Free Hunk and Thud by Jim Eldridge

more trees and huge logs laid on them, each one tied in place by thick ropes. Some of the trees had been kept alive by the water seeping through the cracks in the dam, and smaller trees and bushes had sprouted out from the original logs and trees, so that the whole dam looked like a high mountain wall of living greenery.
    Now, in the middle of this massive mountain of logs and trees and bushes, a gap had opened up and water was gushing through. The ropes holding the trees together in the centre must have rotted, or become dislodged. Whatever the reason, the force of the water pouring through the gap had started to make the rest of the trees and logs around the gap unsafe. Even as Jack watched, a whole tree came away from the middle of the wall and tumbled down, rolling over and over before it crashed into the river below. The additional force of water had turned the previously peaceful river into a raging torrent. Jack could only guess at the incredibly powerful force of water behind the huge wooden dam, pressing against it, punching holes in it. More gaps were opening up in the giant wall of wood as logs suddenly hurtled out from the dam like bullets shot from a gun, and more water gushed through the new gap and poured down the dam.
    The river below the dam was rising rapidly and was almost up to the level of the riverbanks. Very soon it would be pouring over the banks and begin cascading towards the town, and then on through the rest of the valley to the other towns and villages, drowning them, and the people and animals who lived there.
    Already, many of the townsfolk were climbing over the huge dam, clinging onto the slippery logs and trees and trying to tie the loose wood into place. The dam was so big the people looked like insects as they clambered up the wall of timber, ropes wrapped around them so they could tie the trees to one another and try to stabilise the dam.
    Big Rock, Sam Dent, Princess Ava (as the Masked Avenger) and Grit were climbing up the dam to join those already on it, slipping now and then on the wet logs and trees, but steadfastly making their way towards the breach in the dam.
    â€˜Where’s Hunk?’ asked Jack. ‘I can’t see him. I thought he was with them.’
    â€˜Huh!’ snorted Robin derisively. ‘I bet he’s hiding somewhere. And after it’s all over he’ll come out and tell stories about how brave he was. He’s a fake wrestler and a fake hero.’
    As they watched, another log spilled out from the hole in the dam and hurtled down to the river, hitting Grit. The young troll nearly fell, but the Masked Avenger stretched out an arm and grabbed her, pulling her to safety.
    â€˜They need more help!’ said Jack.
    â€˜They need Thud,’ said Milo. He looked at Jack hopefully. ‘Anything yet?’
    Jack shook his head.
    â€˜No,’ he said. ‘It’ll just have to be little me.’
    â€˜It’ll be both of us,’ said Milo.
    â€˜And me!’ declared Robin.
    Milo shook his head.
    â€˜Those logs and trees are soaking wet and slippery, you won’t be able to get a grip on them with your hooves.’
    â€˜In that case, I’ll help the townsfolk,’ said Robin. He looked towards the town, where people were carrying their belongings out of their houses and loading them onto carts. ‘They’ll need a horse to pull the carts to higher ground if the dam breaks.’
    With that, he galloped back towards the town.
    There was a crashing sound behind them and Jack and Milo turned and saw another log had become detached from the middle of the dam and had tumbled into the river.
    Quickly, Jack grabbed up a loop of thick rope from the pile lying by the riverbank and ran towards the bottom of the dam to join the others.
    Jack and Milo climbed up the dam. It was hard work; the logs and trees beneath their feet were slippery, and the whole lot kept moving as the weight of water behind the dam tried to push