“No entry,” he said, holding up a white-gloved hand. “Zees way is for ze azletes only!”
“But Harriet is an athlete,” Susie said, sounding confused. “And we’re in a hurry.”
The guard smiled. “Zen only rabbit can go through. Ze rest of you must go round ze long ways.”
Susie stepped back and looked at EE, who blinked fuzzily. “Now look here—”
“I do not make ze rules, sir. Just give me ze bunny and I will take good care of er!”
I gave him a hard look. As worried as I was about missing Taz’s race, there was something I couldn’t quite put my paw on about the guard. Had I seen him before somewhere?
Susie looked like she might cry at any moment. EE nodded reluctantly. “OK, take Harriet. But make sure she gets to the triple jump as soon as the one hundred metres is over. She’s got a gold medal to win.”
The next thing I knew, the guard’s hands were clutched firmly around my middle. “Don’t worry,” he said, with a strange little chuckle. “I know exactly what to do wiz er!”
Susie planted a big kiss on my velvet nose. “Good luck, Harriet. Do your best ever jumping!”
That was exactly what I planned to do! I waggled my whiskers and she turned away, pulling EE back up the tunnel. Once they had disappeared around the corner and I was alone with the peculiar guard, he lifted me up to eye level.
“So, ’Arriet ’Oudini, you are mine at last! Zis time, no-one can stop me making you ze star of my magic show!”
In a flash, I knew why he looked familiar – this was no security guard. He was the bunny-napping magician, the Great Maldini, in disguise! I wriggled as hard as I could but the Great Maldini knew me too well and tightened his grip.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a black cloth bag.
“In you go,” he cried, thrusting me inside and gripping it tightly closed with his hand.
Then he began to run and I doubted he was going my way. Furiously, I bounced around in the darkness of the bag, trying to reach the top, but the Great Maldini was holding on to it firmly and there wasn’t even a whisker worth of space to squeeze through. I gnawed at my lip nervously – if I didn’t escape soon, who knew where Maldini would take me? I’d bet my last popcorn stick it would be a long way from my cosy hutch at the Wilsons’.
Thoughtfully, I gnashed my teeth. If I couldn’t get out of the top of the bag, maybe I could force my way out of the bottom?
Jiggling from side to side, I nibbled on the material at my feet. It tasted like one of EE’s mouldy old slippers, but I kept on gnawing. And, before you could say stinky socks’, a tiny chink of light appeared. I chewed faster, my heart pounding. How much time did I have? Were we outside the stadium yet?
Seconds ticked by. The hole got bigger. Now I could see the ground flashing past beneath us. Desperately, I tore at the bag with my trusty teeth until – at last – the gap looked big enough. I forced my head through, squirming and twisting until my front legs were out. The next thing I knew, I was tumbling towards the ground and landed with a mighty thud. The fall might have hurt an ordinary rabbit but I was a Stunt Bunny through and through!
Spitting out black thread, I gazed around. Just as I’d suspected, the Great Maldini had carried me out of the stadium – I could see him disappearing into the distance. Any minute now, he’d realise I wasn’t in his bag and I’d be up to my fluffy tail in trouble again. I needed to get back inside the stadium, fast!
Hopping around in desperation, I searched for something I could use. Then, I saw it – a skateboard. I’d never used one before, but I’d seen a skateboarding meerkat on Superpets once – how hard could it be? Without another thought, I leaped on top of it. Immediately, it began to roll and I kicked off as hard as I could. Crouching low, I sped towards the stadium entrance, leaning from side to side the way I’d seen the meerkat do. The skateboard veered left, then right, through the sea of legs and shot underneath the turnstile.
“Oi!” somebody shouted, but I wasn’t stopping for anyone. Flattening my ears against my head, I aimed for one of the tunnels which led to the stands. People gasped and pointed as I zoomed past their seats. Up ahead, I could see the track where Taz and the other animals were getting ready to race. The starting pistol let out a loud bang and they were off, just as I reached the edge of the seats. I leaned back and aimed for a thin gap in the barriers, crossing my paws tightly. Either the skateboard would zip up and through, or I’d end up splattered against the metal.
There was a loud whine as the edge of the board scraped the sides and then I was through. I soared over the track, just as the racers passed underneath me. The noise of the crowd got louder and I risked a glance down to see that Taz was neck and neck with an ostrich! Then the skateboard landed on the grass next to the track. Leaning hard to the right, I steered towards the finish line and jumped off, just as Taz flashed past me to take first place!
“Harriet Houdini, where have you been?” Calvin appeared next to me, hands on his hips. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I hope you’ve warmed up?”
I watched the skateboard come to a stop and waved a weak paw in reply Thanks to the Great Maldini, I was warmer that I’d ever been in my life!
Taz was doing a lap of honour, with a Union Jack flag wrapped around his shoulders and a very proud-looking Tim puffing alongside him. I wanted to stay and watch him get his gold medal, but Calvin had other ideas. He squatted down beside me to talk tactics.
“Listen, Harriet, it’s all down to you,” he said, in a serious voice. “Australia topped the medals table last night, but we won the high jump and the discus this morning. If you beat Krusher in the triple jump, we’ll beat them!”
I glanced over to the triple jump pit, where I could see Krusher and Ruby whispering. They kept staring at me and I wondered if they were hoping I would doze off mid-jump. Or maybe they were cooking up another plot to stop me from jumping. It didn’t matter if they were – inspired by Taz’s triumph in the hundred metres, I was determined to show them that Stunt Bunnies were winners, too.
Leaving the skateboard behind, I followed Calvin over to the start of the triple jump. An official checked his clipboard.
“Harriet Houdini?” he said, peering over the top at me. “You’ll be jumping sixth. Best of luck.”
Sixth? That meant all the other animals would jump before me, including Krusher. Calvin and I found a spot at the side of the track to wait for our turn. I hoped Susie could see me from the stands – she’d looked so worried when she’d left me.
The other triple-jumpers were amazing. Just like at the qualifiers, we had three jumps each. We watched a husky from Canada take an early lead, only to lose it to an American toad. Then Krusher took his turn and I found out why he was the Australian champion. His jumps were easily the furthest – I was going to need something extra to beat him.
“Ready, Harriet?” Calvin asked, after the last two competitors had failed to steal the kangaroo’s lead. “Don’t forget to lift up that tail when you land!”
Feeling as though my heart would burst out of my chest, I took my place at the start of the run-up. This was it – I’d never have a better opportunity to prove to Krusher and the rest of the world that size didn’t matter. Concentrating as hard as I could, I prepared for the most important performance of my life.
The shout behind me made everyone turn around. Tearing across the grass towards me was the Great Maldini, his blond wig flapping in the wind! Chasing after him were three big security men.
“Come back ’ere, ’Arriet ’Oudini!”
Trust me, I wasn’t hanging about to see what he wanted! I set off, pounding towards the sandpit. Fear made me run faster than I’d even done before and I didn’t dare look behind me. I hit the board perfectly and hopped high in the air.
“Stop zat bunny!” the Great Maldini yelled.
Ignoring him, I focused on landing and kicking off into a skip. As the track rushed up to meet me, I pushed off into a leap and somersaulted high ab
ove the sandpit. Twisting in the air, I spun in one of the biggest, most spectacular bunny backflips I’d ever performed. The crowd gasped as I tucked in my tail to land in the sand. There was a tiny silence before they erupted into loud cheers.
Behind me, there was a crash and a thud as Calvin dived into the Great Maldini and knocked him to the ground. Immediately, the three security guards piled on top in a jumble of legs and arms. I turned to the scoreboard, breathless. Had I done enough to beat Krusher? Would I have to use my other jumps? Was Great Britain top of the Animalympic pops?
The noise from the stands died down as everyone waited to see who had scooped gold. The seconds seemed to last forever, then the distance popped up and I back flipped for joy! Krusher’s name had dropped into second place and mine was top. I’d done it – I’d won the gold medal!
Of course, I couldn’t take all the credit – if the Great Maldini hadn’t chased me, I might not have got up the speed to make my most spectacular jump ever. I wasn’t about to tell him that, though, especially since he was being dragged away kicking and struggling by the cross-looking security guards.
Calvin lifted me high over his head. “Hurray for Harriet Houdini,” he cried. “Animalympic triple-jump champion of the world!”
Standing on the top of the medal winners’ podium, I had to nip my paw to remind myself I wasn’t dreaming. The stadium rang with cheers as the bronze medal was presented to the toad from the USA. The applause got louder as a scowling Krusher received his silver medal. Then it was my turn and the crowd exploded into claps and cheers.
As the gold medal was lowered around my neck, Great Britain’s national anthem began to play. For one horrible moment, I thought Doodle might sing again but there was no sign of her awful out-of-tune howling.
Once the music finished, Gloria appeared next to me. Behind her I could see a smiling Susie and EE.
“Absolutely amazing, Harriet,” Gloria said, beaming a billion megawatt smile my way. “Team Superpets are superstars!”
Susie swept me up in cuddle, her eyes shining with pride. “I always knew you’d get the gold.”
EE grinned and, for once, he didn’t look in the least bit grumpy with me. “Well, what else would you expect from Britain’s Best Loved Bunny?”
Calvin waved a hand at the still-cheering audience. “Oh, I think she’s going to be a bit more than that from now on.”
“What do you mean?” Susie asked, a puzzled look on her face.
Gloria winked. “After today, everyone in the world is going to know the name Harriet Houdini. She’ll be an international mega star!”
EE let out a loud groan. “Don’t tell me – more reporters and fans camped out on our doorstep. At this rate I’ll never get the front lawn mown!”
Everyone laughed and I knew, deep down, EE didn’t really mind. Life with a Stunt Bunny might have its problems but one thing was for sure – it was never boring!
Medal Mayhem Page 4
