“We really have to get the last gem now,” Sophie put in. “Imagine if the gate opened and lots of other shadow creatures came out and into our world. It was bad enough with just Snowy here today. Think of what it would be like with thousands of shadow creatures.”
They gave each other worried looks.
“We’ll get the gem,” said Grandpa determinedly.
Sam nodded. “Those shadow creatures won’t stop us,” he declared. “Snow way!”
Sophie smiled back. “Snow way at all!”
Deep in the trees, Ug howled as he stared at the Icicle Imp in front of him. “What do you mean you’re giving up?”
The Imp shook its head. “She’s destroyed us. She has beaten us. We want nothing more to do with that Guardian.”
“But I need a gem!”
“Then you will have to find someone else to get it, King Ug.” The Icicle Imp turned and marched away.
Potato Nose sniggered as it passed him. “Not so scary, after all, are you?”
With an evil look, the Icicle Imp whipped an icicle from its fur and plunged it into Potato Nose’s foot.
“Ow!” yelled Potato Nose.
As the Icicle Imp’s fluffy white fur vanished into the trees, Ug thumped his throne in frustration. Now what was he going to do? It didn’t seem to matter what he threw at the girl, she always managed to defeat him! And now there was only one gem left to find.
“It’s time for some flying power,” he muttered, jumping down from his throne. He smiled as he realised what he would do. Oh, yes. He lifted his flaking chin. One last gem. One last chance. This time he would not be defeated.
What’s next in store for Sophie?
The bat shrieked and grabbed at Sophie’s foot with its long fingers, catching her ankle. Sophie saw its fangs flash down and managed to turn her fall into a back flip, yanking her foot free. She landed nimbly, dodging as the creature swung at her, and then kicked her leg out in a circle, her shin thwacking into the back of its legs. It fell forwards with a hiss.
“Oopsy, tripped again!” she grinned.
“Yeah, and take that!” Sam grabbed the bin and threw it over the creature’s head. Balls of paper and apple cores rained out.
“Argh! Get this thing off me! Get it off!” The bat’s voice was muffled as it staggered around, bumping into the bed and bookshelves. Its screeches and squeals echoed back to it until finally the bat toppled over and the bin fell off its head.
“You’ll pay for that!” it screeched as it leapt at Sophie, yellow fangs bared. She snatched up a metal trophy she’d won for tae kwon do and thwacked it hard on its head.
The creature keeled over and lay still.
For a moment, there was silence. Sophie and Sam both stared at the bat’s grey, furry body lying on the floor.
“Is it… is it… dead?” breathed Sam.
Sophie swallowed and bent over the creature. Its chest still seemed to be moving. She poked it with her foot, but it didn’t stir. “I think I just knocked it out.”
“Sophie!” Mrs B called up the stairs. “It sounds like there’s a herd of elephants in your bedroom. What are you doing?”
Sophie ran to the door. “Nothing!” she called. She turned to Sam. “Quick! We’ve got to get rid of it!”
“Great idea! But how? It’s as big as we are!”
“You must be up to something,” Mrs B shouted. They heard her footsteps climbing the stairs.
Sophie looked wildly at Sam. “Oh, no! What do we do now?”
Sam’s eyes were wide. “Panic!”
Copyright
SOPHIE AND THE SHADOW WOODS : THE ICICLE IMPS
Text copyright © Linda Chapman and Lee Weatherly 2011
Illustrations © Katie Wood 2011
Linda Chapman and Lee Weatherly assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
ISBN 978-0-00-741171-9
EPub Edition © AUGUST 2011 ISBN: 9780007411726
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The Icicle Imps Page 5
