KIDNAPPED Chapter 3

 “Sophie's flying has improved amazingly since she crossed to the historic side of the swamp.” Boy said to Lady. It was the day after the prehistoric animal brigade's sports carnival, and Sophie had broken the record for the under eight years old flying sprint. She had won a lovely medal and a sports voucher for her aerobatic display.

“It was a wonderful day, just a pity those young crocodiles had to come and spoil things a bit at the end of the carnival, splashing about and shouting like hooligans.” Lady said. 

“Uncle Bron gave them a good ticking off, I don't think they'll come back in a hurry.” Boy said.

But the next day, as Suzy was practising dribbling her swamp ball along the edge of the swamp, three crocodiles grabbed her and dragged her away. She screamed and flapped but there was nobody near to see or hear her. 

In the afternoon Sophie, Terror, and Don found her swamp ball, but Suzy was nowhere to be seen. Then they saw crocodile tracks and signs of a scuffle. They followed the tracks but they soon led into swampy ground, where they disappeared. A young crocodile who they recognised from the day before poked his head out of the water.

“Are you looking for your sister?” He asked, “Toothy Ted's gang have got her. I saw them taking her to their den in the middle of the swamp. I expect when they have fattened her up they will eat her.” 

“Will you take us to the gang's den?” Sophie asked the crocodile. “Yes if you give me that lovely medal that's hanging around your neck.” he replied, “I will if you take us there at once.” Sophie  said. 

And so the crocodile led Sophie, Terror and Don through the tangles of mangrove trees and along swampy paths, deeper and deeper into the swamp. Eventually they came to a lake and saw an island covered in trees not far from the shore. “This is as far as I dare go, that island is the gangs den.” said the crocodile.

“Now give me your medal.” Sophie took hermedal off and gave it to him, and he put it round his neck and slid away into the swamp.

“Typical, not a word of thanks.” said Terror, and then the three Pteranadons flew silently across to the island, and landed in the tallest tree. From their perch they could see Suzy. She was chained and padlocked to a stake in the ground. There was a big plate of frogburgers beside to her, and tomato sauce, but she had not touched them. Near to her sat an enormously fat crocodile drinking from a large jug of beer. The key to Suzy's padlock hung on a twig just above his head. The crocodile yawned, it was not a pretty sight, and slowly his eyes closed. Soon he was snoring loudly.

As soon as they were sure he was asleep the pteranadons flew down from the tree. Suzy watched them anxiously, but kept quiet. Sophie went and unhooked the key of Suzy's padlock from the twig. She could smell the crocodile's horrible beery breath, but he continued to sleep and snore while Sophie went and unlocked Suzy, Then she took the chain and snapped it onto the crocodiles ankle and threw the key as far as she could into the swamp. Still he slept on, Suzy moved the jug of beer just out of reach, and then they all sat down and ate the plate of frogburgers and tomato sauce. As they finished the last one they heard a great splashing and roaring, and Toothy Ted's gang came rushing out of the water towards them. The four pteranadons took off gracefully into the air, leaving the furious crocodiles howling with rage and disappointment.

How glad Boy and Lady were to see them when they returned to the nest that evening. They had been very anxious when their children had not come home for tea. But when they heard of their adventures, as they tucked them up in the nest that night, they sighed with relief to have them home again, and decided to tell all the brigade to keep an eye open for the bad crocodiles in future.