Chapter 3
Joan's story

"Who told you to say that?" Chris asked.

"The King, of course," replied the girl.

"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" Chris said eventually.

"I'm ... Well, you might have done because I seem to recognise your voice, Oh Mighty One," the girl answered.

"Oh, don't call me that. Just call me Chris."

"Okay then. My name's Joan."

"Are you by any chance Joan Pashford?" Chris said.

"Yes, and you must be Chris Blanard," Joan said unexpectedly.

Chris took a pause and then said:

"I am ... but how did you get into Tishma or whatever you call it?"

Then Joan began her story.

"Yesterday I was wondering what I could dress up as to go to the school fancy dress and I chose Mary Poppins. But I needed a hat and that was the one thing I hadn't got. I searched all over the house without success and so I put the rest of the costume away and forgot about the fancy dress until the evening, when my dad said: "Joan, go and get me a paper, please." And on the way, I just happened to see a hat that was just right for my purpose and picked it up to take home after I had bought my dad's newspaper. But my mother would not let me have the hat because I had found it in the street and so I smuggled it to my bedroom and put on the now complete costume. But suddenly [I] found myself whirling in a yellow mist and when I finally landed I was in this strange land. And I sat wondering where I was and then the army captured me and so when they asked me my name I said Mary Poppins. And obviously they haven't heard of her because they seemed to believe me," Joan said finally.

"I think we'll try to escape, Joan, out of that window over there. It is open."

"Okay, Chris, but hurry up - someone is coming."

Their escape was successful and, in a boat that they found tied up, they got across the moat and then ran.

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