Wishing for Trouble Read Free Page B

pineapple?’ Lach demanded. ‘Everyone has tomato and pineapple.’
    â€˜Maybe they weren’t discovered yet,’ Ben whispered back.
    â€˜I’m really glad I don’t live back in these days,’ Lach said.
    â€˜I thank you for this most delicious meal,’ the countess said. ‘Now I would like you to conjure a pox upon my enemies, so that they all die and suffer for their treachery.’
    â€˜That doesn’t seem very nice,’ Emmy said. ‘Couldn’t we do something else?’
    â€˜Like what?’ the countess demanded.
    â€˜We could lure them into a trap,’ Ben said. ‘Do you have dungeons?’
    â€˜Of course we have dungeons,’ the countess said proudly. ‘Very extensive ones.’
    â€˜How about we trick them into the dungeons somehow?’ Ben said. ‘Then we could find some way to send a message to your uncle, to come and arrest them.’

    â€˜Bet mobile phones haven’t been invented yet either,’ Lach said, grinning.
    â€˜It is too dangerous,’ the knight said. ‘We cannot risk our countess. What if the plan goes wrong?’
    â€˜We should just surrender now,’ the governess said, and the priest nodded, looking very gloomy.
    â€˜It won’t go wrong,’ Ben said. ‘We’ll just wish that it all works.’
    â€˜We could wish for a helicopter,’ Lach said, ‘for the countess to escape in.’
    The kids jumped up and down in excitement.
    â€˜Except no-one knows how to fly one,’ Nick said, and they drooped in disappointment.
    â€˜A hang-glider?’ Emmy suggested.
    â€˜A parachute?’ Ben said.
    â€˜How about a balloon?’ Tim said.
    â€˜A balloon,’ Ben shouted. ‘A hot-air balloon! They’re easy to fly. Brilliant, Tim!’
    â€˜I know,’ Tim said.

All the time they had been talking, a deep boom! boom! boom! had been shaking the castle, rattling all the plates and spoons on the table.
    â€˜They’re ramming the gate,’ the knight said wretchedly.
    â€˜What shall we do, what shall we do?’ The priest wrung his hands.
    â€˜We’re doomed!’ the governess wept.
    â€˜We’d best be quick,’ Ben said. ‘Give me the ring, Nick.’
    â€˜No! It’s my turn!’ Lach said.
    â€˜It’s my ring,’ Ben said. ‘I mean, ours, mine and Tim’s. We got it from the dragon.’
    â€˜Yeah, but you had all the fun with the dragon before,’ Lach said. ‘Let me have a go!’
    â€˜Oh, all right, but don’t go making any silly wishes,’ Ben said. ‘We want to save some for later.’
    â€˜OK,’ Lach said, and took the ring eagerly, putting it onto his finger.
    â€˜What shall we do first, wish for a hot-air balloon for the countess, or lure the enemy into a trap?’ Ben said.
    â€˜I want to see Lord Dastardly’s face when he falls into my dungeon,’ the countess said, clapping her hands with glee.
    â€˜OK, dungeon first,’ Ben said, and they all followed the knight as he clanked down the great hall.
    Beyond was a long, wide corridor. Light streamed through the tall, narrow windows along one side, striping the smooth stone floor. Ben and Emmy looked at each other, grinned, then were off like rockets, racing each other on their scooters. Emmy’s blue skirts billowed out behind her, thongs flip-flapping, and Jessie chased after them, dragging her rabbit by one ear.

    Ben swerved in front of Emmy, almost knocking her over as they came to a screeching halt at the top of a grand staircase.
    â€˜I won!’ Ben cried.
    â€˜I’d have won if it wasn’t for the dress,’ Emmy said.
    â€˜I wish I had one of those,’ the countess said enviously.
    â€˜Yeah, it looks like fun,’ Lach said. ‘I wish we’d brought ours,’ he said to Tim.
    At once both Lach and Tim were standing on their scooters. Since they