Chapter 17 & 18

Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 12:21 AM.

CHAPTER 17



After they had parked Rob's car and snuck out, they ran back to Sams house. After they had rested a while the reality of what they had just done hit them smack in the face.

"We're dead." Wayde muttered.

"We're not dead. You are." Justin replied.

"Why me?"

"Cause you drove."

"Sam did to."

"You and Sam then."

"Yeah? Well, what happens to you then?" Sam said, sitting down.

"Nothing. I didn't drive." Justin said, grinning big.

"Close ya mouth, innocent boy." Wayde said.

"He's right you know." Sam said to Wayde.

"Yeah! I'm right!" Justin butted in.

"Be quiet, Justin." Sam replied.

"So ... what do we do?" Wayde said.

"We could call the police."

"You would, would you?!"

"Yeah."

"Some friend you are!" Wayde said, his emotions flapping.

"He serious?" Sam said, to Justin.

"Dunno, ask him."

"Stop talking like I'm not even in the room!" Wayde said, hotly.

"I ain't askin' him." Sam said.

"That's it! I'm outta here! Cya so-called-friend-whoâd-call-the-police -to-string-up-his-best-friend!" And Wayde stomped out the room, out the door and down the street.

"Uh ... Justin, does he act like this at home?" Sam asked, confused.

"Depends ... when I told mum he was sneaking socks and stuffing them in his pants when he got a smack he kinda acted like that."

"I see."

"Don't worry bout' him. He'll come 'round."

"I see."

"He's just a bit uh ... in trouble at the moment."

"I see."

Justin grinned, "Just like you."

"I see."

Justin stopped grinning, "What's the matter?"

"I see ... uh, oh, nothing."

"Sam, dude, you can't always hold in what your feeling man. You just gotta let it out sometime. Otherwise it'll just keeping eating at ya. Won't let up. So ya can tell me what's going on. I won't tell anyone. C'mon spill the beans."

Sam blinked.

"What?"

"What's going on?"

"You know when we went to Disneyland, two months ago?"

"Sure."

"No. We've never been to Disneyland. You seem to be a bit confused too. How about you stop getting on my case when your going through the same thing."

Justin blinked.

"What?"

"I think you'd better leave."

"What?"

"Now."

"Wha- uh, well, ok. Uh, bye."

"Yeah, bye."

So Justin got up, more than a bit confused, and walked out.



Wayde was steaming. Literally. Had ran the last kilometer to his house and was sweating like a ... well, like a human that had ran a kilometer in 38 degree heat would.

"I can't believe he would call the cops on me ... although I probably deserve it. I broke the law! Oh man! God, I'm sorry. I won't do it again ... I think. But I really am sorry." He said aloud as he pushed open the door to see that the lights were off and noone was home.

'Huh, what day is it? Saturday. Hmm, maybe mum and dad went out to lunch ... again.' He walked through his house and sat down on the couch. He turned on the T.V. to see if any sport was on when he heard talking ... loud talking.

He didn't feel anything when he pressed the volume button.

He felt something when he saw that the volume was on zero.

He gulped. Someone was in his house.



Justin trudged through high weeds growing on the side of the road as he walked home. Their house was on top of a hill sort of and he could see it from where he was ... about 150 metres or so away.

'Why, is everyone so ... touchy, today?' He thought, 'I mean we only broke the law, stole a car, shoved a taxi driver out of his car, drove above the speed limit, under age drove and ... well, I guess that's a good reason to be touchy.'

He walked on until he was a short way away from the house.

'Mum and dad musta' gone somewhere.' He thought as he saw that both their cars were gone, 'All well. Guess I'll have to face Wayde alone.'



'Oh dear. No ... must be my imagination. Nope not my imagination. Wait. Yes. No. There definitely is someone in here other than me. Maybe it's Justin. Nah, I ran here. Guess I'll haveta' get rid of this ... person, before he ... does something he shouldn't.'

Wayde got up and snuck down the hall way. No one in his and Justins room. He walked down some more. Noone in his parents room. He slowly pushed open the bathroom door. Noone in there either. He stopped for a moment. And listened. He could still here muffled voices and shuffling. And it sounded like they were right ... above him.

He jerked his head up to a blank white roof.

'Nothing suspicious. Blank white. Smudge where Justin through his dirty sock at me and a m- m- manhole.' He gulped. Suddenly he knew where the voices where coming from.



'What was I thinking?' Sam thought to himself, 'That's my best friend ... And I just kicked him out. Man! What's gotten into me? Man ... I gotta catch him." Sam got up and locked the door after him.

'He couldn't have gone that far.' He jumped on his bike and took off down the road.



Justin had almost reached their door when he heard something behind him. He looked back and saw Sam riding up. He stopped and waited for Sam to come over. Sam grinned at Justin, hopped off and let go off his bike.

Ka-bam! His bike slammed into the ground.

"Ahh! Man! Keep forgetting to put the stand down!" Sam said picking his bike back up.

Justin grinned.

"Hey man. Sorry bout' what I just said ... Dunno what I was thinking. Still friends?" Sam said, holding out his fist.

Justin grinned again and slammed his fist into Sams, "Sure thing, pal."

"Come inside. I'll getcha a drink."

Sam followed Justin inside then stopped. "Uh, why are all your lights off?" Sam said.

"Huh, good point. Dunno." Justin replied flicking on the light.



Wayde was stuck still. Their we're another bunch of people entering his house. He quickly walked back out and down the hall. He poked his head around the corner to see Sam and Justin laughing on the couch.

"Guys!" Wayde said, running out.

"Guy." Sam nodded.

"Mate." Justin nodded.

"Friend." Sam nodded.

"Pal." Justin nodded.

"Dude." Sam nodded.

"Huh?" Wayde asked.

"Nothing. Sorry 'bout what I said before. Still friends?" Sam said again sticking out his fist.

Wayde looked at Sams fist and said, "Uh yeah."

Sam dropped his fist and shook his head at Justin.

"Quick, guys you gotta follow me!" Wayde blurted.

"Sure. After we finish our drinks." Justin replied, slurping down his coke.

"No! You've gotta come now! There's someone in our roof!"

"It's probably just a rat." Sam said.

"Do rats talk?"

"On T.V. they do."

"This ain't T.V. Now come on!"

Justin shrugged at Sam and they both got up and followed Wayde to the bathroom.

"Wayde, I'm sure you've got a nice bathroom but I'm thirsty." Sam said.

"Shh! Listen." Wayde replied.

They were quiet and listened. Sure enough they heard voices.

"How'd they get up there?" Justin asked.

Wayde pointed to the manhole.

"I see."

"We gotta figure out a way of getting them out. And in." Wayde said.

"Out? In?" Sam said, confused.

"Outta here. Into jail."

"Oh, right."

"Come on ... Hoist me up." Wayde said, lifting one foot.

"What?" Justin asked.

"What do you mean what?"

"What are you gonna do?"

"Climb in the roof and get em'!"

Justin looked at Sam. Sam looked at Justin. They both looked at Wayde.

"Are you nuts?" Sam said.

"Do you have a better idea?" Wayde said.

"Yeah."

"What?"

"Let's go back into the kitchen and grab a drink."

"No. Now help me!"

Sam rolled his eyes and grabbed his foot. Justin grabbed the other and they lifted Wayde up.

"Little higher!" Wayde said.

"Higher? You must weigh a tonne!" Sam puffed.

"Got it!" Wayde said, pushing the man hole up through the roof and looking through.

"I can't hold him anymore!" Justin squeezed out.

Suddenly they heard Rob's voice.

"Hey! You kid! Stop!"

"Ahh!" Wayde yelled.

Sam got knocked off balance and stepped on Justins toe.

"Ahh! Youch!" Justin grabbed his foot ... dropping Waydes.

"Justin!" Sam yelled under the weight.

Crack! Sam dropped Wayde and Wayde came tumbling back down.

Amazingly, Wayde landed on his feet ... On Sams hand.

"Ahhhhhh!!! You crazy person!!!!!" Sam screamed.

"Oops, sorry Sam." Wayde said, moving over.

Crackkkk! The mirror shattered in front of their eyes.

"Run!" Justin screamed as he saw a gun pointing through the hole.

They took off back down the hall and out their front door. Their next door neighbours front yard was a forest. Huge tree and tonnes of large plants were everywhere. So Wayde motioned them to hide in there. They all ducked behind a big, leafy bush.

"Whatd'cha see?" Sam asked, quickly and quietly.

"Rob ... And ... And-"

"Who else?" Justin butted in.

"Mum and dad."

Plop. Justin fainted.

"What do ya mean?" Sam asked.

"They where there ... Tied up."

"Tied up? In the roof?"

"Uh huh."

"This is too weird."

"Yeah, well, we've gotta get them out!"

"How?"

"We go in the same way they got in."

"And ... Where was that?"

"On the roof."

"Huh?"

"Think man. Tiles. Roof."

"Not following ya."

"T-i-l-e-s and r-o-o-f."

"You think spelling it out will help me understand?"

"Oh brother. They got in by moving the tiles on the roof and getting in."

"Then how did he get your parents up there?"

"Probably forced em' ... up a ladder."

"Yeah, well. Lets look for a ladder then."

Wayde just looked at Justin.

"I can get him awake." Sam said, rushing off.

"Sam!" Wayde hissed. But Sam kept on moving.

A while later Sam came back ... With a bucket of water in his hands.

"Wakey wakey, kiddo." Said Sam, then poured it on Justins head.

"Don't shoot!" Justin screamed, waking up.

Wayde slammed his hand on Justin mouth.

"Shhh!"

"Huh? Oh, Wayde! Your not dead."

Wayde had a feeling he didn't want to know what Justin had just dreamed about.

"No ... Now follow us." They crept after Wayde.



CHAPTER 18



"Do any of you guys have a towel?"

"Quiet Justin! Do you wanna give us away?" Wayde replied, harshly.

"No, I wanna give Sam away though."

"Huh? Why?" Sam asked.

"I sure you didn't have a second thought about dumping water, -20 degrees cold, on my head! Didcha?"

"Well, yeah. Actually I did."

"You did?" Justin said, dully.

"Yeah, I wondered if I should put concrete in the bucket or water ... So be happy I chose water."

"Funny."

"C'mon guys! Stop arguing. Sam, you get up the ladder first." Wayde said.

"Me? Nuh uh. No way."

"Just get up there!"

"Your forcing me up?"

"Remember that time when we shaved your head straight down the middle while you were asleep?"

"I'm on my way."

They watched as Sam climbed to the top and motioned for them to come up.

"Wayde ... Perhaps you should go before me."

"Justin ... Perhaps you should move your behind before I kick it to kingdom come."

"Wayde, I mean it. I ain't good at climbing ladders."

"What do ya mean? When was the last time your fell off a- oh ... I keep forgetting."

Justin rubbed his arm in painful memory.

"Yeah ... So ..."

"So get up there like nothing ever happened."

"Wayde!"

"C'mon it'll be cinch. Remember I'll be down here so I can catch ya if your gonna fall."

"Gee Wayde. You make me feel so secure."

"I know. Now get up there!"

"Gee Wayde, you make me feel so-"

He got cut off as Wayde shoved him (hard) towards the ladder.

Justin gulped and began climbing.

He was halfway up when Wayde shook the ladder.

"Wayde!" Justin hissed.

"Just lettin' ya know I'm here." Wayde grinned.

Justin rolled his eyes and climbing the next few rungs as quick as he had ever before ... Which wasn't that quick.

Once he had reached the top he grinned at Sam and waved for Wayde to come up. Justin turned around when he heard a crack behind him.

Sam and Justin whirled around to see the ladder disappear.

They peeked over the side to see Wayde laying the ladder on the ground.

He looked back up at Sam and Justin and winked. Then ran around the corner of the house.

"Uh ... Did he just ditch us?" Justin muttered.

"Lousy bushwacking coward." Sam muttered back.

"Nah ... He's probably got some other plan ... I hope."

"Yeah, right. I see through those little beady eyes of his! He's too chicken to help us so he's leaving us up here."

"I sure hope your ... Wrong."

"Yeah, whatever."

"C'mon let's, uh, survey the situation from three different angles."

"What?"

"Um ... Uh, well. Uh, Sam look through the file!"

"The what?"

"Uh, tile. Look through the tile."

"I think you've had to much sun."

"Run? There's nowhere to run."

"Get a hold of yourself man."

"Ok Sam. Sam da man. Man, dude, friend, pal. Sammy."

"Justin, look at me."

Justin stopped and looked at Sam.

Pow! Sam slapped Justin on the side of the face.

"Quiet. Got it?" He asked.

"...yeah, I got it."

"Good. Now watch."

Justin watched as Sam moved over to the side of the roof and grabbed a tile. As slowly as he could he slid the tile down.

Sam cringed as it made a small scraping sound.

He looked through then motioned for Justin to come.

Justin gulped as he looked over the side of the roof.

Sam tapped Justin on the shoulder.

"Sam!" Justin said, grabbing Sam, "You all most knocked me off!"

"Yeah, I feel terrible about that ... Now be quiet and look."

Justin poked his head through the hole ... And sneezed. The sneeze echoed throughout the roof.

"Justin!"

"Sorry, I couldn't hold in it any longer!"

"Well, you could've done it when ya head wasn't in there!"

"What do you think I was sposed to-" All of a sudden another voice filled the hole.

"Ah ... I'm glad you came to join us." Suddenly a gun poked through the hole, "Get in!"

"Ahh!" Justin screamed, falling backwards.

"Watch out!" Sam yelled as Justin rammed into him.

"Ahhhhhh!!!!" Justin yelled again as he tripped over Sam. The last thing he saw before falling was Rob grabbing Sam.

"Nooo!" Justin yelled, grabbing at the gutter. Slip. He missed.

"Help!" Justin braced himself for the impact. He never felt it.

Justin opened one eye. He was in Waydes arms.

Wayde smiled, "You fell off the roof."

Flop. Justin fainted again. Well, tried to.

"Hey!" Wayde slapped Justin, "You gotta stay awake! I need ya help."

"Huh? Oh yeah, great."

"You better be glad I caught ya when I did. Or else ya would be ... be ..."

"Please don't talk about it."

"Yeah, well, c'mon follow me." Wayde said, dropping Justin.

"Ouch!" Justin yelled, as he hit the ground.

"Stop being such a klutz!"

"You can talk! Just drop me why don't ya!"

"You want me to carry you?"

"Yeah."

"Find your own camel. Now follow!"

Justin grabbed his back and hobbled after Wayde.



Bang! Rob slammed Sam down next to Mrs and Mr Randell.

"Hey! You fat slob! Watch it!"

"Kid, let me give you a little bit of advice, don't mess with me."

"Why not? Huh? Whatcha gonna do?"

Rob waved his gun in front of Sams face.

"Use your imagination."

Sam gulped.

"Make a move and your history." Rob said, grabbing some rope he had got from who-knows-where and tied Sams wrists together.

"How am I sposed to move?" Sam muttered.

"What's that?!" Rob asked.

"I said, 'You reek and look like a geek.'"

"Funny kid. Yeah, you talk big now but when your burning like ... like ... fire, you'll be singing a different tune."

"B-burning?"

Rob smiled, revieling ugly brown and yellow teeth.

"Yup."



"Wayde! We were just in here! We could get k - k -"

"Kicked out?"

"Not the words I was thinking of but close enough."

"Hey, no prob. I've got it all figured out. And you won't believe what I found."

"I'm sure I'll believe it."

"I'm not so sure."

"Well, what is it?"

"Follow me."

"How many times do you have to say that?"

"'Bout ten. Maybe twenty before you listen."

"Hardy har har."

"Ok, down to the basement."

"We have a basement?!"

"Told ya you wouldn't believe it."

"I knew that."

"Sure. Now watch."

Wayde stopped in the middle of the hallway and began feeling the wall.

"Wayde tell me you haven't lost your marbles."

"No. Well, yes. I lost them last week. Speaking of which ... Did you steal them?"

"Funny. Just tell me what your doing."

"What's it look like I'm doing?"

"Falling in love with the wall."

"Your gross. No, I'm looking for a switch."

"For a light?"

"Nope ... for a door."

"You've read to many detective books."

"If I hadn't I wouldn't of found this out would I?"

"I dunno."

"Aha! Got it."

"Got what?"

"The switch!"

"Oh."

"Now ... Stand back!"

They both took a step back as Wayde flicked the switch.

All of a sudden a tiny swoosh sound filled the air. Right in front of their eyes a door moved back into the wall and slid across. Revieling a staircase that led down to somewhere.

"I told ya."

Justin didn't say anything.

"Uh, you ok? You look pale."

"Did I just see what I thought I saw? No. Ok, this is a dream. I'll wake up soon."

Wayde pinched Justin.

"Ow!"

"Does it look like your dreaming?"

"Well ... How did that happen? And it was sooo quiet! I mean, that stuff only happens in the movies!"

"Not this time. Come on."

"Where ya goin'?"

"Down."

"Right. Well, I've gotta go! Bye!"

"Justin!" Wayde said, grabbing his arm, "Don't worry."

"Don't worry? You've been down there?"

"Nuh. Never have."

"Adios amego!"

Wayde grabbed Justin again.

"Don't worry. Come on. Just think of it as an adventure!"

"I'll think. You go."

"Justin! We don't have time for this! Just come on!"

"Oh, all right!"

They both stepped onto the staircase and began their descent.



"Seeing as though your going to die in about 20 minutes I will give you a brief review of how this all came into being." Rob said, sitting down.

Sam rolled his eyes.

'How dumb does he think we are?' He thought to himself, 'Come on Wayde, save us!'

"As you know we started this operation at the start of your child's school holidays." Rob nodded towards Mr Randell.

"He's not our son."

"Thank you for that information but I couldn't care less. Anyway, we thought you would go on holidays ... Obviously we were wrong. But we thought up a way to include your plans with our plans."

"Congratulations." Sam said.

"Thank you."

"Can I ask you a question?" Sam asked.

"You have 15 seconds."

"I just wanna know why you've been following us. What's so good about our houses anyway?"

"It's not so much your house, kid. In fact it has nothing to do with your house. It's about this house."

"Then why'd you plant a camera in my room and in my tree?!"

"Well, we had to make sure you weren't changing your plans."

"Huh?"

"I mean, we had to make sure you wouldn't change your minds and go on holidays, or camping."

"I see."

"Yes, anyway-"

"Uh, you didn't tell us what was so good about this house."

"Ahh! Yes, your going to enjoy this."

"I'm sure we will." Mrs Randell muttered.

"You see about two years ago I found a map."

"A map."

"Yes! Well, To make a long story short ... My grandfather died and when he was on his deathbed he gave me it. Told me to look for the treasure he had hidden ... A long way away. So, I took it and went home. At home I read it and found that the treasure was in Australia."

They all looked at him blanked faced.

"I lived in America when I read the map."

"Oh."

"Yes ... So I read it and followed the map, with my girlfriend of course."

"That would be Marcie?"

"Of course. I even have the original map here with me! Take a look!" Rob stuffed a piece of paper in front of Mr Randells face.

Mr Randell shook his head.

"What are you shaking your head about?" Rob demanded.

Mr Randell frowned, "This is a will you idiot. Not a treasure map."

Ron snarled. "Silence infidel! Me and Marcie will take this treasure from you! Now! Back to the story! Sooo we found the right house, this house, the treasure was in and waited until the right moment. You didn't even know we were here did you?"

"You were here? In our house?" Mr Randell said.

"Not when you were home of course ... But every time you were out we were. In fact, tonight was the night we were to take our treasure out of here and back to America ... by ship of course."

"Tonight?" Sam asked.

"Yes. Time was running out and we couldn't wait till you left so we had to take matters into our own hands. Since you were home we had to tie you up and ... Well, get rid of the evidence."

"Get rid of the evidence?"

"Exactly. By fire."

"Fire?" Mr Randell asked.

"Fire burns all evidence. Sorry but someone had to start it. And that someone will be you." Rob said, pointing to Mr Randell.

"Where is the treasure? What is the treasure?" Mrs Randell asked.

"In answer to the first question ... In your basement. I know you didn't know you had one. But we found it ... Thanks to my grandfather."

"Your grandfather?" Sam said.

"Yes, he travelled here when he was young and built this house in fact!"

"He did?"

"Yes! He was a builder. And he was the one who made the basement concealed so noone could enter ... Unless they knew where the switch was ... And the map said where the switch was. In answer to the second question, It is gold!"

"Gold?"

"Yes! He was also a gold miner. And a successful one at that! In your basement right now is approximately more than 5 million dollars worth of gold bars."

Sam gulped. "It's in there now?"

"Well, no and yes. My assistant is bringing a truck over right now to pick up the gold."

"That doesn't leave you much time to get the gold out." Mrs Randell said.

"Why's that?"

"You said you were gonna burn this place down in twenty minutes ... How are you supposed to get the gold out before twenty minutes is up."

"I have a lot of friends here ... What? You thought one man was going to move the treasure? No, my friend. I have a lot of friends that were willing to help."

"Willing?"

"Well, If they wanted to die they wouldn't of helped would they?"

"So you forced them."

"In a matter of speaking, yes. In fact ... You hear that? They are here."

"They?" Sam asked.

"20 of my best men ... Here to take they gold safely from here to there."

"There?" Sam asked again.

"The docks ... Where our ship is waiting."

"H-h-how long will it take to uh, get the gold bars out of the house?" Mrs Randell said.

"About five minutes."

"Five?!" Sam asked, unbelievingly.

"Yes, these guys are professionals ... Like me. So, if you'll excuse me. I better be helping them." And Rob hopped back out the hole in the roof.

Seconds later he was back.

"Your friends are smarter than I thought ... But you think moving a ladder will prevent our plan from working? Oh, please!" Rob said. Before going back on to the roof. Suddenly they heard shouting from on the roof.

"John! Everything ready to go?!"

"No problem Rob. Everything's out!"

"You sure?!"

"Yes sir."

"Good! You know where to take it! Get everyone out and go!"

"Yes sir!"

Rob poked his head back in. "You heard?"

"Uh huh." Sam said.

"Good. Now, I'm leaving."

"How? You have no ladder!"

Rob held up a long loop of rope. "I think I'll make it."

"My friends will get us out of here!" Sam yelled.

"Sam!" Mr Randell said.

"Oops, sorry."

"Don't worry, sonny." Said Rob, "Your friends have been taken into custody."

"What?"

"They were caught."

"How!" Sam blurted.

"Trapped in the basement."

"What?!"

"You heard me ... They will be frying along with you. Now, if that is all .. I must be going."

"But, what about us?"

"What about you? Let's just say now is the time to ... He he, get things lighted up."



- Chapter 19 soooon -

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