Horrid Henry Robs the Bank (4 page)

“MOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!” wailed Peter.

“Behave yourself, Henry,” muttered Mom, “or you won't be coming on the treasure hunt.”

Henry scowled. The only reason he was even at this baby party was because the treasure chest was filled with chocolate coins.

Mom clapped her hands.

“Come on everyone, look for the clues hidden around the house to help you find the pirate treasure,” she said, handing Peter a scroll. “Here's the first one.”

Climb the stair,

if you dare,

you'll find a clue,

just for you.

“I found a clue,” squealed Helpful Hari, grabbing the scroll dangling from the banister.

Turn to the left,

turn to the right,

reach into the bag,

don't get a fright.

The party pounded off to the left, then to the right, where another scroll hung in a pouch from Peter's doorknob.

“I found the treasure map!” shouted Perky Parveen.

“Oh goody,” said Goody-Goody Gordon.

Everyone gathered round the ancient scroll.

“It says to go to the park,” squealed Spotless Sam. “Look, X marks the spot where the treasure is buried.”

Dad, waving a skull and crossbones flag, led the pirates out of the door and down the road to the park.

Horrid Henry ran ahead through the park gates and took off his skull and crossbones hat and eyepatch. No way did he want anyone to think he was part of this
baby
pirate party. He glanced at the swings. Was there anyone here that he knew? Phew, no one, just some little girl on the slide.

The little girl looked up and stared at Horrid Henry. Horrid Henry stared back.

Uh oh.

Oh no.

Henry began to back away. But it was too late.

“Henwy!” squealed the little girl. “Henwy!”

It was Lisping Lily, New Nick's horrible sister. Henry had met her on the world's worst sleepover at Nick's house, where she—where she—

“Henwy! I love you, Henwy!” squealed Lisping Lily, running toward him. “Will you marry with me, Henwy?”

Horrid Henry turned and ran down the winding path into the gardens. Lisping Lily ran after him. “Henwy! Henwy!”

Henry dived into some thick bushes and crouched behind them.

Please don't find me, please don't find me, he prayed.

Henry waited, his heart pounding. All he could hear was Peter's pirate party, advancing his way. Had he lost her?

“I think the treasure's over there!” shouted Peter.

Phew. He'd ditched her. He was safe.

“Henwy?” came a little voice. “Henwy! Where are you? I want to give you a big kiss.”

AAAARRRGGHH!

Then Horrid Henry remembered who he was. The boy who'd got Miss Battle-Axe sent to the principal. The boy who'd defeated the demon lunch lady. The boy who was scared of nothing (except shots). What was a pirate king like him doing hiding from some tiddly toddler?

Horrid Henry put on his pirate hat and grabbed his cutlass. He'd scare her off if it was the last thing he did.

“AAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!” roared the pirate king, leaping up and brandishing his bloody cutlass.

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!” squealed Lisping Lily. She turned and ran, crashing into Peter.

“Piwates! Piwates!” she screamed, dashing away.

Perfect Peter's blood ran cold. He looked into the thrashing bushes and saw a skull and crossbones rising out of the hedge, the gleam of sunlight on a blood-red cutlass…

“AAAAAAAHHHHHH!” screamed Peter. “It's Blood Boil Bob!” He turned and ran.

“AAAAAAAHHHHHH!” shrieked Ted. He turned and ran.

“AAAAAAAHHHHHH!” shrieked Gordon, Parveen, and the rest. They turned and ran.

Huh? thought Horrid Henry, trying to wriggle free.

Thud.

Henry's foot knocked against something hard. There, hidden beneath some leaves under the hedge, was a pirate chest.

Eureka!

“Help!” shrieked Perfect Peter. “Help! Help!”

Mom and Dad ran over.

“What's happened?”

“We got attacked by pirates!” wailed Parveen.

“We ran for our lives!” wailed Gordon.

“Pirates?” said Mom.

“Pirates?” said Dad. “How many were there?”

“Five!”

“Ten!”

“Hundreds!” wailed Mini Minnie.

“Don't be silly,” said Mom.

“I'm sure they're gone now, so let's find the treasure,” said Dad.

Peter opened the map and headed for the hedge nearest to the gate where the treasure map showed a giant X.

“I'm too scared,” he whimpered.

Helpful Hari crept to the treasure chest and lifted the lid. Everyone gasped. All that was left inside were a few crumpled gold wrappers.

“The treasure's gone,” whispered Peter.

Just then Horrid Henry sauntered along the path, twirling his hat.

“Where have you been?” said Mom.

“Hiding,” said Horrid Henry truthfully.

“We got raided,” gasped Ted.

“By pirates,” gasped Gordon.

“No way,” said Horrid Henry.

“They stole all the chocolate coins,” wailed Peter.

Horrid Henry sighed.

“What did I tell you about the cannibal curse?” he said. “Just be glad you've still got your heads.”

Hmmmm, boy, chocolate coins were always yummy, but raided chocolate coins tasted even better, thought Horrid Henry that night, shoving a few more candies into his mouth.

Come to think of it, there'd been too many pirate parties recently.

Now, a cannibal curse party… Hmmmn.