The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney, Australia. by Carole Marsh

Transcription

1 The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef Sydney, Australia by Carole Marsh

2 Copyright 2006 Carole Marsh/ Gallopade International All rights reserved. First Edition Carole Marsh Mysteries and its skull colophon are the property of Carole Marsh and Gallopade International. Published by Gallopade International/Carole Marsh Books. Printed in the United States of America. Managing Editor: Sherry Moss Cover Design: Michele Winkelman Content Design: Steven St. Laurent, Line Creek Creative Picture Credits: The publisher would like to thank the following for their kind permission to reproduce the cover photographs. Carmen Martínez Banús Fishhook; 2006 JupiterImages Corporation Sydney Opera House, Kangaroo, Uluru; David Mckee, Dili, East Timor Dreamstime.com Blue Water, Coral Reef This book is a complete work of fiction. All events are fictionalized, and although the names of real people are used, their characterization in this book is fiction. Dedicated to Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, and his family. Gallopade is proud to be a member and supporter of these educational organizations and associations: American Booksellers Association International Reading Association National Association for Gifted Children The National School Supply and Equipment Association The National Council for the Social Studies Museum Store Association Association of Partners for Public Lands Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrightable materials. Your support of the author s rights is appreciated.

3 About the Characters Christina, age 10: Mysterious things really do happen to her! Hobbies: soccer, Girl Scouts, anything crafty, hanging out with Mimi, and going on new adventures. Grant, age 7: Always manages to fall off boats, back into cactuses, and find strange clues even in real life! Hobbies: camping, baseball, computer games, math, and hanging out with Papa. Mimi is Carole Marsh, children s book author and creator of Carole Marsh Mysteries, Around the World in 80 Mysteries, Three Amigos Mysteries, Criss, Cross, Applesauce Detective Agency Mysteries, and many others. Papa is Bob Longmeyer, the author s real-life husband, who really does wear a tuxedo, cowboy boots and hat, fly an airplane, captain a boat, speak in a booming voice, and laugh a lot! Travel around the world with Christina and Grant as they visit famous places in 80 countries, and experience the mysterious happenings that always seem to follow them!

4 Table of Contents 1 Boomerang, Dingo Trouble in Paradise? A Mystery? Clues! Down Under Opal Off to the Outback! Code Red Alice Springs Hot to Trot in Camelot Uluru A Thorny Devil The Devil s Marbles Outback Jack The Great Barrier Reef Coral Reefers Just What I m Afraid Of! Scuba, Dooba, Doo Vanished! Thunder Down Under Sydneysaurus Run! The Sydney Opera House A Boomerang or a Bust! Crikey! About the Series Creator Built-In Book Club: Talk About It! Built-In Book Club: Bring it to Life! Glossary

5 1 1 Boomerang, Dingo Boomerang dingo kangaroo Grant stared out into space, muttering slowly to himself. Crikey, sheila, croc Grant? said his grandmother, Mimi, what are you doing? They were standing in the airport in Sydney, Australia waiting for a taxicab. Practicing my Australian, said Grant, nonchalantly. Your Australian? Mimi repeated, confused. Yes ma am, said her grandson, age seven. I know a lot of Australian words: outback, didgeridoo, koala I know a lot of Aussie words.

6 2 The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef Mimi laughed. You do know that Australians speak English? Grant looked at his grandmother like she was crazy. Then why do they sound so funny? It s their accent, said Mimi, looking all around for Papa and Christina. She wondered where they could be and how long it could take to get a taxi in a busy airport like Sydney, which was bustling this morning. I think the Australians have a wonderful accent. And, the Australians are so friendly. And, yes, they do have their own Aussie jargon. Grant grinned. They must be friendly, he said. They re always saying G day, mate to me. But Australia is a mystery to me already. Again Mimi was puzzled. Why is that? Grant made a list: Their seasons are backwards, they spell funny, have funny money, have weird measurements, and stuff like that. Once more Mimi laughed. Grant, this is a foreign country, you know. We re in a different hemisphere, that s why their seasons are opposite from ours in the United States. And they spell the English way, like colour instead of color. You ll get used to the currency. And they use the metric system.

7 Boomerang, Dingo 3 Grant shook his head. I still think it s mysterious here. I just feel it in the air. He waved his arms slowly through the air as if he really could feel mystery in the air. Oh, Grant, said Mimi. Don t be silly. Suddenly Papa and Christina came running toward them, dodging other tourists loaded with luggage. Christina s face was red; she looked like she might be going to cry. Papa s face was red; he looked very angry. What s wrong? asked Mimi. Papa huffed and puffed. This place is a mystery to me! Christina grabbed Mimi around her waist. Oh, Mimi, she wailed. They say all our paperwork is messed up. They say we can t stay in the country. And we just got here! Now Mimi s face got red. Who says? Why? I know our passports and immigration papers are in order. Who says we can t stay? Mimi was not the kind of person who took NO graciously. Suddenly, they all turned to see a tall gentleman in a snappy blue, double-breasted suit with shiny brass buttons. The man sported brilliant white hair, more or less stuffed beneath

8 4 The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef a billed cap, and a matching white walrus-style moustache. He looked like a ship captain from time past. In a deep, booming voice, he announced: I DO!

9 5 2 Trouble in Paradise? Are you Captain Kangaroo? Grant asked the bespectacled, moustachioed man. Everyone else was momentarily speechless, waiting for the mysterious man s answer. For a moment, the man (who looked a lot like Mark Twain to Christina) looked like he was angry. Or at least his cheeks turned an even brighter red and his glacier blue eyes narrowed beneath his bushy white eyebrows. He pursed his lips. Christina thought he looked like a person about to blow their top. But suddenly, he let out a whoosh of air so loud that it made a shrill whistle. Then the man broke into a roar of laughter so loud that many

10 6 The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef passing travelers stopped to stare. Just look at this motley crew! he bellowed. In turn, he stared at each of them: Mimi in her smart black and white suit; Papa in his usual neatly starched and pressed jeans and shirt, leather vest, cowboy boots and ten gallon hat; Christina, carrying her American Girl dolls, Savannah and Juliette, beneath her arms; and Grant, wearing cargo shorts and a bush jacket with toy dinosaurs sticking out of every pocket. The man laughed once more. You all must have jet lag not to know a joke when you hear it! Don t you know me? he bellowed again, this time followed by a big grin and outstretched arms. Jervis? Mimi inquired at last. Dr. Jervis Rottnest? The man bowed deeply. At your service, madam, he replied. Mimi turned to the others. Dr. Rottnest is a world-famous marine biologist, she explained. His specialty is Australia s Great Barrier Reef. He s helped me before with research for some of my mystery books, but we have never actually met until now. She beamed at the professor who looked plum tickled to be found out and gave Mimi a bear hug.

11 Trouble In Paradise? 7 Grant looked puzzled. So if you have never met, then how did you know him? he asked his grandmother. Because, said Mimi, he talks just like he writes in his s and letters! Nice to meet you, said Papa, shaking hands. Following his grandfather s lead, Grant shook hands with Dr. Rottnest too. Since Christina s arms were filled with dolls, she just gave a little curtsey. Dr. Rottnest laughed. I hope your dollies brought their swimsuits and snorkeling gear? Then he turned to Mimi. Why don t we have a spot of tea and I ll tell your delightful family a little about what they are going to see while they are in Australia? Wonderful! said Mimi, looking around for a convenient café. But that was not what Dr. Rottnest had in mind. For the next thing they knew, he waved his arms and porters appeared and carted their luggage to a waiting town car. Grant and Christina grinned when Dr. Rottnest directed the driver to take them to Woolloomooloo where they sat down to tea in a pretty outdoor café overlooking the famous and beautiful Sydney Opera House.

12 8 The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef As they settled into their seats, Mimi asked, Dr. Rottnest, it is wonderful that you met us, but such a surprise. I know we have corresponded frequently when I had research questions for one of my books, but what prompted you to show us such hospitality? It s quite appreciated, but I know you are a busy man and we would not want to infringe on your schedule. Christina knew her grandmother well. She could tell that Mimi was being extremely polite, but a little suspicious. However, Dr. Rottnest answered Mimi s question with no hesitation. I thought you could use some assistance while you are visiting here in Australia, Dr. Rottnest said, then confessed. And, I thought that perhaps if I helped you, then you might help me. Mimi looked confused. With what? she asked. Dr. Rottnest lowered his head, lifted his bushy white eyebrows, and twitched his wooly, white moustache. With a mystery!

13 9 3 A Mystery! Uh, excuse me, Grant interrupted, as Mimi caught her breath at the unexpected request. Mimi doesn t really like to do mystery stuff when she s on vacation, he warned Dr. Rottnest. Next Christina interrupted. But she always does. Christina really wanted to know what the mysterious mystery was. After all, what fun was a vacation without a mystery? She and Grant traveled with their grandparents often, especially when Mimi was doing research for one of her mystery books. But this was supposed to be a vacation; a break from mystery for Mimi. Well, said Dr. Rottnest in a serious voice. I hope she will make an exception this time. He looked at Mimi entreatingly. It is life or death.

14 10 The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef For a moment there was stunned silence at the table. Finally, Mimi asked in a soft voice. Life or death for whom? Dr. Rottnest lowered his head even further. Unconsciously, the others did too, until they were all sitting hunkered over the table as if in a huddle. When he had their full attention, Dr. Rottnest explained. Life and death for the creatures of the Great Barrier Reef one of Australia s most famous and beloved places. And, life or death for my career. He frowned. And I, a marine biologist, not a master detective, have been charged with solving the mystery post haste. Dr. Rottnest rared back and folded his arms across his broad chest in a how do you like them apples? stance. He was clearly waiting for Mimi s response. Finally, Papa saved the day sort of. You know that my wife writes children s mystery books, he began. She is not a master detective either. And, she s on vacation to get away from her writing chores for a while. Giving a grave bow of his head, Dr. Rottnest responded apologetically. I understand, he said in great earnestness. I m

15 A Mystery! 11 fearfully sorrowful to even broach the subject. But under the circumstances I feel compelled to seek all the expert help I can possibly muster. Time is of the essence. And with all my head and heart I believe that the solution to this curious, curious mystery can only be solved by a person with a pure mind and a pure heart someone who sees with clarity and simplicity who is creative and caring. Papa began to cough. Christina knew her grandfather well. If it would not be impolite, she thought he would say that Dr. Rottnest was full of hot air and just trying to bamboozle Mimi with false praise. Even Christina thought this could be the case, but she was still curious to at least learn what the mystery was, no matter what Mimi decided to do or not do about it. Mimi cleared her throat. Well you know, Dr. Rottnest she began. He interrupted. Jervis, please, he insisted. Call me Jervis. Mimi cleared her throat again. Jervis. It would help to know exactly what this mystery is. Christina and Grant exchanged a grin. Good for Mimi, Christina thought. Make him put up or shut up. Mimi did not mess around

16 12 The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef with mystery. She was surprised to see Dr. Rottnest look very uncomfortable. He sighed several times. Almost as if it pained him, he finally nodded. So be it, he said and began to pull small cards from his vest pocket. He laid them gently in a fan before them. And these are? Mimi asked. Dr. Rottnest said one word: Clues!