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 4: Penny King—and a find!
by Gareth Jones (February 5, 2006)

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There had been few clues to follow except for the occasional hoof mark spotted by George and Julian, but there had been nowhere else to go. The rambling ruins of Arden Hall were a sorry sight indeed after such excitement with talk of past adventures. Everything about it from its moss covered stonework, shattered windows and rotten doors whispered of sadness and neglect.

They were all thinking the same thing but it was George who broke the silence. "Why would the mystery horseman come here?"

"Where are they now, I would like to know," added Julian.

Anne, who had been in charge of the food Joan had packed for them, thought they had better head back.

"Nonsense, we need to look for clues." With that George was off running, making her way through the long grass being chased by Timmy.

Anne didn't care that the brambles pulled at her skirt or that the others were searching for clues. In her mind she was a young girl playing in this very garden before the years of abandonment had crept in and settled over Arden. On summer days there would have been glorious parties and fun games for the children. "I think it's magnificent," she breathed. "Someone very important must have lived here."

Dick, who had been quietly watching Anne, stopped and bowed at the waist. "Pleased to meet you Miss Anne, I am Lord Dick of Arden Hall."

"You never make fun of George the way you do with me."

"Oh come on, sis."

WOOF! WOOF! Timmy, who had grown bored of waiting for the children to throw sticks, was chasing his tail, sending fluffy dandelions into the air making him sneeze. The children all collapsed in giggles.

#

"Look, over here."

"What is it, George?" Dick was bending down to examine the tiny object.

"It looks like a cigarette end," said Julian. "Someone must have been here recently.

"There's even more rubbish over here." Anne held up a plastic bottle Timmy had dropped at her feet.

"Good boy, Timmy!" cried out George. "I say that we go to Kirrin Farm first thing tomorrow and find out who used to live here and why they moved away."

#

"You must be very proud of your father, Georgina." Mrs Saunders seated herself at the table to watch the children eagerly reach for slices of her jam sponge. "He has done a lot for Kirrin Island, so much indeed. Not just the money the tourists are bringing, but work for the people." Mrs Saunders stared at George, knowing that she wouldn't have been happy to see the replica tower spoiling the beauty of Kirrin.

"Could you tell us who used to live in Arden Hall, if you don't mind, Mrs Saunders?" Julian asked.

Only Anne noticed that the old woman's expression changed, as she busied herself clearing the table. "I can't imagine why you would want to know, but very well. A Captain Charles Wallace and his lovely wife Charlotte lived there."

"How well did you know them?'

"George!" Anne scolded George, blushing in embarrassment of her friend's rudeness.

"It's quite all right, Anne, I'm used to George by now. Or should I say Georgina?" Waiting for an apology that she knew would not come, she continued. "They had a nephew who would visit on the holidays and some weekends. He was very friendly with our son, you see."

"Would it be possible for us to pay them a visit?" Dick mumbled, his mouth full of cake.

"Oh good gracious me, no," she chuckled. "They moved back to India where the good Captain had been stationed at one point."

"Sounds awfully sad, leaving Arden Hall unloved behind." Anne was ever the sentimental one.

"Excuse me, Mrs Saunders, but do you think we could go and see the room with the secret passage leading to Kirrin cottage?" pleaded Dick.

"Of course, dear, I can't see any harm."

They had been shown the secret passage some years ago, but Julian was the only one who could remember how to open it. He found the small dent in the panel near the floor, and it slid open with ease.

"Fancy the passage going all the way to Uncle Quentin's study," said George.

"Let's go down there now," Dick said eagerly.

"Idiot! Uncle Quentin would have a fit if you poked your head out of the hole in the study," cried Julian.

"Do you remember how we found the entrance to the passage in Uncle Quentin's study?" asked Anne. "We came all the way up the passage and came out through the back of this cupboard."

"Yes," said George. "That's how we got Father's precious papers back. We found them in a coat pocket belonging to one of the artists, hanging in the cupboard."

"What an adventure that was!" remarked Julian. "Let's go back downstairs. Mrs Saunders will be wondering where we are."

#

The children thanked Mrs Saunders for the cake and slice of ham for Timmy and made their way down the farm track. Somewhere near by they heard a horse neigh, probably disturbed by Timmy barking for the ham George was waving.

"I didn't know there was a horse here." Julian had stopped to look over at the fields.

"There isn't." George was feeding Timmy and didn't seem interested in what Julian was saying.

Anne spotted Mr Saunders repairing one of the fences nearby.

"Let's ask old Mr Saunders. At the very least we could help him," Dick suggested.

"Aye, there is a horse here, young Anne. Don't you children go in the field to feed him though, you hear? He's a playful thing too. Broke through this fence he did this morning."

Unaware of the trouble caused was a beautiful black horse grazing peacefully in the open field. The sun on his coat made him shine like highly polished boots.

"Who does he belong to, Mr Saunders?" asked Julian.

"Young lass called Penny King. She came here a few weeks ago asking the wife and me if we could rent her a room and a field for her horse while she does some research for her degree."

"Research? Is she a scientist like my father?"

"No, nothing like that, young George. I believe she said she was studying marine biology."

#

The five were walking back to Kirrin cottage in the general direction of Arden Hall.

"I'd like to have another look around Arden Hall before tea," announced Julian. "You never know but we might just find something."

Timmy suddenly barked and ran along the path towards a pretty young girl who bent to give him a fuss, which he loved.

"Hi," she said. "I'm Penny King. I'm staying at the farm with Mr and Mrs Saunders."

"Hello there, I'm Anne. This is my cousin George, and these are my two brothers, Julian and Dick. Is that beautiful black stallion yours? What's his name? He's magnificent."

"Yes, he is," replied Penny. "His name is Minstrel. And what's your name, old boy? You're a beautiful dog," said Penny stroking Timmy's belly.

This of course pleased George no end—someone making a fuss of Timmy.

"His name is Timmy," beamed George. "He's mine and I've had him since he was a pup."

"You're very lucky, he's gorgeous," said Penny. "Isn't it beautiful around here? It's such a pretty little village with the most wonderful beach and island. I can't remember ever being in such a heart-warming place."

"Yes, it is," said George. "The island belongs to me."

"Does it really?" Penny was astounded. "What's that funny little tower on the island for? Forgive me, but it looks a little odd."

"My father put it up," replied George, somewhat gloomily.

"Is your father Quentin Kirrin, the famous scientist?" asked Penny. "Wow! You must be very proud of him. Although if it was mine, I wouldn't like all those tourists going to the island."

"Nor do I," agreed George. "But it helps the fishermen who transport the tourists back and forth. As they need the extra money, I really can't do anything about it."

"I must be off now, as I told Mrs Saunders I wouldn't be late. Maybe we'll meet again sometime? Bye for now."

And off she went in the direction they had just come.

"She seems like a nice girl," said Dick. "Don't you think so?"

"WOOF!" Timmy barked.

#

They continued their way to Arden Hall along the stony path with its beautiful celandines and cowslip dancing in the light breeze.

"We won't stay long, just a quick look," said Julian. "All of a sudden I'm feeling hungry, and that won't do."

They separated and started looking for signs of something, anything to give them a clue about the lights and figures they had seen from George's bedroom night before last. Timmy had gone into the old house and was really enjoying himself with all the lovely strange smells.

"It's no good," said George after half an hour. "I can't find a thing and I'm starving."

"And me," said Anne. "Come on, boys, let's go."

"Ok," said Julian and Dick together.

"Where's Tim? I never saw him go," cried George. She gave a loud whistle. "Come on Timmy, it's tea time. Come on, boy."

Timmy came running out of the old house, hell for leather towards the now relieved four.

"Hey Ju, what's he got in his mouth?" asked Dick.

"Looks like a wallet or something," said Anne.

George bent down and took the leather pouch from his mouth. "What have you got here for us, boy?

George opened the wallet up slowly, her heart beating fast while the others watched in silence. Timmy included of course.

"That's odd," said George. "Train timetable, bus timetable, and times of low and high tides."

"Who would have thought?" said Julian. "Is there anything else, George?"

"There's a business card or something. In big bold letters it says 'RED', and there are some numbers underneath too."

What could it mean? No one had a clue.

"Instead of solving a mystery, we've found another one," said Anne. "Oh dear, I hate mysteries we can't solve."

It was a silent walk back to Kirrin cottage. Everyone was wondering what RED 0709 could mean.

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