Five Go Back to Kirrin Island

©2006 Enid Blyton Yahoo Group

Every once in a while, regular members of the Enid Blyton Yahoo Group join forces and write a Round Robin. If you've never heard of a Round Robin, well, in this case it's a brand new story written by a group of fans, with each member writing a chapter and making it up as they go along. Nobody knows where the story will lead; there's no plot to follow, and the direction of the next chapter is decided by the end of the last one. It's a lot of fun, and the result is either a wonderful new story—or a complete mess!

What follows is the Famous Five in a brand new exciting adventure. There are over 20 members uniting to write this story, so this section will grow one chapter at a time over the next few months...

Chapter 16: An astounding find
by Mohan Santhanam (May 10, 2006)

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The package, not very large, seemed to be tightly wrapped in some kind of water-proof material. "There doesn't seem to be any gap where we could insert a knife to slit it open," observed Julian as he turned the package over and over. "It's well sealed."

"Oh, for goodness' sake, Julian, surely we can just slit one side of this plastic material," said George crossly. "Don't be so excruciatingly slow and proper right now! And besides we haven't much time—Pottersham may discover us any time."

"Relax, old thing," said Dick soothingly. "Pottersham is not likely to discover us here. Ju, do open the packet, will you?"

"All right, all right. I just wanted to make sure I don't damage the contents inside by simply poking in my pocket knife into the packet."

Squatting on the floor with four heads (plus Timmy's as well!) crowding around him, Julian gingerly ran his pocket knife over the package. Penny King sat slightly apart with an amused look on her face.

As his knife created a scratch on the wrapping material that seemed to be made of some thin but strong grey coloured plastic film-like material, Julian continued to run his knife over the slight gash created. After what it seemed like an eternity (at least to George), Julian finally succeeded in splitting the plastic cover material. Pulling this apart, he discovered another package inside.

"What does it contain?" asked Anne breathlessly.

"I don't know," replied Julian as he held up the package that was inside the water proof material.

The second package was wrapped in a transparent plastic cover, well taped. Julian quickly pulled off all the tape without much difficulty. Opening the transparent cover, he carefully drew out a substance that seemed to be one or two sheets of paper, tightly folded.

"Open it, Ju!" said Sooty brimming with anticipation.

Julian cautiously tried to smooth out the sheets of paper on the floor. "Golly, this is really yellowed with age. Look how brittle this paper is—the edges are just falling apart. Get AWAY Timmy—you'll damage the papers! George, do shift him."

As George tried with difficulty to move a very heavy and obstinate Timmy by the collar, Julian painstakingly unfolded the brittle paper.

All the heads bent down trying to see what was on the paper.

Everyone exclaimed at once.

"It's a map of some kind! What does is represent?"

"Wait," said Julian. "Let's see what there is in the other sheets."

As Julian separated the first sheet from the bunch, the second sheet was now visible.

"It looks like some kind of list," said Dick peering down at the yellowed paper that Julian held. His voice rose in excitement. "Wait, I can almost make out some of what's here—the second item says 'necklace studded with diamonds' or something like that—it actually says the number of diamonds on the necklace but I can't make out the exact number. Blow! But it has a name after it—it says Nadia Rajah! In fact, so do the next three items!"

Dick swung around to Penny, who had been quiet so far, rather bemused by all that was happening. However, she came to life at the mention of Nadia Rajah.

"Did you say Nadia Rajah?" said Penny incredulously.

Dick nodded his head vigourously. "I certainly did. Isn't that the name mentioned, Ju?"

"It sure is," said Julian squinting at the paper again.

"Who is Nadia Rajah?" demanded George as she tried to prevent Timmy from leaping all over the place with this sudden commotion.

"Oh, I know," exclaimed Anne. "Do you remember what Joan told us the other day? Nadia Rajah was—" Her jaw dropped as she stared at Penny, with realization dawning on her.

"Nadia Rajah was my mother," said Penny, springing upright, looking flushed, with her breath coming fast.

"You see what this means, Ju," said Dick, almost shouting in his excitement. "This is Arden Hall's TREASURE LIST!"

"For goodness' sake, be QUIET, Dick," said Julian desperately.

"Sorry," said Dick, dropping his voice to a whisper. "But you realize what this means, don't you, Ju? The map we saw in the first sheet probably gives us the location to where the treasure is located."

"Wow!" said Sooty, quite overcome with this sudden development.

"Could it really be true?" said Penny wonderingly. "What else does the list say?"

Julian and Dick looked at the list again together. "There is another name mentioned against a diamond bracelet—Archibald!"

"Archibald?" echoed Penny. She sat down suddenly, her eyes becoming vacant.

"Are you all right, Penny?" asked Anne anxiously, for Penny seemed to have suddenly gone limp. "Who is Archibald?" she asked.

"Archibald was my brother's name," said Penny slowly, as she stared into space.

There was complete silence for a few seconds. It was Anne who finally spoke. "Yes, your brother who died in infancy."

Penny turned to Anne. "How do you know that?"

"Our cook Joan told us about you, Penny," said Anne. "In fact she told us all about your family, your father and mother and about your brother and the tragedy that struck him. She also told us about the burglary that took place and how all your family's priceless heirlooms vanished without a trace."

Penny gave herself a little shake. "Well, my family's unfortunate history seems to be common knowledge in Kirrin," she said lightly as she tried to smile.

But the rest could feel that Penny had been deeply affected by the latest development.

"Were you very fond of your brother?" asked Sooty with sympathy. He himself was so fond of Marybelle, although she was only his half-sister. How awful it must be to lose a sibling!

"No," replied Penny. "I mean, he died before I was born, you know. I never knew him."

No one knew quite what to say next. They all felt rather solemn and a silence fell again, the papers momentarily forgotten. Timmy roused them all at that moment by breaking free from George's grip and bounding across the floor, raising clouds of sand.

"George, catch Timmy!" yelled Julian as he tried to retrieve the two sheets of paper. "We don't want the precious papers to be crushed by his paws!"

After George had succeeding quieting down Timmy, they all pored over the papers again, Penny this time participating in the fullest.

"Let's examine the first sheet, Julian," said Penny. "You said it was a map of some kind."

"I thought you would have liked to go through the list of the items in the treasure, Penny," said Julian, smiling as he laid out the first sheet on the ground after he carefully put the second sheet back into the plastic cover.

"That can wait," said Penny practically. "I have a list of my own, anyway. I am dying to know if the first sheet really gives the location of the treasure."


Map drawn by
Viv Endecott

They all pored over the first sheet with renewed interest and enthusiasm. Everyone exclaimed at once, "That's Arden Hall on the map!"

Sure enough, Arden Hall was marked clearly. An island was also marked (obviously Kirrin Island) and the sea.

"But there aren't any other names," said George plaintively.

"What did you expect, George?" asked Dick, looking up at her for a moment with a grin. "A point marked X near Arden Hall with a label saying 'Treasure Here'?"

"Ass," said George giving him a punch. "Timmy, sit DOWN! There is NO rabbit in that corner!"

"There is a path marked between Arden Hall and which leads somewhere," said Julian peering at the map.

"Yes, and I have a strong feeling that that path leads to Kirrin Farm," said Penny.

"How do you know?" said Julian surprised.

"Oh, I have my methods," said Penny with a smile. "And besides, that path is clearly marked to the west of Arden Hall in a direction that obviously goes bang onto to Kirrin Farm."

"But there is an arrow that is leading away from the place you claim to be Kirrin Farm, Penny," said Dick bending down with almost his nose on the map which lay on the floor. "In fact, this path goes towards the sea."

"Does the route on the map lead to my island?" asked George in excitement.

"No, old thing," said Julian staring intently at the map. "Dick, do move over a little—burying your head into the map prevents everyone else from getting a look!"

"You mean it doesn't go to my island?" asked George disappointed.

"No, it doesn't," said Dick who had moved back, but only slightly. "You don't expect to find treasure in Kirrin Island for the second time, do you George?"

Penny broke in impatiently. "Look, I said this path leads to Kirrin Farm. I am quite sure of that. But there's nothing significant about Kirrin Farm's location—at least nothing is there in the map that says so. On the other hand, the path that leads AWAY from Kirrin Farm towards the sea has some curious markings and it ends on a particular spot that has been marked with this symbol. And this particular spot has another path leading into the direction of the moors. Do you see it? What place do you think that represents?"

"Oh, that should be the quarry," said Julian.

"Yes, I agree with you," said Anne. "But apart from the location of the quarry, there is nothing else that differentiates it."

"What do you mean?" asked Penny.

"I mean that the quarry is shown as 'just another place' like Kirrin Farm." Obviously the treasure wouldn't be there since the quarry is such a public place that it's accessible to everyone."

"I think you are right. All right, let's backtrack from the quarry," said Penny. She traced the path with her finger on the map and came to a stop near the sea where the curious marking was printed.

"Actually there is a path to the quarry that passes someway at back of Kirrin Cottage, doesn't it, George?" asked Dick.

"Yes," replied George. "You know it does. What of it?"

"I only thought—" Dick began, but he was interrupted with a squeal from Anne.

Everyone jumped violently. "Anne, whatever is the matter?"

Anne was staring at the list of items of the treasure that Julian had put back into the plastic folder.

"What is it, Anne?" asked Julian urgently.

Anne seemed to be unable to speak. Finally she said, "Ju, when you all were looking at the map, I was examining the list of the treasure. And I realized that there was ANOTHER paper along with the treasure list."

Everyone drew their breath in sharply. "What does the second sheet say?" demanded Penny.

"Th-the second sheet gives the c-complete plan of a h-house," stammered Anne. "And it has the same curious mark next to the sea in that map."

"That is probably the plan of the house containing the treasure, then!" said Sooty in sudden excitement.

"Anne, does the plan give the name of the house?" almost shouted Julian. "Let me look at the map!"

"Ju, careful, will you?" said Anne as Julian grabbed the third sheet of paper, some of the edges dropping off in the process.

Julian, with Dick and George craning their necks over his shoulder, stared at the paper as if they couldn't believe their eyes.

Penny said sharply, "What's happened? What house does that map represent? Why are you all so surprised?"

Anne turned to Penny and spoke in a whisper. "Penny, that plan is of Kirrin Cottage—where we stay!"

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