by Jim Eldridge
‘If they are, they suffer,’ growled Big Rock vengefully. ‘Milo our friend!’
‘There were lots of them,’ added Robin. ‘They might be too many for us.’
Big Rock shook his head.
‘Not too many for me,’ he said firmly.
With that, he set off, his eyes fixed on the tracks on the ground. Jack climbed on board Robin’s back, and they set off after their friend.
They travelled for about an hour, following the tracks the whole time. Luckily they didn’t come across any goblins on their journey. Finally, in the distance, they saw what looked to be mine works: a group of huts, and a large wheel. As they got nearer they saw that they were right; large holes had been dug into the rock faces and went down deep underground. Big Rock looked as if he was going to keep walking, straight into the mine, but Jack stopped him.
‘We have to be careful, Big Rock,’ he said. ‘If, as Robin said, we’re up against lots of goblins, we need to check things out. Like how many of them there are, and what they’ve done with Milo.’
Big Rock hesitated, then nodded.
‘Good thinking,’ he said.
Jack pointed to a large group of rocks.
‘There,’ he said. ‘We can hide there without being seen and work out a plan.’
The three climbed up and found a hollow in the large area of rocks where they were able to hide. They lay down and peered at the mine workings.
The number of goblins gathered at the mine head was huge – there looked to be at least forty of them. Some were standing by the cave openings, some were standing guard by the huts.
‘Any sign of Milo?’ asked Jack.
‘No,’ said Big Rock. ‘Only goblins.’
The sound of wheels approaching caught their attention, and they turned to see a purple carriage come into view, pulled by a pair of yellow horses. On the seat driving them was an orc. Jack was so shocked that he almost let out a shout, but stopped himself just in time.
‘I recognise that coach!’ he whispered urgently to Robin and Big Rock. ‘It’s Lord Veto’s!’
CHAPTER 5
‘Are you sure?’ asked Robin, puzzled.
‘I worked for Lord Veto all my life. That’s his coach, all right! He used to make me clean it and polish it! And that orc who’s driving it, that’s Warg, Lord Veto’s top orc!’
‘But what’s Lord Veto doing here, so far away from his own place?’ asked Robin, still bewildered.
‘Maybe he looking for more goblin gymnasts for his sports show,’ suggested Big Rock. ‘Goblins good gymnasts.’
As they watched, Warg got down from the driving seat and went to open the door of the coach. Out stepped Lord Veto himself.
As Jack watched Lord Veto looking around him, both smug and snobbish, the terrible memories came back from when he was a very tiny boy: of being kept in the awful kitchen and forced to do the dirtiest work. Even though he was now free of Lord Veto, Jack couldn’t help but remember how miserable his life at Veto Castle had been, before he joined Milo and Big Rock in Waldo’s Wrestling Trolls.
The door of one of the huts opened, and a tall goblin hurried out.
‘That’s the one who was in charge when they snatched Milo,’ whispered Robin.
The three strained to hear what was being said at the mine head. They heard the tall goblin say: ‘Lord Veto! You got my eagle message?’
‘Of course,’ nodded Veto. ‘That’s why I’m here, Govo. I hope the message you sent is accurate. I would hate to have come all this way in a rush on a fool’s errand.’
Govo pulled a rolled sheet of paper from his pocket and opened it up.
‘No fool’s errand, I promise you, your Lordship!’ He pointed at a picture on the paper, which was too far away from Jack and the others for them to make it out. ‘When I saw him, I recognised him from this poster you sent out, promising a reward for his capture.’ He smiled as he read out the name: ‘Milo!’
‘What about the others?’ asked Veto.
‘He was on his own, my Lord,’ said Govo. He turned towards the hut he’d come from and called: ‘Bring the prisoner out!’
From their hiding place, Jack and the others saw Milo appear in the doorway of the hut. He was weighed down with chains binding his arms to his side, and with metal shackles on his ankles to stop him moving anywhere fast. The goblins pushed him nearer to Lord Veto, who stood studying Milo, a sneer on his face.
‘I said I would have my revenge on you, Milo!’ he cackled evilly. ‘And this is it! My goblin friends will keep you working in their mine. You will disappear for ever!’
Beside Jack, Big Rock let out a growl and started to get up, but Jack pulled him back down into hiding.
‘Not yet, Big Rock,’ whispered Jack. ‘There are too many of them.’
‘But we have to rescue Milo,’ said Big Rock.
‘And we will,’ Jack assured him. ‘But if we try it now, it’s more likely that we’ll be captured as well, and that won’t be any help to Milo.’
Once again, they strained to hear as Lord Veto carried on talking to Govo.
‘If Milo is here, then the others will be around somewhere too,’ said Lord Veto. ‘A large stupid Wrestling Troll called Big Rock, a snivelling kitchen boy, and an ancient old haybag of a horse. They shouldn’t cause you too much trouble. The one to watch out for is Big Rock. He’s tough. Oh, and they seem to have another big Wrestling Troll with them, called Thud. He’s dangerous. You’ll need extra strong chains when you catch him.’
‘Don’t worry, your Lordship,’ said Govo. ‘We’ll catch them.’
‘And put them down the mine along with this peasant!’ snapped Lord Veto. ‘The two trolls should be good workers for you, they’re strong. Lots of mining. Lots of gold!’
‘You won’t get away with this!’ shouted Milo angrily. ‘Big Rock and Jack and Robin will come and rescue me!’
‘That’s what I’m counting on,’ sneered Lord Veto. ‘When they do, they’ll be walking into a trap, and they’ll be joining you down the mine.’ Lord Veto turned to Warg. ‘Pay them, Warg. But just for the one. When you have the others safely in your mine, you’ll get the rest.’
Lord Veto returned to the carriage and climbed inside, pulling the door shut. Warg counted out some coins to Govo, and then leapt up onto the driving seat of the carriage, flicked the reins, and the two yellow horses galloped off.
Meanwhile, the goblins had pushed the chained and shackled Milo towards the nearest cave opening. Jack and the others watched as their friend disappeared into the mine.
‘Okay,’ said Robin thoughtfully to Jack. ‘They’ve got Milo, and we’re outnumbered by about thirty to one. Any suggestions as to what we do next?’
‘You put your hands up,’ said a menacing voice behind them.
They turned, and saw a small masked figure had appeared silently, pointing a crossbow directly at them.
CHAPTER 6
Big Rock let out a growl and made to move towards the masked figure, but Jack stopped him.
‘You won’t be able to do anything against a crossbow,’ said Jack.
‘Wise words,’ said the masked figure.
‘Goblins!’ spat Robin. ‘You can’t trust them! They sneak up on you from behind.’
‘I’m not a goblin,’ said the masked figure in an annoyed tone.
‘Then why are you wearing a mask, and why are you pointing a crossbow at us?’ asked Jack.
‘Because I don’t know who you are, and what your connection is to Govo. For all I know, you’re part of his gang.’
‘Do we look like goblins?’ demanded Robin.
‘Not all of Govo’s crooked associates are goblins,’ said the masked figure. ‘Like that aristocratic-looking coach that drove off just now, with an orc driving it.’
‘That orc is called Warg,’ said Jack. ‘He works for the crook who was inside the coach, Lord Veto.’
‘The sports owner? Wrestling Orcs? Gymnast Goblins?’
‘That’s him,’ said Jack w
ith a scowl. ‘And don’t be fooled by Lord Veto’s fancy ways. He’s as crooked as anyone you’ll ever meet. He’s just had our friend Milo captured by those goblins to work in their mine.’
‘We’re going to rescue him,’ added Big Rock.
‘Anyway,’ said Jack. ‘We’re giving you all this information, but for all we know you’re a masked bandit here to rob us, or take us prisoner for the goblins.’
The masked figure lowered the crossbow, then reached up and removed the mask; they saw that they were looking at an elf.
‘My name is Oddbit,’ said the elf. ‘I am a ranger with the Elf and Safety Police. Govo and his gang kidnap people and force them to work in their secret goldmine. We’ve been tracking the gang for some time, and we finally traced them here. Unfortunately, I was late joining the posse, and by the time I caught up, Govo and his gang had captured the rest of my fellow rangers. So I’ve been watching and waiting for a chance to get into the mine and rescue them.’
‘Why didn’t you go and get some help?’ asked Jack.
‘Because this mine’s nearly worked out, and I was worried they might move on to another mine somewhere else while I was off getting help, and I wouldn’t know where. Also, I’m out of messenger pigeons. Except for one.’
‘You’ve got a messenger pigeon?’ said Jack excitedly. ‘We can send for help!’
Oddbit shook his head.
‘This one won’t be any use to us,’ he said. ‘My Chief had the messenger pigeons that homed to Elf and Safety Police HQ, and the goblins ate them when they captured him.’ He reached into his bag and took out a drowsy looking messenger pigeon, who studied them with a bored look. ‘This one is from an old friend in Weevil, and he is as good as useless now.’
‘Why?’ asked Jack.
‘Because there was a revolution in Weevil and a nasty dictator called General Pepper took over, and he is no friend to the Elf and Safety Police.’
‘Not any longer!’ beamed Jack happily. ‘We were in Weevil recently. General Pepper was overthrown and sent to prison in exile, and Princess Ava is back in charge.’
‘That is wonderful news!’ exclaimed Oddbit. ‘I’ll send the pigeon off to Weevil at once with a message!’
‘Mark it for the attention of Princess Ava,’ said Jack. ‘If you give me some paper, I’ll write it.’
‘Don’t make the message too long,’ advised Robin. ‘A short message will be less for the pigeon to carry. That pigeon looks lazy to me. I bet it’ll use any excuse for not going.’
‘Cheek!’ said the pigeon indignantly. ‘I’ll have you know I’m a very fast flyer! And you don’t need to write anything down. I remember it. Taking messages is my job.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ apologised Jack. ‘We’d never met a talking pigeon before.’
‘And I’ve never met a talking horse before,’ sniffed the pigeon. ‘Certainly not one as rude as this one!’
‘Huh!’ snorted Robin, sulkily. ‘Talking pigeons! Whatever next!’
‘So, what’s your message?’ asked the pigeon.
‘It’s for Princess Ava in Weevil,’ said Jack. ‘Tell her where we are, and that Milo has been captured by goblins. We’re outnumbered and we need help.’
‘Leave it to me,’ nodded the pigeon.
He flexed his wings, and then rose into the air, and flew off.
‘Right,’ said Jack. ‘Now we wait.’
‘No,’ grunted Big Rock.
‘What?’ asked Jack.
‘It take too long,’ said Big Rock. ‘Could be one, maybe two days before Princess Ava come to help. All that time, Milo stuck in mine with bad people. Too long. We go in and rescue him.’ He looked at Jack hopefully. ‘Maybe you turn into Thud.’
‘What’s a Thud?’ asked Oddbit, puzzled.
‘It’s not a what, it’s a who,’ said Robin. He nodded towards Jack. ‘It’s who he turns into sometimes. An enormous Wrestling Troll. One with a very bad temper.’
‘Great!’ said Oddbit excitedly. He turned to Jack. ‘Go on. Turn into him.’
‘It’s not that simple,’ said Jack unhappily. ‘I can’t make it happen. It just does.’
‘Well … when does it happen?’ asked Oddbit. ‘Maybe we can make it happen.’
‘Jack turn into Thud when there’s bad things happening,’ said Big Rock. ‘Danger for friends.’
‘Well, there’s danger here now,’ said Oddbit. ‘Your friend Milo is stuck underground in a horrible mine, along with the rest of my Elf Rangers. And we’re outnumbered by Govo and his dangerous goblin gang.’
‘I know,’ sighed Jack. ‘I’ve been telling myself all of that, and willing it to happen, but it won’t.’
‘Maybe it’s about to happen?’ asked Oddbit hopefully.
Jack shook his head.
‘I know when I’m going to change because I get this tingly feeling and a sort of mist over my eyes, like I’m looking through really thick glass.’ And so far, none of that’s happened here.’
‘Maybe it’s worn off,’ said Robin. ‘Maybe you’ll never turn into Thud again.’
‘Maybe,’ said Jack.
‘So we go in,’ said Big Rock. ‘Into mine. Rescue Milo.’
‘No,’ said Jack. ‘We need to wait, Big Rock, for reinforcements to arrive.’
‘Say they don’t,’ argued Big Rock. ‘Say pigeon don’t get there. Or get lost. Or get caught and eaten.’
‘That’s a chance we have to take,’ insisted Jack.
Big Rock scowled.
‘Not good,’ he grunted unhappily.
‘Look, Big Rock …’ Jack appealed.
Big Rock shook his head.
‘Don’t want to talk about it,’ he said.
And with that he went off, heading for a large area of rocks.
‘He’s gone to sulk,’ said Robin with a sigh. ‘He used to do this before, when it was just him and Milo and Milo said something he didn’t agree with. He’d go off somewhere on his own and sulk.’
CHAPTER 7
Jack sighed and turned back to keeping observation on the mine and the goblins, looking for the best way to sneak in and get Milo out. Big Rock was right, they didn’t want their friend suffering and being forced to work down a deep mine, not even for a day. But just the four of them launching an attack against at least forty goblins, possibly more, would be stupid.
It was then that Jack saw Big Rock. He hadn’t gone off to sulk. He was actually heading for the mine, and the goblins!
‘Oh no!’ gasped Jack in horror.
‘What?’ asked Robin.
‘Look!’ said Jack, pointing.
Robin and Oddbit followed Jack’s pointing finger.
‘That idiot!’ snapped Robin.
‘We have to go and help him!’ said Jack. ‘He’ll never beat that lot of goblins on his own, and he could get badly hurt.’
‘And maybe that might trigger you turning into Thud?’ suggested Oddbit hopefully.
‘Let’s hope so,’ said Jack. He turned to Robin. ‘You’d better wait here for Princess Ava to arrive, in case we get caught.’
Robin nodded.
Jack turned to Oddbit.
‘At least you’ve got your crossbow,’ he said. ‘That might give us an advantage.’
Oddbit looked awkward.
‘Actually, I haven’t got any crossbow bolts for it,’ he said. ‘I ran out. I was only bluffing when I pointed it at you.’
‘Huh!’ snorted Robin.
‘Bring it anyway,’ said Jack. ‘Maybe you can bluff the goblins too.’ He looked towards the mine and saw that Big Rock was almost on the goblins, who had seen him. One of them grabbed a big bell hanging by the mine entrance and pulled it.
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!!
‘That’s an alarm bell,’ said Jack. ‘They’re calling more goblins! Come on, we have to hurry!’
With that, Jack set off at a run, with Oddbit close behind him.
‘Goblin criminals!’ yelled Oddbit, brandishing his crossbow as they ran. ‘I am a ra
nger with the Elf and Safety Police, and I am armed! Surrender, or I will be forced to shoot!’
The answer came in a volley of stones thrown by the goblins towards the running Jack and Oddbit.
‘I think they’ve called your bluff,’ said Jack.
As he ran, he tried to will himself to turn into Thud. He thought troll-like thoughts: about eating rocks, about having big granite-like muscles, about having a thin, transparent layer of shale over his eyes, but nothing changed … he just kept running in the shape of the skinny little former-kitchen-boy Jack, dodging the rocks and stones the goblins were throwing at him and Oddbit.
Through the hail of flying stones, Jack saw that Big Rock had reached the goblins and was laying about him with his enormous fists, but as fast as one goblin fell to the ground, more leapt at Big Rock, climbing up him like the gymnasts they were. Soon all that could be seen was a moving mass of goblins completely covering the giant troll. More goblins joined in, clambering up Big Rock, and then suddenly the whole pile collapsed under the weight of the goblins as Big Rock crashed to the ground.
Please let me turn into Thud, Jack prayed fervently as he reached the goblins – but nothing changed, he was still the same small Jack.
I shall wrestle our way out and escape! Jack vowed, and as the nearest goblin rushed towards him, Jack grabbed the goblin’s wrist and rolled backwards, sending the goblin soaring over his head to crash into the ground.
Jack leapt to his feet, nimbly avoiding other goblins as they charged at him, and then jumped as high as he could into the air and kicked out with both feet, catching two of the attacking goblins under the chin.
Jack dropped to the ground and let his momentum take him into a forward roll, grabbing the ankles of two more goblins as he did and flipping them so that they went up into the air and crashed down heavily. He was just springing up, ready to turn and launch another attack, when four goblins leapt at him, smothering him and bringing him to the ground. Jack tried to throw them off him, but two of them had already spread themselves over his arms and upper body, while the other two did the same to his legs, lying on them, pinioning him down.