In which they make a dash for the shack

“They are bound to come back tonight,” said Flora.

“The whole point of the poster was to put them off using it again,” said Caleb.

They were sitting on a picnic bench looking out over the cliff, with the shop and museum behind them.

“OK, but if the reward had meant anything to them, they would have brought it over today.” She looked from Caleb to Beth. “Don’t you see? They were going to respond in one of two ways: either hand it in to get the reward or continue with their trouble making and return for more larks tonight. But they don’t know that we know they used it in the pit.”

“Unless they have realised they dropped the towel,” said Caleb. “In which case they may be more cautious.”

“I don’t think Dale does cautious,” Flora responded. “I say we go and wait for them at the pit and catch them red handed.”

“Even if we did see them we are hardly going to challenge them are we? Two 12-year-olds and a 10-year-old against a gang of 15-year-olds?”

“We could take a camera and at least get photographic evidence. Like in The Big Six,” suggested Flora with a shrug.

Dad had read the Swallows & Amazons books to Caleb and Beth years ago. They vaguely remembered something about a hot chimney and boats being set adrift.

“That’s an idea,” conceded Caleb.

“Mum and Dad will never let us stay up late,” warned Beth.

“They won’t know,” said Caleb. “They will be back in their bed and breakfast and Grandpa will be looking after us tonight!”

Everyone’s eyes lit up. Though, in fairness, Beth’s gave a faint glimmer. She was less sure about doing something her mum wouldn’t approve of.

“But what about your parents?” Caleb asked Flora. “Would they let you?”

“We could say we were sleeping in the shack,” said Flora, plotting. “I’m sure Tess would let us.”

“We mustn’t lie,” said Beth.

“We wouldn’t be,” said Flora. “We would sleep there afterwards.”

“I’m not sure I would want to if we had caught the boys. I’d be too scared!” said Beth, already feeling a shudder of excitement and fear course through her body.

“Well, you’d be allowed to change your mind at that point,” said Flora. “We all would be.”

“Come on then,” said Caleb. “Let’s go and tell Tess our plan.”

*

“The only thing I am giving you permission to do is sleep in the shack,” said Tess firmly. “I don’t want you climbing around the pit in the dark, it could be really dangerous.”

“We are only going to take photos,” pleaded Caleb. “We will get into position before it’s dark and we won’t move until they have gone.”

Tess was thinking. She looked at them with an extra layer of meaning. “All I’m saying is that you can sleep in the shack, OK?”

Caleb made to say something, but Flora put her hand over his mouth.

“Just leave it. Thank you, Tess. Come on you two…” she said assertively.

She practically dragged Caleb out of the shop.

“What was that for?”

“There was nothing else that needed to be said. We had said too much already. Don’t you see? Tess didn’t want to know the details or she could get in trouble for not stopping us. By saying we could sleep in the shack she was basically giving her approval to the plan, but without agreeing to every part of it.”

Caleb was catching up slowly, as was Beth. He was starting to feel outnumbered by smart girls.

“Good job you’re so quick, Flora,” he admitted reluctantly.

“Thank you.” Flora gave a bow. “Now let’s go and ask our parents very nicely if we can sleep in the shack tonight.”

*

Caleb’s Mum and Dad agreed quite happily. They could see that Tess was a good sort, and who could say that a dilapidated static caravan was inherently less safe than a slightly dilapidated campervan? At least the static caravan didn’t have wheels that could take it over the edge of the cliff. And besides, Grandpa would be glad of the extra space.

Flora’s parents were equally happy. They trusted Tess and they trusted Flora. She knew this place like the back of her hand and it was so lovely that she has found some nice friends to play with.

Dad had gone to get Grandpa during the afternoon and they all ate supper together. Dad cooked some marinated chicken over the BBQ and they had it with salad and cous-cous. Grandpa had asked Dad to stop at the local store so he could buy some ice-creams as a treat. Two boxes of four meant there were enough for Flora and her parents too.

When Mum and Dad left to go back to their room for the night Grandpa approached the children.

He cleared his throat and stood rather awkwardly, looking at them. Caleb guessed what was coming.

“I saw a poster in the village. Is anyone going to explain?”

“I can,” said Caleb hurriedly and starting with Flora finding the towel that morning he explained everything that happened.

“So, you think it was the ray-gun that caused the rock fall?” questioned Grandpa.

“Yes. It seemed more than a coincidence that the two times it was used on a cliff some of the rock fell down.”

“OK, I see your logic. And you think these boys in the village have found it?”

“Yes, we are almost certain.”

“Even so, it is a bit of a risk including a drawing of the machine. It is better not to give too much away.”

“We tried to make it a bad drawing…” said Beth, hoping Caleb wouldn’t be offended.

“Well, I wasn’t going to comment on that, but seeing as you say so yourself…” Grandpa grinned and his eyes twinkled. Then his eyes became serious again.

“The thing I was most concerned about is the £1,000 reward. You know I can’t afford that.”

“It’s OK, Flora’s dad agreed to that.”

“Flora’s dad?”

“Yes, she explained and said the machine was of sentimental value. He agreed to put up the reward money.”

“That’s very kind, but they have already done too much for us. I feel rather awkward about it. I’ll go and talk to them later.”

Caleb felt deflated.

“Sorry if we did the wrong thing. It was hard to know what was best when we couldn’t communicate with you.”

“No, not at all. I can see you made a whole series of good decisions. It will work out, don’t worry. Off you go now and get ready for your camp out.”

On that troubling note Caleb and Beth began to collect together their bedding to take to the shack. What was done couldn’t be undone, and the only thing to do to put things right was to continue with their plan.

*

“I can’t believe it’s still light and it’s 10 o’clock,” said Beth later that evening.

“Yes, I don’t expect they will come until it is completely dark, which might not be for another hour,” remarked Caleb.

“I wish you had let me bring a pillow,” complained Flora.

“I told you; we couldn’t bring anything in case we have to leave in a hurry. Just ourselves, the clothes we are in and the camera. You can go back if you like.”

“No, it’s OK, I just can’t help thinking how much nicer it would be if I had a pillow.”

They were perched on the rim of the pit on the far side from the shop and museum, about halfway between where Dale’s path joined the main path and the stairs began. They had discussed whether it would be wiser to hide on the other side, so that Dale and his gang wouldn’t pass them, but Caleb said it was more important they could identify them and get as much information as they could. The girls weren’t completely convinced but they followed his lead none the less.

From their vantage point they had a good view down to the bottom of the steps and could just about see the cliff face where the graffiti was and where the machine had been tried the night before. Their lookout spot was well hidden by shrubs and ferns, both in front and behind. Caleb got Flora to find a position where she could get a photo of the path and he found a position where he could get photos into the quarry.

“We obviously can’t use the flash, but Dad’s camera takes really good pictures in low light,” said Caleb.

“Does he know you have it?” asked Flora.

“Yes, he’s always willing to lend it to me if I ask. I said we might try and get some photos of the moon.”

“I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of the moon tonight – did you see that bank of clouds heading this way?”

Caleb looked up and saw the edge of a cloud moving across the sky, obscuring the first stars that had recently emerged from the purple-grey haze above them. Flora was right. It wouldn’t be long now before it was completely dark. He looked at his watch: 10.37pm.

An owl hooted. Beth stared wide-eyed and quivered. “It’s OK, it’s just an owl,” Caleb reassured her.

“What’s that?” asked Flora. There was another sound. Movement along the path. A voice.

Caleb put a finger to his lips and passed Flora the camera. She wriggled into position. It wasn’t quite dark, so this would be an excellent chance for a photo.

Click.

“What was that?”

It was a boy’s voice. Another voice responded.

“What?”

“I saw a red light, somewhere over there.

“A red light?”

“I’m sure of it.”

“Probably the shop lights through the trees. Come on. This is getting heavy.”

They continued on their way.

The children breathed a sigh of relief.

They heard the movement of several bodies continuing along the path and a few moments later they saw three dark forms begin to descend the stairs.

Caleb tried to get a photo, but they were little more than grey shapes against the grey cliff. He doubted it would show anything.

They could hear the scuffle of feet and snatches of conversation as the boys made their way downwards and before long the voices were drifting up to them from the bottom of the quarry. The dust on the quarry floor was more reflective than the rocky walls, and the form of the boys could be made out more clearly against it.

“OK, let’s try that place again,” said a voice, the same one that complained that what they were carrying was heavy.

“That’s Dale,” whispered Flora.

Next moment they saw the ray-gun had been turned on. A gentle green light, like the beam of a torch, swept across the floor and up the side of the cliff until it settled on a spot near to where Caleb had seen the rock fall.

They watched for a few minutes as it scanned from side to side and up and down.

“Let me have a go.”

(“That’s Colin.”)

“I can see something,” said Dale.

“Where?”

(“Shane.”)

“Right where I’m pointing, dimwit.”

“Wow, looks like a claw.” Colin again.

There were a few moments of silence as the beam was held steady.

“I can see more of them!” said Dale.

“Wow, it looks like a whole arm – you can see right into the cliff, man!” Shane was getting excited.

“I’m going to move up to the left.”

The beam slowly moved up and to the left. For a moment the rock glowed in a simple green disc, but then, like an x-ray coming into focus, bright green forms began to take shape.

“Wow, is that a jaw?!” said Colin.

“I reckon there’s a whole skeleton in there,” enthused Dale.

Dale continued to move the machine, tracing the shape of the animal from its head, down its back to its pelvis and further down its hind legs to its enormous feet. As he did so it left a fading green tracery of shapes, brightest where the bones were, with a paler shimmering outline suggestive of its flesh.

“Wow, you’ve nailed it! Let’s tell your Dad and we can come back for it tomorrow,” said Colin.

“Not a chance,” said Dale. “I’m going to get this out myself and get the credit. We’ve got all night. Here, Shane, you come and hold it for a bit.”

Just as they were transferring the machine from one shoulder to another there was a small cascade of rocks.

Caleb looked at Flora and then Beth. He reached for a stone, thinking to throw it down to scare them and maybe get them away from the cliff.

“Look some of the bones are exposed now!” It was Colin. He walked up to the rockface and touched one of the exposed claws. “Wow, it’s kind of wet.”

“What are you talking about?” Dale was beside him in a moment. “You’re right. That’s weird.”

“Hey, you’re blocking the beam.”

Dale and Colin set to work with fossil hammers, chipping the rock from around the fossilised bones. Caleb hefted the rock again and was just about to toss it down towards the base of the cliff when there was a sudden flicker of light. For a moment the trees stood out dramatically against a bright sky.

“What was that?” asked Colin anxiously.

“Just some lightning,” said Dale with a shrug. “It’s a warm night and there’s rain about.”

They went back to work, chipping away at the rock while the beam of the ray gun wafted to and fro across the cliff face.

Caleb took several more photos.

“This could go on a long time and we can’t see much,” he whispered to the others. “Maybe we should go back.”

Just as he said it the first fat drops of rain started to fall. The big leaves around them shuddered with each impact.

“Oh, crap. It’s raining!” said Colin below them.

“What should we do?” It was Shane.

They didn’t hear Dale’s response. The intensity of the rain was increasing rapidly and all they could hear was the heavy drops pounding on the vegetation around them. Caleb looked around to see where they might shelter and pulled Beth closer to the base of a tree.

“We should make a dash for it!” said Flora. “We’ll get soaked.” There was another flash of lightning.

Caleb knew she was right – and their parents wouldn’t be very happy if they all got colds. He was responsible for Beth too. But what about the ray-gun? If Dale and the others took it home again they would be no worse off than they had been at the start of the day – though at least they now knew the boys definitely had it.

“Yes, let’s go!” Caleb grabbed Beth’s hand and they ran back along the path as quickly as they could, grateful that the trees provided some cover. But then they had no choice but to make a dash across the car park and around the museum building to the shack. As they ran, the lightning flickered again over the sea and thunder rumbled in the distance. Caleb knew it wasn’t a good idea to be in the open in a thunderstorm. He kept low and close to the building and then made a final dash for the shack door. He threw it open and stepped to one side, letting Beth and Flora go in ahead. As he stepped onto the threshold, he took one last look out to sea and scanned the horizon. Suddenly there was an almighty crack of thunder that sent him stumbling backwards. He collapsed onto a couch amidst a wave of tittering from the girls. He didn’t greatly care – he was just glad to be inside again!