The Secret of Sinbad's Cave

  Chapter 4

  Natalia’s Letter

  Nat’s heart was pounding. She picked up the envelope, hardly able to believe what she was seeing.

  ‘Open it,’ said Jack.

  ‘How is this possible?’ asked Nat.

  ‘Who cares, open it!’

  Kathleen’s eyes were shining. ‘Do it,’ she said.

  After taking a deep breath to calm her shaking hands, Nat opened the envelope. There was one piece of paper inside. It felt so brittle she worried that even touching it might destroy it.

  ‘It’s a letter,’ she said.

  ‘Read it!’ said Kathleen.

  ‘Dear Natalia,

  After all we have been through, I apologise for having to hide these final endeavours from you. Last week’s events changed both our worlds, and I fear the wider consequences. You and I know that neither of us is to blame; but unfortunately many do not share that view. Who knows what dark forces are waiting in the shadows?

  Opening the second cave to the public has changed the situation drastically. For the moment, the treasure remains safe within. If you succeed in recovering it, it may be some consolation for your great loss. Please find enclosed the relevant maps. You alone know the access points; if another stumbles upon them, all is lost.

  Tomorrow I take my leave to cross the seas.

  To your family I wish wealth and happiness.

  Rewi Te Kaitiaki.

  January 2nd, 1888.’

  Nat looked at the others. They seemed to be holding their breaths. She realised she was too.

  ‘Did you understand all of that?’ she asked her sister.

  Kathleen nodded. ‘Where’s the treasure?’

  ‘Hidden somewhere,’ said Nat.

  ‘In a cave,’ said Jack. ‘He was telling her how to find it.’ He pulled two small packages from the box, each tied with string, and opened them. ‘Cave maps,’ he said. ‘One says ‘Sinbad’s Cave,’ and the other ‘Cave of the Emeralds.’ But which one has the treasure?’

  Nat examined the maps. They weren’t very detailed. The first one had a stream flowing into it, and the main feature was a large room. She peered at the tiny writing on the map. It said ‘The Ballroom.’

  ‘Got it,’ said Nat. ‘This is the Waitomo Glowworm Cave. The ballroom has to be the Cathedral. It was discovered in 1887, the year before this was written. But Rewi must have found it before that. Maybe having people going through the cave meant that he couldn’t get back in.’

  ‘Nice work,’ said Jack. ‘So the Glowworm Cave is Sinbad’s Cave. But where’s this Emerald Cave?’

  ‘It could be anywhere,’ said Nat. ‘And what about this bit in the letter talking about dark forces?’

  ‘It’s totally ancient,’ said Jack. ‘Don’t worry about it.’

  ‘Is the letter really for you Nat?’ asked Kathleen.

  ‘More likely, our great great grandmother,’ said Jack. ‘Nat was named after her.’

  Nat thought for a moment. ‘So,’ she said, ‘Rewi thought Natalia was clever enough to find this room.’

  ‘But she didn’t find it,’ said Kathleen.

  ‘No – the maps were still sealed,’ said Jack.

  Nat frowned. ‘I wonder why not? And who’s this Rewi?’

  ‘There are lots of Te Kaitiakis down the hill,’ said Jack. ‘They’ll be able to tell us if any of their relations was named Rewi.’

  ‘Hey!’ said Kathleen. ‘There’s one more thing in the box.’ She lifted out another small package, tied in brown paper and fastened with string.

  ‘I think it’s your turn to open something,’ said Nat.

  ‘It’s a book,’ said Kathleen. ‘Sinbad the Sailor.’

  ‘Is there anything else in the box?’ asked Nat.

  ‘Yeah,’ said Jack. ‘A feather.’ He held it up. It was black with golden streaking towards the tip. ‘I wonder what bird that comes from.’

  ‘Let’s make a plan,’ said Nat. ‘First, we’d better go explain to Dad why there’s a massive hole in the roof.’

  ‘And we can ask him about Natalia,’ said Jack.

  Nat nodded. ‘Then, let’s go see the Te Kaitiakis, and we’ll find out about Rewi.’

  ‘It’s a real live mystery,’ said Kathleen. ‘In our house! And I found it!’