The Tunnels of Tarcoola Read Online Free Page B

could read the name: ‘Tarcoola’.
    â€˜You’re right!’ Kitty breathed. She gazed at the porch, seeing visions of ladies in long dresses, dripping with jewels, and men in hats and white silk scarves, sweeping up the drive in big old-fashioned cars. Maybe if she turned around she would see immaculate gardens, lawns rolling down towards the park, peacocks trailing their splendid tails.
    â€˜Wanna go inside?’ Rosa whispered in her ear.
    â€˜I can’t. I’ll be toast if I don’t get home.’
    â€˜I’ll show you a shortcut,’ offered Rosa, plunging off through the undergrowth again to the right. Kitty groaned, but followed her anyway.
    There was just a crumbling stone wall between the house and the former factory next door. They crossed an expanse of concrete strewn with broken glass and rusted bits of machinery, some squat steel buildings with saw-toothed roofs, and a lot of weeds. Not so long ago, Kitty remembered, this factory had still been working, its low hum audible from her bedroom at night.
    â€˜This way.’ Rosa was already up some steps at the far side of the factory. At the top there was a locked gate and a cyclone-wire fence with plenty of gaps. Kitty climbed through and looked back.
    Between the gate and the first factory building there was a notice on a post, flapping in the breeze. It showed a faded plan of the site, divided up into tiny numbered rectangles. Kitty looked at the plan, trying to make sense of it. Something about it niggled at her brain.
    â€˜Thought you were in a hurry?’ Rosa was pulling the broken bits of wire together to make the gap look less obvious.
    Kitty said goodbye to Rosa at the corner, then ran most of the way home. When she was nearly there she spied Martin dawdling ahead of her.
    â€˜Guess what! Guess what!’ she called. ‘The Haunted House has got a name.’
    â€˜Yeah, Tarcoola. So?’
    Kitty was deflated. ‘You knew that?’
    â€˜Course. It’s written right above the door.’
    â€˜I hate you, Martin.’
    They walked in silence for a while.
    â€˜Anyway, that’s not all,’ Kitty resumed. ‘I met someone who used to live there.’
    â€˜Yeah?’ Martin slowed down. ‘Who?’
    â€˜This old lady at the Sunset Home. I interviewed her. I’ve made notes . . . ’ Kitty groped in her bag.
    â€˜Did you ask her about the tunnels?’
    â€˜No, I didn’t realise . . . But I’m going to see her again. She’s a really sweet old lady, and she calls me “dear”. She thinks Kitty’s a lovely name.’
    â€˜Well, find out what she knows about those tunnels. But don’t let on that we’ve been in there.’
    â€˜Oh, right. So I say, we don’t know there are tunnels under your house, but why are they there and where do they go?’
    â€˜You’ll think of something. Be subtle.’
    As they arrived, their mother pulled up in the car, and Kitty helped her to carry in the groceries and put them away. Martin vanished into his room, pleading homework.
    â€˜How was your excursion?’ asked their mother.
    â€˜Amazing! The place smelled a bit off, but my old lady was really nice.’
    â€˜Was she a local?’
    â€˜Sure was! She was born in Christina Street, near Andrea’s place.’
    â€˜That’s great. So I suppose she told you a lot about local history.’
    â€˜A bit, but we had to go. I want to talk to her some more. I reckon I can do the best interview in the class. Can I go and see her again, Mum?’
    â€˜Seems like a good idea, love.’
    â€˜Only the trouble is . . . ’ Kitty put on her saddest face. ‘I’m grounded.’
    â€˜Oh. Hmmm. Well, maybe we could make an exception, if it’s schoolwork.’
    Kitty threw her arms around her mother. ‘Oh Mum, I knew you’d say that!’ She got out the fresh bread and started making herself a