an emergency.’ said Balloon Arms. ‘There’s a lot of water out there.’
She was right. ‘Land safely. Land safely, ‘ Amy chanted in her head. She imagined the cockpit which the twins had visited last flight. She pictured instruments flashing. She pictured the pilot landing the plane safely.
The FASTEN SEAT BELT sign was still flashing. Christopher clicked on his belt.
Hurriedly the aircrew sat and strapped on their own seat belts. There was a thud as the wheels came down.
Then the plane came down very fast. Amy’s tummy zoomed down too. Bump! Bump! Thud!
Christopher closed his eyes tightly. Amy hoped he wasn’t having a scary movie replay behind his eyelids. ‘Gold Scam’ had had some frightening bits .
Bump! Thud.
When they touched the runway, everyone cheered. Passengers clapped as the plane skimmed safely , and stopped.
‘Please stay in your seats.’ came the captain’s voice.
Bill checked on them. ‘Okay?’
‘So was it a bomb?’ asked Amy. ‘ It ticked and it felt like ..’
Bill interrupted. ‘... a radio-clock, bound with tape. But our airline had been warned about a terrorist threat. So we couldn’t take any chances. False alarm, luckily. Just a present. Left behind by a businessman when he got out in Sydney. Usually the cleaners would have checked, but it was a direct flight.’
‘A bomb for a present?’ Amy muttered. ‘ A goodbye present? Cool.’
Bill helped them down the mobile corridor which clipped onto the plane. It was like walking inside a giant finger.
Flash! A photographer took a shot of Rugby Top. ‘Welcome home Big Jon. Will you be playing in next week’s game in Auckland?’
Big Jon gave a nod. “Just having four days off.’
‘Is he THAT famous?’ asked Christopher as the rugby player hurried to avoid the crowds.
‘Big Jon? His real name’s Jon Bigge. Got four tries in his last International match in South Africa. Everyone talks about rugby here.’ Bill shepherded the twins through the barrier, showing their passports and forms. ‘Playing in an Auckland special match next week. Tickets have sold out. Has thousands of fans.’
‘Likes fishing too,’ muttered Christopher.
‘Sorry for the delay to Flight Sex. The baggage doors on the aircraft stuck. The engineers are working on them,’ said a microphone voice. The New Zealand accent said ‘sex’ instead of ‘six’.
The baggage carousel went around with a grinding noise. It was empty, just a rubbery belt which went around endlessly. People stood waiting, like zombies. How could the feeling change so fast from danger to boredom? Everything seemed so ordinary now. Amy yawned.
Suddenly the first bag fell with a plop onto the moving belt. Then a big bag of golf clubs straddled the moving belt.
‘Great cartoons,’ Christopher noticed the pictures on the club head-covers on the bag.
Passengers took their bags quickly. The second time the carousel came around, the golf clubs had gone.
The Balloon Armed Lady fussed about her rucksack. Something had leaked out from a side, zipped pocket. A stain was growing.
‘My rucksack. Are you sure it wasn’t touched?’ she checked with Bill.
‘Perhaps an aerosol can or a deodorant?’ suggested Bill. ‘They leak or explode under pressure. Shouldn’t have got through security.’’
While the Balloon-Armed Lady repacked, Christopher glanced at his watch. 1 am. Theirs was the only plane.
Bill helped them grab their luggage and took them to the EXIT.
Their worried parents were waiting outside. Dad gave them a big hug . Mum checked their bags. ‘ We heard about the bomb-scare.’
Christopher looked through the glass at the grey plane. Security staff were checking all over it. ‘Flying is usually fun, but...’ said Christopher thoughtfully. ‘Let’s not tell Aunty Viv about this.’
Amy nodded. Aunty Viv might never leave them alone at the airport again. Then they’d never be UMs again.
‘Don’t worry. Unless you break your leg and have to be flown out by helicopter,’ added Dad. ‘You’ll be walking the Milford Track with us for the next four days.’
Christopher loved the idea of flight-seeing in a helicopter. But it’d be better without a broken leg!
Chapter 2
Tracking and Tramping
’Don’t step back!’ warned Amy.
Christopher’s climbing boot landed on the tube. The top popped. Toothpaste squirted over his rainbow laces.
‘Yuk!’ Christopher tried to wipe it off. White paste stuck to his fingers.
’Lucky it wasn’t superglue,’ said Amy.
The lakeside hall was crowded with bags, piles of clothes and people in brightly coloured leggings with heavy boots. They were cramming things into backpacks the guide had given them.
‘Mine is 108,’ Amy opened her navy backpack. She unzipped a small pocket.
‘What’s this?’ She pulled out a damp , folded paper with worn edges.
Christopher wiped his boot sideways on the mat leaving white streaks. ‘You’re reading it upside down. It’s 801.’
Amy twisted the bag around. The numbers were painted white on navy. The shoulder straps had been mended recently.’ You’re wrong. There aren’t 801 walkers on the Track at once.’
‘Probably the rest lost their backpacks, or fell down the mountain or went heli-hiking or...’ Christopher didn’t like to be wrong when others could hear.
‘108,’ repeated Amy.
Christopher squinted at the legend. He knew all about maps. The scale was 1 to 15,000. The close contour lines meant it was steep.
‘Guess what the crosses are,’ said Amy hurriedly. She didn’t have a clue.
‘Where someone took a photo,’ suggested Christopher.’ Or planned to take some.’
Amy counted the crosses. ‘Lots of photos.’
‘Take out everything you can do without,’ interrupted Zoe, the guide. ‘Remember, you’ll have to carry the pack.’
Christopher took out his toothbrush, and left the ‘ Crash’ computer game.
‘Let’s share teeth gear,’ he said to his twin.
‘Yuk. Not the brush. Toothpaste’s okay. If there’s any left.’ Amy slipped the map into her pocket. Later, she’d work it out.
He unzipped a side pocket of Amy’s bag. As he tried to push the toothpaste down, he left a white smear. And there was something already in there!
‘Who did this belong to?’ cried Christopher. It was a chocolate wrapper.
‘Haven’t seen that brand before. One square left.’ He ate it.
‘That might be poisonous,’ warned his sister. ‘Or past the use-by date or...’
Christopher read the label.’ No white or brown sugar. It’s diabetic chocolate.’
‘Someone from the previous trip left