by Andrew Cope
‘What about him?’ said Dale, nodding at Mr Thompson.
‘I think he wants to go for a swim, don’t you?’ said Cliff.
‘No!’ shouted Mr Thompson as Cliff pushed him roughly towards the edge of the bridge. Dale put down the handbag carefully on the grass and went to stand beside his brother.
‘Come on now, teacher, don’t argue with the man with the gun. It might be a long way down, but I bet that water’s lovely!’
Ben and Lara peered round the fire engine in horror. Ben was just about to run out and intervene, but Lara barred his way.
No, Ben. Leave this to me!
Lara broke cover and darted silently towards the handbag. She pulled out the plate from its wrapping and, remembering a move she’d used many times with the pups at home, hurled it just like a Frisbee towards the men.
The plate twisted in an arc through the air and headed straight for Cliff’s hand. The criminal looked round for a split second and couldn’t believe his eyes. He didn’t have time to react. The flying plate hit the gun and knocked it straight out of his hand and down into the lake below. Then, after it had hit its target, the plate crash-landed into the side of the bridge and smashed and splintered into a hundred tiny pieces.
Everybody gasped.
Mr Thompson was the first to move. He broke away from the criminals and raced towards Lara. Cliff and Dale didn’t even try to stop him. They were both staring in horror at the pieces of china at their feet.
‘Millions and millions of euros, that plate was worth,’ said Cliff slowly. ‘Millions and millions …’
Dale bent to pick up one of the tiny fragments. For a moment it looked like he was going to cry.
Then Cliff snapped into action. The police car was drawing nearer by the second.
‘Come on, bruv!’ he ordered. ‘We’ve lost the money, but we can still get away! Follow me!’
The two men sprinted across the bridge and down a steep footpath that led to the edge of the water. This time Cliff kicked off his shoes and tucked his spotty dress into his underpants so he could run more easily.
Shall I chase them? thought Lara. But then she had a better idea.
As Ben quickly untied Mr Thompson’s hands, Lara grabbed a stick in her mouth and levered open the compartment in the side of the engine where the fire hoses were kept.
‘Great idea, Lara!’ laughed Mr Thompson. Together they unfurled a hose and Mr T grabbed its nozzle. Cliff and Dale had just arrived at the edge of the lake as Ben and Lara turned on the water supply. Gallons of water began to surge through the hose and Mr Thompson aimed the powerful jet straight at the criminals’ knees. It knocked them sideways, hurling them up into the air and then down into the lake.
At that moment the police car drew up with a screech of tyres, and three armed police officers raced down the path to the water’s edge.
‘Armed police!’ they shouted. ‘Swim back here or we’ll shoot!’
Cliff and Dale knew they were beaten. Coughing and spluttering and covered in waterweed, they both swam slowly back to the shore.
‘Hope you enjoyed your dip,’ said one of the officers. ‘There won’t be any swimming where you’re going, that’s for sure.’
19. The School Assembly
Every year there was a special school assembly after the fete to thank those who had taken part and to announce how much money had been raised. This year the school hall was packed. Everyone in the village had come to find out exactly what else had happened that day.
Mr and Mrs Cook were there with Gran, and Ben had the morning off school and was sitting in the front row with Lara and the pups. Sophie and Ollie were with their classmates, and Mr Thompson was sitting on the stage behind Miss Lancaster.
‘First of all,’ said the head, ‘I want to thank all of you who so generously gave up your time, your skills – and of course your hard-earned cash. We raised a record-breaking sum and we’ll be able to buy some much-needed computer equipment for the school and also make a large donation to our local charities …’ She went on to mention the different amounts of money raised by various stalls and to thank certain people by name. Everyone clapped politely, but no one was really listening.
‘But, as you know, there was a little more excitement on Saturday than any of us would have wished for. So many rumours have been flying around that I think it’s high time I pass you over to Mr Thompson so he can explain what really happened and put the record straight.’ Mr Thompson stood up. ‘And I’d just like to say,’ added Miss Lancaster, ‘on behalf of everyone, that we are all very pleased to see you – and Ben – safe and well here this morning!’
‘Hear, hear!’ said a voice and everyone began to clap.
Mr Thompson smiled as he took the microphone and began to tell the whole story. When he got to the bit where Lara rescued him by using the plate to knock the gun out of the criminal’s hand, Mr Thompson sounded quite emotional. ‘I expect you can imagine how I felt,’ he said. ‘I have never been more grateful in my life!’
Everyone clapped again and some people cheered. Spud and Star woofed loudly. Lara looked modestly at the floor.
Mr Thompson carried on to the end of the story. ‘So, you’ll all be glad to know that not only are the two villains safely under arrest,’ he said, ‘but also the police have discovered the mastermind behind this and a string of other unsolved crimes. They may also be able to recover many other stolen goods.’
‘And speaking of stolen goods,’ Mr Thompson went on. ‘Even though human life is worth more than any piece of pottery, however precious – and my life’s certainly worth a lot to me! – I have to say that when I saw that plate lying smashed on the ground, I couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit sad that such a beautiful and important piece of Greek history was now lost forever.’
He paused and looked around him, smiling. ‘But, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls – I need not have worried! Because when Lara went ahead of the thieves into my classroom that afternoon, she had just enough time to swap the stolen plate for another one – a plate made by Sophie as part of our class project.
‘Lara wrapped Sophie’s plate in newspaper and put it in my desk. She took a chance that the crooks wouldn’t notice the difference – and she was right!’
Everyone gasped, even Miss Lancaster.
‘So,’ smiled Mr Thompson, ‘the plate that Lara used to save my life was made by Sophie just three days ago, and the one that was made by an ancient Greek potter three thousand years ago was sitting safely in my classroom all along – and now it’s back in the British Museum where it belongs!’
The room went into uproar. No one had expected this! Everyone stood up and clapped, cheered and whistled. The pups jumped about in the air and Mrs Cook gave Lara a hug.
Mr Thompson beckoned Lara up on to the stage and Miss Lancaster put a garland of flowers round her neck. Then the teachers called Ben, Sophie, Ollie and the pups on to the stage as well.
The pups’ tails were wagging so hard it looked like their whole bodies were wagging. ‘Our mum’s a Super Dog!’ said Spud.
‘She’s a Super-Super Spy Dog!’ said Star. ‘And I hope we’ll be just like her when we grow up.’
As the clapping and cheering subsided, Miss Lancaster took the microphone again. ‘There’s just one more thing,’ she said. ‘In all the excitement we forgot to announce the winner of the raffle. As you know the prize is a relaxing two-day break at a country house hotel and spa, and I’m pleased to say the winner is – Mrs Cook!’
Everyone laughed.
‘Just the thing for your birthday!’ said Gran.
‘Yes,’ said Mrs Cook. ‘I think we all need to relax for a day or two, before Lara gets involved in another adventure!’
* In case you’re wondering, the teddy’s name was Vladimir.
enter>
