Mystery on Bear's Island: A Short Adventure Novel for Girls Aged 8-11

By Sheila M. Sharpless

An adventure story of danger, fear and intrigue. Ten year old Jose and Sarah are to perform in a ballet, in which the famous Kerayaska is the prima ballerina. They hear Kerayaska has been kidnapped, so with their friend Penny, they determine to find and rescue her. In Jose's dinghy, they sail to a small island, called Bear's Island. They see two strangers whose overheard conversation convinces them they are the kidnappers and the dancer is on the Island. There follows a terrifying search through caves and rock walled tunnels as a fierce storm rages outside.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jan 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469135779

Sheila M. Sharpless

I began my teaching career in a prep school, teaching English and Drama. After ten years, I changed course and taught in a College of Further Education. Five years later, I was appointed Head of Drama in a College of Education. My final post was in a girls’ public school as Head of English, responsible for Drama, Theatre Arts and Sociology. Recently, I have published a history book for schools, two full length plays for adults, and a book on the History of a Village. Currently, I am writing a Victorian/ Edwardian family saga.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Day Dream

As the curtain fell on that last tragic note, the audience rose to its feet and called Bravo! Bravo! for the greatest ballerina it had ever seen. As the rapturous applause continued, the slight figure moved to the front of the stage, to make deep curtseys and to receive the many bouquets that her admiring public handed her.

With a start, Josie came out of her day-dream to hear her teacher, old Mr.Wartle (usually referred to by the children as the Warthog), still droning on. Vaguely, she realised that he had called her name, so she turned, focusing her eyes on him.

Perhaps our clever Josie will answer the question.

Sorry, Mr. Whartle, I didn’t hear.

I’m not surprised. For one thing I know your attention was elsewhere and for another, I haven’t asked the question yet. I was just checking that you were still with us.

Then he smiled, that smile which seemed to wrinkle his long nose and turn his thin lips down instead of up.

Horrid man, thought Josie, as she attempted a smile, knowing it was expected of her. When would the bell go?

So now, let us have the answer. We’re all waiting. (He always included the whole class, expecting them to enjoy his sarcasm.) What is the length of the Mekong River? Can you give me one fact about its journey?

Josie swallowed. I, er, don’t know. I’m sorry.

Well then, I suggest that you will find out.

Yes Mr.Wartle. Oh, how she hated him.

You will find out during a detention I intend giving you. I will send a note to your parents, informing them that their daughter will be detained in school until 5.30 p.m. next Thursday.

Thursday, oh no.

Oh yes. Perhaps then, after completing a work sheet for me, you will know something of the Mekong River. Do you understand?

Yes, Mr. Wartle.

Josie bit her lip to stop the tears, her expressive face now crumpled in the effort. Thursday, the most important day of her life. The day that Miss Thorogood, the ballet teacher, was going to rehearse the steps for the audition the following Tuesday. The audition that might just start Josie on a career in ballet. Her tears were very near the surface, but she wouldn’t let the Warthog see. The audition was for a place in the Royal Ballet Company’s production of the Nutcracker Suite. Each year, the Company came on a visit to perform one of the famous ballets at the local, ancient Deering Castle, and each year, some of the pupils of Miss Thorogood’s Dance School, and some from other schools, were chosen to take part. It was a great honour and could lead to wonderful opportunities. Last year, Corinne, the best dancer in the class, had gone to the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park, as a result. Josie felt in her heart that she could be chosen; she knew she could dance well. Miss Thorogood often praised her, although some of the class teased her because she was small for her ten, almost eleven, years. She remembered a rather spiteful girl called Helen saying,

How could a titch like you be chosen? They want people, not midgets. And the others all laughed, although some, not unkindly.

Josie came back with a start to the present, as she realised that the Warthog was still droning on.

You hear me? Until 5.30. Your parents will be informed.

Yes Mr. Wart..er Wartle. Saying to herself, Why does he have to repeat everything?

Josie was aware of the looks of sympathy from her friends in the class. They all knew the feeling after a ticking off from a teacher, and although they couldn’t let the Warthog see, Josie knew that they thought he had been rather hard on her.

The bell. The scramble of grabbed coats and bags, the rush for the door, the Warthog vainly trying to make himself heard.

Quietly now. Go out quietly.

Then the class was blissfully free for the fifteen minute break.

In the corridor, Josie met her friend Sarah from 3 YT.

What’s up? You look shattered.

It’s the Warthog and his ghastly geography. He’s given me detention again. And in a passable imitation:

Your parents will be informed.

Is that all? You’ll survive.

Yes, but it’s for Thursday. Ballet class.

Bad luck, but you’ll go to the audition.

I know, but Miss Thorogood is going to go through the routines.

Won’t your mother write to the Warthog to explain?

She wouldn’t. She’d say it was up to me to behave. Oh why did it have to be Thursday?

Cheer up. Sarah was trying hard to help Josie. Think about our plans for the weekend. It’s going to be brilliant spending the weekend on Bear’s Island. I hope you’ve cleared it with your mum.

Yes, and she said it’s OK if the weather’s fine.

Josie did begin to feel more cheerful. Although ballet was her first love, close behind was another interest, sailing. Her father, an officer in the Merchant Navy, had taught her to sail when she was very young and when he felt she was ready, he bought her a second hand Mirror dinghy, a small sail boat, which she had named Lucky Lady. She loved to sail across the small inlet close to where she lived, making her way to a fairly large outcrop, known by the locals as Bear’s Island, so called because someone had likened its shape to a bear’s back. The water between disappeared at low tide to show a small causeway to the island. Visitors often walked across to sit on the small beach, or look into the caves hollowed out by the tides of past centuries, or wander round the strange castle-like building perched among the rocks. For the first time, Josie and her two friends were going to be allowed to take their little tent, some food and water and spend a weekend there, having been instructed to call their parents on their mobile phones every two hours. The girls had been looking forward to it for weeks.

Tom, Josie’s dad, had talked to her about Bear’s Island when she was younger and she wanted to know all about it. Apparently, the castle-like building on the island, was known as a folly and he told her of its history. It had been built many years ago in the style of a castle.

Why wasn’t it called a castle?

"Well, at first it wasn’t a complete building, just a shell, a sort of a ‘pretend’ building. That’s what is meant by a folly. Eventually, it became known as Lorrimer’s Folly because that was the name of the man who built it. Then later, he built a tower with several rooms, no longer there because years of storms, wind and rain have destroyed them.Then he went abroad and travelled, so the story goes, to India, to Africa and to Egypt. When he came home, he brought with him a beautiful Egyptian bride, dressed in the