Forest Shadows

by David Laing

  ‘Get lost,’ Hector barked. ‘We’re busy.’ Flustered, she moved on to the next table.

  ‘Hector!’ Evelyn scolded, as she glanced around, furtively gauging the reaction of other diners. ‘Stop drawing attention to us.’ Satisfied that they were safe from the eyes and ears of the other guests, she turned to Quigley. ‘Now, what have you got?’

  ‘If you remember, my words were that I would perhaps show the map to you in Strahan. Not that I would.’

  Hector picked up one of the table knives. He twirled it in his fingers. ‘Stop foolin’ around, Quigley, and just get on with it.’

  Whether it was the sight of Hector playing menacingly with the knife or not, Quigley made a decision. He placed the sheet of paper on the table; taking his time with showman-like flair, he flattened it out with the back of his hand. ‘I hadn’t noticed it when I first saw the map, but I’ve since discovered something that I think you’ll find most interesting.’

  ‘Explain,’ Evelyn said in a demanding voice.

  ‘On the front of this piece of paper is the riddle, of which you are well aware. Now, I agree with you that on its own, the riddle, or brainteaser if you like, doesn’t make much sense. It’s quite puzzling in fact.’ He paused, then turned the paper over. ‘On the back of the sheet, all but invisible, I discovered a faint indentation. As you would expect my discovery was quite unexpected, but there it was – an indentation of a map. Someone, probably the now-deceased Chinese person, had drawn the map on another piece of paper with this sheet underneath. He must have had a heavy hand, because he left a depression – the indentation that I have now traced over and brought to life.’

  Still in their seats, Evelyn and Hector leaned forward to verify what he’d been telling them. Hector tried to pick the map up. Quigley snatched it from the table out of Hector’s reach. ‘No! I don’t think you can be trusted with it just yet. You’ll just have to trust me and believe that the map does indeed reveal a route through the forest – to a treasure.’

  Hector pushed back his chair and got to his feet. He leaned forward, both hands on the table, his face inches from Quigley’s. He was smiling but it was an ugly smile. ‘Whatcha think you’re doin’, Quigley? I hardly saw your lousy map. What’re you playing at?’

  ‘Do sit down, Hector; people are staring,’ Evelyn said, although her eyes were on Quigley. ‘I must say, despite my hotheaded brother’s outburst, I do agree with him; so, if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate a decent look at it.’

  Looking smug, Quigley folded the paper and placed it in the inside pocket of his jacket. ‘It stays with me. I’ll be the one to follow it. I’ll be showing the way. Now, what say we try to attract the attention of that waitress? That is if your brother hasn’t scared her off.’

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  * * *

  Soon after midday and on the advice of Mr Quigley, who knew the town well, the three headed for the small, relatively obscure jetty on the eastern shores of the town to launch the boat. The main wharf, which was in the town’s centre, was too public Quigley told them and thankfully, because the rain had eased to a misty drizzle now, they were set to go.

  Quigley, sitting in the passenger’s seat and dressed in his new clothes purchased in Rosebery – hiking boots, corduroy trousers, flannel shirt and denim jacket – took out the map and pointed to the route they’d take. ‘We follow this through the forest as far as a river. We then turn off on a path that follows the river to the treasure. We return to the motel later tonight. Richer! It’ll be simple.’ They didn’t know what lay ahead. They hadn’t allowed for Quigley’s so-called unforeseen incidents.

  They launched the fifteen-footer, after which they motored across the bay, leaving Macquarie Harbour and Strahan behind. They stuck to the coast, passing Regatta Point Railway on their left and further on, Teepookana Landing. After searching up and down the coast for a while, they spotted their landing area, a rickety-looking jetty.

  After securing the boat to one of the posts, they collected their gear; then they set off along the narrow path into the forest. ‘The rain’s stopped at last,’ Evelyn said, shaking water drops from her newly acquired hiking boots, also bought from the Rosebery second-hand shop.

  ‘Not before time,’ Hector said, glancing at his watch. It was 1.15pm.

  After a short walk through the forest, its trees still dripping from the rain, they came to the first landmark, the ranger’s shack.

  ‘Is that supposed to be there?’ Hector asked.

  ‘Quiet!’ Evelyn hissed. ‘There’s a girl. And there’s a dog with her.’

  ‘What? What’s she doing?’ Quigley asked, his voice suddenly developing a squeak.

  ‘Collecting water from a river.’

  ‘Where?’ Hector said, pushing himself forward.

  ‘Keep your head down!’ Quigley said, shoving him behind a large tree. A fallen limb caught Hector’s leg, causing him to stumble and fall.

  ‘Whatcha think you’re doin’, Quigley? Keep your hands to yourself.’

  The girl looked up. They were only a stone’s throw away and it looked as if she’d heard them.

  ‘Keep out of sight and stay absolutely quiet,’ Evelyn shushed. ‘We can’t afford to be seen.’ They all froze, watching, as the girl, clutching a water bucket, looked their way.

  ‘Keep down!’ Evelyn urged. ‘She may have heard us.’

  After a few seconds, but what seemed like minutes, Quigley was the first to speak. ‘It’s okay,’ he mouthed. ‘She’s gone back to filling her bucket. She couldn’t have seen us.’ He turned towards Evelyn. ‘I didn’t expect the shack to be occupied, especially at this time of the year. The holiday season is all but over and it’s coming on winter. There shouldn’t have been anyone in it. Most peculiar.’

  Evelyn wasn’t listening; she was staring at the girl who was retracing her steps to the shack. ‘It’s her,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve seen her before. ‘It’s the Aboriginal girl who spoiled our plans last year. The girl with the German Shepherd dog.’

  ‘Wh-what?’ Quigley said his voice shaking slightly. ‘A-are you sure?’

  Evelyn sneaked a look around the fern. ‘Yes, I’m positive. I’ll never forget her or that dog of hers. They were the main cause of our misfortune a year ago.’

  ‘Can you see anyone else?’ Quigley asked, his voice rising a notch. ‘Has she got any of her friends with her?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ Hector said, shoving himself forward and brandishing the .22 rifle that he’d brought. ‘I’ve got this.’

  ‘Forget that,’ Evelyn snapped. ‘What we have to do now is sit tight and watch. We need to find out who else is in there and what they’re up to, so settle down and keep your eyes peeled.’

  She looked across at Quigley, who was looking particularly worried. ‘What’s the matter? Is there something else wrong that we don’t know about? Something you’re not telling us?’

  He didn’t say anything. He was watching the girl as she crossed to the shack, a bucket of water dangling by her side and the dog at her heels, watching as the door opened to reveal someone else, the last person he expected to see.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  * * *

  'Well, madam’s back,’ Snook said with a huge grin on his face when Jars came through the door. ‘See any hoozmagoogs out there?’

  ‘No,’ she said, staring into space as though deep in thought.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Snook asked, his grin disappearing. ‘Why so serious?’

  ‘Oh, nothing much. It’s just that I heard something by the river when I was getting the water.’

  ‘Yeah? What was it? Did you see anythin’?’

  ‘No, I didn’t see anything. I only heard a noise, a rustling sound coming from the scrub. It was probably an animal, a wallaby most likely.’

  ‘Yeah? Probably was an animal. Maybe it was one of them Tassie devils still recoverin’ from Quigley’s snorin’.’

  ‘There’s one other thing though.’

 
; ‘What’s that?’

  ‘All the time I was there, it was watching me. I could feel eyes boring into my back. It felt kind of creepy.’

  ‘That’s it!’ Quenton, said butting in. ‘I’m not going anywhere today, not when there’s something out there just waiting to get us. You can all go and visit that Chinese man without me. I’m staying put!’

  ‘Nah, you can’t do that. You know the rules,’ Snook said. ‘We gotta stick together.’

  Reg nodded. ‘That’s right. You’ll be coming with us, Quenton. I don’t want to leave you here on your own, so go and get ready and don’t take too long. As it’s stopped raining now, we will be off in a tick.’

  Jars didn’t know what to think. She was looking forward to seeing Wu Han again but she couldn’t escape the fact that out there, somewhere in the forest, were some invisible things that were hard to explain or understand, things that were hiding from them … like hidden secrets.

  Mr Wu had tried to explain what was happening but still, she didn’t really understand. She’d talk to him again this afternoon. She’d find out once and for all what was going on. There were questions to be asked.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  * * *

  Quigley froze and his mouth fell open. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. But it was true. Quenton and that Kelly boy! They were here? Standing before his very eyes in the doorway waiting for that girl.

  Why? Why are they here? Thoughts careened and rattled in his head. And who brought them? He couldn’t even begin to find answers. He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. One thing was certain. He and the others would have to stay hidden. Discovery would be disastrous. That would mean awkward questions leading to … what? Violation of parole for a start. Then jail. That couldn’t happen. Stay focused, he told himself. There’s no harm done … not yet.

  What they had to do now was find a way past the shack without being seen. He looked around. They were surrounded by forest, thick and impenetrable. The path shown on his map was the only way out.

  But they couldn’t take that.

  They’d be seen.

  As though reading his mind, Evelyn said, ‘We’ll have to stay put, try to establish who else is with those kids; find out what they’re up to.’

  Quigley and Hector nodded. That was their only option.

  Hunched and hidden by the trees and undergrowth, they settled down to wait. But it was only a short wait. ‘It’s them!’ Hector couldn’t help crying out. ‘They’re coming out. There’s four of them, the three kids and a man. The dog’s with them, too.’ He scrambled to his feet. ‘They’re heading along our track. They’re going where we wanted to go.’

  ‘It’s the Kelly kids and that ranger again,’ Quigley muttered as though resigned to the situation. ‘My son’s there as well.’ His mumbled words resonated in his head, like echoes from a deep well. ‘The Kellys are trouble makers,’ he shared with the others. ‘We’ll have to be careful.’

  ‘Whatever,’ Hector said, lifting his rifle and looking down the sights at the ranger and kids. ‘I’ll be careful all right, but if they decide to mess with us …’ His last words hung in the air unsaid as he pointed along the track. ‘It looks like we’d better follow ’em though. They’re nearly out of sight.’

  ‘Yes,’ Evelyn agreed, getting to her feet. ‘We’d better see what they’re up to; then we could …’ She stopped, noticing for the first time the vacant, zombie look in Quigley’s eyes.

  ‘What’s up with you?’ she asked.

  ‘I-I’m okay now,’ he told her. ‘Seeing Quenton here so far from his home was a little disturbing, a shock. It was most unexpected.’

  ‘Just something else to deal with,’ she said in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘Just another one of your unforeseen incidents, Mr Quigley.’ Then, deciding the time was right, added, ‘Grab whatever gear you’ve got then move out. We’ll follow them. See what they’re up to.’

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  * * *

  Reg and the others made their way along the narrow path, skirting puddles, rocks and fallen branches. Drooping, moisture-laden ferns brushed against their sides, and from above, droplets from last night’s rain splashed on their heads. There was a damp smell of moisture in the air and to their right the river gurgled and rippled as it made its way to the harbour shore. ‘We need to find the other track, the one that runs alongside the river,’ Jars said. ‘It’ll take us to the waterfall. That’s what Mr Wu told me.’

  ‘I wonder where the birds have gone,’ Snook commented to no one in particular. ‘I haven’t seen any. I haven’t even heard one.’

  ‘Beats me,’ Reg shot back. ‘It’s as though something’s scared them.’

  ‘Y-You don’t think it’s th-them frightening the birds do you?’ Quenton called out from the rear. ‘Th-the aliens?’

  Reg stopped and waited for Quenton to catch up. ‘Don’t worry, Quenton, it could be any number of things that have made them go quiet. There might be a hawk hanging around that’s scared them, or the change in the weather might have spooked them. Who knows? It could be anything.’ He punched Quenton playfully on the arm. ‘So don’t you go worrying about any aliens.’

  For some reason he couldn’t understand, Reg knew that there was a certain falseness to his words. Something about the forest was different. He could feel it, not just its silence, but something else, something he couldn’t quite define. He shook his head. Stop imagining things, he told himself as he stared into the dark shadows of the trees.

  Shadow, as though sensing Reg’s unease, sidled up to him and rubbed against his legs. ‘It’s okay, boy.’ He bent and ruffled the dog’s ears. ‘There’s nothing to worry about.’ He wondered if Shadow believed him.

  ‘It’s not much further,’ Jars called over her shoulder.

  ‘We’re nearly to the river and the other path.’

  ‘It had better not be,’ Quenton grumbled, ‘I’ve had enough.’

  ‘Stop your whinin’,’ Snook shot back. ‘The walk’ll do you good.’

  ‘It’s just not fair,’ Quenton continued to complain, ignoring Snook. ‘I told you all I didn’t want to come. It’s stupid being out here. There’s no telling what might happen to us. I want to go back … where it’s safe.’

  Reg called a halt. He faced Quenton, who was looking more than a little anxious. ‘Look, like I explained earlier, there’s nothing to worry about, so buck up; we’ll be there soon enough.’

  Jars couldn’t help feeling sorry for Quenton. There was genuine fear in his face. His eyes, wide and manic, looked ready to pop. I shouldn’t have mentioned the aliens back at the shack, she told herself. I should have known how he’d react. But I had to. The others needed to know. ‘C’mon, everyone,’ she called out, not knowing what else to do. ‘I think the river’s just ahead. I think I can hear it.’

  Jars was right. They soon came to the fast-flowing stream. Not wasting any time, she scouted around. Snook joined her. ‘See anything?’

  ‘Yes, but it’s faint.’ She studied the ground. ‘It hasn’t been used much by the look of it.’ She pointed towards the tangle of ferns, bushes and grasses that lay further to their left. ‘But it’ll be better than battling through that.’

  ‘It looks passable,’ Reg agreed, catching up.‘So how far now?’

  She explained. ‘Not far. All we have to do is follow the river until we come to a waterfall where there’s a crossing. From there it’s only a short walk to Mr Wu’s place.’ Jars stopped herself. She was looking across at Reg, who was staring wide-eyed into the forest.

  ‘What’s up, Reg?’

  ‘Er, it’s okay. I thought I saw something, but it was only shadows among the trees playing tricks on my mind.’

  A shudder, like a small volt of electricity jolted Jars’ insides. ‘Let’s move on,’ she said, her voice a little unsteady. ‘Let’s go see Mr Wu.’

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  * * *

  'What’re they doing now?’ asked Hector, who was k
neeling on the ground behind the others. He stood up to get a better view, at the same time slapping his jeans free of dirt and dead leaves.

  ‘Hector! Keep down!’ Evelyn snapped. ‘They’ll see you!’

  ‘They’ve stopped at the side of the river,’ Quigley said. He took out the map. ‘They’re looking for something. Hang on.’ He waved the map in her direction. ‘They’re looking for the sidetrack, the same one that’s on this!’

  ‘I wonder …’ Evelyn said, biting her lips as though deep in thought.

  ‘Wonder what?’ It was Hector, who was still wiping dirt and leaves from a damp spot on his jeans.

  ‘Is it possible that those brats and the ranger are here for the same reason as us?’

  Quigley stuck his chin out. ‘Humph. Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not possible.’ He held the map out at arm’s length, brandishing it in front of their faces. ‘I have this. They don’t.’

  ‘Has that ever been out of your sight?’ Evelyn asked, pointing to the waving sheet of paper.

  ‘Of course it has, when I was imprisoned, but it was well-hidden. You saw it. I kept it between the pages of a book in my office. No one else goes there. Not ever.’

  Evelyn grimaced, saying, ‘I hope you’re right, Quigley. I do hope you’re right.’

  ‘They’re moving off now,’ was all Quigley could think to say. ‘What do you want to do?’

  ‘Keep following them,’ Evelyn replied. ‘What else?’

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  * * *

  'Look’ Jars said, running ahead. ‘It’s the waterfall and pool where Shadow and I crossed before. All we have to do now is walk across on some stepping stones.’ She pointed towards the top of the falls. ‘You can’t see them from here but the stones are just under the surface.’