Adam Brodie and the monster from the dark planet

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty

The three children galloped away from the stables with George flying above, spurting cartoon fire from his nostrils.

"We got company," said Brigitte.

Adam looked behind him and sure enough he saw Clifford Watt and his cronies, those that could ride in pursuit, on dinosaurs.

"What was that you said about sports cars?"

"I thought they might have a better transport than us," said Brigitte. "I can't believe they wouldn't be able to use the buggies as well."

"Save your breaths," said Malcolm and he turned in his saddle and loosed off two arrows.

Hitting the ground the arrows exploded and loosed off tickle dust, but Clifford Watt and his ticklish cronies managed to out manoeuvre and outrun the two clouds as they wafted in pursuit. The batteries in the tickle particles gave out and fell to the ground. Those students the clouds managed to reach were for one reason or another, not ticklish.

"That's the last of those," said Malcolm. "Only got the arrows that make thunderclaps."

Adam urged Apache on. The children weaved about the forest of massive steel towers. They sped across gleaming piazzas and past sprawling masses of low circular and cubic buildings.

"I hope you know where you're going," said Brigitte.

"Of course I know where I'm going," said Adam. Beneath his breath he muttered. "I don't know where I'm going."

"I know where we are going," said the Bug. "I have a map projected before my eyes in my helmet."

"See, the Bug knows. Get in front of me."

"I knew it," said Brigitte. "He hadn't a clue."

"Adam!" Malcolm cried a warning.

Clifford Watt was coming up fast on his mount and reached out a gloved hand for Adam's shoulder. Malcolm fired an arrow and its warhead struck the ground close to Clifford Watt's mount. The arrow exploded and the mount reared up and threw Clifford Watt to the ground.

Malcolm fitted another arrow, his last, into the bow and was about to fire directly at Clifford Watt when a dinosaur rode close and its rider, a kind of lizard covered in feathers and war paint and looking like a scaly green Red Indian leapt from his mount onto Malcolm's.

The creature grabbed Malcolm's hair and raised what looked like a tomahawk.

"Me scalp um!" cried the creature.

"Bugger off!" shouted Malcolm and tried to throw the creature off his mount.

They tumbled onto the ground together and rolled some distance. Malcolm got to his feet and grabbed the creature and with repeated blows from his fist, knocked the lizard insensible. Malcolm turned as Clifford Watt strode up, but he was too late as Clifford Watt struck Malcolm across his jaw with a gloved fist and knocked Malcolm out.

"It's over there," cried the Bug.

The Bug pointed just beyond a group of buildings. Adam recognised the landmarks and worked out where the chamber was. He looked up and saw Clifford Watt flying through the air by means of a rocket belt, his gloved hands outstretched towards Adam.

The rocket motor on Clifford Watt's utility belt had only enough fuel for a very short trip, and gave out. Clifford Watt used his unfurled cape to part glide and mostly fall heavily on Adam. That was his plan. Seeing this the Bug left his mount and took to the air, his steel wings beating furiously.

Adam bowed his head as the Bug collided in mid-air with Clifford Watt, and super hero and super villain hit the ground hard and rolled away some distance from each other. The impact with the ground stunned them both.

Others were in pursuit, on the back of dinosaurs or using other methods of transport peculiar to them. With one hand on the reins Adam used his teeth to pull the cap off one grenade before throwing it behind him and then pulled the other cap off the other grenade and tossed it away. It wouldn't stop those pursuing him but the dense smoke might slow them.

Adam turned the corner of one building and saw Lung's chamber dead ahead. He urged a final effort from Apache and then brought the animal to a halt outside the big doors of the chamber. Adam leapt off Apache and ran to the doors.

The huge doors opened for them. George flew in ahead. The two children ran into the chamber and the great doors closed nosily behind them.

Chi Lung padded on all fours into the room. "Ah Adam, we were expecting you."