BOOOM! by Alan MacDonald Read Free Book Online Page A

asked.
    â€˜Run like crazy,’ replied Iggy.
    Hammerhead nodded. ‘You would have made a good Chief, Iggy,’ he said.
    â€˜You too,’ said Iggy. ‘I mean . . . you are.’
    â€˜Am I?’
    â€˜Everyone says so. Well, nearly everyone.’
    Krakkk wanted to get on with it. He started to count.
    â€˜One . . .’
    Iggy crouched forward, head down, fists bunched, ready to run for his life. It was just like a game of Boulderball, he told himself, except that in this case the other team were armed with spears. A raindrop was hanging from Hammerhead’s nose.
    â€˜Two . . . three!’
    They burst down the hill. Iggy slalomed from side to side, hoping to present a more difficult target. He had already left Hammerhead way behind, but there was no helping that. The river below looked impossibly far away. Even if by some miracle they reached it, they wouldn’t be safe till they made it across, into the trees. Iggy pounded through the mud, his feet flying. He heard the first spear zip past his left shoulder and wheeled away sharply to the right. He was running flat out but the spears were coming fast, falling like rain. Ahead the ground fell away suddenly – the slope was too steep and he didn’t see the muddy puddle till he hit it. Suddenly his feet slid from under him and he was tumbling head over heels down the hill. He rolled to a stop, muddy and winded, just before something heavy slammed into him – Hammerhead. Iggy panicked, struggling to get up. Lying in the mud they were an easy target for the Noneck marksmen. Any moment now a spear might . . .
    KABOOOOOM!
    The whole world rocked as if a giant had reached down and shaken it like a ball. Iggy thought for the moment he had gone deaf. Staggering to his feet, he heard shrieks and cries from up the hill. The Nonecks had forgotten them and were staring in terror at the mountains. It had finally happened . Old Grumbly had erupted! Giant red-black clouds mushroomed into the sky. The mountain seemed to be melting – or at least something strange was happening. Waves of red-hot lava were pouring from the crater and running down the sides.
    â€˜Thundering Urk!’ gasped Hammerhead. ‘The world is ending!’

Chapter 10
    Sink or Swim
    T he Nonecks had never seen an erupting volcano before but they were pretty sure it wasn’t safe. With each boom the red fire leapt into the air and the valley shook again. The gods were angry – in fact judging by the noise, they were furious.
    â€˜Hella bella! Scarpa!’ yelled the terrified Nonecks. Krakkk tried to force them to hold their ground, but it was no use. They flung down their spears and ran. Some ran for the rocks, while others made for the shelter of the caves.
    Iggy knew there was no time to lose. He had climbed Old Grumbly and seen what was inside. Already scorching waves of lava would be pouring from the crater. Before long they would sweep down into the valley. Trees, plants, lizards, Urks – everything would be swallowed up. He looked around for Hammerhead and grabbed his arm.
    â€˜Quick, get everyone to the river!’ he yelled above the din.
    Hammerhead gaped at him. ‘The river? But I can’t swim!’
    â€˜Never mind that, just do it!’ shouted Iggy.
    It was too late to run away. They needed to get out of here fast and Iggy could think of only one way. Whether or not it would work was another matter.
    The Urks were running down towards them, dragging crying children along. Iggy stood with his arms raised, shouting at them to gather at the river. He caught sight of Umily and Hubba and told them to spread the word.
    â€˜Wait for me by the crossing,’ he panted.
    â€˜Why? Where you going?’ asked Hubba.
    â€˜No time to explain!’ shouted Iggy as he ran off, ducking under the trees, and disappeared from sight. Hammerhead, Hubba and Umily did their best to round everyone up and calm the panic, though the