by Andrew Cope
It hit the marble with a clatter and the commotion stopped as all eyes turned on the most precious gem in the world, lying in the middle of the room. Bambi swung silently from the creaking rope, taking in the scene below. She watched the group of people standing rigid, all gazing at the diamond, nobody daring to move.
Gus’s voice echoed from above. ‘Sorry, boss,’ he shouted.
‘You will be,’ growled Mr Big, chewing anxiously on the end of his cigar. ‘OK, Spy Dog,’ he began calmly. ‘You escaped – somehow. You are indeed a clever pooch,’ he snarled, forgetting his posh accent. ‘But I have you on video, stealing the Millennium Diamond,’ he said, tapping his camcorder. ‘This evidence will put you away forever.’ Mr Big thought quickly. ‘We all want that diamond, right?’ he said, pointing to the gem. ‘Yet we can’t get it. The pedestal is surrounded by laser beams. One touch will set off the alarm and we’re all caught. By the time the police arrive, my dog up there will be gone and you will be the guilty party.’ Mr Big was feeling calmer. He still had the upper hand. ‘And who will the police believe? A bunch of kids or Sir Humphrey Goldfinger and his video evidence?’
The retired Spy Dog was also thinking hard. Options, Lara. Think, girl. I can trigger the alarm and get arrested? I can try to recover the camera? Or I can try to get the diamond before he does? They all sounded too risky, especially with Ben, Sophie and Ollie around.
Mr Big was wondering how on earth he was going to get past the lasers. Riches beyond his imagination lay tantalizingly beyond his reach. He took a drag on his cigar and exhaled slowly, filling the room with smoke. As he did so, the clean white beams of the lasers came into view for a few seconds. As the smoke broke up they disappeared again. Mr Big drew another mouthful of smoke – this time a big one. He blew the smoke across the room and the lasers showed up once again. Everybody twigged at the same time and they all rushed forward a few paces before the smoke disappeared. Lara got over the first laser and Mr Big straddled another one. They were left in suspense as the criminal puffed on his cigar once more and exhaled. Lara moved quickly and silently. She fell to her belly and slid under a laser, then she stood tall and slim as she squeezed between two more beams of light. She paused motionless, waiting for the next puff of smoke. She saw that Mr Big had made good progress. He was crouched low, left leg spread out, almost as though he was playing invisible twister. In the race to the pedestal in the middle, Mr Big was clearly ahead. Another cloud of smoke came and went and Lara was now on her back, halfway under a beam of white light. The laser and smoke vanished together. This is so frustrating, she thought, a bit like musical statues. Lara was getting closer to the diamond. Not far to go. The trouble is that Mr Big is even closer. The next move is vital.
Archie and Cynthia watched from one side of the room, willing their mastermind towards the diamond.
‘Go, boss, go,’ advised Archie as another cloud of smoke revealed all the laser beam’s positions.
The professor and the children watched impatiently from the other side of the room.
‘Come on, Lara,’ encouraged Ben. ‘You can beat him to the diamond.’
Lara glanced at Mr Big. He was sweating and looked grey. Smoking is definitely bad for you, she thought. What it says on the packet is correct.
The two were neck and neck, approaching the diamond from opposite sides of the room. Mr Big was dizzy from smoking. He vowed that this would be his last-ever cigar.
One more puff will do it, thought Lara.
Mr Big breathed in … and all the onlookers inhaled in sympathy … then out ... everyone letting their breath out together. The lasers came into view again and Lara saw her chance.
Two moves to go. She wriggled under a beam and then hopped over the next. Mr Big was on his back, sliding under his final one. Lara was there; she scuttled across the marble floor on her belly before standing in front of the priceless gem, in awe of its beauty. Wow! Lara held the jewel in her paws. Yes, she whined, it’s mine.
‘Not so quick, Spy Dog,’ bellowed Mr Big, his fist coming at her. Lara ducked and he punched thin air. He was already dizzy and his wild punch caused him to sway even more. He twirled around uncontrollably and hit the floor with a thud, breaking several beams.
Bambi continued to dangle helplessly. The high-pitched security alarm rang out. It sounded painfully loud to her sensitive ears.
Lara scrambled for both jewels and was away, the real diamond between her teeth and the fake one in her paws. She was heading for the kids.
Out, she urged. Shoo. Scram. The security shutters are coming down in the doorways. Get out of this room quickly.
Ben, Sophie and Ollie got out easily, but the professor was old and slow. He had no chance of escape. The security shutter was nearly down. Lara skimmed the fake diamond across the floor and through the closing shutter. Then, with the real gem held securely in her jaws, she hurled herself across the polished marble floor, sliding on her furry tummy. She lowered her sticky-up ear and closed her eyes as she shot through the narrowing gap. The shutter crunched to the floor and locked itself. The alarm was muffled.
‘Nice one, Lara,’ shouted Ben, taking the diamond from his pet’s mouth. ‘That was utterly brilliant,’ he said, gaping at the sparkling jewel that filled his hand. ‘Which is the real one? This one or the one you’ve still got?’
Lara sniffed them both and thought hard. I’m not too sure, she admitted. She sniffed again. Actually, I am sure, she nodded, pointing to the one in Ben’s hand. The other one smells like it was manufactured in a factory and yours smells clean and natural.
Ben passed the real diamond to Sophie who just stared in silent amazement.
Ollie eventually got his hands on it. ‘Cool jewel,’ he remarked, holding it up to the light. ‘Mum would like it for her birthday.’
Ben pocketed one gem and Sophie the other. ‘Time for calm heads. OK, so the professor’s still in there but we’re out and we’ve got the diamonds. I didn’t see what happened to Mr Big and the other crooks. Do you think they’re trapped?’
Not sure, shrugged Lara. All I know is that we need to get out of here.
Gus had done a runner, leaving Bambi to swing silently to and fro. She was disappointed that Lara had slid under the security shutter but delighted to see that Archie and Mr Big had also escaped and were following Lara. Perhaps her team would get to keep the sparkly thing after all.
The children followed Lara along the corridor. She had made them remove their shoes so they crept quietly in their socks. The only noise was Lara’s paws tapping on the marble.
Which way’s out? thought the dog, trotting along purposefully. She picked out a green exit sign and they turned left and then right, past the sea creatures and blue whale. Nearly there , thought Lara. We’ll soon be safe.
But she was wrong. Suddenly, without warning, the group was ambushed by Mr Big. He jumped out in front of them like a bogeyman, scaring the children half to death. They ran. Ollie’s socked feet took him back towards the sea creatures and blue whale. Sophie was hot on Ollie’s heels and Archie was in close pursuit.
Ben darted past Mr Big and Lara went through his legs, leaving the man grasping thin air. Ben had a head start but his socks meant he was skidding around corners, unable to take them full on. It was slowing him down and he could hear Mr Big’s heavy breathing close behind him. He watched Lara teetering around the next corner and tried to follow suit, but he slid on the shiny surface and came to a spinning halt on his bottom.
He looked up at Mr Big towering above him.
‘Gotcha,’ snarled the criminal, hauling Ben to his feet. He held the boy in a vice-like grip, with a hand across his mouth. He rummaged in Ben’s pocket and found the diamond. ‘Real or fake?’ he bellowed, holding it up to the light.
The terrified boy just shrugged his shoulders. He genuinely couldn’t remember.
Sophie and Ollie sprinted through the deserted museum, past the undersea kingdom and into the ape display. They had outrun Archie. He was some way be
hind, catching his breath. Sophie and her brother were glad to see so many hiding places.
‘We’ve got the diamond so he’s going to come and look for us,’ panted Sophie. ‘Just be calm. We can out-think him.’
The children found hiding places, Ollie in with a stuffed gorilla and Sophie behind a Stone-Age display case. They heard footsteps and tried to control their breathing. Ollie shut his eyes and hoped. Sophie clasped the diamond, determined not to give up without a fight.
Archie entered the ape exhibition. He gazed around in awe. There was so much that reminded him of his family. He walked past a stuffed monkey with a bright-red face and stopped to stare, as if looking into a mirror. He gazed for a moment before shaking himself back to the task in hand.
‘Come on, kiddies,’ he coaxed. ‘I know you little monkeys are in here somewhere. Uncle Archie won’t hurt you … too much.’
Ollie gulped. Sophie took a sharp intake of breath.
Archie heard the little girl’s gasp and approached the cabinet. Sophie crouched, making herself as small as she could. Archie looked at the caveman tools in the cabinet, unaware that Sophie was crouching behind it. He reached in and took a long-handled club from the display.
‘This might come in handy,’ he grinned, slapping the stone in the palm of his hand.
Sophie held her breath. Archie moved on and she saw him creeping towards Ollie’s hiding place.
Her little brother had also been trying to hold his breath. He was snuggled behind a huge stuffed ape which, from the smell of it, hadn’t been washed for centuries. He’d held back several sneezes but this one was unavoidable. ‘Aatchoo!’
Archie stopped, smiled and turned. Sophie’s heart sank as she saw him heading directly towards her brother. He approached the stuffed gorilla.
‘There you are, you ’orrible little brat.’
Sophie screamed as she saw Archie raise the club. Glass shattered and Ollie ran for it. Archie was after him but he tripped and fell, the club falling from his hand. As he fell he managed to catch Ollie’s ankle and the little boy tumbled over. Archie grabbed Ollie’s foot and held on, pulling the squirming boy back across the floor. Sophie rushed out of her hiding place, ready to offer the diamond in exchange for her brother, but she wasn’t needed. She watched Ollie stretch and grab the club.
‘You wouldn’t, would you?’ dared Archie.
Ollie’s wild eyes said it all. He raised the ancient weapon and brought it crashing down on the man’s arm. Archie’s face went a darker shade of red and he screamed in pain as he let go of Ollie’s foot. Clutching the club, Ollie ran. He and Sophie tore out into the corridor, sprinting towards the entrance hall. Archie, nursing a dead arm, lumbered after them. For some reason his injured arm was making him limp. The children burst into the entrance hall and stopped in their tracks.
In the middle of the hall, under the giant dinosaur skeleton, stood Mr Big and their elder brother. The horrible man had such a tight grip on Ben that it was making the boy’s eyes water. Lara was twenty paces away from them, circling like a gunslinger. Her unblinking eyes were fixed on Mr Big. She beckoned Sophie and Ollie to her side.
We made it as far as the main entrance, she thought. We nearly made it out. So close.
She could see Ben’s eyes wide with fear.
Don’t worry, fella, she willed, I’ll find a way out of this. I promise. Not quite sure how yet, but I’ll think of something.
Lara was panicking on the inside but trying to appear calm on the outside. Sophie handed her the diamond.
Think, Lara, think. I have the gem but Mr Big has my owner. Maybe we can do a swap?
She winced as Mr Bigs grip tightened and Ben’s body stiffened. His eyes began to brim with tears of fear and frustration. Archie limped into the room, wild-eyed and nostrils flaring. He shook his good fist at the children and joined his boss. Mr Big showed him the diamond and he shrugged.
They don’t know which is which, thought Lara.
Sophie was crying, big sobs churning from her chest.
Ollie was being brave. ‘Let my brother go, you nasty man,’ he ordered.
‘Or what?’ smirked Mr Big.
‘Or … or I’ll set my dog on you,’ said Ollie defiantly. He had seen Lara do judo and was confident she could duff him up, and Archie too if need be.
‘If that mutt comes anywhere near me, your brother will be very sorry,’ snarled the criminal. ‘Very sorry indeed. If you know what I mean.’
Ollie looked at Lara who put her paw to her lips to signify shush.
Don’t worry. I know exactly what he means but it won’t come to that.
Mr Big had already worked out the swap deal. He wanted the diamond not the boy and figured the dog wanted the opposite.
‘OK, mutt,’ he growled. ‘I think we can do a deal. Your diamond for this brat.’
Archie started to hop from foot to foot. ‘Yeah,’ he piped up. ‘We release this brat and you give us the gem. If we have both diamonds then we’re bound to have the real one. Good thinking, boss.’
Lara knew she had no choice.
OK. Deal, she nodded. My priority has to be the kids.
She took the club from Ollie and sat the children down at the edge of the room.
Don’t worry, guys. I’m sure this will turn out all right, she hoped. As always, I’ve got half a plan. I just need a little bit of luck to go with it.
Lara dropped the diamond at her feet, where it lay glittering. Mr Big began to salivate. He could see the diamond in all its priceless glory.
‘We release at the same time,’ he warned. ‘I let the brat go and you slide the rock to me, OK?’
Lara nodded slowly. She took up position, holding the upturned club like a hockey stick.
I will send you the diamond, hockey-style, she thought.
Lara crouched as if taking a penalty, her stick just behind the Millennium Diamond. She was sure it would slide across the floor like an ice-hockey puck.
‘After three,’ said Mr Big. He pulled a pistol from his jacket. ‘Any funny business and you and the boy are in major trouble.’
Lara saw the gun and her heart quickened.
Now this is very serious indeed, she thought. She remembered the bullet hole in her ear, a souvenir of their previous encounter. I have only one chance. She remembered her hockey lessons. I sure hope this works.
‘One,’ began Mr Big.
Lara settled into hockey position, ready to send the gem across the shiny floor.
‘Two,’ croaked the villain, loosening his grip ever so slightly.
Lara held the club handle as tightly as she could and took aim, waiting and hoping that the next number would bring her success.
‘Three,’ said Mr Big, calmly and clearly, releasing Ben.
Lara put all her force behind the shot. The Millennium Diamond skimmed across the floor. She watched Mr Big’s frustration because she had aimed it to his left. He dived and missed.
Ben was away, sprinting towards Lara as fast as his socks would allow him.
The Millennium Diamond crashed into the skeleton dinosaur’s left foot, just as Lara had intended.
Great shot, girl, she told herself. Now please, please, please …
Mr Big sprawled on the ground as he watched the diamond smash into the dinosaur’s foot. The bones cracked and the dinosaur’s ankle hit the floor. The structure above him lurched to one side. The bones creaked and the dinosaur wobbled.
Archie could see what was happening and tried to raise his boss from the floor. But it was too late. Ben turned and watched the massive skeleton fall, the men disappearing under a dinosaur graveyard. When the dust settled there was no sign of the two criminals, just a pile of prehistoric bones. Lara padded around the hall and sniffed the diamond.
Excellent, she thought. This is the real one. She picked it up in her mouth and returned to the children, smiling through priceless teeth.
Sophie ran to her and flung her arms around her pet. ‘Lara, you are so clever and wonderful
,’ she laughed. ‘I knew you would think of something.’
A job well done, agreed her pet. We’re all safe, the men are trapped and we have recovered the diamond. I’d say that’s a good day’s work.
21. A Gem of an Idea
Lara thought hard about what to do next. She gave the diamond to Ben, who pocketed it.
We need to get to a police station, fast. I can return the diamond and then everything will be OK.
The museum’s main door creaked open and in marched a small army of uniformed men.
Ahh, the real bomb squad. About time too.
The man in charge couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw children in the museum and cleared them out immediately.
‘This is a very dangerous mission – far too dangerous for kids to be around,’ he said.
Lara wagged her tail enthusiastically. Tell me about it!
When he saw Lara he was even more surprised. ‘Dogs are not allowed in the museum. How did you get in here, pooch? And what on earth have you lot been up to?’
Oh, you know, catching baddies, rescuing priceless diamonds … everyday Spy Dog stuff, smiled the family pet.
Lara and the children were ushered outside and they became lost in the crowd milling about, waiting for the museum to reopen.
Lara spotted a taxi. She stood on her hind legs and pointed. The professor was still locked in the Millennium Room so Ben took charge of hailing the cab. The taxi drew up. Lara and the three children jumped in.
‘Where to?’ asked the driver
Ben shrugged. ‘Er, the nearest police station, I suppose,’ he suggested.
Lara nodded as she sat back and relaxed.
At last, we’re nearly at the end of this adventure.