Beware The Wicked Web (4 page)

“Leave me!” gasped Rob. “Go for the egg.”

“No way.”

“You’ve got to. Look at it. I’m sure it’s beginning to hatch!” He yelled out in pain as the coils tightened yet again.

Sam glanced up at the egg. It was pulsating hard now and there were splits in its fluffy grey surface.

She leapt forward, her broom wrestling with the web, raising it above her head, the coils clutching.

Sam tore the broom away and jumped up on Abby’s bed. The rusty springs screamed but the egg was just within reach.

Looking round her, Sam saw the web was growing back faster than ever, the deadly strands reaching out to her.

“Go for it!” gasped Rob, his voice faint. “You’ve got to destroy the egg.”

Without hesitation, Sam brushed a path across the ceiling with the broom to reach the egg. Tightening her grip, she rammed the head of the broom as hard as she could into the egg. Something dropped on to her head and she let out a shrill scream.

But instead of a writhing, leggy spider, a torrent of black dust had covered Sam from top to toe. The egg had vanished.

She glanced frantically at Rob. To her relief, the folds of the web were slowly releasing him. As he dragged himself away they let out a sighing, sucking sound.

Rob gazed at the strands that still hung around the walls of Abby’s bedroom. They were changing, losing their stickiness, no longer rustling. Instead they were becoming dry and dusty.

“The web’s dead,” yelled Rob.

Sam was close to tears.

More dust fell, showering them, until Rob was black with the stuff, too.

“There’ll be nothing left of the web soon,” he whispered.

Rob and Sam turned to the door to see their mother standing there, looking absolutely furious.

“Just
what
do you two think you’re doing covered in that filthy black dust? And aren’t those my brooms? You were told not to play up here!” She glared at them angrily.

“Sorry,” they both mumbled.

Rob had Abby’s diary tucked safely in his pocket.

Had it not been for Abby’s warning, there was no telling what might have happened.

“I don’t know how you can bear to come up here,” continued their mother. “This attic could be
swarming
with spiders.”

Just one in an egg, thought Sam. But she knew the
Araneida Magna
would have made up for all the rest. There was no point in trying to explain what had happened. Mum would never believe them.

Then something small, dark and furry scurried across the floor towards them and their mother screamed and screamed again. “There you are! Can’t you see what I mean?”

“It’s only a small one,” said Rob.

“Are you expecting anything larger?” demanded Mum sarcastically.

“Not now,” he said quietly, winking at Sam.

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