Free BOOOM! by Alan MacDonald

Chapter 1
    Making a Splash
    I t had been raining solidly in the Valley of Urk for three days. Rain dripped from trees and noses and trickled down necks. The rain turned the hillside to mud and pattered in puddles the size of small lakes. The older Urks nodded their heads wisely and said it was the start of the rainy season (which came after the foggy season and before the cold season).
    Iggy was fed up with sitting in his cave, listening to the plip-plop of the rain and trying to keep the fire from going out. For the hundredth time he stood at the entrance peering through the steady drizzle. The dark clouds over the mountains were beginning to roll away at last leaving a bright patch of blue sky. In the valley below, the River Urk had risen high. To Iggy that meant one thing: swimming at Giant’s Rock.

    An hour later he said goodbye to his mum and set off down the hill, calling for his best friend, Hubba, on the way. Giant’s Rock was a little way downstream. It overlooked a bend in the river where the rocks cast long shadows over a deep pool. When they arrived there were already half a dozen Sons of Urk splashing and laughing in the shallows. Iggy waded into the cool green water to join them.
    â€˜Hey! Watch this!’
    Iggy looked up. Someone was perched on the very top of Giant’s Rock, preparing to dive. It could only be Snark. Jumping off the rocks was a game the young Urks often played, daring each other to go higher and higher, but as usual Snark was showing off by choosing the highest rock of all. Giant’s Rock was so tall, just looking up at it made Iggy feel dizzy.
    Snark waved at them, satisfied he’d got the attention of his audience now. Backing up, he took a short run, raised his arms and sprang nimbly from the rock. He swooped down, spinning into a double corkscrew before entering the water as cleanly as a salmon. For a few seconds there was nothing to be seen but a circle of ripples, then Snark burst to the surface. He wiped his eyes and shook his head, spraying Iggy like a wet dog.
    â€˜WOOO! ’ he whooped. ‘See that?’
    â€˜Brilliant!’ ‘Deadly!’ chorused the other Urks.
    Snark raised a hand to acknowledge their applause. He knew very well he was probably the best swimmer in the tribe – which wasn’t saying much since most Urks couldn’t swim at all. He smoothed back his glossy hair and went to sit on a rock.
    â€˜Who’s next then?’ he asked.
    Iggy groaned inwardly. Why did everything with Snark have to be a competition?
    â€˜What about you, pig-breath?’ said Snark, turning on Iggy.
    â€˜Me? I’ve done it before. Loads of times,’ said Iggy.
    â€˜Yeah? When?’
    â€˜You know. That um . . . time when it rained. Remember, Hubba? We both did.’ Iggy nodded meaningfully at his friend, hoping he would back him up.
    Hubba frowned. ‘ Did we? I don’t remember.’
    Snark folded his arms. ‘Well, here’s your chance, dung-brain. Show us.’
    â€˜What – now?’ Iggy looked up at the towering brown rock. ‘Like you said, you done it loads of times. It’s easy. ’Less of course you’re scared.’
    â€˜Scared?’
    â€˜Go on, Iggy,’ said Hubba. ‘Show ’em.’
    Ten minutes later Iggy stood on top of Giant’s Rock, his head almost level with the tops of the trees. In the distance the grey mountains rose up with the craggy peak of Old Grumbly hidden in the clouds. Across the river the forest stretched away as far as the eye could see. On a clear day it was a glorious view – if you weren’t about to jump to your death. Iggy edged forward a few faltering steps and leaned out. The river below was a sickeningly long way down. He could see the others looking up at him, waiting to see if he would lose his nerve. He inched forward a little more, his legs starting to tremble.
    â€˜JUMP!’ Snark’s shout echoed off the