Horse Hijack Read online

  Justin D’Ath

  Horse Hijack

  with illustrations by HEATH McKENZIE

  Puffin Books

  Contents

  1 FOXPHONE (Part 1)

  2 LIAR! LIAR!

  3 NOT TRIPLE ZERO

  4 FOXPHONE (Part 2)

  5 WHAT HAPPENED TO TWISTERMAN?

  6 MISSION FOX IS GO!

  7 WORLD’S BIGGEST DOG TONGUE

  8 CHEESEBURGERS AND FRIES

  9 SWOOPED!

  10 LOVE YOU TO BITS

  11 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

  12 LIFT-OFF

  13 GERMAN SHEPHERDS

  14 JORDAN’S ONLY HOPE

  15 BRIGHT RED

  16 SWOOSH! WHAP!

  17 BLINDER THAN A BAT

  18 MEET AGENT M!

  19 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

  20 PANTS ON FIRE!

  FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER DAMIAN, WHO WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING

  THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

  1

  Foxphone (Part 1)

  Jordan and Harry Fox were at the movies. It was the new Twisterman movie and it was REALLY exciting. But right at the very best bit, when evil Dr Chill was about to freeze Twisterman inside a giant ice-cube, someone’s phone started ringing.

  It was the person sitting on Jordan’s Left.

  ‘Hey, turn that off!’ Jordan whispered to whoever-it-was.

  ‘It’s the FoxPhone!’ whoever-it-was whispered back.

  It sounded a bit Like Harry.

  ‘Keep the noise down!’ hissed the person on the other side of Jordan – where Harry was supposed to be sitting.

  But it didn’t sound anything Like Harry.

  Jordan’s head snapped from side to side. Shishkebab! It was Harry on his Left, and someone else on his right.

  Or was it the other way around?

  That was the trouble with Twisterman movies. They made you so dizzy you couldn’t tell one direction from the other.

  But the FoxPhone was still ringing, and people all around the twins were getting cross.

  ‘Turn that thing off!’ they growled.

  ‘Shhhh!’ they went.

  ‘Keep quiet!’ they said.

  Harry passed the FoxPhone to Jordan. ‘Take it outside and answer it,’ he whispered. ‘You’re closer to the aisle.’

  Yikes! thought Jordan. Now the noisy phone was his problem! And nearly everyone in the packed movie theatre was yelling at him. About 300 angry people.

  Jordan jumped out of his seat, squeezed past someone else, and raced for the exit.

  It was a relief to get out into the foyer. But the lady who sold popcorn was scowling at him, as if the FoxPhone was a bomb that was about to go off. So Jordan charged out into the street.

  Finally it was safe to take the call.

  ‘Mission Fox Animal Rescue Service,’ Jordan said breathlessly. ‘Does an animal need help?’

  2

  Liar! Liar!

  Ten minutes earlier, on the other side of town, a girl called Ella was riding a big grey stallion along the side of the road.

  The horse was getting frisky. He wanted to break into a canter, but Ella wouldn’t let him. She pulled on the reins.

  ‘Take it easy, Banjo,’ she said. ‘You can have a run when we get to the reserve.’

  The reserve was a big strip of unused land on the edge of town. It was just past the basketball stadium. Ella couldn’t wait to get there. She had never ridden Banjo flat-out before. Never taken him over jumps. Her parents wouldn’t let her.

  ‘Wait till you’re older,’ they said. ‘Why don’t you practise jumps on Samson?’

  Samson was Ella’s pony. She loved him to bits. But he couldn’t jump for peanuts. How could Ella ever be a champion show jumper like her mum if she wasn’t allowed to ride proper horses?

  So today Ella was going to show them she was old enough.

  Well, she wasn’t actually going to show anybody, because no one would be watching. Both her parents were at work.

  It was the school holidays and Ella was supposed to be at Aunt Zoe’s. But she’d told Aunt Zoe that she and a few friends were going to see the new Twisterman movie.

  Liar, liar, pants on fire! Ella thought, smiling to herself.

  But she wouldn’t have been smiling if she had looked behind her.

  A big green truck was creeping along the road. It had been following Ella and Banjo since they left her front gate.

  There were two men in the truck. One was using a mobile phone. He had a funny way of talking.

  ‘Aye, tis Silver Banjo all right,’ he said. ‘But tha wee lass is ridin’ him so we’ll have to come back tomorra.’ He listened for a moment, then said, ‘Nay, Boss, there’s nowt else around.’

  Then he put the phone away.

  ‘Boss says ta grab him anyway,’ he said to the driver. ‘Just like we planned.’

  They stopped the truck and pulled black ski masks over their heads.

  The driver put his foot on the accelerator, and the truck shot forward.

  3

  Not Triple Zero

  Ella didn’t hear the truck until it was too late. It roared past her and swerved right in front of Banjo. The driver slammed on the brakes.

  Banjo let out a startled whinny and reared up on his hind legs.

  Ella couldn’t hang on. She went flying.

  Splash!

  She landed in a muddy puddle. It was a soft landing, but Ella got covered in mud. For a few seconds she lay there, trying to work out what was going on.

  Two men wearing ski masks jumped out of the truck. One grabbed Banjo’s reins. The other flung open the truck’s rear doors. They lowered a ramp and started pushing the frightened horse into the truck.

  Ella couldn’t believe her eyes. The men were stealing Banjo!

  She jumped up and ran to stop them.

  ‘Let him go! Let him go!’ she cried.

  One of the horse thieves spun around. ‘Git away with yer, lass!’ he growled, and gave her a push.

  Ella slipped in the mud and fell over backwards with another big splash.

  By the time she had scrambled up again, the horse thieves had closed the back doors and run around to the front.

  Slam! went the driver’s door.

  Slam! went the door on the other side.

  Roar! went the engine.

  Ella watched helplessly as the big green truck zoomed off down the road with Banjo inside.

  Mum and Dad are going to kill me! she thought.

  She had to get help.

  Ella ran back to the basketball stadium. There was a phone box outside. She ripped off her riding helmet and reached for the phone. But before she could dial triple zero, something caught Ella’s eye – a bright yellow poster taped to the glass next to her elbow.

  Ella turned back to the phone. She put a coin in the slot and punched in a number.

  It wasn’t triple zero.

  4

  Foxphone (Part 2)

  Jordan stood on the footpath outside the movies with the FoxPhone pressed to his ear. He could hear a very faint girl’s voice saying stuff like: ‘… banjo … stolen … help …’

  Jordan stepped away from the wall to get a better signal.

  ‘Are you still there?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes,’ the girl said. She was louder now. ‘You’ve got to help me!’

  ‘Sorry,’ Jordan said. ‘We can’t help.’

  ‘But it says on the flyer that you rescue animals in danger.’

  ‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘We do rescue animals. But not musical instruments.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ asked the girl.

  ‘You said your banjo was stolen.’

  ‘Banjo’s a horse!’ the girl said crossly. ‘Haven’t you heard of Silver Banj
o?’

  Jordan nodded to himself. Everyone in Nullambine had heard of Silver Banjo. ‘He won two gold medals at the Olympics.’

  ‘My mum was the one riding him,’ the girl said.

  ‘Cool!’ said Jordan.

  ‘It’s so not cool!’ said the girl, sounding cross again. ‘Two men in masks just stole him!’

  5

  What Happened to Twisterman?

  By the time Harry came out of the movies, Jordan knew all about the horse kidnapping. He told Harry about it as they rode flat-out back to Mission Fox Headquarters on their bicycles.

  ‘Why didn’t she call the police?’ Harry puffed.

  ‘Because she isn’t allowed to ride Silver Banjo,’ puffed Jordan. ‘If her parents find out, they’ll ground her forever.’

  ‘Her parents sound mean!’ cried Harry.

  Jordan didn’t think they were mean.

  He was cross with Ella. She had made him miss the end of the movie.

  ‘What happened to Twisterman?’ he asked.

  ‘I can’t tell you,’ said his twin brother.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because you aren’t allowed to tell people the end of movies.’

  ‘Says who?’ asked Jordan.

  ‘Says everyone,’ Harry panted. ‘It’s a rule.’

  ‘Here’s another rule,’ puffed Jordan. ‘You aren’t allowed to leave your phone turned on at the movies.’

  ‘Except the FoxPhone.’

  ‘That isn’t a rule.’

  ‘It should be a rule,’ Harry puffed. ‘How else can people contact us?’

  Jordan wished Ella hadn’t got in contact.

  Now he was never going to find out what happened to Twisterman.

  6

  Mission Fox Is Go!

  ‘How was the movie?’ their mother asked.

  ‘Wicked!” Harry said as they zoomed through the living room. ‘At the end, Twisterman caught Dr Chill in a spaghetti tornado and turned him into bolognaise.’

  They rushed upstairs to MF HQ.

  ‘You told her the ending!’ Jordan hissed, as he started cramming rescue equipment into the FoxPack.

  Harry pulled on his Mission Fox T-shirt. ‘Adults don’t count.’

  As soon as they had changed into their uniforms, Jordon put on the FoxPack, then the twins crept downstairs to the back door.

  But they weren’t quiet enough.

  ‘Where are you two going?’ their mother called from the living room.

  Sprung!

  Jordan looked at Harry, and Harry looked at Jordan. The twins’ parents knew about Mission Fox, but they thought it was mostly a game. No way would they let their two youngest sons go after a gang of real-life horse thieves.

  ‘We’re just taking Myrtle out,’ Jordan called.

  Myrtle was their dog and also the third member of Mission Fox. She was huge. The twins’ brother Sam reckoned Myrtle was the biggest dog in the world, and Sam had been everywhere. He was always off on some extreme adventure.

  And what Jordan said was true – they were taking Myrtle out …

  Jordan fitted her harness while Harry wheeled the FoxMobile from the shed. The FoxMobile was a billycart with a rope that clipped to Myrtle’s harness. Jordan jumped on behind his brother.

  ‘Mush, Agent M!’ said Harry, and Myrtle took off. Mission Fox was go!

  7

  World’s Biggest Dog Tongue

  Ella was waiting patiently outside the phone box. Well, not very patiently – she kept looking at her watch and frowning.

  ‘Who on earth are you guys?’ she asked when the FoxMobile squealed to a stop beside her.

  ‘We’re Mission Fox,’ said Harry.

  Ella rolled her eyes. ‘You’ve got to be kidding! I thought Mission Fox was real.’

  ‘Mission Fox is real!’ the twins said together.

  ‘But you’re just little kids! And what’s with the hats and dorky sunglasses? You look ridiculous!’

  ‘You’re a kid, too,’ said Jordan. ‘And have you looked at yourself lately?’

  Ella glanced at her reflection in the side of the phone box. She was covered from head to toe in mud. It looked like she’d been dipped in chocolate.

  ‘I guess I do need a wash,’ she said. ‘Hey, stop that!’

  Myrtle had started licking her face. The biggest dog in the world had the world’s biggest dog tongue! Two drooly licks, and all the mud was gone. Suddenly the twins could see what Ella looked like.

  ‘You’re Ella Carmichael!’ gasped Jordan.

  ‘So?’ said Ella. She peered closely at the twins. ‘Do I know you guys?’

  ‘No,’ the MF agents said at the same time.

  She probably did. Ella Carmichael was two years above them at Nullambine Primary. But it was a big school, and besides, Jordan and Harry were wearing wrap-around sunglasses.

  Ella sniffed. ‘Aren’t you a bit big to be playing dress-ups?’

  That made Jordan cross. ‘Do you want us to rescue your horse or not?’

  ‘Of course I do,’ Ella said. ‘But it would help if you guys were, like … older.’

  Jordan felt like telling her he’d missed the end of the Twisterman movie because of her. Instead, he asked if she had any idea who the thieves were.

  Ella nodded. ‘I recognised one of them.’

  ‘Weren’t they wearing masks?’ asked Jordan.

  ‘I recognised his voice,’ Ella explained. ‘He sounded just like Tosh Cormack, who works for Mrs Bonwick. I see him down at the pony club sometimes. He’s got a funny way of talking.’

  ‘Do you know where he lives?’ Harry asked.

  Ella shook her head. ‘But I know where Mrs Bonwick lives,’ she said. ‘I’ll bet that’s where they took Banjo!’

  Everyone in Nullambine knew where the Bonwicks lived. Mrs Bonwick and her husband owned a huge house on a hill outside town. Jordan could see it in the distance.

  ‘Why would the Bonwicks steal a horse?’ he asked.

  Ella snorted. She sounded a bit like a horse. ‘Silver Banjo isn’t just a horse,’ she said. ‘He’s a world-champion show jumper.’

  ‘I don’t get it,’ Harry said. ‘The Bonwicks are mega rich. I bet they could buy any horse they wanted.’

  ‘Any horse except Banjo,’ Ella said with another sniff. ‘Mrs Bonwick tried to buy him. She offered Mum a million dollars, but Mum said he wasn’t for sale.’

  ‘A million dollars!’ gasped Harry. ‘Your mum must really like Banjo!’

  ‘So must Mrs Bonwick,’ Jordan said, staring at the very big house.

  Ella was staring at it, too. ‘I think I know why Mrs Bonwick wanted him so much,’ she said. ‘The Australian Show Jumping Championships are being held next weekend, and Mrs Bonwick wants to win.’

  ‘But how can she ride a stolen horse?’ asked Harry. ‘Everyone will know it’s your mum’s.’

  ‘She won’t be riding Banjo,’ Ella said. ‘Mrs Bonwick has her own show jumper called Queenie. They’re pretty good, too. Mrs Bonwick and Queenie came second last year, and at the Olympic Trials. Guess who beat them both times?’

  ‘Banjo and your mum!’ Jordan and Harry said together.

  Ella nodded. ‘But if Banjo is locked up in the Bonwicks’ barn, Mrs Bonwick and Queenie are sure to win this year.’

  ‘That’s cheating!’ said Harry.

  All three of them gazed up at the big white house on the hill.

  ‘We can’t let her get away with it,’ Jordan said softly.

  ‘So what are we waiting for?’ asked Ella, strapping her riding helmet back on.

  8

  Cheeseburgers and Fries

  It was a bit crowded on the FoxMobile with an extra passenger squeezed in next to Jordan. And a bit messy, because the mud on Ella wasn’t quite dry yet. Jordan got it all over his arm and some on his shorts. But who cared about a bit of mud? This was an emergency!

  Myrtle got them to Bonwick Estate in record time. They stopped at the tall iron gate. It was set into a high st
one wall that ran right around the bottom of the hill like the huge walls around a castle.

  The gate had an electronic lock. There was a button to push and a silver speaker box to talk into, like in the drive-through lane at Hungry Macca’s.

  There was also a big sign with the head of a snarling dog on it.

  Harry pressed the button.

  ‘What did you do that for?’ hissed Jordan. ‘Now they’ll know we’re here!’

  His brother shrugged. ‘I just wanted to see if anyone’s home.’

  There was a crackling noise from the speaker box. ‘Bonwick Residence,’ said a man’s voice. ‘Please state yer name and business.’

  Harry pressed the talk button. ‘We’ll have three cheeseburgers and large fries, please.’

  There was another crackle of static, then they heard the man’s voice again. He sounded much louder this time.

  ‘GERR ORF KIDS, OR I’LL COME DOWN THERE AND TAN YER HIDES!’

  Harry giggled and stepped away from the box.

  ‘I guess someone is home!’ he said.

  ‘It was Tosh,’ whispered Ella. ‘I’d know his voice anywhere. And I’ll bet Banjo’s in there, too.’

  ‘Then let’s go get him,’ said Harry.

  ‘How?’ asked Jordan.

  Harry pointed at the FoxPack, which was still strapped to his brother’s back. ‘You packed the FoxHook, didn’t you, Jordan?’

  ‘You’re supposed to call me Agent J,’ Jordan whispered.

  ‘Sorry’.

  Ella overheard. ‘I don’t care who you guys are, I just want Banjo back.’

  ‘So let’s go!’ said Agent H.

  They got back onto the FoxMobile and followed the wall around the bottom of the hill. Every fifty metres, they passed another guard dog sign. The signs made Jordan nervous.

  ‘Maybe we should call the police’, he said.