Part 8 (1/2)

”Okay,” said Charlie. He didn't even ask what help was needed, or what the lion wanted him to do. He just said okay. This could have been very foolish of him. There are a great many stories about what happens when people promise to do something before checking what it is they're promising, and it always turns out to be ”Kill your friend” or ”Give me your kingdom,” and then it's too late to turn back. But Charlie trusted the lion. He remembered the look in the lion's eyes when he first spoke Cat to him. He trusted the lion, and he liked him. If he could, he would help him.

”We need a plan to escape,” said the young lion. ”We need a human who can help us get off the s.h.i.+p. We need to trick Maccomo and Major Thibaudet. We need help to hide us on our journey. We're going back to Africa.”

”Africa!” said Charlie. ”Wow.”

”Are you African?” asked the lion.

”Yes-my dad is. From West Africa, by the sea.”

”We are West African too!” said the lion. ”From Morocco, where the desert and the mountains come to the sea. That's where we are going.”

”Dad's from farther south,” said Charlie. ”From Ghana.”

”We are brothers,” said the lion. ”African brothers. You speak our language. You don't have to come all the way home with us. We'll see where your people are being taken, we'll find a route that works for both of us. We'll help you too.”

Charlie liked the sound of that. He liked it very much. It had crossed his mind, the question of how a single boy could rescue grown-ups from other grown-ups-from whoever it was Rafi had hired, or whoever had hired Rafi. He hadn't wanted to think about it, but he wasn't stupid. If the kidnappers had been easy to beat, his parents would have beaten them and escaped already, wouldn't they? (For a moment his heart jumped-perhaps they have! Perhaps they were on their way to rescue him, right now!) But a single boy with a group of lions with a group of lions could surely scare off kidnappers, however tough they were. A single boy with a group of lions could give Rafi Sadler the shock of his life . . . could surely scare off kidnappers, however tough they were. A single boy with a group of lions could give Rafi Sadler the shock of his life . . .

In exchange for helping the lions to escape, Charlie would get them to help his parents escape. Simple and brilliant.

Charlie had an idea.

”Would you do something for me now?” he said to the young lion.

The lion inclined his head to suggest yes, of course.

Charlie smiled to himself as he fished his phone out of his pocket.

He looked up c.o.c.ky Slimy Git in the address book and dialed the number.

”When I tell you, roar!” he said to the young lion. ”It's the guy who stole my parents!”

The young lion's eyes gleamed.

Charlie had a.s.sumed he would get Rafi's voice mail. He didn't-he got Rafi.

For a moment he was shocked into silence. Rafi on the street, at the fountain, with his mum . . . with Charlie's Charlie's mum, maybe. Then as Rafi said ”Yeah? Charlieboy?” he launched into action. mum, maybe. Then as Rafi said ”Yeah? Charlieboy?” he launched into action.

”Yeah, you know who I am,” he shouted. ”You don't know where where I am, though, do you? You don't know what I'm doing. You know I am, though, do you? You don't know what I'm doing. You know nothing nothing and I couldn't be and I couldn't be less less scared of you! If anything I'll be coming to get scared of you! If anything I'll be coming to get you you soon, Mr. Sw.a.n.ky I'm-so-cool jerk! So soon, Mr. Sw.a.n.ky I'm-so-cool jerk! So you'd you'd better better watch out, watch out, and you had better and you had better leave me alone! leave me alone!” He made a frantic face at the young lion, and held the phone out to him.

The young lion, grinning, uttered a low, threatening, echoing, blood-curdling roar. Charlie knew it was a roar of laughing and being naughty; he knew too that Rafi would hear it as any normal human would-absolutely terrifying.

He swiftly pressed the disconnect b.u.t.ton and collapsed in laughter. Yes!

Five sailors banged on the door of the lionchamber.

”What's going on?” they shouted. ”Are you okay in there?”

Charlie opened the door, still giggling.

”It's fine,” he said. ”Fine. No trouble. Sorry. Lion's a bit boisterous, that's all. Sorry.”

They went away.

Charlie felt good.

Rafi did not.

”You sniking, cheeky little graspole,” he said. ”What the-how the-what was that!”

He was scared by it. It curdled his stomach. He didn't understand.

”You little . . .” he yelled, and dialed his phone.

Charlie's phone rang.

He stared at it, sitting in his hand. c.o.c.kY SLIMY GIT lit up the face.

The young lion stared at it.

Charlie said, ”Roar again,” and pressed the b.u.t.ton.

The young lion really let it rip.

The sailors came back.

The phone didn't ring again after that.

Charlie felt good.

Rafi dropped the phone.

”I don't understand,” he whispered. He was shaking now. Fear and anger make a dangerous combination.