Children Of Fate, Page 2

  They had pretty much convinced themselves over the weekend that they had no hope. Apart from Roy and Alicia they didn’t have high grades and were definitely not known for their riddle solving skills. So why were they here?

  Nadia was now convinced there was something odd as she pointed out the cars each team had been allocated. Fifteen brand new Four-wheel drives all parked along the road slightly angled out ready for a clean get away. In front of each car stood the drivers, all dressed in black chauffeur attire, hat and all; some standing at a disciplined attention.

  Richard Bursik seemed to pop out of nowhere and then proceeded to round up the teams in closer. “Ok, all ready.” He said in a booming voice then glanced down at his watch. “The drivers have the first envelope with the first clue. You will be handed the envelope in the car at Nine o’clock exactly which is in about two minutes. So pick a car and in you go.”

  Some teams ran to the cars picking out their favorite colours, silver, dark blue, black, but others strolled over not worried at all as did team Westshade. They ended up in a black car with a driver who looked around thirty and had short spiky blond hair; who Alicia quoted to Nadia as very cute. The driver introduced himself as Dave and helped them into the car.

  Tony was clearly impressed with the clean interior of the car. “Never been in a brand new car before let alone one that costs sixty grand,” he said from the back seat feeling the leather seats with his fingers. The front seats were arranged to face backwards so the students could all face each other.

  “Ready guys?” Dave said from the driver’s seat and then handed the clue to Roy over his shoulder. “Wait! You can open it….in… Five, four, three, two, one, now.”

  Tony snatched the white envelope off of Roy and tore it open. He unfolded the paper inside and read it out aloud. “When does a coin left to drop in a thirty four degree lake in the South, for fifty two minutes and forty three seconds equal a same coin dropped in a one hundred and thirty eight degree lake in the East, for twenty nine minutes and twenty eight seconds.”

  “What the?” Joel said throwing his hands up in the air. “There goes our chance of ever wining. Not that we had any to start with.”

  The group sat there in the car whining and complaining in frustration about the stupid, impossible question.

  All but Nadia.

  Nadia finally couldn’t handle all the noise and yelled, “SHUT UP!”

  Silence hit the car hard and fast. The four turned to Nadia.

  Nadia leaned over and grabbed Tony’s forearm and said with excitement, “read it again.”

  Tony read it again a little slower.

  “South and East.” She repeated to herself in thought. “Roy could I have a pen and paper please.”

  In a flash Roy handed a pocket note pad over and a pen. Nadia snatched the pen and paper out of Roy’s hand and scribbled down all the numbers on the page accompanied by two letters. She flipped the paper around and held it out for everyone to see. It read 34. 52’ 28” S, 138.54’ 95” E.

  “When are they equal? When they are the same place, they’re coordinates,” Nadia explained.

  There was a slight pause in time as they all glanced at each other, they all then turned back to Nadia who smiled and simply nodded.

  “You go girl,” Tony called out.

  Joel punched the roof in excitement, “PlayStation three here we come!”

  “Hey Red aren’t you meant to be the brains in this group, why didn’t you figure that out,” Tony said to Roy.

  Alicia calmed the group down “OK. We got to get to a computer and put the co-ordinates into goggle earth.”

  “I have an even better idea,” Joel smiled. “No doubt this car has a top of the range G.P.S. installed.”

  Nadia shot out of her seat and leaned through the gap between the passenger seat and the driver’s seat. The others eagerly watched Nadia’s back as she reached out towards the dashboard. After what seemed like forever Nadia spun around with a huge smile across her face, “got it.”

  The first car to pull away from the curve was a black Four-wheel drive carrying team Westshade to the first check point.

  Chapter 6

  “STOP HERE! STOP HERE!” Alicia ordered the driver.

  The driver pulled over and stopped directly in front of the entrance to the WEST LAKES SHOPPING COMPLEX. The five students poured out the car and dashed towards the entrance, Joel in front, Roy brought up the rear. The doors welcomed them in. Polished white tiled flooring in the main mall glowed under the mix of soft artificial and natural light dripping down from overhead. Small stores lined each sides of the walk way. Stores like a News Agency, DVD store, dry cleaners, a colourful fruit shop and a coffee shop. People scurried here and there going about their chores. Not the busiest day of the week but there were enough people about to make the group duck, weave and stretch their necks out hoping to spot out Richard Bursik.

  As the group moved deeper into the mall Joel shouted, “Over there!” His finger pointed past a potted palm tree in the middle of the mall.

  The Five students jogged past the palm tree and saw Richard standing directly under the huge domed skylight. With smiles on all their faces they strolled up to him and stopped in front of his huge frame.

  “You nearly got here before me. Didn’t expect anyone to solve the clue so quickly,” Richard said puffing slightly and a bead of sweat crawled down his forehead. “Congratulations. As you are the first team you each will receive movie tickets for one whole year.”

  “Good work Red,” Tony said and slapped Roy on the back which sent his glasses shooting of his face. Tony apologized, picked up the glasses and slid them back onto Roy’s nose.

  They each congratulated each other as Richard handed out the movie passes.

  “How about it Alicia,” Joel said with a cheeky smile on his face and waving his movie pass in his hand. “You and me on a date, any movie you want to see, my treat.”

  “In your dreams cheapskate”

  Joel put his hand on his heart and battered his eye lids, “You’re always in my dreams.”

  “Ok guys, each team has to have a compulsory one hour rest before you get the next clue. So under the supervision of your driver you may feel free to walk around and I’ll see you in one hour,” Richard then looked left and right. “Where is your driver?”

  The group spun around searching. After a second they spotted Dave strolling up towards them.

  “So what do we do for an hour?” Roy asked

  “I saw a coffee shop back next to the entrance, maybe we can...” Nadia said softly

  “Food! Sounds good to me” Tony jumped in.

  “I haven’t brought much money with me,” Roy cut in concerned.

  “It's ok guys,” Dave shouted and pulled out a blue credit card from his back pocket. “All expenses charged to Mr. Cushly.”

  “I love this game!” Tony yelled with his hands in the air.

  All five sat at the first table beside the entrance to the coffee shop. Dave stood at the end and took orders. “So I got a strawberry shake for Nadia, juice and a vegy sandwich for Roy, one chocky shake for Alicia, a muffin and a coffee for Joel and for Tony a chocolate cake, a coke, a muffin and a chicken foccacia.”

  Alicia, Joel, Roy and Nadia turned to Tony.

  Tony shrugged, “why not, it’s free.”

  Dave walked off to the counter to place the order.

  “Ok then,” Alicia said and stood up. “I’m going to freshen up.” She slung her little backpack over her shoulder, “you coming Nadia?”

  Nadia lifted her head in surprise, “me. No. I don’t have…”

  “Come on,” Alicia cut in, grabbed a shocked Nadia by the hand and dragged her off with her.

  Tony shook his head, “what do they have in girls toilets that makes them all run off like that. TVs? Internet access, a waiting hairdryer.”

  “Gossip of course” Roy said.

  “That’s right,” Joel said and leaned over the table with a p
ointed finger at Tony “And I know what about too, you. I’ve seen the way you look at Nadia and the way she stares at you when you’re not looking.”

  “Me,” Tony replied crossing his arms. “And I’ve seen they way you and Roy look at each other, but I don’t go running off gossiping about it.”

  “Ha, ha, very funny. Hang on, are you blushing.” Joel straightened back in his chair, “oh my god. Big bad Tony like’s Nadia.”

  “As if you can’t tell, Nadia,” Alicia said brushing her hair in front of the wall mirror. “You look at him as if he’s a god.”

  “I don’t. Do I? Nadia dropped her head, “I don’t know, I think his interesting. There’s something more to him.”

  “Talk about contradiction,” Joel continued. “You’re the loud obnoxious idiot, and her the quit one.”

  Tony banged his fist down on to the table, “you better shut your mouth hero or I’ll stuff it full of knuckle.”

  Joel smirked and threw his hands up in surrender.

  Tony relaxed as the girls returned back from the bathroom and sat down. They waited in awkward silence until the food arrived.

  Chapter 7

  Gillian the self designated leader of the Eastern District Boys College team was the first out the car. Without waiting for his team mates he sprinted into the mall. His team mates eventually caught up to him just past a massive potted palm tree in the center of the mall.

  “HURRY UP!” Gillian demanded,” Richard Bursik is just over there.”

  The team burst into high fives and smiles.

  “We’re the first ones here,” said one

  “Nobody can beat us,” said another.

  Gillian led his team up to Richard carrying the biggest confident grin he could grow.

  “Eastern District boys rule!” a team mate yelled and slapped Gillian on the back.

  “Congratulations,” Richard said. “You have made it to the first check point.” Richard paused, “but unfortunately you are the second team to arrive.”

  All five faces of the boys dropped.

  “What, that’s not right,” Gillian Sulked. “Who’s first?”

  Richard lifted his huge arm and flicked out a finger towards the nearby coffee shop.

  Gillian and his team followed Richards’s finger. Seated at the table finishing off their snacks, sat team Westshade.

  “How the HELL did those losers get here before us?” Gillian yelled in disgust loud enough so they could hear.

  The disbelief swirling inside him turned to rage as team Westshade looked his way, paused then all waved; the big guy integrating a flipped bird into his wave.

  **

  Alicia finished off her shake and pattered her mouth with a serviette, “I don’t care if we win this or not. As long as we beat those jerks I’ll be happy.”

  They all nodded in agreement.

  Richard startled them all as he popped up from nowhere and stood at the end of the table. “Hours up,” he suddenly wore an expression of confusion and looked down hard at Joel, “I think you got some chocolate on your lip.”

  Joel rubbed at his lip.

  Richards face stretched back out as he realized it wasn’t chocolate and quickly changed the subject. “Hmm, ok here you go then your next clue.” He reached into his black jacket and pulled out another envelope and handed it over.

  Roy took the envelope and ripped it open. He tilted the envelope and let the contents spill into his other hand. At first Roy thought it was a small black ball until it settled in his palm and he noticed eight little black legs protruding from it. “SPIDER!” he squealed and flicked his hand into the air to be rid of it. The black spider tumbled through the air and sat itself down on Alicia’s freshly combed long blond hair. It wasn’t there for long. Alicia screamed, tilted her head forward and furiously swiped at it with both hands like an African drummer beating a war beat, her legs stomping at the ground at the same time. The black spider fell into the center of the table with a tink.

  “It’s plastic you idiots,” Tony laughed.

  Joel gave it a little flick to make sure, “it’s plastic alright,” and laughed along with Tony.

  Alicia lifted her head, her hair poking out into all directions. She was not amused at all. She grabbed her backpack off the floor and stormed off back to the bathroom again.

  Roy checked the envelope again and saw a thin strip of white paper inside. He pulled it out with a trembling hand and read out a clue printed on it in small print, “A creature that lays an intricate trap to catch its prize. There it lies, waiting for his eyes to behold a lost fly’s fate.”

  They sat in silence repeating the clue over in their heads.

  Alicia came back, hair straightened out and in a much better mood. Roy repeated the question.

  “Easy,” Alicia said casually as she sat down. “The spider lays a web right which would be the World Wide Web, internet. Eyes to behold, is the same as site, so you type in lost fly’s fate as the web site and bingo.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Joel said and stood up. “Our school library is the closest place from here I know that’s got internet access. And at least that Eastern District Boys College team can’t follow, so let’s go.”

  The team wasted no time and ran back to the car with Dave following close behind. Tony scooped up his unfinished sandwich off the table as he left. I always work better on a full stomach,” he said with a mouth full and struggling to keep up with the others.

  Chapter 8

  They could hear the end of the lunch bell ring before they pulled into the staff car park. With no spaces available, Dave double parked behind the principal’s car. He switched the ignition off and told the group that he would wait where he was.

  The five hopped out and cut a path across the front lawn area making direct rout towards the library. A few stragglers late for their class came over and asked a few questions as they walked. They were mainly interested in what prizes were up for grabs. With their jealousy topped up they staggered on to class and let the five continue on the race.

  As they approached the library they could see a year eight class in session in the main room. The students were seated at the desks which were laid out in the center of the room encircled by book shelves protruded from the back and side walls.

  Tony pushed his way to the front and burst through the door. The teacher immediately stopped him and lectured him, clearly annoyed at Tony’s intrusion. In one clear fluent motion Tony reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and flicked it open FBI style as he past the teacher, “It's ok we’re on official Westshade school business.”

  The rest of the group followed in single file cutting through the class and made their way to the computer room at the back of the library. Without hesitation and without a word spoken Nadia and Joel panned left, Tony and Alicia to the right and they cleared a path for Roy to seat himself down in front of computer number five..

  Roy got comfortable and immediately tapped away on the keyboard. “Lost fly’s fate,” Roy repeated as he typed. He made it one word and added .com at the end. All five huddled around the computer and waited, hoping the site would load. The green load bar slid across and the screen and then the background colour turned orange. A single question appeared what is the lost fly’s fate?

  Roy shrugged and entered to be eaten, and hit enter.

  The screen turned white and written in bold black lettering were the words Congratulation you have found the next clue.

  The group cheered.

  Roy anticipated Tony’s next move and held his glasses in place with a finger pushed against his nose just in time before Tony slapped him hard on the back.

  “Nice thinking Alicia,” Joel said.

  Roy dragged the mouse pointer over the blue button that read get next clue and double clicked. A rhyme then appeared on the screen and he read it aloud, “Red and white and full of light. Once a beacon of salvation now a monument of attraction.”

  All fell into silent thought.

/>   “I got nothing,” Joel said, dejected.

  “I’m out,” Tony threw his hands in the air. “How about you Nadia?”

  The two girls shook their heads.

  Roy re-read the question over and over in his head following the words on the screen with his finger.

  As time went on their frustration grew.

  The girls sat down, Tony and Joel paced up and down.

  Tony then wondered over to the door looking in on the class in the main room and leaned on the frame. They stayed like that right up until the bell rang signaling the end of class and shaking them out of their trance.

  “Dam it,” Joel yelled. “Those wingnuts are gonna pass us.” He ran his hands through his hair and exhaled a lung full of frustration.

  Tony still stood in place leaning against the door frame and watched the year eight students pour out the library and on to their next class. Before the last student was about to exit, in wandered principal Winters with two tall men dressed in silver suits. The lone student stepped aside and let the three adults pass before he scurried off. The two men followed the principal deeper into the library, both walked with inflated chests and an air of authority. The taller man, arms crossed, glared with a frown. The slightly shorter one had a clip board in his left hand and a gold pen waiting comfortable in his right.

  The principal pointed and gestured as her lips wavered through a nervous smile. From where Tony was he could not make out what was being said but strained his eyes to read the inscription printed on the name tags that each man wore on the right breast of their suits. “Alicia. Come here for a sec,” he said softly with a beckoning nod.

  Alicia curious, moved over to Tony, “what’s up?”

  “You reckon you can read what it says on the name tag of those two guys?”

  “What guys?”

  Tony with his shoulder still resting on the door frame pointed through the door way and into the library.

  Alicia squinted and then paused. “I think it says Mark Allen or alien,” Alicia now leaned in closer. “Department of education of SA. And the other...”

  Tony lifted his arm to stop Alicia, “it’s ok, I get it.”

  “Get what? Why are they here?”