The Adventurers and the Sea of Discovery: The Adventurers, #6

By Jemma Hatt

A secret hidden deep under the sea is about to surface…

 

Arriving in Greece on the trail of a missing friend, The Adventurers land themselves in a mystery filled with suspense. An ancient map has been discovered, but where does it lead? Who are the menacing figures pursuing them at every turn?

 

Join Lara, Rufus and the gang as they set sail for an island-hopping escapade!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jemma Hatt
• Release date: May 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201022945

Jemma Hatt

Jemma Hatt is an award-winning children's author whose books include 'The Adventurers Series'. Growing up near Sevenoaks in South East England, Jemma developed with a passion for reading and writing short stories, which ultimately led to a degree in English Literature from the University of Exeter. The Adventurers Series was inspired by many family holidays to Devon and Cornwall as well as the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. After having lived and worked in London, New York and Delaware, Jemma is living in Kent, UK and working on the next Adventurers stories as well as other writing projects.

Book preview

1

BACK TOGETHER

Maye was finding it tricky to settle in at her new school in London. There were lots of differences to get used to. She now attended classes from Monday to Friday, instead of Sunday to Thursday back in Cairo. Whilst she had always been a confident English speaker, largely thanks to her older brother Karim teaching her from an early age, every day, Maye came across words in the playground that she did not understand. Even more confusing were the names of the TV and sports stars that her classmates talked about, which often left Maye feeling that she had little to add to the buzz of school chatter.

Thankfully, she never experienced such challenges with her best friends: Lara, Tom, Rufus, Daisy and Barney. There was always something exciting going on whenever they were together, and never any time to feel out of place or homesick.

As Maye skipped out of school that afternoon, she hugged her waist and smiled. The first autumn half-term was over. She could not wait to take off her school blazer, which swamped her tiny frame.

Karim stood at the school gates with two suitcases. You look happy!

Maye took the smaller one and wheeled it along the pavement. I can’t wait to see everyone!

Karim had arranged for Maye to visit her friends over the half-term break, although he would not be present with his younger sister. Both he and Lara’s mother, who he worked with at a London university, had been scheduled to attend an important conference.

At the station, the siblings got onto the Tube and headed from east London to Charing Cross Station. A tall, dark-haired fourteen-year-old boy stood waiting underneath the departure board, wearing jeans, a woollen jumper and jacket. He turned and grinned at the pair, his eyes shining.

Tom! Maye ran up to give him a high-five.

Hi, Tom! No school today? asked Karim.

No, it was closed for teacher training, said Tom.

There’s Mrs Jacobs! Maye pointed to Lara’s mother, who was dressed smartly and wheeling a suitcase through the ticket barriers.

Hi, Sarah. Karim waved as his colleague approached the trio.

Hello Karim, Maye! Tom, said Mrs Jacobs. "Are you sure you’ll both be alright on the train? Logan’s going to meet you at the station … I’ve made him promise that this is going to be a very quiet few days for you all!"

We’ll be fine. Tom looked over his shoulder. But we ought to go … the train’s leaving in two minutes.

We should go too, said Karim, handing a conference programme to Mrs Jacobs. There’s a train from Paddington at half past five that should get us there in time for dinner with the sponsors.

Oh … Mrs Jacobs hesitated, before looking at Tom and Maye. "Alright. Text us when you get there, won’t you? And remind Logan he promised!"

Tom and Maye shouted goodbyes and ran to get on the train. Soon they were leaving the city and hurtling past fields and houses towards Swindlebrook.

I didn’t think Mrs Jacobs would leave Logan in charge again, said Tom.

Maye giggled. She didn’t want to … she still doesn’t trust him! But one of the other lecturers from the university had to pull out last minute, and she didn’t really have a choice.

How long’s the conference?

Three days. Maye thought of the experiences she had shared with her friends and Lara’s mishap-prone uncle Logan. Surely it was unlikely that they could get thrown into another wild adventure in the space of three days. She looked at Tom, who stared intently out of the window. A feeling bubbled in her stomach. You don’t think … it could happen again?

Tom turned to his friend. What could happen again?

Maye’s face creased with joy. Adventure!

Soon they were reunited with Lara, Rufus and Barney. Logan swerved his battered Jeep along the streets of Swindlebrook. Did you see Sarah at the station?

Yeah, said Tom, rubbing Barney’s fur. "She asked me to remind you … about a promise?"

Logan rolled his eyes and groaned, before turning to his niece in the seat next to him. Honestly, Lara, your mum has no faith in me whatsoever.

Watch the road! squealed Lara as Logan brought the car to an emergency stop in front of a zebra crossing. Smoke poured out of the exhaust.

What was the promise? asked Maye.

Not to get into any dangerous situations, said Lara.

A car horn beeped, and a man began yelling.

It’s going swimmingly so far. Rufus turned and waved at the driver behind, who stopped shouting and blushed.

Is Dee back at the house? asked Maye.

No … Lara grimaced.

She’s dumped him! cried Rufus.

Logan frowned. Hey! She didn’t ‘dump’ me. We’re just taking a break, that’s all.

Maye’s eyes opened wide. What did you do?

Logan looked over his shoulder at the passengers in the back. Why does everyone assume it’s my fault?

Watch the road! shouted Lara as the Jeep veered over the lane markers.

Oh … sorry. Logan swung the car back in a straight line. Look, we’re not discussing my relationship, okay?

Rufus’ eyes glinted with amusement. But you don’t have one.

Well, I don’t want to hear any more about Dee or why she du—, ahem, why we’re on a break.

Rufus turned to Maye and mouthed the words ‘I’ll tell you later’, with a thumbs up.

Soon they arrived at the Jacobs’ small red-brick house. A girl in smart jeans and a duffle coat was waiting for them on the pavement.

Hi, Daisy, called Tom and Maye from the window.

Hi! Daisy twirled her auburn hair in her fingers. Mum told me to wait till tomorrow to come, but you’re only here a few days! What are you having for tea?

Pizza! yelled Rufus, jumping out of the car.

An hour later, Logan, Lara, Tom, Rufus, Maye and Daisy were in the living room eating pizza and watching TV. Barney lay on the floor. The smell of the cheese was tantalising, but he knew better than to beg for food, especially after having eaten his own dinner.

Logan’s phone rang, playing the jaunty theme tune to his former TV show, Logan’s Jungle Trek.

Deep in the jungle was a man with a plan

To see the world, from Peru to Kazakhstan

It’s Dee’s dad, he said, looking at the screen.

"What did you do?" asked Maye.

Nothing!

There was a pause while Logan’s ringtone continued.

No matter the danger, the fight to survive,

The will to succeed, and to come out alive!

Hadn’t you better answer it? said Tom.

And stop that annoying ringtone, mumbled Lara.

Logaaaaaan! He’s got all the skills!

Logaaaaaan! He brings all the thrills!

Lara put her head in her hands. Please, no … not the chorus. Answer it!

Logaaaaaan—

Oh, I suppose … Hello, Mr Okoye. Logan left the room with the phone pressed to his ear.

Maye sat with a slice of pizza poised in the air, her face scrunched up. "That was the show’s theme tune? I can see why they cancelled it."

What did he do to Dee? asked Tom.

Rufus had shuffled over to Logan’s pizza to transfer half of the pepperoni onto his own plate. He rearranged the remaining topping to spread it out. Why’d Dee chuck him, you mean? He kept missing her calls and not ringing her back. Then he didn’t go to a party with her.

And that was it? said Maye.

No. Daisy rubbed the pizza crumbs from her hands. There were few things she loved more than imparting gossip. "It was some big fancy party with Dee. All her family were there, some of them flew in from abroad, and he didn’t show up. Everyone kept asking Dee where he was. Then when she got through to him, his car had broken down."

It’s a bit harsh to dump him because his car broke down, isn’t it? said Tom. I mean, it happens all the time with his car.

Dee’s family were going to send another car to pick him up and tow the Jeep, but he was in Birmingham, three hours away, said Daisy. He’d gone to sell some of his old bongo drums to a second-hand shop or something. Dee was mad he’d gone all that way on the day of a big fancy family party.

Lara stroked Barney’s fur and frowned slightly. I asked him about that, why he had to go on the same day as the party, and he got a bit cagey …

The living room door opened and Logan burst inside, his eyes wild. Dee’s in Greece! I need to find her!

There were a few moments of silence.

Is she on holiday? asked Lara.

Aha! said Daisy. Must be on a trip with the girls. My cousin Poppy went to Spain to get over her ex-boyfriend.

No, no! Logan ran his fingers through his hair. She was on a work trip scouting out filming locations for a new show … and she’s gone missing!

2

LOGAN IS ALARMED