by Andrew Cope
There was another knock at the door, this time more urgent. ‘Come on,’ bellowed the ticket inspector. ‘I haven’t got all day.’
OK, that’s the decision made, thought Lara. She positioned her back paws on Ben’s shoulders and scrambled upwards. Ouch, it’s a tight squeeze. Ben stood carefully, his pet’s claws digging into his shoulders.
‘Careful, girl,’ he whispered as her back legs wobbled. He pushed her legs up and watched as she scrabbled to get a grip on the roof. Sophie and Ollie held their hands over their mouths as they watched Lara’s legs disappear. Within a few seconds she was gone and Ben closed the skylight before climbing down off the toilet seat. He gave a silent thumbs-up.
The children looked at each other and nodded. ‘Let’s do it,’ whispered Ben, filling his chest with a deep breath. Sophie pressed the button to flush the toilet. Ollie pressed the lock and the toilet door swung open. The ticket collector was frowning beneath his peaked cap.
Ollie smiled his very best smile. ‘I was desperate,’ he explained. ‘In fact we all were. We always go together,’ he explained. His elder brother and sister nodded enthusiastically.
‘Can I see your tickets, please?’ reminded the inspector.
‘Of course,’ said Ben, taking over. ‘My dad’s got them.’
‘And where’s he?’ asked the ticket collector suspiciously.
‘Can’t quite remember which way we came,’ said Ben, doing his best puzzled expression. ‘He’s quite an old chap. Nearly bald. Three white hairs combed over the top. Have you seen him?’
The ticket collector nodded. ‘He’s sitting with a man and a woman, in first class,’ he said, pointing a helpful finger towards the front of the train. ‘I’ll be back to check your tickets in a few minutes, OK?’
The children gave their friendliest smiles and started to sway their way towards the front of the train.
On top of the train, Lara gripped the roof with all her might. Her ears flapped wildly and her eyes were watering. The skylight was closed so there was no going back. Luckily, each carriage had three skylights so she had something to wind her paws round and hang on to. She lay for a minute, squinting into the gale, thinking about her next move. One wrong move and I’m a gonner. Lara decided the best thing to do would be to move along the train, peering into the skylights. Maybe I’ll spot the professor, she thought. But first I need to make it to the next skylight without being blown away!
She slithered, snake-like, across the roof of the train carriage, her eyes squinting in the hurricane-force gale. I can hardly catch my breath. A train hurtled past in the opposite direction, scaring her half to death. Her train was now running alongside a motorway and she caught the eye of a lorry driver. I’m just getting some fresh air! she yapped. The driver shook his head, and Lara watched his truck indicate left as he turned into the next service station in search of some strong coffee.
Lara edged her way to the next skylight and peered down at the passengers. No professor. Move on. She reached the end of the carriage and peered down, hoping to see a door that she could slip through. Nothing. Doh. I’ll have to jump to the next carriage, she thought.
Lara practised standing up, gingerly at first, the wind almost blowing her off her feet. She stayed crouched on all fours, then raised her head to check there were no tunnels. That would be a disaster, she thought. The track stretched ahead in a perfect line, coming together at the horizon. OK, here goes, she nodded, taking as deep a breath as she could. Then she pulled back on her hind legs and sprang, cat-like, crossing the divide and scrambling for a hold on the next carriage. Yes! she howled into the wind. I did it.
She looked at the train snaking into the distance and counted in her head. Five more carriages to go, she considered. One of them must have a way in. Oh, please let there be a way in. Lara pondered the children down below, probably captured by the ticket collector. Or, even worse, captured by the villains. I have to keep moving. She lay down in the roaring wind and began another slow belly crawl down the carriage.
17. First-class Spying
The children made their way through four carriages, looking out for the professor all the time. Ben looked round at his sister and brother. He pointed to the sign on the next carriage. ‘First class,’ he said. ‘This is where it could get interesting.’
They pressed the button and the door to first class swished open. The carriage was almost empty. Ben, Sophie and Ollie walked slowly down the aisle, past a few people typing on laptops or snoozing. There were three people sitting at the far end, deep in conversation. Ben recognized the back of the professor’s shiny head. Dame Payne and a younger man were facing them, so Ben pretended to look at something on the floor as they sank into the seats behind the professor. Quiet as mice, they listened.
Ben heard the professor talking about his formula. ‘It’s instant genius,’ he explained. ‘But it’s for animals. It’s really not safe for humans.’
‘I’ve already tried it, remember?’ said the young man. ‘And it does work. Do we have a deal, Professor?’
The scientist thought through the ‘deal’. There didn’t seem to be any option if he wanted to save Ben’s life. ‘We have a deal, Bent,’ mumbled the professor. ‘I will produce the formula for you, but then I want out. I will not be involved in putting children in danger.’
Ben couldn’t believe his ears. ‘Surely not,’ he whispered. ‘The professor can’t be a baddie. He can’t be selling his top-secret formula. And why are children in danger? That must be why Dame Payne is here.’
‘This is my retirement fund,’ said Dame Payne. ‘The people I have been working with will not be happy that I’m double-crossing them.’ Ben shuddered at the sound of his head teacher’s voice. He’d always thought she was evil, and here was the proof.
The startled children listened closely until the conversation finished. ‘I need a coffee,’ sighed Dame Payne, standing up and grabbing her handbag.
Ben tried to duck down but it was too late. She nodded at Sophie and Ollie and did a double take at Ben. He put on an innocent smile. ‘Hi, Miss,’ he cringed.
‘Mr Benjamin Cook!’ exclaimed the sinister head teacher. ‘My star pupil. What a coincidence. Tell me, what exactly are you doing on this train?’
The professor’s head peered over the seat. ‘Ben and Sophie,’ he exclaimed. ‘And Oliver. What? How? Where …?’ he began.
‘Friends of yours, Professor Cortex?’ asked Dame Payne, raising her eyebrow.
‘Well, yes,’ stammered the professor. ‘Sort of.’ He looked around anxiously, presumably for GM451, expecting her to come out of hiding. ‘Look here, children,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why you’re on this train or how you got here, but I’m in the middle of something rather urgent. It’s a bit dangerous actually, especially for you, Ben. It’s best you leave.’
‘We heard you talking, Professor,’ challenged Ben. ‘We know what you’re up to. We heard everything. I can’t believe you’d sell out to this pair of dimwits,’ he babbled, pointing at Dame Payne and Christopher Bent. ‘I mean, how could you?’ yelled Ben, tears rising in his voice.
‘You don’t know what you’re talking about, Benjamin,’ warned the professor. ‘I’m here because I’ve finally invented something that’s worth a fortune and these people are offering me a deal.’ He glared at Ben. ‘It’s an especially good deal for you!’ he hissed under his breath. ‘Please leave now, before you get into big trouble.’
‘Too late for that,’ growled Ben’s head teacher, reaching into her handbag and pulling out a pistol. ‘Sit down, nutty professor. And you horrible lot can come and sit closer, where I can keep an eye on you. Now I have the formula and the perfect young brain. I love it when a plan falls into place.’ She pushed the children into seats next to Professor Cortex, waving her pistol in a menacing way. ‘I don’t quite know what’s going on, but I have a sneaky feeling you’re trying to trick me. Any funny business and someone will get hurt. Am I understood?’
The children nodded do
wn the barrel of the gun. Things had never been clearer.
Lara had battled her way through the howling wind. She’d slithered across four carriages, and jumped the gaps, finally arriving on top of first class. She was able to stare down on the luxury seats below, and no one had noticed a wild-eared dog peering through the ceiling portholes. But Lara had seen the professor’s ping-pong-ball head. She’d spied it from above and had been concerned to see the children sneak into the seats behind – then alarmed when they’d been discovered … and beside herself when the woman had pulled a gun.
Uh-oh, she thought. Nightmare scenario. Again! Lara considered her options, which seemed very limited. The children were now in grave danger so her priority switched from catching baddies to rescuing her family. There was only one way in.
She gathered her thoughts, still clinging on for dear life. From nowhere another high-speed train thundered by, jolting Lara and causing her to let go of the skylight. The gale caught her and she slid alarmingly across the roof, on her furry tummy, trying to stop herself by jabbing her claws into the paintwork. Her nails screeched like chalk on a blackboard as she dug as deep as she could. She caught the last remaining skylight and pulled with her paws and teeth, steadying herself as her back legs flew behind her. Hold tight, Lara, she urged herself, the wind filling her cheeks and puffing them out like a bullfrog. Let go and you’re an ex-Spy Dog. The train was still rattling at full speed but Lara had to get back to the skylight above the children. I have to attempt a rescue, she thought, sliding herself back along the carriage.
Lara looked below and saw the children. She raised her head to check all around. Her heart sank. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, she thought. There’s a tunnel up ahead. Lara calculated that she had about two minutes before the train entered the tunnel. She didn’t like the look of the black hole ahead – railway tunnels were narrow and low. Just enough room for a train, she imagined. But maybe not enough to squeeze a dog through too. I have to work quickly. No time for thinking. Just do something. Now!
18. Tunnel Vision
Lara glanced up at the tunnel, which was getting bigger every second. No, I didn’t imagine it. The skylight was her only chance. It’s the only way in, she panicked, and it’s the only way I’m going to save my skin.
Lara lay flat, held on with her three paws and felt for the button on her collar with the fourth. She pressed the catch and caught the mini-screwdriver, then watched as her collar blew away into the distance. Then she fixed the handle of the tool between her teeth and attacked the first screw. She twisted her mouth. Then again. And again, until the screw came away. Three more to go, she thought, glancing up at the looming black hole. The train sped on as Lara wrestled with the second and third screws. Her mouth was aching. One final screw, she thought. Stay calm, girl, she willed, glancing up at the blackness, now only thirty seconds away. It looks awfully tight. Maybe if I just lie flat I will survive, she thought. She looked again. It hardly looks tall enough for a train to get through, never mind an upstairs passenger!
Lara worked the last screw loose and spat out the screwdriver. The dog was a tiny dot against the massive rock face. The driver sounded his horn as his train thundered towards the darkness. She had no time to think as she put her claws under the rim and levered off the skylight. The Spy Dog fell headlong through the hole, just as the train entered the tunnel.
The first-class passengers heard a whoosh of wind and looked up to see a black and white dog falling from the heavens. They watched as she landed in a crumpled heap, quickly righting herself and standing tall, in a martial arts position. Lara looked as menacing as she could, curling her lip and raising her hackles at the lady with the gun. I’ve met your sort before, she snarled. Now let the children go.
‘Lara!’ squealed Sophie. ‘You’re alive.’
‘GM451,’ exclaimed the professor. ‘What on earth are you doing?’
What does it look like, Prof ? snarled the Spy Dog. You trained me and now it looks like you’ve betrayed us all. How could you do it?
Dame Payne looked at Lara’s curled lip and stepped back.
‘She’s a superdog,’ warned the professor. ‘You’re finished now. She’s a karate black belt.’
Dame Payne recognized Lara’s picture from one of the staff meetings. ‘She won’t be so super when she gets a bullet in her,’ she threatened. She turned the gun on the snarling dog and tightened her finger on the trigger. ‘Your superdog will be a dead dog.’
‘No, please,’ cried the professor. ‘GM451 is my greatest achievement. She’s my life. I won’t do a thing for you if you hurt her!’
The head teacher glanced sideways at the professor, while keeping the pistol trained on the dangerous dog. ‘Well,’ she spat, ‘all life has to come to an end.’
The children and the professor watched as Dame Payne turned back to their beloved dog. They saw the desperation in Lara’s eyes. What can I do? she thought. Leap at her and I’m dead. Stand here and I’m dead. How am I going to save the children?
One of the other passengers pulled the emergency cord as Dame Payne squeezed the trigger. The train screeched to a halt, throwing the passengers everywhere. Professor Cortex was already in mid-air, leaping to protect Lara. The shot rang out and the passengers bolted under their seats. The professor lay in a crumpled heap, in front of the dog he’d tried to protect. Dame Payne didn’t blink. She pointed the pistol at the Spy Dog and pulled the trigger again.
Nothing, except a click. And another click. And a third. Dame Payne cursed. She threw her gun to the ground and ran for the exit, but Lara already had the teacher in her sights. She brought the woman crashing to the ground and sank her teeth into a bony ankle. Lara took a firm hold and growled. Dame Payne screamed. She crawled along the floor, Lara hanging on to her foot. She made it as far as the toilet and forced the door open. Then she managed to shake Lara off and quickly hit the ‘door close’ button. ‘Keep away from me, dog,’ she yelled.
Ben charged up and stood alongside Lara. ‘If you take one step outside, I’ll set our Spy Dog on you,’ he warned. ‘She’ll be here waiting.’ Lara bounded back into the first-class carriage where passengers were frantically dialling the police on their mobile phones. She turned to the professor, who was still sprawled across the seats. There was a hole in his jacket. It was perfectly round, like the one in her ear. Blood was seeping out. Sophie was sobbing and holding his hand.
Christopher Bent was frozen with fear. Ollie was warning him not to move or his dog would karate chop him. But it didn’t look as though Bent could even twitch his eye; he was so scared. Lara put her paw to the professor’s cheek. He’s so cold, she shivered. His eyes opened halfway.
‘GM451?’ he whispered. ‘You’re OK. I’m so proud of you.’
Hang on in there, Prof, she willed. The ambulance will be here in a tick. Keep talking, old fella.
The professor’s eyes had closed and his voice was distant. ‘It’s not what it seems,’ he gasped. ‘Please don’t remember me like this.’ The professor opened his eyes a little and managed a half smile. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and his chest rattled. ‘I’m not only proud of you, Lara,’ he murmured. ‘I love you too.’
Lara nuzzled the old man’s forehead and planted a lick on his cheek. She looked frantically round at the children. ‘Is he going to be OK?’ wept Sophie. ‘I mean, he’s bleeding and everything.’
Lara looked back at the professor. His eyes were closed and his face had turned grey. It’s not looking great, she thought. We need a doctor, quick. Lara felt the professor’s body go limp.
Suddenly policemen swarmed into the first-class carriage. Christopher Bent was dragged away. Dame Payne was shouting from the toilet and threatening to kill everyone, so armed police carefully opened the door and she was soon led away in cuffs.
The children and Lara were hurried away and wrapped in foil blankets. They watched through misty eyes as the professor was stretchered into a waiting ambulance.
‘This is so awful,’ cried Sophie.
‘Poor Professor,’ wept Ollie.
‘He saved Lara’s life,’ stammered Ben.
And he called me Lara, howled GM451.
19. Weird Science
The children sat at the front of the church, scrubbed and cleaned. Mum had taken charge of Ben’s hair, combing it in a side parting. He’d fought and lost. As a result, he sat next to his brother and sister, looking subdued, praying his friends wouldn’t see him. Mum and Dad sat in one of the middle rows, proud of their beautiful children. Lara was sitting in the front pew. While the children sang their hearts out, Lara barked along to the hymns as best she could. ‘The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want …’ she howled. The children sat on the hard bench, listening to the vicar droning on and on. Ollie struggled to stay interested.
Finally, the ceremony was over and Ben craned his neck to catch Dad’s eye. Dad nodded and that was the signal for Lara and the children to make their escape through the back door of the church. Ben tore off his tie and messed up his hair, delighted to be free. ‘This way,’ he yelled. ‘He’ll be waiting for us round the front.’
Their faces lit up as they saw the old man in the wheelchair. Ben was there first, throwing his arms round Professor Cortex. ‘Oh, we’re so glad to see you,’ yelled Ben. ‘And we’re so relieved that you’re all right. You’ve been in hospital for ages.’
‘I will be in hospital again if you squeeze me that tightly, young man,’ joked the professor, feeling the wound in his shoulder. ‘It still hurts, I can tell you. How did the christening go?’
‘Boring,’ sang Ollie. ‘The vicar put some water on the baby’s head and she just screamed the place down.’
‘How long will you be in the wheelchair, Professor?’ asked Sophie.