Biffy Ferguson and the Cheese Mice from Mars
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CHAPTER NINE A Surprise Flying Lesson Meanwhile back on Earth, Robbie was having the most delightful dream in which his owners had won the lottery and were showering him with the most delicious meaty snacks and treats. He was just about to sink his teeth into the biggest beefy bone you ever did see, when he was rudely shaken awake. “Hey, sleepy head wake up!” said Biffy, roughly shaking Robbie’s head with his front paws. “Wahhhh, wahhh, what is it?” said Robbie drowsily, waking up and finding his front all wet with drool. “You were whining and growling and slobbering all over yourself” said Marple “Can’t take you anywhere” said Biffy, with a disgusted look on his face, “Clean yourself up, you mucky pup!” “You know I was having the loveliest dream about bones and... well, you know” said Robbie rather dreamily. “Yes, well anyway, there is nothing much of interest down here and it must be nearly lunch time”, said Biffy “Oh, please don’t mention food” said Robbie with a disappointed and faraway look on his face. “Well I don’t fancy going all the way home just yet, even for lunch” said Marple “Well; there’s that snack bar that usually sits on Sharpham Road, you know, down at the south end of the reservoir, just past the rugby ground”, said Biffy. “That’s right” said Robbie looking more hopeful “The customers are usually quite friendly and you can normally get quite a good feed down there” “Ok, let’s try the snack bar then. The walk should sharpen our appetites”, said Marple. So Biffy, Marple, and Robbie trotted off back southwards towards the other end of the reservoir, where they hoped there would be some friendly snack bar customers with some spare food. As they walked, they were discussing the weather. “It’s getting quite breezy”, said Marple “Yes, great kite flying weather”, said Biffy Suddenly, something caught their attention. Out over the reservoir, they stopped and stared at the thing that was bobbing about just above the surface and making its way towards them. “Is that a bird?” asked Marple “If it is then it’s drunk”, said Biffy Robbie started panting and wagging his tail “Hey! Cool it Robbie” said Marple. “It’s a kite, some kid must have lost control of it and it’s blown over here” said Biffy The wind got a bit stronger and the kite flew straight towards them picking up some height. It was quite large and bright blue, with a long tail of red and blue ribbons trailing out behind it in the stiff breeze. As it passed over their heads it bobbed down and skirted the ground. Robbie was off like a flash “HEY: ROBBIE!” shouted BiffyBut Robbie had however snapped into automatic pilot mode and only saw something to chase. Barking like mad he caught hold of the kite tail just as a strong gust of wind blew the kite high into the air - taking Robbie with it! Biffy and Marple watched in stunned amazement as the kite swirled round and back out over the water carrying a now whining Robbie with it. Another sudden change in direction brought kite and dog back towards the shore again. As it passed overhead again, Biffy shouted up “LET GO THE TAIL YOU IDIOT!” “AAAAARRRRG!” Following Biffy’s advice, Robbie let go and came hurtling towards the ground, but luckily found something soft to land on. “OUMFF” said Biffy, as he was crushed to the ground by about 9kg of flying dog. “Gee, thanks Biffy, you saved my neck there”, said Robbie. “Ok! Now get off you big clumsy oaf!” said Biffy, in a rather strained voice. “Sorry mate” said Robbie getting off of the, quite flattened, Biffy Marple came up to Robbie and said “You know that habit of thinking that you are out for a walk with your owners is going to get you into trouble one day mate” “Sorry guys, I just forget and lose control. It’s all that conditioning and training that we dogs get” said Robbie rather apologetically. “Just try and keep a lid on it” said Biffy “Ok, sorry” said Robbie, giving his tail a little wag. “Good boy”, said Marple, winking Biffy gave Marple a very searching look and said “Right, let’s try and get to lunch without any more adventures, I am looking forward to a nice quiet and relaxing afternoon” “What could possibly happen now? The chances of something else happening must be astronomical” said Marple He was, for a change, quite right, about it being astronomical that is! ***
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About the Book
Biffy Ferguson is a large, eight year old Tabby Cat with an odd orange tip on the end of his tale that he is rather proud of. Biffy thought of himself as a sophisticated, yet down to earth cat- about-town. Biffy’s best friends were Mr Marple, the large ginger tom from two doors down and Robbie the West Highland terrier from across the road. Mr Marple, who was just called Marple by his friends, happened to be owned by two people who were huge Agatha Christie fans. They also had a gold fish called Poirot and a Budgie called Agatha. Robbie was rumoured to be a distant cousin of Greyfriars Bobby, the famous 19th century Edinburgh dog who stayed by his master’s grave and was looked after by the local people in recognition of his loyalty. Biffy thought that Robbie had started this rumour himself. Meanwhile, out in space, a small fleet of spaceships from the planet Mars had managed to sneak up and hide behind the moon in preparation for a raid on Earth to steal lots of cheese from a cheese festival in Cheddar, England. During the Martians attempt to land a sudden fault with the rocket motors on board the Martian flagship ship, the Zulupapalulu, forces it to make an emergency landing close to where Biffy and his friends were having their afternoon nap. Investigating the disturbance Biffy and his friends discover that the Martians are Mice and overhear their dastardly plans. After several comic adventures Biffy and his friends manage to steal 3 of the Martian mice’s hover scooters and find their main landing site. Using his generous for invention, Biffy constructs a make-shift catapult and using bits of cheese as ammunition takes on the mice in a climactic battle and saves the day.
About the Author
Bob Peter is a 54 year old senior Environmental Engineering technician at one of Scotland’s new Universities. He lives in a quiet fishing village in the NE of Scotland with his long standing partner Grace, 2 dogs, 3 cats and some fish.