"Blyton, Enid - Famous Five 06 - Five On Kirrin Island Again" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)
'Aren't you bored, lying here?' said Anne, feeling sorry for him.
'Yes, awfully. I wanted my father to go in and ask the coastguard to bring in some little figures I said I'd paint for him,' said Martin. 'But he wouldn't let me. You know I simply love painting - even doing a little thing like that -- painting clothes on toy porters and 'guards -- so long as I can have a brush in my hand and colours to choose from!' This was the longest speech Martin had ever made to the four children! His face lost its dull, bored look as he spoke, and became bright and cheerful.
'Oh -- you want to be an artist, I suppose?' said Anne. 'I would like that, too!' 'Anne! You can't eve-n draw a cat that looks like one!' said Dick, scornfully. 'And when you drew a cow I thought it was an elephant.' Martin smiled at Anne's indignant face. 'I'll show you some of my pictures,' he said. 'I have to keep them hidden away, because my father can't bear me to want to be an artist!' 'Don't get up if you don't want to,' said Julian. 'I'll get them for you.' 'It's all right. If it's good for me to try and walk, I will,' said Martin, and got off the couch. He put his right foot gingerly to the floor and then stood up. 'Not so bad after all!' he said. He limped across the room to a bookcase. He put his hand behind the second row of books and brought out a cardboard case, big and flat. He took it to the table. He opened it and spread out some pictures.
'Gracious!' said Anne. 'They're beautiful! Did you really do these?' They were queer pictures for a boy to draw, for they were of flowers and trees, birds and butterflies -- all drawn and coloured most perfectly, every detail put in lovingly.
Julian looked at them in surprise. This boy was certainly gifted. Why, these drawings were as good as any he had ever seen in exhibitions! He picked a few up and took them to the window.
'Do you mean to say your father doesn't think these are good doesn't think it's worth while to let you train as an artist?' he said, in surprise.
'He hates my pictures,' said Martin, bitterly. 'I ran away from school, and went to an art-school to train --but he found me and forbade me to think of drawing any more. He thinks it's a weak, feeble thing for a man to do. So I only do it in secret now.' The children looked at Martin with sympathy. It seemed an awful thing to them that a boy who had no mother, should have a father who hated the thing his son most loved. No wonder he always looked dull and miserable and sullen! 'It's very bad luck,' said Julian at last. 'I wish we could do something to help.' 'Well -- get me those figures and the paint tins from the coastguard,' said Martin, eagerly. 'Will you? Father won't be back till six. I'll have time to do them. And do stay and have tea with me. It's so dull up here. I hate it.' 'Yes, I'll get the things for you,' said Julian. 'I can't for the life of me see why you shouldn't have something to amuse yourself with if you want to. And we'll ring up my aunt and tell her we're staying here to tea -- so long as we don't eat everything you've got!' 'Oh, that's all right,' said Martin, looking very cheerful indeed. 'There's plenty of food in the house. My father has an enormous appetite. I say, thanks most awfully.' Julian rang up his aunt. The girls and Dick went to fetch the figures and the paint from the coastguard. They brought them back and arranged them on a table beside Martin. His eyes brightened at once. He seemed quite different.
'This is grand,' he said. 'Now I can get on! It's a silly little job, this, but it will help the old man next door, and I'm always happy when I'm messing about with a brush and paints!' Martin was very, very clever at painting the little figures. He was quick and deft, and Anne sat watching him, quite fascinated. George went to hunt in the larder for the tea-things. There was certainly plenty of food! She cut some bread and butter, found some new honey, brought out a huge chocolate cake and some ginger buns, and put the kettle on to boil.
'I say, this is really grand,' said Martin again. 'I wish my father wasn't coming back till eight. By the way -- where's the dog? I thought he always went everywhere with you! Where's Timmy?'
Chapter Fourteen
A SHOCK FOR GEORGE
DICK looked at George. He didn't think it would matter telling Martin where Timmy was, so long as George didn't give the reason why he had been left on the island.
But George was going to hold her tongue now. She looked at Martin and spoke quite airily. 'Oh, Timmy? We left him behind today. He's all right.' 'Gone out shopping with your mother, I suppose, hoping for a visit to the butcher's!' said Martin. This was the first joke he had ever made to the children, and though it was rather a feeble one they laughed heartily. Martin looked pleased. He began to try and think of another little joke, while his deft hands put reds and blues and greens on the little wooden figures.
They all had a huge tea. Then, when the clock said a quarter to six the girls carried the painted figures carefully back to the coastguard, who was delighted with them. Dick took back the little tins of paint, and the brush, stuck in a jar of turpentine.
'Well now, he's clever that boy, isn't he?' said the coastguard, eyeing the figures in delight. 'Looks sort of miserable and sulky -- but he's not a bad sort of boy!' 'I'll just have one more squint through your telescope,' said George, 'before it gets too dark.' She tilted it towards her island. But once more there was no sign of Timmy, or of her father either. She looked for some time, and then went to join the others. She shook her head as they raised their eyebrows inquiringly.
The girls washed up the tea-things, and cleared away neatly. Nobody felt as if they wanted to wait and see Mr. Curton. They didn't feel as if they liked him very much, now they knew how hard he was on Martin.
'Thanks for a lovely afternoon,' said Martin, limping to the door with them. 'I enjoyed my spot of painting, to say nothing of your company.' 'You stick out for your painting,' said Julian. 'If it's the thing you've got to do, and you know it, you must go all out for it. See?' 'Yes,' said Martin, and his face went sullen again. 'But there are things that make it difficult -- things I can't very well tell you. Oh well - never mind! I dare say it will all come right one day, and I'll be a famous artist with pictures in the academy!' 'Come on, quickly,' said Dick, in a low voice to Julian. 'There's his father coming back!' They hurried off down the cliff-path, seeing Mr. Curton out of the corner of their eyes, coming up the other path.
'Horrid man!' said Anne. 'Forbidding Martin to do what he really longs to do. And he seemed so nice and jolly and all-over-us, didn't he?' 'Very all-over-us,' said Dick, smiling at Anne's new word. 'But there are a lot of people like that -- one thing at home and quite another outside!' 'I hope Mr. Curton hasn't been trying to explore that passage in the side of the quarry,' said George, looking back, and watching the man walk up to his back door. 'It would be too bad if he butted in and spoilt our fun. I mean -- there may be nothing to discover at all -- but it will be fun even finding there is nothing.' 'Very involved!' said Dick, with a grin. 'But I gather what you mean. I say, that was a good tea, wasn't it?' 'Yes,' said George, looking all round her in an absent-'minded manner.
'What's up?' said Dick. 'What are you looking like that for?' 'Oh - how silly of me - I was just looking for Timmy,' said George. 'You know, I'm so used to him always being at my heels or somewhere near that I just can't get used to him not being here.' 'Yes, I feel a bit like that too,' said Julian. 'As if there was something missing all the time. Good old Tim! We 'shall miss him awfully, all of us -- but you most of all, 'George.' 'Yes. Especially on my bed at night,' said George. 'I shan't be able to go to sleep for ages and ages.' 'I'll wrap a cushion up in a rug and plonk it down on your feet when you're in bed,' said Dick. 'Then it will 'feel like Timmy!' 'It won't! Don't be silly,' said George, rather crossly. And anyway it wouldn't smell like him. He's got a lovely smell.' 'Yes, a Timmy-smell,' agreed Anne. 'I like it too.' The evening went very quickly, playing the endless game of monopoly again. Julian lay in bed later, watching for, his uncle's signal. Needless to say, George was at the window too! They waited for half past ten.
'Now!' said Julian. And just as he spoke there came 'the first flash from the lantern in the tower.
'One,' counted George, 'two, three, four, five, six!' She waited anxiously to see if there were any more, but there weren't.
'Now you can go to bed in peace,' said Julian to George. 'Your father is all right, and that means 'that Timmy is all right too. Probably he has remembered to give Timmy a good supper, and has had some himself as well!' 'Well, Timmy would soon remind him, if he forgot to feed him, that's one thing,' said George, slipping out of the room. 'Good night, Dick; good night, Ju! See you in the morning.' And back she went to her own bed and snuggled down under the sheets. It was queer not to have Timmy on her feet. She tossed about for a while, missing him, and then fell asleep quite suddenly. She dreamed of her island. She was there with Timmy -- and they were discovering ingots of gold down in the dungeon. What a lovely dream! Next morning dawned bright and sunny again. The April sky was as blue as the forget-me-nots coming out in the garden. George gazed out of the dining-room window at breakfast-time, wondering if Timmy was run-fling about her island.
'Dreaming about Tim?' said Julian, with a laugh. 'Never mind -- you'll soon see him, George. Another hour or so and you'll feast your eyes on him through the coastguard's telescope!' 'Do you really think you'll be able to make out Tim, if he's in the tower with your father at half past ten?' asked her mother. 'I shouldn't have thought you would be able to.' 'Yes, I shall, Mother,' said George. 'It's a very powerful telescope, you know. I'll just go up and make my bed, then I'll go up the cliff-path. Anyone else coming?' 'I want Anne to help me with some turning out,' said her mother. 'I'm looking out some old clothes to give to the vicar's wife for her jumble sale. You don't mind helping me, Anne, do you?' 'No, I'd like to,' said Anne at once. 'What are the boys going to do?' 'I think I must do a bit of my holiday work this morning,' said Julian, with a sigh. 'I don't want to -but I've kept on putting it off. You'd better do some too, Dick. You know what you are -- you'll leave it all to the last day if you're not careful!' 'All right. I'll do some too,' said Dick. 'You won't mind scooting up to the coastguard's cottage alone, will you, George?' 'Not a bit,' said George. 'I'll come back just after half past ten, as soon as I've spotted Timmy and Father.' She disappeared to make her bed. Julian and Dick went to fetch some books. Anne went to make her bed too, and then came down to help her aunt. In a few minutes George yelled good-bye and rushed out of the house.
'What a hurricane!' said her mother. 'It seems as if George never walks if she can possibly run. Now Anne -put the clothes in three piles -- the very old - the not so old -- and the quite nice.' Just before half past ten Julian went up to his window to watch for the signal from his uncle. He waited patiently. A few seconds after the hall-hour the flashes came - one, two, three, four, five, six - good! Now George would settle down for the day. Perhaps they could go to the quarry in the afternoon. Julian went back to his books and was soon buried in them, with Dick grunting by his side.
George was red in the face, and her hair was windblown. She fought to get her breath enough to speak. 'Julian! Dick! Something's happened -- Timmy wasn't there!' 'What do you mean?' said Julian in surprise. George slumped down on a chair, still panting. The boys could see that she was trembling too.
'It's serious, Julian! I tell you Timmy wasn't in the tower when the signals came!' 'Well -- it only means that your absent-minded father forgot to take him up with him,' said Julian, in his most sensible voice. 'What did you see?' 'I had my eye glued to the telescope,' said George, 'and suddenly I saw someone come into the little glass room at the top. I looked for Timmy, of course, at once -but I tell you, he wasn't there! The six flashes came, the man disappeared -- and that was all. No Timmy! Oh I do feel so dreadfully worried, Julian.' 'Well, don't be,' said Julian, soothingly. 'Honestly, I'm sure that's what happened. Your father forgot about Timmy. Anyway, if you saw him, obviously things are all right.' 'I'm not thinking about Father!' cried George. 'He must he all right if he flashed his signals -- I'm thinking about Timmy. Why, even if Father forgot to take him, he'd go with him. You know that!' 'Your father might have shut the door at the bottom and prevented Timmy from going up,' said Dick.
'He might,' said George, frowning. She hadn't thought of that. 'Oh dear - now I shall worry all day long. Why didn't I stay with Timmy? What shall I do now?' 'Wait till tomorrow morning,' said Dick. 'Then probably you'll see old Tim all right.' 'Tomorrow morning! Why, that's ages away!' said poor George. She put her head in her hands and groaned. 'Oh, nobody understands how much I love Timmy. You would perhaps if you had a dog of your own, Julian. It's an awful feeling, really. Oh Timmy, are you all right?' 'Of course he's all right,' said Julian, impatiently. 'Do pull yourself together, George.' 'I feel as if something's wrong,' said George, looking obstinate. 'Julian -- I think I'd better go across to the island.' 'No,' said Julian at once. 'Don't be idiotic, George.' Nothing is wrong, except that your father's been forgetful. He's sent his O.K. signal. That's enough! You're not to go and create a scene over there with him. That would be disgraceful!' 'Well - I'll try and be patient,' said George, unexpectedly meek. She got up, looking, worried. Julian spoke in a kinder voice.
'Cheer up, old thing'! You do like to go off the deep end, don't you?'
Chapter Fifteen
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
GEORGE did not moan any more about her worries. She went about with an anxious look in her blue eyes, but she had the sense not to 'tell her mother how worried she was at not seeing Timmy in the glass room, when her father signalled.
She mentioned it, of course, but her mother took the same view as Julian did. 'There! I knew he'd forget to take Timmy up! He's so very forgetful when he's at work.' The children decided to go to the quarry that afternoon and explore the tunnel under the shelf of rock. So they set off after their lunch. But when they came to the quarry, they did not dare to climb down the steep sides. The heavy rain of the day before, had made them far too dangerous.
'Look,' said Julian, pointing to' where the bushes and smaller plants were ripped up and crushed. 'I bet that's where old Martin fell down yesterday! He might have broken his neck!' 'Yes. I vote we don't attempt to go down till it's as dry as it was the other day,' said Dick.
It was disappointing. They had brought torches, and a rope; and had looked forward to a little excitement. 'Well, what shall we do?' asked Julian.
'I'm going back' home,' said George, unexpectedly. 'I'm tired. You others go for a walk.' Anne looked at George. She did seem rather pale. 'I'll come back with you, George,' said Anne, slipping her hand through her cousin's arm. But George shook it off.
'No thanks, Anne, I want to be alone?
'Well - we'll go over the cliff then,' said Julian. 'It'll be nice and blowy up there, See you later, George!' They went off. George turned and sped back to Kirrin a cottage. Her mother was out. Joanna was upstairs in her bedroom. George went to 'the larder and took several things from it. She bundled them into a bag and then fled out of the house.
She found James the fisher-boy. 'James! You're not to tell a soul. I'm going over to Kirrin Island tonight because I'm worried about Timmy. We left him there. Have my boat ready at ten o'clock.' James was always ready to do anything in the world for George. He nodded and asked no questions at all. 'Right, Miss. It'll be ready. Anything you want put in it?' 'Yes, this bag,' said George. 'Now don't split, on me, James. I'll be back tomorrow if I find Tim's all right?
She fled back to the house. She hoped Joanna would not notice the things she had taken from the larder shelf. 'I can't help it if what I'm doing is wrong,' she kept whispering to herself. 'I know something isn't right with Timmy. And I'm not at all sure about Father, either. He wouldn't have forgotten his solemn promise to 'me about taking Timmy up with him. I'll have to go across 'to the island. I can't help it if it's wrong!' The others wondered what was up with George when they came back from their walk. She was so fidgety and restless. They had tea and then did some gardening for Aunt Fanny. George did some too, but her thoughts were far away, and twice her mother had to stop her pulling up seedlings instead of weeds.
Bedtime came. The girls got into bed at about a quarter to ten. Anne was tired and fell asleep at once. As soon as George heard her regular breathing she crept quietly out of bed and dressed again. She pulled on her warmest jersey, got her raincoat, rubber boots and a thick rug, and tiptoed downstairs.
Out of the side door she went and into the night. There was a bit of a moon in the sky, so it was not as dark as usual. George was glad. She would be able to see her way through the rocks a little now -- though she was sure she could guide the boat even in the dark! James was waiting for her. Her boat was ready. 'Everything's in,' said James. 'I'll push off. Now you be careful, Miss -- and if you do scrape a rock, row like anything in case she fills and sinks. Ready?' Off went George, hearing the lap-lap of the water against the sides of the boat. She heaved a sigh of relief, and began to row strongly away from the shore. She frowned as she rowed. Had she brought everything she might want? Two torches. Plenty of food. A tin-opener. Something to drink. A rug to wrap herself in tonight.
Back at Kirrin Cottage Julian lay in bed watching for his uncle's signal. Half past ten. Now for the signal. Ah, here they were! One -- two three - four -- five -six.! Good. Six and no more! He wondered why George hadn't come into his and Dick's room to watch for them. She had last night. He got up, padded to me door of George's room and put his head in 'George!' he said softly. 'It's O.K. Your father's signals have just come again.' There was no reply. Julian heard regular breathing and turned to go back to bed. The girls must be asleep already! Well, George couldn't really be worrying much about Timmy now, then! Julian got into his bed and soon fell asleep himself. He had no idea that George's bed was empty no idea that even now George was battling with the waves that guarded Kirrin Island! It was more difficult than she had expected, for the moon did not really give very much light, and had an annoying way of going behind a cloud just when she badly needed every scrap of light she could get. But, deftly and cleverly, she managed to make her way through the passage between the hidden rocks. Thank goodness the tide was high so that most of them were well below the surface! At last she swung her boat into the little cove. Here the water was perfectly calm. Panting a little, George pulled her boat up as far as she could. Then she stood in the darkness and thought hard.
What was she going to do? She did not know where her father's hiding-place was but she felt certain the entrance to it must be somewhere in or near the little stone room. Should she make her way to that?
Yes, she would. It would be the only place to shelter in for the night, anyway. She would put on her torch when she got there, and hunt round for any likely entrance to the hiding-place. If she found it, she would go in and what a surprise she would give her father! If old Timmy was there he would go mad with delight. She took the heavy bag, draped the rug over her arm, and set off. She did not dare to put on her torch yet, in case the unknown enemy was lurking near. After all, her father had heard him cough at night! George was not frightened. She did not even think about being frightened. All her thoughts were set on finding Timmy and making sure he was safe.
She came to the little stone room. It was pitch-dark in there, of course - not even the faint light of the moon pierced into its blackness. George had to put on her torch.
She put down her bundle at the back of the wall, near the old fireplace recess. She draped the rug over it and sat down to have a rest, switching off her torch.
After a while she got up cautiously and switched on her torch again. She began to search for the hiding-place. Where could the entrance be? She flashed her torch on to every flagstone in the floor of the room. But not one looked as if it had been moved or lifted. There was nothing to show where there might be an entrance underground.
She moved round the walls, examining those too in the light of her torch. No - there was no sign that a hidden way lay behind any of those stones either. It was most tantalizing. If she only knew! She went to wrap the rug round her, and to sit and think. It was cold now. She was shivering, as she sat there in the dark, trying to puzzle out where the hidden entrance could be.
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