by Marianne
Betty screamed as the giant hand closed around her. She was lifted up and a giant eye stared at her.
"A little person! I thought you were just fairy tales for children."
"Please let me go," Betty begged. "Please?"
"Will you give me a wish in return?"
"I can't do magic," she protested.
"My girlfriend was killed in a car accident."
"I'm sorry," Betty said quietly. "But I can't bring her back to life."
The giant placed her on a tree stump. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"I'm not hurt. Just a little scared.
"I wasn't going to ask you to make her undead. I know nothing can change that. But it was my fault she was killed."
Betty said nothing.
"We had an argument and she ran away. Next think I know she's under a car. Dead."
"It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. You didn't want her to get killed." Betty tried to offer comfort.
"I still feel responsible. I want to say sorry. I was going to ask you to bring her back just for five minutes, so I could say I'm sorry."
"She knows you are sorry."
The giant shook his head. "It was stupid of me. Nothing can be changed. I'll let you go."
Betty wanted to help. "What's your name?"
"Nathan."
"What's was her name?"
"Sara." He fumbled in his pocket. "Look, I've got a photograph."
Betty stared at the photograph, hardly able to believe her eyes. "I'd like to help."
"But you can't." The giant put away the photograph. "I understand."
"Can you come back here, in about an hours time?"
"Why?" The giant looked hopeful. "Why?"
"I may be able to arrange for you to say sorry. But you mustn't touch, ask questions. Just tell Sara you're sorry."
The giant nodded. "I promise, but how?"
"Leave me here, and come back in an hour," Betty instructed.
Betty ran into the camp. "Valerie! Valerie!"
Valerie came out of Spindrift's cabin. "What is it?"
I need you to help me, well, help a giant."
"Help a giant?" Mark repeated, coming up to join the girls.
"Go on," Valerie told Betty.
Betty told of her adventure. "And the photograph of Sara was the image of Valerie," she finished. "So I thought you could stand in for her and let him say sorry."
"No way!" proclaimed Dan, who had been listening. "It's too dangerous. Steve would never agree."
"Steve's not here at the moment," Betty pointed out."
"I don't think you should do it either." Mark agreed with Dan. "We don't stand to gain anything. You should have said you'd do it in exchange for food, or metal."
"Mark!" Betty was indignant. "I want Valerie to do this out of compassion."
Mark gave a short laugh.
"Compassion," Betty continued, ignoring him. "Not for selfish gain."
"Steve would say no and, in his absence, I say the same," Dan said.
"Hey," Valerie said loudly, "don't I get a say in this? It is me Betty wants to pretend to be this girl's ghost, or whatever." The idea of playing ghost appealed to Valerie's sense of fun. Besides, having been told no by Dan and Mark, she immediately wanted to do it.
"Will you do it, Valerie?" Betty asked.
"Of course I will. It would be the compassionate thing to do," she answered, with a sweet smile for Mark.
"I suppose I can't stop you," Dan asked, without much hope.
"Not unless you want to tie me down."
"Don't tempt me," Mark muttered.
"We'll go with you," Dan decided. "But we will keep out of sight."
"Great." Valerie started back towards Spindrift.
"Where are you going?" Mark called after her.
"To change. I can't be a ghost in this old thing!"
"This is the place." Betty indicated the tree stump.
"Right." Dan uncoiled a length of rope and threw it up. He tugged down hard. "It's secure." He turned to Valerie. "Are you sure you can climb up?"
"Of course,"
"In that dress?" Mark enquired, looking at her. While he had to admit Valerie looked stunning in the full length white gown she had produced, he was of the opinion that it had not been designed with rope-climbing in mind.
"Mark, just because you and Dan are unable to climb a rope in a dress, do not underestimate a woman's ability to do just about everything, whilst wearing totally impractical clothing," Valerie told him.
Suitably abashed, Mark nodded.
"Hurry," Betty urged. "I think I can hear him coming."
"Someone give me a leg up to start," Valerie requested.
Both Mark and Dan started forward.
Valerie threw down the rope and positioned herself on the tree stump, just as Nathan walked into view.
"What's my name?" she called down hurriedly.
"Sara," Betty reminded her.
Nathan stopped as he saw the tiny figure clothed in white. He took in the red hair, her features. "Sara...?" He reached out a hand and Valerie drew back. Nathan snatched his hand back. "I'm sorry, I said I wouldn't touch. You're even more beautiful than my memory of you."
Valerie thought it was time she said something. "Hello. How are you?"
"I'm... how... oh, Sara, I'm sorry. It was my fault. The accident. I..."
"Don't blame yourself," Valerie told him.
"Oh, but I do. If I hadn't..."
"It was not your fault. No one was to blame, it was just a tragic accident." Valerie started to get into her part. She threw out her arms dramatically. "Oh, my sweet love, cast away your guilt. Nathaniel..."
"Nathan!" Betty groaned from her hiding place.
"...my love, I wish for you to be happy, so that I may rest in peace."
"What has she been reading?" Mark said in bemusement.
"Do you forgive me?" Nathan asked.
"I do. go on with your life, love another freely."
Dan put his hands over his mouth in an effort to keep from bursting out with laughter.
"Leave now, my love," Valerie instructed. "And know that you carry no guilt or blame, for I forgive you." Valerie turned around slowly.
Nathan smiled down at the tiny form of the girl he recognised as Sara. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you, Little Person." Relieved of his guilt, Nathan left the clearing.
Mark and Dan just applauded, and Valerie curtsied in response.
Betty stared at her in utter disbelief. "I should have known she'd overdo it," she muttered. "Still, Nathan looked a lot happier, and I guess that's the main thing."
"My dear lady," Fitzhugh began as Valerie walked back into camp. "What are you wearing?"
"It's a dress." Valerie gave a twirl. "Do you like it?"
"She looks heavenly," Steve muttered, watching her. "But don't tell her I said so," he added, realising his co-pilot had overheard him.
"Heavenly," Dan repeated. "It's funny you should say that..."
THE END