“Now, that’s what I call Bruce Force!” said Bruce.
“That’s what I call gravitational force,” said Donnie.
“That’s it, Bruce!” said Jet. “We need to push them off.”
“Stop!” said Major Works. “These are valuable statues of great historical interest.”
“Historical interest?” said Donnie. “If it hasn’t slipped your attention, your historically interesting statues are tearing up the city!”
“They need to be returned to their original positions without damage,” insisted the major.
“He’s right,” said Chuck. “We must use our ninja skills to obtain the Stone of Life without destroying these statues. It’s not their fault that they have been brought to life for evil purposes.”
Seeing the gargoyle’s fate on the pavement, the other statues had begun to climb down the side of the building. Many more were marching through the streets.
“They’re all heading the same way,” said Jet.
“Let’s see where they’re going,” said Chuck.
He led the others across the roofs, in the same direction as the statues.
“Major Works,” said Chuck as they ran. “How many statues are there in London?”
“Somewhere in the region of thirty thousand,” replied the major.
“Thirty thousand?” exclaimed Jet. “He can build an army with that many.”
“An indestructible army,” said Donnie.
“But where are they all going?” asked Bruce.
As the meerkats watched, the statues turned off the road and entered a red-fronted building with the words “Strand Station” printed in bold letters above the entrance.
“It looks like they’re going underground,” said Donnie.
“We should follow them,” said Chuck, as they watched the statues march into the building.
“There’s no point in that,” said Major Works. “They’re trapped. You see, that building isn’t an Underground station anymore. It was shut up years ago and no trains go through. I’m going to find out what the police have planned. Agent Flashfeet, keep your team where it is until you hear from me.”
“Yes, sir,” said Jet.
“Your team?” said Donnie and Bruce together.
“I’ve got the sunglasses,” replied Jet defensively.
“Yes, and now it’s time to take them off, Jet,” said Chuck.
“You’re just jealous because he picked me to wear them and be the chief spy,” responded Jet.
“We are not spies,” said Chuck calmly. “We are the Clan of the Scorpion. We don’t follow orders. We follow our instincts. Now tell me, Jet, what are your instincts telling you?”
Jet looked down at the statues and the police cars gathered around the building. Overhead, a helicopter hovered low, keeping an eye on all the winged statues flying into the building.
“I think this has been too carefully planned to be a mistake,” said Jet, removing the sunglasses and placing them on the roof. “We need to find out what’s going on, and get the Stone of Life back, not just sit here waiting for instructions!”
Chuck smiled. “Agreed. Donnie, do you have any gray paint?”
“Of course.” Donnie pulled two cans of gray spray-paint out of his bag.
“Let’s statue up,” said Chuck.
“Do me first,” said Bruce.
“OK. Keep your eyes shut,” said Donnie. He sprayed the two cans at Bruce until he disappeared in a cloud of paint. When it cleared, Bruce was exactly the same color as the statues marching below them.
“Hey Bruce, you feeling OK?” asked Jet.
“Yeah, why?” asked Bruce.
“You seem a bit off color,” replied Jet.
Once all four of them looked like statues, they clambered down a drainpipe and across the road, slipping into the line of statues behind an army sergeant and two Queen Victorias. A horse with wings sat on top of the building, looking out for any signs of an aerial assault from the police. It didn’t see the meerkats march by, right under its nose. Inside, they saw that the statues had bashed a hole in a wall to reveal a huge spiral staircase heading underground.
“Where do you think we’re going?” asked Bruce.
“Keep your voice down,” said Chuck. “We must remain undercover.”
At the bottom of the stairs was a train platform where the statues were silently gathering, like an extremely odd assortment of commuters on their way to work. The meerkats darted between the legs of the statues, looking for the Human Statue.
“It must be the old tube station platform,” whispered Chuck.
“They’ll be waiting a while for a train then,” said Bruce.
“I’m not sure about that,” said Donnie.
A rumbling sound filled the tunnel, followed by a cold gust of wind. Through the mass of legs, the meerkats saw a train pull into the platform. The statues piled into the empty cars and the meerkats were whisked along with them. As they reached the door, Chuck directed them up the back of a stone bear and onto the top of the subway train.
“What’s going on?” asked Bruce.
“The Human Statue is fooling the police, keeping them focused on this building, while moving his army elsewhere,” said Jet.
The doors closed and the train began to move, quickly picking up speed. It rattled through the tunnel at a fantastic rate and the meerkats had to cling on tight to prevent themselves from being thrown off. Eventually the train slowed down and pulled into another abandoned platform. It stopped and the doors slid open. At once the statues began to march off the train.
The meerkats peered over the top.
“Any idea where we are, Donnie?” asked Chuck.
Donnie pulled out his phone and clicked on the GPS function. “I can’t get a signal.”
All of a sudden, the meerkats felt a stony hand grab them and they were pulled from their hiding place by Charlie Chaplin.
“I didn’t think I’d brought any rodent statues to life,” said the Human Statue, suddenly appearing behind Chaplin, with Lord Nelson by his side.
“We’re not rodents,” said Jet. “We’re meerkats.”
“Whatever,” said the Human Statue dismissively. He was holding a stone. It looked just like an ordinary pebble but it had to be the Stone of Life.
“What are you up to?” asked Chuck.
“I’m Stan Still and my statue army is going to bring this city to a standstill. No longer will people pass me by without even noticing. Finally, they will pay attention to me! Soon every statue in this city will be under my control—I will leave no stone unturned!”
“Oh, great,” said Donnie. “Another pun-obsessed super villain.”
“Shut it, you flea-ridden rat,” snapped the Human Statue. “Nelson, take this mouthy meerkat and make sure he can’t escape. Chaplin, hold on to the others. You’re taking them on the last train out of here.” He pulled out a small electronic device. “This remote control operates the train, you see. I designed it myself.”
“No matter where you send us, we’ll still find you,” said Jet.
“I don’t think so,” said the Human Statue. “You see, I don’t need this train anymore. I’m sending you on a crash collision with the end of the tunnel.” He chuckled.
“Tell me one thing,” said Chuck. “How did you learn about the Stone of Life?”
“I got a tip-off, as it happens,” he replied. “Now, it’s time for you lot to go to your final destination.”
The two statues stepped onto the subway with the meerkats firmly in their grip. The doors slid shut and the train started to move.
The meerkats tried to wriggle free, but the statues held them tightly as the train went faster and faster.
“We need to get off before the train crashes,” said Donnie.
“If I could get free, I’d use some Bruce Force,” said Bruce.
“And I’d Ninja-boom my way out,” said Jet, struggling.
But it was no use—the statues’ hold was rock solid.
<
br /> “Any ideas, Donnie?” asked Chuck.
“Loads,” said Donnie. “Only they all involve not being in the vice-like grip of this statue’s hand. Nelson is squeezing me so hard that if he’s not careful he’ll set off one of my gadgets. Hold on—I’ve got it!” He wriggled around.
“What’s ‘it’?” asked Bruce.
“You’ll see. I’m just making sure I’ve got the right angle,” said Donnie. “There. Now I need to make him angry.”
“You want to make him angry?!” exclaimed Chuck.
“How do you even make a statue angry?” asked Bruce.
“I know,” said Jet. “Hey, statues, do you know what the pigeons call you?” He sniggered. “Target practice!”
“How does it feel to be a bird-poop bull’s-eye, Nelson?” said Donnie.
Nelson looked down at Donnie and squeezed hard, trying to crush him. As he did so, his huge thumb pushed one of the buttons on Donnie’s backpack. A grappling hook shot out, latched on to a red lever by the train door and yanked it down. Above the lever were the words “Emergency Stop.”
There was a screeching sound as the brakes went on but the train was traveling too fast to come to a standstill. It jolted violently and the statues crashed to the ground, releasing the meerkats as they fell. They ran to the end of the passenger car and, with a cry of “Bruce Force!”, Bruce kicked off the back door.
“Mind the gap!” yelled Jet as they all leaped out. The meerkats landed in forward rolls, just as the train hit the end of the tunnel.
“Take cover!” cried Chuck, shielding his eyes from the explosion.
“That was close,” said Bruce.
As the dust settled in the gloomy tunnel, they heard another rumbling sound.
“Sounds like thunder,” said Jet.
“You don’t get thunder underground,” said Donnie. “The tunnel is collapsing!”
“Quickly, this way!” ordered Chuck.
The meerkats ran as fast as they could down one of the tunnels as large chunks of rock fell from the ceiling.
Eventually, they reached another station and climbed up onto the deserted platform.
“Everyone ready to continue our mission and retrieve the Stone of Life?” asked Chuck, wiping the dust from his sleeves.
“You mean ready to go and fight an army made up of several tons of solid stone and metal that massively outnumbers us?” said Jet.
“Yes,” said Chuck.
“You bet we’re ready,” said Jet.
“Bring it on!” said Bruce.
“Let’s rock!” said Donnie.
A staircase led up from the subway station to the surface, where it looked like a secret cover had been pushed away in the corner of a small park by the river. It had grown dark while they’d been underground and a few stars shone in the night sky above. At one end of the park was a huge wheel with slowly revolving observation pods, known as the London Eye. In front of it was the army of statues. On the other side of the river they could see helicopters circling the Strand Station building.
“You were right, Chuck,” whispered Donnie. “While the police are watching the underground station across the river, the army has gathered here unnoticed, so they’ll have the advantage of surprise when they attack.”
“I bet he’s left a few statues over there to give the impression they’re all inside,” said Chuck. “It’s down to us to get hold of the Stone of Life and stop this madness.”
“There he is now,” said Jet.
The Human Statue climbed up onto a platform in front of the London Eye and addressed his army, but the meerkats were too far back to hear him. They slipped into the crowd, moving swiftly and silently among the forest of feet. As they got nearer, they could finally hear what the Human Statue was saying.
“Statues of London, we’ve been ignored and unnoticed for too long now. Finally you’ll rise up and take this city. Every last one of you will be brought to life and then we’ll rule the world!”
The Human Statue held up the Stone of Life and the statues raised their arms in a solemn, silent salute. But from the darkness came the sound of someone clapping slowly. The Human Statue turned around to see who it was. A shadowy figure in a tall hat stepped out of the darkness.
“The Ringmaster!” gasped all four meerkats as one.
By the Ringmaster’s side were the clowns, Grimsby and Sheffield, and Herr Flick, holding a knife in each hand. At his feet was Doris the Dancing Dog.
“What a moving speech, Mr. Still,” said the Ringmaster.
“Who are you?” asked the Human Statue.
“They call me the Ringmaster,” he replied. “You’ve done an excellent job here, but now I’ll have to relieve you of the Stone of Life.”
“No way,” began the Human Statue, but before he knew what was happening, Grimsby pulled out a custard pie and hurled it at his face. Then Sheffield tripped him up with his huge feet and Doris pirouetted, spun in midair, and snatched the Stone from his hands. The Ringmaster took it from her mouth.
“Good dog,” said the Ringmaster. “Now the statues of London will listen to me.”
“I wouldn’t try telling them any jokes,” said Grimsby.
“Why?” asked Sheffield.
“Because they seem a bit stone-faced.”
The two clowns laughed heartily and grabbed the Human Statue, gripping his arms tightly to stop him from escaping.
“Quiet, you two,” said the Ringmaster. “Statues of London,” he cried. “Listen to your new master. I believe we may have some unwelcome guests. Stamp your feet, use your weapons. Let’s flush them out.”
Suddenly, every set of feet started stamping and sharp swords of stone and metal shot up and down, prodding the ground. The meerkats had no choice but to move quickly into the open, right in front of the Ringmaster.
“Ah, the Clan of the Scorpion. How nice to see you! You’ve fallen right into my trap.”
“Your trap?” said Chuck. “We are here to take back the Stone of Life.”
“Yes, but only because I wanted you here,” he replied. “You see, I captured each and every one of Major Works’s spies, knowing he would have no choice but to contact his old friend Grandmaster One-Eye for help. The British Secret Secret Service is no secret to me. Since capturing his spies, I have been watching your every move through Major Works’s surveillance system. His equipment is not as sophisticated as he thinks.”
The Ringmaster held the Stone of Life aloft and the statues formed a wall around the meerkats.
“And now there is no way that you can escape,” he said.
“But how did you know the Human Statue was going to steal the Stone?” asked Donnie.
“Because I was the one who tipped him off about the Stone in order to lure you into this trap.”
“You used me!” said the Human Statue.
“Yes,” said the Ringmaster. “This army has only one purpose. They will finally rid me of the Clan of the Scorpion. I will take the Stone and begin my world domination campaign elsewhere. Statues, I order you to destroy the Clan of the Scorpion!”
“Why, you rotten circus freak…” The Human Statue wriggled free from the clowns’ grip and ran at the Ringmaster. For a moment the two men wrestled, then Doris bit the Human Statue’s ankle, making him cry out in pain and fall to the ground. Quick as a flash, Herr Flick released a series of knives, pinning him to the ground by his clothes.
The Ringmaster held up the Stone of Life. “Circus troupe, let’s go to the boat,” he said. “Good-bye, meerkats.”
As the statues attacked from every side, Chuck drew his sword, spun around, and announced, “Before the Clan, each enemy cowers, for now we fight till victory is ours!”
The statues with wings flew over the top and swooped down at the meerkats. Those with weapons thrust, lunged, and swung, and the statues with sharp teeth snapped their jaws. Jet dodged an attack from a soldier, rolled under his legs, leaped up, and kicked his back. The stone soldier staggered forward, knocking over a row of stat
ues, who clattered to the ground in confusion.
A lion lunged at Bruce, but he was too quick. The lion lowered his head to attack again but Bruce ran onto his back and jumped away before the lion had time to turn around.
Chuck found himself up against Lady Justice again. He was bravely fighting her off, blocking one attack, then spinning around to block another, moving at incredible speed. Lady Justice took a swing at him, which he avoided by leaping onto her scales. She tried to get him off by swinging them viciously, but Chuck rolled backward and watched as the scales collided with Queen Victoria’s head, sending her reeling.
“That’s what I call tipping the scales in your favor,” said Donnie, who was using a slingshot to fend off an eagle and a dragon.
But no matter how many statues the meerkats dodged, there were more behind, waiting to attack.
“We need to get the Stone of Life!” said Chuck.
“I’m on it,” said Donnie. He pulled a tag on the side of his backpack, igniting two jets at the bottom, which propelled him up in the air. He pulled the toggles to steer and flew down toward the river, but was closely pursued by two vicious owls.
“Donnie’s got a tail,” cried Chuck.
“So? We’ve all got tails,” said Bruce.
“I mean those owls are following him. He needs help!”
“No problem,” said Bruce, ducking a ball and chain swung by a Roman gladiator. Bruce grabbed the ball and, with a loud grunt, yanked it out of the gladiator’s hand. He then lobbed it up at one of the owls, hitting his target and sending it colliding with the other.
“Nice one, Bruce,” yelled Donnie. “Two birds with one stone!”
Donnie could see that the Ringmaster and Doris had already climbed into the boat. Grimsby and Sheffield were still on the jetty, untying the tethered rope.
Just as they released the boat, he swooped down and barged into them, sending the two clowns into the water with a huge SPLASH!
Big City Bust-Up Page 3
