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 8: George's secret
by Shagufta Naaz (March 6, 2006)

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"Julian? Dick? Where are you?"

George's voice booming in the passage was a most welcome sound and the children hurried towards it. Unfortunately George didn't seem as happy to see them.

"What a bunch of sillies you are!" she burst out as soon as she spotted them. "Why did you have to go and split on me?"

"Split on you... Hey, wait a minute!" Dick tried to cut in but once George let her temper go there was no stopping her.

"Telling my parents I'd been kidnapped and all that rubbish. Good thing I ran into them before they reached the police or there would have been a full scale search party out by now," said George, without stopping for breath.

"Hold on, George," said Julian before she could start off again. "First of all, no one told your parents you were kidnapped. The explosion on the island woke them up and they noticed you were missing. When we saw your boat was gone we assumed you had gone to the island, and then, when we saw the radioactive flare..."

"The what?" asked George in surprise.

"The greenish glow that was hanging over the island," said Anne. "We thought that if you landed there you would be in terrible danger so we were coming through the tunnel to rescue you, and now you're so angry, it's not fair..."

And Anne burst into sobs. She was tired and scared of the dark, twisting tunnel. Only her anxiety about her cousin had kept her going, and now to have George raging at them just broke the girl's courage.

Julian put his arm around his sister and tried to comfort her. He was furious with George but held his anger in check; someone was obviously using this passage as a hideout and it was important they get out of it as fast as possible rather than waste time arguing. So he ignored her and turned to Anne.

"Come, let's go back to Kirrin Cottage and you can have a nice cup of cocoa and go to bed. Besides, the sooner we alert Uncle Quentin about the radioactive flare the better."

"Whatever you do don't mention radioactive flares to Father, he's about to explode already," said George, recovering her good humour. "Half the village's called up asking about it, and he's terribly annoyed. He says anyone with an atom of sense would realise that the tower was a mere replica of the original; there were no dangerous substances in it whatsoever. In fact when I left the house he was shouting at someone and calling them nincompoops! I think it was the police constable he was talking to."

Dick burst out laughing at the thought of the police getting a dose of Uncle Quentin in a rage. The children had often been the targets of his tirades so it was nice to think of someone else getting fired for a change. Even Anne gave a wan smile at the thought.

George saw Anne's pale, tear streaked face and felt bad about her temper tantrum. She slipped her arm through the younger girl's and apologised.

"Don't mind what I said, you know I can't help my temper."

Julian saw George was genuinely sorry and forgave her on the spot; you couldn't stay angry with someone who was the first to admit their mistake.

"I was a real ass to think the island could be radioactive," he admitted sheepishly. "Uncle Quentin may be absent minded but he's far too responsible a scientist to open a potentially dangerous area to the public."

"So why don't we make for the island now?" asked Dick. "After all, we know it's safe and it's bound to be much closer than going all the way back to the mainland. And wipe that scowl off your face, George; there won't be any trippers out yet, it's 2:00AM. We could go up, have a snack, and settle down for what's left of the night."

"Oh, for something to eat," groaned Julian. "I'm starving. Come on"

Led by Timmy, the children soon found themselves in the tunnel that opened into the castle. But where was the opening?

"There was an iron spike set in the wall on the other side," asked Anne as the boys and George played the beams of their torches on the blank wall in front. "I mean in the little room in the castle. Shouldn't there be one here as well?"

"Blow!" said George. "Remember the men who made me and Father prisoner? Maybe they tampered with the opening mechanism so we couldn't escape. Maybe they took the iron spike out. How shall we get out now?"

Julian looked around in desperation. It would be too bad to have to go back after coming all this way, and besides he didn't fancy running into Pottersham or any other villain in this creepy place. He flashed his torch around the walls and on the roof in the hope of spotting the spike.

"Hallo, what's this? Give me a leg up, Dick, and I'll take a closer look."

Julian hoisted himself up with Dick's help and examined what appeared to be an opening in the wall near the roof. It was rather small, just enough for a person to squeeze into. But where did it lead? He put his face near the opening and felt a faint current of air.

"Listen, I think this opening leads somewhere, I can feel a slight breeze blowing in. Should we check it out?"

"Let me go first," said Dick. "I'll call you if it seems to be a way out."

Dick eased himself into the opening gingerly; it was only big enough to crawl through but as he went a little ahead the tunnel widened up and there was enough room to stand.

"Come on you all," he called out, "the breeze is stronger as I go along, so I think it leads outside somewhere."

Julian debated whether it was a better idea to explore this tunnel or to turn back. On the whole, going ahead seemed more sensible; at least they weren't likely to meet any crooks in such a cramped space. He helped Anne and George into the tunnel, then handed Timmy up as well.

"Ugh, Timmy old boy, no more titbits for you, you're too fat already."

He then clambered up himself and they set off after Dick. The tunnel was narrow and cramped, the roof so low in places that they had to walk doubled-up at times, but they could feel the cool, salty breeze, which told them that the opening was getting nearer, and they kept plodding on.

Would the tunnel never come to an end? Anne felt she had been walking for miles. Why oh why did they have to fall into a beastly adventure every holiday! Just as she felt she couldn't walk even one more step, Dick called out.

"We're here. I can see the moon shining and the breeze is really strong now. I think we're coming out near the beach."

He climbed out carefully, feeling for solid ground before stepping out. It seemed to be a very rocky part of the beach.

"Isn't this where our cave is?" asked Anne as he helped her out. "Oh, do let's try to find it; we can spend the night there."

"You mean the one we camped in when we rescued that American girl?" asked George. "I think you're right, it should be around here, a little to the left I think. That means this tunnel runs right across the island."

The children picked their way cautiously over the rocks. The cave was partly concealed under a rocky overhang but George knew every inch of her island and led them unerringly to the entrance.

"Oh, our dear little cave, I'm so happy to see it again," said Anne as she collapsed on the sandy floor.

"Anyone for a snack?" asked Dick, hopefully. But for once the children were too tired to sit through a proper meal so they munched on biscuits and some juicy plums, which Anne had packed at the last minute, finishing up with a bar of chocolate Julian found in his pocket.

"That was nice," he said, licking the last crumb of chocolate from his fingers. But no one answered. They were all fast asleep.

George awoke to find Timmy licking her.

"Stop it, Tim, you've made my face all wet!" said George pushing him away.

"He's giving you your morning bath," grinned Dick, sitting up. "Ooh, do I smell sausages being roasted?"

Anne was indeed roasting sausages on a campfire. The efficient little girl had woken up early, gathered firewood and set about preparing breakfast. She knew everyone would wake up ravenous.

"Quite the perfect little housewife," said Julian as he speared a sausage on a stick and held it to the flames.

Anne smiled to herself. Her brothers often teased her about 'playing houses' but she knew that a lot of their adventures wouldn't have turned out so well if she hadn't taken care of the basics. Like food.

"Let's see what else we have," said Dick, polishing off his third sausage and rummaging through the bag.

"Tongue, sardines, fresh tomatoes, a tin of pineapple chunks..."

"...and lashings of ginger beer" said George, fishing out four bottles from the depths of the now rather empty bag.

The children cut out chunks of tongue with a clean pocket knife that Julian always carried in his pocket. Anne had even remembered to pack some bread and butter, so they made huge, thick sandwiches, and ate them with the juicy tomatoes.

"This is so much fun," said Anne. "I always think..."

"...food tastes so much nicer eaten out of doors," chimed in the rest, grinning at Anne's astonished face.

"So tell me about last night," said George, reaching for a chunk of pineapple. "I saw the tower explode and so I turned back, but when I got home the window was locked..."

"Where were you?" asked Julian "We looked all over, and since the boat was missing we decided you must have gone over to the island."

"I told you I wouldn't go to the island," said George. "I just... went rowing..." She trailed off abruptly and Julian realised she was hiding something.

"I've never known you to row out anywhere, except to the island, so come on, tell us. What are you up to?"

George looked uncertain for a moment, and then made up her mind. "Well, all right. I wasn't going to tell anyone till I was sure but... well... I'm planning to enter for the National Rowing Championship next month."

"The National Championship?" asked Dick in awe.

"But you're not on the team," said Julian, "and in any case you're too young."

"I'm trying for the amateur event. You don't have to be on the team for that. And you have to be at least fifteen to qualify; I'll turn fifteen a week before the event."

The children stared at George in wonder. She had always been good at rowing, but had never considered it a sport. It was just a means of reaching her beloved island.

"I know I never thought of rowing as sport," said George, reading their thoughts, "but while I was at school I used to miss being out in a boat so I rented one from the boathouse owner nearby and slipped out whenever I could."

"So that's what you were doing when you kept disappearing?" asked Anne "Why didn't you tell me, I could have gone with you."

"I would have, but then I met some members of the rowing team and they told me I had a good chance if I tried for the championship. I needed to practise alone after that, and I didn't want to tell anyone in case nothing came of it."

George stopped and gazed around at her cousins uncertainly. "Well, I suppose you think I'm being silly, competing against professionals much older than me and with loads of experience..." She trailed off.

"Of course not, silly," said Julian, clapping her soundly on her back. "We're proud of you, and I'm sure you'll win, you're better at rowing than anyone I know."

"Not really," said George. "I'm good at navigating, but my speed is not up to par. But I have improved quite a bit; I really think I have a chance."

"Of course you do," said Anne loyally. She was sure George could achieve anything she set her mind to. "We'll come and cheer you, of course, and Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin will be so proud."

"I don't want to tell them right now, they already have a lot on their minds, what with the plans for the causeway and the tower blowing up," replied George, in a tone that meant she had made up her mind about it. The children understood that it was because she was still upset at her parents for turning her island into a tourist attraction; George had always been extremely possessive about it.

"Speaking of the tower, what say we check it out, now that we're here?" asked Dick.

"I'm sure the police must have cordoned off the area, but we can go and take a look," said Julian. "We'd better hurry though, I want to head home soon, Aunt Fanny might be getting worried."

The children cleared up all the litter, burying all the tins and stamping out the fire carefully. They then made their way up the rocks to the top of the cliff.

"Oh no, how awful it looks!" wailed Anne.

Their beautiful island was indeed a sorry sight. Great, ugly shards of charred and twisted plastic were strewn all over and some ironwork that had made a kind of foundation for the tower was all that remained, sticking out of the ground like a hideous monster. The grass and bushes around it were charred and a desolate air hung over the place.

"Even the rabbits have been scared off," said Dick sorrowfully.

George blinked furiously to keep her tears from spilling. She never cried, but seeing her island in this tragic state had totally unnerved her.

"Come, let's go" she said brusquely, and turned towards the castle. The rest of the children followed silently. They knew it would be intolerable for George to spend another moment at this place.

"Hey, hold on, what's that?" cried Julian, pointing to the little cove they had always used for their boat.

It should have been empty right now, but it wasn't. A small boat was pulled up on the beach. There was someone else on the island!

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