James Cushion and The Penguin Plot

James Cushion

And The Penguin Plot

Chapter 1

Late

Heart pounding in his chest, James ran around some monkey bars in the playground. “Catch him!” Fred Martin shouted to his three thug-like friends.

Fred was the school bully. ‘Help, please help,’ James said in his mind as he ran past a beehive. As if by magic the hive started to wobble. Bzzzzzz! “Ahhh! Get away from me!” James heard Fred shriek as about one thousand bees swarmed towards Fred. James ran out of the school gate risking a look back. Fred was running past Rm 3 as the bees shot after him, his friends hiding under the slide. Unfortunately Fred was short and quite fat. James had long, messy, brown hair with dazzling hazel eyes. He glanced at his watch. 3.28. Miss Dobbs, the orphanage principle was going to be mad. He sprinted up Egg street past the church, the dairy and through the orphanage gates. Miss Dobbs was in the courtyard with her clipboard. “Why are you late again, James?” she exclaimed. “I… I got attacked by a raging rhino.” James answered. The good think about Miss Dobbs is that she believes anything and anyone. “Okay.” she said and ran off to tell off some girls who had just picked her prize rose.

James ran up the stairs out of the courtyard to his bedroom. When he opened his door his secretly kept pet cockatoo Screech, let out a loud squawk. “Here you are buddy.” James whispered giving her a piece of apple from his lunch box. There was a rumour that James’ parents were killed by a dangerous snake-like person named Lord Snarler. Not in a million years would James believe it. He suspected they died in a car crash or something.

Chapter 2

Chameleon Chaos

“Get up!” Miss Dobbs shouted waking James up. James hopped off his bed and grabbed his school uniform. After he had put his t-shirt on back-to-front and changed it the other way around, he finally went down into the kitchen. Rushing, he ate up his corn-flakes, ran upstairs, picked up his school bag, collected his lunch and charged out into the courtyard only to find himself crash into a beautiful white horse. “Oops, sorry.” The horse said with a neigh. “Uh…” James said, “I must be imagining things.” He got up off the ground, shook himself clean and ran around the horse, out of the gate. He got to school late again. As he was running towards his classroom James heard a loud ‘chirping’ sound. James looked around and there on the tree next to the library was a lime green chameleon. “Hello James.” It said calmly. James was plunged into darkness.

*

James woke with a long, pink sticky tongue in his ear. “Ahh!” James screamed rolling away as if he was tied in ropes. “Sorry Sir!” The chameleon said in surprise. “D..did you just talk!?” James stuttered. “Well yeah, Can you hear me? I am Scales, I belong to Professor Periwinkle.” Scales exclaimed.

“Yes, I can hear…Wait, who do you belong to?” James asked. “Professor Periwinkle sir.” Scales replied. “But there’s no teacher in the school called Professor Periwinkle.” James said confused. “Not at this school there isn’t, but in RFBMC there is.”

Chapter 3

RFBMC

James was very late into class this morning and it was one of those days when his teacher got out of bed on the wrong side. After getting shouted at for ten minutes, he finally got to go and sit down at his desk. He could not stop thinking about the conversation with Scales all through maths, and when morning tea came he ran into the corridor to find Scales. “Psst! Over here, James.” James spun around and instead of seeing a lime green chameleon he found himself nose to beak with a dirt brown, black breasted, male sparrow. “James, follow me.” It said as it flew down the corridor out into the playground. James ran outside following the sparrow. It finally stopped outside the old, rotting run-down classroom block. “Come,” It whispered and flew in through the open window. James quietly crept through the door and into an old classroom. In one corner there was a manky black-board, by the smashed window there was a pile of old papers and textbooks, but the thing that amazed James the most was the huge, over-grown peregrine falcon about the size of a pony sitting on a couch, with his head in a bucket full of what seemed to be crayfish. “Ahem,” The sparrow said, “Hello James, I am Feathers. I am sure you met my friend Scales.” “Err… Yes, can you please tell me why I can hear animals talking to me?” James asked. “Well, you are the son of Julia and Max Cushion aren’t you?” Feathers exclaimed. “Yes.” James said anxiously. “Julia and Max were well, famous  animal mind-whisperers. Sadly one night they were on a mission rescuing a lost giant panda called Jing Jing when another famous animal mind-whisperer, named Lord Snarler killed them. You are supposed to be going to RFBMC this afternoon.” Feathers went on. “Wait, what does RFBMC stand for?” James asked.

“Reptile, Fish, Bird and Mammal Community. It’s a school for animal mind-whisperers.”

Chapter 4

Sweet Ride

James flew above the clouds, holding on as tight as he could to Flash. (Flash was the over-grown peregrine falcon.) “You might want to have a nap now because it’s a long ride to RFBMC from here!” Flash shouted to James. “OK!” James shouted back. James couldn’t go to sleep though because so much was on his mind:

1. He was an animal mind-whisperer

2. The rumour about his parents was true

3. He was going to a school to save

animals.

“James we’re here.” Flash said waking James up. He must have fallen asleep on Flash’s back anyway. Flash landed with a thud in what looked like castle ruins. Flashes huge claws dug into the ground as James slid down his back and landed on the vine-covered stones. Suddenly a beautiful white stallion (like he had seen this morning) with a short, skinny, curly blonde-haired girl on its back came galloping into the castle ruins and stopped just beside James and Flash. “You first here?” The girl asked. “Yeah, I think so.” James replied.

“Judith Leaf.” She said holding out her hand. “James Cushion,” James said shaking it. “James Cushion!” she said alarmed. “Yes, so don’t start talking about my parents. Anyway where are we and why are we here?” James asked a little cautious. “We are, I think at the entrance to RFBMC.” A voice said from behind James and Judith. A short and stumpy boy with frizzy black hair was standing on a giant crab. (He was juggling balls.) “I’m Ludo Moa, it’s nice to meet you James and Judith.” Ludo said. (He is a very good eavesdropper.)

Chapter 5

Professor Periwinkle

After a while James could see more people coming into the ruined courtyard. There were all sorts of animals, tigers, rabbits and lots of other creatures. All of them had been enlarged to fit a person on their back. He had already made two friends on his first few minutes at RFBMC; Judith and Ludo. Suddenly a old-looking man wearing a long blue gown with painted, little pandas on it shot out of a passage in the floor that had just appeared. He was riding an enlarged, hyper stag. “Good afternoon! I am Professor Periwinkle, Headmaster of RFBMC.” The man said gracefully. “In a few hours you will be sorted into a species. For those of you who don’t know your species will be like your family at RFBMC, the species will be Reptile, Fish, Bird and Mammal.” He blurted out. “Excuse me Professor but what do we do with our animals that brought us here?” A boy in the front of the crowd shouted out uncontrollably. “Ah yes, you can keep your animals forever and to make them the size of a model aeroplane all you have to do is say this sentence:

‘Shrink you must, or to powdered dust you shall be.’

To make them grow again you just have to change the shrink to grow.” And with that he swept around, his gown flapping in the wind as he beckoned for every- body to follow him down the passage. At that all the animals ran or flew away down the passage before even one student could reach Professor Periwinkle.

Chapter 6

Surprise!

They all walked through a long dark tunnel following Professor Periwinkle on his stag. Finally James could start to hear voices and animal noises. BOOM! The sides of the tunnel suddenly smashed down and a big beam of sunlight shot into the dark tunnel. “Welcome to RFBMC! Well what are you waiting for? Get into groups of three, find  a cabin to sleep in and then at five you all have to come to the big Forest of Gargan which is over there if you were wondering.” Professor Periwinkle shouted as he ran after his stag that had just zoomed back down the tunnel. Immediately James, Judith and Ludo ran to each other. “Buddies!” Ludo said hugging James and Judith. “Ok! Ok! Ok!” James said.

“Where shall we sleep?” Judith asked. “Maybe that cabin covered in animal paintings and the sign saying Julia Cushion, Max Cushion, Gazelle Leaf, Jack Leaf, Jacob Moa and Maria Moa.” Ludo said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. By hearing this James knew automatically that his parents, Judith’s parents and Ludo’s parents had lived in that cabin together. “Yeah.” He replied. They ran up to the door. There was a note on the doorstep. Judith picked it up and read it aloud:

This house is reserved for:

James Cushion, Judith Leaf and Ludo Moa.

“That’s convenient.” Ludo said happily.

James pushed open the door carefully as they followed him inside. They were in a dark and dusty room, which James thought was the living room. “It’s a bit dirty isn’t it.” Judith asked. Suddenly the door slammed shut and the dusty room fell to the ground. “SURPRISE!” James had to take a few seconds to catch his breath. The room they had just seen before them was actually just a painted rug and Flash, Judith’s horse, Ludo’s crab, Scales, Feathers, a tabby cat, a camel, a panda, an alligator, three giant cave weta’s, a lion, a fruit bat, a Burmese python, a tank full of goldfish, a baby elephant, a zebra and a tree frog were all in a much cleaner room saying ‘Surprise!’. At that James, Judith and Ludo all fainted and with a thud they fell to the ground.

 

Chapter 7

Home

When James, Judith and Ludo finally awoke all of the animals were saying ‘hi’ and offering them biscuits and cakes. “Hello James, Judith and Ludo nice to meet you again. This is were your parents stayed when they were at RFBMC and they saved all of these animals together.” Scales said pointing at all of the animals in the room with his tail, “ Most animal mind-whisperers save about three animals in their life but your parents saved way more than average people. Judith did you know your parents didn’t die of natural circumstances? That was a rumour.” Scales explained. By now James was used to talking animals. “They died because of him! Along with your parents Ludo and James!” Scales suddenly burst out pointing at a picture on the wall that had just appeared. It was a picture with a non-like person with the face of a snake, the body of a human and sharp, eagle, talons instead of fingernails. It was the most disgusting thing James had ever seen in his whole life. “Have you two lived in an orphanage too?” James asked Judith and Ludo. They nodded. “And is that Lord Snarler?” James added. The animals nodded. “Well would you like me to show you guys around the house?” Feathers said breaking the silence. “Yeah why not.” Judith said.

James suspected that his friends knew Feathers just like they knew Scales. The room they were in had the Lord Snarler poster on one wall, a couch in one corner, a little coffee table in front of the couch and a large lamp in another corner.

“Well, first I’ll introduce you to these animals.” Feathers said, “This is Smudge,” a tabby cat, “ Sand,” a camel, “Jing Jing,” a panda, “Bananas,” an alligator, “Chirp, Darkness and Crystal,” three cave wetas, “Leo,” a lion, “ Raisin,” a fruit bat, “Fork,” a Burmese python,

“Mr Goldy, Mrs Goldy, Goldy Jr, Goldy Senior,” a tank full of goldfish,

“Kashin,” a baby elephant, “Stripe,” a zebra “And Exotic,” a tree frog.

“I think… I think I may have found my real home.” James, Judith and Ludo all said at the same time.

Chapter 8

‘Your bedroom Sir’

“This is the kitchen.” Feathers said as they entered a beautifully cleaned room (All the animals were following by the way) with a sink full of soapy water, on the right to that there was a green dishwasher and on the left there was a polished oven. “What’s for dinner tonight?” Ludo asked cautiously. “Roast chicken and tomato salad, Mmmm.” Bananas said. “You are an alligator right.” James said confused. “Of course I’m an alligator. To a human us animals eat meat and bloody guts and stuff but to an animal mind-whisperer we are vegetarians. Arrgh! Meats disgusting, vegetables are much nicer.” Bananas said as all the carnivores in the room started groaning and holding their stomachs. “Yes, it’s all very odd.” Said a voice just outside the open window. “Who’s there?” Smudge said sounding scared. A skinny boy a little older than James hopped onto the window sill. “How’s your parents guys! Ha, Ha sorry I forgot, you don’t have any parents!” The boy said laughing at James, Judith and Ludo. Then he hopped back onto the fresh grass and ran of to some of his friends down by the water fountain who were laughing wildly.

“Professor Periwinkle never liked that boy.” Scales said angrily closing the window. They went into the laundry, the bathroom, the animals bedrooms, the wreck room, the dining room and finally into their bedroom. “Well this is where you will be sleeping.” Feathers said opening a door, “We’ll leave you here to unpack.” The door closed behind them. It suddenly occurred to James that he hadn’t bought anything with him. Then he looked at his bed and saw his cockatoo, rucksack, clothes, a pile of school books and three big boxes.

Chapter 9

The Forest of Gargan

James was astonished that all of his stuff had appeared on his bed. The same thing had happened to Judith and Ludo.

“You have a pet cockatoo!” Ludo said sounding jealous. “Yeah, But I wasn’t aloud to show anybody because the orphanage was a ‘pet free’ building.” James replied. “What books have you got?” Judith said.

“The same probably.” said James.

They had:

Bill Weather’s Guide To Traps and Poisonous Animals

How To Recognise A Reptile

By Jackie Ranger

The Blue World

By Henry Dorkins

And:

A World Of Nature

By Julia and Max Cushion

“Err… Did your parents write

A World Of Nature or do I just need glasses?” Ludo said to James. There was a knock on the door.

“Come in!” Judith shouted.

“Professor Periwinkle would like you to go to the Forest of Gargan now.” Kashin said opening the door a shimmy.

“It’s five o’clock already?” James answered. He looked at his watch and it was.

*

The three friends ran out of the door saying goodbye to all of the animals including Flash, Ice Cream and Scuttle.

They followed some older kids to a huge forest full of the sound of talking and chirping birds. James, Judith and Ludo sat down on a little red rug covered in dinosaur pictures. After about half an hour all the rugs on the floor were covered in children big and small, short and tall. “Good evening everybody!” Professor Periwinkle shouted out into the forest, “This year I would like to say a few words to our hatchlings or new students. You will be able to go into the Forest of Gargan any time between classes. If there are any animals rescued by your parents you may keep them as well as your other pet.” He explained winking at James, Judith and Ludo.

“Our teachers we have are;

Me Professor Periwinkle and I will be teaching about

missions, Professor Stone will be teaching you about plants,

Professor Zaffel will be teaching you about traps and poisonous animals,

Professor Jackal will be teaching you about Mammals, Professor Shell will be teaching you about Fish, Professor Cloud will be teaching you about Birds, Professor Summer will be teaching you about Reptiles and Professor Cocoon will be teaching you about Insects.” Professor Periwinkle carried on, “On your way back to your cabins you may pick up the timetable with your name on it.” He finally finished. “Hatchlings come forward.” A gorilla said coming out of the darkness.

Chapter 10

Reptile, Fish, Bird and Mammal

“I am Gargan, the Gorilla of species and I will be sorting you into your species,” The gorilla spoke in a deep voice, “When I say your name you must come up to me.” “Yes and Gargan is completely safe.” Professor Periwinkle told some kids who were looking scared.

“Henry Jackson, you will be in… Fish!

Emily Roberts, you will be in… Reptile!

Alison Chatter, you will be in… Mammal!

Joshua Hound, you will be in… Reptile!

George Peace, you will be in… Bird!

Richard Fidin, you will be in… Fish!” Gargan shouted out into the night as one by one students came up to him and he put his hands on their head. A few more people went up.

“Ludo Moa, you will be in… Bird!

Judith Leaf, you will be in… Bird!

James Cushion!” A wave of mutters swept over the crowd of people in the forest at the sound of James Cushions name. Judith and Ludo looked at James with hope in their eyes. “Hmm… James, what species to put you in? Hmm… Bird!” Gargan screamed as all of the people in Bird exploded into applause.

*

“What species? What species?” The animals asked as James, Judith and Ludo came running into their house. “Bird!” James said out of breath. “Yay!” Flash, Ice Cream and Scuttle said together. James ran upstairs to his bedroom with Judith, Ludo, Flash, Ice Cream and Scuttle following. “Hay, Screech can you talk!?” James asked Screech as everybody watched him and his cockatoo. “Of course I can speak!” Screech suddenly blurted out.

*

James couldn’t sleep that night so he looked at his timetable.

10.30am Fish

11.30am Traps and Poisonous animals

12.30pm Mammals

1.30pm Insects

2.30pm Birds

3.30pm Plants

4.30pm Missions

Chapter 11

Classes Begin

“Welcome to my class,” Professor Shell said peacefully, “This week we will be switching hermit crabs from their old shells to their new shells.” James looked around the classroom. It was full of fish tanks, paintings of the sea and in one corner there was a huge boat.

He looked down at his desk, where he saw a bowl full of hermit crabs and a tray covered in shells. Ludo and Judith came and sat down on either side of him. “You will need to grab a hermit crab and carefully remove the old shell. When the crab is naked find a shell that will fit it and put on the replacement shell.” James, Judith and Ludo got to work on their hermit crabs. Ludo kept getting nipped by his crabs big claws. Finally they had finished and started to head towards Traps and Poisonous Animals class. When they entered the classroom they knew instantly that they would not like this class. As they sat down Professor Zaffel shot James a glaring stare.

“In my class students, you will raise your hand when you wish to speak and you will also need to bring your pets with you. So summon up your animals!” Professor Zaffel said dangerously. James called for Flash in his mind. In an instant Flash appeared alongside Ice-Cream and Scuttle. Professor Zaffel had summoned his bat.

All around James animals were snarling and growling. “Now today you shall be testing some different weed poisons. To test them you shall have to poison the plant then make your animals eat the plants to check if the poison is working.” Professor Zaffel said impatiently. There was an uproar from all the students in the class. “I love my pet I don’t want to poison it!” Ludo shouted at Professor Zaffel. “Detention Mr Moa! There will be antidotes you idiot!” After that the class went quiet and started poisoning plants. James had just opened a bottle of mouldy cheese-smelling liquid when a barn owl at the back of the classroom fell of its desk, dead. The boy who owned the barn owl burst into tears and Judith led him back to his house. When the lesson was over James left the classroom by himself. He had put Ice-cream, Flash and Scuttle back in his house. Ludo had to stay back with Professor Zaffel and help him clean up his porcupine cabinet and Judith was still with the boy whose barn owl had died. The mammals classroom had a huge fake bear in one corner and there were portraits of mice and dogs all around the walls. “Welcome to my purrfect classroom Mr Cushion.” Professor Jackal said warmly. “Hi.” James replied. He went and sat down at the very back of the classroom to get away from Professor Jackal. Just before she started to talk Judith came dashing into the room. James waved to her and she came and sit down next to him. “Where’s Ludo?” Judith whispered as Professor Jackal was now talking about dolphins and orcas. “Still in detention I guess.” James whispered back. “Please may you open A World of Nature to page 57 and read the chapter on dusky dolphins.” Professor Jackal explained calmly. James flipped through his book to page 57 and started to read.

*

Chapter 12

The Vision

After fortyfive minutes they finally left the classroom and headed towards Insects. On the way there Ludo caught up to them. “When I wasn’t looking Professor Zaffel purposefully pushed all the porcupine droppings into the cabinet just because he wanted me to be there longer.” He finished after a minute. Then James saw a big muscly boy walking towards him. “Hey squirt!” The boy shouted, “How’s your parents? Are they good? Or are they DEAD!” some students arounds James, Judith and Ludo let out humungous laughs. James saw the skinny boy that had talked to them from outside their window in between them. “I would back of if I were you.” James said to the boy fiercely. People laughed again. James was full of anger now. Then half a dozen mice came running out from under a broken floorboard. “Get them away from me!” the boy shouted as the mice started to bite and scratch him. “ENOUGH!” a cold voice said from behind James. Judith and Ludo looked behind James and grimaced. James spun around and there stood Professor Zaffel. “Mr Cushion, my classroom please.” He said with a large smirk spreading across his face. James followed Professor Zaffel down the corridor and James only just caught a glimpse of Judith and Ludo entering the Insect classroom where Professor Cocoon welcomed them at the door. Professor Zaffel had entered his classroom now and pushed James down into a chair behind his desk. “Good afternoon class. Today we have a special visitor, James Cushion.” The class burst into hysterics and James knew that this was probably a Reptile group, because Reptile students usually hate Bird students. “We will be getting different types of snakes to bite Mr Cushion, but sadly enough we will have to give him antidotes afterwards so I do not get sacked.” James fainted.

*

“Wake up you little sleepy-head!” a boy was shouting in James ear. He was holding black mamba in his hand. James suddenly remembered what was going to happen when sharp fangs were shoved deep into his arm by the boy holding the snake. James felt the venom travel all around his body. The pain was excruciating. He heard the boy laughing in the background. The laugh suddenly changed to a cold dangerous laugh. James could see Antarctica. Dead penguins were lying all over the icy ground. Then James saw the snake-like face and clawed hands of Lord Snarler slice through the air. Blood squirted everywhere. A polar bear fell to the floor dead. Lord Snarler laughed again. The laugh changed and once again he was back behind Professor Zaffel’s desk, the boy holding the poisonous snake laughing. James vomited all over the boy. He stopped laughing and stared menacingly at James. “Please go to the bathroom Mr Cushion and get yourself back to normal then go to your next lesson.” Professor Zaffel said appearing behind the boy covered in vomit. As James left the classroom he heard Professor Zaffel mutter, “Repulsive child.” James pushed open the door to the boy toilets and threw up onto the floor. He walked over to the sink and washed his face. James was just about to turn the tap off and leave when he saw a mirror above him. He looked up into it and saw a toilet door shaking soundlessly in its reflection. James looked behind him. The door was perfectly still. He looked back into the mirror and saw that the door was now open and a clawed hand was curling around the edge. James looked behind him again. The door was still closed and not moving. When he looked back into the mirror there in the doorway was non other than Lord Snarler himself. James froze. He looked over his shoulder at the door. A short boy was standing there. “James?” the boy said with the unmistakable voice of Ludo.

Chapter 13

A Dangerous Mission

James had walked out of the boys bathroom with Ludo. Judith had caught up to them in the corridor. As they headed towards missions James told them all about the vision and what Professor Zaffel had made the students in his class do to him. “They simply can’t let him do that!” Judith said after James had finished, “Professor Periwinkle can’t keep Professor Zaffel if he’s poisoning you, and about your vision you should tell the Headmaster in missions.” “Calm down a bit!” Ludo said to her angrily, “Let James think in peace for a bit.” “He just missed two classes because he was being poisoned, two classes!” Judith shouted at Ludo. “Judith! Ludo’s right, I really need to think about this for a bit, and I don’t really care about missing two classes.” James said. Except James didn’t have any time to think because they had just arrived at Professor Periwinkles door. Ludo pushed open the door and let James and Judith go in before him. When they entered, the room was packed with students big and small. Professor Periwinkle was nowhere to be seen. “Where is he?” James said to Judith and Ludo. They shrugged. “Welcome everybody,” Professor Periwinkle said appearing at the front of the classroom, “Now when I call your name you are going to come up to me and I will tell you your mission. Bruce Standice.” a little boy probably the same age as James walked up to Professor Periwinkle. “You Bruce, are to go to Canada, Vancouver, and rescue three little girls in the forest. They are about to be attacked by some grizzly bears.” Bruce suddenly disappeared into thin air. “Graham Nicky.” the muscly boy that had got James into detention jumped up off the floor and looked at Professor Periwinkle. “You are to go to your Grandmothers house in an apartment in New York and scare away a few cockroaches that are swimming in her bathtub.” he said. As Graham disappeared James, Judith and Ludo fell into a fit of giggles. “James Cushion.” It took a few seconds for James to realize that his name had been called by Professor Periwinkle. “My dear James, you are to go to Antarctica,” James knew what was coming, “And save all the animals from Lord Snarler.” The room went quiet. Then James was spinning out of control into the sky. WAM! James had crashed into a freezing cold surface. There were thumps around James and when he looked up he saw Judith and Ludo lying on the ground next to him. “Ah… James, we meet at last. Lord Snarler at your service.” a cold voice said.

Chapter 14

Lord Snarler

James had got up and was peering at Lord Snarler wondering if this was all a dream. “I said nice to meet you.” Lord Snarler said to James. Ludo had got up and was just about to talk to James when he spotted Lord Snarler. “Oh, I see you have brought some friends with you.” Lord Snarler said flicking his tongue in and out. “Why do you want to kill all the animals in Antarctica?” James said fiercely. “I don’t want to kill all the animals. I just think that killing penguins is the right thing to do.” Lord Snarler said eyeing Judith as she stood up and stepped back as she saw him. James suddenly burst with anger and a huge walrus smashed out from underneath the ice targeting Lord Snarler, but he just swiped his claws and the walrus dropped dead. “Don’t bother trying to harm me because, even if you don’t, you will be dead.” Then the battle begun, James summoned Flash, Judith summoned Ice-cream, Ludo summoned Scuttle and Lord Snarler summoned a giant boa constrictor. James said the incantation and Flash grew the size of a horse. “James, just stay calm and use your powers against him.” Flash said calmly to James. James thought deep into his mind. Two killer whales smashed holes in the ice underneath Lord Snarler and he disappeared under the water. The boa constrictor looked down into the water and then up at James. It lunged at him. Its dangerous jaws just missed James. A clawed hand smashed out of the ice and pulled up a snake like body. Lord Snarler screamed at his snake and the snake shot after Ludo. Ludo jumped onto Scuttles back and whispered into his ear. The boa constrictor was just about to attack when Scuttles left claw came swimming through the air and closed around the snake's neck. Lord Snarler fell over in pain as the snake’s head came rolling towards James. Judith screamed. James walked over to Lord Snarler lying on the ground. James put his fingers on Lord Snarlers neck and tried to find a pulse. Suddenly Lord Snarlers hand shot up into the air and grabbed James wrist. “I will lift my power over this land and bring back all the animals I have killed if you can bring back my snake, Lesha.” Lord Snarler said painfully. James looked at the snake lying dead on the ground and wished in his mind that it was alive. The snake twitched. James looked back at Lord Snarler. The snake was slithering towards him. Lord Snarler got up and said to James, “A deals a deal, but I will be back.” He then shimmered into nothing. “I never knew you could bring back animals?” Ludo said looking at James as though he was going to attack him. “Let’s go home.” Judith said breaking the silence, and with that James, Judith and Ludo teleported back into RFBMC.

Chapter 15

Explaining

James appeared alongside Judith, Ludo, Flash, Ice-cream and Scuttle inside Professor Periwinkles office. “James, well done my boy.” he said coming out from behind a cupboard door. James, Judith and Ludo explained everything that had happened from attacking Lord Snarler to James bringing back the snake. “Very curious. Miss Leaf and Mr Moa you may leave now, take your pets and James’s and bring me Scales.” Professor Periwinkle said. When the door had closed behind them he started to talk again. “Well Mr Cushion, if you could sit down please.”

“Professor, what happened to the penguins? Are they alright? Where’s Lord Snarler?” James suddenly blurted out. “Not so many questions at once Mr Cushion, but if you want to know about these questions then I must show you.” Professor Periwinkle touched James head and James suddenly saw a colony of penguins happily waddling over the ice, polar bears fishing together, walrus barking at each other and pods of orcas swimming gracefully in the cold water. Then the scene changed and James saw Lord Snarler walking up a path towards a house. He pushed open the door and a woman carrying a baby screamed as she saw Lord Snarler, his snake lunged and the woman fell to the floor. The baby in her arms was caught by Lord Snarler and then he shimmered away with it. James reappeared next to Professor Periwinkle.

Chapter 16

Some Fun

“No time to tell you anything now. Scales please could you escort James back to his home.” “Yes Sir.” said the little chameleon said as he jumped onto James. “Wait Sir…” but James never finished his sentence because at that moment he had teleported back to the old classroom in his school. There was a note on the floor. James picked it up and read it.

Hello James,

Sorry to send you back like this but you will understand one

day. I have sent your stuff back to your orphanage.

All your books, your clothes, your bag, the three parcels I wish you not to open yet and of course Flash and all the other animals that were in you house. They will at the moment be plastic animals but in moments of need they will transform. I am sorry I have not already told you this but RFBMC will only be once a week.

Judith and Ludo were devastated.

From Professor Periwinkle, Headmaster at RFBMC

James walked out of the classroom. For some reason it was only lunch time. “Hey James!” Fred Martin shouted at him, “Come here!” James just laughed as Flash swooped out of nowhere and dive bombed him.

James was going to have a lot of fun with Fred Martin these days.

The End