The Case of the Vanished Sea Dragon (18 page)

‘Mr Captain Karnataka,' said Alba. ‘You told me you had Delfina, but these Kinghorns have got her?'

‘Keep quiet, Sea Dragon,' said Leon, ‘else I'll cut your sister's throat.'

‘I do not think he is fooling,' said Delfina, sounding terrified.

‘Enough,' barked Vainclaw. ‘Shade-Hugger, I'm going to come straight to the point. I have a proposal. Shortly, the rest of the Sky Dragons will appear. Look, they are already gathering.'

Karnataka looked to see that the edge of the purple sky was blackening as though a storm was approaching, closing in from every corner of the sky. The sublimated Sky Dragons were nearing.

‘I'll give you one chance. Join us now and you can be one of us. The Kinghorns always have time for a dragon of your moral flexibility.'

Karnataka glanced back at Archie.

‘You can't do it,' said Archie.

‘Sorry,' shrugged Karnataka. ‘I told you I was a coward.' He walked towards Vainclaw, edging around the Sky Dragon. ‘You've got yourself a deal,' he said.

‘I knew you were my kind of dragon,' said Vainclaw.

Archie leant over Holly and whispered in Dirk's ear, ‘What can I do?'

For a moment there was nothing. Then a tiny puff of smoke drifted up from Dirk's nostrils.

‘What can I do?' repeated Archie.

The smoke formed into shapes. They were weak and only lasted a second but Archie made out three letters: S K Y.

Archie looked up. The blackening edge of the sky was getting near, closing in on London. The three smoke letters blended together and formed into the shape of an arrow, which pointed to the large unconscious dragon in the centre of the roof.

‘Kinghorns prepare,' said Vainclaw. ‘When they arrive we'll kill the humans as though we are rescuing the Sky Dragon from them.'

Reg and Arthur remained oblivious to his words, helplessly awaiting their fate.

Archie snuck around the Sky Dragon's large body, crawling through the thick line of ash that surrounded
it. He reached the head and pulled back the net.

‘Hey,' he said in the Sky Dragon's ear. ‘Hey, Sky Dragon, wake up.' Nothing. Archie tried to lift up one of its huge eyelids, but it was as though it was locked shut. Then the corner of the dragon's mouth moved and it spoke softly.

‘Too weak,' she said. ‘Need sugar.'

‘Sugar?' said Archie.

The circle of sky drew in, as the black cloud army neared. Leon pushed Delfina away, and the two scavengers stood in front of Arthur and Reg, ready to kill them when Vainclaw gave the word.

‘Delfina? Are you OK?' said Alba.

Before Alba's sister could respond, Karnataka leapt into the air, kicking Mali in the ear and whacking Leon with his tail, before landing on top of Vainclaw, pinning him down with his claws. ‘Alba and Delfina, get the Scavengers,' he cried.

‘Get off me,' snarled Vainclaw. ‘What are you doing?'

‘Making it better odds,' replied Karnataka. ‘Now it's three all.'

‘Actually it is four two.' He heard the voice in his ear and felt a claw around his throat. ‘Get off the boss.'

‘Delfina?' said Alba in surprise. ‘What are you doing? Captain Karnataka is on our side.'

Delfina forced Karnataka off Vainclaw, with her sharp claws pressed against his neck. ‘You're wrong, sister,' she said. ‘I am on the same side as my leader, Vainclaw Grandin.'

‘You …You are …You are a Kinghorn?' stammered Alba.

‘I am a dragon, sister,' she replied, ‘and proud to be a dragon. I was spying for Vainclaw when that stupid Drake arrested me.' She laughed. ‘You see, sometimes they get it right.'

Delfina pushed a claw into Karnataka's ribs, piercing the skin, causing green blood to ooze out.

The circle of sky was the same circumference as the tower and the dark clouds were beginning to swoop down. In the streets below the humans ran for cover, fearing a storm. But no rain fell. Instead, the sky began to bubble and sizzle, as though it was on fire.

‘What a shame, Captain Karnataka,' said Vainclaw Grandin. ‘You're about to watch the dawn of a new era and you've just blown your chance of being a part of it.'

Then a voice spoke, drifting through the air like a gust of wind.

‘It's too early for dawn,' it said.

Vainclaw spun around to see Nebula Colorado, the
Sky Dragon looming over him, standing tall on her hind legs, head raised to the sky.

‘Another jelly bean?' said Archie.

‘Thank you,' said Nebula.

‘Sky Dragon … Nebula … friend,' Vainclaw spoke slowly, emphasising each word. ‘Your anger should be directed at these human aggressors.'

The Sky Dragon's milk-white eyes focused on Arthur and Reg, who swayed a little.

‘Dragonsong has been used on these humans,' she said.

‘The Skies must join the Kinghorns,' growled Vainclaw threateningly.

‘I have already called my siblings off,' said Nebula.

Vainclaw Grandin, the Scavenger brothers, the Sea Dragon sisters, Karnataka and Archie all looked at the circle of sky, visible above the dark cloud of gathering
Sky Dragons.

It was widening.

The Sky Dragons were retreating.

Only Arthur, Reg, Dirk and Holly remained oblivious to this spectacular sight; the crooks still under the spell of Dragonsong, Dirk unconscious, Holly in too much pain to lift her head.

Vainclaw's eyes narrowed. ‘If you won't join us step aside so we can rid ourselves of this incompetent captain and this interfering detective,' he said, lowering his head.

‘You will harm no one,' said Nebula, spreading her wings to block his way.

‘No one need get harmed,' said Reg automatically.

‘You must do exactly as we say,' added Arthur.

‘You idiotic humans with your pathetic toy guns,' snapped Vainclaw irritably. ‘You are no longer needed. Take the lift and leave us.'

Without argument Arthur and Reg walked to the lift, pressed the button to go down and disappeared behind the sliding doors.

‘I knew you'd pick the right side,' said Karnataka, standing behind Nebula's wing.

Nebula lowered her wings and turned to look at him. ‘The Sky Dragons do not pick sides.'

‘But he wants to start a war,' protested Karnataka petulantly.

‘And you want to stop it,' she replied patiently. ‘Yes, I do understand, but it is our policy not to take sides in earthly matters.'

‘What about right and wrong?' insisted Karnataka.

‘There is an old Sky Dragon saying,' said Nebula. ‘Exist simply and simply exist.'

‘We Kinghorns have a saying too,' growled Vainclaw darkly. ‘Those who stand in our way will not stand for long.'

All four Kinghorns moved into attack formation, heads lowered, claws drawn, smoke gushing threateningly from their nostrils. Vainclaw and Leon stood to the right, Mali and Delfina on the left. Karnataka edged back, stepping on Dirk's tail, causing him to let out a low groan. Alba looked back and forth between the Kinghorns and the Sky Dragon, unsure what to do.

‘It is time for you to pick a side as well, sister,' said Delfina. ‘Join us or betray your kind.'

Alba looked into her sister's yellow eyes. ‘It is you that is being the traitor,' she spat. ‘You are no longer my sister.'

She moved next to Nebula. ‘I, Alba Longs, will fight
you and help save Mr Dirk,' she said.

‘Stand behind me,' said Nebula calmly.

‘You are the boss, Miss Nebula,' said Alba, quickly moving back, standing on Dirk's paw, causing him to let out another moan. ‘Very sorry, Mr Dirk,' she said.

‘Let's see what this Sky Dragon has got, then?' jeered Leon.

‘Yeah, give us your best shot,' goaded Mali.

Nebula opened her mouth and swung her head round, making an awful rasping noise, but nothing came out.

‘She's got no fire,' cackled Mali.

‘Perhaps the child's sweets weren't quite enough to fully restore you,' said Vainclaw.

Holly stirred. ‘What's going on?' she asked weakly, opening her eyes for a moment.

‘She's trying to breathe fire but nothing's coming out,' said Archie.

‘It's toasting time, Sky Dragon,' said Leon.

‘You should have joined us when you had the chance,' said Vainclaw.

As one, the Kinghorns took a deep breath and sent four powerful jets of fire at Nebula. Archie shielded Holly from the heat. It was so hot he felt like his back was being cooked but when he looked up he saw that
the flames had been stopped.

The Kinghorns stood behind a wall of fire the width of the building and twenty metres high. They looked confused by what had happened. In front of them, Nebula held her open paws inside the wall as though holding it up, apparently immune to the heat of the fire.

‘Leon, fly over it,' ordered Vainclaw.

Leon shot into the sky but as he tried to get over the firewall, Nebula waved a paw, sending a burst of fire in the shape of a dragon's head into his lower chin. The smell of burning dragon flesh filled the air and Leon tumbled back down, still on the same side of the wall.

‘Eh, bro, you've burnt your nose,' laughed Mali.

‘You two, go around it,' demanded Vainclaw.

Mali and Delfina took a side each but, this time, Nebula moved both paws, causing giant claws of flame to shoot out either side, scorching their wings and sending them back to where they had started.

‘Eh, ar kid,' said Leon. ‘You've burnt your wing.'

‘Shut your mouth.'

‘You shut yours.'

‘Both of you, be quiet,' said Vainclaw, pacing. ‘This firewall won't last long. Once it has burnt away, we
will take her apart without fire. We will use our teeth and our claws.'

Nebula opened her mouth and breathed a fresh burst of fire into the flaming wall. She made another movement with her paws and the firewall curled round at the edges, encircling and entrapping the Kinghorns in the centre of the building.

‘I fear the humans of this city may have noticed my firewall. They will be looking up, therefore I suggest you take the box with the sliding doors to leave,' said Nebula.

‘You're letting them escape?' said Archie.

‘No, I'm asking them to leave. I have no interest in imprisoning these dragons' said Nebula.

‘What do you say, bro? Shall we get out of here?' said Mali.

‘Yeah, I reckon it's time for a sharp exit, ar kid,' said Leon.

‘She is too powerful,' added Delfina.

The three dragons backed away and Leon pressed the lift button.

‘You cowards,' said Vainclaw, standing upright and staring angrily at Nebula through the flames. He spread his wings, revealing his right wing, torn and frayed at the edge. He opened his mouth.

‘Your Dragonsong is no use here,' said Nebula. ‘I can direct the wind to keep the sound away.'

Vainclaw growled, defeated. He dropped to all fours and joined the others in the lift. Mali slipped through the hole in the bottom of the lift to make enough room for him.

‘That's right, run away,' said Karnataka. ‘Officer Grunling will arrest you as soon as you set foot in the lithosphere tunnel.'

‘Balti Grunling?' said Vainclaw. ‘Who do you think released Delfina after she was caught spying for me? It's amazing what some Drakes will do for a pot of pepper.'

‘I'll kill him,' said Karnataka.

‘Nebula Colarado,' said Vainclaw, rearing up once more, ‘because of you, when the time comes we will show no mercy to the Sky Dragons. You will all bow down before us.'

The lift doors closed.

The Kinghorns had gone. Nebula lowered her paws and the firewall burnt away to nothing. She turned to look at the others.

‘Miss Nebula, I have never seen a firewall before,' said Alba.

‘That was really cool,' said Archie, clapping his hands
together.

‘Thank you for the sustenance, human,' said Nebula. ‘I haven't tasted sugar since the Middle Ages. It's better than I remember.'

‘The name's Archie Snellgrove.' He grinned, handing her another jelly bean from his pocket.

‘Thank you,' she replied, taking it.

‘Did we win?' said a small pained voice.

Holly was lying against Dirk, her leg mangled, her jeans drenched in fresh blood, a look of agony in her eyes.

‘Archie Snellgrove, gather up the ash,' commanded Nebula, ‘and stay away from the edge. Humans may still be looking.'

‘I hope they do not see Mr Captain Karnataka, then,' said Alba.

Archie and Nebula looked up to see the Shade-Hugger flying fast up into the sky, his dark brown back quickly vanishing into the night.

‘Never mind him, bring the ash here, cover the leg,' said Nebula, tearing Holly's jeans, exposing her leg. It was bloody and bruised.

Archie scooped up a handful of fine ash, carried it to Holly, opened his fingers and allowed it to pour on to her leg. She gritted her teeth with pain. The ash
instantly turned red as the blood soaked through.