The Aeroplane of Adventure

©2009 David Marlor

This novel is based on the characters created by Enid Bylton in the Adventure Series. In this regard, it is the ninth adventure and follows The River of Adventure.

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Chapter 11: Two Mysteries

"Look at that, Tufty," said Jack. "I wonder when that aeroplane arrived? I never heard it." Neither had Philip. "Still," he said, "we are rather far away and the hill is in the way."

Jack quickly swept the airstrip with his field glasses. There was nobody in sight. They cautiously made their way in a crouch across the grassy area, both of them keeping a close eye on the airstrip, ready to drop down quick. Both of them thankfully dropped down in the hole to the underground cliff passage, feeling much safer. Once through the tunnel, they were able to make good time to the bush were they'd left the sack of food. It was still there. Good. Jack had been half afraid that it had been found.

"Let's have a rest and then we'll go back," said Philip. He sat down behind the bush and Jack joined him. Suddenly they both heard some shouting in the distance.

"It sounds like it's coming from the airstrip," whispered Philip in Jack's ear.

"I'll climb up this tree and see if I can see anything," said Jack, getting up. Once up the tree, Jack was able to see quite a lot. He felt something by his feet and looked down, startled.

"It's only me," whispered Philip. "What can you see?"

"Golly, I nearly fell out of the tree when you did that," said Jack, half cross. Philip joined Jack on a branch and could see three men near the bigger aeroplane.

"It's the two men who stole Bill's plane and somebody we haven't seen before," said Jack, who could see them quite well through his field glasses. "The new man looks quite upset at our two friends."

As he watched, he saw two other men he hadn't seen before walk over.

"Two more men have joined them now," narrated Jack. "Now they've joined in. My word, they look very unhappy. I wish we could hear what they're saying."

"Let's get closer," said Philip, a gleam in his eyes. "If they're speaking English, we might learn something. We should try anyway."

Jack and Philip climbed back down the tree and made their way closer to the airstrip. They came to the bush they'd hidden behind that first day. Both boys knew they couldn't be seen, but they certainly could hear.

"They're speaking English," whispered Philip in delight.

Philip and Jack could see the new men now. One of them seemed to be the boss. He was doing most of the talking.

"Where is it?" demanded the man they thought was the boss in a clear British accent.

"It's here, I swear," answered Heinrich sulkily. "I haven't lost it, Mr. Arnold. I swear."

The boys could see that Mr. Arnold was a big fat man wearing a white suit that looked too small for him. His red puffy neck seemed to squeeze out at the top.

"Look, boss," said one of the other new men. He was wearing sunglasses and had rather short hair and a thin neck. "Maybe Heinrich here needs a little shakin' up. My boys know how to deal with traitors like this."

"I'm not a traitor," shouted poor Heinrich, who was looking very scared by now.

"If we don't find it, Heinrich," said Mr. Arnold in a surly voice, mopping his sweaty face with a meaty hand. He didn't finish his sentence. Instead he turned and walked away.

Jack made a quiet hand gesture to Philip, indicating they should go. Philip nodded and both boys silently moved back out of range and to safety.

"Golly," said Jack when they were out of range. "That Mr. Arnold seemed really upset about something that Heinrich seems to have lost. I wonder what it is?"

"I think I might know," said Philip suddenly remembering. "It's that black book we looked at. You remember, the one I got from the pilot's coat pocket in the plane."

Jack started at Philip in amazement. "Of course – that must be it. Well, at least it's safely on the other side of the island." said Jack. "We should have another look in it when we get back and see if we figure out those diagrams."

"Actually," said Philip ruefully. "It's still in my pocket. Look, here it is." Philip pulled the small black book out of his pocket. "It's a mystery we'll have to try to solve while we're here."

Jack grabbed Philip. "Come on, if that book is as important as they think it is, that fat Mr. Arnold won't be too happy to see us with it."

The boys set off back with the sack of tinned food between them. They were slow going through the tunnel and had to wait for an hour before it was safe to cross the open space. The boys kept moving, but took frequent rests on the steep climb. Both of them were glad the girls hadn't come with them. It really was very tiring work.

It was almost supper time when the boys finally reached the little clearing at the top of the hill. From here it was all down hill and the boys found the going a little quicker. The sign posts they'd left were very useful, especially as the light was fading. It was dark when they reached the little stream. Jack went in front of Philip shining his torch to show the way.

"I wonder how the girls are getting on?" said Jack as they carefully made their way down the side of the stream.

* * *

After the boys had left that morning, the girls had decided to clean up the treehouse and then explore the beach. It was another hot day on the island. The girls found shells that would look nice in the treehouse.

Kiki, upset that Jack had left her alone, sulked on Lucy-Ann's shoulder. Morris the mynah bird missed Philip. Whenever it could, it would call Kiki names. Names that Kiki had taught it to say.

"Really, Kiki," Dinah had said. "It's your own fault for teaching Morris to say those things."

Dinah suggested a picnic on the rocks overlooking the ocean. The girls opened tinned pears, tinned ham and tinned tomatoes. It really was a most delicious picnic. Dinah went over to the spring and filled the pear can with water, then they drank pear-tasting water. Lovely!

Dinah settled down for a snooze in the sun. Lucy-Ann wanted to go for a swim again in the saltwater pool. She jumped in and swam to the rocks on the ocean side. Lucy-Ann sat on the rocks and thought about Aunt Allie and Bill. Were they all right? Were they worried about them? Probably. Lucy-Ann sighed. What was the use of promising not to fall into adventure, and then finding themselves stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere? Well, at least this adventure wasn't too bad.

Suddenly, Lucy-Ann felt a faint shuddering and then a small rumble. It was so faint that she half wondered if she'd imagined it. She listened, but couldn't hear anything else. After sitting for a few more minutes in the hot sun, with the cool waves occasionally splashing over her, Lucy-Ann got up, stretched and then dived into the saltwater pool.

She dove deep, opened her eyes underwater, and got the shock of her life. Something big and black was moving silently underneath her. Lucy-Ann struggled for the surface, afraid that whatever was in the pool would grab her legs and pull her under. She broke the surface and swam quickly to the edge, yelling "Dinah! Dinah! Help, Dinah!"

Dinah awoke to the sound of Lucy-Ann's screams. She jumped up and saw Lucy-Ann swimming and crying at the same time. Dinah ran down the rough rocky steps.

"What is it?" asked Dinah. "Whatever is the matter?"

"Oh Dinah," sobbed Lucy-Arm, as Dinah helped her out of the pool. "There's something in there. It was big and black. I think it was a monster."

"Don't be silly," said Dinah. "I don't think it would be a monster. Maybe it was a whale or dolphin. They're harmless you know."

After Lucy-Ann had calmed down, Dinah went to look in the salt water lagoon. But it was too choppy with the constant action of waves dashing into it.

"I can't see anything." said Dinah at last. "Are you sure you saw it?"

"Yes," said Lucy-Ann simply. "Oh, Dinah, there's something else. I felt a faint rumble just before I saw that that thing, like a small earthquake."

"A rumble?" said Dinah puzzled. "I didn't feel anything. Come on, let's get dry and have an early tea."

The rest of the day passed well enough. Nothing would get Lucy-Ann back in the saltwater lagoon though. Dinah said she was going for a swim, but Lucy-Ann begged her not to. She was so adamant that Dinah finally relented and decided not to. They went for a walk along the coast instead.

When it got dark, they went into the treehouse and played cards. Suddenly Kiki gave a squawk of pleasure and sailed out of the treehouse.

"The boys must be back," said Lucy-Ann joyfully.

The girls climbed down the vine ladder and joined the boys by the upper pool.

"You've got the food," said Dinah clapping Philip on the back and grinning at Jack.

"I'm glad you're back, Jack," said Lucy-Ann giving her brother a big hug. "I was so worried about you."

Between them, they managed to haul the sack of food up to the treehouse. Once they had it stored away safely, Philip pulled up the vine ladder and the children sat in their living room and exchanged stories.

The boys told them of their day's adventure. Philip pulled the little black book out and the children had another look at it. It was no good, they couldn't make head nor tail of the finely drawn diagrams.

Philip put it back in his pocket. "Maybe Bill will find it useful."

Kiki sat on Jack's shoulder eating sunflower seeds. Morris was on Philip's shoulder, who was sitting next to Jack. Kiki kept passing sunflower seeds to Morris, and then as the mynah tried to take the seed, Kiki would pull it back and crackle with laughter.

"Stop it, Kiki," said Jack, tapping her on the beak.

The girls told them of their adventures of the day. Philip and Jack listened with great interest to Lucy-Ann's "monster" story, but were inclined to agree with Dinah that it was most likely a whale or dolphin.

"That doesn't explain the rumbling," said Lucy-Ann.

"It's a mystery," said Philip at last.

"Two mysteries," said Lucy-Ann as she settled down to go to sleep.

Continues tomorrow...

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