Black Gold: Part 4

By JULIA OWEN, Illustrator KAI BRETHOUWER

"Ollie, you can't take all that." Rimu stood before a mound of camping gear. "We've got to carry everything for miles."

"But it's all necessary," Ollie said. "See?" He held up a collapsible stretcher. "And I've got a mozzy net, a tarpaulin, a barbecue set, a mini kero cooker and -"

"Look. If it can't fit in one pack, we can't take it," Rimu interrupted.

Ollie's face fell. "What do I leave behind then?"

"Everything but food, clothes, sleeping bag and fishing gear. I've got a set of aluminium fold-away pots. They can be used for plates too. That's all we need for cooking, and a sleeping mat's all you need to lie on. I've got a torch, waterproof matches, a couple of candles, first aid box and this -" He pulled a thick Swiss army knife from his pocket. "- that's all we need. Everything else will just be a hassle to carry."

"Okay, Camp Leader - you're the expert." Ollie sighed. "But I do have to take this." He pulled a black cellphone from his backpack pocket. "I promised Dad - in case of emergencies."

"That's great," said Dave. "It'll save me having to drive up during the week to check up on you."

Publisher: Scholastic, $13.95
Age group: 9-12 years