The Borribles Go for Broke by Michael de Larrabeiti

Author:Michael de Larrabeiti
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Childrens
ISBN: 9781439531136
Publisher: Tor Teen
Published: 1980-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

The Borribles waited three hours for Spiff’s return and while they waited changed into Wendle uniforms and chose a catapult and a bandolier each. The touch of the weapons reassured them mightily; they felt more confident, more in charge of their own destinies.

It was Bingo who was on guard at the first bend in the tunnel when he heard the noise of footsteps echoing along the brick walls; then there was the trill of the Battersea whistle and a moment later Spiff edged himself into view. He looked tired now and his waders were covered in mud. Over his shoulder was a heavy sack.

‘Hello, young feller,’ he said. ‘Glad someone’s on watch.’ He went past Bingo and into the guardroom where he dropped his burden on the table. ‘Here’s some grub,’ he said, ‘so tuck in.’ He upended his bag and stolen food cascaded out loaves, rolls, bacon, pots of jam, beer and boiled sweets.

‘Were you seen?’ asked Vulge.

Spiff chuckled. ‘Course I was, but with a bit of mud across the face and travelling with Skug and Norrarf no one gave me a second look.’

‘And are the SBG still on the manholes?’

‘According to Norrarf they are. The Wendles have one or two holes that the coppers don’t know about but they’re guarded by picked warriors and no one goes in or out except on Flinthead’s say-so. We’ll have to wait till the coppers have gone.’

‘I don’t care what Spiff wants us to believe,’ said Chalotte, ‘I think we ought to go and have a look for ourselves.’

Spiff shrugged. ‘Suit yerself,’ he said, ‘but there’s one thing you certainly ought to see … over the other side of the citadel, over where you lost the treasure … You’ll never guess what it is.’ He ripped a chunk of white bacon fat with his teeth, rolling it into his mouth and chewing it confidently, like he had all the answers to all the questions.

There was silence. Nobody wanted to ask Spiff anything, except perhaps Twilight, and he kept quiet because he realized there was something going on that he didn’t understand, that he wasn’t part of. Spiff waited and smiled and smiled in the most provoking manner until at last he said, ‘Well, all right then. I ain’t proud, I’ll tell yer. You’ve got to hand it to that Flinthead, he never gives up. Right out there, in the middle of all that mud and water he’s dug a mine shaft, and above it is a contraption like a North Sea oil rigs a platform made of planks, a treadmill, and a chain of buckets to bring up the mud … and down below, slaves to do the digging. Fantastic engineering, real Borrible. I tell yer … that Flinthead.’

Stonks snorted. ‘He’s mad, he can’t dig up the treasure box, it’s too far gone.’

‘He’s not mad,’ argued Spiff, ‘persistent he is, he just never gives up.’

Chalotte rose to her feet and stretched out an arm to point at Spiff. ‘And nor do you, you rat,’ she said, her voice trembling with rage.

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