Читать книгу The Sewers Crisis - Jonny Moon - Страница 7

Jack was beginning to wonder if coming to the park had been a mistake. He and Snivel had been walking around for what seemed like hours but there was no sign of anything that might contain Bob.

Jack didn’t fully understand how Bob got himself into such tiny places – he assumed that GUNGE had got hold of some alien technology somewhere along the way – but every time Bob had shown himself to Jack, he had been inside something small, and whatever else Bob was, he did seem to be a creature of habit. So it seemed likely that Jack would find him in a similar place this time. Maybe he’d be in a fire extinguisher? Or a vending machine?

In fact, now Jack thought about it, that was just about all they did know about Bob. They’d never even seen him face to face. For all they knew he could have been around all the time. Perhaps the park keeper was really Bob?! Jack shook his head. He was letting his imagination run away with him. Things were complicated enough without him imagining hidden people in disguise spying on him all the time.

Suddenly Snivel stood bolt upright and his third eye—which he tried very hard to keep shut when out and about – snapped open and glowed a strange red colour.

“What is it? What have you seen?” asked Jack.

Snivel didn’t answer but just started running across the grass, trailing his lead behind him. Nearby, the park keeper was sweeping up some rubbish on the path and when he saw Snivel speeding across the grass he threw down his brush and shouted.

“Oi! Dogs must be kept on a lead!”

“Sorry,” said Jack, chasing after his dog. “He is on a lead, I’m just not holding the other end, that’s all.”

“Keep off the grass!” screamed the park keeper and started to follow him but then stopped when he realised he was about to step onto the grass himself. For a long moment he stood there like an inelegant ballet dancer – one foot planted on the path, one hovering over the grass which, by his own park law, was not to be trodden on. Meanwhile, the reason for Snivel’s action had become clear to Jack. His dog had seen a squirrel.

But not just any squirrel – it was the robot squirrel that had led them to Bob on a previous occasion. The squirrel, seeing Snivel bearing down on him, had immediately jumped up and started running.

On the café terrace Zana looked over the top of the newspaper she was hiding behind and watched with amazement as one of her targets ran straight past her, chasing a dog, which was chasing a squirrel. The trio disappeared around the side of the cafe and then – a few moments later – emerged on the other side. Zana got to her feet and slipped some dark glasses on. Completing her effort at disguise with a large floppy-brimmed sun hat, she set off to follow the chase.

The squirrel was heading back across the grass towards the spot where the park keeper was still performing his one-man ballet. It glanced back and saw that Snivel was just behind. Not looking where it was going, the squirrel barrelled directly into the park keeper, sending him toppling to the ground. Without missing a beat, the squirrel jumped up and ran on. Snivel launched into the air like a horse jumping a fence at the Grand National and cleared the park keeper who was sprawled face first in the grass. Jack tried to do the same but mistimed his jump and ended up executing more of a hop, skip and a jump using the park keeper’s bum as a springboard along the way. Spitting out a mouthful of grass the park keeper got to his feet just as Zana reached him.