'Intruders! Seize them, boys,' shouted Madame Lefevre, grabbing the orb from the tripod.
'Let's run!' said Joe.
'The bicycles,' exclaimed Clare, ' They're our best means of escape.'
Clare fired the flare she was holding and ran onto the rock. Joe stood where he was, uncertain of what to do.
The wind was gale force now. A bolt of lightening flashed across horizon. Madame Lefevre pointed at the sky and shouted to the Crow.
'They're coming. Now, my beauty, now.'
With a show of great strength, the Crow held its position against the onslaught of the wind. Every feather fluttered.
Spud and Mac appeared, struggling to keep their balance in the howling wind. They saw the giant Crow and froze. Then they too ran for their bicycles.
Madame Lefevre ignored the confusion around her. She put the orb in the side pocket of the saddlebag and put it by her feet. She took up the bridle and began placing it over the Crow's head and neck.
Joe saw his chance. Hoisting himself up from his hiding place, he sprinted unseen across the rock and grabbed the saddlebag.
Madame Lefevre wheeled about. She hissed in fury and hurriedly mounted the Crow. Her eyes blazed.
Clare, Spud and Mac were shouting at each other as all three tried to claim the bicycles. Clare was brandishing the poker and telling the boys to back off.
Riding the Crow as if it were a horse, Madame Lefevre manoeuvred the Crow to block Joe off from the bicycles. She forced him closer and closer to the edge of the cliff.
Joe glanced over his shoulder. Far below the sea was beating the foot of the cliff in its storm-driven madness. Joe could feel spray on his cheeks and hair. In front of him, the Crow's eyes flickered, as if anticipating his mistress' orders. He held out his arm, dangling the saddlebag over the drop.
'Not an inch further, Lefevre or I drop the bag,' he shouted.
Madame Lefevre looked at the sky over Joe's shoulder.
'Enough! There's no time for this!' shouted Madame Lefevre. 'Hand me the saddlebag, boy, or I swear I'll kill you and your sister just for sport. You've got two seconds.'
Joe gave in.
'Okay, okay, here it is,' he said.
He drew back his arm to toss the saddlebag to Madame Lefevre. As he did so, a huge shadow passed over the rock. Joe swivelled and looked up. It was the wrong thing to do. The sight of a huge dragon coupled with the downdraft from its wings threw Joe off-balance. He lost his footing and fell from the top of the cliff.
YOU ARE READING
Stormdragons
FantasyWhere is Uncle Toby? How did his boat disappear so suddenly off the face of the earth? And why is the only witness muttering about flying monsters? These are questions that confront two teenagers, a sister and brother. The mystery only grows when a...
