by Andrew Cope
‘And there’s some karate,’ offered Ollie enthusiastically.
‘And Jimmy saves the day?’ guessed Ben.
Lara clasped her head in her paws. This is so frustrating! He doesn’t save the day, he destroys the planet!
‘Prof, go and get your laptop and let’s get Lara to type it out,’ suggested Ollie.
Nice thinking, young chap, barked Lara, high-fiving Ollie. Sometimes it takes the six-year-old to come up with the best solution.
The party went to Lara’s favourite cafe, ordered five huge meals and watched as the family pet tapped away with a pencil in her mouth. Lara looked at her handiwork. Not bad for a dog, she thought.
Sophie read the paragraph out loud, stumbling over some of the spellings:
Baddies launch rocket tuesday. Big bang OF cfcgas. OZONe hole lets rays thru. Bad sunburn unless you buy sunCREME. Eviil plot. Needs stopinG. JimmMMY is EVIL. And I fancy 2x salami and bANANa pizza.
‘No way,’ gasped Ollie, ‘not salami and banana!’
‘That’s not the important bit, silly,’ said Sophie. ‘It says Jimmy’s behind an evil plan. I can’t believe it! Jimmy seems like a really nice man. His advert is dead funny.’
Yeah, well, what he’s about to do to the ozone layer isn’t very funny, thought Lara gravely. But ‘dead’ just about sums it up!
‘Tuesday?’ yelled Ben. ‘That’s tomorrow!’
Well done, Sherlock, nodded Lara. So we need to work quickly. And don’t forget the last sentence. Salami and banana, please. Times two. My tummy’s rumbling.
‘Where is the rocket taking off from, GM451?’ asked the professor.
Near Topp OF BEn Nevisssss, came the typed reply.
‘And what’s CFC gas?’ asked Ollie.
Professor Cortex looked over the top of his spectacles and adopted his serious voice. ‘CFCs are gases found in things like spray cans and fridges. Governments have tried to reduce them because they damage part of the atmosphere that we call the ozone layer. And GM451’s right, it’s the ozone layer that protects us from the sun’s most harmful rays.’
‘So launching CFC gas into the ozone layer is definitely a bad thing, then?’ asked Sophie.
‘I’m doing global warming for my project,’ noted Ben. ‘Bad is an understatement!’
‘It would be a catastrophe for the planet,’ sighed the professor. ‘It’s evil beyond imagination.’ He continued peering at them over the top of his specs. ‘Without the ozone layer there’s no filter. The full power of the sun’s rays would inflict a great deal of damage to our skin.’
‘So we’d all have to buy Jimmy’s suncream!’ piped up Sophie. ‘That’s his evil scheme.’
Professor Cortex turned his full attention to Lara. ‘You say the rocket has already been transported. What about the gas canisters? Have they gone up the mountain yet?’
Lara took the pencil in her mouth once more and everyone stared as the characters appeared on the laptop screen.
2NITE. ‘Tonight!’ gasped the professor. ‘So no time to lose. Then I suggest we follow the shipment of gas, find the rocket and stop it before launch.’
A smiley face appeared on-screen and Lara gave the thumbs-up sign. And after we’ve saved the world we can all go home and live happily ever after!
‘Good work, GM451,’ nodded the professor. ‘Even though you’re retired this is a very serious case.’ He called over to the waitress. ‘Can I order an extra large banana and salami pizza, please?’
X2 appeared on the screen.
‘Two of them, please,’ asked the professor, casting a your-eyes-are-bigger-than-your-belly look at GM451.
WITH maYo appeared on the screen.
‘Well really, GM451!’ sighed Professor Cortex. ‘What bad eating habits you’ve got into.’
Lara licked her lips. I’m so hungry, she thought. I might even try haggis!
14. Stowaway Kids
The professor followed Lara’s directions and parked his van a discreet distance from the barbed-wire fence. Lara took the binoculars and scanned the scene. She could see the Alsatians patrolling and thought it wise to keep a safe distance between them and the children. She bounded on top of the van and took a closer look. Through the binoculars’ magnified vision she could make out three large canisters being loaded into a lorry. The tailgate was shut and the driver jumped in. A barrier was raised and the truck started driving in their direction.
Quick, everyone! Action stations! I need to get into the back of that vehicle, she thought. My guess is that those canisters are heading for the rocket launch site. Someone needs to create a diversion.
Everyone looked at Lara, confused. ‘What’s all the excitement about, Lara?’ asked Sophie.
The next vehicle coming down this road. I need to be stowed away in the back. Got it?
‘Calm down, GM451,’ said the professor. ‘What’s going on? What have you seen? Is it the baddies?’
Lara nodded. No time to think. Here goes. Lara mimed her best driving skills, her paws gripping an imaginary steering wheel. Lorry coming. Please understand.
‘Milking a cow?’ suggested Sophie.
Lara looked at the children in despair. OK, no more mimes. This is where I take control! Lara led the children out of sight behind a bush before returning to the professor’s van and letting one of the tyres down.
‘Hey,’ he shouted above the hiss, ‘what on earth are you doing to my van?’
Pretend you need help, barked Lara. Flag down the lorry, create a diversion and I’ll hop into the back with the gas bottles.
The professor was left confused as Lara joined the children behind the bush. He stood in the road, scratching his head. A lorry crawled round the corner from the direction of the warehouse. ‘I hope this is what you want me to do, GM451,’ he said as he raised his hands for it to stop. ‘Evening, gentlemen,’ he said as the driver’s window slid down. ‘I’m having tyre trouble and I was wondering if you could give me a hand?’
Lara crept to the back of the truck and beckoned for the children to follow. I need help to lower the tailgate, she thought. And to close it after I’m safely aboard.
From the corner of his eye, the professor saw the children and Lara sneak out of their hiding place. He realized what was happening and tried to stall for time. ‘I don’t want to be stuck here in the bad weather,’ he complained, pointing at the heavens.
‘Not our problem, old man,’ said the unhelpful driver.
Ben had quietly lifted the tailgate and Lara was about to jump in.
‘And we’re on a tight schedule,’ shouted the passenger. ‘We have a special delivery.’
As Ben bent down to help Lara into the back of the vehicle his mobile phone dropped from his pocket and clattered on to the icy tarmac. The children froze.
The professor upped his level of chattiness, hoping the men hadn’t heard the noise. ‘Tyre as flat as a pancake,’ he gabbled. ‘And do you know, I’ve not had a pancake since America in ’67. Or was it ’68? Maple syrup if I recall …’
The man in the passenger seat had heard the noise and began to get suspicious. He opened his door and looked behind. ‘What was that?’ he said. ‘You get rid of the pensioner and I’ll check the cargo.’
Yikes! thought Lara.
Ben, Sophie and Ollie looked at her with terrified eyes. ‘What are we going to do?’ mouthed Sophie. ‘Where can we hide?’
Lara looked round, panicking slightly. These guys are dangerous, she thought, remembering the Taser gun. I’ve got five seconds to hide the kids! There’s only one place! Lara pushed the children into the back of the lorry and Ben put the tailgate in place. The man came round to the back of the vehicle and Lara knew it was too late for her to hide. Just act like a normal dog, she thought, cocking her leg up against the wheel.
‘Just a pesky mutt,’ the man shouted, kicking out at Lara. ‘Stop piddling on my car! Scoot!’ he yelled.
The man returned to his seat and slammed the door angrily. He signalled the driver to g
o. Lara watched in horror as the lorry lumbered away with the three Cook children stowed in the back.
Whoops, that wasn’t supposed to happen! Lara gave chase, spurred on by Sophie’s panicked face peering out of the back of the lorry. I can’t keep up, she puffed as the lorry sped off. But don’t worry, kids. I’ll think of something.
Lara sloped back to the professor. ‘Where are the children?’ he asked, looking for them behind the bush.
Er, you’re not going to like this, Prof, wheezed Lara, her sticky-up ear drooping to half mast.
‘GM451, where are the children?’ barked the professor, louder this time. The spy dog’s body language said it all. ‘What?’ he shouted, watching the truck disappear into the mountains. ‘You hid them in the back of the van? With some canisters of poisonous gas? Heading for a rocket launch site? In a blizzard?’
Er, I said you wouldn’t like it, whimpered Lara, shrugging her doggie shoulders.
‘This is worse than terrible,’ spat the professor. ‘It’s downright awful.’
Even worse, cringed Lara, we’ve got a flat tyre so we can’t chase them! But don’t worry, Prof. I’ll come up with a plan.
One man and his spy dog strode quickly towards the town. Professor Cortex was wondering whether ‘awful’ was really worse than ‘terrible’. His dog knew that both words were equally bad.
‘What will I say to Mrs Cook if she phones, GM451? We have to get the children back to safety immediately,’ said the professor.
Sometimes things don’t go quite according to plan, thought Lara, frantically working out how to rescue the children from the very dangerous situation she’d got them into.
15. Climbing Solo
The walk into town had exhausted the professor. ‘I’ll check into a hotel and see if I can hire a four-wheel drive,’ he explained. ‘And you, GM451, why not have a sniff around town while we wait. See if you can find some clues.’
Dusk had brought a storm and the streets were quiet as snow swirled around the street lamps. Lara looked up at the mountains and thought of the children. I have to find them. I can’t wait for the professor and his truck. The children are in danger and I know someone with the skills to help me.
The old dog was just leaving the mountain rescue Portakabin as Lara approached.
‘Leo,’ she barked. ‘I need your help urgently.’
‘You again,’ he woofed, looking surprised. ‘How do you know my name? Anyway, I thought I told you “Leo” wasn’t interested?’
‘But I need you to help me on a mission,’ pleaded Lara. ‘And to be a real hero.’
Her father barked a doggie laugh. ‘With these legs?’ he said, limping towards his owner’s car. “Hero Leo” is well and truly retired, seeing his days out by the fire. Even if I wanted to help … which I don’t … then I couldn’t.’
‘What if I told you there were some children trapped on the mountain?’ begged Lara. ‘And I love them. You must have children … puppies … that you love?’
Leo fell silent, remembering the litter of puppies from a couple of years ago. ‘Aye,’ he barked, ‘my lady and I had some pups, a while back. Gorgeous creatures. Black and white, clever like their ma. But she and they were taken away. I’m told they were all special … but not me, girl. I’m not special. Just a normal hound. An old one at that.’
‘Come on, Leo,’ called his owner. ‘Time to go home, old fella. There’s a blizzard brewing so no one’s daft enough to go up the mountains tonight. Pity them if they do.’
Lara looked at her father. ‘You are special, Leo,’ she barked. ‘I know you are. Please? I need a guide – someone who knows the mountains like the back of their paw. One last mission?’
Leo’s owner picked up the heavy dog and heaved him into the passenger seat.
He’s too old even to jump up, Lara thought. I guess it’s unfair to ask.
‘I’d fear for anyone in the mountains tonight,’ he barked. ‘Big storm brewin’. It’s too dangerous, lady. You should go home.’
The car door slammed shut and Leo was driven away. Lara chased the car for a few hundred metres.
This is desperate, she thought as she gave up, panting heavily. I’ll never find the launch site by myself. But I just can’t let the children down, she thought through doggie tears. A car drove by and snowy slush splashed in her face. I got Ben, Sophie and Ollie into this mess, and it’s up to me to get them out of it!
Lara tightened her rucksack strap and set off towards the mountains, following the signs towards Ben Nevis. The swirling snow had been replaced by a driving blizzard and she squinted into the eye of the storm. This is going to be my most difficult mission yet!
16. Proud
Ben, Sophie and Ollie crouched in the back of the truck, too terrified to talk or move. They could feel themselves being dragged up and up the mountain, round lots of very sharp bends, as the vehicle clung to the road. It was well after dark when the vehicle stopped and the men got out. A head poked into the back and a torch shone into the darkness. The children lay still, curled up under a canvas tarpaulin.
‘At first light, we fix these canisters to the rocket,’ said one. ‘But let’s get some kip first. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.’
The children heard footsteps trudge through the snow, until the only sound was the howling wind buffeting the lorry.
Ben poked his head out into the darkness and felt the force of the storm blowing into his face. ‘There’s nothing except snow,’ he said. ‘It’s a real blizzard. We’re going to have to stay in here for the night.’ He pulled at the key ring the professor had given him for Christmas and shone the small torch around the back of the wagon. They were stowed away with three large canisters, a bit like oil drums. In the corner was a bag containing warm outdoor coats and the children put them on and snuggled up, pulling the canvas sheet back over them like a tent. Ollie’s instant snoring provided some comfort to the older children.
‘Is Lara going to rescue us?’ whispered Sophie in the darkness.
‘Let’s get some sleep,’ said Ben, squeezing her hand. ‘I’m sure Lara and the professor are working on a plan right at this very moment.’
Lara was exhausted. The climb was steep and slippery and the wind was so strong it felt as though she took three steps forward and four steps back. Darkness had fallen when she found a cave. Lara rummaged in her rucksack and found her arctic suit.
Yes, it looks silly, she thought, but this is a life or death situation. And besides, nobody will see me up here at night. The spy dog pulled on the clinging Lycra suit and was transformed into a Superdog lookalike. Mmm, I feel warmer already. She removed a torch helmet from her bag and fixed it to her head. She thought of the children being taken away in the lorry. No time to lose. Sleep is not an option.
Lara stepped out into the biting wind, her torch lighting the way as she trudged onwards into the dark.
Professor Cortex had made several frantic phone calls trying to get hold of a four-wheel drive vehicle. He’d phoned the Secret Service and ordered a fleet of agents to Jimmy’s warehouse, but with the roads closed they couldn’t get a four-wheel drive to him for another few hours, and the mountain rescue office was closed overnight. He paced up and down the hotel room, waiting for daylight to come.
‘There’s not much more I can do,’ he told himself as he sank into a chair and flicked on the news. He sighed at the weather report. ‘Stupid woman,’ he muttered as the chirpy presenter announced that the worst blizzard to hit Scotland in twenty years had brought great news for skiers and snowboarders.
‘But not for kidnapped children,’ he complained to the TV. He wondered about GM451. ‘She’s been gone a long while,’ he told himself. The old man settled into his chair. The TV droned on. It was dark outside and his eyes felt heavy. The professor’s eyelids fought against it, but after a long drive and a tough walk through the snow, he finally lost the war against sleep.
After a restless night, dawn came and the children awoke. Ben peered out of the back
of the lorry and gasped at the scenery. ‘The blizzard’s almost stopped,’ he croaked. ‘There’s clear sky over there.’
Ollie was desperate for a wee so the boys slipped out and wrote their names in the snow.
‘We’re near the top of a mountain,’ whispered Ben to his brother. ‘And get a load of that!’ he gasped, finger pointing at a rocket, standing tall against the whiteness of the snow.
‘Wow!’ gasped Ollie. It’s like Thunderbird 3! What’s it for?’
‘That must be the rocket Lara told us about,’ explained Ben. ‘The canisters of gas are going to be bolted on and it’ll be launched today.’
‘Wow!’ repeated Ollie. ‘Into space!’
‘And, do you know what?’ added Ben. ‘We’re the only ones who can stop them! It’s a race against time.’
‘Wow!’ whispered Ollie, claiming a hat-trick. ‘A space race! What about Lara? Shouldn’t we wait for her?’
‘Yes,’ said Sophie, sneaking up beside them. ‘And Professor Cortex will be going crazy. Let’s not do anything stupid.’
‘Well, they’re not here, silly. I think it’s our turn to solve something for once,’ Ben instructed. ‘We know how important this is.’
‘But –’ started Sophie.
‘Shhhhh,’ Ben warned suddenly, grabbing Sophie and Ollie and ducking down. ‘There are lights in that cabin. I think the men are up and about. Let’s scoot.’
The sun’s first rays crept over the horizon and Lara was still climbing. It’s a bit easier in the light, she thought, but I don’t even know if I’m heading the right way. Lara stopped for a rest and a think. She rummaged in her rucksack for something to eat. Mmm, a bar of chocolate, she thought, tearing off the silver paper and gobbling it down.
‘I’ll be needing half of that, lady,’ bellowed a voice. ‘And this is no time to rest, not if there are kids to be rescued.’
‘Leo!’ barked Lara, as she watched the old dog struggle up the hill. ‘You’ve made it. How on earth did you find me?’