Forest Shadows (12 page)

‘Nah, you can't do that. You know the rules,' Snook said. ‘We gotta stick together.'

Reg nodded. ‘That's right. You'll be coming with us, Quenton. I don't want to leave you here on your own, so go and get ready and don't take too long. As it's stopped raining now, we will be off in a tick.'

Jars didn't know what to think. She was looking forward to seeing Wu Han again but she couldn't escape the fact that out there, somewhere in the forest, were some invisible things that were hard to explain or understand, things that were hiding from them … like hidden secrets.

Mr Wu had tried to explain what was happening but still, she didn't really understand. She'd talk to him again this afternoon. She'd find out once and for all what was going on. There were questions to be asked.

Q
uigley froze and his mouth fell open. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. But it was true. Quenton and that Kelly boy! They were here? Standing before his very eyes in the doorway waiting for that girl.

Why? Why are they here? Thoughts careened and rattled in his head. And who brought them? He couldn't even begin to find answers. He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. One thing was certain. He and the others would have to stay hidden. Discovery would be disastrous. That would mean awkward questions leading to … what? Violation of parole for a start. Then jail. That couldn't happen. Stay focused, he told himself. There's no harm done … not yet.

What they had to do now was find a way past the shack without being seen. He looked around. They were surrounded by forest, thick and impenetrable. The path shown on his map was the only way out.

But they couldn't take that.

They'd be seen.

As though reading his mind, Evelyn said, ‘We'll have to stay put, try to establish who else is with those kids; find out what they're up to.'

Quigley and Hector nodded. That was their only option.

Hunched and hidden by the trees and undergrowth, they settled down to wait. But it was only a short wait. ‘It's them!' Hector couldn't help crying out. ‘They're coming out. There's four of them, the three kids and a man. The dog's with them, too.' He scrambled to his feet. ‘They're heading along our track. They're going where we wanted to go.'

‘It's the Kelly kids and that ranger again,' Quigley muttered as though resigned to the situation. ‘My son's there as well.' His mumbled words resonated in his head, like echoes from a deep well. ‘The Kellys are trouble makers,' he shared with the others. ‘We'll have to be careful.'

‘Whatever,' Hector said, lifting his rifle and looking down the sights at the ranger and kids. ‘I'll be careful all right, but if they decide to mess with us …' His last words hung in the air unsaid as he pointed along the track. ‘It looks like we'd better follow 'em though. They're nearly out of sight.'

‘Yes,' Evelyn agreed, getting to her feet. ‘We'd better see what they're up to; then we could …' She stopped, noticing for the first time the vacant, zombie look in Quigley's eyes.

‘What's up with you?' she asked.

‘I-I'm okay now,' he told her. ‘Seeing Quenton here so far from his home was a little disturbing, a shock. It was most unexpected.'

‘Just something else to deal with,' she said in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘Just another one of your unforeseen incidents,
Mr
Quigley.' Then, deciding the time was right, added, ‘Grab whatever gear you've got then move out. We'll follow them. See what they're up to.'

R
eg and the others made their way along the narrow path, skirting puddles, rocks and fallen branches. Drooping, moisture-laden ferns brushed against their sides, and from above, droplets from last night's rain splashed on their heads. There was a damp smell of moisture in the air and to their right the river gurgled and rippled as it made its way to the harbour shore. ‘We need to find the other track, the one that runs alongside the river,' Jars said. ‘It'll take us to the waterfall. That's what Mr Wu told me.'

‘I wonder where the birds have gone,' Snook commented to no one in particular. ‘I haven't seen any. I haven't even heard one.'

‘Beats me,' Reg shot back. ‘It's as though something's scared them.'

‘Y-You don't think it's
th-them
frightening the birds do you?' Quenton called out from the rear. ‘Th-the aliens?'

Reg stopped and waited for Quenton to catch up. ‘Don't worry, Quenton, it could be any number of things that have made them go quiet. There might be a hawk hanging around that's scared them, or the change in the weather might have spooked them. Who knows? It could be anything.' He punched Quenton playfully on the arm. ‘So don't you go worrying about any aliens.'

For some reason he couldn't understand, Reg knew that there was a certain falseness to his words. Something about the forest
was
different. He could feel it, not just its silence, but something else, something he couldn't quite define. He shook his head. Stop imagining things, he told himself as he stared into the dark shadows of the trees.

Shadow, as though sensing Reg's unease, sidled up to him and rubbed against his legs. ‘It's okay, boy.' He bent and ruffled the dog's ears. ‘There's nothing to worry about.' He wondered if Shadow believed him.

‘It's not much further,' Jars called over her shoulder.

‘We're nearly to the river and the other path.'

‘It had better not be,' Quenton grumbled, ‘I've had enough.'

‘Stop your whinin',' Snook shot back. ‘The walk'll do you good.'

‘It's just not fair,' Quenton continued to complain, ignoring Snook. ‘I told you all I didn't want to come. It's stupid being out here. There's no telling what might happen to us. I want to go back … where it's safe.'

Reg called a halt. He faced Quenton, who was looking more than a little anxious. ‘Look, like I explained earlier, there's nothing to worry about, so buck up; we'll be there soon enough.'

Jars couldn't help feeling sorry for Quenton. There was genuine fear in his face. His eyes, wide and manic, looked ready to pop. I shouldn't have mentioned the aliens back at the shack, she told herself. I should have known how he'd react. But I had to. The others needed to know. ‘C'mon, everyone,' she called out, not knowing what else to do. ‘I think the river's just ahead. I think I can hear it.'

Jars was right. They soon came to the fast-flowing stream. Not wasting any time, she scouted around. Snook joined her. ‘See anything?'

‘Yes, but it's faint.' She studied the ground. ‘It hasn't been used much by the look of it.' She pointed towards the tangle of ferns, bushes and grasses that lay further to their left. ‘But it'll be better than battling through that.'

‘It looks passable,' Reg agreed, catching up.‘So how far now?'

She explained. ‘Not far. All we have to do is follow the river until we come to a waterfall where there's a crossing. From there it's only a short walk to Mr Wu's place.' Jars stopped herself. She was looking across at Reg, who was staring wide-eyed into the forest.

‘What's up, Reg?'

‘Er, it's okay. I thought I saw something, but it was only shadows among the trees playing tricks on my mind.'

A shudder, like a small volt of electricity jolted Jars' insides. ‘Let's move on,' she said, her voice a little unsteady. ‘Let's go see Mr Wu.'

'W
hat're they doing now?' asked Hector, who was kneeling on the ground behind the others. He stood up to get a better view, at the same time slapping his jeans free of dirt and dead leaves.

‘Hector! Keep down!' Evelyn snapped. ‘They'll see you!'

‘They've stopped at the side of the river,' Quigley said. He took out the map. ‘They're looking for something. Hang on.' He waved the map in her direction. ‘They're looking for the sidetrack, the same one that's on this!'

‘I wonder …' Evelyn said, biting her lips as though deep in thought.

‘Wonder what?' It was Hector, who was still wiping dirt and leaves from a damp spot on his jeans.

‘Is it possible that those brats and the ranger are here for the same reason as us?'

Quigley stuck his chin out. ‘Humph. Don't be ridiculous. That's not possible.' He held the map out at arm's length, brandishing it in front of their faces. ‘I have this. They don't.'

‘Has that ever been out of your sight?' Evelyn asked, pointing to the waving sheet of paper.

‘Of course it has, when I was imprisoned, but it was well-hidden. You saw it. I kept it between the pages of a book in my office. No one else goes there. Not ever.'

Evelyn grimaced, saying, ‘I hope you're right, Quigley. I do hope you're right.'

‘They're moving off now,' was all Quigley could think to say. ‘What do you want to do?'

‘Keep following them,' Evelyn replied. ‘What else?'

'L
ook' Jars said, running ahead. ‘It's the waterfall and pool where Shadow and I crossed before. All we have to do now is walk across on some stepping stones.' She pointed towards the top of the falls. ‘You can't see them from here but the stones are just under the surface.'

Reg, Snook and Quenton stared into the swirling current. After a while, they saw them. Quenton was the first to react. He glared at Jars, folding his arms in a gesture of defiance. ‘Are you crazy? I'm not risking walking on them. They're covered with water. They'll be slippery. No, I'm not going any further. It's too dangerous and besides, I can't swim.'

Reg, deciding it was time to step in, said, ‘Jars, Snook, you two go ahead with Shadow. I'll make sure Quenton gets across.' He waited for them to go ahead and then gestured to Quenton. ‘Okay, let's pretend you're Indiana Jones or Tarzan or whoever and cross this river. I'll be right behind you to stop you going for a swim. Okay?'

Quenton stood there, not saying anything.

‘Let's go,' Reg coaxed. ‘It's our turn now. The others are nearly halfway.' Finally, with lots of cajoling and heaps of urging, Reg got him to make the first move.

After that it was a nightmare. With Reg behind and holding him by the waist, Quenton inched his way from stone to stone, arms akimbo, body tottering and complaining all the way. At last, with Reg looking just as relieved as Quenton, they reached the other side without mishap.

Letting go of Quenton's waist, Reg gave him a playful shove forward. ‘Go join the others. See what they're up to now. They're flappin' on about something by the look of them.'

Jars and Snook were deep in thought, staring at the pool below the falls. Shadow, deciding to follow suit, was staring too.

‘Quenton,' Jars asked when he and Reg drew close, ‘what colour did you say the river was? When you first saw it?'

‘Dunno,' he pouted, still recovering from the crossing.

‘I remember,' Reg said. ‘He said it looked like tea.'

‘That's it,' Jars said, getting excited. ‘Now, what do you know about the Mad Hatter?'

Reg though for a moment. ‘He was in Lewis Caroll's book,
Alice in Wonderland.'

‘That's right, and the Mad Hatter was doing something.'

‘Having a tea party as I recall.'

‘That's right,' Snook said butting in. ‘It's like our riddle, you know, the bit where it says
where the Mad Hatter drinks.
Well, we reckon this is where he drinks … the river!'

‘Snook's right,' Jars said picking up on his theme. ‘At the party the Mad Hatter was drinking tea and the river is the colour of tea. The riddle was pointing us to the river.
Where
the Mad Hatter drinks
means the river. Get it?'

‘Trouble is,' Snook said. ‘There's a lot of river and it's all tea-coloured, so which part?'

‘That's what we need to figure out.' Jars said. ‘We need to work out what the second part of the puzzle means …
and the
rainbow rise
. But at least we've made progress.'

Quenton grunted, shaking his legs one after the other, trying to get rid of the water on his shoes. He looked up, his face twisting and wrinkling as if he'd swallowed a fly. ‘When are we going to see this Mr Wu and get back to the shack?' he complained. ‘My feet are soaked and I'm getting cold standing here.'

Everyone ignored him, including Shadow, who barked and ran towards the trees. Halfway there he stopped and looked back, waiting.

‘Right now, Quenton,' Jars said. ‘Right now.'

'M
r Wu's camp's on the other side of the trees,' Jars called out as she wound her way through the scrub with Shadow way out in front, grinning and sniffing the air. There was no doubt about it; he wanted to see his friends again.

‘We're here. It's Mr Wu's place,' Jars cried out as they broke through the undergrowth and into the open. ‘This is his land. And look, there are his animals.'

Shadow saw them too. He lifted his head, looking at Jars, his eyes questioning. She smiled and patted his head. ‘Okay, Shadow, away you go; go pay your friends a visit.'

‘Amazing,' Reg couldn't help saying. ‘Different species of wild animals mingling with each other. It's unreal.'

‘But what's that?' Snook asked pushing himself forward. ‘On the ground. All that white stuff.'

They all saw it except Quenton who, as usual, was bringing up the rear. Every blade of grass, as far as the eye could see, glistened with a fine, intricate display that looked like tangled netting.

‘Wh-what is it
now
?' Quenton asked, catching up, then looking over Snook's shoulder. He saw what had grabbed Snook's attention. ‘What's all that gooey stuff? Talk about gross!'