Riddle Gully Secrets by Jen Banyard Read Free Book Online Page B

pulled out a lipstick in a tiny shiny case.
    Balancing on a boulder at the foot of the outcrop was a tall beefy fellow with wavy oiled dark hair and all the manly assurance that a liberal splashing of Wild Man cologne could bestow. He, too, was khaki-clad,with the addition of a pocket-studded hiking vest. A large gold watch on his hairy wrist flashed in the sun. He studied a map – photocopied pages pieced together with sticky-tape. He looked up, a finger holding his place.
    â€˜I never thought we’d be doing this much digging, Pooky. How about I take over again?’
    Pooky studied the strip of mirror in the lipstick case and repaired the coat of Cherry Charm on her lips. She plucked her shirt away from her skin. ‘It’s this ugly ranger’s uniform, Curly.’ She flopped onto the boulder next to him. ‘It’s putting me out of sorts. I mean, I don’t mind working up a sweat every now and again, but wearing this ugly trash?’
    Curly nodded sympathetically. ‘It’s tough, Pooky-doll. But we’ve gotta play along with Mayor Bullock for a bit – just till we get our hands on this loot of his. If he says to tog ourselves up as park rangers, it’s best we do – even if there’s not a soul for miles around.’
    â€˜Except that loony near the bridge earlier on,’ said Pooky.
    â€˜That old hippy?’ said Curly. ‘He doesn’t count.’
    â€˜I still wish you’d given him a shake-up,’ muttered Pooky. ‘He was asking for it – lurking in the bush and catching me taking a tinkle.’ She rested her head onCurly’s shoulder, twirling the hairs curling from beneath his collar.
    â€˜Sorry, Pooky-doll, but I wasn’t gunna risk drawing any attention. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime break, this job! I give a bloke my card at the casino and next thing he calls us up to go get his family treasure. It’s like taking candy from a baby!’
    â€˜Too unfit and lazy to get it himself,’ said Pooky.
    â€˜Too important to get dirty,’ said Curly.
    Pooky laughed. ‘Course, we don’t know for certain it’s treasure yet. It could just be family history stuff, like he claims.’
    â€˜This old map? All the cloak and dagger stuff? The dough he’s paying us? It’s treasure alright.’
    â€˜We’ll send him a postcard from Paris!’ said Pooky. ‘With our bill!’ added Curly. They tipped backwards on the rock, laughing.
    Curly took Pooky’s hand and kissed a blister on her palm. ‘I’ll dig from here on, Pooky. You’re the brains – you study the map. Work out the best route outta here once we’ve loaded up the booty!’
    As Curly set to work with the spade, Pooky donned a finely woven hat. She smoothed the map out on the rock and frowned over it, her lips moving minutely as she read its lettering. The next time Curly stood andstretched, she waved him over.
    â€˜Say, Curly?’
    â€˜Uh-huh?’
    Pooky tapped the map with a long, lacquered nail. ‘How old is this thing?’
    â€˜The original’s real old. Nineteenth-century, the mayor said. Some lady who runs a second-hand shop donated it to this new tourist place he’s building.’
    â€˜Hmmm. See all these long wavy lines with the squiggly little bushes either side?’
    Curly leaned in to see. ‘Uh-huh.’
    â€˜Do you think that could be the gorge we crossed over on our way up here? Before they built that old railway bridge?’
    â€˜I’d say so, Pooky-doll. Why?’
    â€˜I’m a bit worried.’ She traced with her fingernail. ‘This here’s the gorge and this here’s the town and this big cross here’s the treasure, right?’
    â€˜Yep. At the top of the hill here under Mustang Rock.’
    â€˜So why is the gorge back that way then?’ Pooky pointed over her shoulder down to the valley from which, hours earlier,