nipper-Crab, and then added. “I wonder what we can expect in this room and has anyone thought about how we are to get home again?” “I have wondered how we are to get home.” said Slippery-Fish, holding the shopping-bag away from him. “This bag is getting really hot and when I looked into the bag I saw the Pearl was glowing. I think it is going to burn me.” he added, sitting the shopping-bag on the floor. “Here, let me carry it for you. My skin is always wet and clammy so it will stand the heat.” said Warty-Toad, picking up the bag. “And as far as getting back to Cuttlefish-Avenue... Well I think you will all get home safely.” he added. “Come on, Stinger-Scorpion. Let’s go inside and see what is there.” spoke up Nipper-Crab. Stinger-Scorpion nodded, and then turned the handle. Before them lay a beautiful scene of rolling hills and the soft singing of birds, which flew across the skies. There was a sweet sense of peace about the whole outlay. It was a gentleness which caused the three friends to stand at the door opening and breath in the warmth of the air. “This is so beautiful.” said Stinger-Scorpion at last and began walking through to stand on the grass and take deep breaths. Nipper-Crab and Slippery-Fish followed Stinger-Scorpion, beginning to walk through fields of flowers and down the path towards the Stream, which gurgled and ran slowly between the grassy banks. “Perhaps you and I might go for a swim, Toad.” suggested Slippery-Fish, turning back to look at Warty-Toad. But Warty-Toad had gone again. “Warty-Toad has vanished again!” shouted Slippery-Fish in alarm. “I shouldn’t worry, Slippery-Fish.” said Stinger-Scorpion, unconcerned. “He is always doing that. He will come back again, like he always does.” “But the Toad has the Soul-Pearl!” exclaimed Slippery-Fish. “Then we just have to hope the Toad keeps it safe for us.” replied Nipper-Crab, standing on the grassy bank and idly watching the fish which played in a game of ‘Kiss-Chase’. “It’s so peaceful here.” sighed Stinger-Scorpion, sitting down on the bank of the Stream and then laying down as he allowed the sun to warm his face. “Look! See those three large Lily-Pads that are floating towards us!” shouted Nipper-Crab. “Shall we catch them and take a ride downstream?” “What a great idea, Nipper-Crab! Here they come! That’s it, Nipper-Crab! Grab them before they float past. That’s great! We now have three boats. Come on, Stinger-Scorpion... Get up! Stinger!” “All aboard!” shouted Slippery-Fish. And the three friends each lay on a large Lily-Pad as they floated idly downstream, losing themselves to the soft ripples of the waves as the ‘Lily-Pad’ boats gently rocked. The birds who flew above them whistled beautiful tunes. It was so peaceful that the three friends fell asleep and slept as the Lily-Pad Boats sailed gently on. “Hey! Lazy-Bones!” 
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Will they get the soul- pearl back? Has Warty-Toad done a runner on the three friends, I hope not . So at last we know the mystery of the broken pottery pieces And of course it all makes perfect sense 
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Ron, what a fertile imagination you have. I know I could never write a story. How the hell do you do it ?
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