Treasure Fever! Read Online Free Page B

‘The goat and the wolf can’t talk.’
    â€˜But the cabbage can!’ said Fiona.
    â€˜Yes,’ said Mr Brainfright, ‘that’s because it’s a
talking
cabbage.’
    â€˜But if cabbages can talk, why can’t wolves and goats?’ said Fiona.
    â€˜Some wolves and goats can talk,’ said Mr Brainfright. ‘But not these ones.’
    â€˜Oh, this is ridiculous!’ said Fiona crossly.
    â€˜Ridiculous, maybe,’ said Mr Brainfright. ‘But not impossible. Does anybody else have a solution?’
    I put up my hand.
    Clive leaned forward. ‘If you’re thinking of telling on me, then think again!’ he hissed. ‘I’ll tell Mr Brainfright I didn’t do it!’
    I just smiled.
    Mr Brainfright looked at me. ‘Do you have a solution for us?’
    â€˜Yes,’ I said. ‘What if the man took the goatacross first, and then went back for the cabbage and took that across and left the cabbage there, but then took the goat back and left it there while he took the wolf across, and left the wolf with the cabbage while he went back to get the goat?’
    Mr Brainfright beamed. ‘Perfect!’ he said. ‘What’s your name, young man?’
    â€˜Henry,’ I said. ‘Henry McThrottle.’
    â€˜Well, Henry McThrottle,’ said Mr Brainfright, ‘you just earned yourself a lollipop. Come up to the front.’
    â€˜Well done, Henry!’ said Jenny, as I got up.
    I walked to Mr Brainfright’s desk. Mr Brainfright opened a battered crimson briefcase, produced a large red lollipop, and put it into my hand.
    As I walked back to my desk, I made a point of waving my lollipop at Clive. ‘Thanks for the blobs,’ I whispered. ‘I couldn’t have solved the problem without them.’
    Clive just stared at me. He wasn’t laughing anymore.
    As I sat down, Fiona put up her hand. ‘Will we be tested on this, sir?’ she said.

15
Fred Durkin

    Before Mr Brainfright could answer Fiona, the lunch bell rang and everybody stood up and headed outside.
    It was warm and sunny out in the yard.
    I was feeling good. Not only did we have a very interesting new teacher, but I had a lollipop to eat for lunch. That beat a cheese sandwich any day.
    I was halfway across the yard, though, when two things happened.
    The first was that a dark grey cloud passed in front of the sun.
    The second was that Fred and Clive Durkin appeared in front of me.
    â€˜Hand over the lollipop, McThrottle,’ said Fred, his hand outstretched.
    â€˜But it’s
mine
,’ I said.
    â€˜That’s not what my brother tells me,’ said Fred.‘He said you won the lollipop using spitballs that he made.’
    â€˜Yes,’ I said, ‘that’s true, but I didn’t ask him to fire spitballs at me.’
    â€˜Nevertheless you used
his
spitballs, so hand over the lollipop,’ said Fred.
    â€˜No,’ I said. I started walking away.
    But before I could get very far, I felt a big hand on my shoulder. It spun me around. Fred reached out and snatched the lollipop from me.
    â€˜Hey!’ I said, lunging forward to grab my lollipop.
    As I did, Clive stuck his leg out in front of me.
    Instead of lunging forward, I tripped forward and collapsed on top of Fred. Not very pleasant for me, but even less pleasant for him.
    My fingers were getting closer and closer to the lollipop. And then I felt my entire body being lifted up in the air.
    â€˜McThrottle!’ said an angry voice. ‘What is the meaning of this?’
    My feet touched the ground. I was standing in front of Mrs Cross, who was in an even crosser mood than usual. If there was one thing that made her crosser than anything else, it was catching students fighting in the yard while she was on yard duty.
    â€˜Well?’ she said, staring at me. ‘Why are you attacking poor Fred?’
    I looked at Fred lying on the ground, writhing around as if he was