by Paul Moxham
The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep
The Mystery Series – Short Story No. 13
By Paul Moxham
Copyright 2018 Paul Moxham
Version Updated: 1st October 2018
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All rights reserved, without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE MYSTERY SERIES
This adventure series set in 1950’s Britain will delight children of all ages.
~*~*~
Summer Holidays:
The Mystery of Smugglers Cove
The Mystery of the Missing Money
The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes
The Mystery of Adventure Island
The Mystery of the Mysterious Man
The Mystery of the Strange Notebook
The Mystery of Hidden Valley
~
Winter Holidays:
The Mystery of Claw Mountain
The Mystery of the Golden Elephant
The Mystery of the Red Balloon
The Mystery of the Golden Dragons
The Mystery of the Howling Dog
The Mystery of the Hidden Suitcase
The Mystery of Treasure Island
~
Easter Holidays:
The Mystery of Four Towers
The Mystery of the Burning Plane
The Mystery of the Russian Spy
The Mystery of Ghost Island
The Mystery of the Perfect Thief
The Mystery of the Underwater Car
The Mystery of the Crown Jewels
~
Summer Holidays:
The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep
The Mystery of the Escaped Prisoner
~
Box Set:
The Mystery Series Collection (Short Stories 1-4)
The Mystery Series Collection (Short Stories 5-8)
The Mystery Series Collection (Short Stories 9-12)
The Mystery Series Collection (Books 1-3)
The Mystery Series Collection (Books 4-6)
The Mystery Series Collection (Books 7-9)
PRAISE FOR THE MYSTERY SERIES
"I was drawn in by the fast-paced plot. I enjoyed reading the book and couldn't wait to see how things turned out." --- Smashwords Reviewer
"Paul Moxham takes the reader on a whirlwind of chase scenarios that up the ante with each narrow escape." --- Amazon USA Reviewer
"I love this book, could not put it down and I felt as if I was standing beside the characters." --- Shelfari Reviewer
"This is an entertaining adventure story that would make pleasurable holiday reading for 7 to 10 year olds." --- Amazon UK Reviewer
NOTE:
This can be read as a stand alone story, but if you want to have full knowledge of the characters, I suggest that you read The Mystery of Smugglers Cove, the first book in The Mystery Series.
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This story is set in 1950’s Britain and is written in British English - not American English - so bear this in mind regarding the spelling of some words.
-----------
This story is set after the events in The Mystery of the Crown Jewels.
Let the Adventure Begin…
It was the very first day of the summer holidays and, after travelling down from London the previous night, Joe Mitchell and his sisters Amy and Sarah were eager to enjoy everything that the small coastal village of Smugglers Cove had in store for them.
The sun was shining and, since the forecast was for a hot, sunny day, they thought it would be the perfect time to go swimming at the beach. Hoping that their friend Will would want to join them, they put their bathers on underneath their shorts and, taking a rucksack filled with sunhats and towels, they hurried out of Rose Cottage.
Climbing onto their bicycles, they sped down the hill and through the main street of Smugglers Cove. They waved hello to the plumpish Constable Biggens before slowing down as they approached the house where Will and his father lived.
Will was grinning from ear to ear as he opened the door. “It’s so good to see you. It seems ages since we were last together.”
Sarah’s green eyes shone as she nodded. “Yes. It’s only been a few months, but it seems longer since school hasn’t been very exciting.”
“You mean you three didn’t solve any mysteries?” Will joked.
Joe shook his head. “No. Mysteries only seem to come our way when all four of us are together.”
“Speaking of which, do you want to come swimming with us?” Amy asked.
Will nodded. “While I was having breakfast I was thinking it would be a good day for that. Come in and say hello to Dad while I put my bathers on. He’s in the study.”
Joe and his two sisters trooped inside and made their way down the passageway, stopping outside the open door of the study. Peering in, they saw a middle aged man with sandy coloured hair and a slender face. He was sitting at his desk, studying a very old book.
“Hello, Mr Spencer,” Joe said.
The man glanced up and smiled. “Hello, Joe, Amy, Sarah. Have you had a good time at school?”
“It was okay, but it’s good to be back at Smugglers Cove,” Joe replied.
Mr Spencer chuckled. “Are you expecting any mysteries this summer?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say no if one came—” Joe admitted.
“But today we’re going swimming,” Amy interrupted. “So no mysteries for us today.”
Will suddenly appeared beside the three. “Let’s go then. Goodbye Dad!”
“Goodbye and have fun,” Mr Spencer replied.
Deciding that there was no point in cycling to the beach since it was close by, the four children left their bicycles on Will’s front lawn and strode down the street.
Since it was only the first day of the summer holidays, there were very few people around so the children headed for the main beach, which was next to the harbour.
There were four young children playing about by the water’s edge with their mother, a couple walking a dog, and two sunbathers.
Picking a spot close to the water, the children threw down their rucksacks, took off their shorts and tops, and raced into the water.
Despite the warm weather, the water was still cool so the children didn’t spend a whole lot of time in it, but they still enjoyed themselves splashing one another.
~
By the time the afternoon arrived, the children had started to get hungry, so they decided they would buy some ice cream cones from Darby’s. Since there was no need for all of them to go, they played rock, paper, scissors to determine who would buy the ice creams.
Joe and Amy lost, so away they went. By the time they arrived back at the beach with the four ice creams, they were melting.
&
nbsp; They had to be eaten quickly, which they were. As Will finished the last of his cone, he pointed towards the sea. “Look at that strange boat! It almost looks like a car.”
The others peered in the direction in which their friend was pointing. Joe frowned. “You’re right, it does look like a car, a jeep actually.”
“And it’s coming straight towards us,” Sarah piped up.
“It almost looks like one of those jeeps that the United States Army used during the war,” Joe said. “I remember seeing pictures of them in the newspapers and this looks just like one, apart from being able to float on water though.”
“Of course! It must be Ben Carlin!” Will exclaimed. “I remember reading about him in the newspaper a while ago. He was attempting to go around the world in an amphibious jeep.”
“What does amphibious mean?” Sarah asked.
“It means you can travel on both land and water,” Joe replied. “Now that I think about it, I do recall the article about Ben Carlin. I remember he was an Australian who fought in the war and he had crossed the Atlantic Ocean and was making his way to London. However, that was ages ago, so I doubt it’s him.”
Will nodded. “I agree. Plus, even though this vehicle is an amphibious jeep, it doesn’t look like the same one that was in the photo since this one looks longer.”
A few moments later, instead of the craft heading towards the pier, it headed straight towards the stretch of sand on which they were standing on. A minute later, they saw the vehicle emerge from the water and then, a few moments after that, the jeep came to a stop beside them.
The bottom half looked like a combination of a jeep and a boat, whereas the top half looked more like a houseboat since it was rectangular in shape and had a number of windows.
As the water dripped down from the strange looking vehicle, the children heard a dog barking and, looking through the windows, they caught a glimpse of a small black dog.
Sarah’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Oh, what a dear little dog.”
A few moments later, the hatch at the very top of the vehicle was flung open and a short cheery faced man appeared holding a scruffy black terrier. He was shirtless and his hair was tied back in a ponytail.
The man smiled as he climbed down the ladder that was attached to the side of the jeep. “Howdy! I see you’re enjoying the warm weather.”
“Yes.” Amy smiled as the man placed the dog on the ground and the animal bounded over to her and licked her outstretched hand. She knelt down. “What a darling dog.”
“Yes, he’s a great little pal,” the man replied in a drawling American accent. “His name is Monty, named after the state in the USA where I come from.”
Joe thought for a moment. “You’re from Montana.”
The man nodded. “And my name is Tex. My parents decided to name me after—”
“Texas!” Will shouted.
Tex smiled. “I see you’re smart kids. Yes, I was born in Texas, but I live in Montana now. You see, when I was your age, my parents decided they wanted to move to a cooler state. Though, for the past few years I’ve been travelling all over the country.”
“Is it pretty in Montana?” Sarah piped up. “I’ve seen photos and read about Yellowstone National Park, but I’ve never been there.”
“That’s one of my favourite places to visit,” Tex replied. “I’ve seen Old Faithful erupt more than a hundred times and—”
“Isn’t that a geyser?” Will interrupted.
Tex nodded. “Yes, it is, the most famous in the national park. It’s a beautiful sight to see. That, along with the bison as well as the many other animals that live throughout the park, makes it a wonderful place to visit.” The man glanced around. “Quite different from this seaside village.”
Joe laughed. “Yes, I imagine it is. We don’t have any bison or geysers in Smugglers Cove. But I don’t suppose you have tunnels which were built by smugglers in Montana.”
Tex chuckled. “No, can’t say we do. Which is why Monty and I are travelling around the world. As pretty as my homeland is, I want to see what other places are like before I settle down. However, before I set off, I want to go to London to meet the man who inspired me to take this trip.”
“Are you talking about Ben Carlin?” Will questioned.
Tex grinned. “You really are smart kids. Yes, indeed. After I heard he had travelled across the Atlantic Ocean in an amphibious jeep, I thought it sounded like a mighty interesting way to travel and so I flew to France and bought this jeep. I’ve spent the last month making it liveable.” The man turned his attention to the vehicle. “This one is a slightly different type of jeep to the one that Ben used since it’s longer and wider, which will make the journey more comfortable.”
“Would we be able to have a look inside?” Joe asked eagerly.
“Certainly,” Tex replied. “By the way, do you know of a good place to eat around here? It’s been a long time since breakfast and I haven’t stocked up on too much food yet.”
Joe nodded. “Darby’s is a nice cafe. There are plenty of pies and cakes to choose from and it’s fairly cheap.”
“Sounds great,” Tex replied. “I hope the food is home cooked. My mother makes the best apple pie ever. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.”
Amy’s blue eyes glinted. “Why don’t you come and have dinner with us at Rose Cottage tonight? My mum always cooks yummy dinners and I’m sure she’d love to meet you and hear about life in Montana. In fact, we all would, wouldn’t we?”
The other three children nodded. Sarah smiled. “I’m sure you must have loads of exciting stories to tell.”
Tex grinned. “I sure do. I might not have travelled around the world yet, but there was a time when I went hiking in the Rocky Mountains and a grizzly bear—”
“Don’t tell us now,” Joe interrupted. “Save it for tonight.”
“Okay,” Tex replied. “I’ll go down to Darby’s now and see if they have any apple pies. Afterwards, I’ll see if I can find a mechanic to help fix my jeep since there are some issues with the controls. Afterwards, I’ll see you for dinner at Rose Cottage, but only if you’re sure your mother isn’t going to mind cooking for an extra person.”
Amy shook her head. “No, she’d be delighted to have you, especially since you’re from the United States. Her parents took her there when she was young and she enjoyed all the sights so much she’s always telling us she’d love to take us there for a holiday. But it’s a bit expensive.”
Tex nodded. “Yes, going overseas always is, which is why I decided to travel around like Ben Carlin. Hey, maybe she could go to the USA in a jeep like this.”
Amy laughed. “There’s no way she’d travel in that. But I wouldn’t mind riding in it for a while.”
“Well, how about you all climb on aboard and we’ll drive to Darby’s?” Tex suggested. “That way, you can show me where to go and you can get to ride in the jeep.”
Will nodded. “Great!”
Tex reached down and picked up Monty who had been enjoying racing around on the sand. He then climbed up the ladder and down the hatch.
The children followed him and, as soon as they entered the jeep, they realised why the man had been shirtless. It was hot inside the vehicle. Much hotter than outside.
As Tex saw the look on the children’s faces, he couldn’t help but grin. “I suppose I should have warned you about the temperature.”
“Why is it so hot in here?” Amy asked. “It feels like an oven.”
“Well, the steel body of the jeep absorbs the heat. And, even if I have the hatch open, it’s still way hotter in here than out there. Which is why I’m just wearing shorts.” Tex sat down at the steering wheel.
“How can you travel across the water?” Sarah piped up.
Tex pointed to the first of three levers which were beside the steering wheel. “If I push this up, the power will be switched to the propeller which is attached at the rear of the jeep. It can’t travel as fast on water as it can on land,
but it’s doable.”
“What do the other levers do?” Joe asked.
“One is for the headlights and the other one keeps the jeep at a constant speed. Apart from that, it’s like a regular car.” Tex twisted the ignition key and, a moment later, the jeep rumbled to life. “I use the pedals by my feet to accelerate and to brake.”
Amy glanced behind her. “Can we see what the rest of the jeep looks like?”
“Of course, go right ahead,” Tex replied. “Just as long as one of you tells me where to go.”
As Will directed Tex to Darby’s, the others walked to the rear of the vehicle. They passed a small compartment that contained a few cans of tinned food as well as a radio and then they entered another small compartment. It contained a small bunk bed and had a dog bed beside it. Sarah lay down on the bunk. “I don’t see how Tex could have a very good sleep here. It’s long enough for me, but I’m short compared to him.”
“Well, I don’t suppose he has much chance to rest,” Joe said. “After all, unlike Ben Carlin, who was travelling with his wife, Tex doesn’t have anyone. Which means that he could only have a rest if the vehicle wasn’t moving.”
“That’s probably just as well,” Amy said. “Can you imagine trying to sleep with the noise of the engine going on all the time? It seems much noisier than Dad’s car.”
Joe nodded as he glanced back at Will and Tex. “If I wanted to speak to them from here, I’d have to yell.”
Amy smiled as Monty suddenly appeared and made his way to his dog bed. He sat down and started chewing on a bone. “At least Tex and Monty have each other. I can’t imagine travelling anywhere in this jeep, but having a companion, even if it’s a dog, is better than having no one at all.”
“Yes, I agree with you there,” Sarah said. “Hey, we’re almost at Darby’s.”
The children walked back to the front of the narrow vehicle until they were beside Will. “So, how did you like my sleeping quarters?” Tex asked.