Yet by means of some distance the most important fatso in that clearing was once the cherry tree. It was once a shining, flaming phoenix among cherry timber! Its strong trunk reached proudly for the heavens. Its branches flung themselves in all places like a rejoicing priest who’s simply chanced on God hiding in his storage. And among its wealthy eco-friendly leaves dangled 1000s of plump pink cherries, fats and ripe and bursting with juicy secrets and techniques. ‘Yes,’ previous Granny instructed the mesmerised townsfolk. ‘This is the place all of it occurred. this is often the place I heard him. ’ yet whilst she spoke, an odd voice by surprise rasped out of nowhere, shattering the day’s calm like a rusty trampoline and shaking each leaf in that position. ‘WELL performed, YOU smelly outdated WOMAN,’ acknowledged the voice. ‘YOU’VE LED ’EM the following, LIKE I COMMANDED. ’ ‘It’s him! ’ cried outdated Granny, falling to her knees on the base of the tree and wrapping her hands round its trunk. ‘Oh, nice one! i'd do whatever for you! ’ And all of sudden the townsfolk realised whatever notable. ‘That voice is coming from the cherry tree itself! ’ exclaimed Jonathan Ripples. ‘It’s precise! ’ cried the little lady referred to as Peter. ‘Exactly! ’ stated previous Granny triumphantly. ‘That’s what I’ve been asserting all alongside – the outdated methods are again! ’ ‘THAT’S RIGHT,’ acknowledged the voice. And the leaves at the cherry tree rustled excitedly. ‘COS wager WHO I FLIPPIN’ good AM? ’ ‘Batman? ’ stated Friday. ‘NO, YOU IDIOT,’ growled the voice. And the leaves and the branches of the cherry tree shook much more wildly. ‘HA HA HA! i'm THE strong RUNTUS KING OF THE wooded area SPIRITS! I come again FROM THEM OLDEN DAYS WHAT’S misplaced within the MISTS OF TIME! I get back TO RULE OVER YOU ALL! ’ ‘Oh, nice Runtus,’ cried the group, shedding to their knees at the sacred earth round that incredible tree. ‘We have heard of you in legend and rhyme! let us know how we could serve you, oh nice one! ’ ‘RIGHT! ’ yelled the voice. ‘FIRST UP, I’M completely STARVIN’! YOU THERE! the massive fats ONE! cross AN GET ME a few SNACKS, TUBS! ’ ‘Yes, oh nice Runtus,’ stated Jonathan Ripples, nearly falling over his personal belly in his haste. ‘AND YOU – YOU silly MAYOR! ’ stated the voice. ‘GIMME THEM pricey footwear WHAT YOU’RE WEARIN’! ’ ‘Yes, oh nice Runtus,’ acknowledged David Casserole, pulling off his Italian loafers and flinging them into the tree. ‘AND YOU – THE LITTLE BOY WITH THE grotesque FACE! move AN’ locate ME A –’ yet Polly had had sufficient. ‘Holds on only one minute,’ she acknowledged, entering into the centre of the clearing. ‘Townsfolk, are you actually gonna fall for this? I’ll bets you the entire funds on the planet PLUS a few transfers what I bought loose with a comic book – I’ll bets you ANYTHIN’ it’s Mr Gum in that tree! ’ ‘Mr Gum? ’ murmured the group in dismay. ‘What, that previous horror? ’ ‘Yeah,’ acknowledged Polly. ‘Mr Gum. along with his nasty outdated beard an’ his fierce outdated eyes an’ his hat what infrequently even suits on his pointy outdated head! ’ ‘SHUT UP, YOU MEDDLIN’ LITTLE woman! ’ shouted the voice within the tree. ‘I’M certainly RUNTUS – AN’ WHAT’S extra i will be able to end up IT. OI, invoice! GET OUT the following, ME outdated good friend FROM THE OLDEN DAYS! ’ after which there got here a rustling within the timber, and the group gasped as out popped whatever that they had by no means obvious, yet had in simple terms heard approximately within the legends of outdated.