Andy Roid and the Camp Howl Crusades

by Felice Arena

  Your friend,

  Molly xx

  Andy frantically flipped through the pages again. He looked in the envelope, but there was no sign of the missing page.

  ‘Mr Blundle!’ he said, rushing out of his room, but the General’s car was already pulling out of the drive.

  ‘It’s obviously something he didn’t want you to read,’ said Andy’s mum. ‘He only wants to protect us, Andy.’

  ‘I don’t care,’ Andy snapped, now really upset. ‘This totally sucks.’

  ‘Andy! That’s no way to speak to your mother,’ Andy’s dad said. ‘Apologise, please.’

  ‘No way!’ Andy snapped. ‘I don’t care if Mr Blundle is the General. I don’t care if he’s your boss. He shouldn’t go through my personal stuff.’

  Andy stormed out of the kitchen and stomped back up to his bedroom.

  It was moments like this that Andy really wished that life could be the way it used to be, before his parents turned him into Andy Roid.

  ‘Protect me. Yeah, right,’ he muttered as he dropped onto his bed. ‘I’m a biorobotic freak with superpowers. I can look after myself.’

  Andy took Brad out of his cage. The rat scampered up his arm and took a running jump off his shoulder. The rodent soared metres across the bedroom, and landed on top of the wardrobe. Whoa, thought Andy. You really are a super rat!

  Andy reached up to take Brad down, but his new pet just tried to nip his fingers. Andy laughed. ‘Chomping on my wired fingers will hurt you more than it will hurt me,’ he said.

  He left Brad alone and his thoughts went back to Molly. ‘Seriously, what harm would it do if I called her? Okay, they could probably bug her phone…’ A huge grin lit up Andy’s face as he looked at the palm of his left hand and then slapped the back of his neck. ‘But what if I didn’t use a phone? I wonder what my software can come up with?’

  Andy tapped the blue circular palm screen twice and a thin red line appeared. He slid his right forefinger across it. Andy usually connected with his parents via a video call, but on the top right corner of the screen there was a small image of a key. When Andy tapped on it, it revealed more application icons – one of them was the image of a green bell. Andy touched it and a keyboard appeared. He entered Molly’s name and address in the search box. Three entries came up for Molly’s address, including a video-chat caller ID: MollyR13.

  ‘Face-to-face chat,’ he said, as he double-tapped on MollyR13.

  His heart raced as he heard the video call ring. Suddenly Molly’s face appeared on screen, right there in the palm of Andy’s hand. Andy couldn’t believe it. ‘Hi,’ he gulped.

  ‘Andy?’ she cried. ‘Is that you? Where are you calling from? I wasn’t going to answer because your caller name is GOVERNMENT-AR1 – totally weird sign in! Are you okay?’

  ‘Y-yeah, I am,’ stammered Andy. But just then he heard someone coming up the stairs. ‘Molly…I can’t talk now, but I just wanted to say I got your letter and I’ll try to contact you when I can.’

  Andy quickly slapped the back of his neck as his bedroom door swung open. His mother popped her head into the room.

  ‘Who were you talking to?’

  ‘What? Um, just Brad. We’re getting to know each other. Aren’t we, boy?’

  Brad squeaked and made gnawing sounds from the top of the wardrobe. For a moment, Andy wondered if his half-rodent, half-machine pet could actually understand English. What exactly was Brad capable of?

  Andy’s mother sighed. She sat on the edge of his bed. ‘Look, Andy, I just wanted to say how very proud I am of you. You’ve endured so much, and sometimes I forget you’re only twelve –’

  ‘Almost thirteen,’ interjected Andy.

  ‘Yes, but still so young and still my boy,’ Andy’s mum replied. ‘I’m sorry we’ve put you through all this. I can’t tell you how many nights I lie awake worrying. I’m sorry you can’t speak to your friend Molly, now, I really am. But one day, when all this is over, I will make sure you can, okay? For now we have to play it smart, Andy. We can’t risk putting people in danger – especially those we care about.’

  Andy’s mother gently kissed Andy on the forehead and left the room.

  Andy sighed and felt a wave of guilt wash over him. His mum was right – he knew he couldn’t call Molly back. He knew he should never have called her at all.

  ‘Hey, Mr P – think quick!’ called Hunter, tossing a toy football from the back of the bus where he and his mates were sitting.

  Mr Presticott, who was at the front of the bus, caught the ball with one hand, thrust his other hand into the air, and struck a victory pose.

  Hunter and his friends, Chad and Mitch, cheered.

  Andy shook his head. They had been on the bus to Camp Howl for hours and he was sick to death of Hunter. The bus snaked its way through the State Forest, through towering trees and a rugged landscape.

  ‘Okay, you boys back there, time to settle down,’ Mr Presticott said. ‘I know I’m cool, but Miss Taylor and the bus driver here are getting a little nervous. They’re scared the ball might hit someone. Even though that’s impossible because with my awesome catching ability, it’s never going to happen.’

  Andy looked over at Reggie who was rolling his eyes, but he stopped as soon as he saw Andy looking. What’s up with him? Andy wondered. He’s been acting weird all day.

  When Andy turned back, he saw Judd reaching into his bag. Andy watched him stand up and throw a paper airplane, hard and fast, directly at Mr Presticott.

  ‘Heads up, Mr Presticott!’ he said as the plane caught their loud-mouthed teacher off guard, hitting him right between the eyes.

  Everyone broke out laughing.

  ‘Sorry,’ called Judd, straight-faced. ‘Thought you would catch it…with your awesome catching ability.’

  Even Chad and Mitch were trying not to laugh. Mr Presticott warned Judd that if he tried something like that again he’d be sent home, but Andy caught the shy English teacher, Miss Taylor, cracking a smile.

  ‘So I’ve taken your advice,’ Judd said, sitting back down next to Andy, ‘about how I can impress Gabriella. I found out what she likes – get this, it’s rocks!’

  ‘Rocks?’

  ‘Yeah, she might be hot, but she’s secretly a geology nerd. Totally random, right?’ Judd said, looking over at Gabriella. She was sitting with her friends about halfway down the bus. ‘Her dad studies rocks – that’s his job. Can you think of a more boring career? But I’ve done some research and I’m going to blow her mind with my rock knowledge! I was up all night studying.’

  Judd grinned proudly, but Andy wondered if his friend’s plan would work – he was so obviously not someone who cared about geology. It was hard to believe that Judd was losing his cool over a girl.

  ‘Um, okay, good luck with that,’ said Andy. ‘Hey, what’s up with Reggie? He just gave me the dirtiest look. He won’t talk to me – even when I offered him some of my chips.’

  Judd just shrugged as the bus pulled in to Camp Howl and everyone rushed to get out.

  ‘Right!’ said Mr Presticott. ‘Six students to a cabin. You have your lists and schedules and you all know who you’re bunking with. You have ten minutes to drop off your bags, change into your hiking gear, and come back here to meet Ranger Steve Peters. Get a move on!’

  Everyone scattered. Andy was glad that he and Judd and Reggie were in the same cabin, but he was a little bummed that they’d also be sharing it with Hunter, Chad and Mitch.

  ‘Top bunk is mine, losers,’ Hunter called out, running ahead of the others and charging through the cabin door. ‘Mitch, Chad – you two get the other top bunks.’

  ‘Hey, that’s not fair,’ protested Reggie.

  ‘Survival of the fittest, nerd,’ snorted Hunter. ‘Get used to it.’

  Andy threw his bag onto a bottom bunk, ignoring Hunter and his friends.

  ‘Welcome to the beautiful Jefferson State Forest,’ said the ranger, standing on a small podium in the centre of the camp. ‘We wan
t you to explore and have a good time while you’re here, but there are a few rules you must abide by…’

  Andy looked around and caught Reggie frowning at him.

  Andy mouthed, ‘What?’ in his direction, but Reggie quickly turned back to listen to the ranger.

  ‘If you stick to these guidelines, you’ll have fun and stay safe. Now, this area of the forest is commonly known as the Howl Ranges for a reason. There are wild dogs that reside in the surrounding hills.’

  Hunter and his mates broke into howling sounds. Mr Presticott chuckled, and Miss Taylor tried to shush them, unsuccessfully.

  ‘That’s exactly what they sound like,’ said Ranger Peters. ‘You will hear them around dusk. These canines are the descendents of stray dogs that were dumped in the woods over a hundred years ago. They bred with the wild dogs of the area and they’ve now become part of this ecosystem. In fact they’re protected. They generally keep away from humans during the day, but they will attack if they feel threatened or if their young are in danger. So stay on the paths and do not approach them or their pups. They hunt at night, of course, in packs – but you’ll all be safe in your bunks so there’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘Do they look like wolves?’ asked Reggie.

  ‘No, more like a cross between a rottweiler and a boxer. Like this!’ Ranger Peters held up a large photograph of one of the wild dogs snarling. Some of the students gasped, even Andy thought it looked pretty menacing.

  ‘Remember,’ said the ranger. ‘They’re more scared of us, than we are of them. Okay? Yes?’

  Reggie eagerly shot up his hand to ask the ranger another question. ‘Are they the apex predator in this region?’

  Hunter and his mates groaned.

  ‘That’s an excellent question,’ said Ranger Peters. ‘And the answer is yes, they are at the top of the food chain. So they don’t fear other animals. Only humans and, of course, they do have a fear of fire. Everything in these ranges has learnt that a bushfire is deadly. Anyway, that’s all for now. Have a great time and again, welcome!’

  Andy and his classmates applauded and broke up into eight groups for the start of the hiking challenge. Each group was to hike along a two-kilometre track. The tracks all snaked out into the woods and circled back to the campsite.

  ‘Yes!’ Judd hissed to Andy, when he found out that Gabriella was in their group.

  ‘Don’t get too excited,’ added Andy. ‘Hunter’s with us, too.’ Judd looked annoyed – Hunter was Gabriella’s ex-boyfriend.

  ‘Okay,’ cried Miss Taylor. ‘At every two hundred metres there will be a sign. Make sure to record what’s on that sign. And, remember, you’re not to leave the track.’

  ‘Ready!’ yelled Mr Presticott. ‘GO!’

  ‘So this is very cool,’ said Judd casually, as he and Andy, Reggie, Hunter and Gabriella were half way through their hike. ‘Nature, you just can’t beat it, especially rocks. Look at that ridge – I bet it’s at least a gazillion years old!’

  Andy sighed. Except for Judd, no one in his group was talking. Hunter marched ahead of everyone, as if it was a race. Reggie was a few steps behind, looking totally disinterested in them, just writing down what was on the signs. Gabriella was walking next to Andy – every so often turning to look at him. It was making him really uncomfortable.

  ‘So…I bet the land around here dates back to the Devonian period,’ said Judd, as if he knew what he was talking about.

  ‘You like geology?’ Gabriella finally turned her attention to him.

  ‘Oh, yeah! I love rocks. Yep, rocks totally rock!’ Judd grinned. ‘Don’t tell me you do, too?’

  Wow, thought Andy impressed. This could actually work! Gabriella started talking to Judd about her father and how she had never met any other kids who liked geology.

  ‘But I think you could be wrong about the Devonian period,’ she said, smiling. She turned to Andy. ‘What about you, Andy? Do you like rocks?’

  Before Andy could answer, Reggie interjected. ‘I think I could like rocks. I’ve read quite a bit about the Devonian period. It’s more commonly known as –’

  ‘But, Andy, do you like them?’ repeated Gabriella, cutting Reggie off.

  He looked hurt.

  Andy caught Judd miming the words, ‘Say no, definitely say no.’

  ‘Nup. Not a fan,’ said Andy. ‘Rocks suck, big-time.’

  Judd smiled. But Gabriella added: ‘Well, I s’pose if we all liked the same thing, the world would be pretty boring.’

  Judd slapped his hand across his forehead.

  ‘Hey, super geeks!’ yelled Hunter, who had left the track and was standing up on a ridge. ‘You’ve all got rocks in your head. Seriously, Gabriella? You dumped me to hang out with these losers?’

  ‘Hunter!’ cried Gabriella. ‘Get down or we’ll all be in big trouble…’

  Suddenly a skulking shadow appeared on the rock ledge just behind Hunter. Andy’s heart skipped a beat. It was a wild dog. And it looked angry! Its bloodshot eyes were popping out of its dust-coloured, mangy skull. And with each snarl it showed off its razor-sharp teeth and spotted pink gums.

  ‘You think it’s fun getting stuck with losers who talk about rocks?’ Hunter continued, completely unaware of the beast breathing down his neck. ‘Hey, look what I found – some pups.’

  Gabriella gasped. ‘Don’t touch them,’ she called.

  ‘Don’t move,’ cried Judd.

  Over the edge of the ridge, they could see the pups a couple of metres away from Hunter. He looked up and froze, totally petrified, obviously too scared to turn around.

  ‘He’s between the mother and her pups,’ said Reggie. ‘She’ll attack for sure.’

  ‘It’s okay, Hunter,’ said Judd. ‘If you can, step away slowly.’

  Suddenly, three more adult wild dogs with raised hackles joined the mother – their snarling and growling getting louder.

  Andy gulped. This wasn’t good. Hunter was dead meat. Literally!

  The wild dogs were padding from foot to foot, salivating, and looking as if they were about to pounce on Hunter.

  ‘Hunter! Don’t do anything to startle them,’ said Gabriella. ‘Remember what the ranger said – they’re more scared of us than we are of them.’

  ‘Ah, really? I’m not getting that vibe from here,’ Hunter croaked, terrified.

  Andy was finding it kind of satisfying to see Hunter looking scared, but he knew he couldn’t let anything really bad happen to him. He thought about what Ranger Peters had said to Reggie earlier – there wasn’t much that worried the dogs…only fire. I can’t start a bush fire, thought Andy.

  The only solution was to lead the dogs away from the track. And he would have to do it without his powers, at least at first. It wasn’t going to be easy.

  ‘RRAAARRHH!’ he screamed, running off into the forest towards the pack of dogs. ‘Out of my way, you stupid mutts!’ he yelled, racing up to the ridge where Hunter was trapped.

  ‘Andy! He’s not worth it!’ cried Gabriella.

  ‘You’ll be eaten alive!’ Reggie yelled.

  Andy had startled the dogs and they jumped back a few metres, but for his plan to work Andy knew he had to get the whole pack to chase him. He looked around for the puppies. One of them was sniffing around Hunter’s feet.

  By now the pack had recovered and turned their attention to Andy.

  The mother dog growled, stepping towards him.

  ‘Stay there, Hunter,’ said Andy, reaching down to grab the puppy.

  ‘W-what are you doing?’ Hunter stammered. ‘You’re crazy!’

  Andy quickly looked down at the puppy, squirming and yelping in his arms – it was almost cute. ‘Sorry, little guy,’ he said. ‘But it’s time for walkies.’

  He looked back up just as the pack charged at him.

  It was like the most dangerous game of tag he’d ever played, as he darted through the forest, ducking and weaving between the snarling wild dogs.

  Andy could hear Reggie, Judd and Gabriel
la calling after him. Once he was out of sight, he kicked into super speed, quickly leaving the pack behind.

  When Andy had put enough distance between him and the dogs, he put the puppy on the ground. It began to whimper and cry for its mother. It looked so lonely sitting there, so harmless…

  Andy knew he couldn’t leave the poor pup by itself so he jumped into the branches of the nearest tree. He wasn’t switched on, but it was still as simple as hopping, and he had to grip onto a solid branch, stopping himself from shooting even further up into the treetops.

  Whoa, he thought. I need to work on that! Controlling my jumps is definitely going to take some practice.

  When the wild dogs arrived, Andy waited patiently for them to pick up the puppy and move on. But they didn’t.

  The mother dog growled, dripping long strings of drool on the forest floor.

  Please, don’t look up, thought Andy, trying to stay as still as possible.

  The dog sniffed the ground where Andy had been standing. She looked confused for a second, then she raised her head and spotted Andy. She began to snarl and throw herself against the tree trunk. The pack went beserk, circling the tree and howling.

  Oh, great, Andy thought, worried that the noise would lead his friends straight back into trouble.

  Then Andy remembered the new applications his dad had installed.

  I can make fire! he thought, slapping the back of his neck. And the dogs are scared of fire. Good old Dad!

  Andy’s palms glowed bright blue. He was switched on. He tapped on the new icon on his palm screen and instantly the blue glow beneath his other palm turned to a bright, red-hot circle.

  Andy’s father had told him that his hand would heat up to extreme temperatures and he had only a minute before it would switch itself off. He needed fuel. Andy quickly snapped off a dry branch and cupped his right hand around the top of it. Within seconds the branch caught fire, and Andy was holding a flaming torch.