Astrosaurs 2 (11 page)

“Listen, you egg-mad maniac!” shouted Teggs. “This whole world is about to break apart! We have to get out of here – and fast. If we work together, maybe we can—”

“Nope.” King Albu shook his head.

“I'm not doing a single thing until I've eaten those eggs. So
nyah!”

Coo lumbered forwards. “All right then,” he said. “I suppose you'd better have them.”

“No!” shouted Dippa. “I won't let you!” She slammed her mighty tail down on the ground in front of Coo.

Coo froze. Everyone stared at Dippa in amazement – even King Albu.

“Captain Teggs is right,” she said. “Those eggs are our future, Coo. And the future is worth fighting for.”

“It is?” Coo blinked in surprise. “Oh. Well, if you really think so . . .”

Dippa smiled at Teggs. “I
know
so”

“You know nothing!” spat King Albu. “Come on! Eggs! Now!”

But even as he spoke, the ground started to shake. A fountain of steaming hot goo burst from the deep dark hole in the ground.

“See that, King Albu?” Teggs yelled. “That's
egg white.
This whole place is bursting with the stuff! Why are you bothering with a few measly plateosaurus eggs?

The biggest, rarest egg in the whole universe is right under your feet!”

“Egg white?” King Albu started to drool. “Goopo, taste it at once.”

Goopo edged forwards, keeping his gun aimed Teggs. He dipped a long finger in the goop, then sucked it clean.

At once, a dreamy smile spread over his face.

“It – it's the best egg I've ever tasted!” he shrieked.

Goopo threw away his gun and dived into the sticky stream. It whooshed him right up to the top of the fountain. He balanced there, guzzling the liquid as if it was lemonade.

“Get out of that!” yelled King Albu. “It's mine!”

He jumped into the fountain, which carried him high up into the air. He and Goopo bobbed about on the thick goo together, eating all they could.

“It's true!” shrieked the king. “It's the eggiest egg-juice I ever tasted! Come on, boys – tuck in!”

Prince Hibbit dived into the fountain and the others followed him, crying for joy. They were like mad birds flapping about in a giant's birdbath.

All except Prince Shelly. He stood and stared at his father and brothers in horror.

“Stop it!” he shouted. “You heard Captain Teggs – this whole place is about to break up! We must get out of here!”

But the oviraptors were far too busy filling their faces to listen. They didn't even notice when the fountain suddenly got smaller . . .

“Albu! Goopo! Look out!” Teggs yelled.

“Get out of there, you lot, quick!” added Shelly.

But it was too late.

As quickly as it had come, the egg-white fountain dried up to a dribble. As the thick liquid fell away, for a
moment King Albu and his eggs were left dangling in mid-air. Then, with a loud yell, they fell – right down into the deep hole.

“It must be miles down to the bottom!” said Arx.

They heard a quiet, distant splash. And then the scary wailing noise started up again. “Put me down!” they
heard King Albu squawk in the distance. “I'll have you poached in butter for this!”

But then a terrible munching sound filled the air.

“The egg strikes back,” said Teggs grimly.

“I tried to stop them,” sighed Shelly.

“You did everything you could,” Gipsy agreed.

“Come on,” said Arx “That thing is waking up, and it's hungry. We don't want to wind up as pudding!'

‘You're right,” said Teggs. “There's no time to lose.”

“What about him?” Dippa scowled at Shelly. “If he comes with us he might eat our eggs!”

Shelly shook his head. “Believe me, I've lost my appetite!”

“Enough talk,” yelled Teggs. “Back to the
Sauropod
! RUN!”

They ran for their lives.

The egg-planet rumbled and shook. Geysers of egg white spurted up all around them. The sky was darker than ever, and it was hard to see anything very clearly.

But somehow, they found their way back to the ship.