Adventure In Wales

By Jay Green

A good, old-fashioned, straightforward children's adventure story, in a style that used to be called 'a good read'. The main protagonists are 3 children, who find an injured man on the hillside, and then things start to get complicated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781326964535

Jay Green

Jay Green is professor of history at Covenant College.

Book preview

Adventure In Wales

ADVENTURE IN WALES

Jay Green

Copyright

Copyright © 2017 by Jay Green

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2017

ISBN 978-1-326-96453-5

JRG Publishing UK

For Jamie:

Sorry it’s late, but we got there in the end,

with a little help from your Dad

Mum

Introduction

This story was originally written in 1993, shortly after my wife retired from the teaching profession for the first time. This gave her time to indulge in one of her passions, namely writing. A lifelong student of language and literature, and a prodigious reader with wide ranging interests, this was an itch she just had to scratch.

My son was 10 when she wrote this story, and had inherited his mother’s love of books, and she used him as a guinea pig to refine and tweak a story that he enjoyed. It is written in a ‘Blyton’ style brought up to date in the contemporary environment of the time, a simple and straightforward adventure story that used to be called ‘a good read’, as these kinds of stories had given her much enjoyment herself when she was a child.

She presented it to a number of publishers and literary agents without success, as at that time the publishing industry was going through a difficult transition period attempting to accommodate the new technologies.

With the fruition of many of the infant publishing technologies, I am in the happy position today of being able to finally create the book that she so desperately wished to publish herself. I have re-edited the original writing, tidied up any obvious errors and incorporated a few modifications that she had suggested in her own notes. Any remaining errors are entirely mine.

Ray Green

Marske-by-the-Sea

Cleveland

March 2017

CHAPTER 1

   They arrived quite late and very tired at their holiday cottage.  Although mother was a good, safe driver, she was also adventurous.  When their father was driving he worked out the exact route in advance, always arriving as and when he had planned.  With mother they had followed interesting signposts and stopped to get out and look round a castle, a church, two craft shops, and a farming museum.  By the time they arrived at Llanmoel village, it was ten o'clock and very dark.

   Jane had to be shaken awake, and even Paul was struggling to keep his eyes open.  Mother was lively enough for all of them, and by eleven o'clock the beds were made up, the luggage brought in from the car and both children were fast asleep. 

   At seven o'clock in the morning it was mother who had a struggle to wake up.  Paul kindly made her a cup of tea while Jane searched the boxes of supplies they had brought with them.  The rattle of milk being delivered had woken Jane: not only milk, but a box of eggs, a packet of bacon and some bread had been left on the step.  By eight o'clock the children had eaten cereal and toast.  Mother had managed to get into her dressing gown and have another cup of tea.

  It's going to be a lovely day, Mum, said Paul. Just the day for a long walk and a picnic.

It's the first day of your stay - why rush out? Mother yawned.  Take it easy, potter about.  Both children looked at her and then at each other.

  If the weather changes we won't be able to get out later - it is April, Mum.

  I suppose so, dear... but wouldn't you like to look round the village first, today?

  We have looked round the village, Mum, said Jane impatiently.  It didn't take too long.

  There's a big hill out behind the cottages, said Paul. 

We'd like to climb up there.

  And take a picnic lunch. added Jane.

  Please, Mum... put in Paul. 

  You SAID we could go for walks on our own, said Jane firmly.  We bought shoes and haversacks, specially

And raincoats too, agreed mother.  But shouldn't you find your way around for a few days first?

  This is finding our way around, pointed out Paul.  It isn't too far, Mum, he pointed out, But it's hilly, which is why we want to take lunch.

   Fine, mother had woken up fully.  We'll sort you out a picnic.  I want you back no later than three o'clock, mind.

   Paul grinned, And if we're late?

  The full job.... Police...Mountain Rescue, and you stay close to me for the rest of the fortnight's holiday.

Don't worry, Paul put his arm round her and gave her a hug.  Have a nice day, Mum.

   Half a mile outside the village, the narrow road forked.  The children looked both ways.  Both went up hill. 

  Do you want to choose? Paul asked his sister. Jane made a face.  I don't want the blame, she said.

  No blame, said Paul.  We're exploring - there isn't a right or a wrong way. 

Then... Jane closed her eyes, spun round with her arm outstretched and came to a dramatic stop. There... she declaimed, opening her eyes.  They both burst into laughter.  Jane was pointing exactly half way between the two roads. You have to choose, she said at last to Paul.  You're the oldest.  

   Paul straightened up and looked very solemn.  He walked two paces up one road, pretended to sniff the air, and then walked two paces up the other fork. 

Then he took his pocket compass out of his haversack and studied it.

Go west! he declaimed solemnly, and strode off upwards, Jane behind.

  All that laughing has made me thirsty, said Jane plaintively.  Paul stopped and looked at her. Well, you'll have to wait, he said.  "We didn't bring lots to drink because it was so heavy to carry.  Jane made a face and lolled her tongue out, panting.  Paul strode onwards, and she followed, still panting.  After a few minutes, she gave up.  As they rounded a bend, the narrow grass verges became grassy banks, and dotting the banks were the most beautiful primroses.  Both children stopped and gazed.

  Heavenly! Like a picture book! breathed Jane. 

  Fan-tastic! said Paul. Both children looked around. 

There was a hedge at the top of the banks, and it was covered with a little sprinkling of bright green leaves, just coming out of their buds.  Further up they could see white blossom overhanging the hedge.  By now the sun had some warmth in it, and the little road was sheltered from any wind.  Jane forgot about feeling thirsty, and the two went up and up the road, so quietly that they nearly trod on two young rabbits.  The two children jumped almost as much as the rabbits, who disappeared under the hedge with a flick of white tails. 

   About a mile and a half from the village, the road bent round and flattened out, following the curve of the hill.  The banks changed back into narrow verges and the children could see over the hedges into fields full of sheep - some with lambs.  Soon they cam to a group of farm buildings - first a house with a little flower garden in front if it, then the barns and outbuildings.  Bouncing a ball against the brick wall of a large barn, they saw a boy. 

  Hello! called Jane.  The boy missed his catch and turned, surprised and not very pleased.  Mark was not very keen on girls.  He was an only child, all his cousins were boys, and his school friends collected together each playtime to play football and keep the girls away.  Mostly the girls did keep away.  Mark chased his ball, picked it up and stood looking at them uncertainly.

  Do you live here? asked Paul in a friendly way.

Not really, Mark moved a step nearer.  Just staying - with my auntie.

  We're on holiday too, in the village, put in Jane. 

  It's not really a holiday... Mark thought about it. Well, it's a sort of holiday, I suppose.  He looked at their haversacks.  Are you going far?

  Just for a picnic, said Jane.  To the top of the hill.

  If we find the top of the hill, said Paul.

A picnic!  That's great!

A picnic is it? All three children turned.  Mark's aunt had come round the corner of another building, and was looking hard at the two strangers.

  Now, you will be the two children who are staying in the Morris’s holiday cottage in the village, I think?

  That's right. Paul stepped towards her.  I'm Paul Perrion and this is my sister Jane. 

  And I'm Barbara Evans - this is my nephew Mark from Sheffield.  She shook both their hands. It's nice to meet you.  My two sons are away camping this week with the scouts and it's lonely for Mark here - and we're so busy with the lambing. Now then, do you want to come and see the next lamb born?  I was just coming for Mark to see.

   The children hesitated, looked at each other