Nick West: The Mystery of the Coughing Dragon

The tall boy shook his head. “No, thanks. I can make it. It’s my responsibility. I guess I’ll be stuck with it all night, considering I’m the only one who knows how to work it.”

Jupe smiled. “Your contribution may prove to be the deciding factor this evening, Pete. Let’s hope it works!”

They left Worthington to wait in the car and moved swiftly along the deserted street. Dark clouds obscured the moon. Below they could hear the booming of the heavy surf as it thundered on the beach.

Pete glanced up at the sky nervously. “I wish it wasn’t so dark tonight.”

“We’re all nervous,” Jupe admitted. “But darkness is our best protection until we reach the cave.”

They were perhaps twenty paces from the staircase leading down to the beach when they heard footsteps.

“Quick! Hit the ground!” Pete urged.

The Three Investigators hurled themselves to the side and rolled behind the thin bushes bordering the sandy vacant ground.

The footsteps came closer along the path. They sounded heavy, confident, and aggressive. Then they slowed and became softer, stealthier. The boys huddled closer, and hugged the ground. Somebody was stalking them!

From the shadows, they were able to see the figure as it came closer. Soon it was almost abreast of them. They stared in fright.

They had seen that bulky figure before. And as they saw it again, their eyes automatically travelled down his body. They recognized the object held close to it.

The menacing shotgun. The one that carried the biggest load of shot possible. The double-ought gun of Mr. Carter, the man who hated dogs, kids and seemingly everything.

The disagreeable, hot-tempered man slowed his walk still more when he came level to them. They could see his head swinging suspiciously to the side as he squinted into the darkness. His eyes were black and angry, his lips set in a firm, tight line.

“That’s funny,” they heard him mutter. “Could have sworn I saw something moving — ”

He shook his big head as if puzzled, then continued his walk. The cowering boys waited until they could no longer hear his footsteps before lifting their heads.

When they did, he was gone.

“Whew!” Bob breathed. “Am I glad he didn’t see us!”

“Me, too,” Pete said. “I guess he even goes to bed with that shotgun in his hand. I wonder who he’s looking for?”

“Come on,” Jupe whispered. “He’s far enough away. Now’s our chance to slip down the staircase. Keep low.”

Quickly, they ran the remaining distance to the stairs.

“All clear!” Pete signalled.

They hurried down the many steps as silently as they could. When they got closer to the beach, they relaxed. The rolling breakers were making so much noise that they knew their footsteps could not be heard.

Pete reached the sand first. “Okay. Here we go again. I can’t wait to find out how that dragon in the cave likes science-fiction movies!”

“We’ll find out soon, enough,” Jupe said, “if he’s home.”

“It’s okay with me if he’s not,” Bob said. “All I want to find out about is the tunnel. You two can have the dragon.”

They came to the original cave they had entered. To the surprise of his partners, Jupe continued walking past.

“Psst! You passed the cave,” Bob whispered.

Jupe nodded silently. He pointed ahead to the bluff jutting out to the beach.

“Round the cliff is the entrance to the big cave. We’d better see if it’s open or not.”

They rounded the bend in the cliff wall and stopped. Three giant-sized boulders crowded against the cliff wall, towering over their heads.

“Those are probably the fake rocks that mask the entrance,” Jupe whispered. “Apparently it’s closed now.”

Pete approached the largest boulder. He put his ear close to it and then tapped it with his hand.

The sound he produced was dull and muffled.

Pete smiled. “You’re right, Jupe. It’s not solid rock — just like the props made at the studios. Made out of light balsa wood framing, or plaster over wire.”

Jupe nodded and turned back. “We’ll get you set up in the cave first, so Bob and I can look round.”

“What?” Pete spluttered. “Leave me alone while you two — ”

“You’ll be a lot safer than Bob and me,” Jupe said, leading the way back into the smaller cave. “We’ll be doing some dangerous investigating. All you have to do is sit tight. And get ready to show your picture.”

Pete continued to look puzzled. He looked round. “Who am I going to show it to? Are there any bats flying round here for tonight’s audience?”

Jupe had already removed the board leading to the small inner cave pocket. He crawled through and Bob and Pete followed. Then, carefully, they replaced the board.

Jupe whistled softly. “The equipment we forgot last time is still here! Try to find the spot that moves the rock, Bob. We’ll pick our stuff up later when we leave.”

Bob stooped over the rock in the wall. “Got it,” he said happily.

With a slight rumbling sound, the rock turned in the cave wall.

“Here is where you’ll stay, Pete,” Jupe said. “Inside this small cave. Use the opening in the wall for projecting your film. We’re going to wedge the rock in place now so it won’t close. When you get the signal, flash your picture on that big grey wall we found inside.”

Pete settled down to get his machine ready. He picked up the can of film, then flicked his torch on. “Okay. What will the signal be?”

Jupe thought briefly. “ Help , I imagine,” he said.

Leaving Pete behind, Bob and Jupe advanced slowly through the huge vaulted cavern. The air was damp and cold, and they shivered.

They hadn’t gone far when Bob whispered, “It’s not all there!”

Jupe blinked. “What?”

Bob moved his torch beam ahead, and then swung its light from side to side.

“That big wall — it’s — it’s open in the centre!”

Jupe followed the arc of Bob’s torch with interest. The opening in the grey wall extended from floor to ceiling.

“Bob, I think we’ve found your lost tunnel!” he cried softly.

Cautiously, the boys stepped through the opening.

The tunnel gradually became larger. It seemed to extend smoothly inwards as far as they could see. Then both boys stopped, their skin prickling, their hearts suddenly pounding.

A huge, shadowy figure was facing them, lying very still and quiet.

It appeared to be waiting for them!

The boys threw themselves flat on the ground, trying not to move, hardly daring to breathe.

They waited and waited. Nothing

The dragon lay there, crouching, a long, dark, humped frightening figure. Its head drooped downwards on the end of its long neck.

“M-maybe it’s sleeping,” Bob whispered.

Jupe shook his head. He tried to keep his voice low and calm. “Remember,” he breathed in Bob’s ear. “It’s not a real dragon.”

Bob nodded curtly. “I know. That’s what you’ve been telling us. Let’s hope you’re right.”

The boys waited another long moment. Then Jupe flicked his light on again, and ran its beam along the ground.

He smiled now, relieved.

“Look at the dragon’s feet, and tell me what you see.” Bob stared along the yellow path of light. He blinked.

“Tracks,” he said. “Right under the dragon. They look like railway tracks.”

Jupe heaved a sigh of relief.

“We were both right. The dragon’s a fake, all right. And you’ve found the underground rapid transport railway that Labron Carter built more than fifty years ago. But you were wrong about one thing, Bob. You said it had never been used!”