The Mystery of Nida Valley

By Elaine Ouston

The Mystery of The Hidden Valley - A Magical Discovery is book one in a trilogy. The story has an educational element. While entertaing them with an exciting story, it also informs the reader of the megafauna that roamed Australia before and just after human population.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Morris Publishing Australia
• Release date: Dec 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9780987244406

Elaine Ouston

Elaine Ouston has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing. She has many published children’s books. Many of them have educational elements. Elaine runs writing workshops for adults and children and visits schools and writing groups promoting reading and writing. You can visit her website www.elainejouston.com for more details of her publications.

Book preview

THE MYSTERY

OF

NIDA VALLEY

E J Ouston

Book One:

A Magical

Discovery

Published by Morris Publishing Australia on Smashwords.

ABN: 67142307238

This book is available in print from our website.

Website: www.morrispublishingaustralia.com

December 2011.

© Copyright Elaine Ouston 2011

ISBN: 978-0-9872444-0-6

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Art Aaron Pocock

Books website: http://themysteryofnidavalley.wordpress.com

THE MYSTERY OF NIDA VALLEY SERIES

Book One: A Magical Discovery

Book Two: Captured

To be released in January 2012.

Dedication:

For my ever patient husband Lou, my wonderful family, and my writer friends, who have encouraged me from the start, and lifted me when I lost faith.

Chapter One

The Secret of Millson Manor

Meg Sealy stared at the note on the kitchen bench. Two words leapt out at her, AMANDA and MISSING. The rest of the message told Meg to phone her mother at her best friend’s home. Meg frantically dialled the number. Her mother answered the call. ‘I don’t want you to worry, but Amanda is missing. She went to Millson Manor this morning with the high school history excursion. When they were ready to leave she couldn’t be found.’

Panic made Meg’s voice catch in her throat and she squeaked, ‘Mum, how could she just … vanish?’

‘We’re not sure yet. Your dad is coming home from the police conference. He’ll take charge of the search. I’m going to stay with Amanda’s gran for a bit. Just stay there and do your homework. I’ll be home soon,’ she said, in an attempt to reassure.

Meg could hear the concern in her mother’s voice and she was anything but reassured. She stood dumbfounded, her mind racing. Her vivid imagination conjured up all sorts of reasons for Amanda’s disappearance, none of them good. The last one – an alien abduction – she dismissed with an annoyed shake of her head. She remembered her father’s response when she had come up with a similar explanation for the absence of her cat, Ginger. ‘You must learn to tame the scriptwriters of your wild imagination,’ he had said, an amused twinkle in his eye.

Meg knew there was no way she could concentrate on her homework. She scribbled, ‘Mum, gone to Millson Manor to see what’s happening’, on the notepad and charged out the door.

She raced her bike up the hill to the gates of the manor as though aliens chased her. Her long blonde hair streamed out behind her.

Distant thunder rolled like the sound of empty drums on a concrete floor, as the dark clouds of a late-afternoon storm covered the sky. Meg leaned her bike on the stone fence and strode through the gates, ignoring the goosebumps crawling up her arms. The crunch of her sneakers on the loose gravel driveway announced her presence and she peered around nervously. A gusty wind blew eerily through the tall pines that lined the drive; their shadows swaying and dancing like ghosts at a Halloween party.

The dark stone manor towered menacingly as she approached. It was the grandest building in Wattle Tree Grove, Meg’s home town. Built during English settlement in 1832, it is heritage listed now and no one lives there. Most days the manor is open to the public. According to rumour, it is haunted.

Meg could see police cars parked in the grounds, but no sign of the officers. The main doors of the manor were open. As she walked into the foyer, the receptionist, phone to her ear, waved at her to stop. Meg scanned the room, taking in the ornate furniture, marble floors, and the swaying, blood-red curtains in front of the open French doors.

Ahead of her was a wide wooden staircase with a ‘No Entry’ sign hanging on a chain stretched across it. As her eyes followed the rise of the stairs, she saw a faint ghostly figure in the shadows on the first landing. It looked like a boy, but she couldn’t be sure.

The thought it may be the resident ghost made her step back. Her legs turned to jelly and she leant against the wall for support when they threatened to melt.

‘There’s no tour today dear. You’ll have to come back another time,’ a woman’s voice called to her, ‘After that young girl went missing this morning, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to wander around on your own. The police are still searching the upper floors.’

Meg jumped as the receptionist spoke; she had been concentrating so hard on the form on the stairs she hadn’t heard her put down the phone. ‘Oh! Ah … okay,’ she stammered, backing towards the door, her eyes still glued to the ghostly shape on the stairs. She raced down the front steps, trying to block out a nightmare vision of that faint form turning into a nasty ghost and chasing her.

As her feet crunched on the gravel path, her fear diminished and she paused to consider her next move. A sudden movement to her right caught her eye. She spun around in time to see the ghostly figure she had noticed on the stairs disappear behind the rose bushes. Curiosity overrode her need to flee and she crept up to the bushes, peering around them.

The eerie form moved again, and to Meg’s amazement, it floated through the secured wooden gate, into the enclosed garden at the side of the manor. Meg’s skin prickled, intensifying her desire to flee - but she knew she couldn’t leave - she had to find Amanda. Her legs shook so hard they barely held her upright as she slowly followed.

Suddenly, the figure materialised in front of her. She jumped back. There stood a boy, about her age and build, dressed in old-fashioned clothes. His dark-red trousers came to his knees and were fastened over the top of his long white socks. He wore black shoes, scuffed at the toes, with shiny brass buckles. Over a white frilled shirt, he wore a red satin vest. His face was thin, pale, and drawn, and his dark eyes shadowed with sadness.

Meg shook so badly she had trouble speaking. ‘Who … who… are you?’

‘I’m Charles Millson the Second,’ he said bowing.

‘Are you … a … a ... a ghost?’

‘You could say that, I suppose. I prefer to think of myself as a free spirit,’ Charles replied, smiling. ‘What are you doing here on your own?’

‘I’m looking for my best friend. She disappeared here this morning and the police can’t find her.’

‘I know. You had better go, before it happens to you too.’

‘But I have to find Amanda.’

‘Suit yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. The answer can be found in this garden,’ he said before fading away.

‘Come back. What do you mean?’ Meg shouted. When he didn’t reply, Meg inspected the garden. Behind her was a high stone fence with a climbing rose, its flowers stark crimson against the dark green leaves. Faint perfume wafted her way. Seats, under arches overgrown with climbing jasmine, dotted the rolling green lawn.

At the other end of the enclosure, Meg could see another stone wall, built into the steep rocky cliff behind it. On it, a mural mirrored the landscape around her, making it appear much larger. She spotted another gate in the centre of the painting, but as she approached, she realised it was just part of the artwork.

She retraced her steps, searching everywhere for more doors or gates, or any sign Amanda had been there. Finding nothing, she decided to go back to the house to find Charles and ask him to explain.

When she entered the foyer, the receptionist had her back to her, so Meg hurried through, searching for any sign of Charles.

She crept into the portrait gallery. Meg immediately recognised the first portrait as Charles. The sign under the portrait read Charles Millson the Second, son of the original owners of Millson Manor. ‘He died just past his twelfth birthday. He and his father were killed in a horse and buggy accident,’ the note under it explained.

Meg gazed at the painting of Charles. His face was round and his eyes laughing and full of mischief. He looked much better then, she thought. The next portrait was of his father, Charles Millson the First, and the following one, his mother, Margaret.

Meg stared curiously at the portrait of Margaret Millson. Her mother had told her Margaret was a distant relation, but Meg wasn’t sure how. If she is related to me, so is Charles, she thought. As she peered into the woman’s dark eyes, she detected the same veil of sadness she had seen in her son’s eyes. ‘This must have been painted after she lost her son and husband,’ Meg said quietly.

‘It was,’ a voice behind her replied. Meg’s heart skipped a beat and she turned to find Charles. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching.

‘There’s no-one here. Besides, I choose the people I want to see me,’ Charles said.

Meg’s face lit up in awe. ‘That would be so cool.’

Charles grinned. ‘It is. I don’t know what you’re doing in here. I told you the answer to your friend’s disappearance can be found in the garden.’ He vanished again.

‘Why does he keep doing that?’ Meg muttered in frustration. She headed for the stairs to find him. She checked to see if anyone watched, then slipped under the chain and ran up, taking them two at a time. On the landing, she saw a portrait marked ‘Edwina Ponsenby, Mother of Margaret Millson’.

As she studied the portrait, a cold wind blew over her face. Then, the figure changed before her eyes. A ghostly form emerged from the portrait. Meg screamed and jumped back in terror. She flew down the stairs, barely touching them. Ducking under the chain, she fled for the door. Once outside she collapsed on the steps, her head in her hands, desperately trying to quieten her pounding heart.

Charles appeared before her. ‘Are you alright?’

Meg jumped to her feet like a startled cat, ready to run again, then relaxed as she saw who it was. ‘Oh Charles, was that you on the stairs?’ she asked shakily.

His head bowed in shame, Charles said, ‘Yeah, sorry Meg, I have fun scaring people all the time; it’s a reflex now.’

‘That wasn’t funny and if that is all you can do, I don’t need your help,’ Meg snapped.

Charles grimaced, ‘Yeah, sorry again. I’ll err … leave you alone.’

He disappeared and Meg immediately regretted not asking for more information. She decided to head back to the garden to have a second look. A loud clap of thunder and the smell of rain signalled the storm was close. As she reached for the gate, someone shouted her name. She turned to see her sixteen-year-old cousin, Jaiden, sprinting down the driveway. She sighed with relief as she watched him come. Tall and gangly, Jaiden had the same olive skin and curly black hair as Meg’s father. Even though he was a bit more than a year older than she was, he and Meg were best friends and she knew she could count on him to help.

‘What are you doing here?’ Meg asked.

Jaiden sank down on the grass to catch his breath. ‘I heard what happened to Amanda and came to help with the search.’

‘Thanks, it’s been a bit scary.’ Meg told him about her encounters with Charles.

Jaiden roared with laughter. ‘Ghost? Bull dust!’

‘I really saw him.’

‘Come on Meg, you’re seeing things.’

‘I’m telling you I saw him. He said I would find the answer to Amanda’s disappearance in this garden,’ Meg said. She fumed, but her concern for Amanda was greater than her need for him to believe her. She snapped, ‘You going to help, or what?’

‘Yeah, that’s what I came for!’

Meg headed towards the garden. ‘We’d better get started then. The storm’s coming.’

Despite his expression of disbelief, Meg noticed Jaiden’s eyes nervously scanning the area as he moved hesitantly into the garden.

Thunder pounded and lightning flashed, and the menacing clouds overhead dimmed the daylight as they searched. Meg shivered in the breeze whipping through the garden. Their search proved futile. Cold and despondent, Meg was ready to give up. Then she caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure disappearing behind a bush near the end wall. ‘Hey Jay, come here,’ she called as she hurried towards the bush.

‘What?’

‘I thought I saw someone down here.’ Meg pulled the branches aside. There was no one there.

‘Charles! Was that you?’ Meg called searching the area. A slight movement of the painted handle on the mural gate drew her eyes. She took a closer look.

‘Jay, I saw this handle move!’ she exclaimed, ‘that’s weird, the handle looks worn, like it’s been used, but it’s only part of the painting.’

Jaiden leaned around her to get a better look, his hand resting on the wall. As Meg reached out and touched the handle, it moved. The gate disappeared and they tumbled through the gap.

‘What the …!’ Jaiden exclaimed loudly.

Darkness wrapped around them like an icy blanket as the gap closed again. Hauling herself shakily to her feet, Meg dusted off the cold, damp earth. Hot panic flared in her, making her pulse quicken and her head spin. She peered into the gloom but she couldn’t see for more than a metre. Her voice thin with terror, Meg called, ‘Jaiden, are you okay?’

Out of the darkness, a hand clutched Meg’s foot. She yelped with fright.

‘Got ya!’ Jaiden laughed. ‘I’m okay. Help me up, will ya?’

‘You scared me to death, you dork,’ Meg snapped as she reefed him to his feet.

‘What happened? I can’t see a thing,’ Jaiden said.

‘Not sure. Somehow the wall opened and we fell in here.’

More confident now Jaiden was close, Meg checked their surroundings. Solid stone replaced the gap they had fallen through. She ran her hands over it, searching for a catch, but found nothing. She banged on it. Nothing moved. Beside her, she could feel a damp earth wall. ‘I think we’re in a tunnel of some sort. We’re trapped. What are we going to do?’

‘I hate the dark,’ Jaiden complained, his voice trembling.

‘You’re such a baby Jaiden,’ Meg said, trying to sound brave, but her skin crawled with fear.

‘Oh yeah, and you’re so brave. You nearly went through the roof when I touched your foot.’

‘So! You would too if someone grabbed you in the dark.’ Cautiously, Meg moved forward, her hand trailing the cold earth wall. ‘We have to get out of here. Let’s follow the tunnel and see where it leads.’

‘Are you sure we should?’ Jaiden asked as they inched forward.

As he spoke, a glowing, ghostly figure appeared before them. Meg jumped back in fright, then sighed; it was only Charles.

‘Booooo,’ he cried as he flew straight at Jaiden and disappeared.

‘What was that?’ Jaiden screamed.

‘That’s Charles, the ghost I told you about,’ Meg said. ‘Charles! That wasn’t funny,’ she shouted.

‘Ghost? So it’s true?’ Jaiden moved closer to Meg, glancing nervously behind to make sure Charles had gone.

‘I told you; but no, you always think you know everything.’

‘I don’t believe in ghosts … well I didn’t anyway.’ Jaiden glanced over his shoulder again.

As Meg rounded a bend she cried, ‘Look, there’s a faint glow coming from that curve ahead, maybe it’s the entrance.’ She hurried forward and peeped around. ‘What…?’ She clamped her hand over her mouth to stop further sound and retreated.

Jaiden grabbed her arm. ‘What?’

‘There’s a... a… a glow but no lamp and no-one holding it. Maybe it’s a ghost. Charles … is … that you?’

Butterflies doing a wild dance in their stomachs, they peered around the corner. It was still there.

‘What’ll we do?’ Meg hissed as she backed away.

‘It could be a min-min light. You know, legend says they help travellers at night if they’re lost.’

‘What if it’s another ghost?’ Meg whispered.

Jaiden stepped back, his face showing his fear. ‘Let’s go back and see if we can get into the garden.’

Meg shook her head. ‘We can’t! I can’t find a way to open the wall. Besides, Amanda could be just ahead of us.’

With a huge sigh, Jaiden nodded his agreement. Squaring their shoulders and taking a deep breath, they approached the corner.

Her body tingling with apprehension Meg said, ‘We’ll step out and see what happens.’

Jaiden took Meg’s shaking hand, but she wasn’t sure if it was to reassure her or himself. As they approached the light, it moved away from them. ‘It seems to want us to follow it,’ Meg whispered, ‘Start walking slowly and see what it does.’ Hesitantly, they crept forward. The light bobbed ahead of them, lighting their way.

Finally, Meg saw a patch of light. ‘Look, we’re near the end of the tunnel,’ she shouted and rushed towards it. But when she got there, she stopped, and sighed, ‘Oh, wow!’

The passage opened into a softly lit, spacious chamber with a very high ceiling. The glow they had followed moved to the centre of the chamber and hovered there. The soft light of dusk shone through a small crack in the ceiling. But the walls, which glowed with the luminescence of a thousand stars, provided most of the light.

Under the crack was a hollow in the stone floor, full of water. It was raining outside now, and water streamed through the crack. It splashed into the pool, creating a mist that hung cloud-like in the air above it. Ferns circled the pool and cascaded down the walls behind, creating a green waterfall.

‘What is this place?’ Jaiden asked softly behind her.

‘A cavern. There’s another passage off to the right,’ Meg said as she stepped into the chamber. ‘It’s warmer in here. The heat must be coming from the strange walls.’

Meg approached the pool, staring longingly at the cool, clear water, her dry mouth salivating in anticipation. ‘I wonder if it’s safe to drink.’

A scream pierced the chamber. ‘Meg, Jaiden! I can’t believe it’s you! What’re you doing here?’

A short, plump girl of Meg’s age flew towards her, her curly, dark blonde hair in total disarray and tears flowing from her brown eyes.

‘Amanda! Thank goodness. Are you okay?’ Meg cried. Relief flooded her body. She hugged her friend as tears ran down their faces.

‘What is this place?’ Jaiden asked.

‘I don’t know. I fell through the gate and ended up here. I tried to find my way out, but the tunnel over there is pitch-black and freezing. I was too scared of the dark to go that way, and too afraid to go back. I decided to wait to see if anyone found me.’ Tears of joy continued to flow down Amanda’s cheeks, washing away the anxiety of the last few hours.

‘Did that light appear to show you the way?’ Jaiden asked, pointing to the glow.

‘No, nothing, and it was so dark,’ she said, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

‘That’s strange; it appeared and led us through the tunnel.’

Tormented by her thirst Meg asked, ‘Do you think the water is safe to drink?’

Amanda shrugged. ‘I wasn’t sure at first either.’ She lifted some ferns that clung to the wall near the edge of the pool.