Kolo and the Legend of Capra Cave

By Dave Caswell

A devastating storm uncovers a mystery from the past and sets Kolo and the Mighty Mangoes on an adventure to find the legendary

Capra Cave.

At the same time, strangers arrive at Mango Park raising concern and suspicion, and Kolo faces both revelations from his past and

uncertainty about his future.

What secrets and treasu

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dave Caswell
• Release date: Nov 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781802278958

Book preview

Acknowledgements

Huge thanks to Kim, Julie, Olga, Reymond and Ajmer at Publishing Push for your work on this project.

Thanks to Michelle Briers, Stu Jones, and Jodie Gordon for reading and giving feedback on the initial drafts.

Thanks to all my friends and colleagues working with Oasis around the world. Special thanks to all the coaches, leaders, and staff working with Oasis Football for Life. You’re amazing.

Finally, thanks as always to my family, who support me in so many ways.

Chapter 1

The Storm

The wind blew swirls of orange dust up into Kolo’s face as he ran home from football training. The sky was dark, and he knew there was a storm coming. A fierce wind was often a sign that heavy rain was on its way, and Kolo wanted to be indoors before the downpour.

He was not the only one running. Smaller children with much shorter legs than his seemed to run twice as fast, and women were rushing around gathering in their washing as the first enormous drops of water fell from the sky.

Come on, Kolo! Get those legs moving, a voice said from just behind him.

Kolo turned and saw the familiar sight of his neighbour, the man with the wobbly bicycle, wobbling at great speed as he rode up behind him and then continued past.

The man lifted his arm in the air. It’s going to be a big one, he said, wobbling even more before he quickly returned his hand to the handlebars, steadied himself, and rode off, leaving Kolo behind.

The wind increased, and the huge trees that lined Kolo’s route home swung from side to side. Some of the top branches almost touched the floor as they bent over by the force of the wind.

The first drops of rain had become heavier by the time Kolo reached home, and he was already wet. Just as he entered the house, the sky let out a loud clap of thunder and the rain came down in full force. It was as if it had held all the water in an enormous balloon that somebody had suddenly popped.

Inside the house, Kolo’s mum was sitting drinking tea with Old Man Wilbur and his son, Wallace. She got a mug from the kitchen and poured Kolo a cup of hot, steaming tea. He put his hands around the mug, feeling the warmth of its hot contents taking away the chill of the wind and the rain. He gently raised the cup to his mouth and sipped at the tea.

It looks like you made it back just in time, said Old Man Wilbur with a smile. How was training?

Kolo could hardly hear him over the noise of the rain pounding on the iron sheets above him and moved closer. It was good, thanks. At least we had a session before this rain came, he said, raising his voice so the others could hear him. I don’t suppose the Mini Mighty Mangoes will train today, though, he continued, directing his comment at Wallace.

Those boys are probably already out there in the rain! said Wallace. You know what they’re like. Their coach, however, is staying quite safe and dry for now.

They all laughed. They did indeed know what they were like.

Upon Coach Kato’s request, Wallace had agreed to coach a team for younger boys, which they had called the ‘Mini’ Mighty Mangoes.

Kolo thought it was odd that you could have something that was both ‘mini’ and ‘mighty,’ but Old Man Wilbur, with all his usual wisdom, had explained that even something or someone small could still be mighty in terms of character.

Sniffa and Bambu, who had helped the police when Kolo and some of the other Mighty Mangoes were made to work at Eggend Down, were part of the Mini Mighty Mangoes. Kolo remembered how ‘mighty’ they had been in their courage and inventiveness, despite their size and age. Kolo had reflected at the time that, like all people, though they could be foolish and annoying, they also had the potential to do great and mighty things. It was all about making good choices and also about being guided in the right way.

He remembered how Old Man Wilbur had once asked him what was better: ‘to be physically big and strong and to use that to bully or intimidate people, or to be smaller physically but to treat people with kindness and compassion?’ The answer was obvious, and Kolo had always remembered not to judge people by what they looked like, but to see how they behaved and what they did. It was one of the many lessons Old Man Wilbur had taught him, which had stayed with him.

By his own admission, Wallace was not a brilliant coach, but he was a very good man. With the help and guidance of Coach Kato, he did his best with the Mini Mighty Mangoes. The players loved him, though, because what he lacked in coaching skills, he more than made up for in kindness.

Kolo liked Wallace. It was obvious he was Old Man Wilbur’s son, not only by his features but also by the way he behaved. He hadn’t quite reached his father’s level of wisdom yet, but still always had good advice. He was often visiting Old Man Wilbur, who was, of course, increasing in age and needed a little more help these days, and he always visited Kolo’s mum when he was there. She was his supervisor at the bakery, and they had become good friends.

As the rain became heavier and continued to pound on the iron roof above them, they did their best to talk with one another, though it was almost impossible. In the end, they just sat there, sipping the hot tea that Kolo’s mum would replace in their mugs as they finished each cup. Kolo’s sister, Suri, was sitting on a brightly coloured mat in the room’s corner, drawing with some coloured pencils Wallace had bought for her.

As time went on, everyone gave up trying to talk over the noise of the rain. However, we can say much without words, and at that moment, Kolo felt safe and loved just by being in the presence of those who meant so much to him.

As he sat there, Kolo thought about those he was sitting with. He thought about how different they were but how they were all kind. He felt special sitting with these ‘grown-ups’ and drinking tea. Although he was just a boy, they treated him with respect and care. He knew lots of boys his age who did not experience the same care and consideration as he did, not even from their own parents. There were even some in the Mighty Mangoes who had a tough time at home, and you could certainly tell by how they talked and behaved.

Old Man Wilbur had told him it was hard to show love and consideration for others if you hadn’t known it yourself. This had helped Kolo see people differently and always try to be considerate to others, even if they were annoying or perhaps rude. It was certainly challenging, but as Old Man Wilbur had told him, we don’t know what life people have had or still have, so it’s always best to be kind. Kolo remembered how his neighbour, Mr Mentrie, had been difficult and grumpy with him, but he had realised that things had not been easy for him growing up and how it had affected his behaviour. Despite all his odd ways, Mr Mentrie was a good man, and Kolo had learnt to treat him with more understanding and consideration.

Are you okay, Kolo? his mother shouted over the noise of the rain, breaking Kolo’s thoughts.

Er … Oh yes, sorry, he stammered, suddenly remembering where he was. I was just thinking …

You looked like you had turned to stone, laughed Old Man Wilbur.

Oh no, Kolo replied. Just thinking how lucky I am to have all of you. The words came out before he realised what he had said, and he was slightly embarrassed.

And we’re lucky to have you too, Kolo. Very lucky indeed, his mother replied.

Eventually, the rain eased off slightly and then halted – as if someone had just turned off a big tap in the sky. Kolo’s mum opened the door of the house and poked her head out to see what damage the storm might have caused. Streams of water were flowing along the ridges of the uneven road, and some branches of the surrounding trees had broken off and laid across the ground. Apart from that, however, everything seemed fine. They were used to heavy rain at this time of the year, and although it became very wet, nothing ever suffered too much. The rain was often welcome, especially when it had become too hot and the air felt thick, and when the crops and trees were very much in need of water.

As was often the case when it rained heavily like this, once it stopped, the sun instantly appeared as if the two weather elements were changing over on a work shift. Kolo often thought it was like a substitution in a football match with the sun coming on to replace the rain in the great weather cup final. The sun slowly dried up the sodden ground around their houses, though the water was still dripping from the leaves of the trees and off the roofs of the houses.

Kolo’s mother stepped outside, followed by the others. Suri squeezed between Old Man Wilbur’s and Wallace’s legs and ran out, straight into a puddle! Across the road, the man with the wobbly bicycle and his wife with the big curly hair were also venturing out. They both gave a wave, and Kolo and the others returned the gesture. There was no sign of Mr Mentrie in the house opposite Kolo, but they were sure he was fine. He wasn’t one to make a fuss and wouldn’t come outside without good reason.

As they stretched their arms and legs and breathed in the distinct smell of the rainwater being dried up by the sun, Kolo spotted something moving towards them from farther down the road. It looked like a small anthill, brown and misshapen, but Kolo knew, although he had seen some very odd things over the years, it was highly unlikely that an anthill would travel down the road, especially at such speed.

Of course, it wasn’t an anthill at all. Within seconds, it came into focus. It was Sniffa and Bambu, absolutely covered from head to toe in mud! The two boys reached Kolo and the others.

Coach Wallace, gasped Sniffa, trying to get his breath back. We knew you’d be here. Are we training today?

It looks like you two need to go home and get washed, Wallace said. Have you been out in this rain?

Yeah! said Bambu. We’re not scared of a bit of water. We were all there, waiting for you. Mango Park is a bit like a lake now, but we can still train, right?

I think we need to give it a miss today, Wallace said, still smiling at the sight of the two muddy boys in front of him.

But coach … Sniffa began.

Coach Wallace is right, Kolo interrupted. It’s too wet now, and even if you did train, it wouldn’t do the pitch any good. Anyway, it looks like you’ve played enough for one day. You should probably train your arms by washing those clothes!

Sniffa and Bambu knew Kolo was right, and they had both learnt to respect him as one of the Mighty Mangoes.

But can we train tomorrow? Sniffa asked, turning again to Wallace.

We’ll see, he replied with a smile. Now get home and get cleaned up! Oh, and I have some interesting news for you next time we meet. Make sure all the team are there, okay?

Yes, coach, the two boys replied at the same time. They turned around and raced off back in the direction they had come.

I wonder what the news is? said Bambu.

I don’t know, replied Sniffa, making absolutely no effort at all to avoid the huge puddle in front of him and splashing his friend as he ran through it. Maybe we’re going to play in our first tournament, he continued excitedly.

I hope so! said Bambu, leaping up to pull on a tree branch and bringing a splash of rainwater down on them both.

Meanwhile, Wallace was helping Old Man Wilbur back to his house and issuing strong instructions to his father about being careful in these wet conditions. Kolo watched the two of them and thought how interesting it was that parents look after their children when they are young, and then children look after their parents when they get older.

After helping Old Man Wilbur into his house, Wallace left to check on his own home that was just down the road and on the other side of the banana trees.

Thanks for the tea, he said to Kolo’s mum as he left. Take care, you three; there could be another storm later,’ he continued, looking up at the sky. I’m not sure this rain has finished for the day."

It seemed hard to believe that it could rain again. The sun was now high in the sky, and the cold that had come with the wind and the rain was now replaced with intense heat. Wallace was right, however. That night, there was another storm. One that no one had ever experienced before.

Kolo had been asleep when the wind picked up, and the rain had started again. As it grew heavier, he had woken several times as it hammered on the iron roof and the sound of the wind whistling through the trees. At first, it was quite relaxing, and he had just wrapped his blanket tightly around him and dropped back to sleep. It continued throughout the night, however, and, as it did, the wind and rain got stronger and stronger.

Suddenly, just as day was breaking, there was a tremendous crack of thunder followed by what sounded like a bomb exploding. Kolo shot upright in his bed, his heart thumping fast against his chest. He did not know what was happening or, for a moment, where he was. Within a few seconds, he heard his sister crying, and his mum rushed into his room, carrying Suri with her. Kolo was confused about what had happened and what was going on, but he knew something was wrong.

Kolo, are you okay? his mum said, rushing over to him. Kolo felt like crying but did not know why.

I’m fine, Mum, he stuttered, although he wasn’t. What’s going on?

Quick, get up. We need to get outside.

Kolo did as he was told and quickly put on his clothes. He had been fast asleep minutes ago, but he was now very much awake. Kolo, Suri and their mum raced outside. The rain was still falling heavily, and the wind was blowing hard, but the breaking daylight at least took some of the terror away, though Suri was still sobbing in her mother’s arms.

The sight that greeted them outside was one of chaos and destruction. The man with the wobbly bicycle was frantically trying to catch and pin down an iron sheet that had been ripped from one house and was being flipped around by the wind as if it was a massive playing card. Old Man Wilbur was looking out of his window, refusing to leave his house. For once, he looked anything but relaxed.

Other neighbours were racing from home to home, checking on the people inside, while Wallace and four other men had arrived and were desperately digging with their hands into what was the most terrible sight of all. A huge mango tree had been uprooted and had fallen with extreme force right across the road. Its top branches had brushed the side of Kolo’s house as it had crashed down, but it had stopped just short of hitting the house itself. The house across the road, however, had not been so lucky.

Kolo could hardly breathe. The tree had completely flattened Mr Mentrie’s house. Its immense trunk lay across the centre of where the house had stood before. Now it was a mass of tangled iron sheets, splintered wood, and Mr Mentrie’s scattered belongings.

Other neighbours arrived and tried to help, removing things, and digging through the wreckage in search of the most valuable thing of all, Mr Mentrie. Kolo instinctively ran across to help, but he knew, as they all did, that the chances of finding anyone alive in the wreckage were extremely slim. Tears flooded from his eyes as he dug and dug. Others fixed ropes on