Mudpoo and the Magic Tree Stump (7 page)

“This way, QUICK-STICKS!,” puffed Foggerty as they ran up, past the beach, to the Iluka Bluff. Kev and Sammy had seen them coming and were encouraging them along. 

“BUST-MY-BILLY, it's not far now,” squawked Kev. 

“SIZZLING-SAUSAGES, there are humpback whales under attack in Antarctica,” said Sammy silver gull, as he soared just above Mudpoo's head.

“They sang a message that was passed from Antarctica to the humpback whales at Iluka Bluff to ask you to stop the pirates!” stammered Foggerty, trying hard to think and talk and hop all at the same time as they all clambered up to the very top of the bluff. 

“Not far now,” cried Kev. 

Clancy koala, high in her tree above the Magic Tree Stump, was keeping a lookout,
“GREAT-GATHERING-GUMNUTS! They've found him, they've found Mudpoo and they're nearly here!”
she cried excitably. 

Grumblegoo hid behind some bushes. Perhaps Mudpoo would be scared of her? She understood that they could only save the whales if they worked together. She'd been able to keep the forest safe for all the trees and animals by being very scary to humans. She also knew that Mudpoo was asked to save the whales, so if she was going to help, she had to be friendly and allow him to use the Magic Tree Stump

Mudpoo arrived at the Magic Tree Stump, looking puffed and concerned. He stopped for a moment to look around at Sally, Kev, Percy, Andrenna, Harry, Jess, Sammy and Foggerty. 

“What am I meant to do?”
he asked quietly. 

And just at that moment, Grumblegoo appeared . . . trying very hard not to look too scary (and finding that a very difficult thing to do). 

“Hello,” she gargled, her eyes were bulging and her nostrils were flared a little because of all the excitement. 

“Yike . . .Crikey,” yelped Mudpoo, who felt like running, but couldn't. He was frozen on the spot! After all, didn't Captain Pete say that Grumblegoo had been known to gobble people up in a single gulp? 

Mudpoo swallowed nervously. He didn't run though. He trusted his friends Harry and Jess and they would know if there was any danger. He felt nothing but warmth and friendship from all the creatures. 

Then Grumblegoo spoke. Mudpoo listened very carefully to Grumblegoo's words. 

“You may use my Magic Tree Stump to make a wish which will save our humpback whale friends. Use it wisely, as you only have one second to make your wish and you only get one wishing chance!” 

With that said, Grumblegoo disappeared. It really was against her better judgment to be seen by a human, unless she was very, very busy scaring them.

Kev, realising they were running out of time, screamed out to Mudpoo,
“QUICK-STICKS, get up onto the Magic Tree Stump and make your wish, before it's too late!”

Mudpoo climbed onto the Magic Tree Stump. 

As he stood there, he thought about his humpback whale friends and how magnificent and magical they were. He thought about how they had enough power in two beats of their tail to lift their enormous 40 tonne bodies into the air.

And right then . . . he knew exactly what to wish . . .

I
've found a new rope,” cried Snot triumphantly, as he passed it to Grot. 

“This time tie it proper, good and tight,” grumbled Bones. 

“It's those pesky rats,” complained Grot, they must've chewed through the rope. 

“Stop the chatter and get on with it,” snapped Pong, who handed Grot a new harpoon. 

Meanwhile the whales had decided on a new plan. The wise old humpback decided that if they all stayed close to the ice until the pirate boat got close; they could swim quickly to either side of the boat and hopefully get to the opening before the pirates did. 

It was a risky plan, but well worth a try, so all the whales agreed to give it a go.“Harpoon is ready,” muttered Grot. 

“FINALLY,” sneered Bones who always allowed Grot to shoot (so he could complain if he missed), “ABOUT TIME.” 

“FULL STEAM AHEAD,” they all yelled to Pong who was steering the horrible boat. 

The miserable, old, creaking pirate boat was now heading towards the pod of whales that were waiting near the ice.

“WE'RE GOING TO BE KILLED!”
moaned the poor minke whales. 

“Go, GO, NOW!” yelled the large old humpback, “I'll stay here as a decoy.”

Some of the whales dived out of the way of the boat, as it steamed towards the remaining whales. 

“Three whales and there's no escape!” shouted Snot gleefully. 

“They're as good as dead!” growled Bones. 

“Now aim carefully at the minke whale, you can't miss!” yelled Pong from the deck, steering the boat right up to the three whales. 

The pirates were filled with expectation and glee, their horrible, pointy pirate harpoon was aimed straight at the minke whales. They were very excited and certain that this time, they were going to hit their target! 

At this exact moment, surrounded by the forest animals and his friends, Mudpoo stood on the Magic Tree Stump. They watched him in hushed expectation. 

“One wish. One wish. The right wish. It must be the right wish!”
Mudpoo remembered Grumblegoo's wise words as he concentrated hard. 

“My friends the whales, I've got to save them!” 

With a look of grim determination, Mudpoo carefully announced his wish . . .

“I wish that any whale in danger from a whaling boat's harpoon will magically vanish and safely reappear in the ocean near Iluka!”

Suddenly, there was a loud
SWOOSHING
sound and lots of
SWIRLING
, sparkling things flying all around Mudpoo . . . and then . . . booming
KEEEERRR-SPLASHING
sounds were heard not far from Bluff Beach!

I wish you could have seen the pirates' faces when Grot fired the harpoon.

Their tremendous excitement as it exploded and jettisoned toward the whales, changed into shocked disbelief when all of the whales, every single one of them, vanished into thin air. 

The pirates were stunned and stood frozen, dumbfounded, rubbing their eyes with their mouths wide open. 

There are so many amazing things that I'd love to show you in Antarctica, but nothing would be as amazing as seeing those magical disappearing whales. 

“WHAAABABABABABABAAAA . . . ?” blubbered Bones. 

“GHHERRR-HA-GHHERRR” groaned Grot. 

“SHHEEEEESSSSSSH?” snivelled Snot. 

“PHRRRKKZZZZ?” blew Pong.

Never had the pirates been so stunned, confused, or scared, as they slowly inspected the empty bay. Not a single whale was anywhere to be seen.

“THAT'S IT,” muttered Grot, “no more beer for me forever.” 

“I agree,” a very pale Snot replied, “I think I need to lie down.” 

“I want to go home,” said a frightened Bones. 

“I don't like being a pirate anymore,” snivelled Pong. 

“We need a break,” grizzled Grot. 

“I'm sick of the sea,” complained Pong. 

“Let's do something different,” suggested Snot. 

All of the pirates agreed that they needed a holiday. 

“I've heard Australia is a nice place for a holiday...” murmured Grot quietly.