by JB Rowley
“I thought you said it was a bat.”
“Yes, but the Gondwanan bat is not like other bats. It has fur and it folds up its wings and walks along the ground and looks just like a rat.”
“Oh, that is a strange bat,” said Charli.
“It sounds like the New Zealand short-tailed bat,” said Hamish.
“Why do you have such a great fear of rats, Meg?” asked Charli.
Meg put a hand up to his nose. “When I was a baby boy,” he said, “a rat tried to eat my nose.”
Nellie and Charli smiled. “What happened?” asked Charli.
“I was sitting on the floor of my home one day when I saw a rat. I put my face close to look at it and that rat bit my little nose.” Meg shuddered at the memory. “There was very much blood on the floor.”
“Poor Meg,” said Charli. “That was a horrible thing to happen.”
Nellie laughed. “I bet there was very much loud crying, too.”
Meg nodded and grinned.
“So you think Gondvan knew that Charli would be afraid to hurt a tuatara?” asked Nellie.
“I’m not afraid. I just don’t want to hurt it,” said Charli.
“You are afraid,” said Hamish. “You believe it is a messenger of death. You think we will die if we hurt it. It’s a lot of nonsense. If we don’t kill that thing we will have to stay in this jungle forever so we might as well be dead, anyway.”
“It’s not that bad here, Hamish,” said Nellie.
“Well, some things are interesting but this place would drive me crazy if I had to stay here. No, thank you.”
The tuatara moved its beak-like head back and forth.
“Hamish is right, though,” said Nellie. “If we don’t get past, we won’t be able get to the centre in time. We will all have to stay here.” She looked up. “We can’t see the sun from here so we have no way of knowing what time it is.”
“I have just remembered something about the tuatara,” said Charli.
“What have you remembered, friend Charli?”
“If the tuatara is captured or feels threatened, it drops its tail.”
“Drops its tail? What do you mean?” said Nellie.
“If something has hold of its tail, the tail just drops off so the tuatara can escape.”
“Oh, like a gecko,” said Nellie. “The tail drops off and grows back again.”
“That’s right,” said Charli. “If we could make the tuatara think it was in danger, it might drop its tail.”
“Then we could get past it,” said Nellie. “But what if the creature turns on us before we can get through the arch?”
“They don’t usually do that,” said Charli. “Losing the tail is used as a diversion to give it time to get away. They don’t usually go back in the direction of the danger.”
“But how are we going to make this tuatara think it is in danger?”
Charli pointed to a hollow log lying on the ground among the trees.
“If we all worked together, we could lift that log up and drop it on the tuatara’s tail.”
“Aren’t you afraid you will hurt your precious tuatara?” asked Hamish.
“The dropping of the tail is automatic so I don’t think the tuatara will feel pain, not very much, anyway.”
“It’s a good idea, Charli. Come on, everyone, let’s see if we can lift the log,” said Nellie. “Pari, you had better come into my pocket where you will be safe.”
She lifted Pari from Meg’s shoulder and tucked him into the inside pocket of her jacket.
“We’ll have to run quickly after we drop the log,” said Hamish. “This monster might not behave like a real tuatara. It’s too big to get far in the forest so it might just turn around and come back at us.”
With Hamish and Nellie at one end and Meg and Charli at the other, they grabbed the log and lifted it.
“It’s heavier than it looks,” said Charli, grunting with the effort of lifting.
Nellie was breathing heavily but managed to hold onto the log and lift it with Hamish. Plants that had been growing over the log broke away and fell back to the ground. Meg and Nellie lifted the other end. Together the four of them carried the log into the clearing toward the tuatara. The creature was quiet. Its head was no longer arched up. Trying not to make a noise, they approached the end section of its tail. The tail moved. They stopped and waited.
“I can’t hold on much longer,” panted Charli.
Hamish hissed at her. “Get a grip, Charli.”
They waited for the creature’s tail to stop moving then continued. When they were almost close enough to drop the log on the tail the tuatara moved again. The side of the tail slammed into their legs and caught them off balance. They all fell backward, dropping the log as they did so.
“Oh, no,” yelled Nellie as she landed on her back on the ground. “Quick. That giant tail will crush us.”
She scrambled to her feet, accepting a helping hand from Hamish who was already standing.
“We have to get out of the way,” she yelled.
Meg grabbed Charli’s hand to help her up.
“Wait,” said Hamish. “Look.”
He pointed toward the tuatara. Nellie turned and saw that the log had landed on part of the tail which was now still. Then she saw that the creature had separated from its tail and was moving away.
“Quick,” she said. “Run to the entrance arch.”
They ran through the gap between the tail and the creature’s body then raced across to the rocky archway and through to the other side.
“We made it!”
“Yes!” said Hamish, making a fist with his right hand and bringing his elbow down sharply.
Nellie reached into her jacket and opened the inside pocket. Pari’s tiny head popped out.
“We made it past the big test, Pari,” said Nellie. “We’re on our way to the centre of Gondwana.”
Pari emerged from her jacket pocket and leapt onto Meg’s shoulder. He bobbed up and down and gave his familiar double grunt. They all laughed.
Charli clapped her hands. “You’re adorable, Pari.”
“All right,” said Hamish. “Now where do we go?”
19: Poisoned
Meg pointed to a path. “We must follow the path to the centre, to Gondvan’s home.”
“Come on, then. I’ve had enough of this place. The sooner we get to the centre, the sooner we get out of here.”
“Be careful, Hamish,” called Nellie.
Ignoring her, Hamish marched along the path.
“Wait, Hamish,” said Nellie. “There are protectors here.”
“What sort of protectors?” said Charli.
“Friend Nellie fought a crocodile when she was on the way to Gondvan’s home,” said Meg.
“It was a tree climbing crocodile,” said Nellie. “It bit my arm and I had to fight it with a stick.”
“Wow, Nellie! You are amazing. Fancy fighting off a crocodile.”
“I didn’t have much choice, Charli,” said Nellie. “Here, take this tree branch in case we meet more crocodiles this time.”
She picked up a fallen tree branch and handed it to Charli and chose a second one for herself. Meg also picked up a branch.
“Let’s catch up to Hamish. We should all stay together,” said Nellie.
They hurried along the path, pushing through overhanging branches and vines but stopped when they saw Hamish walking slowly backwards towards them. In front of Hamish and walking toward him was a reptilian creature with a thick round head. It moved its massive body forward on thick limbs that ended in sharp curled claws. A forked tongue extended from its wide jaws and flicked the air.
“What is that?” gasped Charli.
“It is a lizard dragon,” said Meg. “I have not seen it before but Gondvan has told me about this powerful protector.”
The dragon stopped as Hamish continued to back away.
“I think it has seen us. Maybe that’s why it’s stopped,” said Nellie. “We might be
able to frighten it if we throw our sticks at it.”
They all threw their sticks. The dragon took a backward step and then stopped.
“Come on,” said Charli. “Let’s collect some fallen pine cones and throw them. But we don’t have to hurt it, just frighten it away.”
They quickly collected armfuls of pine cones and pelted them toward the dragon. The creature turned. It flicked its long tail around and retreated quickly into the forest.
“Phew,” said Nellie, “that was close.”
“Yes, friend Nellie, that dragon has a poisonous bite and can easily eat people.”
Hamish turned to face them and covered the remaining distance with a quick run.
“Thanks,” he said, as he joined them. “That damn thing leapt out at me from the bushes when I turned a corner.”
“Well, it was your own stupid fault for marching ahead and not waiting for us,” said Nellie. “We tried to warn you about Gondvan’s protectors. It just serves you right you got attacked.”
“Yes, Hamish. You should have waited,” said Charli.
“Fine,” said Hamish. “Nobody cares that I was almost killed.” He brushed the dirt and leaves from his clothes and checked that the gold was still in the mesh bag. “It was just lucky for me that I stopped to turn around and see where you all were just as that creature decided to strike. It must have been thrown off target when I turned.”
“You were indeed lucky, friend Hamish. That dragon has a very poisonous bite. If it bites you, you will die.”
“It did manage to get its teeth into my leg but I think it just scratched my ankle. Nothing serious.”
Hamish rolled up the end of his jeans to reveal bloody teeth marks across his right ankle.
“See,” said Hamish. “That’s not going to kill me is it?”
Meg’s face was serious. “Yes, friend Hamish.”
Hamish, Charli and Nellie stared at Meg. “What?” they cried.
“It’s not much more than scratches,” protested Hamish.
“The lizard dragon has poison in its mouth. This poison is released into the wound,” Meg explained patiently. “Then the poison gradually seeps into your body. That is why it was following you. It was waiting for you to drop down and die.”
Charli gasped. Hamish stared at Meg.
“We can suck the poison out,” said Charli.
“It is too late for that, friend Charli, and you will poison yourself.”
“How long does the poison take?” asked Nellie.
“It depends on the size of the victim’s body and how much poison gets in.” Meg studied Hamish’s wounds. “Perhaps this dragon did not have a chance to plant much poison. Perhaps you will survive for a day, maybe two days.”
They all fell silent as the seriousness of the situation sank in. Meg’s next words gave them hope.
“Do not despair yet, friend Hamish. Gondwana has many magic plants. Pari will search for something to help you.”
Meg whispered to Pari who jumped up to a nearby tree branch and began to swing from branch to branch as he headed deep into the forest.
“Yes, that’s right, Hamish,” said Nellie. “When the crocodile bit my arm, Pari came back with a plant that healed the cut almost straight away. I could hardly believe it.”
Hamish looked at the scratch marks on his ankle.
“This is a bit different. A crocodile doesn’t have poison in its bite,” he said.
“I know, but we are in a magic place. Amazing things do happen here. Pari is bound to find something to help.”
“In the meantime,” said Hamish, “we still have the problem of getting to the centre of Gondwana before sunset. Let’s keep walking. It’s not as if my leg is broken. I can walk.”
“Shouldn’t we wait here for Pari?” said Charli.
“Pari will find us, friend Charli. He knows where we are going.”
They walked on in silence, following the path that would take them to the centre of Gondwana. They had only travelled a short distance when Hamish swayed and almost fell to the ground.
“What’s the matter, Hamish?”
Hamish rubbed his eyes. “Dunno. Just feel a bit strange. I can’t see properly. I felt dizzy. Nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine.”
Before the others could say anything, Hamish floated to the ground and lay still. Charli and Nellie rushed to his side. With relief, Nellie noticed the slow rise and fall of Hamish’s chest.
“It’s all right, Charli,” she said. “He’s breathing.”
“He has perhaps fainted,” said Meg. “It is the effects of the dragon poison. We must make friend Hamish comfortable and wait here for Pari.”
They gathered leaves and packed them around Hamish’s body and placed more under his head.
“We have to keep him warm,” said Nellie. She took off her coat and placed it over Hamish.
The minutes ticked away as they waited for Pari. The wind whispered through the jungle. Unseen animals scurried through the undergrowth. Nellie was relieved when Pari appeared in a tree and dropped a bundle of bright green leaves down to Meg.
“Thank you, Pari,” called Nellie as Meg handed some of the leaves to her and Charli.
“Crush the leaves and spread them over the scratches,” said Meg. “But that will not be enough. Friend Hamish must eat some leaves so that the antidote gets into his blood.”
Charli and Nellie covered Hamish’s injured ankle with crushed leaves.
“The leaves are moist,” said Charli. “They should wash some of the blood off as well.”
Nellie shook Hamish gently. His eyelids fluttered then opened slowly.
“What?” He tried to sit up but fell back again.
“Stay still, Hamish,” said Nellie. “We have some leaves that will help your body get rid of the poison. You have to eat them. All right?”
Hamish grunted.
“Let me do it,” said Charli.
Nellie moved aside to allow Charli to place some of the crushed leaves into Hamish’s mouth. Meg knelt behind Hamish and raised his head slightly.
“Chew the leaves, friend Hamish, and then swallow them.”
Hamish did as he was told.
“How long will it take, Meg?” asked Nellie.
Hamish sat upright. “What’s going on?” he said, pushing Charli’s hand away from his mouth and throwing Nellie’s jacket off.
Meg grinned. “Not long, friend Nellie.”
Hamish looked down at his ankle. “It feels better,” he said as he eased the crushed leaves away to look underneath.
“Look! The scratches are gone. My ankle is as good as new.”
“It’s just like when my scratches from the crocodile disappeared,” said Nellie.
“Wow!” said Charli. “That really is magic.”
Hamish got to his feet. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Nellie put her jacket back on as they continued on their way to the centre. This time Hamish stayed with the group. When they arrived at the centre of Gondwana, Nellie pointed the two ancient trees Meg called the hugging trees because they were joined together by a tangled mass of roots and branches.
“Look, Charli. Don’t you think those trees look like they are hugging each other?”
“Yes, they do,” said Charli.
“Meg says they have been together for hundreds of years,” said Nellie.
“They’re not hugging,” said Hamish. “Their branches and roots are growing all over each other.”
“I like to think they are hugging each other,” said Nellie.
Beneath the arch made by the hugging trees was a collection of square, flat stones.
“What are those?” said Charli. “They look like Egyptian tablets. We learnt about them in school. The Egyptians used to write on them by drawing pictures.”
“Hieroglyphics,” said Hamish.
They ventured closer to the stone squares.
20: Rhymes and Riddles
“These don’t have hieroglyphics,” said Nellie. “It’
s normal writing.”
“Yes, each one has a little rhyme on it,” said Charli. She read the first stone tablet.
That is where the orb will neatly slip
As the shoe on Cinderella’s foot did neatly fit
Nellie read out the second one.
The home of aurum sleeps within
And this is where you must begin
“I wonder what aurum is.”
“It means gold,” said Hamish, tossing his head so that his curls bounced. “It’s the Latin word for gold. These tablets appear to be some sort of clues about this.” He held up the gold nugget and removed it from its vine bag.
“Yes, you’re right. It would be just like Gondvan to make us solve riddles before we can return the gold.”
Hamish sighed. “Not more riddles. I am so over this place.”
Charli ignored her brother. “Meg, you read the third one.”
Meg moved closer to the third stone and leaned over. On his shoulder, Pari also leaned forward as if he too was reading the words.
Seven is half the magic of core design
But terrestrial heart yearns for nine.
“That does not make any sense at all. None of these make any sense,” said Nellie.
“This one certainly doesn’t,” said Hamish, reading the fourth stone.
Tis knowledge you need and intellect, too
Even a fox’s cunning cannot help you
“That is just rubbish, especially as there are no foxes in Gondwana.”
“There are actually,” said Charli. “One fox, anyway.”
“Yes, while you were tied to a tree at Evil Em’s place we met Mr Fox himself,” said Nellie.
The girls told Meg and Hamish about their adventure with Mr Renard.
“Maybe this clue is about Mr Renard,” said Charli.
“Let’s read all the tablets and see if we can work out what to do.”
“I thought you said Gondvan would be here to tell us what we have to do.”
“Gondvan will be here when the time is right,” said Meg.
Nellie smiled, remembering that Meg had said the same words when she had asked about Gondvan in her adventure.
Charli read the next riddle.
To find this golden home, with wits you must proceed
