'The Dangerous Caves of Botown': An Adventure/Fantasy Story for Children

By J C Pearson

'The Dangerous Caves of Botown' is a children's adventure/fantasy story set in the fictional seaside town of Botown where Zach and Lucy Watson are on holiday with their parents. The year is 1995 and the adventure is sparked off by the family's interest in Botown museum's 50th Anniversary celebrations. These include a tour of the local 'dangerous' caves where ancient artefacts were discovered during a dig in 1970. The Watson's join the tour and learn that Botown has a history of human settlement dating back to the earliest of times. Further exploration by the children and their friends, Ben and Cathy, leads them to an exciting adventure and the discovery of something amazing about the caves which helps to explain a mystery that has troubled inhabitants of Botown for centuries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: May 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481789745

J C Pearson

J C Pearson was a full-time mother of three before taking a Combined Honours degree in English Literature and Fine Art at Liverpool Hope University, England, in 1996. Since then, she has worked as an artist, taking part in art exhibitions at home and in Europe and, more recently, as an illustrator of children's fiction. Always interested in creative writing, and enjoying the subject as part of her degree course, she has now turned to writing for children. 'The Dangerous Caves of Botown' is the result of this. The Author lives in Warrington, England.

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© 2013 J C Pearson. All Rights Reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse 05/22/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8973-8 (sc)

978-1-4817-8974-5 (e)

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Contents

Chapter 1: ‘Welcome to Botown’ 

Chapter 2: The Expedition

Chapter 3: The Mermaid Tavern

Chapter 4: Those Two Men at the Bar

Chapter 5: Something Astounding

Chapter 6: Bryony

Chapter 7: Where are the Boys?

Chapter 8: ‘The Rescue’

Chapter 9: Who Killed the Ghost?

Chapter 10: Bryony’s Story

Chapter 11: Vance and Ricketts Again

Chapter 12: An Investigation

Chapter 13: A Way Out

Chapter 14: Party Time!

Chapter 15: Goodbye to Botown

Chapter 1: ‘Welcome to Botown’

The road was long and straight and the two Watson children in the back seat of the car were bored. They were near the end of a two-hundred and fifty mile car-journey; the traffic had been nose-to-tail on the motorway, and they felt as if they would never arrive.

Tree, hedge, field, co-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ws, sh-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-p, said Zach in a dull, flat voice as the scenery passed by.

Ga-a-ate, riv-er, hay, ho-o-o-orses… added Lucy, in the same monotone.

Tree, hedge, field, horses, tractor, hay, co-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ws, sh-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-p, Zach continued.

G-r-a-a-a-a-ss, sh-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-p, co-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ws, copied Lucy, extending the words for as long as she could.

T-r-e-e-e-e-e-s…

SIGNPOST! interrupted Mrs Watson.

WELCOME TO HISTORIC BOTOWN, chimed in the children, reading it together. Please Drive Carefully.

"Now where? asked Mr Watson, the driver. Left or right?"

Straight on towards the cliffs…

Arrrgh! yelled the children, both at once. Don’t forget to drive carefully, dad!

Take a left after this stone wall and then a right and we should be there, at the cottage, said their mother.

In another minute, they were piling out of the car outside a pretty, white-painted stone cottage. It was the end cottage of a set of three joined together, a small terraced row sheltered behind by some gently sloping, grassy hills and with the land in front forming the cliffs down to the sea. The roofs were tiled with grey slate and the front door of theirs had a trellis around it, covered with some windswept honeysuckle.

Mmmmm… what a lovely smell! exclaimed Mrs Watson as she brushed past it, arms loaded with luggage.

The cottages were built at an angle to the cliffs, not quite fully facing the sea. This gave them a good view of both the town and the coast. The Watson’s cottage was the one nearest to the sea, with the best views. The two adjoining houses were still being renovated, so were unoccupied. Work had stopped till later in the season, so there wouldn’t be a problem with noise while they were there. Most of the outside was finished but there was some scaffolding on the furthest cottage, around the front and one side, and there were plastic sheets at two of the windows.

The family was soon installed and, as it was late afternoon and there were a few hours of sunlight left, they went off to explore the town. It was warm and pleasant, the sound of the sea was restful in the background, and seagulls soared high overhead in the stark blue sky, squawking in their echoing, seagull way.

From the cottage there was a narrow path that led to the main street of Botown in one direction, and to the cliffs in the other direction. They took the route to the town; it wasn’t very far. What a picturesque street it was with its shiny, cobbled road and lots of colourful flowers trailing from hanging baskets and in tubs outside buildings! The whole scene was bathed in a golden glow from the late afternoon sunshine and the sunlight was reflected on every possible surface, creating a lively, sometimes dazzling, sparkle about the place. People, dressed in summer clothes and with hats and sunshades were milling around, crossing the roads in groups, browsing the shop-windows, sitting on benches, sunbathing or eating ice-creams. All were enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of a typical British seaside town in summer.

There were several shops, mostly catering to the tourist trade; a newsagent doubled as a Post Office with a stand of postcards outside, together with buckets, spades, beach-balls and all the paraphernalia usually associated with seaside life. There were two hotels, a pub called ‘The Mermaid Tavern’ and several B&Bs. One of the hotels had been built by Queen Victoria as Botown was a favourite place of hers and Prince Albert’s, and they had enjoyed annual visits there. It was a grand building and, needless to say, named ‘The Victoria Hotel’. On a hill at the top end of the street was a Norman, square towered church, surrounded by a stone wall enclosing a graveyard; the gravestones being a variety of shades from white, stark in the sunlight, to ancient lichen-covered grey-green. The Town Hall was built at the same time as ‘The Victoria’ and both buildings, with their shiny red brick walls, looked quite out-of-place next to the ancient church and white-painted cottages. A modern, rectangular-style Community Centre was next door and this seemed a bit ‘cheap and cheerful’ in comparison with the grand style of the Victorian architecture. Next to this, in another of the white cottages, was the Police Station with its traditional blue lamp hanging outside. Further on up the street was the museum, consisting of two small cottages joined together.

Look! A museum! cried Lucy, running ahead towards the building. Let’s go in and have a look…Oh, no, it’s closed! They were all very disappointed not to be able to go inside. However, there was a banner above the door which read: Botown Museum’s 50th Anniversary: 1945 to 1995. Zach spotted a notice. He read out:

Anniversary Events: EXPEDITION TO DANGEROUS CAVES: MEET SAT. 12TH August, 10:00 a.m. ALL WELCOME.

That’s tomorrow! he said, excitedly, and carried on reading:

Exhibition of ‘finds’ from the 1970 excavation. Video and talks by Professor Josh Turnstone, archaeologist from Torchester University: ‘Botown: the Roman Connection’ and ‘Saxon Artefacts from Botown’ (featuring artefacts found in Botown on loan from the university); special talk by Margaret Wilding, B.A., museum curator: ‘Myth, Legend and The Lost People of Botown.’; Art exhibition showing paintings and photographs from the local area, and a display of local crafts and history which is the permanent display in the museum. Call in for further details.

Well, we can’t call in now, but we could come back in the morning, said Mr Watson.

Oh, can we go to the caves, can we? added Lucy, excitedly.

Can we go to the caves, can we? mocked Zach, in a silly voice.

That didn’t sound like me! Lucy was annoyed. She hated Zach’s teasing. Her mum always said to ignore him, but she could never stop herself from reacting.

Well, I think that would be a very good start to the holiday, said Mr Watson, ignoring their little spat. "We’ll come back tomorrow and find out more about it; but let’s go to