The Moa Cave Read online

  Once again he thought of making smoke. At school they’d set fire to metal dishwashing pads using batteries. If only he could get hold of some fine wire. Maybe there was some in his radio. He’d pulled one to bits once and it had an iron rod with coils of wire. Perhaps they all did.

  Diving into his bag he emerged with his radio and Swiss army knife. It took a while to sort out which of the thirty-three attachments was the one that would unscrew the back. Then a moment later it was off. The coil was glued to the top of the case. If he pulled it out the radio would never work again. Without hesitation he ripped into it with the saw attachment.

  He unravelled the coil onto the sand. He had more than enough—about twenty metres. It must’ve been an internal aerial for the radio. Then he started thinking about aerials. Perhaps there was a better use for the coil. If he could rig it as an aerial to Hine’s phone then they might be able to get a signal.

  The problem was how to attach it. The phone’s stubby aerial was covered in plastic. Yet, maybe it didn’t have to make contact. The phone aerial in his father’s car worked through the rear window without any wires touching. If he wrapped enough of the coil around the plastic he should get a better signal.

  Ten minutes later they were ready to try. The wire was strung from the top of a dead flax flower down to the middle of the beach. Tyler held the wire off the wet sand.

  ‘Okay,’ he called to Hine. ‘Try it now.’

  Hine pushed a button and stared at the screen for a while before shaking her head in disappointment. ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Nothing?’ repeated Tyler. He’d been so sure it would work. He thought for a moment. ‘Move around a bit.’

  Still there was nothing. They tried many other arrangements, all without success.

  ‘Looks like plan B is needed,’ said Hine returning to the rock.

  ‘There is no plan B.’

  ‘What about your inventory? Is there anything in there that would help?’

  Tyler searched through the list in his mind. They really needed to get the aerial up higher. The cliffs would be blocking the signal. They had to get above the cliffs. Then he had it. ‘The rabbit hole,’ he said. ‘If we can poke the wire through the rabbit hole, we’ll be much higher than here and it might work.’

  The flax flower head would do the job. After cutting it down he stripped off the pods until he had a rod about three metres long. He hoped it would be enough.

  The trip to the moa cave was slow with Tyler carefully pushing the flax rod through the narrow passages. He got there with only a few centimetres knocked off the top.

  Once again he was struck by the incredible scene in the cave. Hine looked up at him. ‘You’ll be sorry to share this with others, won’t you?’

  ‘I want it to stay like this. It won’t be the same if it gets taken away. But that’s what they’ll do.’

  ‘They’ll only know if we tell them.’

  ‘Oh I want people to know, I just don’t want them to wreck it. The same with Ata. He should stay where he is.’

  ‘Maybe you’ll be able to talk them into it.’

  ‘We’ve got to get out of here first.’

  He moved to the rabbit hole and removed the bone. With the wire firmly wrapped round the end, he threaded the flax rod into the hole. When it got to the bend he took more care, hoping the flax was flexible enough to curve round. It seemed okay so he kept pushing until his arm was fully extended into the hole.

  ‘Try that,’ he said.

  Hine looked at the screen. ‘Yes!’ she said excitedly. ‘No, it’s gone again. Now it’s back. No.’

  ‘I’ll see if I can get it out further.’

  ‘The battery’s getting flat. I don’t think it’s going to last.’

  ‘Turn it off until we’re ready to try again.’

  Tyler grabbed the bone and used it to push the rod further through. Now the end was almost at the bend. He wouldn’t be able to get it any further than that.

  ‘Okay, let’s try that.’

  Hine pushed the button and waited. ‘Yes! It’s steady now.’

  ‘Right, turn it off and let’s work out what we’re going to say.’

  They thought for a while. ‘It’ll have to be a 111 call,’ said Tyler.

  ‘And I want to say that we’re all right and not in danger. I’ll say that first in case the battery gives out.’

  ‘Then describe where we are. The best way to rescue us would be from the sea. Tell them that.’

  ‘Okay. What else?’

  ‘Once you make contact just keep talking until you say everything. It’ll all be recorded.’

  ‘Anything else?’

  Tyler shook his head slowly. ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘I’m shaking,’ said Hine.

  ‘Me too.’

  Hine took a deep breath. ‘Here goes.’ She turned it on, pressed 111 and then OK. She held it to her ear. ‘It’s ringing,’ she said nervously. Then she nodded.

  ‘This is Hine Smith and Tyler Matthews. People are looking for us. We are unharmed and safe. But we are trapped in a cave at the end of Woolshed Bay. The way to get to us is from the sea. There is a hole in the rocks. Inside there is a little cove. That’s where we’ll be…Hello?…Are you there? Is anybody there?’

  She looked at the screen. ‘It’s dead.’

  ‘How much got through?’

  ‘I don’t know. There was a click at one stage. That was near the end. So I think it might’ve all gone.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘What if it hasn’t? Is there anything you can do about the batteries?’

  Tyler thought for a while. ‘Yeah, I might be able to do something. But we’d better get back to the cove now in case they come.’

  They paused for a while in the penguin cave, unsure of whether they should take all their gear out or not. In the end they left it and after saying goodbye to Hopi they returned to the beach.

  It was a long wait. The sun moved across the sky to disappear behind the cliffs in the west. Yet there was one good thing about the delay: the tide was going out making it easier for a boat to enter the cove. Soon it would be low tide and the gap would be as big as it would ever be.

  All the time Hine was working on the pendant, attaching it to the cord. Tyler watched, thinking about the boy who had worn it such a long time before. Finally she stood and said, ‘Okay, Ty. It’s time to put it on.’

  Tyler stood nervously with his arms hanging self-consciously by his side. Hine stood in front holding the pendant high.

  ‘This is a very special gift, Tyler,’ she said seriously. ‘I now know that Ata wants you to wear it, so it is a gift from him. But it is also a gift from me. A thank you for looking after me and being nice to me. I want it to give you the strength to keep your anger under control. I hope you will wear it all the time and will always remember those who gave it to you.’

  Then she lowered it over his head, tucked it in by his chest and pressed it against his skin. She stepped back and looked at him.

  Tyler wanted to say something but his mouth wouldn’t open. He knew if he spoke, he would start to cry. Instead, he nodded his head slowly, acknowledging everything she had said. It was the most powerful thing that had happened to him in his life.

  The moment would have lasted longer, and may have ended differently, if they had not each heard the noise of an approaching motor. It was from the sea. They turned towards the gap listening to the sound increase. Tyler felt for Hine’s hand and gripped it tightly. She squeezed back pulling it into her body. Everything was going to be all right. Their phone message had got through. They were being rescued. Soon they would be free.

  Chapter 22

  Mandy sat near the bookcase, away from the table where all the others were. She was due to go home tonight, as soon as the briefing had finished. She deserved to, it was her own fault—she couldn’t do anything right.

  She looked around the room. Jonno was waiting for them to be seated. They all looked so tired. Maybe they fel
t as miserable as she did. Perhaps they were just as depressed. Everyone needed good news, yet she doubted there would be any.

  ‘Okay, I’d like to begin,’ he called. Slowly the conversations stopped and all eyes were on him. ‘Today at 1545, that’s just over an hour ago, 111 received an emergency call. It was on a mobile phone and was from Hine Smith.’

  Mandy sat up. Had she heard that right? Hine had phoned? She must have because the room was abuzz with excited talk. Jonno waited for it to finish. ‘She told the operator that they were both unharmed and safe. She then went on to say where they were.’

  Again the conversations started and again Jonno waited. ‘Unfortunately the line went dead, as if the signal had been lost.’

  The looks on the faces changed from happiness to concern. Mandy felt her stomach tighten. No! That can’t be right.

  ‘All we got was,’ he said as he lifted a piece of paper, ‘“We are trapped in a cave at the…” That’s where the line went dead.’

  Jonno gave them longer this time. Mandy glanced towards Mrs Matthews, whose eyes were full of tears. Her husband was holding her hand and also was deeply affected. Hine’s family were hugging each other, with Jack gently patting his auntie’s back. The searchers looked relieved. Their faces said they were now expecting a happy ending, but not quite yet. Mandy covered her face with her hands. Why not yet? What had cut the message? Had something else happened to them?

  ‘All right,’ called Jonno. ‘Let’s continue. We’ve listened to the tape several times and while Hine’s voice shows nervousness, there is no suggestion that she is being forced to speak the words.’ That shocked Mandy—she hadn’t thought of that. ‘So, we are convinced they are indeed trapped in a cave. They did just what they said they would do. Spend the night in a cave. The problem is, we don’t at the moment know where that cave might be. However,’ he said, raising his voice above those who were speaking, ‘however, we should be able to work it out. And that will be the focus of our planning for tomorrow. We’ve got experts on the way who will be able to analyse the landforms and point us in the right direction. Meanwhile, if any of you have got ideas about a possible location, please come and tell us. Every bit of information will help. So, on that happier note, thanks for your work today and I’m sure we can look forward to a better one tomorrow.’

  After he’d finished Mandy went and sat on her bed. She’d already packed and was ready to go, but more than ever she wanted to stay. Maybe now that she knew what had happened she could do something to help. Perhaps she’d seen or heard something…

  ‘Hello, dear. How are you coping?’ It was Hine’s auntie. She sat next to Mandy causing the bed springs to sag dangerously.

  ‘I’m okay,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, I very much doubt that. Nobody’s okay at these times, and you’ve had it hardest of all.’

  Mandy turned and looked at her. She saw a face that really cared; someone who would listen, without making judgement, without laying blame. And then she cried. Not the gentle cry of disappointment. This was the uncontrolled, heaving cry of torment. The cry of someone who had given up hope.

  Auntie put her arm around her and pulled her into her chest. She let it happen, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Eventually Mandy was done. Miraculously a clean hanky appeared to wipe away the last of the tears. She felt as if a giant load had been lifted, as if she had been healed of a terrible illness. She felt cleansed.

  ‘You’ve been blaming yourself, haven’t you?’

  Mandy simply nodded.

  ‘That just shows you care. You’re not to blame; nobody is. I’m sure they got into this mess without your help. The thing is, they may need your help to get out of it. You’d better tell me everything that happened. All the things: the happy, the sad, the proud, the shameful. You just tell Auntie all. Then we’ll be able to work out what to do.’

  Chapter 23

  Hine and Tyler heard the motor throttle back as the boat reached the gap. For a while they could hear the bubbling of the exhaust as it idled, waiting for the right moment to enter.

  A huge wave surged through, crashing into the rocks opposite. Then another. Suddenly the motor roared, filling the cove with sound. They were coming in.

  Tyler felt Hine stiffen. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I know that sound. It’s an Aqua-air 50. It’s them. They’re coming back.’

  Before Tyler could answer the boat was visible, ploughing through on the front of a wave. It was them. They were back. Instantly they swerved to avoid the rocks and headed into the calmer water approaching the beach. Then they looked up. At any other time Tyler would have enjoyed seeing that look on their faces—a combination of shock, annoyance, alarm and even fear.

  Yet it took only a moment for them to recover and soon the usual nasty look returned. Shifty lifted the motor, while Grunty guided the boat onto the sand.

  ‘Well, well, well,’ started Grunty. ‘Look what we’ve got. Two lost kids.’

  Shifty climbed out of the boat and walked up to them. ‘You two are causing us a lot of bother,’ he snarled. ‘There’s wall-to-wall cops back there.’

  ‘Yeah,’ added Grunty joining him. ‘We have to leave. Just when our little business was starting to work.’ He glanced around at the dead dolphins.

  ‘You can leave right now,’ said Hine.

  ‘Why?’ sneered Grunty. ‘We’ve only just arrived.’

  ‘You need to be nice to us,’ added Shifty. ‘We might rescue you.’

  ‘I don’t want to be rescued by you,’ said Hine.

  ‘Good,’ said Grunty. ‘Because it wasn’t going to happen anyway.’ He turned to Shifty. ‘Get the stuff. I’ll look after the boat. I don’t trust these two.’

  Shifty moved in the direction of the flax bush where the net and diving gear were hidden. Tyler braced himself for the reaction. Things were going to get ugly very quickly.

  Yet Hine seemed fearless. ‘You two are murderers. Those dolphins are as intelligent as humans. We knew one of them and she was beautiful.’

  The man just grinned at her. ‘I wonder if that was the really tasty one.’

  Hine took a step towards him, her face twisted with anger. Then she spat at the man, hitting him just below the eye.

  Grunty stood as if he couldn’t believe what had happened. Slowly the spit dribbled past his nose, down onto his lips. Only then did he wipe it away. He flicked it back at her and moved forward…

  At that moment Shifty let out a furious roar that echoed around the cove. Some gulls resting high in the cliffs took off in startled flight. Grunty froze, waiting for more. Then Shifty reappeared carrying some bits of net and one of the damaged tanks. He walked straight at Tyler and threw the tank at him. It caught the boy’s shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Next, he stepped forward to pin him on the ground with his boot. He swore and cursed for almost a minute, increasing the pressure with every obscene word.

  When he was done, he stepped back and threw the pieces of net at Hine. He turned to Grunty. ‘You see what they’ve done?’

  ‘Is the other tank the same?’

  ‘Yeah, and the net’s all like that.’

  ‘They need to be taught a lesson.’

  Tyler got to his feet and backed away towards the flax. Shifty sneered at him. ‘You’re gutless, kid. The girl’s got more than you.’

  Grunty was glancing around the cove, looking for a suitable punishment. Unfortunately Mopsie chose that moment to pop out of the water and begin her journey back to the cave. Grunty saw her and grinned. ‘There we are,’ he said leaning into the boat. ‘You kids like penguins, don’t you?’ He came out holding a spear gun. ‘Then how about penguin stew tonight?’

  Mopsie had dawdled. Instead of heading to the rocks, she had stopped to preen her feathers. She was an easy target. Grunty took a few steps forward, loaded the gun and raised it to eye level. Tyler dived into the flax scrambling for the moa bone he had hidden there. Then he ran forward, screaming and swinging th
e bone over his head. Yet he was too far away. He wasn’t going to make it in time.

  ‘Throw it!’ yelled Hine.

  Tyler stopped, leaned back and launched the bone at the man. It hit him in the legs, not hard, but enough to put him off balance just as he was pulling the trigger. The spear flew away, skimming over Mopsie’s head. She looked up in surprise before waddling off as fast as her little legs would move.

  Grunty recovered quickly. He picked up the bone and marched towards Tyler. ‘So far we’ve been nice to you. But now…’

  ‘Hold on,’ yelled Shifty. ‘He’ll keep. Give me a look at that bone.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Just give it here.’

  Grunty handed it over. Shifty studied it for a while. ‘Where’d you get this, boy?’

  Tyler pointed to Mopsie who was about to disappear into the opening. ‘There. In that cave. There’s lots of them in there.’

  ‘Lots of what?’ asked Grunty.

  ‘Moa bones,’ replied Shifty holding up the thigh bone. ‘These things are worth a fortune. Much more than that lot.’ He nodded towards the dead dolphins.

  Grunty’s eyes lit up. ‘Then we’d better go take a look. Here, give us a hand to pull the boat higher.’ He turned to Hine and Tyler. ‘You two are coming as well. I’m not leaving you here to wreck anything more.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Tyler. ‘I can show you where they are.’

  ‘I’m sure you will. You’ll do anything to get out of what’s coming for you.’

  As the men pulled on the boat, Hine moved alongside him. ‘What are you doing?’ she growled.

  Tyler smiled and gave her the thumbs up. ‘Beating the boss. That’s what I’m doing. Just watch and be ready for action.’

  Chapter 24

  Mandy wasn’t sure about approaching Jonno. He had a map in front of him and was talking intensely to one of the searchers.

  ‘What is it?’ he asked gruffly. Then he saw Auntie behind her and his face softened.

  ‘Mandy’s got something that might help locate the cave,’ said Auntie.