Crown Park

by Des Hunt

  The steam around Crown Park seemed to be thicker than ever. Jack had trouble finding his way up the little gully that led to Fluoro’s shelter.

  When he got through he found Fluoro fiddling with an electronic game.

  “Are you winning?” Jack asked.

  “In a way. But it’s not a game. It’s a GPS navigator.”

  “Are you going somewhere?”

  Fluoro chuckled. “No. But the Bennett brothers will be after I’ve given it to them.”

  Jack’s jaw dropped. “You’re giving them that?”

  “Yes, but not for long. I’ll get it back.”

  “They won’t give it back,” said Jack, annoyed. He’d arrived full of hope about what would happen to the Bennetts. Now Fluoro was giving them stuff. “It’s stupid giving them something like that,” he said, angrily. “Where’d you get it from?”

  “There are still bits and pieces of my previous life around,” said Fluoro. “The question you should be asking is: why am I giving it to them?”

  Jack relaxed a little. “OK, why are you giving it to them?”

  “So that they can go on a treasure hunt.” Fluoro’s fingers moved over the screen. “I’ve programmed eight places in here, along with a clue to the treasure they’ll find.”

  “What sort of clue?”

  “Here’s the first. ‘Collect five black things that come in pods. What’ll happen if you crush them in water? They’ll stink, that’s what’ll happen.’ OK, Jack, what do you think that might be?”

  Jack thought for a time. “Seeds of some sort. Aren’t there some seeds you can make stink bombs from?”

  “Exactly. Do you know what type of seeds?”

  Jack shook his head.

  “Wattle seeds. And there’s a tree right by where this GPS will take them.”

  Jack was puzzled. “So they pick some wattle seeds. So what?”

  “Ah,” replied Fluoro. “I don’t think they’ll be clever enough to get wattle seeds from that clue. You see, also at that location is a rubbish transfer station. There are lots of black rubbish bags in containers called pods. They’ll get five of those and take them away.”

  “Then what?” asked Jack.

  In reply Fluoro put a finger to his lips. “Shush. Here they come.”

  A moment later Brian and Liam Bennett appeared out of the steam. They stood in front of Fluoro with their legs apart and arms hanging wide.

  “Where’s the treasure?” asked Brian.

  “Right here,” said Fluoro, holding out the GPS.

  Brian grabbed it. “What’s this?”

  “Your guide to fame and fortune,” replied Fluoro. “It’s a GPS. You have to follow the route I’ve put in there and collect things from each place.”

  “GPS?” said Brian. “But we don’t have a car.”

  “You don’t need one. All of them are within walking distance.” Fluoro leant over and picked up a box. He held it out to Liam. “The instructions and battery charger are in here.”

  Liam took the box. “What do we do with the things we collect? Are they the treasure?”

  Fluoro shook his head. “They’re all jewels in a way, but they’re not the treasure. You must take them to the last place to swap them for treasure.”

  “What’s in this treasure?” asked Brian.

  “Ah,” said Fluoro, smiling. “You’ll have to wait and see. But it’s worth a lot more than gold.”

  For a time, the Bennett boys stood in silence. They were suspicious. But they also liked the talk of treasure, jewels, and gold. Liam, in particular, had greed written all over him. Brian was more wary. Fluoro must’ve seen it, for he chose that moment to close his eyes and start mumbling.

  “Om mani padme hum. Om mani padme hum…”

  It did the job. Brian was back to thinking crazy man again. No wonder the scheme sounded a little nuts.

  He turned to Liam. “C’mon, let’s get started.” Then to Jack. “Tell Freakhead we’ll be back if anything goes wrong.”

  “You’d better hope that it doesn’t, Spewit,” added Liam as he followed his brother into the steam. “Or we’ll have to take it out on you.”

  As soon as they’d gone Fluoro stopped chanting. “That seemed to work.”

  “What are the other things they’re meant to collect?” asked Jack.

  “Oh, just things that are around this time of the year. Red maple leaves from down at the shore; sycamore seeds at the cemetery; blackberries near the spa; cricket eggs around the golf course. That sort of thing. They’re all natural, of course. Each is one of Nature’s little jewels.”

  “But each could be something else,” said Jack.

  “Precisely! And if they’re stupid and choose the wrong thing, then they’ll be in trouble at the final location.”

  “Which is?”

  “Melissa’s house.”

  Jack nodded slowly. Now he understood. “Whose father is a policeman?”

  “Yes!” said Fluoro with a satisfied grin.

  “Won’t they get suspicious when they find out where they’re going?”

  “Melissa says that neither of them know where she lives.” Fluoro leaned forward. “Believe me, Jack. This will work. Those brothers are greedy, and greedy people will do anything for money. Especially if it comes from a crazy person.” He climbed out of the La-Z-Boy. “Now,” he said, rubbing his hands together, “how about some noodles for lunch before we head back and find out what’s happening with that eruption. I have a feeling this will be our last visit.”

  Chainsaw arrived during lunch and Jack gave him some scraps he’d brought from home.

  Fluoro watched the cat scoffing it down. “Good idea to fill him up before we return.” He smiled. “We don’t want him eating the moho.”

  “Why did you say this might be our last visit?” asked Jack.

  “Because of the eruption. The activity has increased on each visit. The climax must come soon.”

  Jack looked around at the steam. “Does all this steam mean something is going to happen around here?”

  Fluoro shook his head. “The lake isn’t going to erupt, if that’s what you’re worried about. Geothermal fields like this are always changing. It could have something to do with the new geothermal power stations they’re building. Or maybe all the rain we’ve had this autumn. It’s more obvious today because it’s cold and there’s no breeze to take it away.”

  However, when Jack went to have a pee, he found that the holes around the cliff face were venting more gases than ever. An empty feeling formed in his stomach.

  And it didn’t get any better when he lay down on the lounger. He patted his lap, inviting Chainsaw to jump up, but the cat refused. He sat on the ground staring up at Jack. His tail was snaking back and forth as it did when he was unsure of things.

  “What’s the matter boy?” asked Jack, reaching over to stroke the cat’s head. Instead of purring, Chainsaw replied with a small meow.

  By then, however, Fluoro had started into the story, so Jack leant back and tried to empty the fears out of his mind.

  Chapter 15

  As soon as they arrived, Jack knew that something was wrong. Grey ash was falling from the sky and the smell of sulphur filled the air.

  Jack looked at Fluoro. “You said they’d be safe here.”

  “It will only be temporary,” said Fluoro. “Must’ve been a change in the wind.”

  Before Jack could comment further, Lucy was in front of them, and she was not happy.

  “We should not have listened to you humans,” she said, angrily. “We would have been better off back at the lake. At least there we’d be safe from the adzebills and none of the moho would have had to die.”

  “Have the adzebills attacked?” asked Jack.

  “Yes! And taken one of the most beautiful creatures there ever was.”

  “It was my fault,” said Godfrey.

  “No, it wasn’t,” said Lucy. “We wouldn’t even be here, if it wasn’t for these humans.”

 
“What happened?” asked Jack.

  Godfrey went to answer, but Lucy got in first. “One got brutally attacked and killed because of you.” She glared, first at Jack, then at Fluoro.

  But Godfrey was not going to be put off. He wanted to confess. “I was tail-end Charlie,” he said, sadly, “and everything was going fine. Lucy was setting a good pace, with Em in the air, and Pat sniffing for danger.”

  “That was difficult,” said Pat appearing out of Lucy’s feathers. “This sulphur makes it hard to smell anything else.”

  “And it was so dark with the ash falling,” added Emily, from a branch above them. “The adzebills were impossible to see on the forest floor.”

  “Be that as it may,” said Godfrey, “it still would not have happened if I had kept my mind on the job.” He looked up at Jack. “You see, I was tired and my mind always wanders when I’m tired. Somehow, one of the moho—”

  “Number Four,” put in Pat. “Or Lots if you go by their system.”

  Godfrey shook his head, impatiently. “Yes, yes, whichever one it was, it got behind me, and I didn’t notice.” He closed his eyes as if reliving the event. “The first I knew was when the moho cried out. I turned and there the adzebills were. At the front was Boris, that leader of theirs. He is so horrible.” Godfrey shuddered. “He didn’t attack straight away. He stood giving the moho the evil eye, until the poor bird collapsed from fright. Even then, Boris didn’t move. He gave a signal, and three others came forward to drag the moho off. After they’d gone, Boris stood and stared at me as if daring me to do something about it. I’m sorry to say, I didn’t. I couldn’t,” he whispered. “I was too scared.

  “I found what was left of the body later,” said Emily. “It was only the skin covered in feathers. I brought it back here for Lucy.”

  “And I’ve got it on under my chest,” added Lucy. “See!” She lifted her head to full height showing the patch of purple feathers that were now part of her clothing. “Don’t you think they look wonderful?”

  At that the remaining moho, who were gathered behind her, began whimpering. Lucy turned to them. “Oh, I’m sorry if I upset you, but it would be wrong to waste such beautiful feathers. Throwing away the skin won’t bring your friend back, will it?”

  That just made the moho cry louder.

  Lucy lowered her head and turned back to the humans. “Anyway, these are the ones you should be blaming. They’re the ones that made us come here.”

  “And it was the right decision,” said Fluoro. He looked up to Emily in the tree. “You can get a better view than anyone. What’s happening back at the lake?”

  “I can’t see that far through the ash. But when I last could, I saw the whole of the lake area was covered with stuff. Much worse than here.”

  “See,” said Fluoro. “If you’d stayed at the lake, you’d all be dead, not just one moho.”

  “But it’s not going to be just one moho. Is it?” said Lucy. “They’ll all be gone before we get to somewhere safe.”

  Godfrey stepped forward. “That’s what we were discussing before you returned,” he said. “And I have a suggestion to make.”

  Everyone went quiet, waiting for Godfrey’s suggestion.

  “We need to trick the adzebills into thinking that we’ve gone in another direction. Send them after something else.”

  “Send them on a wild goose chase,” suggested Fluoro.

  “What’s that?” asked Lucy, sharply.

  “It’s when someone is sent on a useless mission.”

  Godfrey nodded. “Well, what I’ve got in mind is more like a mild goose chase. I’m the one who will be leading them astray.”

  “And how will you do that?” asked Fluoro.

  “Pat tells me that up ahead the path splits in two. I plan to go one way while all of you go the other. The adzebills will follow me.”

  “You can’t be sure of that,” said Fluoro.

  “Oh yes I can, because I will be carrying the dead moho’s skin and feathers. Pat says it still stinks of moho flesh. The adzebills won’t be able to resist following a path that smells of moho. They’ll think that some of them are injured.”

  “I won’t allow it,” said Lucy, loudly. “I absolutely won’t allow it.”

  Godfrey turned on her. “That’s because you don’t want to give up the moho skin. You and your thing about the colour purple. You’re always thinking of yourself Lucy.”

  “What a horrible thing to say? Me? Always thinking of myself? I’m the one who has to do the thinking for everyone else.” She fluffed up her feathers. “I’m doing this for you, Godfrey. I’m protecting you. For if you do this, the adzebills will kill you for sure.”

  “I know that,” said Godfrey, quietly. “And I’m ready for it.” He let out a long sigh. “Look, I’m too old to keep up with the rest of you. If I’m with you, I’ll hold you all back, and more than just the moho will die. This way, you all get to a safe place, and I get the chance to do something really important. You’ve got to let me do it.”

  “Mmm,” said Lucy. “Let me think about it.”

  For some time Jack had been aware that Chainsaw was patting at his leg. Now, he bent down to the cat. “What is it, Chainsaw?”

  In answer Chainsaw ran to a large tree alongside the path. Up the trunk he went. When he got to the first branch, he paused to check that Jack was still watching. He then went along the branch until he was right above the path. He crouched as if he was going to spring down to the ground. Then he twisted his head and gave Jack a loud meow.

  Cat and boy looked at each other for a few moments. A plan of action formed in Jack’s mind.

  “Wait,” he said turning to face the others, “There is another way.”

  Jack’s plan took some time to organize.

  Morris had the simplest role, and yet he was the weakest link. His job was to be the decoy. All he had to do was feed on the grasses alongside the path. But Morris was nervous and kept forgetting the instructions. He messed up every rehearsal by wandering away until he couldn’t be seen from the path.

  “Look,” said Jack, explaining the plan for the umpteenth time. “Boris has to be able to see you on the path. He will stop to check things out, and that’s when Chainsaw jumps on him. Do you understand that?”

  “Yes, but it’s hard to stay in one place when you’re nervous.”

  “You don’t have to be nervous. The adzebill won’t get anywhere near you.”

  “What if the furry creature forgets to jump?”

  “He won’t,” said Jack. “Believe me, he won’t.”

  The other animals were easier. Lucy and Pat had to take the remaining moho further up the path and keep them there. Emily was the Eyes in the Sky. Her job was to keep track of the adzebills as they approached, and warn when they were near.

  Fluoro, Jack and Godfrey were the hostage takers. The moment Chainsaw jumped on Boris they would leap out of their hiding places, grab the bird around the neck, and run off with him. Jack figured that the adzebill pack would be useless without their leader. After all, they were only birds. Their brains couldn’t be much bigger than a pea.

  Once they had Boris secure, they would release him only when he promised to leave the moho alone in the future.

  That was the plan. It wasn’t foolproof. Nothing involving the moho ever would be. But at least it was better than sending Godfrey off to a certain death.

  Chapter 16

  Fluoro, Jack and Godfrey were hidden in the bushes opposite the tree. The excitement had worn off after the first half hour. Now, almost an hour later, it was all boredom. Jack began to fidget.

  “Patience, young man,” said Fluoro. “They’ll come.”

  “Yeah, but will it work?” replied Jack.

  “It’s better than Godfrey here going off on his ‘mild’ goose chase.”

  Jack raised a little smile. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

  They were silent for a while before Fluoro added, “Although I know how you felt, Godfrey. There comes a time in
your life when you wonder about things like life and death. I hear you’ve recently lost your partner.”

  Godfrey gave a sad little nod. “Yes. We’d been together all our lives. I’ll never have another partner now.”

  Fluoro gave a deep sigh. “Same with me. My wife died recently, too. That’s the main reason why I’m here.” He turned to Jack. “It’s why I started living as a vagrant.”

  “Has it helped?” asked Jack.

  “Not at first. All I discovered was how horrible some people can be. But since you came along things have been better. I think I’m almost ready to return to normal life.”

  “What’s that?”

  Fluoro turned to him and smiled. “Oh, I’m not ready to reveal everything yet.”

  Before Jack could ask more questions, Emily glided in. “Incoming,” she cried. “Boris is leading the way. It’s going to work,” she said excitedly. “I know it is.” Then she took off again.

  Chainsaw welcomed the news with a deep growl. He began scratching at the branch, making sure his claws were at their sharpest. His eyes were fixed on the bend in the track where Boris would first appear.

  Jack was surprised at how nervous he felt. He was having trouble getting enough air. Alongside him Fluoro’s breathing had also deepened.

  Emily returned. “Very soon,” she said.

  It was meant to be a whisper, but came out loud enough for Morris to hear. He stopped feeding on the grasses and began whimpering. “Oh no, oh no.”

  “Shush!” hissed Jack. “Get back to feeding.” Then to Emily. “You can go now. Boris will get suspicious if he sees you here.”

  She left.

  By then Morris had stopped whimpering, but instead of eating, he’d turned so that he was facing straight down the path.

  “Feed!” hissed Jack.

  Unfortunately, Morris was now frozen with fear.

  Jack’s breathing got worse. Everything was falling apart.