by Lou Kuenzler
“I hate children,” said Miss July.
“They’re even worse than cats,” Miss June.
When we had told the police all that we knew, Anthony and I hurried back to the Cleopatra to see Gran.
Signor Sipperetto and Louis L’Amour had carried her back to the boat. She was lying on a sun lounger with her injured leg sticking up in the air.
Tiffany was hovering anxiously nearby. I could tell from the way her frizzy hair was sticking up like a bird’s nest, she must have been fast asleep when Lola L’Amour woke her up. I wondered if Tiff would ever recover from the shock … not of finding out Gran was hurt, but of being seen by a fashion model when she had REALLY BAD hair.
“I know a little first aid,” said Signora Sipperetto, sprinting backwards and forwards with drinks of water and slices of fruit for Gran. She was still dressed up as a long-legged scarab beetle from the party. “But there’s not a lot I can do,” she said. “There are no bandages in the first-aid kit. Not a single one.”
“Ah … perhaps I can help there,” I said, pointing to my mummy costume.
At that moment Musa came back to the boat, carrying Ozzy purring in his arms. He told us the Calendar Gang had been arrested and taken to the nearest town.
“The international police have been looking for them for years,” he explained. “Ever since they were caught selling a lion’s paw at the Colosseum in Rome. They must have got it from some poachers in Africa, but they claimed it was from the time of the ancient gladiators. The Calendars are a notorious gang of tricksters. But thanks to Violet and Anthony, they are going to be locked up for a very long time.”
“Hip, hip, hooray,” whooped Gran.
“I think I better go and change,” I said quickly as the passengers began to cheer. “After all, we need to get Gran wrapped up in these bandages as soon as we can.”
My toes were as if they were being pricked with a zillion pins and needles. Rescuing Ozzy, catching the Calendar gang, finding the shabti – it had all been too much excitement.
“And I need to reach the next level of Maze of the Mummy,” gulped Anthony. “Right now!”
We nearly fell over each other as we dashed towards the stairs.
“See,” I whispered, as we ducked down out of sight. “Life’s never boring when you’re a shrinker, Ant!”
Thank you to the team at Scholastic for all the things you do – especially Genevieve Herr for her edits and Rachel Phillips for her publicity. Also Alison Padley for her designs alongside Kirsten Collier’s pictures, Simon Letchford’s last-minute and Emily Lamm’s copyedit. Also to Pat, Lexie and Claire at RCW for looking after me well.
Sophie McKenzie and Julia Leonard – your patience and insights have been And the Kuenzler family are terrific to put up with me at all. I know I am often so busy writing that I forget to wash your socks – thank you.
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First published in the UK by Scholastic Ltd, 2014
This electronic edition published by Scholastic Ltd, 2014
Text copyright © Lou Kuenzler, 2014
Illustration copyright © Kirsten Collier, 2014
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eISBN 978 1407 14913 4
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