The Revenge of Dr Von Burpinburger (10 page)

‘What made you come to the school anyway?'

Eric was at home, sitting with his parents on the rooftop terrace. The sun was low in the sky.

‘Well, we both felt bad about leaving you this morning,' his mother explained. ‘You were worried about Einstein, but we didn't take any notice. We weren't very understanding.'

‘To be honest, we haven't been too understanding for a while,' Eric's father added. ‘The business seems to take up all our time. We'll try to be better from now on.'

Eric liked the sound of that. In fact, he
loved
the sound of that.

‘And then we started thinking over what you said about Einstein being film star material,' Mrs Wimpleby continued. ‘Suddenly we both realised that it made a lot of sense.'

‘That's when we panicked,' Mr Wimpleby said. ‘It hit us like a bolt of lightning! What if that
movie director really was stealing Einstein while we were just sitting about the office? So we came as fast as we could.'

‘I'm so glad you arrived when you did. You held up the crooks until the birds came.'

‘And wasn't that amazing?' Eric's father laughed. ‘I've never seen anything like it. The birds sure had it in for those men.'

Mrs Wimpleby laughed too. ‘But the best bit was when Einstein fell onto that pigeon's back. He looked as if he was flying the bird himself. I can see why the movie man wanted him. He really is star material.'

Eric stood and walked to the edge of the terrace. He stared out across the city. His parents joined him.

‘Are you worried?' his mother asked.

‘Just a little,' Eric replied.

The last time they'd seen Einstein he was on Luke's back, chasing the taxi out of town. Eric felt sure the mouse would be fine, and that he'd appear eventually, safe and sound. But he couldn't really relax until that happened.

Who knows?
Eric thought.
Maybe he fell off. Maybe Luke's lost.

Mr Wimpleby put his arm around Eric. ‘You were right about Einstein. He isn't just a mouse. Like you said, he's a whole heap more.'

Eric nodded. ‘He sure is, Dad. He's brilliant.'

Eric's parents both laughed again.

‘I mean it. He's not just an actor. He's a genius. A real genius!'

Mr Wimpleby shook his head. ‘Movie star material, sure,' he said. ‘But genius? That's a bit rich, son. Next you'll be telling us he can talk.'

‘HE CAN!' Eric cried, but his parents were laughing too hard to hear him.

‘Come on,' Eric's mother said to his father eventually. ‘Give me a hand to make some dinner. All this excitement has made me hungry.' She turned to Eric. ‘You wait out here for that little genius of yours.'

As Eric stood alone on the terrace, he could hear his parents still laughing. They'd never believe him, he realised as he watched the sun slowly sink. But then, he could hardly blame them. It was all quite amazing.

The strange doctor was absolutely right when he said that Einstein was priceless. Eric would have given anything to have him here right now, sitting up in his pocket or dancing on the railing or solving an impossibly difficult problem. Or just sleeping.

Where are you?
Eric sent his thoughts towards the setting sun. But nothing came back.

The sun had almost gone by the time Eric heard the wings. A moment later he saw the flock of birds heading towards him across an orange sky. Soon the pigeons were circling the apartment, and then they were swarming all over him. Eric whooped for joy.

But his joy didn't last long, for there was no sign of Luke, or Einstein. Eric flapped the birds away with his arms, convinced he had to be wrong.

‘Where are they?' he cried. But the pigeons only cooed in reply.

He stood at the edge of the terrace and called to the sky. ‘Where are you?' The sounds of the city were the only reply.

As the sky drifted through its evening colours, Eric waited and waited. But then, when it was nearly dark and he'd almost given up hope, he saw the silhouette of a solitary bird flying towards him.

It was Luke – and sitting up on his back was Einstein!

Eric nearly cried, he was so happy.

‘Yahoo!' the mouse yelled as he swooped overhead. ‘We've been to the moon and back!'

Then he did a few daring aerial tricks, twisting and turning, up side down and all around.

On the final manoeuvre, a triple somersault, Einstein lost his grip and fell. Fortunately he was just above the terrace, and Eric caught him in his cupped hands.

Einstein rolled over and winked up at the boy. ‘Nice catch,' he said.

Eric winked back at the mouse. ‘Piece of cheese, mate,' he replied. And the two of them laughed out loud.