The Revenge of Dr Von Burpinburger Read Free Page B

‘Let’s have a bit of order here!’
    The pigeons fluttered up into the air for a moment. But then in the next instant they rushed back again and swarmed all over Eric and his mouse mate. Einstein had to duck for cover.
    Eric scattered the last bits of cereal and stood. ‘We’d better be going,’ he told Einstein. ‘Don’t want to be late for school.’
    At that moment, a big black shadow crept over them, and covered the whole terrace. Eric froze. Einstein shuddered. The birds stopped babbling. And everyone looked up.
    An enormous grey balloon was blocking out the morning sun. It drifted slowly across until it was directly above Eric and his friends. Then it began to descend.
    â€˜Got you this time,’ said a familiar voice from above.
    The little man with the big head hung out of the basket that swayed beneath the balloon. Next to him was a figure covered in bandages. For a moment Eric thought it was a mummy, escaped from an ancient pyramid, but then he realised that it must be the flying madman.
    â€˜They’re back,’ he said to Einstein. ‘Those lunatics.’
    â€˜ Balloonatics ,’ Einstein shouted.
    â€˜They’re coming down fast,’ Eric added. ‘They’re going to land right on top of us!’
    â€˜Not if our pigeon patrol can help it,’ Einstein grinned. ‘Look!’ The birds had flown straight up into the air and were attacking the balloon.
    But the doctor was ready this time. He pointed a hose at them and a strong spray knocked the pigeons out of the sky in all directions. At the same time, Brique lunged with a net at any birds that came too close. The pigeons tried their hardest, but they couldn’t stop the big balloon descending.
    â€˜This is serious!’ Eric shouted. ‘What can we do?’
    Dr von Burpinburger was enjoying every moment. ‘Ha ha,’ he gurgled. ‘It’s all over, Wimplebottom! As for you, mouse, prepare to meet your master.’ He cackled with glee and let out a long, loud burp.
    Einstein heard the burp and something clicked. ‘That’s it!’ he called to Eric. ‘His name. I’ve got his name. It’s Burp … Burp … Burpinburger . He’s Dr von Burpinburger. He stole me from my family and experimented on me. And now he wants to kidnap me again!’
    â€˜We’ve got to stop him!’ shouted Eric.
    â€˜You said it.’ Einstein was still scared, but he was furious too. His head buzzed and whirred. It rattled and hummed, and even rumbled, until in the end he held up his paw.
    â€˜I’ve got it,’ he said, and gave a long piercing whistle.

BIG MISTAKE,
BURPEE BOY!
    Luke heard the whistle. The big pigeon turned and dived down to the terrace, landing right next to Einstein. The mouse leant over and grabbed the nail he’d been using earlier as a sword.
    â€˜This should do the trick,’ he chuckled. ‘We’ll nail those two nicely.’
    Einstein brandished his weapon, and this time it really did look like a sword, glinting in the morning sun. Then he climbed onto Luke’s back and the two of them cooed and warbled to each other in pigeonese.
    â€˜What going on?’ Eric asked.
    â€˜Just a little plan,’ Einstein grinned. ‘A two-pronged plan.’
    He gave Luke a nudge. The pigeon spread his wings and swooped up into the air. Eric called after them, but already they were high in the sky.

    Luke flew in a wide circle around the balloon, while Einstein swung his sword in the air and shouted at the doctor.
    â€˜Big mistake, Burpee Boy! Should’ve picked on someone your own size. You are goin’ down, clown. Down, down, down!’
    He whispered to Luke, and they swerved in closer. The doctor didn’t know what to do. If he turned his hose on Einstein, the mouse might fall and be killed. He certainly didn’t want that to happen.
    â€˜Be ready with the net, Brique,’ the doctor