Elephants' Call

This edition published in Great Britain in 2010 by Quest, an imprint of Top That! Publishing plc, Marine House, Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AP, UK www.quest-books.co.uk 0246897531 Editorial Director – Daniel Graham Creative Director – Simon Couchman Art Editor – Matt Denny Website Design – Paul Strandoo Commissioning Editor - Lorna Thomson Editorial Assistant - Claire Holmes Written by Gordon Volke All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Neither this book nor any part or any of the illustrations, photographs or reproductions contained in it shall be sold or disposed of otherwise than as a complete book, and any unauthorised sale of such part illustration, photograph or reproduction shall be deemed to be a breach of the publisher’s copyright.

ISBN 978-1-84956-079-5 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Printed and bound in China

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

The Astral Legacies Elephants’ Call Written by Gordon Volke

Published by Quest.

Quest is an imprint of Top That! Publishing plc, Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AP, UK www.quest-books.co.uk Copyright © 2010 Top That! Publishing plc.

All rights reserved

The Astral Legacies

How the book works …

Join Abu in his quest to find the fourth Astral Legacy by searching for the hidden locations online. At key points in the book, the elephants provide Abu with precise information relating to the destinations that he must visit in order to complete his quest. Each GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinate that is transmitted by the elephants represents a precise location in Africa.

By entering the GPS coordinates into the GeoLocator function on www.astrallegacies.com, you will be able to travel with Abu on his quest. Click the elephant icon on the revolving carousel, then select the ‘GeoLocator’ link to begin. For example, try these coordinates – they will take you to the Soccer City Stadium in South Africa.

26°14'05.27" S, 27°58'57.90" E

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Elephants’ Call

When you ‘arrive’ at each new destination online, you will discover the famous landmark that Abu is seeking.

Select compass direction here

Enter GPS code here

Use this slider to zoom in and see the location in more detail

Explore the area in more detail by clicking here

Click on the red arrow to reveal the location

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As the adventure unfolds, keep a note of the locations that you find. When you have identified all ten key locations that Abu visits on his quest, enter the words that make up each location into the ‘pyramid’ grid at the back of this book. If you have inserted the correct answers, part of the location of the fourth Astral Legacy will be revealed, highlighted in grey. You will then need to solve one further clue to gain the full name of the hidden location.

Log-on to www.astrallegacies.com to report the location of the fourth Astral Legacy. If you successfully enter this final landmark, the quest is complete and you will be able to read the thrilling climax to Elephants’ Call online.

Once you have completed the pyramid, the letters, highlighted in grey, spell out part of the location of the fourth Astral Legacy. A final clue must be solved in order to gain the full name of the hidden location.

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T H E G R E A T ? ? ? ? ? ? ? A T ? ? ? ?

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Elephants’ Call

Important Hints & Tips • Enter the GPS coordinates accurately, including the compass direction.

• Use the ‘Notes’ section at the back of this book to record the locations that you identify as you progress through the quest. You will then have everything at hand to complete the ‘pyramid’ puzzle at the end of the book and finish the quest with Abu. • The elephants have provided additional clues to help you fill in the pyramid puzzle correctly at the back of this book.

• If you are still unable to work out the locations that Abu visits, log on to www.astrallegacies.com. The names of the locations are revealed on the photo carousel on the Elephants’ Call section of the website.

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The Astral Legacies

Prologue ‘SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE!’ ordered the loudspeaker, the unmistakable note of urgency and alarm in the voice telling the pilots that this was no training exercise. Moments later, the F18E Super Hornets roared into the air from the deck of their American carrier, climbing to 40,000 feet as they scanned the skies for the unidentified flying objects, whose coloured lights had been sighted all over the Mediterranean and whose existence was confirmed by a myriad of fast-moving dots on the ship’s radar.

‘Bogey at 90,000, clear as day,’ shouted Flight Lieutenant Chuck Levenson, better known as ‘Spoony’ for the six spoonfuls of sugar he always had in his coffee. Accelerating his Hornet up to its maximum speed, Spoony thundered upwards to intercept the mysterious aircraft … only to discover that they had disappeared the moment he came anywhere near them.

‘Gee, that’s awesome!’ he exclaimed, as the 8

Elephants’ Call

unidentified craft faded from view in the wink of an eye. ‘Must be doin’ Mach 10 at least!’

Then, suddenly, the lights in the sky and the dots on the radar screens went out, as if someone had flicked a switch. The Hornets returned to their carrier with no further evidence of this apparent threat to humanity and, after the newspapers had picked up the story and run with it for as long as they could, the world returned to its usual busy confusion, putting the sightings down to freak weather conditions, equipment malfunction and military weapon testing – the usual explanations for such events.

Meanwhile, in a secret bunker deep below the Pentagon in Washington, an experienced codebreaker leapt from his desk and demanded to speak to the President.

He had spent the past week, day and night, trying to break the code of a signal picked up from the mysterious craft. Now, he had cracked it!

‘Mister President,’ he shouted down the phone, 9

The Astral Legacies

‘It says, “approaching halfway. Now, it’s the Elephants’ Call.” What do you think it means, sir?’

‘I haven’t the faintest idea,’ replied one of the most powerful men on Earth. *

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Chapter 1

Poor, Little Rich Boy The Botswana Blue Diamond was the guest of honour at a party held by one of South Africa’s most wealthy families. It was positioned in the middle of a huge, circular dining table, sparkling and flashing like a blue light on the roof of a police car. Even though this was a family party, there was a security guard on duty in case anyone tried to touch the exquisite diamond. Much to the delight of the hosts, the guests were mesmerised by the magnificent oval gem, in the same way that people inadvertently stare at a television that’s been left on in the corner of a room.

Abu Tamba knew the history of the diamond very well. The fifteen-year-old boy had been told about it often enough by his mother and father, and by the tutors and servants who saw to his education and looked after his well-being. The Botswana Blue 11

The Astral Legacies

Diamond was the foundation of the Tamba family fortune and the reason for their current status as one of South Africa’s most eminent families.

The beautiful blue diamond had been found in 1909 by Abu’s great-grandfather, Joseph Tamba, a penniless migrant worker from Ethiopia. Although Joseph was young, he had a mature head on his shoulders. After selling the rare gem on the international diamond market, he invested the money in buying land. Joseph bought the land on the South Africa and Botswana border, in the location where he had found the original diamond.

Joseph’s intention was to see if there were more blue diamonds in the area. It was a shrewd gamble that paid off handsomely and transformed the Tamba family into one of the richest in South Africa. Soon, Joseph had established the Tamba Mining Company and owned several mines that yielded large quantities of the rare blue diamonds.

A hundred years later, having been owned by the last Tsar of Russia, a shipping magnate, an oil 12

Elephants’ Call

tycoon and several film stars, The Botswana Blue Diamond had come on the market again. The Tamba family had placed a successful bid for the diamond and now it was back where it belonged, in the heart of their family.

This was the reason for the party and why Abu found himself wearing a stiff dinner jacket instead of his usual tee shirt and jeans. He felt silly, like a miniature version of his father, but it was his mother’s wish – and there was no arguing with Mrs Tamba; she made the rules and everyone had to obey them!

Standing at the edge of the crowd, waiting for the gong to summon him for a delicious, six-course dinner, Abu felt a light touch on his arm.

‘Looks like a big, blue eye watching you, doesn’t it?’ commented Thomas Lindemann, a lifelong family friend and trusted business employee.

‘Oh, hello Tom,’ replied Abu, his face breaking into a smile at the arrival of his favourite grown-up.

‘Don’t know why they’ve got the security guard.

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Who on earth’s going to steal it?’

‘It just looks good,’ teased Lindemann, ‘And so do you.’

‘Yeah, right!’ retorted Abu. ‘I look like a penguin!’

‘There’s no pleasing some people,’ chuckled the wiry, middle-aged man. ‘One minute you’re complaining that your mother won’t let you grow up. Then, you’re allowed to dress like an adult and you moan about it!’

‘It’s not the same thing and you know it!’ scoffed the teenager.

‘Well, while we’re on the subject,’ said Lindemann, leaning forward and sounding more serious, ‘Your mum’s in a good mood tonight. Why don’t you mention the idea of going on safari that we talked about? You might catch her at an opportune moment. Your dad’ll back you up. He told me so yesterday.’

‘Thanks, Tom,’ enthused Abu, giving Lindemann a hug. ‘I might just do that!’

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Elephants’ Call

The extensive dinner and the toasts that followed went on for hours and Abu was bored stiff by the time he was allowed to leave the table. He made straight for his room, eager to get out of his formal clothes. Looking in the mirror as he cleaned his teeth, Abu observed his reflection. In recent months, his body had grown to be that of a man, with broad shoulders, and a strong, barrel chest. But, he was far from feeling or acting like a young man.

Abu was an only child, the sole successor to the Tamba dynasty. From the day he was born, he’d had the best of everything. Abu had not been spoilt – ideas of fairness and respect for others had been instilled in him from an early age. But, he was overprotected. Other than his birthday parties, which he shared with the offspring of family employees, he had never mixed with other children.

Nor had he been allowed to do anything on his own. Up until recently, this had not bothered him.

Abu was content for his servants and tutors to do everything for him. But, now he wanted some 15

The Astral Legacies

freedom. He wanted to be allowed to grow up. He wanted to stop feeling like a boy and start feeling like a man – and a safari adventure could be just the ticket to achieve this! *

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Abu’s mother was sitting in the drawing room and was holding a half-empty champagne glass when Abu decided to speak to her about his safari idea.

Plonking himself down on the sofa beside her and kissing her on the cheek, Abu complimented his mother on the success of the party. Seeing a big smile spread across her face, he pressed on with his appeal.

‘Mu-u-m,’ he said, in a deliberately casual voice, ‘you know how much I love animals.’

‘Yes … ’ replied Mrs Tamba, suspiciously.

‘Well, I’d like to see some in their natural environment,’ continued Abu, becoming slightly breathless as he got to the point. ‘I want to be 16

Elephants’ Call

allowed to go on safari in some of Africa’s national parks!’

There was a long and almost unbearable silence.

‘Okay,’ said his mother, simply.

‘What did you say?’ gasped Abu, his jaw dropping incredulously.

‘I said okay, you can go on safari,’ repeated Mrs Tamba.

‘I’ve been telling your mother for ages that you’re too mollycoddled. So, she’s agreed to let you go,’ added his dad.

Both of them were nearly knocked backwards by the hugs given to them by their overjoyed son.

All Abu wanted to do was rush back to his room and start packing. But, as he started to head upstairs Mrs Tamba called him back.

‘There are two conditions to this trip, Abu,’ she said, suddenly sounding far more serious. ‘The first condition is that you must phone me from time to time to tell me where you are and what you are doing. If you can’t get a signal on your mobile, 17

The Astral Legacies

which is very likely in many parts of Africa, then make sure you find a landline. I must know that you’re safe and well. The second condition is that Tom accompanies you. Your father has kindly agreed to give him some time off work in order to make the trip with you.’

Abu had no objection to either of these conditions. So, he gave each of his parents another bear hug and hurried off to tell Tom the news. *

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Next morning, in a grubby office in downtown Johannesburg, Thomas Lindemann sat with his feet on a paper-strewn desk, speaking to a woman on the phone.

‘Yeah, we leave the day after tomorrow,’ he said.

‘So, I’ll have to do the switch tonight. Should be okay. The Tamba’s are going to some charity event and won’t be back until midnight. The kid keeps pestering me, but I can keep him at bay. This time 18

Elephants’ Call

next week, honey, you and I are going to be in Las Vegas with more money in our pockets than we know what to do with. Bring it on, eh? Bye then, babe.’

Lindemann put the phone down and fished in his pocket for a small box. Opening the lid, he took out a fake blue diamond and turned it over and over again in his fingers as he went through his plan for the umpteenth time.

Tonight, he would open the safe in the Tamba family’s vault and replace The Botswana Blue Diamond with a paste replica. Then, to smuggle the precious diamond past security, he would sew it into a secret compartment in a rucksack that he’d give to Abu for their trip. Once on safari, he would simply take the rucksack and sneak out of their tent in the dead of night, never to be seen again. It would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. For that was how Tom regarded Abu – a baby!

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What happens next?

When you have identified the ten key locations that Abu visits on his quest, use the elephants’ clues to

help you place them into the pyramid grid on pages 132–133. If you insert the words of the answers correctly, part of the location of the fourth Astral Legacy will be revealed, highlighted in grey. Enter the letters in order, from top to bottom and left to right, into the grey boxes below. The missing seven letter word of the location relates to the shape of the puzzle.

When you have filled in all of the boxes, log-on to www.astrallegacies.com to report the location of the fourth legacy. If you successfully enter this final landmark into the website, the adventure is complete, and you will be able to read the thrilling climax to Elephants’ Call online.

Read the book … find the hidden locations … solve the puzzle … save the world! www.astrallegacies.com 130

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The Astral Legacies Series - Out Now!

Orcas’ Song

Tigers’ Secret

The North American Legacy. Book 1

The Asian Legacy. Book 2

Wolves’ Gambit

Elephants’ Call

The European Legacy. Book 3

The African Legacy. Book 4

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The Astral Legacies Series - Coming Soon!

Condors’ Quest

Penguins’ Petition

The South American Legacy. Book 5 The Antarctic Legacy. Book 6

Available from all good bookshops.

Dolphins’ Cry The Australian Legacy. Book 7 135

The Astral Legacies

About the Author Gordon Volke’s commercial writing career began in 1972 when he was responsible for inventing the comic antics of Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx and The Bash Street Kids in the UK’s bestselling comic, The Beano.

Since this auspicious start to his writing career, Gordon has gained plaudits by originating material for Snoopy (Peanuts), Tom and Jerry, Popeye and Garfield, and has been the principal contributor for numerous comics and magazines, including Twinkle, Thomas the Tank Engine, The James Bond Experience and Jurassic Park.

In 1998, Gordon began writing for The Tweenies, the Bafta award-winning pre-school series, scripting 44 of the 365 episodes.

Over the years Gordon has originated children’s books covering most genres and age categories. He lives near Brighton on the south coast of England.

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