The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen
Page 15
‘Thank you, Rindo.’
They all stared at Rolo, who remained speechless.
‘Isn’t it nice to see Valentina again?’ Lilliana asked.
Rolo managed a nod.
Valentina drew the pile of letters from her bag. ‘I received your letters.’
‘My letters?’ Rolo pushed his hair across his sooty forehead, only to have the wind mess it up again. ‘I’m sorry. They’re old and foolish and I’m –’
‘I thought they were beautiful.’
‘You did?’ Rolo fell into another silence.
‘He wrote them because he loves you,’ Aurelie blurted out. ‘And has always loved you and has wanted to tell you for years – and even tried a few times – but he just hasn’t managed to do it.’
‘Partly because he’s so stubborn.’ Rindolf raised an eyebrow.
‘I’m not stubborn, I was –’
‘You tried to tell me before?’ Valentina asked.
‘One night before I was even born,’ Aurelie said.
‘You did?’ Valentina asked.
Rolo opened his mouth to speak.
‘He came to ask you a question, just like he said he would,’ Aurelie explained.
‘We both did,’ Rindolf added. ‘But when we got there, we saw Reinfeld on his knee offering you a ring, so we left.’
‘I only knew you hadn’t accepted when I read about his engagement to another woman a month later,’ Rolo said. ‘But by then you had gone to London. We asked Ernestine to tell you we’d called by, but when we didn’t hear from you, we …’
‘She never told me,’ Valentina said. ‘I would have come back, but there didn’t seem any reason to stay in Gribblesea. Not without you.’
Argus stood up. ‘Maybe Rolo would like some time alone with Valentina.’ Rolo’s eyebrows arched upwards and he looked even paler than before.
Aurelie kissed her uncle and slipped the star ruby into his hand. ‘For courage,’ she whispered.
Lilliana hugged Valentina. ‘Welcome back, my dear, and if Rolo forgets to say it, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.’
‘Are you going to stay?’ Aurelie asked.
‘If I can.’ Valentina looked at Rolo.
Rolo managed a small smile and nod.
‘Excellent,’ Aurelie said. ‘Oh, and don’t mind what the pier looks like now – it’s going to be brilliant.’
The small group moved away from the waffle stand. When they reached the merry-go-round, they ducked behind it and watched.
‘When’s he going to kiss her?’ Aurelie asked.
‘Give him time.’ Argus peered over a horse’s hoof. ‘They haven’t seen each other in a long time.’
‘He’s been wanting to kiss her for years,’ Aurelie explained to Rufus.
‘Why doesn’t he just do it?’
‘He can be a little slow,’ Rindolf complained.
‘I hope it’s not much longer.’ Lilliana winced. ‘My knees aren’t happy with this crouching.’
In the next moment Rolo leant over and kissed Valentina.
‘He did it,’ Aurelie said.
‘Well, what do you know?’ Rindolf wiped his sleeve across his eyes. ‘He did do it.’ He sniffed. ‘With a lot of help from you, of course.’
‘Does that mean I deserve another waffle?’ Aurelie asked.
‘With as much maple syrup as you can handle.’
It was a few hours later that Rufus sank back into his deckchair and rubbed his belly. ‘I don’t think I could eat another waffle in my life.’
‘Give it time,’ Aurelie said. ‘I’ve said that before, but you always come back for more.’
Seagulls swooped and garbled overhead.
‘It was you who put the money in my desk, wasn’t it?’
‘What money?’
‘In the envelope. For Mrs Sneed’s dress.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Rufus mumbled into his shirt.
‘I knew you were a good person when I met you. Lilliana says I have a knack for spotting good people.’ Aurelie smiled. ‘I guess that’s how I knew you’d help me save the pier.’
‘How?’
‘Well, there’s the good person bit I just told you about, but you’ve also been trying to hide for a while that you like me.’
‘I do?’
‘Yep.’
‘You think you know a lot.’
‘It’s a gift.’ Aurelie nudged him.
‘Can I tell you something?’
‘Is it embarrassing?’
‘A little,’ Rufus said. ‘When I first saw you at school, I felt sorry for you.’
‘Sorry for me?’
‘You were so different to everyone else that I thought it must be really hard to fit in being you.’
‘I don’t think too much about fitting in.’
‘But Sniggard and Charles gave you a really hard time.’
Aurelie shrugged. ‘Not everyone you meet will like you. Lilliana has said that to me quite a few times since I was a kid, and I guess it sunk in.’
‘I’m sorry I called you a freak. I’ve never thought that.’
‘I know.’
‘And for pushing you over at school.’ Rufus sat upright and rolled up his sleeve. ‘And you can punch me if you’d like. To make up for everything that’s happened.’
‘I’m not going to punch you.’
‘You can. Honest.’ Rufus held out his bare arm. ‘It’ll make us even.’
‘I don’t want to hit you.’ Aurelie sat unmoved for a few seconds before turning and punching him.
Rufus lost his balance and almost tumbled out of the chair. ‘Hey! I thought you said you didn’t want to punch me.’
‘I changed my mind.’
Rufus rubbed his arm. ‘You’ve got a great right hook.’
‘Juggling gives you great muscles.’ Aurelie smiled.
‘Can you teach me?’
‘Sure,’ Aurelie said. ‘It’ll take time, and you have to agree to never show off.’
‘I promise.’
‘Friends?’
‘Always.’ Rufus rubbed his arm. ‘Especially if it means never getting into another fight with you.’
‘You’ve got a deal.’
CHAPTER THIRTY
A Not-so-fond Farewell
A harsh knock sounded against the door of Lucien Crook’s seaside mansion. After a few moments, Crook heard some quietly spoken words before the housemaid came into his breakfast room with visitors.
‘Sir? Someone to see you.’
‘On a Saturday? Who could –’ Crook looked up from his paper and his face turned the colour of the news sheet. ‘Gentlemen? What can I do for you?’
Two police officers stood behind Mayor Bog and Julius.
‘Mr Lucien Crook, it seems you have been involved in some disreputable dealings that these gentlemen here would like to talk to you about,’ Mayor Bog said.
Crook stood up from the table and pulled his dressing-gown across his pyjamas. ‘Now, now. I’m sure there’s no need for this. Why don’t we all sit down and talk about this like gentlemen.’
Mayor Bog nodded towards the two police officers.
‘Hey!’ Crook struggled as the officers slapped handcuffs around his wrists and locked them behind his back.
‘Mr Lucien B. Crook, we are arresting you on charges of smuggling illegal goods, non-payment of taxes and the keeping of disreputable places of habitation for profit that contravene the town’s health regulations.’
‘You’ll never prove any of it.’ Crook struggled.
Julius smiled. ‘Actually, Mr Crook, I’ve been working very hard to find proof – and I was very surprised to find so much of it.’
‘There will be time to explain the rest of the charges to Mr Crook at the station,’ Mayor Bog added.
Crook twisted and thrashed about as he was led past his staff and into the back of a police van. ‘You won’t get away with this, Bog. Do you hear me?’
His voice f
aded as the van left the driveway and drove him to his new temporary home at Gribblesea police station.
‘There are times when you do get to help people, Julius.’ Mayor Bog breathed in the crisp morning air. ‘Breakfast?’
‘Yes, Mayor.’
‘And Julius?’
‘Yes, Mayor?’
‘Welcome back.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Bonhoffen’s Phantasmagoria
One month later …
‘Frank, I know how to do it. I was the one who created it, remember?’ Rolo rubbed his white-gloved hands together. He paced up and down in his undertaker’s suit in front of the Box of Incredulity.
Valentina kissed Rolo on the cheek. ‘It’s going to be a great performance.’
‘Best we’ve ever done.’ Rindolf, also dressed as an undertaker, stretched into a lunge. ‘Now start warming up and stop panicking.’
‘And with me here,’ Frank mimicked Rindolf’s stretch, ‘it’ll be nothing less than a roaring success.’
‘With you and your ego, it’s like having two Franks in the room, when one is always plenty.’ Rolo rolled his eyes.
‘You’d be lost without me.’ Frank kissed him on the cheek.
‘Get off.’ Rolo wiped his cheek with his sleeve. Rosie, Hamish, Roberto and Glenda giggled.
An excited hubbub rose from the audience beyond the curtains. Rufus and Aurelie snuck a look.
‘It’s packed.’ Rufus’s face was powder-white with large black rings under his eyes, and his lips were touched with a tinge of blue.
‘It’s like the whole town is here.’ Aurelie’s face was painted just as pale. She wore a short, black lace veil, long black gloves and a dress that flowed from her chin to her toes. She searched through the crowd. ‘There’s Miss Miel and most of the kids from our class.’ She gasped. ‘There’s Sniggard and Charles!’ They were sitting with their parents, excitedly poring over the program.
‘What are they doing here?’ Rufus frowned.
‘I guess they did finally find something better to amuse themselves.’ Aurelie smiled. ‘There’s your mum and dad.’
‘I can’t remember the last time they went out together.’ Rufus watched the two of them chatting and pointing at the stage and marquee decorations around them. ‘Dad bought a boat.’
‘To replace the Mary Rose?’
‘No, a real boat. He wants me to be his “first mate”, and he asked if you wanted to come sailing too.’
‘I’d like that. You look good by the way.’
‘Thanks,’ Rufus said. ‘You too.’
Rindolf peeked over their shoulders. ‘You remember your lines?’
‘Every one,’ Rufus answered.
A clanging bell rang throughout the marquee. The audience shuffled in their seats and whispered excitedly as the lights dimmed to black. A single flame came to life in the centre of the ring, illuminating the face and arms of a muscled, tattooed man.
With a slight turn of his head, he gave Aurelie a quick wink. She winked back. Enzo refocused and threw the baton aloft, the flame spinning behind it like the tail of a comet. It descended in a figure eight. Enzo snatched it from the air and made contact with a large upright hoop and ducked out of sight.
The hoop formed a ring of fire behind Master Dudley Dragoon. ‘Ladies and gentlemen.’ He stood in a frilly uniform, arms outstretched. ‘You are about to be delighted, amazed and bedazzled. Welcome to Bonhoffen’s Phantasmagoria.’
Master Dudley raised his hand in the air and flicked it to the ground. A loud crack sounded, followed by a swirling curtain of white smoke.
When it cleared, Master Dudley had disappeared. The audience ooohed and cheered.
Aurelie’s smile flooded her powder-white face. ‘It’s going to be a good night.’
* * *
By the seaside
Bonhoffen’s Seaside Pier is a figment of Deborah Abela’s imagination, but did you know that there are seaside amusement parks all around the world? Here are a few of the most famous ones.
Brighton, England
Families in England have been visiting the beach town of Brighton for their summer holidays for over two hundred years. It has a former royal palace, a pier with a funfair and games arcades, and a clock tower built for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1888. Over the years, many a wild storm has tried to wash away the pier, but it is still standing today and attracts millions of visitors to ride the carousel, sit on stripy deck chairs in the sun, and eat fish and chips.
Luna Park, Melbourne, Australia
You would remember if you’d been to Luna Park, because you would have walked in through a giant smiling mouth! Behind its legendary entryway is a carnival of fun. In Melbourne at St Kilda Beach, you can ride the world’s oldest continually operating wooden roller coaster! With the roller coaster being built a hundred years ago, in 1912, the carousel in 1923 and the ghost train in 1934, visiting Melbourne’s Luna Park is like travelling to another time. But there are plenty of new rides to tempt you, too – if you haven’t already eaten too much fairy floss.
Coney Island, USA
Although it’s not as busy these days, in its heyday Coney Island near New York was packed with amusement parks and rides. With a Ferris wheel, a wooden roller coaster and various haunted house rides, Coney Island had its share of traditional thrills, but it has also been home to an aquarium and now a baseball stadium. Perhaps what makes it different to the others, though, is that it has an annual hot dog eating contest!
Ships ahoy!
The Mary Rose really was one of King Henry VIII’s favourite ships. Rufus’s model ship must have taken him a long time to build, because the Mary Rose had a hold and four decks, plus numerous broadside guns that helped it to win battles at sea. As the flagship of the British battle fleet, she would have carried the Lord High Admiral of the navy, and many other battle leaders.
As Rufus said in his speech, the Mary Rose did sink in 1545. But in an exciting breakthrough for archaeologists and historians, the wreck of the Mary Rose was rediscovered in the late 1960s with the help of sonar technology. Under the guidance of a man called Alexander McKee, a volunteer team known as ‘Mad Mac’s Marauders’ began to excavate the site. Thanks to their efforts, and those of many others who helped over the following decades, the remains of the Mary Rose and its many artefacts from Tudor times can be seen at a museum and historic dockyard in Portsmouth, on the south coast of England.
Author’s inspiration
Deborah Abela’s family is very haunted. Only not in a terrible way. Ghosts appeared in her mother’s family at all sorts of times and places, never spookily but always like a relative popping in for a cup of tea. Her nana’s stories about ghosts never scared Deb, so she says, and she always knew she’d like to write a story about them one day, but wondered where she should set it. When she visited Brighton Pier in England, with its ice-creams, fairy floss, Ferris wheel and merry-go-rounds all overlooking the sea, she knew she’d found her answer. Ghost stories must be in her blood, because Deborah also writes a series called Ghost Club about a young brother and sister who solve mysteries and stop hauntings using the latest ghost-catching gadgets.
Image of Brighton Pier courtesy Deborah Abela and Todd Decker
Take the quiz
Were you paying attention to the story, or were you distracted by the fire-twirlers? See if you can answer all the questions …
1. Who is the school principal?
2. What is Enzo’s birthday present to Aurelie?
3. Which brother was in love with Valentina?
4. Who gives Mayor Bog the idea that Aurelie is a delinquent?
5. What is Aurelie hiding in so that she can scare the ghost train passengers?
6. Who are the two bullies?
7. Which word means ‘a series of images that make you feel as if you’re in a dream’?
8. How did Frank really die?
Quiz answers
1. Mrs Farnhumple
2. A star ruby
3. Rolo
4. Rufus – but he didn’t mean to
5. A coffin
6. Sniggard and Charles
7. Phantasmagoria
8. He was squashed by a runaway cart of pumpkins
* * *
ALSO BY DEBORAH ABELA
Max Remy Superspy 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine
Max Remy Superspy 2: Spyforce Revealed
Max Remy Superspy 3: The Nightmare Vortex
Max Remy Superspy 4: The Hollywood Mission
Max Remy Superspy 5: The Amazon Experiment
Max Remy Superspy 6: Blue’s Revenge
Max Remy Superspy 7: The Venice Job
Max Remy Superspy 8: Mission in Malta
Max Remy Superspy 9: The French Code
Max Remy Superspy 10: The Final Curtain
Jasper Zammit 1: The Game of Life
Jasper Zammit 2: The Striker
Jasper Zammit 3: The Finals
The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen
Grimsdon
Ghost Club 1: The New Kid
Ghost Club 2: The Haunted School
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Version 2.0
The Remarkable Secret Of Aurelie Bonhoffen
ePub ISBN 9781864715101
Copyright © Deborah Abela 2009
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
A Random House Australia book
Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd