The Aeroplane of Adventure

©2009 David Marlor

This novel is based on the characters created by Enid Bylton in the Adventure Series. In this regard, it is the ninth adventure and follows The River of Adventure.

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Chapter 23: Back to the Island

"Hungry?" asked Bill, as Mike came up from the galley with a plate full of food.

"Oh Bill, I'm ravenous," said Dinah, suddenly feeling very hungry. The others felt the same and the children tucked into the thick meat sandwiches.

"What are we doing now, Bill'?" asked Jack between bites.

Bill turned from the chart he was reading. "I've contacted the Royal Navy and they're sending a ship. But we have a problem."

"What?" asked the children, and stopped eating at once.

"Well," Bill hesitated. "Well, our inside man, who knows the way in and out of the island, was injured in our little battle. He's okay, but we have to get him to a hospital. Also, in the battle yesterday, some of the submarine's controls were damaged, so we're going to need repairs before heading back to England. A backup is on the way, but if what you tell us is true, we can't wait for them."

"Bill," said Philip. "Jack and I between us know the inside of that hill. We'll take you back in."

"Do you really want to?" asked Bill doubtfully. "I really don't want to take you back in there, but I can't think of any other way, and I don't know what your mother will say."

"Bill, we want to help. Besides, I want to help Peter Wilson. I liked him, he helped us escape from the hill. Oh, Bill, I completely forgot!" Jack put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the sheaf of papers that Peter Wilson had given him. "Bill, Peter gave this to us. He said the police would understand."

Bill took the papers and scanned them over. "This is wonderful, Jack. Excellent, in fact."

Philip fished out the black book from his pocket and gave it to Bill. "Here Bill, I took this from one of the men who stole your aeroplane."

Bill took the book and flipped quickly through it. He whistled. "Mike," he shouted, "where are you? Oh, there you are. Here, take these and send an encoded message to Scotland Yard and MI6."

Mike looked at the papers and the black book and suddenly got busy at the Morse code radio station.

"Those papers," said Bill, "are the names of the gang and where they operating. They'll be livid when they find it missing. Peter must have stolen it. The book contains details of their plans, targets and so on. It's invaluable. Now get some rest. I've decided to take you, Jack and Philip, back with me to the island. But mind, you must stay back and let my men make sure everything is safe first."

Jack and Philip nodded, their eyes alight with excitement. Golly, what would the boys at school say? Dinah was a little disappointed not to share in the adventure, but then she shuddered at the idea of going back to the island.

Lucy-Ann didn't like the idea of Jack going back to the island at all. "Oh, Jack, do be careful. I don't really want you to go."

Jack gave his sister a hug. "I know, Lucy-Ann, but with Bill and those men, how can we come to any harm? We'll be fine and loving every minute of it. "

Later that day, Bill called a meeting and had the boys explain as best they could about the pool, the lamp, and the hangar entrances. The boys drew diagrams, which the men solemnly copied into their waterproof notebooks. Jack and Philip felt very important.

"Okay, here's the plan," said Bill to the men. "We don't know how to open the doors to let the submarine into the inner cave and, actually, I think this submarine might be too big anyway. So, we go quietly ashore tonight. Once we land, Johnson, Philip will take you up to the top of the hill and you'll secure the area. You won't be able to open the lamp, but I want you there in case some of the men try to escape. You'll be joined by Navy troops who'll parachute in later." Johnson nodded in agreement.

"Wainwright, you go with Philip and Johnson up the hill and then over the hill to the airfield and set up a drop zone for the paratroopers. Philip will go with you and show you how to get into the hangar. Burns, Gibson, and Mclntyre, you will come with Mike, Jack and myself. Jack will open the secret way and then we'll go in to the island. Philip, you will find a safe place to hide and wait near the airstrip for us to come out through the hangar. Any questions?"

Nobody had any questions. Jack and Philip shivered with excitement. It was dark by the time the submarine surfaced. The children went up the conning tower with Bill. Two small boats had come alongside, one with two Navy officers on board to take the girls off the submarine and onto a ship sitting off in the distance. The other, with six armed grim-looking guards to take the prisoners, pulled up next to the submarine. Dinah and Lucy-Ann said goodbye to Jack, Philip and Bill. Mike helped the girls onto the boat and it sped of into the darkness. Kiki and Morris were going with the girls because Bill didn't want them to cause any problem. Besides, Kiki couldn't swim and it looked like they would have to do a spot of underwater swimming. Dinah and Lucy-Ann looked back and waved until they disappeared into the darkness.

The boys were excited as the submarine submerged. Once they were back inside, and the hatch had been securely fastened, the submarine then sailed slowly under the waves back to the island on which they had spent such a long time. Bill let them have a look through the periscope and they could see the silhouette of the island in the moonlight. It was strange to think they were looking at the island from under the surface of the water. When they were within a half mile of the island, Bill gave the order to surface the submarine. Two Navy officers who had boarded the submarine when Dinah and Lucy-Ann had left were to stay behind and look after the submarine.

"Ready for a spot of swimming?" asked Bill, when it was time to go.

Jack and Philip, who had been snoozing, jumped up in excitement. The boys followed the men up the metal ladder and onto the deck of the submarine, the dark silvery water lapping at their feet. Bill nodded to Mike, and the men, all with special packs on their back, slipped over the side and swam off towards the island. Bill, Jack and Philip took of their things and put them in a waterproof bag that Bill said he would carry. Bill dived neatly into the water and started to swim with a brisk stroke. Jack and Philip dived in together and surfaced, shivering.

"Brrrr, the water's cold," said Jack. "Come on, we'll soon get warm swimming." The boys led the way with the M16 agents and Scotland Yard men following. Jack and Philip stopped swimming for a moment to get their bearings. There wasn't much light as the moon had gone behind a dark cloud. Philip pointed to where he thought he could make out the tree in which there treehouse was located. Both boys were relieved when they came ashore only a few yards from the lagoon. They had been half afraid of missing it entirely. Once on the island, they quickly got dressed.

"Okay," said Bill. "Be very careful. And Philip, remember, hide and don't try to come into the hill."

"I promise, Bill," said Philip, who never broke his promises.

Philip led Jackson and Wainwright past the waterfall and up the hill, following his markers in the moonlight. The two men were very fit and didn't complain when they had to scramble over rock and squeeze through narrow spaces between trees. Finally they arrived at the summit of the hill and Philip could see a good way off in the moonlit night. He knew there were Navy ships out there, but he couldn't see them.

Philip showed Jackson where the lamp came out of the ground. Jackson looked a little sceptical. "Are you sure'?" he asked doubtfully, not as trusting of children as Bill was.

"I'm sure," said Philip. The three of them shared dried rations the Navy officers had given them before Philip and Wainwright said goodbye to Jackson and set off down the other side of the hill. They came to the clearing where the children had to crawl to avoid being seen. But there was nobody on the airfield and it was dark. Wainwright took the lead and they cautiously crossed the open space. Philip showed the MI6 agent the tunnel entrance and Wainwright dropped down. Philip followed. Halfway down they had a shock: a huge boulder had fallen, completely blocking the tunnel.

"Golly," said Philip. "Now what are we going to do? Surely we can't move it?"

The MI6 agent let out a low curse. "We'll have to go over the cliff. Come on, back up the tunnel."

Once out of the tunnel, Wainwright led Philip to the cliff edge. Then he pulled a long coil of rope and some anchor bolts. He hammered the bolts into the sturdy rock and then secured the rope.

"Can you climb a rope?" asked the agent.

"Of course," said Philip. "I've done it heaps of time."

"Good," said Wainwright. "I'll go down first and then you follow."

Soon Philip and Wainwright were at the bottom of the cliff. Philip led the M16 agent over to the airfield and showed him the hidden aircraft.

Wainwright whistled in surprise at the sight of the stolen planes. "Where is that hangar entrance?" he asked Philip. Philip led the way over to the cliff wall and showed him the small opening, just large enough for a kid to climb through.

Philip watched as Wainwright set up flares in an area hidden from view from anywhere but above. Philip yawned and wondered what was happening to Jack.

Continues tomorrow...

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