 
Astro's Indian Odyssey -

Astro's Adventures

by

Susan Day

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Susan Day on Smashwords

Astro's Indian Odyssey -

Astro's Adventures

by

Copyright © 2015 by Susan Day

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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Astro's Indian Odyssey -

Astro's Adventures

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all the dogs of the world that don't have a warm bed to curl up in, toys to play with or a cat to chase. Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to rescue shelters to help you all.

Chapter One

Travelling with dogs was never an easy thing. Dogs don't like being inside a moving vehicle. They tend to bark, or even worse, puke and vomit everywhere. When dogs are flown by plane they are normally stowed away in the cargo hold in special crates. Cargo holds are noisy, cold and quite frightening for the poor creatures.

Recently, on a flight to India, six dogs were travelling in a jumbo jet.

Were they in the cargo hold, freezing in steel crates?

No. They were relaxing in specially designated seats and flying first-class, would you believe!

These were no ordinary dogs. Sure, they were furry and had tails. They even barked and scratched, and they couldn't resist chasing a tennis ball. Most of them were not very fond of cats, just like ordinary dogs – perhaps they were just like your dog.

Unlike ordinary dogs, however, these dogs were special.

They were highly trained animals who save other dogs from neglect. They lived far away in the island continent of Australia. They belonged to a secret organisation that was known only as The Organisation. It operated behind a Doggy Day-Care Centre and their activities were known to no human being – not one! (Well, except you and me, that is.)

Rocky was the commander and leader of the group. He was a large black Border collie who gave orders – lots of them - and kept the other dogs in control. Rocky had been born into the Organisation and had been its Commander for many years.

Helping Rocky was Stella D'oro. Her name meant Golden Star. Stella was a small Cocker spaniel who had curls of gold. Although she was only looked young she was said to be very old indeed. She had special powers too. For example, she can sense when something was going to go wrong and she could communicate telepathically – sending messages as thoughts into other animals' minds. Stella was also blind.

Then there was the tunnel digging expert, Digger. He was a small terrier who could not only dig long, deep tunnels in minutes, but would remain sparkling clean the whole time. Digger was a very smart dog and he wore a green beret everywhere he went.

Indy was a tough, Australian Cattle dog. She was a deep grey colour which often looked blue. She wore a khaki vest and carried a hunting bone and a stink bomb. She was tough and liked nothing more than to battle the baddies, run through crocodile invested swamps for fun and arm wrestle lions.

Alfie was the biggest and the strongest dog on the team. He was a Doberman cross who was dedicated and loyal. Stories of how he broke through walls with his head were legendary. So are the ones about his appetite. Legend had it that Alfie could eat non-stop. However, he always complained about being hungry, as you are about to find out.

The newest recruit, and Alfie's best friend, was Astro. Astro was a grey shaggy dog who loved being part of a secret organisation. Even though he was quite spoilt he had gotten used to the rough and tumble life of being a secret agent and loved the adventure and excitement that it brought.

Today, Astro and the other dogs were travelling to India but they didn't know why.

Chapter Two

Meanwhile in India, the sun was shining and a gentle breeze chased a handful of leaves across the ground. It was the first day of a friendly match between the Bengal Cricket Team and the Australian Kangas.

"Nice day for it," an old voice croaked from the stands.

A young man nodded and stared straight down the cricket pitch. He rubbed the red ball on his white shirt. He eyed his target and squinted. He had two choices. He could bowl on the full and hope the batsman would be silly enough to lop the ball into the air so it'd be an easy catch for one of his team mates. Or he could add a spin at the last minute and the batsman would miss and the ball allowing it to sail into the wickets. Either way, it would be a great start to their match – first ball and the batsman out for a duck.

He decided to go for the first option. He shuffled his feet and bowed his head. He quickly muttered an incantation of luck and then began his run. As he got to the bowler's end, he launched his attack. The ball flew from his hand and skyrocketed towards the batsman. As planned, the batsman couldn't resist and he hit the ball square in the centre of his bat. The ball lifted up, up into the air and made its way clear across the grounds and over the fence. There was no chance anyone could have caught it.

"Six!!" the crowd cheered.

"Better luck next time," the old voice whispered.

The voice belonged to an old, white-haired dog. He sat in the back of the stands and had been the cricket club's unofficial mascot for many years. No one was sure how old he was but his silver hair and wrinkled face showed many years spent outdoors playing cricket. The younger team members had nicknamed him Ritcho but no one knew who he belonged to or how old he was. They took it in turns to bring him food and one of the coaches had left a swag of old jumpers in the corner for him to sleep on.

Normally, Ritcho spent his time looking after the club's official mascot. Most clubs had some kind of mascot. An animal whose strength and cunning they admired and tried to emulate when they played. This cricket club was one of the best in the world so they had chosen one of the most powerful and cunning creatures. It was also an animal that represented their ancient and mysterious country.

The cricket club was Eden Gardens and the club mascot was a Bengal tiger cub.

Sadly, two days ago the tiger cub had been kidnapped and no one knew where she had been taken. She was named Durga after the Hindu Goddess. The Goddess Durga was known as the Warrior Queen and she was the Goddess of good winning over evil. She often rode into battle to save her children on the back of a tiger. The club had chosen to call their tiger cub Durga for these reasons and also because her name meant invincibility.

When the club first adopted Durga, they had won match after match. Their sporting fame had grown and the young players were becoming well known. Many people flocked to the grounds to see them play. It was a wonderful time.

Now, however, the team were devastated. They had been on top of the ladder having not been beaten but since Durga had gone they had lost every match. And not by a few runs either, the other teams were wiping the floor with them. The players had no confidence and, bowl after bowl they gave their opposition the opportunity to hit more runs. When it was their turn to bat, they were bowled out or caught by one of the fielders. Match after match, day after day, they continued to lose.

"Six! Again! That's the fifth time in a row, folks!" the presenter's voice screamed around the grounds.

Ritcho hung his head. He sighed deeply.

"The sooner the Australian dogs arrive the better," he muttered.

Chapter Three

An Indian elephant made her way through the dense jungle. She had been walking for hours carrying her cargo up steep hills and down treacherous valleys. On her back sat a steel crate that housed a young tiger cub. On her neck sat two tabby cats – one old and gruff, the other much younger. It was the legendary Speed Bump Charlie, the most evil alley cat in the world, and his young apprentice, Furball.

Their last adventure in China hadn't ended well. They had tried to steal a baby dragon away from the dogs and get the ransom. However, things hadn't gone to plan so, after reading an article about the young tiger cub being the mascot for the cricket club, Speed Bump Charlie had devised a wicked plan to steal her instead.

While it sounds exotic, riding on an elephant can become quite boring after a few hours. So, Speed Bump Charlie had decided to take a nap. He kneaded and prodded the loose skin of the elephant until he created a round nest. The elephant shivered and shook her head. Speed Bump Charlie curled up inside the nest and pulled another loose piece of elephant skin over him as a blanket. Furball had been sitting close and lost her balance when Speed Bump Charlie hitched up the elephant's skin.

"Watch out!" she cried, but Speed Bump Charlie ignored her.

She stuck out her tongue and made a face at the old cat. She glanced at the tiger cub who was also asleep. Furball drummed her paws on her knees.

"What to do ... What to do..." she muttered.

She looked down and noticed that the elephant had long hairs sticking out of her head. She leant forward and tugged at one. It didn't come out so Furball grabbed it with both paws and yanked it hard. She toppled over towards Speed Bump Charlie still clutching the hair in her paws. The elephant let out a terrible cry and shook her head. Then she let out a loud squeal which woke both Speed Bump Charlie and the tiger cub.

"What's going on?" he growled. "I dreamt I was put in charge of a fish canning factory. I was just about to take a bite of sweet delicious meat when it screamed its head off! Then I woke up and it was actually the elephant screaming! What's going on?"

Furball tucked the hair into her pocket quickly.

"I'm not sure what happened," she lied. "I was sitting here minding my own business and, whammy! The elephant went a little bit crazy."

She shrugged.

Speed Bump Charlie looked at her quizzically. He wasn't sure whether to believe her or not. He was about to ask her another question when Furball changed the subject.

"How long to go now?" she smiled, sitting back down on the elephant's head.

"About sixty miles, I think," Speed Bump Charlie said, pulling out and tapping his phone. "My evil genius phone app isn't working properly here in the jungle; the signal is too weak, but this elephant seems to know where she's going." He added.

Furball sniggered. "You mean your D.A.W.G.!"

"I'll have you know this app is only given to the most nasty, wicked, intelligent and handsome evil geniuses in the world. Not everyone gets one, and you certainly won't, you moth-eaten hairball!"

"It still spells DAWG and that sounds like dog to me!" she snickered.

"It stands for Devious Awful Wicked Geniuses!" Speed Bump Charlie cried. "It's got nothing to do with those stupid mutts!"

"Well, I hope so! If they stop us again I'm going to go batty. I thought being the sidekick to an evil genius meant that we would be rich and succeed in seeing through some of the most malicious plans in the world. But every time, those dumb dogs get in the way and spoil things!" Furball complained. "It's just not fair!"

"Don't worry. This time will be different - very different, indeed!" Speed Bump Charlie grinned wickedly. "This time we have kitty here and she's going to net us a whole lot of lovely, lovely cash," he patted the cage behind him. "Then we'll use the cash to rid the world of every silly, slobbering dog – won't that be great?!"

The baby tiger opened her eyes and hissed at the old cat. Speed Bump Charlie shuffled forward, out of reach.

"She's a feisty little thing. I'll give her that," he muttered, under his breath. "The sooner we get rid of her, the better."

Furball looked back and the tiger bared all her teeth at her. "Agreed," she grimaced.

Chapter Four

Placed in a special part of the plane, curtained off from the rest of the passengers, our team were trying to relax. After Alfie had devoured most of the food for the entire flight and scared the other passengers, the stewards had refused to serve the dogs so they were trying to keep themselves occupied by playing games.

"I spy with my little eye something that begins with..." Alfie hesitated and glanced around the plane. "Ummm... 'S'"

"It better not be 'seat' again!" Digger warned. "That's the tenth time in a row!"

"Well, there's not many things my eye can spy in here, Diggs," the big dog moaned.

"That doesn't mean you can choose the same thing over and over again!" Digger growled.

"Well, what else can I do?" Alfie protested.

Stella decided to intervene.

"Why don't we play a different game?" she suggested.

"Like what?" Alfie sat with his arms folded across his chest.

"Yeah, like what?'' Digger huffed.

"Well, let's see..."

Suddenly a loud click interrupted her. They all turned to Commander Rocky. The click meant his microchip had been activated and that meant someone was sending him a message.

Years ago, humans had put microchips in dogs to help find them if they were lost. Each microchip contained the owner's address and phone number. The Organisation had reprogrammed them so they could be used as communication devices. That way if any dog, anywhere in the world, was in trouble, he or she could scratch their necks seven times to activate the chip. Their call would be taken to the closest communication centre and their situation reported. Then it was just a matter of sending out a crack team of operatives to save them. It was an ingenious system.

The dogs scrambled out of their seats and stood around their Commander.

"I hope it's not Hans calling from HQ again," Astro complained, "How many times can one dachshund lose a stapler?!"

"I know," Alfie agreed. "It's just not that important."

"It's important to Hans," Digger corrected them. "A well-kept, orderly office is the foundation of a well-run, efficient organisation."

Astro and Alfie stared at the little dog and, when he looked away, Alfie stuck out his tongue at him.

Commander Rocky sat up and cleared his throat.

"Yes, Commander Rocky here."

Commander Rocky thought they had a really poor connection. The caller's voice was scratchy and gruff. He was having a hard time hearing the message so he signalled to the others to be quiet.

"Yes, that's right we're on a plane bound for India right now," he explained.

"Oh good. So, it was you who requested we come," he nodded to his team – an explanation at last.

"You want us to rescue a what? A Bengal... what? Been missing for two days, you say," Commander Rocky strained to hear.

"Can we play what? Cricket?" he looked up at his team and shrugged.

Alfie and Astro jumped up and high-fived each other. Digger squealed and clapped his paws in excitement. Commander Rocky stared at them briefly.

"Looks like we can," he said.

"Yes, we'll see you when we land," and with that he hung up.

"Well team, it looks like it's going to be an easy mission this time. All we have to do is find a Bengal, play a spot of cricket and then go home," Commander Rocky smiled.

"Cool!" Alfie exclaimed.

"Wicked!" Astro shouted, and he did a little dance in the aisle.

"I can't wait! Cricket! Imagine that!" Digger smiled. "It's been sometime but I'm sure once I don my whites it'll all come back to me."

Indy and Stella, however, were a little bit more sceptical.

"What kind of dog is a Bengal?" Indy asked.

"I'm not sure," Commander Rocky said. "Perhaps it's some kind of ancient Indian hound."

"Are you sure?" Stella asked him.

He shrugged his shoulders and went back to reading his magazine, "Dogs in Flight. The History of Aviation and How Canines Influenced It."

Indy and Stella looked at each other.

'I think there is more to this than meets the eye,' Indy thought to herself. Then she jumped as she heard Stella in her head say, 'me too!'

Chapter Five

Once the plane had landed in the city of Kolkata, India, getting off and out of the airport was much easier than it had been on their previous mission. When they landed in China, they had to sneak off the plane, through customs and get away before anyone saw them.

This time, however, everyone on the plane was so sick of the dogs, they were shunted off first, shoved through customs and rather impolitely dumped on the pavement outside the airport gates.

As two burly guards walked back through the sliding doors, Astro and Alfie frowned at them while Indy rubbed her hunting bone and considered fighting them both. Sensing their mission could be railroaded by an international incident, Rocky quickly hailed a cab and pushed them all in.

"Eden Gardens," he directed the driver.

"Sounds nice," Astro said. "Is it full of flowers?"

"And bees and apples?" Alfie sniggered.

"Flowers?? Bees?? Apples??" Digger cried. "Eden Gardens is the home of cricket. It's the best ground in the world. Everyone knows that!"

Astro didn't respond. He looked at Alfie who shrugged his shoulders.

"What do we do when we get there?" Indy asked.

"Our contact will meet us at the gates," Rocky explained. "He'll give us as much information as he can, then it'll just be a matter of finding the lost dog."

"Sounds too easy!" Alfie smiled.

"Probably because it is!" Indy warned and Stella nodded, but no one was paying any attention. They were too busy looking at the wonderful sights.

Once at the gates of Eden Gardens, the dogs looked around for their contact. There were hundreds of people coming and going in all directions. Commander Rocky had ordered his team to stay close so they wouldn't get lost. Huddled together and being buffeted by the crowd is where Ritcho found them.

"Good, you made it," he said, in a low, coarse voice. "Which one of you is Commander Rocky?"

Commander Rocky stepped forward and shook paws with the old dog.

"Thank you very much for coming," the old dog nodded. "I'm afraid we're desperate. Since Durga was stolen everyone here is lost. She brought such spirit and hope to us all."

"Don't you worry, my crack team of professional spies will ..." Commander Rocky looked back.

Digger was curled up asleep. Astro and Alfie were trying to steal Digger's hat while he slept. Indy was looking menacingly at just about anyone who dared glance at her. Only Stella was paying any attention to him.

"Ummm. Well, yes, arrr .... Here we are and .... Well, you need help," Commander Rocky smiled unconvincingly.

Ritcho glared at the others and shook his head. He leaned closer to Rocky and whispered. "You know what you're looking for?"

Commander Rocky nodded. "Yes, a Bengal," he answered confidently.

Ritcho looked at Rocky and back at the other dogs. "She's not just any Bengal. She's from ..."

"The Raja's Imperial Palace breeding program," a young boy finished Ritcho's sentence.

"I'm Sunny. You must be the Australian team, Ritcho told me so much about," the young boy bowed then held out his hand.

Commander Rocky nodded and shook it.

"Ummm, yes, but we don't normally work with humans," he frowned.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about him," Ritcho smiled. "Many of the boys and girls here know me so well I stopped acting like a dog years ago!"

Sunny and Ritcho laughed.

The other dogs gathered round and Rocky introduced them.

"What an odd bunch you are!" Sunny joked. "We do not see many dogs here and you are all so different. Quite, unique too!"

"But you have Ritcho and Durga. Do they look the same?" Commander Rocky asked.

Sunny and Ritcho looked at each other. Their eyes wide with surprise.

"Hardly!" they both burst out laughing.

Commander Rocky was very confused but he didn't want to seem rude.

"Okay. Can you tell me what happened?" he asked them.

Ritcho took a deep breath. "You see, it was my job to look after Durga and keep her safe. I dozed off for a short nap. I meant to only sleep for ten minutes but I went out cold for nearly two hours. It was as if I had been drugged," he said.

Alfie stepped forward and poked his nose right into Ritcho's face. He took in a long, deep breath. Then he closed his eyes for a few seconds.

"Yep! Someone's slipped you a sleeping tablet. I can smell it on your breath," Alfie smiled.

"But that was days ago!" Ritcho exclaimed.

Alfie nodded and touched the side of his nose with his paw. "Best snoz this side of Kolkata. And, you should cut down on those curries. Five helpings a day! That's a lot of spice, dude," the big dog shook his head. "You're not as young as you used to be."

Everyone stared at Alfie. Commander Rocky thought the best thing to do was to ignore him.

"And then what happened?" he asked.

"Nothing, really. We haven't had a ransom note. We haven't heard a thing. We don't know who took her or what they are going to do with her. I feel terrible that she went missing. It's my fault," Ritcho explained.

"No one is blaming you," Sunny patted the old dog. "We just want her back, safe and sound."

"But there is one more thing," Ritcho added. "Two cats were seen hanging around the Spice Market the day Durga went missing. They were asking questions about the cricket club and Durga but that is all I know. And, no one has seen them since."

Commander Rocky looked around at his team.

"What did they look like?" he asked Ritcho.

"They were both the same - both tabby cats, an old one and a little one. The old one had a limp and seemed to have a scar across his face. The other one was just a normal kitten," Ritcho explained.

Indy stepped forward and showed Ritcho a picture of the two cats on her phone. It was an image of a reward poster.

"Is this them?" she grunted.

Ritcho reached into his pocket and pulled out his glasses. He studied the image for a few seconds. "Why I think it is," he nodded.

Indy showed the others the picture on her phone.

"Speed Bump Charlie!" they cried.

"And that cheeky kitten, Furball!" Astro added.

Chapter Six

Elephants are remarkable creatures. They are strong and can travel many miles over rough ground. It is said that they never forget when someone is kind to them or if they are cruel. They are also strong willed and the one Speed Bump Charlie and Furball were travelling on was getting sick and tired of being bullied by the two cats.

Speed Bump Charlie had grabbed a low-hanging stick and was hitting the elephant with it when she slowed down. Furball was sitting further forward so Speed Bump Charlie couldn't see what she was doing. She had gone back to plucking out the elephant's hair and when she squealed Furball just turned and shrugged her shoulders.

As patient as the poor animal was, the elephant couldn't stand it anymore. She lifted her trunk in the air and took a deep breath. Then she shook her head and turned sharply off the path. The elephant quickened her pace until she was running at quite a speed down an embankment.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Speed Bump Charlie cried, bouncing up and down. "That's not the way!"

He tapped at his phone. "I'm sure we should be going over that rise, not down this valley!"

"Looks like the elephant has other ideas!" said Furball, as she bobbed about on the animal's head.

"F... f... find the reigns!" Speed Bump Charlie shouted.

"There aren't any!" Furball called back.

Bang, crash, bump, the two cats and the caged tiger were bounced up and down and tossed from side to side. Just when they thought they were going to fall off, the elephant came to an abrupt stop.

"Well, that's better," Speed Bump Charlie sighed.

"We've stopped at a river," Furball said, looking down. "I bet she was thirsty!"

The elephant did take a long draught of water and swallowed it.

"See!" Furball smiled.

Then the elephant reached her trunk over her head and grabbed Furball. She swung the kitten down and dunked her three times in and out of the water.

Splash!

Slop!

Splat!

"What's going on?!" Furball screamed, spitting water and thrashing her arms about.

She coughed and shook herself.

Speed Bump Charlie laughed and laughed.

"Maybe she thought you stunk and needed a bath!" he held his tummy and rocked backwards and forwards.

The elephant plopped Furball back on top of her head. The little cat sat there dripping wet. She was not happy at all. Speed Bump Charlie was laughing so much he didn't see the trunk coming for him until it was too late.

"Hey! No, you don't..." he cried, but his screams were soon just gargles and splutters.

Once he had been dipped in and out the water a few times, the elephant dumped him back on her head, turned around and headed in the right direction.

The two cats sat still dripping water everywhere and sulking. From behind them they heard sniggering. They looked at each other and then back at the tiger cub.

"You can laugh all you like now, but when we hand you over to the zoo, it'll be us who will be laughing," Speed Bump Charlie sneered.

Chapter Seven

Meanwhile, back at Eden Gardens, the dogs were preparing to begin their mission. Commander Rocky turned to his team.

"Well, you heard that. We know Speed Bump Charlie and Furball were seen at the market. I suggest that's the best place to start looking," he nodded towards the market gates. "Are there any questions?"

"What does Durga look like?" Astro asked. "Is she hairy like me or small like Stella?"

Commander Rocky turned to Ritcho. "Do you have a picture of the dog that we can use as a reference?" he asked.

"Dog?!" Ritcho laughed. "Durga is not a dog!"

"But what do you mean? We are part of the Canine Release Program. We rescue dogs. That's what we do!" Commander Rocky blurted out.

"Yes, but you rescue other animals too. I read it on your website," smiled Ritcho.

"Well, if Durga isn't a dog what is she? A cat, heaven forbid?!" Rocky exclaimed.

"She's a tiger," Ritcho smiled, "A Bengal tiger cub."

"When you said 'Bengal' I thought it meant some kind of dog," Rocky shook his head.

"Yeah! Like a beagle or a bearded collie!" Astro cried.

"I thought we were looking for Benji," Alfie smiled then his face dropped. "No?"

"No. You're rescuing a tiger cub," Ritcho looked from dog to dog. "But don't worry, she's only small."

"How small?" Astro asked.

"Oh, about as big as you," Ritcho looked Astro up and down. "Small really, for a tiger that is."

"What?! Tigers eat dogs! What are we going to do?" Digger cried, and he nearly fainted. Alfie grabbed his arms and held him up until he recovered.

The rest of the dogs stared at Ritcho.

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy," Indy muttered. "Still, I might get to use my hunting bone and bop something on the head after all. Or use my stink bomb to gas someone – now, that would make a great adventure."

Alfie raised his paw. "Will we be having lunch before we leave?" he smiled.

Commander Rocky shook his head and pointed to a food van. "Be quick!" he warned.

A few minutes later and sixteen take-away curries, Commander Rocky and his team stopped at the gates of the Spice Market. Before them were hundreds, no, thousands, of stalls and what seemed to six dogs, millions of people. The market stretched as far as the eye could see. There were so many things to buy and the dogs were immediately hit by the wonderful rich smell of spices for which the market was famous.

"How are we going to find anything in there?" Astro pointed.

"There's thousands and thousands of people," Digger's eyes were popping out of his head.

"They are right, Commander Rocky," Stella nodded.

"Let's split up. We'll take an aisle each and meet back here in two hours," Rocky suggested.

"Look for anything suspicious and ask lots of questions. We have to find out what Speed Bump Charlie and Furball were doing here and if they're involved. If the tiger cub is as big as Astro, someone must have seen it," he continued.

They all nodded and headed off in different directions.

Chapter Eight

The elephant had returned to the path and continued as she had been instructed. However, as they reached the peak of a hill she began to rock from side to side.

"What's going on now?" Speed Bump Charlie groaned, bouncing up and down. "This elephant is hopeless. Next time we're taking the bus."

"I don't think there is a bus," Furball shouted, as she clung onto the elephant's long ears to save herself from falling off.

The elephant stumbled and then collapsed on her front knees. Speed Bump Charlie and Furball fell forwards and tumbled down the elephant's trunk and bounced onto the jungle floor.

"Ouch!" Furball cried.

Speed Bump Charlie jumped up and waved his fist at the elephant. "If you weren't the size of a house I'd bop you right on the nose," he threatened the poor creature.

Just then the cats looked up and noticed that the ropes they had used to tie the steel crate down were stretching. It leaned forward and the tiger cub was squashed up against the bars.

"Get up there and tighten those ropes before the whole thing comes crashing down on my head!" Speed Bump Charlie ordered.

"You do it!" Furball said, defiantly. "I told you not to use a slip knot!"

Speed Bump Charlie turned and growled at her.

"If you don't do it now, I'll..."

But it was too late. The tiger cub let out a yelp as the crate slid forward, across the elephant's back, over her head and down the poor creature's trunk.

THUMP!

It hit the ground and Speed Bump Charlie and Furball jumped out of the way just in time. The tiger cub jumped up and shook the bars. She growled and hissed at the two cats.

"Now what are we going to do?!" Speed Bump Charlie yelled. "This is your fault!"

The elephant dropped her back legs down then slowly laid flat on the ground.

"You've killed the elephant too!" Speed Bump Charlie yelled, pointing at the creature.

"I have not!" Furball screamed at him. "You chose the old one because it was cheap!"

"Well, how did I know it was faulty?!" he screamed.

"Faulty? It's not a car. It doesn't have a flat tyre! It's an animal and it is probably sick or tired or something!" Furball threw her arms up into the air in exasperation.

Speed Bump Charlie walked around the side of the poor animal and kicked it.

"Get up and move!" he shouted at the elephant.

Above his head the leaves moved and rustled. The old cat heard something draw breath.

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you," a deep voice cooed.

Speed Bump Charlie spun around to see who was talking. He looked up but the leaves were too thick. He couldn't' see a thing but he sniffed and smelt something strange.

"Who's that?" he hissed.

Furball's eyes were bulging out of her head. Her mouth fell open in shock. From where she stood, she could see what Speed Bump Charlie couldn't.

"Come down here or I'll rip into you and slice you into pieces," the old cat warned. He held up his paws and unsheathed one razor-sharp claw after the other.

Furball tried to warn him but her mouth had gone dry. "Sn... Sn... Sn..."

Speed Bump Charlie frowned at her and shook his head. "I'll deal with you later," he mumbled under his breath.

He twisted his neck up and was about to lash out with his claws when he saw two golden eyes smiling down at him. In their centre, two dark slits seemed to pulse, growing bigger then smaller with each breath the creature took.

Speed Bump Charlie was transfixed. It was like he was under a spell.

"It's not very polite to poke and kick one of the Raja's prize elephants," the voice clucked. "He wouldn't be very happy with either of you and you could get into a lot of trouble."

Speed Bump Charlie stood frozen like a statue. He wasn't able to move a muscle. All he could do was watch as a giant serpent uncoiled and dropped to the ground. The snake was so long the first half of his body sat amongst the fallen leaves while the rest was looped around a tree branch. His head was wide and his dark eyes were set deep into the side of his head. There was a bright yellow pattern of diamonds stretching down his green scales.

Furball gulped. She wasn't sure whether to run or help Speed Bump Charlie. The snake sensed her fear. He came sliding over to her. He hovered right in front of her nose and flicked out his forked tongue.

"Well, you are a small one," he hissed quietly.

Then he continued, "The Raja Dayasagara is renowned in the jungle for being kind to all creatures, even me." The snake chuckled.

He pointed to a painting on the elephant's forehead.

"See there is the official crown of the Raja Dayasagara himself. I wonder how kind he will be to you when he finds one of his elephants lame and crippled by two wicked cats," the snake growled in a low voice.

"It wasn't really me. I was just..." Furball began to protest but after staring into the snake's eyes, all words left her.

The snake tilted his head from one side to the other then he hypnotised Furball the same way he had Speed Bump Charlie. Both cats stood like statues unable to move or cry out for help.

"Now, that's better," whistled the snake, curling his long body firstly around Speed Bump Charlie then Furball, "Seems I might have a tasty snack after all."

Then, as quickly as he appeared, the snake vanished into the thick undergrowth with the two tabby cats, or was it his lunch, safely wrapped in his coils.

Chapter Nine

At the Spice Market, Stella made her way to the elephants. They were lined up near the outer edge. Each one had a beautiful design painted on their forehands. They were shackled together to stop them wandering off but their handler needn't have bothered. The elephants were all family and they always stayed together.

Their handler was an old man with many children. He was employed by the Raja to hire out elephants to anyone who needed to travel long distances or needed heavy things taken from one place to another. The handler loved his elephants as much as he loved his children. He sat at a small table each day with the elephants lined up beside him.

Even though she was only small, Stella wasn't afraid of these large creatures. Years of experience had taught her how to communicate with all kinds of animals and even on rare occasions, cats.

She trotted over and sat in front of a large female elephant. The elephant had a brightly coloured sun painted on her forehead. Stella noted that there were flowers, leaves and birds flowing out of the sun's rays. She thought how beautiful the design was and decided to introduce herself to this one first.

"I am Stella D'oro. My name means 'Golden Star'," she began. "I am from the Australian division of the Organisation. My colleagues and I are in your beautiful country to..."

The elephant bopped her on the head gently with her trunk.

"Enough of your chatter, little one," she smiled. "Are you the same Stella D'oro who saved Miska, the circus elephant?"

Stella bowed and smiled.

"I am," she replied.

"Then your words are as necessary as a hole in a bucket!" the old elephant chuckled. The other elephants sniggered too. "We all know who you are and I suspect we might even know why you are here."

"We have been asked to rescue a young tiger cub, named Durga," Stella explained.

"Ahh, I told you," the old elephant nudged her sister to her right and her aunty to her left. "It's about those pesky cats, isn't it?"

"Why yes! Have you seen them?" Stella asked.

"Seen them, we have," the elephant nodded.

She pointed to a man sitting in a chair.

"There is our handler. He is a kind man but very lazy. He sleeps most of the day. While he was just waking from one of his many naps, those cats snuck up and brokered a deal. They bargained for some time to get the strongest and the fastest elephant. Seems they had a long journey ahead of them," the elephant explained. "Our handler, however, is not as frail of mind as many think. He lent them my great aunt, Toska, for half the price and they thought they had a bargain."

The elephants sniggered.

"Is your great aunt very slow?" Stella asked.

"Slow and frail," the elephant nodded. "But when she gets tired she just lies down and pretends to be lame. She's a naughty old elephant, that's for sure," the elephants all chuckled and sniggered.

"I see," Stella considered. "So the cats are riding on an elephant."

Stella thanked them and shook each one's trunk. Just as she turned to leave the elephants called her back.

"Your efforts to save our kind and other animals shouldn't go unnoticed, little dog," the elephant said.

Then she reached up and rubbed the tip of her trunk on the design painted on her head. Some of the red and blue paint came off. The old elephant gently reached forward and dabbed Stella's forehead with the paint.

"There! Now, you have the official sign of the Raja. It will bring you luck."

All the elephants bowed and Stella bowed low to show her respect.

Chapter Ten

While Stella was talking to the elephants, Indy had met a large Asian Black bear. It was performing tricks for the amusement of the crowd. Indy watched for a few minutes and felt sorry for the large beast. Slowly, she crept up behind it and sat on a coloured box. She barked loudly and the bear turned and growled at her. It held up its paws and threatened to slash Indy with its long claws.

"Don't be too hasty," Indy whispered. "I am here to help."

The bear lowered its paws and hopped from one foot to the next as part of its dance.

"What do you want?" it croaked.

"My name is Indy and I am a blue cattle dog from Australia. I am looking for information about two tabby cats and a stolen tiger," Indy explained.

"Ah, yes," the bear nodded and swung itself around and clapped its paws together. "Two cats came here asking about my crate: The steel one over there in the corner. They wanted one just like it, so my owner sold them the small one I used to live in when I was a cub."

Indy looked over at the crate and shook her head.

"I am sorry that you have to live in such a terrible thing," she bowed her head, but then she got an idea.

Indy decided to help the poor bear. She jumped down and hopped on her back legs in circles. The crowd cheered and clapped.

"You're very good," the bear nodded.

"I nearly ended up in a circus once," Indy winked at the bear.

She reached into her utility belt and pulled out a long, silver key.

"This key will open any lock in the world. Use it to unlock your cage tonight," Indy instructed bear. "When you're free, go to the Eden Gardens Cricket Ground and ask for a dog called Ritcho. Tell him that you've spoken to me and he'll help you escape."

The bear nodded and danced in a circle around Indy. Indy swayed her arms in the air and when no one was watching she slipped the key into the bear's pocket. The crowd clapped and cheered then Indy vanished just as quickly as she had appeared.

Astro was a little bit lost. He had run up and down aisle after aisle but couldn't see or hear anything that might be of use. He had asked questions of the silk merchant. He had begged for answers from the chicken handler. He even contemplated the unthinkable, returning without finding out anything at all.

He sat at the foot of the potter's stall. On each side of him rose six foot urns and pots cleverly crafted from clay and decorated with symbols of the Hindu faith. On one of them sat a bright blue parrot. It had a dark ring around its neck and a bright red beak.

"Whatcha doing?" the parrot said.

Astro went to answer but then he remembered that parrots only repeat what other people say.

'It's learnt to say that after hearing it said a dozen times,' he thought to himself.

The parrot lowered its head and clucked its tongue. Its beady eye watched Astro carefully.

"I'm no ordinary parrot," it winked at the grey dog.

Astro looked at it and frowned.

"I am an Indian Ringneck Parrot and I'm very special," the bird sang. Then it bobbed its head up and down.

"Polly, want a cracker!" it screeched.

"No, ignore that," the parrot corrected itself and shook its head. "Years of captivity and that's all I learnt. As hard as I try, I can't get it out of my head."

Astro looked at the parrot and frowned. He was about to speak when the parrot launched itself at him and landed on his paw. Astro jumped back in surprise.

"Don't be frightened. I won't hurt you," the parrot pecked at Astro's fur. He used his beak to untangle the knots in Astro's long hair.

"Let's just pretend I am preening you," the parrot suggested. "That way no one will be suspicious."

Then it let out a shrill cry. "Polly, want a cracker!"

Ignoring its own strange behaviour, the parrot continued.

"You're not from around here, are you?" it asked.

"I'm Astro and I'm from Australia. I'm here with my friends to help find a tiger cub," Astro explained.

"Durga?" the parrot nodded.

"Yes..." Astro didn't finish.

The parrot screamed, "Polly, want a cracker!"

Astro sighed and shook his head.

"I know Durga. She's a brave and intelligent creature. I'm sorry to say I haven't seen her but I have seen two cats," the parrot added.

Then..., "Polly, want a cracker!"

Astro shook his head again.

"What do you know about the cats?" he whispered.

"They were here asking for a telephone number to the zoo," the parrot told him. "It's not a nice place. Very old fashioned. They keep their animals in concrete cages and don't feed them properly. It's very cruel."

"What would Speed Bump Charlie want with a zoo?" Astro asked.

"They pay handsomely for exotic animals," the parrot explained.

"Polly, want a cracker!"

"A Bengal tiger cub would fetch a very high price, indeed! Polly, want a cracker! My owner gave it to them reluctantly. He warned them that the zoo keepers were cruel but the older cat just laughed. 'The crueller the better!' he said," the parrot started plucking at Astro's chin.

It tickled and Astro giggled.

"Polly, want a cracker!" the parrot screeched again and Astro jumped out of his skin. He stopped giggling.

"My owner was very upset. He warned the cats but they wouldn't listen. That's all I know," the parrot reached up and gently touched Astro's nose with his strange birdy tongue.

"Well, you have been very helpful," Astro looked down his nose, crossed-eyed at the bird.

"Polly, want a cracker!"

"Well, yes, I had better go now. Thank you, again," Astro said, standing up to leave. He placed the parrot gently on the edge of one of the pots.

"Polly, want a cracker!"

Astro smiled and nodded.

The parrot leaned closer. "Don't forget to say 'hello' to Durga for me," it winked at Astro.

"Polly, want a cracker!" it screeched again as Astro made his way back to the gate.

Chapter Eleven

Durga sat grumbling in her cage.

"Stupid cats," she murmured. "They have gone and got themselves caught by the serpent."

She shook her head. "And with no one here to save them, they'll be crushed and swallowed whole."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a bright light shining from the next hill. She stretched up her neck and sniffed the air. At first she wasn't sure but then she saw an eagle circle above her and watched as it flew towards the light.

"I know where I am now!" she cried. "I'm nearly safe if I can just get over that hill."

She looked back at the two cats and sighed deeply.

"I suppose I could leave them to be eaten. After all, who would miss a couple of tabby cats from Australia? There's no one else but me here and I am so close to home," she muttered to herself. Then she let out a long sigh, "It wouldn't be right to leave them with that wicked snake, regardless of what they have done. I suppose I'm going to have to save them. Then I'll have to rescue myself."

Durga unsheathed her claws and carefully picked the lock of the crate. The door swung open and she stepped out and stretched. She shook herself from head to tail then she made her way through the jungle following the path the snake had taken.

Just like her ancestors of old, the young tiger cub lowered herself down and crept through the jungle. She sniffed the tips of the leaves and branches as she went. She was careful not to step on a dry leaf or a branch. Any noise might alert the snake to the fact she was free. She could tell the snake wasn't going fast and she wanted to keep it that way. If it didn't think it was being followed it would have no need to rush. That way, Durga had a better chance of catching it up and launching a surprise attack.

Through the thick undergrowth, Durga's sharp eyes spotted the snake moving ahead. She leapt onto a low branch and, using all her might, sprung over and landed just in front of it. The snake reeled back in shock.

"Young tiger cub, you startled me!" he gasped.

"That was the idea," Durga grinned. "Now, release the cats and hand them over to me."

"Now, don't be silly," the snake warned. "I have eaten my fair share of baby creatures in my time. What makes you think I wouldn't devour you then eat these two morsels?"

The snake held up the two cats and jiggled them about.

Durga smiled. She put her paw into her mouth and blew. The whistle she made echoed around the jungle.

The snake made a face pretending to be scared.

"Ooohh! Whistling is not going to help you," he chuckled. "Whistling? Singing? Clapping? Performing the Salsa? Doesn't matter to me what you do. I'll still eat you all the same." He shot out his forked tongue to get a better taste of her.

The tiger cub's ears flicked back and she narrowed her eyes. Then a dark shadow swept over their heads. Then another. Something told the old snake that he might be in a spot of trouble. A shiver went down his spine.

Durga smiled and held out her paw. Onto it an Indian Crested Eagle landed. It flapped its black and white wings and clacked its yellow beak.

The snake gasped!

"That's an eagle! A snake eating eagle!" he cried.

"I know," nodded Durga. Then she looked behind the snake.

"And there's another... and another... and another," she smirked.

The snake spun around and saw that it was surrounded by not one, but six Crested Eagles.

"But there's six of them and only one of me! They'll rip into my soft skin with those sharp claws and peck out my eyes with their vicious beaks," he wailed.

The snake stopped whining and looked at Durga then immediately changed his tune.

"Well, I didn't really mean that I would eat you," he sneered. "After all, you're very precious, a rare Bengal tiger, no doubt. Nearly extinct, too, I believe. It's all been a terrible misunderstanding. I'll just be on my way, now."

The snake began to move off still carrying Speed Bump Charlie and Furball. Durga stepped into his way.

"Not with those two, you don't," she said.

"But they had you locked in a cage and they were cruel to the elephant, I saw them," the snake protested. "Let me eat them as punishment for you. Pleeeasssee?"

"I'll dish out my own punishments," Durga advised the cunning snake. "Let them go and I promise you'll leave here unharmed."

The eagles cried and stretched out their wings. The snake ducked and coiled itself up to appear smaller. He looked around and realised he had no choice. Slowly he uncoiled the two cats and let them fall to the ground. They were still in a trance. They plopped onto the floor of the jungle and then fell flat on their faces.

The snake turned and smirked at Durga.

"Seems you've won this battle, little tiger cub, but maybe next time you won't have your friends to help you and I'll be the victor," the snake shot out its tongue and slid off into the jungle.

Durga thanked the eagles and asked them to fly ahead and notify the Raja to send help for the lame elephant. As they flew away, she tied Speed Bump Charlie and Furball up with a piece of vine and threw them over her shoulder.

"Won't the Raja be pleased when he meets you two," she smiled, leaping over a fallen log and dashing into the jungle.

Chapter Twelve

Rocky made his way to large stand that had a sign that was advertising 'Save the Indian Clouded Leopards'. The stall had lots of boards full of information about the campaign. At the front was a beautiful Clouded Leopard. She was wearing a diamond studded collar. Rocky hadn't seen another animal that looked so beautiful before. The Clouded Leopard had coloured patches that were contrasted by black and white edges. Her face was marked with stripes like a tiger. The Clouded Leopard sat upright staring off into the distance. Rocky approached with caution. He didn't want to startle her. As he got close, he cleared his throat.

"I've been waiting for you," the leopard whispered. "My sharp eyes and ears saw you coming. I think I might have the information you seek."

Rocky smiled. "It is so very nice to meet you," he said. "My name is Commander Rocky and I am from Australia. I am here with my team to save Durga, the Bengal tiger cub."

The Clouded Leopard looked down at him and grinned.

"I know. There are whispers around the market that six dogs are looking for information."

"Have you seen the tiger?" Rocky asked.

"No, but I have seen two cats. They came here asking for directions," the leopard continued.

"To where?"

"To a very bad place. A zoo on the border."

"Did you give it to them?"

"Not at all!" the leopard grumbled, "But sadly there are maps on the boards behind me and the small cat was able to work out where to go from them."

Rocky looked at the boards and nodded.

"I better take down the details just in case we need them," he let out a long sigh and then entered the coordinates into his phone.

The Clouded Leopard looked at Rocky's phone and smiled.

"Are you familiar with something called a 'selfie'?" she asked.

"Why, yes," Rocky said.

"Shall we?"

The Clouded Leopard leant down and placed her cheek against Rocky's. He held up his phone and said, "Smile!"

The phone flashed and the leopard chuckled to herself.

"Put it on MyFace and InstaTwit. I'll download it later," she laughed.

Rocky tapped his and the image appeared on his timeline.

"That will keep them guessing back at the office," he laughed.

Only a few stalls away, Digger had made friends with a beautiful male peacock. The peacock was walking up and down parading his long tail for all to see. Digger was trotting along beside him.

"So you say the cats purchased a strange and powerful spice?" Digger asked the bird.

"Yes, it is very powerful and also very rare," the bird clucked. "I thought it was strange that a cat would need something like that but the monkey at the stall didn't care. He charged the silly cat triple what it was really worth."

The peacock saw a peahen and squawked loudly. "Look at me! Look at me!" and he turned and waved his tail at her. The peahen ignored him and continued to peck at the dirt.

Digger looked at him and shrugged. When the peacock relaxed he continued.

"What is it used for?" he asked.

The peacock stretched up its tail and shivered all the feathers. They seemed to sparkle green and blue in the sunlight. Digger shook his head thoughtfully. He was sure he hadn't seen anything so beautiful before.

Then the peacock saw another peahen. He scratched the ground with his claws and shook his tail again.

"Look at me! Look at me!" he squawked.

Digger watched the peahen. She ignored him too.

The peacock shrugged this time. "How can they ignore me? Am I not the most beautiful creature you've ever laid eyes on?" he asked the little dog.

"Oh yes," Digger agreed, trying to placate the vain bird. "But I was still wondering what the spice is used for."

The peacock let out a long sigh. Then he spotted another peahen. Thinking that the little dog might be putting the females off, he decided to get rid of him.

'I might stand a better chance with hairy here out of the way. He's clearly distracting those lovely ladies away from my supreme beauty,' he thought to himself. Then he turned to Digger and whispered something into his ears.

The little dog reeled back in shock.

"It's used for what?" he croaked. "I can't believe it!"

"Well, it's true and you better believe it," the peacock said. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have a date with that lovely lady over there."

Digger thanked the bird and turned to leave. After only two steps he heard the bird squawk, "Look at me! Look at me!"

Chapter Thirteen

Durga travelled quickly through the jungle despite the two loads she carried. She was fit and strong and, even more importantly, she was determined to reach her destination as quickly as possible. Overhead parrots screeched to warn the guards that she was approaching but Durga didn't care. Only a few metres away she stopped and smiled at what stood before her.

Tall columns stretched up, out of the undergrowth and towered into the sky. Their pure white marble could be seen through the vines that curled and laced the towers. On top of each tower stood a pair of marble eagles, their keen eyes scanning the horizon for danger.

At the base of each column stood two guards. They were Black Buck Deer. Each had long, twisted antlers sharpened and ready for battle. They also carried long swords and wore the Raja's crest on their vests.

Durga approached slowly but she was confident they wouldn't attack her. However, the Black Bucks drew their swords in unison and stood, legs apart, ready to attack. Durga purred and lowered her head to the ground.

"Please forgive the intrusion," she said. "My name is Durga and I am of the Royal Bengal Tiger lineage. I am here to seek the advice of the great Raja Dayasagara himself."

"About what?" the leader of the guards grunted.

Durga threw the two cats over her shoulders and onto the ground in front of the guards. The leader poked them with his sword.

"What is the matter with them?" he asked. "They seem alive but they do not move."

"Hypnotized by a wicked python," Durga explained. "They kidnapped me and were going to sell me to the old zoo over the border."

The Black Bucks gasped. "How terrible, indeed!" the leader exclaimed.

"I request permission to seek the Raja's advice on how to deal with them," she bowed low.

The leader grunted and another deer shot away. He returned a few minutes later and nodded to his commander.

"You are welcome," the leader informed Durga.

She picked up the two cats and walked confidently between the guards and through to the palace. Before she reached the throne room, the Raja came out to meet her.

"Durga! How lovely to meet you! Welcome! Welcome!" he exclaimed.

Durga bowed low and averted her eyes away from the great king in respect. He was a tall man dressed in a long, grey coat that was decorated with gold and silver thread. He wore a white turban and dark trousers.

"What the dickens have you brought me?!" Raja Dayasagara cried, clapping his hands together.

He bent over the two cats and touched them gently. He looked up at Durga and smiled.

"Two kitty cats! How delightful! But they are dead, yes?"

"No, your Royal Highness, they have been hypnotized by the great python," Durga bowed.

"Oh, him! He is quite naughty, isn't he?" the Raja smiled and shook his head.

He stood up and clapped his hands. Two servants appeared.

"Take the kitties to the kitchen. Untie them and wake them up," he said, and then he lowered his voice and mouthed in confidence, "You know how!"

The servants nodded and stepped forward to pick up Speed Bump Charlie and Furball. As they left the room, the Raja shouted, "And give them a warm saucer of milk, one each!"

He turned to Durga.

"Let's go into my throne room where it's cool. I can get you a warm saucer of milk too you know!" he winked at Durga.

"Royal Bengal Tigers don't drink milk, your Highness," Durga said. "But those cats, they have been very wicked."

"Really?" Raja Dayasagara asked, walking on. "Tell me everything."

As they walked through the palace gardens, Durga told the Raja everything that had happened. He didn't say a thing. He just listened and nodded.

"And, for these reasons and more, I don't think they deserve a warm saucer of milk!" Durga protested.

The Raja smiled.

"Yes, but even a condemned man gets his last meal," he smiled. "And who could resist seeing a kitty with a little, cute milky moustache!?"

"Yes, but..." Durga went to argue with the Raja, but then she noticed something unusual next to the throne.

It was a large pink cushion. It was so deep and thick it looked like a cloud. It was made of the softest silk and had tiny gold and silver bones embroidered all over it. Just as she had stopped talking, something in it moved.

Durga frowned and tilted her head.

"We are not alone, Your Royal Highness," she whispered.

The Raja Dayasagara laughed.

"Why no, this is my very best friend, Emily the Deerhound. We have been BFF's for some time now, haven't we Emily?"

The large, grey dog lifted her head and peered over the top of her bed. She let out a long sigh and went back to sleep.

"Now, come on over here!" the Raja patted his legs. "C'mon! C'mon!"

Emily ignored him.

He stood up and laughed, "What a lazy girl you are!"

Durga shrugged and continued.

"Like I said, I really need to punish those cats. We can't let them get away with kidnapping a tiger, especially me!"

The Raja went to respond but a loud bell clattered behind him and he covered his ears. Seconds later, six servants trotted quickly over to Emily and stood to attention. The servants wore white coats and pants. They had turbans on their heads with gold stars adorning the front. Each one held something in his hands.

One of them rang a small bell very gently.

Emily lifted up her head and sighed.

"It's time for your beauty treatment," the servant whispered.

Emily let out another long sigh and rose up out of the bed. Durga was astonished how tall she was. Emily had dark, curly hair and a long nose. She wore a pink diamond-studded collar made from leather and real diamonds.

The long dog stepped out of her bed and pranced proudly over to a spot near the window. The servants fussed around her. She stood perfectly still as each one went to work. Two kneeled on the floor, one in front and the other behind. Each one polished Emily's nails. After they had finished, two more rubbed softener into her paws while another gently brushed her tail with a solid gold brush. The sixth servant carefully combed the straggly hairs away from her eyes and the last one was gently rubbing an ointment into her nose.

Durga's jaw dropped to the ground. The Raja looked at her and laughed.

"Isn't she precious?! And so regal!" he clapped his hands together in joy.

"She's being groomed by six servants!" Durga remarked. "Six!"

"I know, but this is not normal," the Raja said. "Normally, there's eight. It must be their day off."

He had no sooner finished when another servant bustled in carrying a gold bowl. After him came another servant carrying a silver one.

"Oh no, here they are!" the Raja smiled.

The gold bowl was full of delicious meat and vegetables and the silver one, sparkling fresh water. The bowls were placed under Emily's nose. She sniffed each one in turn and then stood up and looked out of the window. Realising a mistake had been made, the head servant shouted at the others. They gasped and then two got down on their hands and knees. Another two placed the bowls on their backs. The remaining servants stepped back and bowed.

"That's better," Emily groaned. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you I can't eat directly off the floor. It's disgusting and I'll get indigestion."

She stepped towards the first bowl and munched happily on the contents. Then she lapped up the fresh water from the second bowl.

Durga's stomach rumbled.

"Where are my manners!" the Raja exclaimed.

He clapped his hands together and two more servants appeared.

"Meat and water for my guest," he instructed one of them.

The other bowed low. "We have found the elephant and she is resting in the barn," he informed the Raja.

"Oh, very good. Make sure she has everything she needs. I'll come out and see her soon."

Then turning to Durga, he said, "Come! You can lie on my couch and rest. Then we'll discuss what we can do with your naughty kitties."

Chapter Fourteen

Back at the Spice Market, Alfie had been distracted by a curry-eating competition. He had lined up with twenty young men and ate twice as much as all of them put together. Everyone was astonished. They offered him a silver trophy as first prize.

"No, you guys keep it," Alfie laughed. "I'm on a secret mission and to be honest, I don't have anywhere to keep it."

He burped loudly.

"Whoops! Excuse me! Well, I had better be off. Thanks for lunch!" Alfie trotted away happily.

Everyone just stared in disbelief as he vanished into the crowd.

Alfie continued on his journey. He trotted along sniffing anything and everything he could find. Mostly, he smelt people, food, animals, food, pots, food, clothes, food, jewellery, food and...

He stopped and sniffed a basket. It was sitting all alone. Next to it was a red cushion and on top of that, a small flute. Alfie sniffed around the base of the basket and up to its lid. He nudged the lid and then trotted around the other side.

"What is in here, I wonder?" he mumbled.

"Why don't you lift my lid and find out!" the basket whispered.

Alfie jumped back in fright!

"A talking basket!" he exclaimed. "Will wonders never cease?"

"Open me!" the basket ordered.

Alfie wasn't very smart but he always tried to do as he was told. Gently, he lifted the lid and peered into the darkness.

"Is that better, basket?" he asked.

Inside he saw two orange eyes staring back at him. They had black slits down their centres and they seemed to pulse. The eyes rocked from side to side.

"Much better," the basket said. "Now, listen carefully."

Alfie's eyes were round and his pupils small. He nodded obediently and pricked up one of his ears.

"Waiting for your every command, Sir," he said, robotically.

The thing inside the basket moved upwards but it couldn't get past Alfie's wide head.

"Move back, you dope!" it spat.

Alfie did as he was told immediately. He watched as an Indian Cobra lifted its head high out of the basket. It shot out its tongue and smiled at Alfie.

"You are under my spell," the cobra hissed.

"I. am. under. your. spell," Alfie echoed.

The snake waved its head from side to side. Alfie did the same thing. It bobbed its head up and down. Alfie copied. It fanned out its hood to make itself look bigger. Alfie fanned out his ears and a dark shadow fell over the cobra.

The snake narrowed its eyes and smiled wickedly.

'I've got a right banana here,' it thought. 'If I can keep him under my spell I'll be able to escape this basket. I've been cramped up in it for weeks and I'd like to go home.'

The snake began to hum a tune.

Then it whispered, "Dance! Dance! Big dog!"

Alfie jumped up and started rocking his bottom from side to side. He stepped his feet in and out then he began to shake his paws and waggle his head.

A crowd gathered. They clapped to encourage Alfie to dance more. The cobra hissed and moved along with the big dog.

Alfie swayed his body from side to side. He hopped on one foot then the next. Then he bounced up and down, up and down as the crowd clapped.

"Excellent!" the snake laughed, "Dance! Dance!"

Alfie began to spin around in circles. The faster the crowd clapped, the quicker he got.

The snake lifted itself further out of the basket. It spread out its hood wider and appeared more ferocious than ever before. It looked around to see if its handler was anywhere nearby.

"I can't see that ratbag anywhere," the snake hissed. "This is working out perfectly."

Alfie danced around the basket, spinning and hopping from one paw to the next. The snake thought now was the best time to escape but Alfie was blocking its way. It leaned to the left, Alfie leaned to the left too. It stretched to the right and Alfie bounced into its way. Alfie turned around wiggled his bottom right in the snake's face.

"What cheek!" it declared. "I'll teach you, stupid dog!"

It drew back its head, stuck out its tongue and bared its fangs ready to strike.

"I'll give you a bite of my poison from my sharp fangs. Let's see how you like that!" the snake cried.

At that exact time, Alfie got a terrible pain. He clutched at his tummy and let out a long cry. Before anyone knew what was happening, the gas from 45 vindaloo curries erupted out of his bottom! The noise was deafening and the smell worse!

The snake gasped and choked.

"What's that terrible..." but the poor creature didn't finish. It passed out and collapsed like a limp piece of rope back into the basket.

"Well, excuse me!" Alfie cried but he needn't have bothered. The crowd that had been cheering him on had fled. A sniff from Alfie's fart was enough to clear any room. Today Alfie, after all those curries, had succeeded in clearing the entire market.

At the gates, the other dogs had just started sharing the information they had gathered when they saw hundreds of people running towards them.

"Look out!" Commander Rocky cried, and each of them dove out of the way.

"What's going on?" Digger yelled.

"It's a stampede!" Indy shouted, over the noise.

They stay huddled together behind a market stall until the last person left. Astro stuck out his head.

"The coast is clear," he announced. Then looking back into the market he yelled, "Oh, here's Alfie, too!"

"Where have you been?" Astro asked.

Alfie smiled sheepishly. "Well, it all started with a curry eating competition and ended with an unconscious cobra."

"What?" Astro asked.

Rocky looked sternly at him, "Did you find out anything?"

"Not really, but a word of warning, the curries in this place are volatile!"

Chapter Fifteen

Commander Rocky decided to ignore Alfie. They had spent enough time in the market and they needed to get moving, straight away.

"Okay, team. So, now we know that Speed Bump Charlie and Furball had every intention of kidnapping the tiger cub and selling her to a terrible zoo. We also know which way they went. They have a bit of a head start on us but I'm sure if we hurry we can catch them," he said.

"Are we going to travel on foot?" Astro asked. "My paws are a bit sore."

"Mine too," added Digger.

"Why don't we hire an elephant?" Stella suggested. "I think I might be able to get them for a bargain."

"That's a great idea," Alfie said, holding his tummy. "I still feel a bit sick from lunch."

"Well, I suppose it might make things a bit easier," Commander Rocky admitted. "Let's see if there is anyone left in the market who can help us." He glared at Alfie.

Over at the elephants' stall, they found six elephants all standing with their trunks in their mouths.

"Are they sucking their trunks like babies suck their thumbs?" Astro asked.

Alfie looked shyly at the ground, "Nah, I think they're trying to hold their breath."

Astro turned and looked at Alfie.

"Really? It was that bad?" he asked.

Alfie raised his eyebrows and sucked in his breath, "Yep. Sure was!"

Commander Rocky looked around.

"I can't see the handler anywhere," he remarked. "Alfie and Astro, see if you can find the key to these shackles."

"Yes, Sir!" the two dogs chimed.

Astro and Alfie began to search around the elephants. Alfie put his powerful nose to the ground and sniffed deeply. His tail began to wag and his ears pricked up. He zig-zagged around the elephants' large feet, backwards and forwards he went.

"What is he doing?" Commander Rocky asked, shaking his head.

"I think he's found the scent of the handler," Digger said, "but who knows with Alfie. It could be the trail left from a ten day old kebab."

Alfie dashed over to the table. He let out a cry and then tripped, face first, over the handler, landing nose first in the dirt.

"I found him!" Alfie cried, getting to his feet.

"Is he okay?" Astro asked.

He sniffed the man with his large nose.

"He's just fainted or he's asleep," he told the others. "I'm not sure which."

"Well, let's leave a note and some money," Stella said. "The poor man has probably been gassed by Alfie's wind. We don't want him to wake up and think his elephants have been stolen. That will only add to his worries."

Digger whipped out a writing pad and scribbled a short note. Astro, Indy and Alfie dug deep into their pockets and dumped whatever money they had on the table.

"That should cover it," Indy said, counting through the notes and coins.

"Except I don't think he wants this," she added, handing Alfie a stick of gum.

He smiled and took it off her.

Stella approached the elephants and explained what was going to happen. Rocky whipped around and unlocked the irons on their legs.

"We'll be more than happy to help," the head elephant cried. "Just hop up, we know exactly where to go."

The dogs looked up, up, up at the large elephants. They had no idea how to climb on their backs.

Alfie began to scramble up the leg of his elephant. He grabbed her loose skin and pushed and pulled himself up her leg. Then he swung on her ear and pulled himself onto her back.

Astro watched him and thought he'd try but his elephant wasn't so patient. He grabbed two fistfuls of her loose skin and started to climb. However, the elephant had other ideas. She lifted up her knee and tossed Astro up in the air. Then she took two steps forward and he landed on her back facing the wrong way.

"Ouch!" he cried rubbing his bottom. "Elephants – they sure are softer nearer to the ground than they are further up."

Digger ran around his elephant but after seeing what happened to Astro he wasn't game to climb up. It was then he heard Stella clearing her throat. Her elephant reached down and offered her trunk as a seat. Then she gently lifted Stella up into the air and over her head. Stella stepped down and made herself comfortable on her back.

"Ah! That's how you do it!" Alfie laughed.

Digger and Commander Rocky looked at each other and back at their elephants.

"Could we be lifted up the same way?" Digger asked, then, remembering his manners, he added, "Please?"

The elephants looked at each other and smiled. They gently lifted Digger and Commander Rocky in place. Astro scrambled around so he was facing the right way.

The head elephant raised her trunk and let out a loud trumpet call.

"Let's go, ladies!" she cried and in single file the elephants strolled out of the market and up the hills towards the jungle.

Chapter Sixteen

Raja Dayasagar was, without question, the kindest person in India. His name actually meant 'extremely kind' and it could be honestly said he didn't have a mean bone in his body. As he sat on his throne with Emily to his left and Durga to his right, the naughty cats were brought before him.

He stared at them and shook his head.

"What am I going to do with you two?" he said.

Speed Bump Charlie and Furball had recovered nicely from their ordeal. They had been revived and replenished with rich, creamy milk. Furball was still licking her whiskers but Speed Bump Charlie wasn't so easily appeased. He growled and bared his teeth at Durga.

The Raja looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

He turned to the cats, "Durga has told me that you kidnapped her and were going to sell her to the zoo over the border," the Raja leaned forward.

"Yeah, so what!" the old cat hissed.

"That's quite naughty, isn't it?"

"What's it to you?" Speed Bump Charlie sneered.

"I am a king and Durga has come to me for advice. She wants to know what would be the best way to punish you," the Raja continued.

"Blah, blah, blah!" Speed Bump Charlie droned. "Well, hurry up and get it over with."

"Well, it's not that easy," the Raja said. "I think that you need to be sat down and given a good talking to."

Speed Bump Charlie looked blankly at the Raja. He suddenly realised that things might not be as bad as he first thought.

"Oh! No! Please don't! Anything but a good talking to, please stop!" he pretended to be afraid.

The Raja turned to Durga.

"See, I told you."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.

"But there is one more thing," the Raja shook his finger at the cats.

"What?" Speed Bump Charlie smirked.

"You must promise not to do it again. Cross your heart and hope to die!"

Speed Bump Charlie and Furball looked at each other.

"Is he for real?" Furball whispered.

"Shhh," Speed Bump Charlie ordered her. "We're about to walk out of here scot-free!"

He bowed low and nudged Furball in the ribs to do the same.

"Oh, your Royal Highness, the Raja of what's-it-called. We solemnly promise to never kidnap a tiger cub and try to sell her to some crappy zoo," Speed Bump Charlie said. "Oh, and we're sorry," he lied.

The Raja clapped his hands together and laughed.

"There! Everything is much better now!"

"He's not telling the truth!" Durga huffed, but she knew it was no good complaining. The Raja was too generous and kind.

Emily had been listening. For the first time in years, she had taken quite an interest in what was going on. The large dog sat up and watched the cats carefully.

"You are free to go," the Raja said, waving his hands towards the door. "But you are also welcome to stay if you like. It's very nice here!"

"It's lovely," Furball smiled. "I'd like to stay."

Speed Bump Charlie glared at her.

"You're coming with me," he growled. "Come on!"

He dragged Furball away.

"Wait!" Emily barked.

Speed Bump Charlie stopped and turned back.

'What does the hairy pony want?' he thought to himself.

"I think Durga and I should escort you back to Kolkata. I mean, we wouldn't want you to get caught by a big python again, would we?" she smiled at the cats.

Speed Bump Charlie rolled his eyes but Durga thought it was a great idea.

"Why, yes! Emily and I will keep you safe on your journey and when we get back we can make sure you leave India for good!" the tiger cub grinned.

"Don't worry, we were not planning on staying. We don't need your help. Me and hairball, here, will be perfectly fine on our own," Speed Bump Charlie said.

The Raja jumped to his feet. "Oh, I think that's a great idea! No, I insist! Emily are you sure you'll be okay or should I send eight servants to look after you?"

Emily looked at the Raja and threw her head up into the air. She shook her head gently and let out a deep sigh, "No, I'll be fine and besides I think it's about time I stretched my legs. Once I've seen these two out of the country I'll come straight back."

The Raja blew her a kiss and winked. "I'll miss you, bestie!"

Emily and Durga looked at each other. Durga raised one eyebrow but the expression on Emily's face showed only dignified resignation.

"Let's go," Durga growled, and she pushed Speed Bump Charlie forward with her nose.

"Watch out, fleabag," Speed Bump Charlie hissed at her.

"Just remember, I'll be two steps behind you all the way!" she uttered under her breath.

The Raja went with them to the gates and waved them goodbye. Just as they had got out of sight, a servant hurried up to him holding a small vial of powder.

"We found this on the old cat, your highness," the servant bowed.

The Raja picked it up and looked carefully at its contents. His eyes shot open wide and he bit his bottom lip.

"Is it what I think it is?!" he gulped.

"Yes, Sir, I'm afraid it's a very potent mix too," the servant replied.

"What did the cat want it for, I wonder?" the Raja said, handing it back to the servant.

"We don't know, your highness," the servant replied.

"What did you do? He'll notice it missing? He might come back for it," the Raja said.

"I took the liberty of replacing it with something a lot less harmful," the servant bowed.

The Raja smiled at his clever servant.

"Do I want to know what it was?" the Raja asked.

"Probably not," the servant bowed low.

"Very good, then. Very good, indeed!" the Raja smiled and clapped his hands together three times. "Now, let's check on that elephant. I bet it's Toska. She's another naughty one!"

Chapter Seventeen

Up into the hills and through the jungle the line of elephants travelled. The dogs on their backs were having a lovely time.

"It's quite peaceful up here," Digger remarked.

"And you can see for miles," Alfie laughed.

"I feel very safe," Astro smiled. "Well, I do now that I'm facing the right way!"

Leading them was Indy. She was standing on the neck of the elephant. Her legs apart and her paws on her hips, she looked very commanding.

Alfie leaned forward and watched his elephant's trunk swaying from side to side. He matched the rhythm with his head but the weather was warm and he began to feel very drowsy.

"Be careful you don't fall," Digger warned him.

Astro looked back. "Watch out, Alfie, or you'll..."

Astro's warning came too late. Without realising, Alfie fainted and fell from the crown of the elephant's head and slipped down her trunk. Just before he hit the ground, the elephant whipped her trunk around and lifted Alfie back onto her head. He woke up with a shock.

"What's going on?" he moaned. "I was having a wonderful dream that I was sleeping in a hammock stretched between two gum trees back home."

Astro had been so busy watching Alfie he didn't see a long hanging vine and it hit him on the head.

"Ouch!" he cried.

Digger started to laugh, "You two sure are clumsy."

Just then the elephants stopped.

"What's going on?" Astro asked, rubbing his head.

They were standing on the crest of hill. The elephants gathered together and began to discuss something in whispers. The dogs waited in silence wondering what was going on. Only Stella had an idea. Rocky watched them for a few minutes then he turned to her.

"Anything?" he asked.

"I'm getting bits and pieces," she told him. "They think the elephant Speed Bump Charlie rode stopped here and went down to the river but they're not sure why from what I can gather."

The elephants nodded and touched each other's trunks. Then they set off again. However, they hadn't gone far when they heard a terrible scream. The head elephant raised up her trunk and trumpeted an alarm call.

"What's going on?" Commander Rocky cried.

"Where did that awful scream come from?" Digger asked.

"I don't want to know where. I want to know why," Astro said, his voice trembling.

The lead elephant turned to Stella.

"That was the hunting cry of the Gnashers," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm afraid we can't go on any further."

"Gnashers?" Rocky asked. "What are Gnashers?"

"Terrible creatures with rows and rows of sharp teeth," she replied. "They are mean and wild and very ferocious."

The elephants began to huddle together for comfort. The dogs were buffeted and rocked backwards and forwards.

"They sound awful. How big are they?" Astro moaned.

"No bigger than you but they are mean, very very mean," the elephant told him. "The Raja's palace is over the next rise. We will head there. I'm afraid that you'll have to head towards those rocks on the horizon. I believe you'll find what you are looking for there."

"What about the Gnashers?" Alfie asked.

"I'm sorry but we can't help you. They travel in packs and have been known to attack large elephants like us. There is nothing we can do. I'm sorry."

"We understand," Commander Rocky said, jumping down from his elephant.

"Thank you for taking us this far," Stella said, and bowed low.

The others jumped down and bowed too.

Indy rushed forward. She pulled her hunting bone from her belt and rubbed her stink grenade.

"Come on, everyone. It looks like we might get into a fight after all," she whistled happily and trotted off into the bush.

"Oh, I hope not," Digger whimpered.

"Don't worry, Diggs. I'll protect you," Alfie put his arm around the little dog's shoulders.

"You gassed out a market!" Digger griped.

"See! You're looking on the bright side already," Alfie smiled.

Indy called from up front, "Alfie, get up here. I need your strong nose!"

"Coming!" he said, trotting ahead.

He found Indy kneeling down in the undergrowth. As Alfie approached she stood up and pointed to some broken branches.

"Sniff those and tell me what you can smell," she said, to the big dog.

Alfie got down on all fours and ran his nose all over the bushes and the trees.

The others caught up with them.

"What's he doing?" Astro asked.

Alfie stood up and clapped his paws together.

"Well done, Indy. Looks like you've found Speed Bump Charlie and the little kitten!" he laughed.

"Where?" the others asked together.

Alfie began running ahead.

"This way," he called over his shoulders, disappearing into the thick Indian jungle.

Chapter Eighteen

Earlier, Speed Bump Charlie and Furball were being escorted by Durga and Emily through the jungle back to Kolkata. Emily trotted on ahead and acted as look-out while Durga walked behind the cats watching their every move. Her eyes never left them.

Furball glanced over her shoulder at the tiger cub.

"What are we going to do now?" she whispered. "How are we going to get out of this mess?"

"Stop worrying. If you carry on anymore your stripes will fall off," Speed Bump Charlie hissed at her.

He glanced back at Durga and poked out his tongue. She hissed and bared her teeth at him. Speed Bump Charlie pretended he didn't care but he quickened his pace just a little bit more.

He looked around at the dark trees and thick undergrowth. Then his phone buzzed in his pocket. Furball looked at him quizzically. She saw a wide grin spread from one side of the old cat's face to the other.

'He's up to something,' she thought, 'And about time.'

Speed Bump Charlie grabbed his back and let out a long moan.

"Oh, my back! My back! I think I've torn a muscle!" he staggered around pretending to lose his balance.

"What's wrong?" Furball feigned worry. "Oh, great Speed Bump, whatever could be the matter?"

Speed Bump Charlie winked at her.

"Nice touch," he muttered under his breath.

He stumbled up to a tree and placed his hands on its trunk.

"I'll be okay. Don't worry about me. It's just my age catching up with me. Go on without me," he waved his paws forward. "I'll catch up soon, I promise."

"Not likely!" Durga said. "I'm not leaving you here on your own."

Emily trotted back. "What's going on?" she asked.

"The cat has hurt his back and wants us to go on without him," Durga shot a sideways glance at Speed Bump Charlie and rolled her eyes.

"I'll stay here with him!" Furball offered. "And we promise to go straight to the airport when Mr Bump's feeling better and leave India forever," she smiled.

Emily frowned at her and Durga grumbled something under her breath.

Speed Bump Charlie felt his phone buzz again. 'Time's running out,' he thought.

"Oh, look! Up there on that ridge are some rocks. Perhaps if I could lie on them in the sun it will help my old back and I'll be able to keep going," he pointed towards a group of rocks jutting out over a hill.

Durga and Emily looked up and then back at each other.

"I could do with a rest myself," Emily said. "My claws are becoming clogged with muck and my coat's getting matted. I should have brought at least one servant."

Durga let out a deep sigh in exasperation. "Oh, okay, but only for a few minutes!" she stated.

They made their way up to the rocks. Speed Bump Charlie stretched himself out on his tummy.

"This is wonderful," he moaned.

His phone buzzed again.

Furball sat near him but Durga and Emily went to the edge to look at the view.

"Boy, it sure is nice up here," Emily remarked. "Look, you can see all the way across the jungle to the town."

Durga agreed but something deep down told her that something wasn't quite right. She couldn't put her finger on it. She looked back at the cats. She didn't notice the leaves in the bushes rustling.

Speed Bump Charlie opened one eye. "Is the tiger watching us?" he whispered.

Furball looked over.

"Not anymore she's gone back to admiring the view," she reported.

Speed Bump Charlie sat himself up.

"Keep a look out. I've got to answer this message," he ordered.

"What is it?" Furball asked.

"Oh, just another benefit of being one of the Most Evil Geniuses in the World," he muttered, and shimmied his shoulders with joy. He began tapping furiously at his phone.

"Your DAWG app, you mean," Furball sniggered.

"Laugh all you like," Speed Bump Charlie smiled, "but we're about to get some visitors that will, shall we say, help us turn the tables."

He chuckled and laid back down on the rocks again.

Furball looked around her. They were perched on a flat rock on the edge of a mountain. They were surrounded by bushes from behind. The only way out was to go back down the path, the way they had come. The alternative was to jump off the edge of the rocks. The drop was several hundred feet. No one would survive it.

Chapter Nineteen

The dogs made their way through the jungle but it wasn't easy. The undergrowth was thick with vines and bushes. They often had to change their route to go around a fallen tree or past a dense bush. They managed the best they could but Digger and Stella were having the most difficulty.

"Hey, wait up," Digger called.

Stella did her best to navigate through the thick bush but it was difficult being blind.

"I wish there was a clearer path," she muttered.

Commander Rocky called them to a stop.

"How far now, Alfie?" he asked.

Alfie threw his nose up in the air and took in a long, deep breath.

"Not that far, Commander. I'd say about ..." he stopped midsentence.

"What's the mat...?" Astro stopped in midsentence too.

Behind them leaves rustled and they could hear branches breaking under foot. They all spun around.

Astro and Alfie stared at each other – eyes wide and bulging.

"What's that?" Digger moaned.

They heard a snorting, grunting sound and something big breathing heavily.

"I don't like the sound of that at all," Astro whimpered.

Indy pulled out her hunting bone and skirted around the bushes.

"I'll deal with it," she smiled to herself.

She crouched down low and prepared for attack. Commander Rocky motioned to Digger to protect Stella, then he made Astro and Alfie follow him.

"We might be able to protect ourselves with a surprise attack," he whispered.

"I'd rather run away in a surprise retreat," cringed Alfie.

His knees knocked together and his teeth began to chatter in fear.

Regardless, they crept through the jungle for a few minutes. Rocky thought they were getting lost. They seemed to be going in circles. Then he saw Indy. She was half way up a tree, looking for him. He waved to her and she pointed to a large tree. Then she made a circling motion.

"Come on. We are going to surround the creature," he instructed Astro and Alfie.

They crept one way and Indy crept the other.

"Isn't that the tree where we left Digger and Stella?" Astro whispered.

"Oh, I hope not!" Alfie moaned, but Astro was right.

As they got closer, they could hear a strange muffled sound and then something else, something very strange.

"Is that giggling?" Alfie asked.

Astro stopped and shrugged his shoulders.

Indy was ahead of them and Commander Rocky was determined she shouldn't face this awful creature alone.

"Come on, you two," he ordered.

Astro and Alfie trotted up behind him but Alfie wasn't watching where he was going. He tripped on a tree root and crashed into the back of Astro who fell into the back of Rocky. The three dogs all ended up in a heap right at the base of the tree.

Rocky jumped up.

"Alfie! Do you have to be so clumsy?" he barked.

Rocky was facing Astro and Alfie. As they struggled to their feet they saw something dark and black loom up and over their Commander's head. Both dogs went white with fright. Rocky stopped and suddenly realised that they were in trouble. He turned around slowly, holding his breath.

Before him stood an enormous Asian Black Bear. It had thick, dark fur and small piercing eyes. It was holding out its paws and Rocky saw its long, sharp claws twitching with anticipation.

"Crikey!" he gulped.

Just then a small blue dog popped out from under the bear's arms.

"Hey, there," Indy smiled. "This is Bobo. He was the bear I helped at the market."

Bobo let out a long whine and rushed forwards. He grabbed Rocky, Astro and Alfie in one big hug and lifted them off the ground. He swung the three of them from side to side. Their legs dangled and flopped about.

"Happy, happy, Bobo!" Bobo squealed. "Doggies saved me!"

Indy noticed that her companions were having difficulties breathing.

"Um, you should probably put them down, now, Bobo," she recommended. "They don't seem to be able to breath."

Bobo gasped and released the three dogs immediately. They fell to the jungle floor choking and gasping for air.

"Oh, Bobo is sorry," the large bear cried.

"No need to [choke, cough] worry yourself [choke, cough]," Commander Rocky said. "No harm [choke, cough] done."

Next to the tree, Digger and Stella started giggling. Rocky shot them a menacing glare while Astro and Alfie managed to regain some sort of composure.

"Phew!" Astro smiled. "Well, the bear's friendly. That's a relief!"

"Perhaps a little too friendly?" Alfie questioned.

"I told Bobo about our mission and he thinks he might be able to help," Indy explained. "He saw a tiger cub, a dog and two cats walk past here earlier. He said, they headed towards some rocks near the cliffs."

"A dog? That's interesting. Which way did they go?" Commander Rocky asked.

"Hang on!" Alfie stood up and stretched up his nose. "I think it's this way!"

Bobo copied him and drew in a long, deep breath. "Sure is!" he smiled.

Alfie laughed and gave the bear a friendly punch in the arm. "You're alright for a bear," he laughed.

Bobo laughed and returned the punch; only he was a lot stronger and sent Alfie flying backwards into a bush.

"And you're strong too!" Alfie moaned, scrambling to his feet and rubbing his arm.

The dogs walked on. This time, Stella and Digger rode on Bobo's shoulders and the team were able to move a lot quicker. As they reached a clearing, Alfie stretched up onto his toes and sniffed again.

"What is it?" Astro asked him. "What can you see?"

"I think we are closer than we think," he nodded and pointed towards some rocks jutting out over a cliff.

The dogs turned to look.

"See, up there," Alfie told them. "I can see a tiger cub and something big and hairy."

Astro and Rocky stretched up to see too. Indy shimmied her way up a tree.

"He's right," Indy said. "There's definitely a tiger cub up there and a large, shaggy dog."

She looked at Astro, "Looks like you, actually."

"Another dog like me? Oh, how exciting!" Astro exclaimed.

"Don't get too carried away," Digger warned him. "Remember how much trouble your robot double caused? It nearly ruined Christmas!"

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten," Astro grimaced.

"Alfie, are you sure that's Durga? We don't want to go drag the wrong tiger back," Commander Rocky asked.

"It is," Stella reassured them. "I can sense it. I am sure Speed Bump Charlie and Furball are up there too."

"Well, what is she doing up there with another dog? A big dog?" Indy asked. "How do we know that the other dog is friendly?"

"Oh, Indy's right!" exclaimed Digger. "The other dog might be working for that awful cat!"

They all looked at Digger in surprise.

"Really? I can't imagine Speed Bump Charlie working with a dog, can you?" Rocky said.

"Well, we are going to have to find out one way or another," Indy said, hopping down.

She marched on into the jungle. The others followed her in single file.

Chapter Twenty

Furball leaned forward and whispered, "Do you think we're safe?"

Speed Bump Charlie shot one eye open. "Well, we are but I'm not sure about those two," he added nodding his head towards Durga and Emily.

Just then the leaves rustled on every side of the clearing.

"Oh, goody. Looks like the fun's about to begin!" the old cat muttered.

Just then a group of hyenas leapt out and growled ferociously. The leader let out an ear-piercing scream.

Durga and Emily spun around to find they were surrounded.

"Where did you come from?" Durga hissed and spat at them.

Speed Bump Charlie stood up slowly and brushed the dirt from his fur. He held up his phone and grinned wickedly.

"I've got an app," he said.

"A what?" Emily asked.

"An app, stupid-head dog," Speed Bump Charlie sneered at her.

Furball jumped up and waved her fist at them, "Yeah! And he's not afraid to use it!"

"What's an app?" Emily was very confused.

Durga shot her a worrying glance.

"I'll explain later. Meanwhile we have to deal with this lot!"

The hyenas nodded to Speed Bump Charlie and he nodded towards Durga and Emily.

"That's them," he whispered. "If it was up to me I'd bite them hard then push them over the edge but it's your call, really. As long as we are free to go, I'll let you decided how you want to get rid of them."

The hyena's smiled and spluttered a reply.

"What did he say?" Furball whispered.

Speed Bump Charlie was leaning backwards. His mouth was pulled tight.

"I have no idea. Horrid creatures, aren't they? Still, they were the only ones who replied to my S.O.S. message and boy, were they cheap," he smiled at her.

The hyenas gnashed their teeth and growled.

"I'm fairly sure we're not needed anymore. Might be best if we scooted off before things get too messy," Speed Bump Charlie pushed Furball towards the path and the two cats made a hasty get-away.

"What do we have here," the head hyena snarled. "Looks like the Raja's pet dog and a big, fat, tiger cub!"

"Yummy!" another hyena laughed, rubbing his tummy.

"You can just leave us alone!" Emily retorted with as much indignation as she could muster.

"What's the matter? Scared?" the hyena laughed.

"Of course we're not scared!" Durga roared, running forward and lashing out her paws.

The hyenas jumped back and cackled to themselves.

"Poor kitty is getting cross!"

Emily looked over her shoulder to the edge of the cliff. She thought that she might be better off reasoning with the hyenas.

"Listen. I'm not sure what kind of a deal you've done with the cat but my owner is rich and will pay handsomely for our safe return. You could quite literally become the richest hyenas in all of India," she bargained with them.

The hyenas looked at her and turned to each other.

"It's an idea, boss," one of them said.

"Yeah, the old cat isn't paying that much," another agreed.

The head hyena shook his head.

"I thought we agreed we weren't in this for the money. It's for the love of biting and gnashing, that's our main focus. I mean, how would things be if we did everything for financial gain?" he reasoned with his gang.

"Yeah, but that Raja bloke is very wealthy."

"It's about the principle. It's our life's work to maim and cause terror, not to get rich," the leader went on. "Now, you've all read and signed the manifesto, haven't you? You can't go back on your word because some long, shaggy mutt tempts you with a bit of extra pocket money. It wouldn't be fair!"

The hyenas thought about it for a few seconds.

"Yeah, you're right, boss. We just got carried away."

"Not a problem at all. Now, let's get these two and enjoy ourselves. We'll have a wonderful time. Won't we?"

The hyenas faced Durga and Emily and lowered their heads. They bared rows of teeth and together they began to gnash them together.

"Gnashers!" Durga gasped. "These horrid creatures are Gnashers!"

Chapter Twenty-One

Bobo stopped under the rocks and looked up. He sniffed the air a few times and began to tap the side of the cliff. Stella sat on his right shoulder and Digger on his left.

"What's he doing?" Digger whispered.

"I'm not sure," Stella replied. "I don't think he's found the tiger cub, though."

The large bear tried to scramble up the side of the cliff knocking the small dogs off balance.

"I think he's after something up there," Digger cried pointing to a large, dark spot about a metre above the bear's head.

"I'm getting down," Stella said, "Come on, Digger, slide down his back carefully. I don't think he will notice. He seems completely focused on..."

"Honey! Honey! Honey!" Bobo squealed with joy.

Digger and Stella dropped safely to the ground.

"Honey!" Stella smiled, finishing her sentence.

The dogs gathered around and watched Bobo clamber up the side of the rocks. His paws were huge but they noticed how he was able to use his long claws to grip onto the narrowest of ledges. When his face was level with the honey, he smacked his lips and swiped his long tongue around his mouth. Then he dove his paw into the beehive and shovelled pawful after pawful of honey into his mouth.

"Yum!" Alfie and Astro cried together.

"I wonder if he'll bring us any?" Alfie wondered.

"I'm not sure there's going to be much left," scoffed Digger. "He seems quite hungry."

Just then a black cloud of very angry bees screeched out of the hive and began attacking Bobo.

"Bees!" Commander Rocky called. "Run!"

The dogs ran off together until they thought they were safe.

"Phew! That was close," Indy said. "I could have taken a few of them out with my hunting bone but there were thousands."

"Poor Bobo. Do you think he'll be okay?" asked Alfie.

"Don't worry, Alf. His thick fur will protect him," Digger reassured his friend.

Astro had run a little way ahead of the others. He was standing at the bottom of cliff.

"Hey you guys!" he called. "I found a path."

Sure enough, there was a small path of stones and dirt winding its way up the hill.

The other dogs joined Astro.

"I'm sure this is where we saw Durga," he said, pointing to the rocks.

Just then they heard a terrible roar. The dogs looked at each other in surprise.

"Does that sound like a tiger to anyone else?" Alfie cried.

"Sure does!" Astro replied.

Commander Rocky ran up the hill.

"Let's go team! It looks like we have found the tiger cub and she might need our help!" he yelled over his shoulder.

The path had large rocks jutting out on either side and tree branches with vines hanging down. The taller dogs had to dodge and weave around and under the obstacles. The smaller dogs just had to keep up. They were so focused on getting up the path they didn't see two cats running towards them until it was too late.

"Get out of my way, mutt!" Speed Bump Charlie cried.

"Yeah, mine too!" Furball echoed.

Before the dogs realised what was going on, Speed Bump Charlie and Furball had run through Commander Rocky's legs. They ran around Astro to the left; around Alfie to the right and then straight past Digger. Seeing Stella on her own, Speed Bump Charlie smiled and as he shot past her he elbowed her hard. The small, blind dog fell off the path and tumbled down the hill. Speed Bump Charlie and Furball looked over the shoulders and laughed.

Unfortunately, for them they had forgotten Indy. She had been the only one who had seen them coming. She stood legs wide apart and her hunting bone raised over her head ready to strike. The two cats came to a screeching halt.

"Whoops! Forgot about bluey," Speed Bump Charlie grimaced.

Furball was panting but her eyes darted from side to side looking for an escape.

Speed Bump Charlie threw up his paws.

Then they heard a squeal coming from the rocks above.

"Ah, now there you go. I'm afraid you dumb dogs have a choice. You can either stop hairball and me from escaping or you can save your precious tiger cub from being ripped apart by a group of very nasty hyenas," Speed Bump Charlie informed them.

Furball nodded. "I know what I'd do," she added.

"Why can't we capture you and save Durga?" Alfie asked.

Another scream shattered the air.

"Because you don't have time!" Speed Bump Charlie yelled, and he and Furball ran either side of Indy and down the path.

Indy went to follow them.

"Stop!" Commander Rocky barked. "They'll have to wait. Our job is to rescue Durga and it seems she really needs our help."

Meanwhile, up on the rocks, three hyenas had Emily surrounded. They were nipping at her toes and making fun of her.

"Aww, nice puppy – soft puppy – delicious puppy!" one giggled.

"Delicious? Puppy?" Emily retorted. "How rude!"

She barked madly at them and bared her teeth.

The hyenas leaned back. They looked at each other and shrugged.

"Is that all you've got?" one of them growled. "On the count of three, boys."

Together they all took in a deep breath and gnashed their teeth at the poor dog.

One rushed forwards and went to take a bite out of her neck. Emily jumped back and retaliated but she missed. Another ran behind her and latched onto her tail.

"Ouch! Let go!" she screamed, but he had a very tight grip.

She spun around and as she did another one kicked out, knocking her to the ground. She was defenceless.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Durga had been circling around the head hyena and he was circling around her. They both heard Emily scream and glanced towards her. While the hyena's guard was down, Durga leapt upon him. She grabbed him around the neck and squeezed tightly. He struggled to get free, squirming his body and pulling at the tiger's strong paws with his claws.

"Let me go!" he gasped.

Durga held up her sharp claws and roared again.

"Stop or I'll shred your friend here into bite-size pieces," she threatened.

The hyenas stopped and turned around.

"What do we do, boss?" one called out. "Save you or get the mutt?"

Durga squeezed even tighter.

"Get the mutt!" he gasped.

The hyenas all looked at each other.

"You heard him," and together they rushed towards Emily.

She tried to dodge past them but it was no use. They were too quick and too strong. Two ran either side of her and a third held up his paws and rushed towards her. There wasn't anything poor Emily could do. She stumbled backwards and fell head first over the cliff.

Some of the hyenas were sitting on rocks clapping and cheering their friends on.

Durga screamed and let go of the hyena.

"What have you done?" she bawled.

She was astonished and didn't know what to do.

"One down, one to go," the head hyena scowled.

Clutching his throat with his paw he pushed Durga forward with the other.

"Push this one over too," he said. "Then we can collect our money."

"Oh, I don't think so," Commander Rocky said.

All of a sudden the hyenas were surrounded by six dogs growling and barking furiously at them. They looked at each other.

"It's a fair fight now," Astro said, confidently. "Six of you and six of us."

"Seven," Durga corrected him. "And I think I fancy a little hyena hamburger," she smiled, regaining her composure.

The hyenas quickly worked out they were outnumbered.

"Hey, boss, no one said anything about fighting this many dogs," one of them called out.

"Yeah, I think he's got a point especially as one of them is a tiger," another added.

The boss looked at each dog in turn. He knew the little golden one and the terrier wouldn't pose much of a problem but the big ones could certainly do some damage, especially the smelly one.

"We got rid of one dog so we should still get paid," a hyena muttered.

They all nodded.

"What about the manifesto?" their leader cried. "You all signed it!"

The dogs moved closer. Their hackles were raised and they bared their fangs at the hyenas.

"Well, I think I'm unsigning it!" one cried, and he leapt away over the rocks and disappeared into the bushes.

"Yeah, me too!"

"And me!"

"And us!"

They were all gone except the leader. He looked at the dogs and the tiger cub.

"Still, a deal is a deal, isn't it? The cat should pay us half?" he asked them.

Rocky barked loudly and Durga roared.

The head hyena scowled.

"I see your point," he pursed his lips. Then nodding he added, "I think I'm going to tear up the manifesto."

And with that he disappeared into the bushes.

Indy followed him, unhitching her stink bomb as she went.

"Just a little reminder not to come back," she whispered and she threw it after them.

"Oh, boy!" Astro cried.

"I hope the wind doesn't come in this direction!" Digger wailed.

"What is it?" Durga asked.

"The stench from Alfie's armpits, magnified a thousand times!" Indy smiled. "It'll knock them out in seconds!"

"It sure will!" Alfie laughed. "And I should know!"

The dogs smiled and relaxed. They began to chatter amongst themselves. Durga, however, ran to the edge of the cliff and looked over.

"They pushed Emily off!" she cried.

"Who's Emily?" Astro asked.

"The Raja's favourite dog. What am I going to do? He'll never forgive me," she began to sob.

The dogs all looked down.

"It's certainly a long way down," Digger muttered.

"I can't see her anywhere," Alfie said, peering over the edge.

"Is there any way she could have survived," Durga whispered hopefully.

While the others stood motionless, not knowing how to respond, Stella turned away.

"Something tells me she just might be okay," she called over her shoulder and lead the way back down the path.

Chapter Twenty-Three

The dogs and the tiger cub rushed to the bottom of the cliff. They wanted to see what had happened to Emily but they were also afraid they would find her lying dead at the bottom.

When they got there they couldn't find a thing – nothing at all.

"Where has she gone?" Rocky remarked.

"Well, let's hope she's run off," Astro smiled.

"She couldn't have survived a fall like that. It's just too high," Indy looked up. Then she stopped and pointed.

"What's that?" she asked.

They all turned and looked towards two dark shapes hanging from the edge of the cliff. A drop of honey plopped onto Alfie's head. He wiped it off with his paw and licked it.

"Yummo! Honey-o!" he laughed.

Rocky clambered up the rock to get a closer look.

"I don't believe it! It's Bobo," he shook his head from side to side. "Now, I think I've seen everything."

"What is it?" Digger asked.

Rocky hopped down and turned to Indy.

"He's your friend. See if you can coax him down," he suggested.

"But shouldn't we be looking for Emily?" Durga asked.

"I think the bear has all your answers," Rocky smiled at her.

Indy looked around. She saw a tree with lots of lower branches a few feet away. She hopped up and skilfully leapt from one branch to the other until she was level with the bear.

"Hey, Bobo!" she yelled. "It's me, Indy."

The bear looked around and smiled at her. He had found not one, but four beehives hidden in the rock face. He had been busy devouring the last one when a large, grey shaggy dog fell right on top of his head. At first, he was annoyed but then he noticed that the poor creature had fainted so he flung her over his shoulder and continued eating the honey.

Indy cocked her head from side to side to see if Emily was okay. She noticed she was breathing and she was also starting to come around.

"Bobo, could you come down and bring the dog with you," Indy cajoled him.

"Sure! Bobo finished anyway," he mumbled, and as slowly and as cautiously as he had climbed the rock face, he came down bringing the Raja's favourite dog with him.

On the ground, the dogs had made a circle and watched as the bear carefully laid Emily on the leaves. Stella quickly checked her vital signs. Emily began to mumble and twitch as she came to.

She lifted her head and let out a long sigh.

"Where am I?" she mumbled. "Am I dead? Is this heaven?"

Then she saw Alfie standing with his head on one side.

"Oh, dear. If this is heaven I must be in the ugly section!" and with that, she fainted again.

Durga gently prodded her.

"Well, I suppose she's still alive; that's something, isn't it?" she looked at the others for assurance.

"Did she call me, ugly?" Alfie looked around for answers.

Digger nodded but Astro pushed past him and fell to his knees beside Emily.

"Isn't she the most beautiful creature you've ever seen?" he cried. "Ever?"

He leaned forward and brushed the loose hair away from her eyes.

The others didn't know what to say and Durga just frowned.

Commander Rocky decided to ignore him.

"Durga, we have been sent by Ritcho to rescue you and take you back to Eden Gardens. My name is Commander Rocky and this is my team," he explained to her. "Would you be willing to return with us?"

"Of course," Durga smiled. "I have missed that old dog. I wonder if anyone has missed me and how the cricket teams are getting on."

"I'm afraid they have missed you very much. The teams are losing match after match," Digger told her. "They need you to inspire them to play excellent cricket again."

"I understand," she smiled, "But I did promise to return Emily to the Raja."

"No need!" Bobo said, and he stepped forward and picked up the limp dog. He flung her over his shoulder.

"Oh, be careful with her!" Astro exclaimed, rushing to her aide.

Bobo ignored him and started to trudge along the path. The others followed behind with Astro trotting beside Bobo checking to see if Emily was alright all the way.

The dogs were soon at a point on the road where the path spilt in two.

"If you go this way, I take shaggy dog back the other way," Bobo said, pointing into the jungle.

Emily began to come around so Bobo laid her gently in the undergrowth.

"Oh, where am I now?" she moaned.

"You are nearly home, my dear," Astro said, sweetly.

Emily lifted up her head and looked at him.

"Who or what are you?" she bawled. "And why do I smell of honey?"

She jumped up and spun in a circle inspecting her coat.

"Arrgg! It's all over my coat! My lovely shaggy coat!"

"Oh, it will soon wash off," Astro smiled.

Durga stepped forward.

"Emily, these dogs chased the gnashers away and this bear caught you when you fell," she explained.

Emily muttered. "Oh, I'd forgotten about them."

She turned to the dogs and looked them up and down.

"What a funny looking lot you are," she remarked. "Except you, now I can get a better look at you. You look quite nice," she said, leaning towards Astro. "Sort of familiar, I suppose."

Astro smiled and nudged Alfie in the ribs. "She thinks I'm familiar."

Alfie frowned and scratched his head.

"Bobo need to getting going now," the large bear nudged Emily.

"Of course," Indy reassured him. "You've done a great job carrying Emily so far. We are all very grateful."

"Indy is right," Durga assured him. "When you go back to the Raja's palace, I'm sure he will reward you."

"What about me!" Emily protested. "Don't I deserve a reward? After everything I've been through?"

Durga looked at the dogs. They all shrugged their shoulders except Astro, he was clutching at his heart, love-struck by the large dog.

Then Emily started looking around. "What ever happened to those terrible cats?"

Bobo put his big, sticky paws around her shoulder.

"Long story. I tell you on the way back," he grunted, and then he burped loudly.

Emily jumped to the side and waved her hand in front of her face.

"Ewww!" she grimaced.

"You may accompany me on the way home but you can keep your sticky paws to yourself. It's going to take hours and hours for my servants to clean me as it is," she lamented.

Without a second thought, the pair headed off up the mountain path together.

"Goodbye, my love," Astro whispered.

Alfie and Digger looked at each other and smiled.

"Come on, Romeo," Alfie said, putting his arm around Astro's shoulder. "I'm sure you can write to her."

"Yeah," added Digger. "That's if she can remember who you are in about five seconds."

"Well, that just leaves you, Durga," Commander Rocky ignoring the love-struck Astro.

"I can't wait to see Ritcho and the others," she smiled.

"Well, let's go then!" Rocky laughed and together they headed back to Eden Gardens Cricket Ground.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Speed Bump Charlie and Furball had made it back to the market in good time. They crept and dodged around the stalls, hoping to get past everyone unnoticed. They hadn't banked on the Indian Ringneck Parrot spotting them.

"Hark! Hark! There goes those naughty cats!" he screeched. "Polly, want a cracker!"

"Where?" his owner demanded. "They kidnapped Durga, now my cricket team is losing!"

"Over there," Bobo's handler yelled. "They didn't pay for the crate they stole from me! And my bear's gone! They must have taken him!"

"They trampled my feathers too!" the peacock yelled. "Let me peck them hard!"

Speed Bump Charlie and Furball looked at each other.

"Better get a move on," Speed Bump Charlie signalled the exit with a nod. "No use hanging around here where we are not wanted or appreciated."

They dashed under the legs of the elephant handler.

"Come back, you tricky cats, where is my elephant?!"

"It dropped dead!" Speed Bump Charlie called back. "Probably sick of working for you!"

The elephant handler gasped and staggered backwards in shock. Past him ran, Bobo's handler, the parrot and the peacock.

Speed Bump Charlie and Furball rounded a corner and came face to face with the Indian Cobra Alfie had met earlier.

"What have we got here?" hissed the snake. "Two of India's most-wanted, I see. There might be a nice reward for an old snake. I could use the money and go on a lovely vacation. Which one of you will I bite first I wonder?"

It rocked from side to side, trying to hypnotise them. Only Furball succumbed. Her eyes grew wide and she began to sway in time with the snake.

"Yes, that's us," she whispered.

Speed Bump Charlie shook his head. He looked at the snake and back at Furball.

"Snakes don't go on vacations. What a load of nonsense!" he cried and he grabbed the snake around the throat.

"Let's see how tough you are now," he grinned. Then he flung the snake over his head. It tumbled through the air towards the peacock who screamed and jumped sideways. The parrot saw the snake coming and shrieked and swooped up to avoid colliding with it. Sadly, it landed right on top of Bobo's handler.

"Yikes!" he squealed as the snake became tangled around his head. "Get it off me!"

The parrot and the peacock looked at each other. Neither of them went to help him because, like everyone else, they were afraid of the snake.

"Anyway, serves him right," the peacock whispered. "I heard he was very cruel to that bear."

The parrot nodded then for no apparent reason it squawked, "Polly, want a cracker!"

Speed Bump Charlie and Furball dodged past more people. They managed to find a place to hide outside the gates of the Eden Gardens Cricket Ground.

"What are we going to do now?" Furball hissed. "The whole of India is out there and they want to arrest us!"

It took Speed Bump Charlie a few minutes to catch his breath. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"Let's see," he muttered, tapping the screen.

"First – Cancel payment to hyenas, like they were much good. Then...," he tapped a few more times then began to swipe the screen.

"Oh, look who is playing a friendly match of cricket with the Indians," the old cat smiled.

"Who?" Furball asked.

"Well, we should really get on a plane and get out of here as quickly as possible, but wouldn't it be fun to play one last dirty trick?" his smile grew from ear to ear.

"What are you talking about?" Furball shook her head. "The dogs are probably still fighting the hyenas."

"Not the dogs," Speed Bump Charlie looked at his companion, "But some other equally annoying Australians. Coming?"

He slipped around the gates and past the guards. He quickly scanned the oval. Furball watched him nervously. She glanced back over her shoulders.

"What are you looking for?" she whispered. "That lot of crazies are bound to find us soon."

"There," Speed Bump Charlie pointed across the grounds. "The visitors' change rooms."

He ran straight across the field, dodging cricketers and grounds staff as he went. Furball was right behind him.

'I hope he knows what he's doing,' she thought.

"Hey! Watch out!" some cried.

"What's a cat doing here?" a bowler asked.

They reached the door and slipped inside unnoticed. There were people everywhere. The Australian Cricket Team were getting ready for the match. They were just waiting for the junior team to finish before going out. Most of the players were dressed in their cricket whites. They sat around discussing how they were going to win.

Speed Bump Charlie looked around and saw the perfect opportunity to play his trick. He clambered up onto the top of the lockers while Furball hid near the door watching. Once he was sure no one had seen him, he reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a long, glass vial. He pulled out the cork and began to sprinkle it on the players' heads. He trotted along on his toes and he was so fast no one saw him. He dusted one player after the other with the evil spice.

"That should fix them," he laughed.

He jumped down and ran between the players. He stopped and stuck out his tongue and wiggled his bottom in their faces.

"Ha! Ha! Think you're the best team in the world!" he cried.

"What did that cat say?" one of the players said, scratching his head.

"I dunno, but I sure am itchy," another replied.

"Boy, so am I. I can't stop scratching my head," another said.

Speed Bump Charlie looked around at the players. He stared at the empty vial in his paws.

"This was supposed to make you invisible, not itchy!" he cried. "You lot were supposed to disappear. That way you couldn't go out and play."

The players jumped around, scratching and itching uncontrollably.

"This is awful!"

"I can't stand it!"

"Someone scratch my back, I can't reach!"

Speed Bump Charlie shook his head in disgust.

"That's the last time I trust a monkey selling spices," he muttered throwing the vial over his shoulder.

He raced to the door.

"Come on," he bellowed at Furball. "We've got a plane to catch!"

Chapter Twenty-Five

As soon as the dogs reached the Spice Market, they realised there was something wrong. There were animals and people crying and shouting. Some were waving their hands in the air while others were sobbing and beating their chests.

"Whatever is the matter?" Astro asked.

Stella sensed the parrot was near and she sent him a message. He squawked and flew over to them.

"Polly wants a cracker!" he screeched as he landed on Alfie's head.

Alfie scooped the parrot from his head with one paw and dug deep into his pockets with the other.

"What is happening?" Stella asked.

"Lots of trouble and mishaps since you were here," the parrot said. "Polly wants a cracker!"

"I'm trying to find one, be patient!" Alfie scolded the bird.

"The cats came back. Everyone chased them and tried to grab them," the parrot told the dogs. "But they got away. Slippery customers, indeed!"

"Polly wants a cracker!"

"I'm looking!" Alfie cried.

He rummaged around for a few more seconds. Then he let out a cry.

"Ahh! Here's one," and from deep inside his pocket he produced half a stale cracker. Alfie smiled and offered it to the bird.

The parrot looked at the cracker and back at the big dog.

"Is he bonkers?" the parrot remarked. "Polly wants a cracker, is just something I say. I really don't want a cr..."

He leaned forward and nibbled the cracker.

"See, it's not that bad," Alfie laughed.

The parrot took the cracker and began to crunch it into pieces.

"Everyone seems very upset," Astro noted. "They were just a couple of naughty cats."

"Oh, it doesn't stop there," the parrot mumbled, his mouth full of cracker.

"The Australian Cricket Team were about to play our home team but they can't stop scratching. Rumour has it that they were sprinkled with a very powerful spice. The monkey says the cats bought it from him but you can never trust the monkey, that's for sure."

"Wow! What is going to happen if the Australian Cricket Team can't play?" Digger asked.

Just then they heard a familiar voice behind them.

"We are going to have to find replacements," Ritcho said.

The dogs turned around to find the old, grey-haired dog standing behind them. Durga let out a squeal of joy and rushed forward to embrace him.

"Ah, I have missed you!" Ritcho laughed, cuddling the tiger cub.

Then he patted her belly.

"But, I think you've grown a lot since you left!" he smiled.

"It is so lovely to see you too," Durga sniffed back a tear. "What an adventure I have had! Wait till I tell you all about it."

"That might have to wait for the time being," Ritcho said.

He turned to Commander Rocky. "I know you have done everything I have asked. You have returned our beloved Durga and this will, no doubt, bring so much joy and, I hope a little success but now I am going to have to ask you for one more favour," the old dog bowed his head.

All the dogs with the exception of Alfie understood. They all nodded. Alfie, on the other hand, bit his lip and sucked in his breath.

"He's not going to ask us to arrest the monkey, is he? It's just that I don't think it's going to be easy," he whispered to Astro.

"No, you dope!" Astro frowned. "He wants us to play cricket!"

"Oh, that's too easy!" Alfie laughed. "Where is my helmet?!"

"With a head as hard as yours you don't need one!" the others all cried.

Chapter Twenty-Six

A little while later, the Kolkata Cricket Team walked onto the grounds to a cheering crowd. With them strode a tiger cub. When they saw her, the crowd went wild. They clapped and cheered and jumped up and down in their seats. Then a chant started.

"Durga's back!"

"Durga's back!"

"Durga's back!"

Durga bound ahead and let out a menacing roar. The crowd went mad with excitement. Then she ran around the edge of the grounds waving her paws to them. When she got to the Australian supporters she turned around and wiggled her bottom at them. The Indian fans laughed.

On the ground, the players got into their positions. The captain shook hands with the umpires. The bowler accepted the new ball and called over the mascot. Durga patted it with her large paws for good luck and the crowd went wild again. Then she trotted back to the stands and joined Ritcho.

"It's going to be a good match," she reassured her friend.

"Oh, I know it is," he smiled back at her. "Sunny is down in the locker rooms. He says the team haven't been this excited in a very long time."

A long way away, in the jungle, the Raja, Emily and Bobo crowded around a small television screen.

"This is very exciting!" the Raja clapped his hands together.

Emily yawned and sighed deeply. "Is it? Is it really?"

Bobo turned to her. "It is to millions of people, Emily, millions of people!"

As the bowler got ready, two batsmen walked onto the grounds. Each one was wearing the Australian Cricket uniform but they sort of looked a bit odd. One had a lot of grey shaggy hair sticking out from his collar. The other one was really small and wore a tiny green beret which he swapped for a cricket helmet once he got to the pitch.

"That'll be Astro and Digger," Ritcho whispered to Durga. "They are replacing Australia's opening batsmen. After them each of the dogs will take a turn. The medic is trying to wash the itching powder off the players so they can play."

"Do you think anyone will notice?" Durga asked. "I mean, Digger is awfully small."

The words had just left her mouth when the crowd roared. Digger had hit the first ball for a six!

"If he keeps hitting balls like that, I don't think anyone will mind who is playing!" Ritcho smiled.

Second ball of the over and Digger hit the ball again and made a single run. It was Astro's turn to bat. He patted the ground in front of the wicket with the tip of his bat. He adjusted his helmet and nodded 'ready' to the bowler. The Indian bowler bolted towards him and let fly a bouncer. The crowd cheered. Astro didn't lose his cool. He stepped inside the ball and hooked it for four. Again the crowd cheered and clapped.

Digger and Astro made a record breaking partnership until Digger was caught in second-slip. As the little dog walked off the ground the crowd stood and clapped his courageous effort. Durga and Ritcho joined them.

"Who's next?" she asked, her companion.

"Commander Rocky, then Alfie. After them, Indy will have her turn but Stella can't play because she's blind."

Just then they heard a soft tapping noise behind them.

"I thought I'd join you two, instead," Stella said, resting her walking cane on a seat. "There's nothing much I can do in the change rooms and it would be nice to listen to your excellent commentary, Ritcho."

"Ah, you are too kind," he smiled and shuffled across the bench to make room. "It has been sometime since I sat behind the microphone and commentated on a match."

"Come and sit between us," Durga said, patting a space small enough for Stella.

"I just hope you don't mind if my team gives your friends a thrashing," she joked.

"Not at all," Stella smiled, "After all, this is a friendly match."

Commander Rocky walked confidently out to the crease. He watched the bowler launch the ball towards him. It bounced slowly but Rocky wasn't fooled. He played it carefully, blocking it with his bat.

He took three more balls like that one but eventually the bowler lost concentration and Rocky launched the ball up into the air and across the boundary.

"Six!" the crowd cheered.

He hit another three runs and after that, it was Astro's turn to bat.

Astro watched the bowler getting himself ready at the bowler's end. He was a short man with a great eye for the game. His legs were stocky but he seemed to spring towards Astro on a cushion of air. He delivered a well-executed spin ball that whistled down the pitch towards Astro.

Astro hit the ball off the edge of the bat and it sailed into the air. The crowd held their breath as three fielders made their way under it. Unfortunately for Astro, one caught it safely in his hands. The umpire held up one finger.

"You're out!" the crowd chanted.

Astro waved to the crowd as he left the match. He passed Alfie on the way back.

"Well played, old chap!" Alfie said, in a posh voice.

"Just you wait," Astro said. "These Indian bowlers certainly know what they are doing."

Alfie limbered up by bouncing from one foot to the other. He adjusted his helmet and took a deep breath. The bowler glared down the pitch at the big dog.

"Let's see how far you can hit this," he muttered under his breath.

He sent the ball at such an angle it struck the ground and then bounced to the right and straight into the wicket keeper's gloves. Alfie swung the bat through the air and it made a whooshing sound. He smiled at the wicket keeper then got back into place and adjusted his helmet.

Again, the bowler sent the ball flying down the pitch. Alfie stepped back and hit it so hard it sailed out over the grounds and hit the roof of the club house.

"Six, again!" Ritcho nodded his approval. "Your boys are playing well, Stella," he said.

"Well, they are Australian dogs and, as you know, playing backyard cricket is a usual pastime there."

"People and dogs? Even the dogs played cricket?" Durga asked.

"Who do you think does most of the fielding?!" Stella chuckled.

Alfie had been clean bowled after making 58 runs. The match continued for a few more hours. Indy batted for most of that time. She was only short but she kept belting the ball over and over again out of the grounds. After the eighth over, the match was stopped because she had broken her bat in two. She and Commander Rocky made a very respectful 152 run partnership.

All in all it was a great game and the crowd had a fantastic time. By the time it was the Australian team's turn to bowl the medic had removed the itching powder from the players' hair and they were ready to play.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

All the dogs assembled together at the gates. Durga and Ritcho joined them.

"Well, what can I say?" Ritcho began. "You have not only returned my friend safely to me but you have made an old cricketer's heart sing – what a match!"

"Yes, thank you again," Durga purred loudly. Then she hugged each and every one.

"Thank you!" Astro cried.

"Yes, I haven't had so much fun in a long time!" Digger chuckled.

They waved goodbye and made their way to the airport. The dogs walked along a dusty road in the sunshine. It was a warm afternoon and they were enjoying the walk.

"Did you see how high I hit the ball," Alfie boasted.

"Yeah, but you didn't hit it as far as me," Astro shook his head.

"Well, power and strength might be one thing but cricket is a game of real skill," Digger said, proudly.

"I went through three bats!" Indy laughed.

"I think you all did a marvellous job," Stella said. "And let's not forget, we rescued a tiger cub too!"

"Oh, yeah!" Alfie said, scratching his head. "I almost forgot about that."

"Well, I hope Speed Bump Charlie and Furball have learnt their lesson this time," Astro said.

"I doubt that," Commander Rocky said. "One of the cricket players was sure he saw an old tabby cat in the change rooms just before they were sprinkled with itching powder."

"According to Durga, it could have been a whole lot worse. One of the Raja's servants swapped the original vial of powder with the itching power," Digger explained.

"Well, I know one thing is for sure. I am never trusting a cat, not ever!" Astro said.

"They sure are naughty!" Stella shook his head.

Alfie stopped and held his nose up into the air.

"What is that fantastic smell?" he moaned. "Oooh, my tummy is sooo empty!"

"Is it ever full?" Digger asked.

"Alfie might have a point, Digger," Commander Rocky said. "Look, up ahead. There's a van selling food on the side of the road. We could all do with a nice meal before we head home."

"That, illustrious Commander, is the best thing you've said all day!" Alfie smacked his lips and pushed past the others. He ran ahead of them.

"If he gets there before any of us there will be no food left!" Astro warned.

"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Digger yelled, breaking out into a run.

Despite Alfie's eagerness to get to the van first, they all arrived together.

"It's not open!" Alfie cried. "Oh, that's not fair. I'm starving! I smelt the food!"

"The shutters are down and there doesn't seem to be anyone inside," Indy said.

"Look at the designs on the front," Digger noted. "They don't look like they are from around here."

"You're right, Digger. Look, there's a four-leaf clover and a pot of gold painted on this side," Indy said.

"And there's a lucky horse shoe and a lucky penny on this side," Astro said.

"And a cute leprechaun waving to everyone painted here," Alfie pointed above the shutters.

"It looks like it's from Ireland," Rocky said, frowning. "How strange."

Astro walked around the back of the van.

"Oh, look, the back door is open. I suppose it would be okay if we went inside and helped ourselves. We could always leave the money on the counter to pay for the food," he said.

"That is the best idea you've had all day!" Alfie laughed, pushing past Astro and jumping up the van steps.

The other dogs followed him inside.

"Wow! It sure is bigger on the inside than it looks," Astro said.

"I'll say. Look at the couches and cushions. There's a big table and chairs, oh, and a television. There is even a food bar. There's plenty of food in it too, Alfie," Indy pointed out.

"Where?!" Alfie pushed past everyone.

Stella climbed into the van last of all.

"I have a funny feeling about this place," she said. "It doesn't feel right."

"Oh, come on, Stella. It's a van painted with lucky charms sitting on a dirt road in India. What could be strange about that?" Digger winked at her.

"Stella might be right. What if this is some sort of trap?" Commander Rocky agreed.

Alfie turned around from the food bar with his mouth bursting with sausages.

"Well, this is the most delicious trap I have ever been in!" he mumbled.

Digger and Astro helped themselves too.

"Oh, look hamburgers!" Astro smiled.

"Tofu, thank goodness someone has thought of vegetarians," Digger nodded his approval.

"Protein shakes, in six of my favourite flavours!" Indy chuckled, making her way to the drink bar.

Commander Rocky and Stella couldn't resist the food either. Within a few minutes all the dogs were happily munching and crunching away. They all found their most favourite food cooked and served just the way they liked it.

Commander Rocky reached into his pocket to find some money.

"Come on, everyone. Let's put all our money together and pay for this wonderful food," he said. "It's time we headed home."

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Just as Commander Rocky spoke a tiny light appeared near the ceiling.

"What's that?" Alfie asked, his mouth still bursting.

"I'm not sure but it's certainly glowing," Astro said.

The light grew bigger and bigger. Then, with a loud pop, it burst apart and, much to the surprise of the dogs, a leprechaun floated in the air in front of them. He was only 12 inches tall. He wore brown pants and a green jacket. On his head sat a large black hat that had a silver buckle attached to it. The buckle matched the ones on his tiny black shoes. He had a silver, grey beard and three silver curls of hair stuck out from under his hat. The leprechaun was holding a corn pipe which he seemed to be smoking.

"Goodness me!" Stella groaned. "I knew this was a trap."

"Not a trap, my little friend," the leprechaun bowed low and slowly descended until he was standing on the table.

"My name is Paddy O'Shifty, yes it is, and I am here to take payment for the delicious food you have eaten," the leprechaun smiled at them all.

"He's very cute!" Alfie whispered to Astro, but Astro wasn't so taken in by the little creature.

"Hmmm, don't you think it's a bit strange?" he mouthed back.

"Well, of course we are happy to pay, Mr O'Shifty," Commander Rocky said, to the leprechaun, "We were just getting the cash ready."

He smiled and offered the leprechaun some notes and coins.

The leprechaun looked down and shook his head slowly.

"Oh, that won't do, no, no, no!" he sneered. A wicked smile spread across his wicked face.

"But this is all we have," Rocky explained. "There is over $50 here; that should be plenty."

"I don't want money," the leprechaun replied. "I need your help to rescue the King of the Leprechaun's favourite pet, I do, I do, I do! The wicked wood elves stole it. I've been following your adventures on Twitter and I think you're the best lads and lasses for the job, to be sure."

"Well, we could certainly look into it," Commander Rocky said, "But we can't make any promises."

"But you owe me for all this food, yes, yes, yes!" Paddy protested.

Stella moved towards the door.

"Oh, no you don't," Paddy cried. Then drawing a long breath from his corn pipe he blew the smoke towards the door. Only it didn't stay as smoke for long. Half way across the room it tingled and zinged and became a lightning bolt. When it struck the door the van shook.

Stella rattled the handle.

"It's locked!" she cried, waving smoke away from her face. "We're trapped!"

"You are my prisoners now, yes you are; yes you are. And you are going to find the King's pet," the leprechaun grinned. "After all, you've eaten all my food and I need payment. It's only fair!"

"What if we don't want to?" Alfie said, bravely.

"Yeah, you're only tiny and there are six of us!" Digger protested.

"What's keeping us from breaking down the door and heading straight to the Indian airport?" Indy threatened him with her fist.

"Because you're not in India anymore," the wicked little man cackled. He threw back his head and laughed and laughed. "While you were busy stuffing your faces I transported the van far away from here. You don't have a choice – help me or else!"

"What do you mean, 'or else'?" snarled Indy.

"I will put a curse on you if you don't!" warned Paddy.

"What kind of curse," Astro asked.

Paddy O'Shifty turned to each of the dogs.

"Well, I could make Indy's stink bomb smell of roses!"

Indy gasped.

"I could make Digger's coat all muddy and dirty and no matter how many times he washed it, it would never be clean!"

Digger staggered backwards in shock. He touched his beautiful white coat and gulped.

"I could make everything Alfie eats taste like straw!"

Alfie let out a long shriek of horror.

"Nooo! Anything but that! Oh, Commander, please can we help him?" the big dog hollered.

Commander Rocky looked at his team. They were bewildered and confused. The dogs stared at each other. What choice did they have?

"Do we have a deal?!" Paddy held out his small hand.

Commander Rocky stepped forward and shook it.

"It's a deal, but as soon as we find the king's pet you'll let us go home," he held onto the leprechaun's hand tightly.

"Of course!" Paddy smiled. "After all, a deal is a deal!"

"Well, team, it looks like we have been tricked but I suppose we do rescue animals all the time so it shouldn't be too bad," Rocky tried to console his team.

They all nodded.

"Yeah, I suppose it won't be that difficult," Astro muttered. "How bad could it be?"

"What kind of creature are we looking for?" Indy asked.

The leprechaun smiled broadly and one of his teeth sparkled.

"Oh, this creature is full of magic. It is highly prized in the leprechaun kingdom. There is only one like it in all the worlds," he whispered, his eyes darting from one dog to the other. He drew his arms wide and wiggled his chubby fingers.

"It's not a dragon is it?" Digger asked suspiciously. "It's only, we rescued a dragon once and he was overly fond of me."

"Oh, no, no, no! The king's favourite pet is just an ordinary animal, fur as black as coal with long whiskers. She's a bit bigger than me and she has special powers. She can make a noise that puts people into a trance. Then the poor souls must do everything she bids," Paddy continued.

"What sort of noise?" Alfie asked.

"Why, a simple, everyday purrrrr," the leprechaun began to snigger.

"A purr?!" Astro cried. "There's only one animal that purrs!"

The dogs looked at each other in disbelief.

"Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?" queried Commander Rocky.

Alfie was scratching his head.

"He can't be talking about a C.A.T., surely?" he looked around at his friends.

"Of course he is!" Digger yelled.

"A C.A.T! We don't save C.A.T.s!" Alfie shouted. "I don't believe it! He wants us to rescue a cat!"

The end... for now

Notes about the production of this book:

Eden Gardens is a cricket ground in Kolkata, India. It is the home of the Bengal cricket team and the Indian Premier League's Kolkata Knight Riders, as well as being a venue for Test, One Day International and Twenty20 International matches. It is said to be the best cricket ground in the world.

Durga is the name of a Hindu Goddess. Her name means invincible.

Raja is the Indian name for King and the name Dayasagara means Ocean of Compassion.

All of the animals that appear in this book are from the Indian Continent.

Emily, the over pampered Deerhound, is a real dog that lives in Melbourne, Australia (and yes, she can be that precious!)

The character Sunny is named after Sunil Gavaskar, the greatest opening batsman in the history of cricket.

When this book was first started the great cricketer and commentator Ritchie Beno passed away. The character 'Ritcho' in this book was created in his honour.

Find out what happens next in the Lucky Leprechaun

... Coming Soon!

From the author:

Thank you for reading the eleventh book in the series, Astro's Adventures. The dogs and cats in this book are based on real ones. The goal of these books is to raise awareness for the need for dogs to have lots of exercise and stimulation and to be cared for properly.

If you've enjoyed this book please consider reviewing it. Reviews help authors gain further interest in their books. The review needs only to be a few lines – 20 words or more – but would mean a lot to the author.

If you'd like to read more in this series please visit our website: Astro's Adventures

You are welcome to connect with me online. You'll find me floating around at:

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/astrosadventures

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Also, I keep a blog of my writing where I share free ideas and activities to inspire children to be better writers. Please join me at: Susan Day Author

Yours in Paws, Susan Day

EBook titles in the Astro's Adventures series (also available in print):

Astro is Down in the Dumps: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/516764?ref=SueDay

The Great Escape https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/76524?ref=SueDay

Golden Treasure https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85532?ref=SueDay

Rampaging Rats https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/238862?ref=SueDay

Major Dakota's Ghost https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/300649?ref=SueDay

The Gypsy Curse https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/307863?ref=SueDay

Christmas Calamity https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/386547?ref=SueDay

Neptune's Trident https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/452068?ref=SueDay

Dogs in Space https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/510144?ref=SueDay

The Haunted Circus https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/534150?ref=SueDay

Waking the Dragon https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/565001?ref=SueDay

Other eBook titles written by Susan Day:

Understanding Your Dog http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72942

Whispering Castle https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/76991

The Christmas Mouse https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/81084
