Medal Mayhem (7 page)

Coco’s owner, Adam, nodded. “And I heard that in one competition, he knocked out three of the other jumpers with his tail. On purpose.”

Calvin pursed his lips. “It sounds like Krusher is a bit of a bully.”

“You got that right, mate,” Adam agreed. “That Ruby isn’t any better. Rumour has it she locked Krusher’s closest rival in the changing rooms in the Australian qualifiers, to make sure that Krusher would be sure to become the Australian champion.”

EE winked at me meaningfully. “Sounds like someone else we know.”

I knew exactly who he meant – Miranda and Doodle! They’d tried everything to hang on to their Superpets spot and get rid of me, from bunny-napping to outright cheating and it seemed that Ruby and Krusher were the same. But no matter what dirty tricks the pair tried to pull, I’d be ready for them. I’d bring home a triple jump medal or my name wasn’t Harriet Houdini!

If I thought Calvin had worked me hard before the qualifying competition, it was nothing compared to the training he put me through in the two weeks leading up to the finals. We were up at dawn every day, sprinting around the Animalympic village and jumping over everything in our path. The film crew seemed exhausted just watching us, and if we watched one more recording of another famous triple-jumper hopping, skipping and landing in the sand, I thought my head might explode. I was even starting to dream about triple jumping!

Krusher and Ruby, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be doing any training at all and lounged around by the pool all day. Maybe Krusher was so good that he didn’t need to practise but I didn’t think so. I couldn’t help wondering if they had an evil plot up their sleeves to cheat their way to the gold medal.

By the time the Animalympics opening ceremony arrived, I was super excited. The stadium was gigantic, much bigger than the one I’d been to for the qualifying rounds and it was filled with thousands of people and pets from all over the world. Beneath the gleaming white stands, the oval running track surrounded an island of green grass where the field events would take place. My whiskers quivered with happiness – this time tomorrow, I’d be down there competing!

The whole Wilson family came along to watch the spectacular opening ceremony. Mrs Wilson had completely overdressed, as usual. She was wearing a long velvet evening dress with pearls and she kept fluttering her eyelashes at Calvin, much to Susie’s embarrassment. Even Smudge came along. He tried to pretend he wasn’t interested, but I could tell he couldn’t wait to see Spike-tacular kick things off with their all-new break-dancing routine. The crowds oohed and aahed as the hedgehogs flipped expertly through the air and finished their act in a flurry of fireworks. Next, the Parade of Many Nations began, made up of pets from lots of different countries. In amongst the bright flags and sparkling costumes, I spotted a few more familiar
Superpets
faces – Dora the disco dancing-donkey was there, dressed in a silver tutu which matched Lenny the laughing lizard’s suit.

Eventually, the parade twirled its way to a halt and the band began to play a different tune. I flicked up my ears – this was the official Animalympics anthem, which meant the games themselves were about to start. The cheers of the audience died down and quiet fell across the stadium.

“Who is singing the anthem?” Mrs Wilson whispered to EE as a black cloaked figure took to the tiny stage in the middle of the stadium.

“Gloria said they’d hired a top-notch opera star from Paris,” EE replied, an expectant look on his face.

As soon as the figure threw back its cloak and the first warbling note wobbled out over the stadium, I knew EE had been wrong. That was no world-famous musical star – it was Doodle the opera-singing Poodle and she was yowling for all she was worth!

“How on Earth—” EE began, but Mrs Wilson and I blocked our ears, and didn’t hear him finish.

When the last note had faded away, people began to take their fingers out of their ears and polite clapping broke out. Cautiously, I lifted my paws from over my head.

“Bad Doodle,” Lily said, jamming her thumb firmly back into her mouth. “Naughty poodle.”

Doodle seemed completely unaware of the effect her “singing” had had on the audience, and was looking smugly around the stadium. I could just make out her owner Miranda’s enormous hair-do lurking in the background too. I should have guessed they’d worm their way into the Animalympics somehow!

“I thought you said it was supposed to be a famous opera star?” Mrs Wilson said, pulling a pained face.

EE held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. Knowing Miranda, she probably kidnapped the real singer and put Doodle in her place!”

I wouldn’t be surprised if that was exactly what had happened but I had bigger things to think about. Now that the opening ceremony was over, it was time for the first event – the high-diving contest. Trevor and his tumbling terrapins had been preparing for weeks and I couldn’t wait to see how they did. Everyone knew that Polly the pelican, from Trinidad, was the favourite to win.

The atmosphere was tense as we took our seats around the diving pool with the other Superpets and their owners. One by one, the competing animals made their dives, twisting and looping in the air before splashing into the blue water below. Everyone seemed particularly impressed by Barry the beaver from the USA: he put on a real show for the audience. Then it was the turn of the terrapins, in their red, white and blue swimming trunks. In perfect unison, they launched themselves off the diving board. The crowd gasped as they spun in a complicated series of tucks and twirls and entered the pool with hardly a splash.

Mrs Wilson clapped her hands. “I don’t know much about diving but that looked very good to me!”

Calvin nodded and pointed to the scoreboard. “You’re spot on, Jenny, they’re in the lead. Only Polly the pelican can pip them to the gold medal now.”

Mrs Wilson turned pink and giggled. EE shook his head and sighed. The rest of us held our breath as the favourite took to the diving board. Looking very confident, she flapped her webbed feet all the way to the edge of the board and pointed her enormous bill in the air. Then she soared into the air, her wings tucked against her body. She twisted once, twice, three times – surely she wouldn’t have time for a fourth twirl? Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cherry adding up the twists. With a gigantic effort, Polly squeezed in a final spiral before hitting the water with a tiny sploosh.