by Jim Eldridge
There was a flash of light, and where the brown horse had stood there was now a large green dragon. The dragon opened its mouth and let out a burst of fire. When the smoke cleared, they saw Hard Harry’s men stumbling about, coughing and choking, smoke rising from their singed clothes. Blaze let fly with another burst of fire, and this time the men threw down their weapons and ran off.
‘Nice one, Blaze!’ grinned Jack.
‘I think I’ll keep this shape in case they come back,’ said Blaze.
‘You’d better fly off,’ said Robin. ‘You can take Jack with you.’
Jack shook his head.
‘No chance,’ he said. ‘We came here to rescue you, Robin. We’re a family. We stay together.’ He grinned. ‘And if anyone tries to stop us now, I think our dragon will see them off.’
The dragon circled above the field where their caravan was parked, then flew down and landed beside it, changing back into Blaze as Robin trotted into the field, with Jack on his back.
‘You didn’t have to carry me,’ protested Jack. ‘I could have run here.’
‘Even an old horse like me can run faster than you,’ insisted Robin.
The door of the caravan opened and Milo and Big Rock came out.
‘You made it!’ cried Milo, delighted. ‘Great! We’ve all escaped!’
‘Where Ava and Meenu?’ asked Big Rock, looking around.
Then the air filled with the sound of hooves and rolling wheels, and they saw Hard Harry and his bearded lieutenant, Percy, approaching them on a large horse-drawn cart. Big Rock growled and made a move towards the cart as it drew to a halt, but Milo stopped him.
‘Wait, Big Rock,’ he murmured. ‘Let’s see what they want first.’
‘So, it looks like you nearly got away,’ smiled Harry.
‘Got away,’ grunted Big Rock.
‘Not all of you,’ said Harry, shaking his head. ‘It looks like you’re missing a couple. The Masked Avenger and her little friend.’ And he smiled. ‘We’ve got them. I’m guessing you’d like them back. So I’ve come with an offer.’
‘I said we should have kept together!’ burst out Jack angrily.
‘What’s your game, Harry?’ demanded Milo.
‘The same as the one you suggested, Milo,’ said Harry. ‘Wrestling. With the Masked Avenger and her friend as one of the prizes. One of my gang against one of yours. Yours wins – you all go home safely. Mine wins – the rest of you go, but we keep the horse.’
‘How about if we report you to the Marshal?’ demanded Milo.
‘He can’t do anything,’ said Harry smugly. ‘Your friends are still in my territory in Badlands Valley.’
‘Yes, but you’re here,’ said Milo. ‘We could arrest you and take you to him.’
‘And he’d have to let me go, because you’ve got no evidence here,’ smirked Harry. ‘So, do you want to argue, or do you want your friends back?’
Jack and Milo exchanged looks of anger and frustration.
‘How do we even know you’ve got the Masked Avenger?’ demanded Robin.
Harry put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a ring, which he tossed to Milo.
‘Take a look at that,’ he said. ‘Recognise it? That looks like the Royal Crest of the Kingdom of Weevil to me.’ He frowned. ‘How come a wrestler has a ring like that?’
Milo showed the ring to Big Rock, Robin, Jack and Blaze, who all nodded unhappily.
‘She was … er … she was given it by the ruler of Weevil for services to the Kingdom,’ said Milo.
‘Was she indeed? So, do you take my challenge?’
‘No!’ said Jack. ‘You’re not to be trusted!’
Harry sighed.
‘That’s a pity,’ he said. ‘Well, I guess we’ll just have to kill the pair of them.’
There was a low growl, and the next second Big Rock, moving with surprising speed, had dragged Harry from the cart and was holding him off the ground with one huge hand, his other fist pulled back ready to punch.
‘No!’ snarled Big Rock. ‘You die!’
‘Killing me isn’t a good idea, Big Rock,’ said Harry calmly. ‘I’ve left instructions that if Percy and I don’t arrive back in an hour, the girls die.’
‘You lie!’ snapped Big Rock.
‘Want to put it to the test?’ asked Harry.
‘Let him go, Big Rock,’ said Milo sadly.
Big Rock hesitated, then he let go of Harry. Harry fell to the ground, got up and dusted himself off.
‘Percy and I will give you time to talk it over. You’ve got ten minutes, then we head back.’
With that, Harry climbed back on the cart and he and Percy drove it to the other side of the field. The gang waited for them to move out of earshot, and then turned hastily to one another.
‘I don’t like it,’ said Jack. ‘Why is Harry making the very same offer that he turned down when you made it to him?’
‘Because he’s got some kind of secret plan, of course,’ said Robin. ‘He’s going to double-cross us.’
Milo shook his head.
‘But how? He must know that we’ll tell the Marshal everything, and if anything happens to us in Badlands Valley, the Marshal could send for the Rangers.’
‘If that’s the case, why hasn’t the Marshal sent for the Rangers before?’ demanded Jack.
‘Because before it’s just been about stealing horses and turning them into burgers,’ said Milo. ‘Killing people is more serious.’
‘Excuse me!’ snorted Robin indignantly. ‘Not to a horse, it isn’t!’
‘Yes, sorry, Robin,’ apologised Milo. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude …’
‘Well it was rude!’ said the old horse. ‘How would you like it if I said that horses were more important than people?’
‘Well …’ said Milo awkwardly.
‘Or money more important than rock,’ put in Big Rock.
Milo turned to look at the big troll, puzzled. ‘Money is more important than rocks,’ he said.
‘Not to a troll,’ said Jack.
Milo groaned. ‘Look, we’re getting off the point!’ he said. ‘What are we going to do about Princess Ava and Meenu?’
‘We do what Harry says,’ said Robin.
‘We can’t,’ said Jack, shaking his head. ‘Harry is going to cheat in some way, so we’ll lose the match. Which means you’ll be turned into burger meat. And there’s no guarantee that Harry will keep his word about letting any of us go! He might just kill us all and not even bother with a wrestling match!’
‘Hard Harry cheat!’ agreed Big Rock.
‘Exactly!’ said Jack.
‘Right now, Princess Ava and Meenu are in serious danger,’ said Robin firmly. ‘We’ve got to do everything we can to rescue them. It’s what we do. We’re a family. We stick together. And if it means I end up in big trouble, so be it.’
Milo looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Not necessarily,’ he said.
The others looked at him, curious.
CHAPTER 8
The large cart rolled into Badlands Valley and pulled to a halt by Hard Harry’s camp.
‘Out you get!’ said Harry.
Jack, Milo and Big Rock got down from the back of the cart. Robin, who had been walking alongside the vehicle as they travelled, looked around the camp.
‘I don’t see any sign of the Masked Avenger or Meenu,’ he whispered.
‘You will,’ said a voice, and they turned to look into Harry’s smiling face.
‘Do you always listen in on other people’s conversations?’ demanded Robin sniffily.
‘Only when I’m going to eat them,’ winked Harry. He gave a shrill whistle, and the flap of a tent opened and the Masked Avenger and Meenu were pushed out. They were tied together by a piece of thick rope around their ankles, so they couldn’t escape.
‘Time for you old friends to catch up,’ grinned Harry. ‘I’ll go and set up the ring for the match.’
He gestured at his men, who were standing around, watching them, glarin
g angrily.
‘I wouldn’t try any funny business,’ said Harry. ‘My people would like their revenge for what you did to them, and that would give them an excuse.’
‘We could beat all of your people with both hands tied behind our backs!’ said Milo defiantly.
‘Maybe we ought to tie your legs together as well,’ laughed Harry. Then, still chuckling, he walked off.
As soon as he had gone, the Avenger turned angrily on the gang.
‘You idiots!’ she raged. ‘We could have got out of here! Now, with you here, we’re in worse trouble!’
‘We came here to save you!’ protested Jack.
‘Yes? Well you’re not doing a very good job of it!’
‘Some people are never grateful!’ huffed Robin.
‘Let’s not argue among ourselves,’ urged Milo. ‘Let’s get our plan of action worked out. First, we’ve got to find out what Hard Harry is really up to. Why did he drag us back here?’
‘We can tell you that!’ snapped the Avenger. ‘He wants Thud.’
‘What?’ said Milo, surprised. ‘How do you know?’
‘These things called ears,’ said the Avenger sarcastically, pointing to her own. ‘We heard him talking to his man, Percy.’
Meenu added, ‘Harry was so impressed with what Thud did to his men that he said, “I have to get hold of that Wrestling Troll! I could make a fortune from him!”’
‘But he brought us here, not Thud,’ said Robin, bewildered. Then a look of shocked realisation came into his face and he said, ‘Unless he knows about Jack …’
Meenu shook her head.
‘No,’ she said. ‘At least, we don’t think so. What he said was, “He appeared out of nowhere and came to their rescue when they were in trouble. So, we’ll put them in trouble again, and when he appears, we’ll trap him!”’
‘How trap?’ asked Big Rock.
‘We don’t know,’ the Avenger admitted. ‘They went off and we didn’t hear any more.’
They heard heavy footsteps approaching, and then Hard Harry returned.
‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Everything’s ready. Follow me.’
The gang followed Hard Harry to where a wrestling ring had been put up in a large open space that was bordered by tall trees. A huge man was waiting in the ring. He was very, very tall, with a shaved head and muscular arms so thick they looked like legs. And his legs, in turn, looked like … well, thick tree trunks.
‘Wow!’ said Milo. ‘He’s big!’
‘This is Chuck,’ said Hard Harry. ‘He used to wrestle with me in the old days. Then he was known as Mr Mysterious.’ He grinned at the Masked Avenger. ‘He did your trick. He wore a full-face mask, and he’d only take it off if he was beaten.’
‘I remember him!’ said Milo. ‘I saw him wrestle when my Uncle Waldo was in charge of Waldo’s Wrestling Trolls. He was nasty! A cheat! A dirty wrestler!’
‘Thank you,’ smiled Hard Harry. ‘Chuck will be flattered.’
‘Who beat him?’ asked Jack. ‘After all, he’s not wearing his mask now.’
‘Chuck doesn’t need to wear a mask any more,’ said Harry. ‘Everyone in Badlands Valley knows who he is.’
‘Now we do too,’ said Big Rock.
‘Yes,’ smiled Harry.
‘Harry’s going to kill us,’ snapped the Avenger angrily. ‘After the match is over. That’s why he doesn’t care if we see Chuck without his mask!’
‘No, no, miss,’ said Hard Harry reprovingly. ‘I meant what I said. If your wrestler loses, I keep the horse, but the rest of you go away safely. If Chuck loses, you all get to go.’
With that, Harry went to join Chuck.
‘Whatever he says, I don’t trust him,’ said the Avenger. ‘He’s got some trick up his sleeve.’
‘Of course he has,’ agreed Milo.
‘Okay!’ called Hard Harry. ‘Let’s get this bout under way!’
‘Here come!’ grunted Big Rock, and he took hold of the ropes and began to climb into the ring.
‘Not you, Big Rock,’ said Harry. He pointed at Jack. ‘Him.’
They stared at Hard Harry.
‘But Jack’s not a wrestler!’ Milo protested.
‘Good,’ said Harry. ‘Then Chuck should finish him off easily.’
‘This is cheating!’ burst out the Avenger.
‘Refuse to fight, Jack,’ said Meenu.
‘I can’t,’ said Jack. ‘If I do, his man will win by default.’
‘But take a look above the ring!’ whispered Meenu urgently. ‘Hanging from the trees.’
They did, and saw that a huge net made of metal had been suspended from the branches of the trees directly above the ring.
‘So that’s his plan,’ said Milo. ‘Jack’s the bait. When he gets battered in the ring, they expect that Thud will come to help, and they’ll drop that net, trapping him.’
‘So it’s very important that you don’t change,’ muttered the Masked Avenger to Jack.
‘But I can’t control it!’ Jack pointed out.
‘Come on!’ barked Hard Harry. ‘My man’s waiting!’
‘Give in quickly,’ urged Milo. ‘That way you won’t get hurt.’
Jack shook his head.
‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘If I do, Hard Harry wins. And besides, I’ve still got a chance. Chuck may be stronger than me, but I’ve got wrestling skills. I’ll use them against him.’ He grinned. ‘I can win this!’
Jack climbed through the ropes into the ring and went to his corner.
CHAPTER 9
Hard Harry limped to the centre of the ring.
‘And now, the Great Badlands Valley Wrestling Challenge! In one corner, our very own champion, Chuck. In the other corner, the challenger, Jack!’
The large crowd of men shouted and cheered when Chuck’s name was called out, and laughed in derision when Harry announced Jack.
As Harry climbed out of the ring, Milo protested: ‘You haven’t said about the rules!’
‘No rules,’ said Harry. ‘Winner wins. Loser loses. First one who gets two pinfalls or a knockout is the winner. Begin!’
Jack moved warily to the centre of the ring, his eyes on Chuck. His opponent was big and tough, but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t beat him. I have the knowledge, thought Jack. I know about wrestling holds. I know about throws. All I have to do is …
GRAB!
The next second, Chuck grabbed Jack round the neck with one hand, his other huge hand taking hold of one of Jack’s knees, and then …
BANG!
Jack found himself crashing down onto the ground with such force that it drove all the air out of him.
CRUNCH!
The heavy body of Chuck fell on Jack with all his weight. Jack struggled to lift his shoulders off the ground – even one shoulder – but it was no good.
‘One! Two! Three!’ shouted Hard Harry triumphantly. ‘First pinfall to Chuck!’
Hard Harry’s gang cheered and laughed as Jack forced himself to his feet.
‘You’re doing okay, Jack!’ called Milo encouragingly.
‘I’m glad you think so,’ said Jack unhappily.
Once again, Chuck reached out a huge hand to grab hold of Jack, but this time Jack swayed back out of reach. Chuck advanced, his legs bent and his arms spread wide, an evil smile on his face. Jack darted forward, and then dropped and slid between Chuck’s legs, jumping up behind him. Before Chuck could turn round, Jack had rushed at Chuck’s back, and then climbed up it and wrapped his legs around Chuck’s thick neck.
‘Yes!’ yelled Milo excitedly. ‘Fantastic!’
‘Go, Jack, go!’ shouted the Avenger.
Jack took hold of Chuck’s face and leaned back, trying to pull his opponent backwards. But Chuck was very strong. The wrestler bent forward, bringing Jack with him, at the same time reaching round behind him and catching hold of Jack by his head.
As Jack struggled to keep his grip on Chuck’s head, he could feel a dizziness coming over him. He was aware that his
eyes were starting to go filmy and he felt his arms and legs begin to ache, and then grow …
Oh no, he thought. Not now! This is exactly what Hard Harry wants!
But just then the feelings vanished and he was flying through the air, aware that he was hurtling out of the ring, thrown by Chuck.
CRASH!!!!
Jack crashed into the hard ground with a force that shook him right through his body. His ribs hurt. His head hurt. His whole body hurt.
He was aware of Milo, Big Rock, the Masked Avenger and Meenu kneeling beside him, looking at him anxiously.
‘How do you feel?’ asked Milo.
‘I feel like I’ve been bashed up and thrown out of a wrestling ring,’ groaned Jack. ‘I hurt.’
‘And the winner, by a knockout, is Chuck!’ boomed Hard Harry. ‘Take the horse!’
As Percy took hold of Robin’s reins, Big Rock lumbered towards them.
‘No!’ he shouted angrily.
Milo hurried after the big troll and grabbed hold of him. ‘Don’t worry, Big Rock,’ he whispered. ‘It’s under control!’
‘They eat Robin!’ shouted Big Rock, distraught.
Milo noticed that Harry had moved within earshot, so aloud he said: ‘Yes! But he gave his life for us! He was a true friend!’
‘Robin my friend!’ moaned Big Rock. ‘I not leave him!’
‘We have to, Big Rock!’ said Milo loudly. Then he leant towards the very unhappy troll and whispered, ‘It’s going to be all right. But … sssh! I’ll tell you about it later.’
With that, Milo turned to Harry.
‘Well, Harry. You won fair and square. And I hope you’re going to keep your word about letting the rest of us go.’
‘Of course,’ growled Harry. But Milo noticed that Harry didn’t look happy at the victory – he kept looking around, searching for something.
He’s looking for Thud, realised Milo. This was all about capturing Thud, and it didn’t happen.
Harry limped over to his bearded lieutenant.
‘Percy, put them in the cart and take them back to the village.’ Then, as Percy was about to walk towards the cart, Harry grabbed his lieutenant and whispered something in his ear before letting him move off.