by Ami Bhat
“Well! Hi there! I think I was supposed to meet you?” she shouted to the koalas. The cuddly creatures just blinked back at her.
“I don’t suppose you are going to come down and talk to me?” Amy asked.
“So, then what am I to do?” Amy looked around for the kangaroo for support, only to realize that the friendly hopper had already left. She pulled out the last clue and read it again. Over and over again, she turned to the koalas and tried to talk to them. But the only reply she got was a stare.
Frustrated, Amy picked up the offending gumnut to throw it into the pool. Only then she realized that there was a little paper popping out of it. She pulled it out to reveal yet another set of lines.
The sparkling secret
Hunt for the guest
Who took over his host
“Thank you,” she yelled to the koalas, who had begun to retreat deeper into the forest. Not wanting to lose them, she quickly picked up her bag and followed. She had barely walked a few meters before she lost sight of them.
“Darn it! I wonder where I am.” Amy looked around and saw a paved road. Clearly, she was out of the woods. “I guess I should just get my bearings.” She pulled out her mobile phone, only to realize there was no signal.
“I guess the best bet to civilization is to follow the road,” she mused as she walked along to arrive at a small sign announcing “Welcome to Springbrook National Park.”
She continued along to finally arrive at a ranger’s shed.
“What are you doing here, mate? Did you just walk through the woods?” asked the ranger as she walked into the shed.
“Yes, sir. I was hiking up the mountain and got lost. Followed the road, and here I am. Could I just wait here and then find a ride back into the town?” asked Amy.
“But, of course. Why don’t you freshen up, while I make you a nice cup of coffee? I have a group of young hikers coming in soon. I will speak to their guide and arrange for you to return with them.”
“…fossils that date back to the age of Gondwana32, and that is why we have been classified under the UNESCO World Heritage site,” explained the ranger over coffee.
Amy found herself a little distracted with her new clue. Guest who took over the host? What does this mean? she thought while trying to keep up with the ranger’s conversation.
“…so many old stranglers that have created hollow trunks,” the ranger was saying.
“Strangler? What is that?” The word caught Amy’s attention. “You mean there are muggers in the park?”
The ranger chuckled. “No, dearie. Stranglers as in Strangler trees. You know those parasites that grow over a host tree and suck their sap out, killing them and making hollow trunks… Surely, you have heard of them?”
Amy’s eyes lit up at this. “The guest who took over the host…”
“That is a funny way of putting it,” said the ranger. “But very apt indeed.”
“Can I go and see them? Where would your oldest strangler tree be?” Amy asked excitedly.
A flock of lorikeets took off at the sound of her footsteps. Amy climbed up the narrow ledge and looked around. “The ranger said that the tree would be on my left from here,” she recalled. She walked a few steps to come across an overgrowth of lichens. Following the fresh green, she saw a huge trunk enveloped by a sturdy vine. That must be the strangler. So now, I must follow it to find its origin.
A few steps later, she let out a small whoop of triumph. There it was, the natural cubby hole!
She scrambled to it and gingerly felt around. At first, she only felt the slimy moss. She pulled out her mobile and shone the little light into the hole. The moss seemed to be growing out of the hollow in a bump. She touched it again and felt something beneath it. As she traced it to the top, she felt a small stick almost as if it were the neck of a bottle. Digging into the slime, she closed her hand over it and gave a yank.
Whack!
She reeled with the impact, holding a bottle in her hand with yet another message.
The sparkling secret
Look out for the green glow
Of the disappearing water
This one must be referring to the River Nerang in the national park. Amy recalled seeing the sign on the walking trail that she took from the ranger’s cabin. I guess I will have a better chance of figuring this clue out if I follow the water.
It was way past noon, and she was still following the trail of water. Not sure of what she would find, Amy decided, This is the last clue for today. If I don’t solve it in the next one hour, I will come back for it.
Just then, she saw the river fall over a stone arch and disappear. From where she was standing, she could not see it flow any further. Neither could she climb down to examine it.
That is strange. The river just disappeared. I can’t even see it from here. Perplexed with the new development, she turned around and started walking back. I guess it is best to check with the ranger. I bet he will know.
Amy retraced her steps to land at a fork. She could not recall which one she had taken to get here.
Well, I was following the river, and I can hear it on the right. So then, that must be it, she thought as she continued to follow her instinct. But this time, she found what she thought was lost.
Splash! Splat! Swish!
Amy dove right into the cool water of the cavern. The cool water washed away some exertion. She did a few laps and then climbed over the stones to lie down and relax. Staring at the cave ceiling, she reminisced how she found the lost river.
The wrong turn at the fork led her to another place where she saw her mysterious river reappear. Running close to it, she finally saw what had actually happened.
“Silly me!” she spoke to the river. “And I thought you had disappeared, while all you did was jump over the stone arch and fall into a hole.”
She craned her neck and continued to think aloud, “So now, how do you get out of that hole? I can still hear you, so there must be an opening somewhere else.” Amy stepped back and turned to the other direction, where she could hear the water flowing. She walked on to find the river again.
“I guess I just have to trace you upstream to see what happened in that hole.” And when she did, she discovered a strange green glow.
“The green glow of disappearing water,” she exclaimed aloud, recalling the last clue. Renewed with energy, she ran towards her prize, only to stop abruptly and gasp at the eerie beauty of a cavern.
The river that Amy had initially lost emerged in this cave in the form of a stunning waterfall. Glittering like a diamond, it forced its way through the stone hole. The enclosed rocky walls shimmered like an emerald in the low daylight, while the sunlight through created topazes through the cave. The misty atmosphere of the cascade added to the magical atmosphere of what Amy decided to call ‘the Natural Bridge.’
I am not sure what I will find, but this place definitely merits a swim, Amy thought as she stripped and plunged into the pool.
Amy plunged back into the water but, this time, she moved along the boulders to see if there were any hidey holes. She finally found one right behind the cascade. Squeezed between two rocks was the tell-tale bottle with a parchment. Amy would have missed it had it not been for the little glint of light reflected by its top. She pulled herself onto the small ledge and wedged the parchment free.
The sparkling secret
Live the nocturnal life here
To find that sparkling treasure of nature.
The evening light has almost faded, and the night was setting in. Owls hooted in the distance, and the bats had begun swooping in and out of the cave.
“If not today, I will anyway have to get here tomorrow at night. I might as well stay,” Amy decided. Her excitement outweighed the exhaustion that she felt. Given that the stars had already started appearing, it was a matter of hours. The clue did say that she had to stay put. She mentally decided to wait for an hour before heading back to the ranger’s station.
But she did
not really have to wait that long. It started with a small sparkle on one side of the cave. As she stared at the spot, another twinkle caught her eye. And then there was a third and fourth, and before she knew, the whole cave had transformed into a fairyland.
“The sparkling treasure of nature! This is it. The Natural Bridge Cavern is a glow cave. That is what the person who left the clues wanted to share. This is the final treasure.”
Hoot! Hoot!
“Or was it really over?” questioned the doleful-eyed owl, who hooted meaningfully at Amy from his perch.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
The Natural Bridge at Springbook National Park in Gold Coast, Australia
Gold Coast city in Australia is renowned for its golden coastline that includes the epic Great Barrier Reef. The underwater world, in the biggest coral reef in the world, is a dream destination for marine enthusiasts. The water teems with exotic corals and some really colorful and rare fishes. Spotting Manta rays and turtles is quite a regular feat for not just the divers but even swimmers and snorkelers.
Complimenting this natural marine treasure is the Gold Coast Hinterland. The green hills and forests are a treat for nature and wildlife travelers. Many of the national parks here, like the Springbrook National park, have unusual and exotic landscapes. The Natural Bridge cavern described in the story is just one of them. It is pretty common to spot koalas and kangaroos on the various walking trails through these parks. Adventure seekers love this area for not just its hiking trails but also fun activities, like hot air ballooning.
Additional Reading
10 things to do in Gold Coast, Australia - https://thrillingtravel.in/things-to-do-in-gold-coast-queenslandaustralia.html
Over the Gold Coast Hinterland in a Hot Air Balloon - https://thrillingtravel.in/queensland-hot-air-balloon-gold-coastaustralia.html
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef at Lady Elliot Island, Gold Coast - https://thrillingtravel.in/great-barrier-reef-ladyelliot-island-gold-coast.html
Walking through Springbrook National Park - https://thrillingtravel.in/springbrook-national-park-gold-coast.html
The Homecoming
Kerala, India
Alappuzha – Early 1980s
The eyes widened and rolled around in its sockets. Next, the eyebrows popped up and down. Creases appeared on the forehead with two deep furrow lines. The face grimaced, and the two eyes began their dance again. This time, one became smaller, while the other one became lopsided. The lips followed the direction of the eyes and slanted downwards.
As the drama continued, another set of twinkling eyes appeared beside the furious ones. Mischief sparkled in the doe-eyes as they attempted to mimic the furious ones. And then…
Plonk! Splash!
“Sushiii!” came a shout, as the placid water mirror erupted into ripples. “Argh! Why did you spoil it? I had almost got it,” complained the boy, pumping his fists at a cute girl in purple pavadai33.
Sushmita giggled. “No, you had not! You were just making funny faces, chetta34.”
“Oh! You don’t know anything, silly girl. My one eyebrow had almost gone up,” insisted the boy.
“You mean…like this?” The little girl grimaced, slanted her eyes and then stuck out her tongue to one side.
“You…! Wait…you devil” screamed the boy as he started after her. Squealing, Sushmita took off, while the boy chased her towards a coconut tree. Lithely, she ducked as her brother tried to catch her. She did a dance around the tree before escaping back to the jetty. “Quit it, chetta. Our school boat is here. Let’s go!”
The boy slowed down and changed directions to grab his fallen satchel. He walked towards his little sister. Wagging his finger, he said, “The boat saved you this time!” He smiled and gave her a light tap on her head. Sushmita grinned, and the duo stepped into the waiting boat.
Leaving his sister with her band of girls, he walked to the end of the boat. As he lowered himself into the seat, his co-passenger welcomed him with a friendly whack on his back. “Whaaaaat’s up, Rakesh Rockstar?” Rakesh grinned at his friend, Mohan, as he exchanged a ritualistic high-five.
“I have something to show you,” announced Rakesh. “Watch carefully.” And with that, he narrowed his eyes and filled his cheeks with air. Very slowly, he let his breath out, all the while keeping his eyes wide open. His calm demeanor swiftly changed as the muscles around his cheeks pulsed and twitched dangerously.
“Whoa! That is scary! Well done,” applauded Mohan. “How did you do that thing with the frown around your face?”
The frown turned upside down and changed into a smile. “You have to first suck in air and then exhale it slowly. Then you focus on those parts of your face, and they move,” Rakesh explained.
“Let me try,” said Mohan as he sucked in air so quickly that his eyes widened instead of narrowing. Realizing that he had messed up, he guffawed, “That feels funny, and I can’t hold it.”
“Ha…ha…ha.” Rakesh joined in the laughter. The two friends chatted some more about the new skill Rakesh had mastered when suddenly a flock of quacking ducks interrupted their talk. As if on cue, the two of them screamed in a chorus, “Poi35, uncle.” They giggled at the duck farmer, who was sitting on a boat with a long stick in hand, attempting to guide his flock into the netted area. The man grinned as he heard the shout and raised his stick in mock anger. Waving at the school kids, he turned his attention to his flock of escaping ducks.
The two friends and a couple of other school kids whistled and hooted at the man. Clearly, the event was a daily ritual for the school kids. “Uncle’s expression was like this,” Rakesh exclaimed. With the whole group as his audience, he stepped out and stood in the aisle. Slowly, he raised his hand as if he were holding a stick and then made his eyes dart around. His head moved side to side as if he were frantically searching for something. The movement was so comical that all the boys burst into laughter.
Enjoying the appreciation, Rakesh continued to entertain by creating a complete story of how the duck farmer loses his ducks. The boys kept cheering him on until finally, the boat conductor walked up and pulled Rakesh’s ears. “You again! Sit down now! Someday, your drama will make the boat topple.”
Grinning defiantly, Rakesh sat down next to Mohan. The boat had almost reached its destination and was slowing down. Mohan whispered, “You are going again, aren’t you?”
Rakesh nodded. Mohan continued. “Miss Mary noticed yesterday. You have to attend at least one day, or else you will get into trouble. Already she was talking of calling your father.”
“Appa36 is leaving for Dubai tomorrow. And Amma is busy at the hospital. Nothing to worry about.” He winked at Mohan. “I will return before the school bus leaves. Don’t worry.” He squeezed Mohan’s shoulder as he stood up to exit the boat.
“Onn37 Shiva Temple.” The conductor punched a ticket and handed it to Rakesh. He shook his head in disapproval as Rakesh ignored him and hopped into the water bus. The little boy took his seat by the boat window and stared out.
It had become a regular practice—he would enter the school, go to the wall behind the playground, climb over it, and escape to the jetty. He would catch the waterbus to the same destination, stay there for a few hours, and come back just in time for the closing bell of the school. The first few times, the boat conductor probed him, “Where are you going? Where are your parents? Why are you alone? Why are you not in school?” Rakesh would just hold out one rupee and smile innocently. Realizing that the kid was not going to volunteer information, the conductor finally stopped interrogating. Besides, who was he to stop him as long as the kid was paying his fare?
Rakesh stared at the swaying coconut trees that bordered the lush green paddy farms. He loved watching them, especially in the evening when the sun would dip behind them and sink into the Vembanad lake. Thinking of the scene, he artistically moved his fingers just as he had seen the man practice. In his mind’s eye, he recollected the expression of wonder that the man had brought on his
face by widening his eyes and parting his lips.
“Goal!” A bunch of boys screamed as one of them kicked a rotten coconut into the water. The noise broke Rakesh’s reverie as he turned his attention to the kids on the shore. It was an old game that all the boys in Alleppey played. Using an old coconut as a football, they would all try and kick the kernel straight into the water. Rakesh smiled as he recollected how he celebrated his own victory of the same the previous evening.
After the perfect kick, he had jumped up and stamped his feet rhythmically to the imaginary beats of Chenda38. The sound of his steps created its own beat so loud and perfect that he was rewarded with applause by Mohan and Sushmita.
“Chetta! That was amazing. Did Uncle Raghu teach you this?” Rema had asked. “Kind of, Sushi. Just don’t tell anyone at home,” Rakesh answered, winking at his pal, Mohan.
And she didn’t. Sometimes, he suspected that Sushmita knew of his escapades from school…where he went, what he did. However, she never uttered a word at home. If anything, she always stood up for him whenever Appa reprimanded him for his low grades. “Chetta may not get good marks, but he is good in so many other things,” she had retorted when his father had called him “good for nothing.”
“Ah! Shiva Temple,” announced the conductor, looking at him. Picking up his satchel, Rakesh exited onto the jetty and hopped his way to his destination. Little did he know that things were about to change.
