The Querulous Effect by Arkay Jones

Author:Arkay Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784627133
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd

CHAPTER 17

When the alarm went at 5.30 a.m., it got a very mixed reaction. Tim hit it with the encyclopaedia which was still lying on his duvet and then he and Jay buried their heads back under the bed clothes. But not for long. There was a loud knock on the bedroom door and then Ella burst in, already dressed. Chip rushed in behind, clearly feeling that this was the best time to get up every morning. When the boys at last stirred, prompted by Chip bounding on top of them, they had to agree that it was the perfect summer morning, with the sunlight already filtering through the curtains.

After a good breakfast, Ella helped Mr. Stiggles feed and harness Toby whilst the boys and the Prof finished loading up the caravan with their luggage and the equipment from the laboratory. When all was on board they hitched up Toby and just after 6.45 a.m. they made their way out of the gates of ‘The Cedars’. Mr. Stiggles took the reins for the journey to Grafton Water, whilst the children, Chip and the Prof walked alongside to ease the load for Toby.

The early morning mist had not quite cleared from Grafton Water as Toby hauled the caravan to rest at the lake shore. A slight breeze sent ripples over the broad expanse of water and apart from the gentle plash of the ripples reaching the shore and the calls of the water-birds in the reeds, all was quiet.

Ella unhitched Toby and led him to some lush grass by the lake side. Jay and Tim helped the Prof and Mr. Stiggles unload the caravan, stacking everything carefully along a wooden jetty that jutted out into the lake. By the time this work was completed, the mist had fully cleared and the lake shimmered in the early morning sun. Chip seemed to realise that something important was happening but he did not realise that he was not included in this particular adventure. As in the case of Charlie the chameleon, to whom Tim had said a fond farewell that morning, the general view had been that Chip was not well equipped for the conditions of the Arctic Circle. Not that Chip, even had he known he was excluded, would have dwelt much on the point when there was the present excitement of ducks to chase. Once all the unloading was completed, the rest of the team sat on the packing cases carefully scanning the horizon above the far end of the lake.

After twenty minutes of watching and waiting, Jay suddenly exclaimed, “I think I can hear it!”

Everyone listened intently and then Tim and Ella agreed that they could hear a faint drone which slowly got louder. The children stared into the sky towards the sound for a short while, then they all shouted out together as they spotted a faint speck in the distance. The speck, which glinted in the morning sun, gradually got larger as they watched. The sound became stronger and soon the steady throbbing drone of an approaching aircraft was clear to the adults too.

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