The Diamond Pathway

By Gillian Leggat

In an abandoned mining town in Namibia, Julia and her friends unexpectedly encounter the evil Livedia. When Tanya, Thabo and Kyle fall prey to her enticing temptations, they are taken to her headquarters on the Skeleton Coast.
But this is not the only problem. Where are Sean's parents? Has the evil witch taken them too?
Julia and Sean set out on a dangerous journey across Namibia. Their mission: to find six vital weapons without which they cannot hope to conquer their powerful enemy.
Will they defeat her a second time? Will they get to the weapons before she does? Will these weapons be enough? Julia and Sean are about to face their greatest challenge yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Nov 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781788480802

Gillian Leggat

Gillian Leggat is an educator and the prolific author of more than 80 books in a wide variety of genres, including adult fiction and non-fiction, young adult novels, educational material and children’s picture books. She has a particular interest in creating picture books for young children. The Biggest Blessing is her second picture book published by Austin Macauley (Star Bright was her first). Gillian lives in Cape Town where she tutors English and writes her books. She enjoys swimming, hiking, attending her local church and going to the theatre, ballet and opera. She has three adult children and two grandchildren.

Book preview

Battle

About the Author

Gillian Leggat is the author of more than sixty books. She has a particular interest in writing young adult novels and picture books for children. Because of her passion for books and writing, she loves to attend book festivals. She has taught English to senior students for more than thirty years, and has designed and presented numerous writing courses for adults and young people. She lives in Cape Town where she is continuing her writing and teaching career. She has three children and one granddaughter.

Dedication

For Jennie, Robert, Susan and Clara

Copyright Information ©

    Gillian Leggat (2018)

The right of Gillian Leggat to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781788235419 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781788235426(Hardback)

ISBN 9781788235433(E-Book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2018)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Chapter One

The Viper’s Head

The imposing wrought-iron gate was wide open. Hanging loosely from the barrel bolt was a very large padlock decorated with a viper’s head. It was almost as if someone had recently unlocked that padlock just for them. As they were approaching the games room, Julia had distinctly heard a click followed by the sound of retreating footsteps.

But then, her friends were always accusing her of having an over-active imagination. Obviously, they hadn’t noticed anything! As soon as they had entered this ten-pin bowling alley, Tanya and Kyle had made a beeline for the weighted balls while Thabo, looking very proud of himself, wasted no time in downing a skittle.

Come and try your luck mate, he said to Sean, laughingly pointing to one of the other balls. But Sean, looking seriously preoccupied, wasn’t biting. Julia felt very sorry for him. Everyone wanted to have some fun – except for him. Here they all were at Kolmanskop, a deserted mining town in the middle of the Sperrgebied – the forbidden area of the Namibian diamond belt – where his parents had last been seen.

When she had first heard the news about Sean’s tour-guide parent’s mysterious disappearance, her first thought had been not again! It had been only one year since her own parents had been ‘lost and found’, but now they were off on another one of their digs, this time to uncover the remains of pharaohs in the region of King Senebkay’s tomb near Abydos, which lay three-hundred miles south of Cairo.

She had begged them to take her with them. They had persuaded her, though, that a dusty archaeological site was hardly the place where she could really enjoy herself during her December holiday. Sean, her best friend, had come to the rescue and offered her a trip to Namibia with James, a younger colleague of his dads.

Never having been to this vast country on the west coast of Africa, she had jumped at the chance. She had prepared so well for this trip; collecting glossy brochures and watching DVDs. Before she had even set foot in the place, she had been awed by the grand Fish River canyon with its mighty cliffs, plunging ravines, rich red and golden colours and receding gorges.

And the red dunes, some of the tallest in the world, had just asked for a visit as the DVDs showed them stretching far away into the distance.

Now, they were in the ‘ghost’ diamond-mining town of Kolmanskop, where each new day, the desert encroached more and more upon the few houses that hadn’t already been swallowed up by the relentlessly shifting sands.

Sean’s parents hadn’t been officially declared missing, which accounted for some of the frivolity of their friends, but that didn’t stop him from worrying. Why couldn’t James tell him where they were right now? He knew all the routes they usually took like the back of his hand. In fact, Sean’s dad had been training him up for an equal partnership role in his company. So his light-hearted responses to Sean’s questions were not exactly appreciated.

Seared into her brain was the confrontation she had witnessed the previous night. They had been sitting around the campfire braaiing marshmallows when James had casually remarked: It’s going to be great owning my own tour company…

Sean had sharply interrupted him: Is that why you’re travelling so slowly?

What do you mean, dude? replied James, raising his hands defensively.

You want my dad to vanish into thin air so you can take over—

There was a shocked silence.

We shouldn’t even be here. Tell me…why’d you bring us to Kolmanskop…

You know why – to show you all the highlights of this awesome country.

Really? Sean’s tone was bitingly sarcastic.

Sure. Why else?

Wasn’t it so you could slow down the rescue efforts on my folks…?

Why do you think they even need rescuing?

No-one’s seen them – or even heard from them – for two whole weeks…not since they were here…

But they aren’t officially missing. Dude, this is a vast country. Your dad specifically told me he wanted to go to unexplored places; places, he emphasised, with no cell-phone reception. He wants to create a mystery adventure tour to add to his books…

Yes, but two weeks…

Is not nearly enough time for discovering all the unique destinations in this amazing land. If I were you, I’d just enjoy the ride, relax and—

Well I’m not you, Sean had shouted, and I can’t relax till I see my folks again.

He had stomped away from the cosy campfire circle, folded his arms and fumed.

Relations between James and Sean were strained this morning, but at least there hadn’t been any more confrontations – yet.

Tanya, who hadn’t managed to knock down any skittles, was passing the ball restlessly from one hand to the other, glaring at it accusingly, as if this very ball was solely responsible for her miserable performance.

Want to try mine, said Thabo, who had just succeeded in flooring yet another skittle.

This is a stupid game, was her ungracious reply. I don’t want to play any more.

Don’t be a spoilsport, accused Kyle as she dropped the ball with a thud on the panelled floor.

If you like, I’ll show you how it’s done, said James, who had been hovering around her – much to Sean’s obvious disgust.

But she had already moved off and was approaching that solid gate.

Hey guys, where do you think this leads? she said, pointing down what looked like a shimmering pathway on the other side of the gate.

To more sand, replied Kyle cynically.

Want to come in with me? She gave James one of her coy, little-girly looks. Julia noticed how challengingly he looked at Sean as he steered Tanya through the massively solid gate.

Almost immediately, she gave a shriek of delight.

This is awesome, she cried. Come and see everyone. You won’t believe your eyes.

She’s got something guys. Never seen anything like it, enthused James.

Although Julia was reluctant to follow the two of them – a strong warning was written all over that viper’s head on the giant padlock – her curiosity got the better of her. The minute she stepped through that gate, she was dazzled by the brightness of the wide, diamond-studded pathway. The walls of the long passage were lined with mirrors which reflected the glowing lights that sparkled from the diamonds.

Hey guys, said Sean who, alerted by Tanya’s shrieks, had forged ahead of her into the passage, these diamonds are for real.

He had dropped to his knees and was carefully examining the glittering stones. They must be worth a fortune. But why are these incredible diamonds just lying here? Anyone could just pocket them, walk off and become the world’s next trillionaire! He tried to pick one up, but it obstinately refused to be dislodged. The precious stones appeared to be firmly embedded in the ground.

Just then, an all-too-familiar voice wheedled its way into Julia’s consciousness.

There’s plenty more where that came from. Just follow the path and you’ll be thunder-struck by what you will see…riches beyond your wildest imaginings.

Eerily, Julia couldn’t see who was luring them onwards. But she would have recognised that syrupy-smooth voice anywhere: the voice of the arch-temptress, Livedia, the very witch whose trap on the last trip had so nearly led to the torture and death of her parents and all her friends.

Julia made up her mind she wasn’t going to let that happen. Not this time. Sean, she called urgently, did you hear that voice?

But Sean was much too busy examining the sparkling jewels just below his feet to look up. He gave no indication that he had even heard her, let alone listened to that other alluring voice. Desperately, she ran to him and leant forward, intending to shake him from his absorption, but as she touched his shoulder, that familiar electric-shock feeling had tingled all the way down her spine. Since their last expedition together over a year ago, she had seen very little of Sean, even during weekends. For as first-team rugby captain for his school, almost every Saturday was taken up with his obsession to shine on the pitch, to lead by example and to outrun all his opponents in order to score try after try for the glory of himself – and his team. She had rarely had a chance to talk to him all year, which is why she had jumped at the opportunity of going on a trip with him, this time for a whole three weeks. She had decided that if she could just keep Tanya away from him, by the end of this trip, he would be hers. And now there was James as well…whose interest in Tanya could work in her favour – or not, depending on whether Sean was the jealous type. She didn’t think so, which was going to make her own pursuit of Sean easier.

But she hadn’t bargained for diamonds! On the last trip, it had been bones – surely no competition for these glittering gems which glinted even in the semi-darkness.

Julia had allowed herself to become distracted by an obsession of her own. So intent had she been on the physical sensations that contact with Sean’s warm, pulsing body awakened in her that she hadn’t noticed her friends advancing down the pathway enthusiastically. They were a good twenty metres in front of her. Now was the time to act. She tried to make her voice sound authoritative: Kyle, Thabo, Tanya. Come back. And James. You’re walking into a trap!

They ignored her. Kyle had his arms wide open in a gesture of exaltation. Thabo was jumping like a springbuck to investigate some large, shiny object just above his head. And Tanya was giggling with delight as she stroked the diamonds that lay at her feet. But the worst thing about all of this was that voice – again: Come with me and I will show you all the riches of the world. An electric shock of a very different kind, this time distinctly unpleasant, coursed through Julia’s system. Directly in front of Sean stood Livedia herself, her bangled, bejewelled hand beckoning him. Sean was leaning towards her, clearly fascinated by her elaborately embroidered red robe, her twinkling, jingling adornments and the enticingly-bejewelled tone of her voice. Come…come…, she repeated, and I will show you all the riches of this world.

Chapter Two

Tempted

Sean took one step forward. Her heart beating like a steam engine’s, Julia lunged at him, trying to get a grip on his arm.

Sean, don’t go with that witch! she cried.

He turned and gave her one of his disarming smiles. Just looking, he said light-heartedly.

Sean – remember – she appealed.

Stones are a bit more interesting than bones I’ve decided, he remarked, keeping up his bright banter as he took yet another step forward.

Sean. No.

But it was too late. Livedia had already taken his hand and was leading him down the diamond pathway in the direction of their friends who were now clapping and chanting in unison, Go Sean go. Go Sean go. He gave them a generous wave. If Julia didn’t want to be left completely alone, she had no option but to follow him. That didn’t stop her frenzied yells though.

To keep up his interest and to distract him from Julia’s frantic calls, Livedia, in her most siren-like voice, was providing him with delectable factual morsels: You haven’t seen anything yet. This diamond pathway is a mere prelude to roomful after roomful of banquet halls groaning with treasures – not only diamonds (the purest blue-white diamonds in the world, I might add), but also rubies, amethysts, emeralds, pearls, golden throne rooms. And it’s all, all mine to control… She literally swelled with pride. Livedia puffed herself up, filling out her robes as she stretched back her shoulders and drew herself up to her full height. Julia felt quite sick. She asked herself why any of them would even want to be within a hundred metres of this woman! You’d think they