Within a few short minutes of encounter the May Queen the silver path ahead of us widened and then split, with what appeared to be the main path bearing off to the right while a smaller track made off to the left. This smaller way cut a silver furrow through thickening undergrowth; close under the boughs of those strange trees that bordered the Trod on every side. As we stood puzzling which route to take a figure stepped from the surrounding gloom. A brief glance told us that this ragged figure must be another of the Faerie guardians. This curious intruder squatted by the side of the path and produced a set of Faerie pipes and, with a half-smile set on his lips, told us that he would help us on our way if we would agree to dance to a jig he would play for us.

There was no hesitation now, we had all come to far too turn back at this last hurdle and thus it was that that Midsummer moon witnessed a soldier, a scientist, a computer expert, a pilot, a Princess of the Fey and a bemused reporter joining hands in the silver half-light. As the Piper struck up a jaunty tune this strange circle began to jig and dance to his compelling tune, spinning faster and faster until the Trod became a blur. The bright flash of Faerie lights erupting around us served to add to our disorientation. My sense of time became distorted as the Faerie tune echoed in my head and impelled my feet into motion - only the feel of my companions' hands gripped tight within my own kept me rooted in the present. Just as it seemed we could dance no longer the Piper's music stopped and our dancing circle split apart, with each of us (save for the Fey Prudence) left giddy and gasping for breath.

While we recuperated the Piper spoke, telling us that the correct way lay to the left, along the path under the boughs, he also told us much of what Dr Hawthorne had conjectured about the weaknesses of the Fair Folk. I am afraid that I did not pay enough heed to his words – for he also told us that, if we were ever the guests of a Faerie Lord we could request a boon of him. In my tired state I failed to take that information in, which was a pity as it could have been of use to us later.

Like the Songbird and the May Queen before him, the Piper melted into the shadows, leaving us alone once again. We looked down the path that lay ahead of us, narrow and treacherous and decided that we'd have to move along it in single file. That decided we re-organised with Jones in the lead, still confident in the face of danger, no matter in what guise it came. I am ashamed to admit that I lingered at the back, I have never been a man of great physical courage and the strangeness of this long Midsummer Night had unsettled me, perhaps more than I realised at the time.

Fortunately for all of us our journey was almost at an end, for not far down this new track we could see a great cave opening and hear the sounds of revelry and laughter. As we were approached the silver light of the moon revealed a scene straight out of the pages of fable. Spread out before us, filling that great stone cavern, was the Faerie Court of Dark Summer, dominated by the imposing figures of the King and Queen and peopled by a collection of grotesques and oddities more varied than one would ever see in the waking world. As we crossed the cave's threshold Prudence ran forward to be greeted by her long estranged 'parents' and joyous cries of greeting echoed off the cavern's dark walls. As Prudence left our side we had time for a more detailed glance around and we were overjoyed to find not only the imprisoned forms of Mr J. and the elusive Comte de San Graal, Langton, but also Hammer, whom we had give up for lost.

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