Room Sixteen’s Penny Dreadfuls

Room Sixteen

presents the terror, the horror and the outrage of

Dirty Deeds

BE PREPARED TO BE FRIGHTENED!

SHOCKED!

HORRIFIED!

(Young children are advised not to read this text, for it will terrify them for life)

Short narratives by noted authors and

the playwriting talents of:

Mr. Caleb Gilbert, Mr. Finn Fisher Black, Miss Annie Davies, Miss Layla Mahuika.

Prepare to be awed by the the narrative mastery of

Miss. Georgie Merry  with her enthralling “Maungatapu Murders”;

Master Adam Noone, whose “Mountain Murders” will shake you to the core;

Mr. Ethan Petrie shocks once again with “The Murder”;

Mr. Otis Baker reveals much and leaves much to the imagination with “The Deathly Gallows”;

Miss Jahnaya Flynn does little to hide the impropriety in her shocking “Blood Bath”;

Miss Aimee Larson is enthralled with the dark arts in “Maungatapu Murderous”

Mr Dylan McKay once again proves “Blood is Thicker Than Water”;

Mr Jackson Babe resumes the theme of murder most foul in “Richard Burgess”;

Mr Finn Fisher Black begins his illustrious career with his debut “The Secrets of the Maungatapu Track”

and Miss Brea Stechman presents a thrilling but inconclusive “The Mystery of the Mountain”

Illustration by Emma Coles

The Burgess Gang Go Bang Bang!

by Caleb Gilbert, Finn Fisher-Black, Annie Davies and Layla Mahuika

Characters

Narrator (layla), Richard Burgess (Finn), William Levy (Jackson), Joseph Sullivan (Aimee)

Thomas Kelly (Adam), Policeman (Gilbert), Judge ( Ezekial), Victim 1 (annie), Victim 2 (Otis), Victim 3 (dylan), Victim 4 (Liberty) , Captain Oats (ah.. Duh.)

Backdrop bottom of a Mountain, early evening.

Narrator:  Once upon a time in a land not so far away…. It was a cool spring evening, deathning air was lurking through the mountain, something bad was arriving….. Four innocent  men  set off to bank their gold earnings from canvastown in Nelson. To do this they had to walk up the Maungatapu track, not knowing what lay ahead.

Dun…. Dun…... Duuuuuuun

Victim 1: Don’t forget your jackets lads. It’s going to be a chilly night.

Narrator: The men set off over the mountain to sell their pack horse, a sturdy strong horse. Its huge powerful legs bulged with muscles. He was known affectionately as Captain Oats.

Victim 1: Bloody hell. Captain Oats is a big horse.

Victim 2: Yeah, very uh (pause) big.

(awkward pause)

Victim 3: Gosh I am glad we are travelling up this lonely mountain pass with so much gold in our pockets. I don’t suspect anyone is going to take it. What do you think Edward?

Victim 4: (doesn’t say anything)

Victim 1: not a big talker are you Edward?

Victim 4: (Silent)

Victim 3: (pauses) awkward

Narrator: Little did they know that not a mile further up the track lay waiting the most murderous, most grungy and most scoundrelous criminals in the entire colony of New Zealand.

                                     (Walkers Freeze, and the gang come up onto the stage)

Richard Burgess: I’m Richard Burgess

Joseph Sullivan: I’m Joseph Sullivan, I'm a totty-one-lung!

William Levy: I’m William Levy, I’m a Zounderkite;  an idiot i am!

Thomas Kelly: I’m Thomas Kelly, Im a gong farmer, I clean toilets, I do!

Richard Burgess”: I’m a murderer. A ruthless cold blooded killer. I have a wife and family, but after all I have done they won’t want me back.

Joseph Sullivan: I am a bad person.

William Levy: Hey, now, now,  now, now! Don’t be so hard on yourself Joseph Sullivan.

Joseph Sullivan:  But I am, I am bad. I am bad to the bone.

Richard Burgess (pauses and moves to pat Joseph Sullivan on shoulder) I think we need to have a chat. Come on lads, lets have a hot chocolate and talk about our feelings.

Narrator 5 minutes pass and much discussion of feelings is had.

Joseph Sullivan: I am feeling so good about myself after that five minute chat.

William Levy: I feel I am strong and a beautiful man.

Richard Burgess: I think we work really well together as a team. … I love you fellas.

                                             (The group hugs and then hides in some “bushes”)

 Narrator: when the four victims and their extremely masculine horse arrived at the bridge they knew something was wrong.

victim 2: it’s quiet

            (Small Pause)

 victim 3: too quiet

captain oats: NEEEEIIIIIIGH!!!

victim 1: i think we should lea….AHHHH

Richard burgess: Get on the ground you filthy scum!!!

 (The travelers get on the ground)

William Levy: PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!!

Narrator: each of the criminals grabbed a victim and tie them to the trees nearby

Joseph sullivan: Say your last words men you will soon be dead!

Narrator: the gang pulls pistols out of their pockets aiming them at the four mens heads.

Thomas Kelly: Kill them now or they will get away.

narrator: the gang pulls the triggers and the four mens heads droop lifelessly

Narrator Richard grabs one of them.

Richard burgess: Make it look like this fella shot them and robbed them.

Joseph Sullivan: What should we do with the horse?

Thomas Kelly: We’ll have to kill that too.

Richard Burgess: Great team work guys, we work so well together. Remember guys what does team mean?

Joseph Sullivan: Together ,

William Levy :Everyone ,

Thomas Kelly: Achieves ,

Everyone: More!

                                                             (The group high fives and leaves the stage.)

Narrator: The gang left the bodies there and took off down the hill leaving no evidence aside from the body of Captain Oats.

Narrator: The men arrived in nelson, with gold in their pockets and the murder in their minds,

no one suspected a thing until Captain Oats didn’t arrive at the stables as organised.

William Levy: We’re lucky that no one’s suspected anything yet.

Joseph Sullivan: Lucky we are all so loyal to each other and would never rat each other out.

Richard Burgess: Friends forever!

Narrator: Little did they know, the Mutton Shunters were hot on their trail.

Police: We know what you did and were here to arrest for the murder of the four men on the mountain.

Thomas kelly: what, we didn’t do nothing!

Police:shut your mouth, also the correct grammar is “we didn’t do anything”

             (Curtains close, and open with tables, Police and joseph sitting, ready for an interview.)

Police- "My name is Henry Bald-head,  and I expect some answers tonight".

Joseph- "hm"  (he grins)

Police- "Now I'll start off plain, what is your name”

Joseph – Joseph Sullivan

Police: Why did you and your gang kill the men on the track?"

Joseph:  "We did nothing!" He shouts while slamming the table.

Police: "Hmm, i believe the correct grammar is “we didn’t do anything”. Couldn't you just find your own gold?"

Joseph: "We didn't have no equipment or the money?”

Police- "Right and why did you join Burgess and his gang?"

Joseph: Why would I tell you?

H – Well we have four hangman’s ropes set for Friday…. (pauses for effect)  it could be three.

       (Long pause.)

Joseph- "Ugh! blast it all to hell, it was easier to work with them"

Police- " And what was your part in the murders?"

Joseph- "I was just back up, I hardly did anything!"

Police- "Where are the other bodies?"

Joseph- "There was one at the bottom of the hill, hanging from a tree, and two others were burnt and buried".

Police- "Yes excellent".

Joseph- "Don't tell the rest of the gang about this, right."

Police- "Oh they won't be around much longer, this information is useful, if you are lucky you might get off your death sentence.

Joseph- "I damned well should"

A FEW DAYS LATER

Narrator: The four men sit in the courtroom, the jury returns.

(a woman stands up.)

Person: we find the accused guilty……

Judge: Richard burgess, william levy, and thomas kelly you are sentenced to death. Joseph sullivan is pardoned for supplying information to the authorities.

THE END

                                                                            (We bow with pride!)

                                                    (now Everyone will clap coz we awesome B-)!)

Illustration by Liberty West

Illustration by Kaylie Toma

Maungatapu Murders

by Georgie Merry

T H E  I N T E R V I E W

John sniggered as I entered the room, “Hello George” he said, “what is it?”

I smirked, “well, guess who you are interrogating today, Richard Burgess!”

John laughed as he spoke. “Oh no is he the one accused of killing James Battle, George Dudley, John Kempthorne, James de Pontius, and Felix Mathieu” I spoke, my voice suddenly becoming serious…

The polished kauri flooring squeaks against the friction of his chunky brown combat boots. A greasy lick of unwashed hair drooped lazily over one beady green eye. I hate this part of the job, I’ve worked here for eight long years this has consistently been the thing that invigorates me the most. The entrance. It is the part when he is most at ease, the part where I have reached the farthest point of my possible vulnerability. “Aaaa Burgesssss”  I say, the words rolling off my intimidating scottish tongue. Burgess’s violent stare weakened me, I don't know why but something about him seemed..? I don't know… Inhumane? Monstrous? Immortal? I pushed the bizarre thought from my mind, knowing I must leave some capacity for this mystery!

“WHEN DID YOU DO IT” I spat at Burgess, pushing my face so close to his I could see the miniscule veins in his eyes as our noses pressed against each other.

“You won’t get it out of me” he said calmly as I sat down. A few minutes went by, a painful silence suffocating the room as we stared at each other.

“Look boy,” I said, lowering my voice “we know you did it. All we need to know is the facts.” “Well that worked” I thought to myself as his face seemingly unraveled, revealing a pained expression.

“Yes it, it was me” he replied weakly, his voice cracking as he spoke.

“Well how did you do it?” I asked in an angry monotone.

“Well, I…” he fumbled for words.

“Well, you… I haven't got all day”, showering his face in yellow spit and setting the room in a tobacco like aroma.

“Well, the boys and I would hide behind a fence post behind the Maungatapu Bridge when a wealthy person came along, we would jump, mug and then kill them”, he stated bluntly, he seemed unphased by the horrendous crime he had recently committed.

“You mentioned ‘the boys’, who are they?” I questioned.

“I really shouldn’t say. They wouldn’t rat me out if they were me in this current situation”, he replied flatly.

“Well, if you do tell me, it will help and/ or shorten your sentence…”

“OK then”, he said confidently, “well there was; Joseph Thomas Sullivan, Philip Levy, and Thomas Kelly, we all did this together,” he said sadly.

“How many did you all kill?”, I asked.

“Five”, he said, clearly shamed by his actions.

“One final question”, I said, smirking.

“Will you show me where the bodies are?”

T H E   F I N D I N G

I noticed as we walked, a slight green tinge on his skin, taking no notice, we walked on into the dense undergrowth. I sat down, fatigue taking over. Shutting my eyes, I heard a sound - a sort of pained howl,  like a roar… I pushed a curl of red hair off of my eye, only to reveal…A MASSIVE GREEN MONSTER! Burgess had transformed into an ogre! Being the amazing, brave and gastronomic person I am,

I was not phased by the horrendous transition between mortal and supernatural life forms.

Burgess stood over me in Ogre form and dropped a note into my hand! A huge drop of brown slime slid down from one of his maggot infested eyeballs, landing at his pinky toe - the size of my foot. I opened the note. It read, “WHEREVER LIMB SHALL FALL, ‘TIS THERE FIND YE SHALL”. I didn’t understand a word of it! Burgess stared at me with his remaining eye, growled and then started running faster and faster.

I followed, sprinting faster than the speed of light (literally) to his side. It was there that one of his gigantic arms FELL OFF! He screamed a blood curdling scream. As the limb ripped off, I could see each tendon tear, each vein rip apart then explode, and each bone snap - brittle and sharp, until the arm landed on a conveniently placed mound of dirt. Yet again he dropped a note at my feet and again it read: “Wherever limb shall fall, is there find ye shall!” This time I understood! Wherever his limbs fall, that is where the bodies are!!

Being as strong and powerful as I am, I was able to dig up the pile in a matter of seconds to uncover the first body. I heaved it up and pushed it onto the side of the path, ready to collect it later. The same process repeated five times, each time a different body, each time a different limb, and one time a horse.

The next few remaining hours of my day were a whirlwind, every member of the gang except Burgess was hung. Burgess returned to his natural life form (after I courageously defeated him of course) and was jailed shortly after. THE END (lol just kidding)

 I was given an unlimited supply of supreme cheese doritos, jalepenos, and skittles and lived happily ever after :). THE END (#4realz)

Illustration by Ashish Niraula

The Mountain Murders

by Adam Noone

There was a storm coming, a storm of angry emotion. The tension building within the mountains, the large boulder could tell it would eventually end in a crescendo of fear, emotion and finally end with death. the grass, unaware, was doing as it usually does, swaying in the wind which smelt faintly of evil.

As the children ran with the wind, the golden sun a welcome break from the winters cold embrace, Aaron, the oldest child in the group, a fair haired child fourteen summers of age, was at the back of the group, as all good leaders do, watching for dangers ahead and behind.

Ambling along at the front, a few metres ahead of the group was Gabe, he could smell a disgusting smell like when he left his meat out in the shed and stumbled across it a few weeks later. He could see a blooded and slimy carcass, magots, a small army devouring the dead victim's eyes, stomach and face, their hair a matted mess with nary any clothes, slowly decaying into the ground as if being swallowed. He yelled for the others to come.

Three days later they were at the gallows, watching three men swinging in the wind, the ropes crushing the’re wind-pipes. Gabe could hear a whistling sound coming from the mens mouths as they slowly went slack.

He couldn't help thinking, what if? What if the police got it wrong?

He remembers running into town screaming that theres a body in the hills. He remembers the police bringing four dead bodies down, being questioned and a group of men getting arrested and now they were getting hanged excepting one who told on the others, receiving a life sentence instead.

Illustration by Ethan Petrie

The Murder

by Ethan Petrie

The wind howls in the storm as thunder and lightning crash, pounding on the ground as if letting the underworld loose and ready to destroy all life in the mortal realm. Every step you take is a step of fear crushing one’s soul one piece at a time. Beginning to climb the Maungatapu mountain will kill you in this weather.

Half way up the climb blood are creeping at the end of the bridge clearly someone or something's legs were cut off and was kicked off the side of the bridge. Sudden out of nowhere a grown man in his 40's jumps out.

"What do you want from me you vile and disgusting man tell me your name!?" Demanded the victim in horror.

"My name is Burgess and I wish to take your life!" The sinister and foul man disgustedly says.

The ugly beast draws forth a bloody knife dropping with his previous victims blood; failing to move; frozen like stone in fear the victim stares up at the beast who claims to be Burgess as he walks toward his newest victim who is now dumbed and as wight as a ghost. The throat is slit as the forest is silenced. As the victim's final words he just barely get out are:

"You will curse this day," he gurgles with blood.

"Not on my life," Burgess says as he kicks the body and head off the side of the bridge.

Illustration by Otis Baker

The Deathly Gallows

by Otis Baker

As the rusty knife cut deeper into his throat the wail turn into a squeal then a hiss as his vocal cords were sliced in half, his life escaping his body and thrown into a shallow hole to wither and rot.

Pick up the shovel and start to move the rubble to gaze upon a withered broken corpse with an open throat, his eyes staring into oblivion pail with only rotting tissue and bones that made him recognisable to the men in uniform. They made their way to an embankment. Hanging over a raging river, on the other side, hung a Burgess gang member impaled on a broken tree branch with blood running from a gaping hole in his chest. His pockets were empty, it was easy to identify that it was Philip Levy, but he was no use to them now. The men in uniform were puzzled of the sacrifice that Mr. Levy had made or was it maybe it was murder ?! They needed more answers.

So the search party continued, one of them took the liberty to take point down stream and was soon heard shouting for help the other ran to his aid. The shaking drenched man stood over a burnt over blistering corpse. It was hard to tell but it could have one the Burgess gang. “Time is at the essence the river might not be a very safe place, we’ll continue to the cliffs” said the drenched man to the man in uniform.“There will be no escape” he laughed.

 “So we catch ‘em with their trousers down, so to speak” the man in uniform replied.

“Precisely.” His reply was interrupted by the sight of a huge cliff.

They arrived at the cliff edge just in time to see Mr Sullivan standing at the edge of the cliff.

“I have a wife and family, there’s no going back!” he shouted.

“Wait!” the man in uniform shouts back. But too late Mr

Sullivan leaps off the cliff to his demise.

One of them ran to examine the ragdoll body that had fallen 1899 feet, he turns to face the others.

“That was only three, where's the other one?”  

Illustration by Jahnaya Flynn

Blood Bath

by Jahnaya Flynn

“So” the police officer starts. “ What have they done this time?”

“Killed 4 people and 1 horse along the Maungatapu hills”. Says another cop.

“I’ll go speak to one of them if you like”. Says the first cop.

“You sure?” Replies the first cop.

“Yeah”.

  1 0  M I N U T E S  L A T E R        

Burgess walks through the newly painted door and into the soundproof room, stumbling a little. It had been a long time since his hair had been washed, and was so greasy it looked like he had poured vegetable oil over it. The soft light shining over him from the room shows the deep frown lines that cover his face. It also highlighted the gingery beard and mustache that covered his upper lip and beard, almost hiding the chipped yellow teeth inside his mouth.

sit down” Says the police officer. Burgess didn’t know his name - he had taken his name tag off. Burgess lifts up his hand and holds them out to the officer, suggesting to have the tight handcuffs taken off.

“No” the officer replies firmly.

Burgess lets out a long irritated sigh as he sits down onto the cold metal chair. He looks at the officer, giving him a nasty look. The officer looks back at him, giving a nastier look.

Burgess was still refusing to talk. He barely said anything to the office in general.

“Just tell us where the bodies are boy” the officer demands.

“No. Go ask Thomas,Joseph or Phillip”. Burgess replies curtly. The officer leans back in his chair, making it creak.

“You’re stubborn aren’t you?” the officer asks.

Burgess doesn’t reply.

He thinks. What if Joseph,Thomas or Phillip have already told them where the bodies are? What if they’re showing them where the bodies are right this second? What if..... He’s now breaking a sweat, panicking, breathing rapidly. “Sentenced for life” he thinks.

“Are you gonna tell us then?” The police officer asks, raising his eyebrows.

“Yeah” Burgess whispers.

Five police officers ride to a deserted location in the middle of nowhere. Using the map that Burgess made to guide them to the dead bodies that were buried in shallow graves.Finally after a while, they find the spot.They start digging, and about 20-25 mins later. They uncover the first body and drag it out into the cold, hard ground. And just stare at it in disbelief. One of the officers run behind the car and throws up noisily. Not trying to be discreet at all. The other officers stand there. Not knowing what to do. Waiting to be told what to do. They were all wondering how Burgess and his mates could have done this to all these innocent people.

The first body is a young man. With cuts and scars covering his entire bach. Possibly from a leather whip. His left foot had been attempted to be cut off. But hadn’t quite finished the job, leaving a bloody mess. That was mostly the damage on his body, it was his head and face that was the worst. On his forehead there was a 3 inch long gash, possibly made by a blow of a hammer. It was stuffed with maggots that trailed down his face and neck and into the inside of his shirt. The left over blood covering his face. One of his eyes had been roughly torn from his eye socket, and hanging from one manky piece of flesh. They pull out the rest of the bodies. They were all identical.

The police officers all stay silent as they load the dead bodies into the car.

“How long do you think they’re sentences will be?” one of the officers says.

“I have no idea” another one says, not really paying attention.

“I know” the officer that talked to Burgess says.

“How long?” the other officer says, finally paying attention.

“Life” the officer replies.

Maungatapu Murderous

by Aimee Larson

Light shimmered through a crack in the door, as Thomas Kelly walks in; Thomas Kelly is a murderous, ruthless killer. Silence smothered the room. The room was barely furnished, with a table two chairs.

“Sit right there” snarled an woman in an obnoxious german accent. As she sat, she brought out a silver pen and sat there tapping her pen on the steel table. Mr. Kelly’s face was emotionless for the people he had killed, but proud of what he had done. Then, slowly,  a smirk appears over his emotionless face.

“Where did this all happen?” . . .

Looking northward to the horizon awakening; a low cloud hangs over the sun. A man walks sternly like a beast along the dusty trail, his boots waving side to side from the stones. Clouds of dust formed after the stern beast, he walked forward as if possessed by a devil. Back at the town's church, police wagons pulled by muscular horses show up  . . . .

As they enter the church the stench of death thickens more and more each step they had took. The preacher opens the door leading to the underground cemetery, a blast of deathly air almost suffocated them. Here was the evidence to the Kelly murders.

They had found the trap door, knives and blood in the barber shop. They had to hunt Thomas down.

Further up the trail one of the wealthiest women in the town was taking in the air. She paused to gaze upon the beautiful view. Inside a calm and serenity silled her as the early morning air brought peace to her heart.

Illustration by Aimee Larson

Back in town, Mrs Lovedale, the famous bakery owner, ratted Thomas out after all the meat he gave her for her pies. Mrs Lovedale didn't get charged because she informed the police about the valuable information, but she would never sell a pie again in that town.

On the Maungatapu track, Thomas spotted the woman walking towards him.Thomas had leaped out of the bushes and sliced her arm through to the bone, thick red blood poured all over her dress. Her scream was deafening, Thomas got out his barber knife and smoothly slit her throat, this time he only had enough room for a piece of meat and jewellery.He grabbed her by the neck and had hidden her under a thick green prickly bush unseen to the public. He sets for the hard journey back to town.When he waddled into his barber shop for a drink and something to eat he was starving, he finds he is not alone …

“Thomas Kelly you're under arrest for murder!”

They had tied his hand together with a strong rope and lifted into the high wooden wagon. Silence smothered the dusty air. The ride downtown to the police station was horrible getting bashed against the wooden sides. Finally they arrived with bruises all over Thomas. They had thrown him on the ground and dragged thomas inside to the interviewing room.

”GUILTY” screeched the german woman.

After five hours in a jail cell with no food or drink a police man unlocks the door, suddenly a smirk appears over his previously emotionless face.

“Hanging Time” he said with a laugh.

“Blood is Thicker Than Water”

by Dylan McKay

That night that rock standing there tall and proud. Those men hiding waiting patiently. Their bodies calm, ready to jump. Faces are straight, no emotion. Those people walking along the bridge, completely oblivious to what was going to happen. But one man heard something, he’s worried, another man said “it will be alright” but then…

They see a flash of the moon reflecting off a knife. They run, they hear footsteps then try to hide. They sit there for several minutes. They think it’s safe, one man sees if everyone is alright but one of the men was gone. They’re looking, they find blood. Now there is three, one feels a knife snap it digs in, the knife moves blood dripping like a waterfall. All he can see is red covering a golden glow from his gold.The others are shot.

Lying there blood splattered. You're dead. Nothing in your pockets your clothes burnt horses dead their guts everywhere. It’s raining you slip. The four of you making a trail. Splash you fall into the water. You’re now drifting into oblivion. Stopping hitting a bank you sit there rotting for days. Your moving arms around you your found.

There looking looking for the person who did this. They search for days on end. Then they find evidence pointing to the Burgess gang. Locked up Sullivan tells the whole story. The other three men Burgess, Thomas and Levy are all hung to the death, Sullivan lives till 1874 then sneaks into Australia and gets caught stealing and is arrested.

Now I’m here with Sullivan talking about what happened.

“So Mr Sullivan, why did you tell the police about what happened?”

“Not telling you.”

“Why?”

“None of your business.”

“Ok tell me why you had to kill them and not just rob them of their gold and tell them you'll kill them if they tell anyone?”

“Cause they would tell and then get protection.”

“Okay then why did you need the money?”

“Not telling.”          

“Ok please tell me.”

“No.”

“So then this is the end of the interview.”

“Yes it is.”

“Goodbye now.”

“Goodbye.” (sarcastically said)

Illustration by Jackson Babe

Richard Burgess

by Jackson Babe

Richard Burgess was a juvenile pick-pocketer and thief. Such as he was walking down trafalgar street he would “accidentally” bump into someone and reach into their pocket and steal his (or hers) wallet. Then he was arrested for crimes and burglaries, this led to committing murders including Joseph Sullivan, Philip Levy and Thomas Kelly.

“So Burgass where were you saturday night? The reason I’m asking you is because your record states of thefts including $100 from your bosses wallet, $350 from your mother’s dresser and the list goes on so saturday night at 192A Nile street and 41 Mount Street valuables were stolen from the Jonsens and the Creebs at approximately 11.00pm to 3.00am… Where were you?” demanded the Police Officer with a slam down of his fist onto the table.

“Well it does not matter does it?” Scowls Burgess.

“yes it does for then we would find the culprit to these crimes.” The policeman whispers softly.

“OK if it matters then I was at home watching the saturday night soccer.”

“Did you not realise there was no soccer game on saturday?”

“Yes there was!” he bursts out suddenly, jumping up to strangle the policeman.

“SECURITY!” the police man yells as the guards drag him out.

Four men crouching under the bushes it was an cruel night blood rain, Thunder bangs piercing the bloodshot ears of innocent passers. $100’s of dollars slipping their way into the red stained hands of a cruel meaningless gang, The next morning’s wasted upon gambling and rum. What was all this for? Fancy dressed lawyers were nothing but heartless villains. As you reach Nelson, gin, beer, vodka was brought to your table, four men men silently eyeing you up wondering how much money you have. As you finished you walk outside and ride your horse home to canvas town.

Those men who were they? Why were they staring? You think. Those pistol shots what was happening down there as you gallop faster and faster as bullets pelt the ground beside you, screaming your horse knocks you off crawling you snake behind a few rocks just in time as they speed past.

“So Burgess I have pulled you up for 4 murders up on the maungatapu track and would like to know what you were doing on this horrid day.” Says the police man while staring insidiously. “Well first off I was not in Nelson at the time, but I’m sure it would have been horrible!” spluttered Burgess.

“Excuse me Richard but there are some ferry tickets clearly stating that you had sailed from australia to Nelson with no stopping.”

“What do you have to say about all this?” sneered the police.

“Well you are surely wrong about all this!” as he sneered back at the police.

“I think not I say you and three acquaintances were infact here in Nelson and heading to canvas town!” the police says in triumph.

Well uh well can i call my lawyer? says Burgess nervously.  “Definitely not I sat you are going to see the inside of a jail cell before your lawyers FACE!” yells the police man.

Illustration by Finn Fisher Black

The Secrets of the Maungatapu Track

by Finn Fisher Black

P R O L O G U E

The sky grew grey deathning air was lurking in the mist around the mountain. A small group of officers and men, scouted the Maungatapu mountains, in search of the four dead bodies who were killed by the ruthless Burgess gang. The dead bodies lay scattered around the Maungatapu track bridge, all were left for the animals to feed off. The Burgess gang had no fear in leaving the bodies to decay in the forest, for all they wanted was the gold of course, the money would have them in riches.

The sky was too dark for searching tonight, the track is now cursed from the innocent death that occurred here. We have to search at dawn when we can see the dangers.

Dawn came sooner than I wanted it to. Hours past without finding any bodies. It soon became dusk again and we had to go back to the camp to rest for another night. We just don't understand, we have search far and wide now, searching for those bodies, we'll be lucky if we even find them. Time is running away from us, just like the criminals are.

As dawn came the next day, it was as cold as an ice glacier, frost spread across the forest. Although the cold couldn't stop us from moving on. We were forced to carry on our searching.

This time, however, an officer at the front suddenly stopped and looked expressionless at the foot of a tree. Everyone moved around him to see what was going on.

The head of a dead man lay there, I looked up, a cold shiver ran throughout my body. A man hung by his ankles like a bat hanging in a cave, only, dead.

Just as the group were about to move on after investigating and retrieving the body, a man found a knife, left by the head. Engraved on the knife was a name, 'Joseph Sullivan'.

He immediately showed the knife to an officer, the officer shouted "as anyone ‘ere ‘eard of the name, Sullivan?".  Another man shouted "ain't e the one that works for, ah, Burgess, that's right, Richard Burgess".

Immediately, five men were on the criminals case. They started searching at a local pub in Nelson, then made their way over to Canvastown, south of Nelson and got to work there.

They began checking vast amounts of canvas tents. They checked hundreds of tents now and it was becoming night. The men decided a good night sleep would do them good, then at dawn they would set off searching once again.

As they were booking a room for the night at a local inn, one of the men, John caught their prey in the very corner of his eye. Instantly he knew it was them, sitting there at the back of the room, in a corner. But there wasn't two, there were four, all staring with anger. John could see they weren't the richest of all men but they had a different atmosphere to them, they had been taken over by a deathning soul. They were dark inside, cold blooded, they did not know what love or happiness meant any more.

These men were different from most others, you could see it in their eyes, their minds were full of the desperation for money and to be rich, and to do this, they would do anything. One of the murderers had a permanent frightening snare, his beady eyes would stare down at you, as if he was fiercely angry at you and was ready for a punch up. He was a big man, very bulky, but wouldn't stand a chance in a fight, even thought you would think he would. He dressed in clothes that hadn't been washed for weeks and they were all patched up and ripped. The smell coming off him was one that smelt like it had been fermenting in a jar for weeks.

All the men were very similar in different ways, some were big, some were small, some smart, some were dumb, but inside they were still murderous beasts.

T H E   B U R G E S S  G A N G  K N E W  W E   H A D  C O M E   F O R   T H E I R          H E A D S

John, turned around to tell the others about the men in the corner. They tried not to make it too obvious, but one by one they turned to take a peek, but the burges gang was gone, there was no one there. "What are ya yapping on about there ain't nobody there". Whispered James, another of the searchers. In horror John rushed out the door, looked around and...

Luckily the others came out soon enough, they threw the Burgess gang off John and had the tied up in ropes. They got the gang, but John was knocked clean out.

It was too dangerous for them to travel back to Nelson, the night had come. They were forced to spend the night with the gang in the same room, it was dangerous, but they were lucky enough to have brought extra rope to tie them to the bed-side poles. The next morning they would hope to set off for Nelson.

Immediately, after the searchers had gone to sleep, Richard Burgess was rapidly searching for anything that was sharp enough to cut the rope around his hands and feet. But there was nothing he could see. Richard heard a whisper in his ear, it was levy, he had found a splinter in the floor of the room. It was just sharp enough that if they tried they could cut the rope and they could have a chance of escaping.

As the gang were untying Sullivans knot, one of the other men rolled over in his bed. In hesitation, Levy, Kelly and Burgess, left Sullivan and quietly rushed out the room. In anger Sullivan alarmed the men. As soon as they heard Sullivan, they pranced out of the room, down the stairs and outside. It was too late, they had gone out of sight and into the darkness of the night.

Soon after, still in ropes, Sullivan and the searchers set off for Nelson. The case wasn't over yet though.

They got back to Nelson, late, but there was no time for sleep now, the police were desperate for answers and information. Sullivan walked into a small room, where an old man with a whip in his hand was waiting for him. Sullivan knew he was going to have to give answers.

“Sit down" the man said, "we have important things to discuss, Sullivan".

“My name is Henry, and I expect some answers tonight" he said with a serious glance to Sullivan

His reply “Hm" was given with a grin. A lull formed between the two men, which was broken when the policeman asked firmly,

"Now I'll start off plain, why did you and your gang kill the men on the track?"

"Money!" Sullivan shouted while slamming the table.

Once again a pause formed in their conversation. After what seemed like an eternity, the policeman resumed his line of inquiry.

“Couldn't you have just found your own gold?" he asked slowly.

At this point Sullivan was restless, “We didn't have the equipment or the money” he responded.

"Right and why did you join Burgess and his gang?" the policeman knew he had his suspect on the ropes, he had cracked much tougher criminals than Joseph Sullivan.

"It was... easier to work with them" Sullivan replied looking down at the ground, his face a picture of regret.

"What was your part in the murders?" the policeman said, putting down his whip.

"I was just back up, I hardly anything!" Sullivan replied defensively.

"Where are the other bodies?" the Policeman said as he searched Sullivan’s face.

"There was one at the bottom of the hill, hanging from a tree, and two others were burnt and buried"was the reply as Sullivan gave up trying to protect his mates. He was now firmly in the trust of the policeman. His life hung in the balance.

"Yes, excellent" the Policeman smiled and turned to leave the room.

"Don't tell the rest of the gang about this, right?" Sullivan pleaded.

"Oh they won't be around much longer, this information is useful, if you are lucky you might get off your death sentence.” The door slam sounded like the crack of a whip. Sullivan’s eyes rested on the whip that was lying on the floor of the room.

“I damned well should" he spoke softly, to noone in particular.

The morning came, there was a bad smell in the air, they were here, the Burgess gang were found. That meant death was coming for the gang. Immediately they were taken to their death place, where three ropes were waiting for them. It was over. Sullivan was let off because of the information he gave to the authorities.

William Levy was first, followed by Thomas Kelly and then by the ringleader of the gang, Richard Burgess.

“You deserved this Burgess" said a man in the crowd. Richard looked at the people and said, "you may have me but there are others, that will kill you, and take you to hell".

Illustration by Bawi Tha

The Mystery of the Mountain

by Brea Stechman

The darkness of early morning stays in the distance as the men climb up to murderous rock. They all breathe in the cold air, suddenly the man at front feels a rush of murderous thought. This was commonplace for the man known throughout the South Island as Burgess, of the Burgess gang. He grabs a butter knife, blunt and a peculiar weapon for this notable scoundrel, and stabs one of his men in the hand. His man looks confused, Richard Burgess is a dangerous man and not one to be questioned, but why has he chosen to stab his man? And why with a butter knife? Blood begins to drip from the wound, butter knives are blunt but they can still, with an expert hand, cause damage. And Richard Burgess had an expert hand. The man turns from Burgess and grabs a nearby leaf and sticks it onto the gushing wound, forming a type of bandage. After a few hours the wound will scar over and he will have a scar clearly evident on his hand for the rest of his life. For Joseph Sullivan this was an important moment, a change was forming in his mind. For Burgess. as he stepped out into the early morning sun and stretched, it was of little consequence. As if he was proud of himself for not feeling any emotion. As if this action bore as little weight as a feather.

Earlier that day the men had stayed in the bush as Burgess ran to a lady walking up the track and started talking to her.

“Why hello there” was his opening, the lady looked at him and then looked at the men who were following her and another woman climbing after her . She looks at Burgess, his greased hair and dust covered face revealing little of his character, and replies “Hello”. Together they walked up the track a bit more and then he stopped her and her friends. Suggesting that it would be a safe idea to camp out with him and his gang of murderers. She looked at him reluctantly as he smiled at her. His bald head shines in the late afternoon sunlight. His bushy beard is dripping with sweat drops . She could not see his dislike for people or his feelings as she stared into his shifty blue-green eyes. She, of course, knew nothing of his  deadly past as she had been talking to him.

She finally realised how hateful he is later in the evening as they sat around a fire,  as the evening continued he started to swear more and more. She asks for his name again, having forgetten it. He looks at her sternly but he reluctantly tells her his name “my name is Richard Burgess”she smiles at him but the smile is not returned.

That Thursday night,  Burgess sharpened his knife. He stated to his companions in the camp that he needed to go attend to business in the bush, by which everyone understood that he would be evacuating his bowels. However the call of nature was not on his mind, instead he needed to meet up with his gang. A short walk later and he declared his thoughts to his gang of misfits. Soon the laughing and chattering overruns the whispers of the gang . Burgess and his men walked up to the campsite, outside the tent. He signals for Levy . Levy steps outside the tent and looks at him sympathetically and says quietly “It’s ok, I will kill them.” He replied back to Levy “No I will, it’s my job to.” He signals towards the tent . Burgess lays down on a rugged ripped mat and slowly fall asleep thinking about what friday morning would bring .

‘Sizzle’ Burgess  sits up and shakes the pot with bacon upon the fire one more time until he takes it off. He yells for his guests . They come out and grab a plate and Burgess gives them a piece of bacon each . Burgess says to them “eat up, it’s a very big day !”

One of the guests asks “why is it a big day?”  

An ominous silence breaks out in the campsite as Burgess chews his bacon.

“No reason” Burgess  says eventually.

They pack up all their stuff and start walking up the track a bit more. Burgess grabs out his knife the gang follows and grabs their knives out too. The gang creeps up to the people, Burgess grabs a woman's mouth and stabs her from behind. The rest of the gang  does the same to the others walking up the track then they run up the track throw the bodies into the river and disappear into the shadows .

Days later, miners down at the river see something unfamiliar in the stream. Unsure whether it was another miner killed by a landslide, or a drowned chinaman, they walk up the river to find a grisly discovery. Three bodies coming down the river. The maggot infested bodies come rolling down the river, one of the miners gets on his horse and fetches the police superintendent.

The investigators turn up; the bodies crooked, holy and bloody are shocking. One of the investigators starts crying as one of the victims is his beloved sister. He stares at the munted body laying in the stream, runs back to his horse and sits there not moving. One of the bodies gets put onto the investigating bed and the investigator just concludes that one of the miners probably hit them with a pickaxe which explains the holes in the victims chests .

A reporter barges past ‘snap’ the reporter takes a photo of the bodies runs over to the man on the horse and asks how it is to feel like the way he feels. The investigator says “whoever did this I will kill you and throw you down a river and see how you like it then!”

The reporter goes to the body and kicks the body and turns it towards the horizon an army of maggots and blood pour out like a river he looks at the blood and maggots horrified with terror .

The investigators pack up the bodies and throw them in their van one of them looks at the mountain and says “I guess we will never know who did this horrible deed…” He gets into the van and drives off. Another day, another kill for the Burgess gang .

Illustration by Arjuna Van Der Velde

All rights reserved

Room Sixteen 2013

Printed at Nelson Intermediate School

All artworks were created by students in Room Sixteen.