The Mystery of the Lake Monster by Paula Harrison

Author:Paula Harrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic UK
Published: 2017-12-07T16:00:00+00:00

“It’s spooky out here,” whispered Millie.

“You won’t go back, will you?” said Jess. “I’m not sure I want to do this on my own.”

Millie took Jess’s hand. “Course I won’t!”

They ran across the yard and hid behind the stable wall on the other side. Jess took some deep breaths, hoping her stomach would stop tumbling over and over. At least here they were out of sight of the palace windows.

She scanned the darkness. The lake was a patch of deep black at the bottom of the hill. Two little dots of light moved on the bridge in the middle.

“Those lights must be the guards and if we can see their lanterns, they might see ours!” hissed Millie.

Jess blew out the lantern, leaving them in darkness. Luckily, as they went gingerly down the slope, a full moon drifted out from behind a cloud and lit the way.

“I think we should go back to where we found those tracks,” whispered Jess. “Then, if we throw the vegetables into the water, Spikey might come to eat them.”

They crept along the lake shore, searching for the place with the creature’s tracks. The moon dipped behind a cloud, plunging them back into darkness. Jess tripped over a tree root and Millie tore her cloak on a bramble, but at last they found the large scrape marks in the mud.

Jess took a turnip from the basket, her hand shaking with excitement. She flung the vegetable at the water. It landed with a splash before bobbing up and down.

“I didn’t know it would float,” said Millie.

“I didn’t know that either. I wonder if this will too.” Jess threw a potato in but it sank instantly.

“Let’s stick to the turnips,” said Millie, throwing a second one at the water. “Then the lake monster will come to the surface to eat them. I wonder if it’ll nibble them or just swallow them with one big gulp!”

“I bet it gulps them! I wonder—” Jess broke off. What was that rustling in the bushes?

A shape burst from the undergrowth and leapt into the lake, making an enormous splash. Water splattered over Millie and Jess, drenching their cloaks.

Millie gave a shriek, pointing to the dark shape. “It’s here! It’s the monster!”

“Shh! The guards will hear you!” Jess’s heart hammered as she stared at the thing in the water. It was so dark. She wished she hadn’t put out the lantern. The monster seemed to be paddling around close to the shore. Was it busy eating the turnips?

Suddenly, the monster sprang on to the bank beside them, before shaking the water off its coat. It gave a soft bark.

“Jax!” cried Millie. “Oh, you scared me!”

“What are you doing here, Jax?” Jess hugged the soggy dog. “You were meant to stay inside.”

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