by Jan Burchett
“What’s a volcano?” grunted Bart.
“We know, don’t we, Toby?” said Barney with a shy grin.
“It’s a mountain that breathes fire!” explained Toby.
“I breathe fire,” said Azzan, gleaming with pride. “Make your volcano do it now.”
“Only real ones do that,” said Ben. “Ours is just a model.”
Max grabbed his arm. “But wouldn’t it be awesome if it did breathe fire, Agent Neal?” he said. “Imagine Mrs Stearn’s face! It would be the best project in the history of best projects. She’d have to let us go on the school trip then!”
“Awesome idea,” said Ben thoughtfully. “But how would we get the volcano to do that?”
Max grinned and pointed at Azzan. “We could ask for help. Breathing fire is Azzan’s special power.”
“I like your thinking!” exclaimed Ben. He turned to the little dragon gargoyle. “Do you want to be part of a really wicked trick, Azzan?”
“Gargoylz love to play tricks,” Azzan replied, jumping up and down.
“Then it’s time for Secret Plan: Blast Fire!” Max told the eager gargoyle. “You hide underneath the volcano, and when I call out a secret codeword, you blast fire out through the top.”
“Spluttering gutterz!” exclaimed Toby. “That’s a brilliant idea!”
But then Azzan stopped jumping. “There’s one tiny problem,” he said, twisting his paws together in embarrassment. “I don’t always manage fire. Sometimez it’s only a wisp of smoke. And when I do breathe fire, it doesn’t last very long.”
“Don’t you worry about that,” Ben told him. “It will still be awesome. No one will be expecting smoke or flames at all.”
“Then I’ll do it!” declared Azzan excitedly.
Bart was shaking his head doubtfully. “It won’t work,” he said. “Azzan’s too big to fit inside.”
“If you put the volcano on top of a box, Azzan could hide underneath,” suggested Toby. “You’d just need to cut a hole in the top of the box under the volcano.”
“That’s brilliant, Toby!” said Max.
Azzan skipped along the wall.
But Ben looked worried. “If he breathes fire inside a cardboard box, he’ll set fire to it,” he said.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Max, scratching his head. “Perhaps our plan won’t work after all.”
“Leave this to me,” said Azzan importantly. Waving the others aside, he inspected the model volcano closely. He tapped it thoughtfully with one claw. Then he hopped over it and tapped the other side. Finally he lifted it up and stuck his nose underneath.
Max, Ben and the gargoylz watched anxiously. At last Azzan’s head popped up again.
“Just as I thought.” He grinned. “Once I’m in the box I can stick my head through the hole in the top and up into the volcano itself. That’s made of metal so it won’t catch fire.”
“This is going to be cool!” exclaimed Ben. “Secret Plan: Blast Fire! is on!”
The bell rang for school.
“We have to go,” said Max. “We’ll see you here at lunch time to finalize the plan. We have to present our project this afternoon.”
“We’ll find a cardboard box,” declared Theo.
“Great,” said Ben. “All sorted.”
The boys picked up their model and shuffled off into school.
At lunch time Max and Ben carried their volcano over to the church wall again, where the gargoylz were waiting eagerly. Barney proudly produced a cardboard box bearing the label – CRUMBLY COOKIES.
“I found this in the school kitchens,” he said. “I made sure it was empty for you.” He licked his lips. “They were delicious!”
“We just need a hole for Azzan to stick his head through now,” said Ben.
He patted the cardboard. “It’s tough. How are we going to cut it? We can’t risk bringing scissors outside. If we got caught there’d be no school trip no matter how good our volcano was.”
“Stand back, everyone!” ordered Azzan. He took a deep breath. Whoosh! A huge flame shot out and hit the top of the box. The cardboard began to crackle. Azzan quickly flapped at it with his tail. “Perfect!” he declared as the flames died away, leaving a smoking hole.
The gargoylz clapped. Azzan bowed and jumped into the box.
“Ow!” He jumped out again, clutching his bottom.
“Think I’ll wait till it’s cooled down a bit.”
When the box was ready, Azzan got in again. He curled his long tail around him, and Max placed the volcano carefully on top.
“Does it fit all right?” called Ben.
“It’s perfect,” came Azzan’s muffled voice. “Ready for action.”
“Listen for the password,” Max told him, peering down the top of the volcano. “You breathe fire when I say Blast off.” A small flame flickered out of the volcano, making him jump backwards. “Brilliant! But not now!” he exclaimed. “Wait till I say it in the classroom.”
That afternoon Max and Ben could hardly sit still. Their volcano stood on their desk, covered with a coat.
Lucinda Tellingly and Tiffany Goodchild were reading out an endless description of earthquakes.
“Boring!” muttered Ben. “When’s it our turn?”
Lucinda glared at them.
“Did you say something, Ben Neal?” asked Mrs Stearn.
“I’m just looking forward to showing everyone how volcanoes work,” said Ben.
“Then you can be next,” the teacher told them. “After all, your school trip depends on it.”
As soon as the girls had finished, Max and Ben jumped up eagerly. They carried the volcano up to the front and put it on the teacher’s table. Then Max removed the coat with a flourish.
Mrs Stearn looked astonished. “I wasn’t expecting anything like this from you two,” she gasped. “You have worked hard!”
“And there are more surprises to come,” said Ben with a grin.
Max turned to the class. “The volcano!” he announced dramatically. “Nature at its fiercest.” He’d heard that on the TV programme.
“Here it waits, looking like a harmless mountain,” said Ben, “but prepare yourselves for an amazing sight.”
Max took a step back. “Hold onto your seats and get ready for . . . Blast off!”
He waited, but nothing happened.
“Blast off?” said Mrs Stearn, puzzled. “You’re getting muddled up with rockets, boys.”
“Yes, of course,” said Max. “I didn’t mean to say Blast off at all.”
A small wisp of smoke rose up from the model. To the boys’ delight, the supply teacher looked impressed.
“How did you do that?” she asked.
“Well, it’s very complicated and clever . . .” began Max, wondering how he was going to explain without telling her there was a fire-breathing gargoyle inside.
“I don’t see why it’s so clever,” piped up Lucinda. “It was only a little bit of smoke. Ben promised it was going to be amazing!”
“That was just the beginning,” said Ben, looking desperately at Max. “Er . . . volcanoes do that . . . They smoke first before the big eruption.”
“Was it talcum powder?” asked Mrs Stearn. “Or flour?” She was peering eagerly into the hole now. “I’m determined to discover how you did it . . .”
Max was horrified. He had to stop her spotting Azzan!
“Sorry, but it’s top secret,” he said hurriedly. “You’d better stand back, miss. It could blast off at any moment.”
Before Mrs Stearn had a chance to move, a puff of black smoke shot up her nose. She lurched backwards as a huge flame leaped into the air.
Lucinda and Tiffany screamed but the rest of the class clapped enthusiastically. Max and Ben took several bows.
“Awesome, Azzan!” shouted Ben as the flames flickered merrily out of the volcano.
Max kicked him on the shin.
“I mean, it’s as awesome as an . . . actual volcano,” Ben corrected himself hurriedly.
But Mrs Stearn wasn’t listening. Eyes wide with terror at the sight of the crackling flames, she grabbed a vase of flowers from her desk and threw the water over the volcano.
Pffftttt. The flames went out. Max and Ben stared at each other in horror. Their model was covered in wet carnation stalks and smelly leaves. The painted papier-mâché was peeling away and dripping onto the floor. Their volcano project was ruined.
“It’s really realistic now,” Lucinda giggled nastily. “All that stuff running down looks like real lava.”
From the depths of the soggy model came sounds of spluttering and wheezing.
Max burst into a volley of deafening coughs to cover up the sound. “The smoke got in my throat,” he explained quickly.
He and Ben picked up the ruined volcano to take it back to their seat.
“Wait a minute,” said Mrs Stearn, looking rather embarrassed. “I’m sorry I spoiled your volcano. It was a very good effort and the flames were . . . a clever idea. Just a little dangerous perhaps . . . but I’m sure you meant well.”
“We did,” said Max despondently. “It took us hours to make it.”
“Then you have earned your place on Friday’s trip,” said the supply teacher with a smile. “And as I ruined your project, I will let you off homework for a week!” Lucinda and Tiffany looked appalled, but Max and Ben broke into beaming smiles.
“Mission accomplished, Agent Neal,” whispered Max when they were sitting down. “The trip to the beach is safe.”
“And no homework!” Ben whispered back in delight. Max knocked on the box. “You all right in there, Azzan?”
A thin wisp of steam drifted up from the top of the volcano. “Just a little damp,” came the muffled reply.
After school the boys carried the volcanic remains into the churchyard. Azzan scrambled out of the wreckage as the other gargoylz gathered round.
“What happened?” asked Barney, round-eyed with dismay at the ruined model. “Did it go wrong?”
“Not at all,” declared Azzan. “It was just like those volcanoes you told us about. But better!”
“Much better,” agreed Max. “We couldn’t have done it without him – and you lot, of course.”
“I’m sorry you got wet, Azzan,” added Ben. “Mrs Stearn didn’t understand. Typical teacher!”
“Think no more about it,” said Azzan, flicking his tail happily. “I could hear the class clapping. I haven’t had so much fun since we turned on the fire extinguisher and the vicar thought it was snowing!”
Toby sighed. “Wish we could have seen it.”
“You can,” declared Max. “You keep the model here and Azzan can act it out for you tonight.”
“Dangling drainpipes!” exclaimed Toby. “Hop back in, Azzan.”
“I’ll say the password,” said Theo quickly.
Toby took charge. “You can say it this time,” he told him, “then we’ll all have a turn.” Laughing, Max and Ben left the gargoylz happily shouting “Blast off!” and headed for home.
4. Fossil Fun
“I CAN’T BELIEVE it’s time for the school trip at last!” yelled Max as he and Ben roared into the playground in their imaginary super spy plane.
“There’s only one thing that could make a day on the beach even better,” said Ben.
“Our gargoyle friends coming with us!” Max grinned. “Shame they can’t. We’ll just have to tell them all about it when we get back.” He glanced over the wall at the church next door. “No sign of them,” he declared, feeling a little disappointed. “I thought they’d come and see us off.”
Just then, Mr Widget blew his whistle. All the Year Four pupils lined up by the gate and streamed onto the coach, laughing and jostling. Max and Ben beat Lucinda and her friends to the long seat at the back.
“I saw Theo and Barney on the church roof when we left,” Max told Ben as the coach sped along. “They looked a bit gloomy.”
“Maybe the gargoylz are upset ’cos they can’t come,” said Ben.
“Can’t come?” said a deep growly voice. A stony face poked out from under the seat in front. It had a wide mouth and the sharpest fangs the boys had ever seen. The strange gargoyle clambered up Max’s legs and perched on his knee. He was small and stocky, with the body of a piglet. “Who’s going to stop us?”
“Not me!” quavered Max as he and Ben shrank back at the sight of this fierce new gargoyle.
Pop! Zack suddenly appeared out of thin air on the seat between them. Zack’s special power was becoming invisible and the boys never knew when he might turn up.
“You boyz look terrified!” he guffawed, shaking his fuzzy mane. “It’s only Cyrus. Say hello, Cyrus.”
The new gargoyle held out a paw full of razor-sharp claws. Max and Ben shook it very carefully.
“Nice to meet you,” said Ben politely.
“You’ll have to stay out of sight,” Max warned the two gargoylz. “You know you mustn’t be seen by humans – except us, that is.”
“We will!” came a whole chorus of voices.
Shocked, Max and Ben peered under their seat. They were greeted by a row of eyes blinking in the dark. Five more grinning gargoylz shuffled into view.
“Bart . . . Toby . . . Eli . . . Ira . . . Azzan,” gasped Max, counting along the line.
“Brilliant!” exclaimed Ben. “You’re nearly all here.”
“Greetingz!” said Toby, dusting himself down. “We tried to persuade Theo to come but he doesn’t like water. And Barney said he’d stay behind to keep him company.”
“We’ve never been to the seaside,” said Bart.
“Speak for yourself, landlubber!” chirped Ira.
The girls in the seat in front turned round and stared.
Max quickly gave them a cheesy grin. “Just doing my pirate impression!” he assured them.
“Shhhh!” Ben warned the stowaway gargoylz. “You don’t want to be discovered.”
“Max and Ben are the only humanz allowed to see us,” Toby solemnly reminded his friends.
“You’re lucky to have an old sea dog like me on a trip to the coast,” Ira went on in a hoarse whisper. “You’d be lost if a force nine gale or a monster from the deep came along.”
“Ssso would you!” hissed Eli with a grin, the stone snakes on his head wriggling cheekily.
“You black-hearted serpent,” growled Ira. “I’ve got the sea in my blood. You’ll soon be calling me for help when you’re sucked into a whirlpool.”
The gargoylz chattered excitedly all the way to the beach. Every so often Max or Ben had to remind them to be quiet.
“Everyone ready?” called Mr Widget from the front after about half an hour. “We’re nearly there.”
“Line up, you motley crew,” squawked Ira. The gargoylz shuffled into an orderly queue behind him. “We’ve been watching you all in the playground,” Ira explained proudly to the boys.
“You do it very well,” whispered Max, impressed. “Better than us!”
“But you can’t march out with the rest of us,” warned Ben. “You’ll be seen. Stay put until everyone’s off the coach. We’ll see you on the beach.”
Max and Ben were the last down the steps of the coach; they joined the rest of Year Four at the top of the cliff path.
“Awesome!” gasped Ben, gazing down at the wide, sunny bay that stretched out invitingly below them.
“Bet there are loads of fossils hidden down there,” said Max, pointing at the rocks that lay in a heap against the foot of the cliff. “And we’re going to find them all.”
Mr Widget climbed back into the coach to check that no one had been left behind.
“Hope the gargoylz have got out!” muttered Ben.
They heard a sharp exclamation and the teacher emerged, his hair standing on end.
“Everything all right, sir?” asked Max.
Mr Widget mopped his brow. “I thought I saw a face under the seat – huge mouth, fierce teeth. Terrifying!”
“Probably just a tric
k of the light,” said Ben quickly, trying not to laugh as a line of honey-coloured shapes clambered out of the open coach window behind Mr Widget and gave the boys a cheery wave. Luckily the rest of Year Four were all gazing out at the sea.
Mr Widget shakily led the two classes down the steep concrete steps to the beach, where they saw a tall thin man with a bulging rucksack at his feet waving a chisel at them.
“Good morning, fossil hunters!” he called cheerily. “I’m Professor Bone.” He began arranging interesting lumps of rock on the sand. “First of all, who can tell me what a fossil is?”
Ben put up his hand eagerly. “It’s a—”
“Prehistoric creature that’s turned to stone,” a rude voice beside him butted in.
Max turned to look, his spy radar on full alert: shaved head, big fists, nasty grin. He knew what that meant. It was Enemy Agent Barry Price, also known as The Basher, codename: School Bully.
“Exactly!” The professor beamed at Barry, then held up a rock with a spiral shape in the middle of it. “I found all these here on this beach. Do you know what this one is?” he asked Max.
“Easy,” replied Max. “It’s—”
“An ammonite,” interrupted Barry with an evil smirk in Max’s direction.
“I see we have an expert here,” chuckled Professor Bone. “Ammonites used to swim in these oceans sixty-five million years ago.” He tipped a pile of sharp, triangular teeth into his hand. “These are from prehistoric sharks,” he told his wide-eyed audience. “There are plenty of fossils of all sorts around here. Some are loose in the sand and some will be in the rocks. Just keep your eyes open for unusual patterns in the stone and let’s see who can find the best ones.”
Excited chatter broke out at this.
“That’ll be me,” shouted Barry over the din. “You lot needn’t bother.”
