Riddle Gully Secrets by Jen Banyard Page B

Mustang Rock. Pollo put a finger to her mouth, signalling to hush. Shoulders to the looming granite wall, they skirted around to a cleared area in front of the dark arch of cave and peeked. But no one was lying in wait.
    A narrow, overgrown trail led off the clearing. Will plucked at a prickle on his arm. ‘Pollo, does that track lead to Diamond Jack’s Trail, by any chance?’
    Pollo shrugged. ‘Maybe.’
    â€˜You mean, I’ve got more holes than a cheese grater from climbing through all those spiky bushes, and we could have strolled along a nice shady track? “We just swing by Mustang Rock on the way,” you said! You didn’t say the
back
way.’
    â€˜We couldn’t risk running into those two on the main trail, could we?’ said Pollo. ‘A good investigator always thinks ahead, Will.’
    â€˜But I suppose,’ said Dan, ‘if we
had
happened to run into them, they don’t know that we know anything. We could have just pretended to be bushwalkers.’
    Pollo looked sheepishly at Will. ‘I didn’t think of that.’
    Will rolled his eyes and huffed.
    Suddenly Ash whipped forward, covering her mouth.
Eew-chew!
Birds flapped from their hiding places in the trees.
Eew-chew!
Leaves fluttered to the ground. ‘They’ve been here alright,’ sniffled Ash, a finger pressed sideways under her nose. ‘That aftershave! I don’t think we’ve missed them by much.’
    Dan jigged from one foot to the other. ‘We should be really quiet then … don’t you all think?’
    â€˜So they
did
get down there from here,’ said Pollo.
    â€˜Even though the tunnel’s blocked off?’ said Dan.
    â€˜I guess they unblocked it,’ said Will. ‘Let’s take a look.’
    They entered the dank, dark mouth of Mustang Rock, their breathing shallower with the musty smell. At the back of the cave, a natural chimney threw light on a patch of ground. Nearby was the tunnel entrance,blocked by a heavy iron grid. The grid was blackened with age and pitted from years of constant damp. Tiny hairs of bright green moss sprouted on its bars. A large padlock and thick chain hung from one side.
    â€˜There are shiny scratches around the keyhole!’ said Pollo. ‘Just as I suspected!’
    â€˜Mayor Bullock must have given them a key,’ said Ash.
    â€˜He’s up to something fishy, alright,’ said Pollo. ‘Why else would he give keys to two dodgy people who don’t care two hoots about either caves or safety regulations?’
    Pollo began pacing back and forth, tapping her fingertips together. ‘That lock looks pretty rusty. Maybe if we got a big rock we could just –’
    â€˜I know what you’re thinking and you can unthink it!’ said Will. ‘We’re not going down there! I’m starving to death! Someone ate all the sandwiches, remember?’
    â€˜Pretend you’re fasting,’ said Pollo, ‘like one of those monks. Ash, how about you?
    â€˜I’ll keep guard, but I won’t go underground again. The thought I kept having in the other cave of something going wrong, of becoming trapped …’ Ash’s whole body shuddered. ‘It’s still haunting me.’
    â€˜Okay,’ said Pollo. ‘I won’t push you.’
    â€˜Wow!’ said Will. ‘Whenever I say no to Pollo she ignores me.’
    â€˜You’ve got to mean it,’ said Ash.
    Will thought a moment. Maybe Ash had something there.
    â€˜I’ll go with you, Pollo,’ said Dan. ‘Gee willakers, it’s not like I’m busting to go home right now. Twig and his portals! Until I can show him the bushrangers’ cave I’m steering clear.’
    â€˜I’d like to meet Twig,’ said Ash solemnly. ‘He’s curious about the types of things most of us don’t question. Hey, my mum’s working backstage in a play at the Town Hall