Famous Five 19 Five Go to Demons Rocks (5 page)

‘Well, I’ve plenty of money too,’ said Tinker, taking out a handful from his pocket.

“Famous Five 19 - Five Go To Demon's Rock” By Enid Blyton
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‘You would have!’ said George. ‘I suppose your father just hands out money whenever you ask him. He’s so vague he wouldn’t know if he paid you three times a day!’

‘Well, yours seems pretty vague too,’ said Tinker, smartly. ‘He poured the coffee over his porridge this morning, instead of the milk. I saw him. And what’s more, he ate it without even noticing it was coffee!’

‘That’s enough,’ said Julian. ‘We don’t tell tales about our parents in public. Tinker, don’t you want to take anything for Mischief to eat while we’re in the light-house? George has bought biscuits for Timmy, and we’re going to lay in a supply of bones, too.’

‘I’ll buy Mischief’s food myself, thank you,’ said Tinker, not very pleased at being ticked off by Julian. He gave an order for a packet of raisins, a packet of currants, a pound of apple rings and some oranges. Mischief eyed all these with very great pleasure.

‘Paw’s off!’ said George, sharply, as the little monkey slyly slid his paw into the bag of biscuits put ready for Timmy. Mischief jumped on to Tinker’s shoulder and hid his face in his tiny paws, as if he were ashamed!

‘We’ll just buy some more fruit,’ said Julian, ‘and then I think we’ll have enough. We’ll have it all sent to the garage, and put in the car ready to take away tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow!’ said George, her eyes shining. ‘Oh, I hope it comes soon. I can’t wait for it!’

It was very exciting that evening to talk about the next day - the car coming to fetch them - the drive round the coast to Demon’s Rocks - exploring the lighthouse - looking out over the endless sea, and watching the great waves coming in to pound on the rocks!

‘What I’m looking forward to is our first night there,’ said George. ‘All alone, high up in that old light-house! Nothing but wind and waves around! Snuggling down in our rugs, and waking up to hear the wind and waves again.’

‘And the gulls,’ put in Tinker. ‘They cry all the time. You can watch them from the lighthouse top. I wish I had wings like a gull - spread out wide - sitting on the wind as they glide!’

‘Sitting on the wind - yes, that’s exactly what they do!’ said Anne. ‘I just wish their cry didn’t sound so mournful, though.’

Mrs Kirrin was half-inclined not to let the children go after all! The weather forecast was bad, and she pictured them sitting half-frozen, and perhaps very scared, in the old deserted light-house. But no sooner did she begin to wonder out loud if she ought to let them go than the children raised their voices in indignant chorus!

‘But we’ve ordered the CAR!’

‘And heaps of food! And Joan has packed up a big tin of all kinds of things. She even baked a special cake for us!’

‘Mother! How could you think of saying no when you’ve already said yes!’

‘All right, all right, dears!’ said Mrs Kirrin. ‘I wouldn’t really stop you going. But do send me a card or two, will you? That’s if there’s anywhere to post one!’

“Famous Five 19 - Five Go To Demon's Rock” By Enid Blyton
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‘Oh, there’s a tiny post-office in the village,’ said Tinker. ‘We’ll send a card every day.

Then you’ll know we’re all right.’

‘Very well - but if a card doesn’t come I’ll be very worried,’ said Mrs Kirrin. ‘So please do keep your word! You won’t forget your anoraks will you - and your rubber boots, and...?’

‘Mother! I feel as if you’re going to mention umbrellas next!’ said George. ‘But honestly we’d be blown out to sea if we put an umbrella up on Demon’s Rocks. Tinker says there’s always a gale blowing round the coast there.’

‘You can think of us playing Slap Bang with our packs of cards, and having a fine time in the lighthouse while storms rage round and howl like demons!’ said Dick. ‘We’ll be sitting snug in our rugs, with ginger-beer beside us, and chocolate biscuits all round...’

‘Woof,’ said Timmy, at once, pricking his ears up at words he knew so well.

‘Ha - you think you’re going to feed on chocolate biscuits, do you, Tim?’ said Dick, ruffling the dog’s hairy head. ‘And please don’t interrupt the conversation. It’s not good manners.’

‘Woof’ said Timmy apologetically, and licked Dick’s nose.

‘I think you’d all better go to bed early tonight,’ said Mrs Kirrin. ‘You’ve still some packing to do tomorrow - and you say you’ve ordered the car for half past nine.’

‘We’ll be down to breakfast at eight o’clock sharp,’ said Julian. ‘I bet the Professor won’t be down till about eleven, and forget all about his bacon and eggs! Tinker, does your father ever have a really hot meal? I mean - it seems to me he either forgets them altogether, or wanders in hours late, and then doesn’t know if he’s having breakfast, dinner, or supper!’

‘Well, I can always eat up everything that’s there, if I think he’s forgotten to come,’ said Tinker, sensibly. ‘Mischief helps too. You’d be surprised how fond Mischief is of fat bacon.’

‘I’m not a bit surprised at anything Mischief does,’ said Julian. ‘I’m just wondering how we are going to put up with his tricks when we’re all cooped up in the light-house together! We can’t send him out into the garden then, to work off some of his high spirits. Aunt Fanny, do you know he took my pencil this morning and scribbled monkey-words all over my wall-paper? It’s a good thing I can’t read monkey-language for I’m sure he wasn’t scribbling anything polite!’

‘You’re not to say things like that about Mischief,’ said Tinker, offended. ‘He’s very good-mannered for a monkey. You should see some monkeys I know!’

‘I’d rather not, thanks,’ said Julian.

Tinker was cross. He picked up Mischief and went out of the room. Soon there was the noise of a car out in the hall - one that needed repairing by the sound of it!

‘R-r-r-r-RRRRRR-r-r-r-r, OOOOOOPH, Rrrrrrr, PARP!’

Mrs Kirrin rushed to the door. ‘You know you’ve been told not to be a car out in the hall.

Come back before your father hears you, Tinker. My goodness me, this house will be an entirely different place, once it is rid of all the cars that have driven about in it since you came!’

‘I was only being a tractor,’ said Tinker, surprised. ‘I always feel as if I must go and be a car when people are horrid to me or Mischief.’

‘Oh, be your age!’ said George.

‘I shall go up to bed,’ said Tinker, offended again.

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‘Well, that’s not a bad idea, seeing that you have to be punctual tomorrow morning,’ said Mrs Kirrin. ‘Good night, then, Tinker dear. Good night Mischief.’

Tinker found himself gently propelled to the door. He went up the stairs, grumbling, Mischief on his shoulder. But he soon stopped frowning as he undressed and thought of the next day. Off to the lighthouse - his light-house! Ha, that would make George and the others sit up. He snuggled down in bed with Mischief nestling beside him, one little paw down the front of Tinker’s pyjama jacket.

Next morning George awoke first. She sat up, afraid that the weather forecast might be right, and that it would be pouring with rain. No - it was wrong for once - the sun shone down and she could not hear the sound of the sea - that meant that there was not much wind to blow up big waves that pounded on the shore.

She awoke Anne. ‘Light-house day!’ she said. ‘Buck up - it’s half past seven.’

They were all down very punctually to breakfast - except Professor Hayling! As usual he did not appear until breakfast was over, and then he sauntered in at the front door!

‘Oh - you are up then,’ said Mrs Kirrin. ‘I thought you were still asleep in bed.’

‘No - Tinker woke me up at some very early hour,’ complained the Professor. ‘Or else it was the monkey - I really don’t know. They both look alike to me in the early morning.’

Mr Kirrin was already down, but hadn’t come into breakfast. He was in his study as usual. ‘George - go and fetch your father,’ said Mrs Kirrin. ‘His breakfast will soon be uneatable.’

George went to the study door and knocked. ‘Father! Don’t you want your breakfast?’

‘I’ve had it!’ said a surprised voice. ‘Very nice couple of boiled eggs.’

‘Father! That was your yesterday’s breakfast!’ said George, impatiently. ‘It’s bacon and fried eggs today. You’ve forgotten as usual. Do come. We’re leaving for the light-house soon.’

‘Light-house - what light-house?’ said Mr Kirrin, in tones of great astonishment. But he had no answer. George had gone back to the dining-room, not knowing whether to laugh or frown. Really! Father was so forgetful that he would forget where he lived next!

There was great excitement after breakfast. Rugs - coats - night-clothes, the warmest that could be found - tins of cakes and mince-pies packed by Joan - sandwiches to eat on the way - books - games - as George said, anyone would think they were going away for a month!

‘The car’s late!’ said Dick, impatiently. ‘Or else my watch is fast.’

‘Here it comes!’ said Anne, excited. ‘Oh, Aunt Fanny, I wish you were coming too! We’re going to have such fun! Where’s Mischief - oh, there he is! And Timmy - Timmy, we’re going to live in a light-house! You don’t even know what that is, do you?’

The car came up to the front gate of Kirrin Cottage, and the driver blew his horn, making Mr Kirrin almost jump out of his skin. He turned on poor Tinker at once. ‘Was that you up to your silly tricks of pretending to be a car, and hooting again? Own up, now!’

‘No sir, it wasn’t, on my honour it wasn’t,’ said Tinker, indignantly, hopping out of the way of what looked as if it might be a very powerful slap. ‘See - it’s that car!’

‘I’ll just ask the driver what he means by driving up here and hooting fit to scare us all!’

said Mr Kirrin indignantly. ‘What’s he come here for, anyway?’

FATHER! It’s the CAR that’s come to take us to the LIGHT-HOUSE!’ said George, not knowing whether to laugh or be cross.

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‘Ah yes,’ said Mr Kirrin. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before? Well, good-bye, good-bye! Have a good time, and don’t forget to dry yourselves well after a bathe.’

They piled into the car, and the man put their luggage into the big boot. He stared as Timmy and Mischief leapt in. ‘Sure you’ve all got enough room?’ he said. ‘What a carful!’

Then to the accompaniment of a loud R-r-r-r-r-RRR from the car’s engine, and an equally loud one from the delighted Tinker, the car turned and drove away down the sandy lane.

‘We’re off,’ said George, in a happy voice. ‘Off all by ourselves again. It’s the thing I like best of all. Do you like it too, Tim?’

‘WOOF!’ said Timmy, agreeing heartily, and lay down with his head on George’s foot.

Ah - now for a lovely holiday with George. Timmy didn’t mind where he went - even to the end of the world - so long as he was with George!

Once they were out on the main road, Tinker began to talk to the driver, asking him questions about all kinds of cars. The others listened, amused.

‘Well, I don’t think much of the new cars,’ said Tinker. ‘All gadgets!’

‘Some of the new gadgets are very good,’ said the driver, amused with the cocky little boy, and he touched a little lever beside him. At once the window next to Tinker went down smoothly, with a curious low moan. Tinker was extremely startled.

‘Oh, don’t open that window,’ said Anne, as a rough wind swooped in. ‘For goodness’

sake shut it, Tinker.’

Tinker shut it and began to talk about cars again. Once more the driver touched the lever beside him, and once more Tinker’s window slid mournfully down, and a cold draught came in.

‘TINKER! Don’t mess about with the windows,’ ordered Julian.

‘I never touched the thing,’ said Tinker, eyeing the window with suspicion. It suddenly shut itself, sliding upwards very smoothly. Tinker began to feel uncomfortable. He watched the window closely, afraid that it might play tricks again. The others, knowing perfectly well that the driver could open and shut any of the windows automatically from his own seat, nudged one another, and giggled. ‘That shut up poor old Tinker!’

murmured Dick.

It had. Not another word about new cars or old came from Tinker during the whole drive!

It was a very pleasant one, mostly round the coast, and very little inland. The views were magnificent.

‘That dog of yours seems to like the views,’ said the driver. ‘His head has been out of the window all the time.’

‘Well - I always thought it was because he liked the fresh air,’ said George. ‘Timmy, is it because you enjoy the views?’

‘Woof,’ said Timey, and withdrew his head to give George a lick. He also gave the little monkey a lick. Poor Mischief didn’t much like the motion of the car. He sat very still

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indeed, afraid that he might be sick. The car purred along, sounding just like Tinker’s usual imitation!

They stopped for an early lunch, and ate their sandwiches hungrily, sitting on a cliff. The driver had brought his own, and once Mischief had discovered that half the man’s sandwiches were made of tomato, he sat on his knee in a very friendly manner, sharing his sandwiches in delight.

‘We’ll be there in another hour or so,’ said the man. ‘Where are you staying at Demon’s Rocks? The garage didn’t tell me.’

‘At the light-house,’ said Julian. ‘Do you know it?’

‘Yes - but people don’t stay there!’ said the driver, thinking that Julian was pulling his leg. ‘What hotel are you going to - or are you staying with friends?’

‘No. We really are going to the light-house,’ said Tinker. ‘It’s mine. My very own.’

‘Well - you’ve certainly got a place with a fine view!’ said the driver. ‘I was born at Demon’s Rocks. My old great-grandad is still in the same cottage where I was born. My word - the stories he used to tell me of that old light-house - and how the wreckers got into it one night and grabbed the keeper there, and doused the light, so that a great ship might go on the rocks.’