We decide it would be easiest for Josh to sit on his shoulders to unlock maximum reach potential whilst maintaining some semblance of safety. I’m just thrilled they’re both here. If Hennie and I had been alone, I have no idea how we would have reached up there. Elliot crouches down for Josh to clamber on awkwardly – his tall, willowy frame towering high above me as Elliot stands up slowly.
Elliot grits his teeth as he guides them both carefully towards the fence.
‘That’s great, Ell. Okay, I can reach them, I think – that’sperfect,’ he shouts as he reaches up towards the tabs, but his expression changes when he actually reads them.
‘They all have different messages written on them,’ he says, his voice shrill. ‘What do we do?’
Elliot is almost shaking under the duress of holding Josh up already. ‘Just pick one,’ he bites out.
‘One is in French,’ Josh notes with mild interest.
‘Notthat one, then.’
Josh looks down at him indignantly. ‘My French is quite good, actually.’
‘Ham!’ I shout, trying to hurry him.
Without further hesitation, Josh rips one off cleanly. ‘Got one! Ready for my smooth landing.’
Elliot grunts and carefully crouches down to let Josh climb off him.
‘No more lifting for you today,’ I say, patting Elliot’s arm consolingly as he shrugs his shoulders with discomfort.
‘I hope that was worth it?’ he asks, turning to Josh, who is staring at the slip of paper with a blank expression.
‘Beats me,’ he replies, holding it out.
It simply reads:
Eighth and Farthest.
‘Huh. That’s helpful,’ Elliot utters.
‘What the hell are we supposed to do with this?’ I exclaim with a disbelieving laugh. ‘You can hardly call this a clue?’
Josh merely crosses his arms and seems to go into deep thought. ‘I suppose there’s a number of places itcoulddirect you to. There’s Pitstop 8 in the Route 16 area, which is like a relaxation tent, and the area that’s furthest out would be the Light Tellers, I guess.’
‘I mean… it’s something.’ I’m happy with any ideas at this stage. ‘I’m starting to worry this hunt will never end… I’m so sorry this is taking up so much of your weekend, Josh.’
‘Enough of that,’ he says sternly. ‘Do you think I am having abadtime, Nora? Do you think I am devastated to be in this position? Running around on a treasure hunt around my favourite place on this earth with my friends? This might be the most fun I’ve had in decades,’ he insists, his eyes ablaze. ‘You have nothing to apologise for, cherub.’
I try to hold myself back from throwing my arms around him. And then I do anyway.
‘I guess we have two options, then,’ Elliot says, a light smile playing on his mouth as Ham lightly ruffles my hair in response.
Owen’s voice rings out and I turn to see Hennie still on his shoulders. ‘Tell me you have good news!’
Josh holds up the strip of paper in response, resulting in a happy yowl from Hennie.
‘Thank God, I was starting to get travel-sick sitting on Owen’s shoulders.’ Hennie says, stumbling off him.
Elliot and Josh fill the pair in on the latest clue and possibilities for the next location.
‘Well… if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, Ham,’ Owen says, rubbing his chin with a smile.
‘I think I might be thinking what you’re thinking.’
‘Care to share what you’re thinking that Josh is also thinking?’ Hennie demands.
