Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse (8 page)

“Ha ha ha ha ha—the Purple Hand rules!” he cackled.

“We’ll get you for this, Henry,” said Margaret.

“Yeah, yeah,” said Henry.

“You didn’t really steal their cookies, did you, Henry?” asked Lord High Worm the following day.

“As if,” said Horrid Henry. “Now get back to your guard duty. Our enemies may be planning a revenge attack.”

“Why do I always have to be the guard?” said Peter. “It’s not fair.”

“Whose club is this?” said Henry fiercely.

Peter’s lip began to tremble.

“Yours,” muttered Peter.

“So if you want to stay as a temporary member, you have to do what I say,” said Henry.

“OK,” said Peter.

“And remember, one day, if you’re very good, you’ll be promoted from junior guard to chief guard,” said Henry.

“Ooh,” said Peter, brightening.

Business settled, Horrid Henry reached for the cookie tin. He’d saved five yummy chocolate fudge chewies for today.

Henry picked up the tin and stopped. Why wasn’t it rattling? He shook it.

Silence.

Horrid Henry ripped off the lid and shrieked.

The Purple Hand cookie tin was empty. Except for one thing. A dagger drawn on a piece of paper. The dastardly mark of Margaret’s Secret Club! Well, he’d show them who ruled.

“Worm!” he shrieked. “Get in here!”

Peter entered.

“We’ve been raided!” screamed Henry. “You’re fired!”

“Waaaah!” wailed Peter.

* * *

“Good work, Susan,” said the leader of the Secret Club, her face covered in chocolate.

“I don’t see why you got three cookies and I only got two when I was the one who sneaked in and stole them,” said Susan sourly.

“Tribute to your leader,” said Moody Margaret.

“I still don’t think it’s fair,” muttered Susan.

“Tough,” said Margaret. “Now let’s hear your spy report.”

“NAH NAH NE NAH NAH!” screeched a voice from outside.

Susan and Margaret dashed out of the Secret Club tent. They were too late. There was Henry, prancing off, waving the Secret Club banner he’d stolen.

“Give that back, Henry!” screamed Margaret.

“Make me!” said Henry.

Susan chased him. Henry darted.

Margaret chased him. Henry dodged.

“Come and get me!” taunted Henry.

“All right,” said Margaret. She walked toward him, then suddenly jumped over the wall into Henry’s garden and ran to the Purple Hand fort.

“Hey, get away from there!” shouted Henry, chasing after her. Where was that useless guard when you needed him?

Margaret nabbed Henry’s skull and crossbones flag and darted off.

The two leaders faced each other. “Gimme my flag!” ordered Henry. “Gimme my flag!” ordered Margaret. “You first,” said Henry.

“
You
first,” said Margaret.

Neither moved.

“OK, at the count of three we’ll throw them to each other,” said Margaret. One, two, three—throw!”

Margaret held on to Henry’s flag.

Henry held on to Margaret’s flag.

Several moments passed.

“Cheater,” said Margaret.

“Cheater,” said Henry.

“I don’t know about you, but I have important spying work to get on with,” said Margaret.

“So?” said Henry. “Get on with it. No one’s stopping you.”

“Drop my flag, Henry,” said Margaret.

“No,” said Henry.

“Fine,” said Margaret. “Susan! Bring me the scissors.”

Susan ran off.

“Peter!” shouted Henry. “Worm! Lord Worm! Lord High Worm!”

Peter stuck his head out of the upstairs window.

“Peter! Get the scissors! Quick!” ordered Henry.

“No,” said Peter. “You fired me, remember?” And he slammed the window shut.

“You’re dead, Peter,” shouted Henry.

Sour Susan came back with the scissors and gave them to Margaret. Margaret held the scissors to Henry’s flag. Henry didn’t budge. She wouldn’t dare—

Snip!

Aaargh! Moody Margaret cut off a corner of Henry’s flag. She held the scissors poised to make another cut.

Horrid Henry had spent hours painting his beautiful flag. He knew when he was beat.

“Stop!” shrieked Henry.

He dropped Margaret’s flag. Margaret dropped his flag. Slowly, they inched toward each other, then dashed to grab their own flag.

“Truce?” said Moody Margaret, beaming. “Truce,” said Horrid Henry, scowling.

I’ll get her for this, thought Horrid Henry. No one touches my flag and lives.

What tricks will Henry use to attack Margaret’s fort? Will Moody Margaret finally defeat Henry? Find out whose flag is still waving at the end of the war in
Horrid Henry Tricks and Treats
.

Illustrated by Tony Ross

Each book contains four stories

Henry is dragged to dancing class against his will; vies with Moody Margaret to make the yuckiest Glop; goes camping; and tries to be good like Perfect Peter—but not for long.

Horrid Henry tries to trick the Tooth Fairy into giving him more money; sends Moody Margaret packing; causes his teachers to run screaming from school; and single-handedly wrecks a wedding.

Horrid Henry reluctantly goes for a hike; builds a time machine and convinces Perfect Peter that boys wear dresses in the future; Perfect Peter plays one of the worst tricks ever on his brother; and Henry’s aunt takes the family to a fancy restaurant, so his parents bribe him to behave.