by Andrew Cope
He blew another kiss and gave her his best sarcastic, Santa-type wave. ‘Merry Christmas, doggie!’ he shouted. ‘Ho ho ho!’
18. Now or Never
On the pavement far below, the Cook family and the pups were staring anxiously upwards. Spud had spotted Mum and Ollie as soon as they came hurrying out of the store and they’d all met up with Dad and the older children when they’d arrived soon afterwards.
The shop had been safely evacuated in minutes, and fire engines, police cars and ambulances had all arrived in a clamour of sirens. The police kept the crowds at a safe distance while the fire officers set about their work.
A cheer went up when the real Santa emerged, carrying Star. They were the last to leave the building. Mr Cook dashed forward to claim the pup and Santa was delighted to be able to reunite her with her family.
‘But what about Lara?’ said Ben. ‘And Stanley Strange? Where are they? Why haven’t they come out?’
Star could only look sadly back at him. I don’t know, Ben. I don’t know where they are.
Then the helicopter appeared and the crowd gasped as they saw the scarlet-and-white figure of Stanley Strange climbing the rope ladder and making his getaway. A parapet round the edge of the roof meant they couldn’t see a black-and-white dog leaping desperately upwards as the helicopter flew away.
Spud and Star couldn’t stand it any longer. They ran towards the building but were caught by a burly fireman. ‘Sorry, little guys,’ he said. ‘Far too dangerous for doggies.’
The central part of the building was engulfed in flames and the fire was spreading higher all the time. The fire brigade were working tirelessly trying to contain it.
The fireman returned the wriggling puppies to Mr and Mrs Cook. ‘Our other dog is in there,’ said Dad, the panic rising in his voice.
‘I’m sorry, sir,’ said the fireman. ‘I’m afraid it doesn’t look too good.’ Sophie and Ben looked at each other in horror. Sophie’s eyes filled with tears. ‘If she’s up at the top of the building, I don’t think we’ll be able to save her.’
Lara was at the top of the building and she knew she had to save herself. Keep calm, Lara, keep calm, she muttered. You’re trained for tricky situations and this is just another one. Lara thought back to some of the scrapes she’d been in. I’ve been shot at and I’ve dangled on a rope down a mountain crevasse. I’ve been in lots of high-speed chases and I’ve ridden on the roof of a train … that was pretty hairy.
She looked at the smoke belching out of the doorway behind her. But this is probably as bad as it gets!
She looked down towards the street at the mass of fire engines and flashing blue lights. Way too far to jump but could I climb down somehow?
She peered over the edge of the parapet. No, I would just be climbing into the fire.
She ran over the rooftop looking all around. The buildings opposite were far away across the street but there was a block of flats next door that was much nearer. The roof is a little lower than this one. Maybe, somehow, I could jump across?
Who am I kidding? thought Lara. I’m good at the long jump but not that good. I’d just fall straight down through the gap. Unless … unless …
Then Lara had an idea. She held her breath and raced back down the stairs and into the stockroom. She thought she’d seen some large outdoor toys in there and, sure enough, there was the paddling pool that Star had hidden behind, a Wendy house, a couple of slides and, Yes!, a small but very bouncy trampoline.
Hurry! Hurry! muttered Lara through gritted teeth as she dragged the trampoline through the corridor. Her oxygen was running out so she was forced to take in a deep breath. Lara let go of the trampoline as she coughed and choked, the black smoke filling her lungs. Don’t give up, she thought. Spud and Star need their mum. Eyes watering and lungs aching, Lara hauled the trampoline slowly and painfully up each of the steps and out on to the roof.
Crash!
The ceiling inside had collapsed. The corridor behind her was completely blocked with rubble and smoke. Now there really was no going back.
Her teeth aching, Lara dragged the trampoline to the edge of the roof, just across from the block of flats. No more choices, she thought. I’ve got to make this work!
Lara climbed on to the trampoline and began to test its bounce, pushing her back legs hard towards the springs and raising her paws in the air. I’ll need to get as much of a spring as I can from this – I’m bouncing for my life!
Down on the pavement, Sophie caught a glimpse of her beloved pet suddenly appearing in the air above the parapet and immediately disappearing again.
‘Look! It’s Lara!’ she shouted, pointing.
‘What on earth is she doing?’ said Dad as Lara appeared again. ‘This is no time to be having fun!’
‘She’s trying to escape, Dad!’ said Ben. ‘Look, she’s aiming for the roof of the building next door.’
Lara got off the trampoline and walked back to the other side of the roof. She stopped, took a deep breath and stared hard ahead. If I stay here, I’m going to be a barbecued dog, she thought. Jumping to the next building is a huge risk, but there’s a small chance I can make it.
The whole crowd hushed as they all gazed upwards, willing her on. Then Ollie’s voice could be heard shouting into the silence. ‘Go on, Lara, you can do it!’
Straight away, Spud and Star joined in with a torrent of encouraging barks and soon, everyone else was shouting too, their voices rising up and giving Lara support just when she needed it.
Yes, I can! I can do it! thought Lara determinedly as she started to sprint towards the trampoline. It’s now or never!
Lara sprinted like an Olympian. Using the trampoline as a springboard, she threw herself forward, across the edge of the building and over the yawning chasm towards the next-door roof. It seemed to take forever. She felt herself flying through the cold air. She even had time to look down at the small faces below. Then she felt herself dropping down and down.
Yikes, I’m not going to make it! Lara’s paws did the breaststroke in mid-air as she tried to gain a few extra centimetres.
The crowd gasped as the dog flew across the gap between the buildings. Ollie shut his eyes tightly. Sophie’s mouth was wide open. Ben had his fists clenched. ‘Go Lara. Go girl!’ he urged.
Lara saw the roof rise to meet her. The Spy Dog felt a sharp pain as she hit the concrete with massive force, almost knocking herself out. She had landed on the very edge of the roof. She rolled over once, twice, then lay still, catching her breath.
Am I alive? She knew she had some broken ribs. But I can wiggle my legs. At last she stood up and waved a shaky paw at the people below.
A huge cheer came up from the crowd. Spud and Star leapt in the air as if they too were on trampolines. Mum burst into tears and hugged Dad, Santa, then several complete strangers. Ben and Sophie did a high-five. Lara was safe!
‘Amazing!’ cheered one of the onlookers.
‘She’s a Super Dog …’ yelled someone else from the crowd.
‘No,’ corrected Ollie, doing a little victory dance. ‘She’s a Spy Dog.’
19. And a Happy New Year!
All the Cook family, including Lara and the pups, were sitting round the table having Christmas dinner. This year they were joined by a guest who was becoming more and more like another member of the family – Professor Cortex.
‘More turkey, Professor?’ asked Dad. His purple paper hat was at a jaunty angle on the back of his head and he was brandishing a carving knife.
‘I won’t say no!’ laughed the scientist, in a bright pink paper crown, passing his plate.
‘What about you two pups?’ smiled Dad. ‘I bet you could manage another little sausage? Or a bacon roll? Or maybe both?’
Spud and Star couldn’t stop their tails from wagging today. Thick snow had fallen overnight and when they woke up, the whole village looked like a Christmas card. They’d b
oth found their stockings brimming with presents and now there was all this delicious food. This just had to be the best day ever!
Lara looked proudly at her two pups, washed and brushed in their best collars and using their knives and forks politely. They had been so pleased to have her back safe and sound that they hadn’t thought to ask what had happened to Stanley Strange, but the professor had told Lara all about it. Now he was telling everyone else.
‘So, his accomplice landed the helicopter in a car park in the middle of nowhere,’ continued the professor. ‘Ooh yes, please. I can never resist roast potatoes! These ones are lovely and crispy too. Mmm. Now where was I?’
‘In the middle of nowhere,’ prompted Sophie.
‘Oh yes, well, then they transferred to a stolen car. In fact they switched cars twice more and then drove to a disused airport where a private jet was waiting to take them to Cuba.’
‘Wow!’ said Ben. ‘That must have taken some planning.’
‘Yes, and they were pretty confident they wouldn’t be caught. In fact, if it hadn’t been for these two fine young pups, I’d say they would definitely have got away.’
Spud and Star sat up straight and looked amazed. What! Us? What did we do? We were on our way home on the train!
Lara smiled to herself.
‘When the pups first went to check out Stanley Strange that night, they took a tracking device with them,’ said the professor.
Yes, that’s right, the one we were going to fix on the car! thought Spud.
‘In the confusion, they must have dropped it into one of the Santa Claus boots. Strange lost one to Lara,’ smiled the professor. ‘But luckily the tracker was in his other boot and he kept it on the whole time. We were able to track his every move! So when he got to the airport, it wasn’t just that jet there waiting for him – Special Branch was there as well!’
The pups’ eyes grew wide with astonishment. They had caught the baddie after all!
‘Incredible!’ said Ben. ‘Nice work, pups!’
‘Yes,’ said Sophie. ‘But what happened to the money?’
‘It’s all gone straight back to the shop,’ said the professor. ‘Apart from this cheque that the manager asked me to give to Lara and the pups by way of a reward.’
He waved the cheque in the air. Lara glanced at it and the pups peered over her shoulder. It’s far too much – we were only doing our duty!
‘But Lara says she and the pups already have everything they could wish for,’ said the professor, waving his hand around the room.
That’s right, thought Lara. Family, friends, oodles of Christmas presents, good health – apart from my broken ribs, and I’m sure they’ll soon be better.
‘So – ,’ went on the professor. ‘Oh, I say, this bread sauce is scrumptious, Mrs Cook! May I have a little more?’
Sophie passed the professor the bread sauce, and everyone waited while he poured some on the side of his plate.
‘As I was saying,’ he continued at last, ‘Lara thinks that, as Stanley Strange wouldn’t give anything to the carol singers that night, up at End House – it would be a nice idea to give the reward money to the children’s charity on his behalf.’
‘That’s a wonderful idea!’ said Mum, giving Lara a hug. ‘Oh, sorry,’ she said as the family pet couldn’t help wincing.
‘Good for you, Lara!’ agreed Dad. ‘And well done, you pups, for agreeing to it.’
Well, we didn’t exactly agree … thought Spud.
It’s the first we’ve heard about it … thought Star.
But, yes, we think it’s a great idea! And they both wagged their tails happily and tucked into another sausage.
‘Well, Merry Christmas!’ said Mum, smiling round the table. ‘And do you think it would be too much for me to hope for a peaceful, non-eventful New Year?’
‘Only time will tell, Mrs Cook,’ laughed the professor. ‘But let’s hope for a very happy one at least! Merry Christmas, everyone!’