The next minute there he was with Amy and the others at the entrance. Tumble was waiting to greet them. 'Welcome to FANTASY FAIR' he said with a grin. Chubby gave him his painting and when he saw it he laughed and laughed, turned a double somersault and landed plonk on his red nose. Then he bounced up into the air and Geraldine bent down and caught the back of his old black tailcoat with her teeth. Round and round he spun like a corkscrew, with arms and legs sprawling out in all directions. Then she put him down and there was a large tear in his coat. Everyone roared with delight and Tumble most of all, because like all clowns, he loved making people laugh, even more when the joke was on him.
They went into the enormous grounds crowded with children and animals and everyone was happy. There were swings and roundabouts and stalls everywhere. Beside one of them, filled with bottles of colourless liquid, was a fat duck. 'That's Dr Waddle with his Laughter Oil' the children told him. I hope he PURRsuades you to try his Universal Cure' said Priscilla, 'It's PURRfectly harmless, like all good fun. My cousin Tom, from the Cheshire branch of our family, takes it regularly and he's always grinning!'
Don't listen to her' said Geraldine, 'he's only a QUACK Doctor!'
A small group had gathered round Dr Waddle and he began to recite a little verse which went like this:-
'Chuckles and chortles and giggles and roars
Mixed up with, gurgles and grins and guffaws
Don't take too much or you may split your sides
Only a TEASE-spoon is what I prescribe'
Everybody clapped and Dr Waddle reminded Corky of the sellers in the street market. 'They can sell anyfing just by making people larf. All the same he might try a drop. So he swallowed a TEASE-spoonful and began to laugh and laugh and only stopped when Amy told him it was just water and that he'd THOUGHT it was Laughter Oil!
They passed a bookstall presided over by a learned old owl, who peered at them through his spectacles. When he saw Corky he screeched 'Young man you can have that book of riddles you're looking at if you can answer this one'. Corky pricked up his ears.
'Why does Tumble remind you of a cracked beaker?'
Corky thought hard. 1 know' he cried, 'cos he's a funny mug!'
'Remarkable intelligence' said the owl. 'Now, here's another. Why does Geraldine look dreamy?' At that moment Corky happened to see her towering above everyone. 'I've got it! Because 'er 'ead is always in the clouds!' The owl congratulated him and handed him the book which he tucked into one of his handy tunic pockets.
There were many exciting things to do. You could leap on the backs of giant frogs or in the pouches of kangaroos; swing with the chimps on their monkey trees or fly eagles wings. The amazing thing was that you would never fall unless you THOUGHT you would and even if you did, it was fun because the ground was so soft and springy. Nothing could possibly hurt you in THINK LAND!
'We've some interesting events to watch' said Tumble, who was Chairman of the Sports Committee. 'Come and look at the BACKWARD RACE'. They all followed him to the starting post. There were snails and tortoises and turtles. 'We like to encourage slow starters' he told them 'To come out of their shells!' interrupted Geraldine with a snigger. Corky, however, found this race too slow and soon lost interest.
'I know what will amuse you' said Amy, reading his thoughts. 'The IMPOSSIBLE RACE!' There were many entrants hoping to achieve the impossible. 'Just look at that worm trying to stand up for itself. Corky. It's tired of crawling'. Some geese were cackling loudly. 'Wot are they doing?' enquired Corky. 'Trying to lay golden eggs' Amy replied.
Corky watched a bear trying to jump out of its skin. But it was the camel who caused most laughter, for it was trying to get through the eye of a darning needle. After several attempts it got the hump and went off!
'I don't think you'll be interested in the HUMAN RACE' said Tumble. 'It's become very dull. In fact, there are hardly any outstanding entrants at all!'
'CORKY!' roared a familiar voice. It was Leo. 'Jump on my back. I've entered us for the cross-country. It's the best race of all, for it's the two-legged and the four-legged riding together '.
Susan was riding a panther, Bazu, a leopard, Ming, a tiger. Tiny, a puma and Chubby, a zebra. 'No CHEETAHS, of course, are allowed' said Geraldine, 'as this is an honest race', and she guff awed.
The starting whistle blew and away they sprang. It was the most breath-taking experience for Corky as he and Leo bounded across the plain. Now he knew what it must have felt like to be the King of the Beasts without fear and utterly free. Faster and faster they sped, but as they neared the finishing line, Leo's pace grew slower and slower. Another rider overtook them. It was Chubby on the zebra who had made the best crossing! He was presented with a stripe to add to the many others he had already won!
Afterwards, Corky asked the children if they'd been afraid riding such fierce animals - except, of course, the zebra - and they were very surprised at his question. 'But you rode on a lion - the King of the Beasts, at least that's what he's called in your world', they said. 'Yes, but that's different' Corky replied. 'He's Leo and he's my friend'.
'But ALL animals are our friends' they said, 'and you've forgotten that there's no fear in THINK LAND!'
