Jonny Plumb and the City of Amaranta: The Adventures of Jonny Plumb

By Kim Wheeler

Jonny Plumb and the Lost City of Amaranta (Book 3)

This third story in The Adventures of Jonny Plumb Series continues the daring deeds of Book 1: Jonny Plumb and the Golden Globe and Book 2: Jonny Plumb and

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mouse Gate
• Release date: Mar 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781590954201

Kim Wheeler

Kim Wheeler was born in Romsey, Hampshire and is married to a retired Chief Diver RN. After living in San Diego for some years, she now lives between the UK and USA dividing time with family. Passions include classic literature, contemporary art, cycling, good coffee and Tottenham Hotspur FC ‘COYS’.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

AMARANTA

Jonny stood alongside Sir Ranulf, Sir Harry, Professor Ziad and an open mouthed Isobel, transfixed at the stunning sight that lay before them. Probably the greatest wonder in the known world, the Pyramids of Giza. A full moon lit the gigantic monoliths, casting mile long shadows across the vastness of the empty sand dunes.

Jonny and Isobel Looking At Pyramids

‘Are you sure no one can see us?’ Isobel asked while grabbing Jonny’s hand.

‘Pretty sure,’ Jonny replied smiling and then added ‘now let’s get ready.’

Jonny picked up the Shard of Pure Light, held it tightly in his left hand and then told PAL to hover just in front of the Great Sphinx.

‘We seem to have company,’ PAL said calmly.

‘Where?’ Jonny asked.

‘Everywhere,’ PAL replied.

Jonny looked out of the transparent floor to see hundreds of people milling around.

‘Damn tourists!’ Sir Ranulf shouted at the top of his voice.

‘Well, we can’t land here and we certainly can’t suddenly emerge from the belly of the Silver Flying Arrow Space Ship, not in front of all these tourists can we? I mean, it would give them one hell of a shock,’ Sir Harry said scratching his head.

Jonny then noticed that the Shard of Pure Light began to flash red and orange, just like the Golden Globe did when there was danger.

Suddenly the voice of Cosmos rang out, ‘You must leave here immediately! There’s danger, Jonny, there’s danger!’

PAL manoeuvred the Silver Flying Arrow Space Ship and in milliseconds it had reached the Earth’s outer atmosphere.

‘What danger, Cosmos?’ Jonny asked.

‘There’s an evil dark force protecting the Sphinx and the Pyramids. You must not enter. I repeat, you must not enter,’ Cosmos replied with some urgency.

‘But I thought it was safe since we have the Shard of Pure Light to protect us,’ Jonny moaned.

‘The Shard of Pure Light is many thousands of years old and is only a key to enter the underground city below the pyramids. There has always been a curse protecting the pyramids, but I’ll explain more soon. For now, return home Jonny, return home.’

‘Underground city? What do you mean underground city?’ everyone exclaimed.

Jonny looked at Isobel. Isobel looked at Sir Harry. Sir Harry looked at Sir Ranulf. Sir Ranulf looked at Professor Ziad. Professor Ziad then looked at Jonny and all said in unison, ‘Underground City, woooo-hooooo.’

‘Another time. I will tell you about it another time,’ Cosmos repeated as his voice faded and the brilliant orange and red flashing lights of the Shard of Pure Light disappeared.

‘Well, best we go home then,’ Jonny said reluctantly and then quickly added, ‘I’m sorry, Isobel, perhaps another time…but to make up for this, how about a quick lap around the Earth and then home for hot chocolate and cake?’

‘Oh yes,’ Sir Harry replied rubbing his gnarled hands together.

‘No, not you silly,’ Jonny said laughing.

The Silver Flying Arrow Space Ship accelerated at a phenomenal rate and in seconds flat was flying at the speed of light. Isobel got a very bad case of the giggles from pure excitement as she was whisked around the Earth in minutes. Before she could take in everything that was happening to her, they had all returned to Jonny’s back garden.

* * * * * * *

Everybody piled out of the Silver Flying Arrow Space Ship. In a flash, it had reduced in size and shape-shifted back into the Golden Globe, which Jonny quickly swallowed. He then passed the Shard of Pure Light to Legend to go and hide.

‘What time is it?’ Isobel asked as they all walked into the kitchen.

‘Twenty hundred hours,’ Sir Ranulf replied.

‘What’s that in English?’ Isobel asked.

‘Eight o’clock,’ Nanny Carole replied while making a nice hot drink of cocoa.

Everyone sat down to drink their hot chocolate and stuff large amounts of homemade cake into their hungry mouths. However, the burning question on everybody’s lips was; what is the hidden underground city and when could they go back and see it?

‘Well, not before I talk to Cosmos,’ Jonny said emphatically and then added, ‘and we will have to go at the dead of night as we can’t afford to be seen.’

‘Oh, that means I won’t be able to go with you,’ Isobel whined.

‘You can if you come and stay for, let’s say, a weekend,’ Jonny replied while looking at Sir Ranulf for approval.

‘Yes, good idea. Next weekend then and Professor Ziad, you can come to cant you?’ Sir Ranulf asked.

‘Yes of course, wibble, wabble, wobble,’ the Professor replied rubbing his hands together

‘Good, but please don’t bring your mad-as-a-bat, sprout-eating, parping, shrieking wife please,’ Jonny said laughing.

‘I’ll ask my parents tomorrow,’ Isobel added.

‘YES,’ Jonny said, punching the air.

* * * * * * *

Jonny waved goodbye as Isobel was driven at considerable speed by her clown-looking mother down the drive and through the gates. Jonny listened as the noise of the purring E- Type Jaguar’s engine became fainter and fainter and slowly disappeared.

‘Now, Jonny, bath and bed. Goodnight son,’ Sir Ranulf said while gently messing up Jonny’s hair.

* * * * * * *

‘Goodnight Dad,’ Jonny replied. With Legion and Legend by his side, he disappeared up the stairs and stopped off to run a nice hot bath. Within a few seconds he dived in with his customary style and panache and replaced the Golden Globe in its hiding place deep in the underwater world of his bath tub.

As he swam back to the surface of his bath water, he was greeted by his Sea Life friends, ‘Hi Jonny! How were the pyramids?’ Sloppy Botty asked.

‘Busy - but guess what? There’s a lost city under the pyramids.’ Jonny said while grabbing the soap.

‘Who lives there then?’ Wall Eyed Wally asked as he climbed up onto the top of Jonny’s head.

‘Dunno,’ Jonny replied.

‘So, how long have the Dunno been living there then?’ Sloppy Botty asked.

‘No! They’re not called the Dunno, you strange fish,’ Jonny replied laughing.

‘So what are they called then?’ Squelch asked as she also climbed up onto Jonny’s shoulder.

‘Der! He just told you they are called the Dunno,’ Sloppy Botty replied, diving in and out of the bath water.

‘No, you silly sausage. I said I DONT KNOW.’

‘So, did you see the lost city then?’ Wall Eyed Wally asked.

‘Nope. We couldn’t land safely as there were hordes of people around so we’re going back another time. Well, actually next weekend at midnight.’

‘Then will you go to the lost city of the Dunno?’ Sloppy Botty asked.

‘Well, that’s the idea but there’s a curse and, unless we can unlock the code to the curse, we won’t see anything, especially a lost city,’ Jonny replied.

‘Jonny, Jonny come quick! The Golden Globe is flashing,’ Stench shouted. He grabbed Jonny by his feet and unceremoniously dragged him under the beautiful tranquil turquoise waters just in time to hear Cosmos’ explanation.

‘Jonny, to enter the lost city and get past the evil dark forces, you must first repeat the first four lines of the prayer that you recited when you first arrived at Pashoo. When you have recited these words, then - and only then - can you enter the great Sphinx and the lost city.’

‘What’s the name of the lost city?’ Jonny asked while trying to remember the words to the only prayer he knew.

‘The name of the city is Amaranta,’ Cosmos replied.

‘The flower that never fades,’ Jonny said quietly.

‘Yes, Jonny, that is correct. Now do you remember your prayer?’

Jonny thought for a second and then began to recite, ‘Oh thou from whom the breath of life comes.’

‘No Jonny. Not in English. In Aramaic.’

‘Ooooops,’ Jonny replied. He thought for a second and then recited, ‘Abwun, D’bwaschmaja, Nethkadasch, Tete Malkuthach.’

‘Perfect Jonny. Just perfect. Now you are ready.’

The Golden Globe ceased flashing and Jonny swam to the surface just in time to hear his Father say from behind the bathroom door, ‘Jonny I just phoned Isobel’s parents. Sadly, she’s not allowed to come and stay next weekend. Sorry old boy. Bit harsh I know, but perhaps another time.’

‘Oh, ok,’ Jonny replied trying not to feel too disappointed.

‘Who’s Isobel and where were you taking her?’ Sloppy Botty asked as he let rip a real steamer of a parp.

‘Well, Isobel is a friend,’ Jonny replied sheepishly.

‘Girlfriend, Jonny?’ Squelch butted in.

‘Jonny’s got a girlfriend! Jonny’s got a girlfriend!’ Carcuss, Stench and Harpoon all shouted out together.

‘I was going to take her to see the pyramids and the lost city,’ Jonny replied.

‘Lost city? Lost city?’ all the Sea Life enquired.

‘How do you lose a city?’ Sloppy Botty asked.

‘No one’s lost the city, you strange fish. It’s just that no one’s ever seen it.’

‘Then how do you know it’s lost if no one’s ever seen it? Strange human,’ Sloppy Botty said smugly.

‘Because, strange fish with the smelly bottom, I was told by Cosmos.’

‘Ner-ner-ner-ner-na. I was told by Cosmos, Ner-ner-ner-ner-na,’ Sloppy Botty said sarcastically.

‘Well, Isobel can’t come so I’m going to go tonight by myself,’ Jonny replied.

‘Can we come? Can we come? Pleeeeeeeeeeease’ all the Sea Life pleaded.

‘Can you walk on dry land? Can you see in the dark? Can you climb a pyramid?’ Jonny asked.

‘I can!’ Legs shouted.

‘Legs, you can’t even catch up when we swim and you certainly couldn’t climb a pyramid, whatever a pyramid is,’ Stench replied laughing and then asked ‘actually, what is a pyramid?’

‘Well, when I return I’ll tell you,’ Jonny said as he dived down to the Golden Globe.

‘Jonny, you must never ever go anywhere alone. Is that understood?’ Cosmos said quite angrily as Jonny reached the Golden Globe.

‘Ok, I hear you Cosmos. I will go this weekend then.’

‘So, what is a pyramid?’ Stench asked again.

‘Well, Stench, it’s a tomb and its massive. It’s as tall as a skyscraper. It’s as wide as… er, er… oh, a very wide thing. It’s the shape of a four-sided triangle and in the middle is a tomb. Oh, and by the way, it was built by aliens but most people think it was built by hand, which it obviously wasn’t because humans couldn’t lift the stones,’ Jonny replied excitedly.

‘What’s a tomb?’ Sloppy Botty asked.

‘It’s a place where people keep their dead,’ Jonny replied as he washed his hair.

‘People keep their dead!’ all the Sea Life replied in shock.

‘Why would you want to keep a dead person in a place that no one can see, hear, talk to, play with, laugh with or even go shopping with?’ Carcuss asked.

‘Oh, I wish I’d never brought the subject up now,’ Jonny said, already bored with the constant questioning.

‘Well, you have and we want to know,’ Harpoon added.

‘Ok, Ok, keep your hair on. The Egyptians believed that when someone died they would go to another place as a spirit. They also embalmed the body so it wouldn’t rot and they called this body a Mummy.’

‘So, if a Daddy died he would then suddenly become a Mummy Daddy just by being dead. So you change sex as well when you die?’ Stench asked.

‘What’s embalmed?’ Sloppy Botty asked ‘and why don’t we do that?’

‘Because you don’t have hands,’ Jonny replied getting really fed up.

‘I have,’ Legs butted in.

‘No Legs! You have legs and two claws. One massive one and one tiny one and you wear pants.’ Jonny replied, exasperated by the silly questions. Then, just to change the subject, he said ‘Tell you what, why don’t we sing a nice song and then I’m going to bed?’

‘Oh, ok,’ the Sea Life replied and then added ‘we’re not very interested in embalming anyway. Sounds a bit stupid to us.’

‘Ok, let’s sing ‘I’m A Believer,’ by the Monkeys Jonny said.

‘I’m a beaver?’ Sloppy Botty asked.

‘No, strange fish! B-E-L-I-E-V-E-R!’ Jonny shouted. ‘Now, after three.’

‘What happens after three?’ Stench asked.

‘We all sing. My, you’re all in very silly moods today aren’t you?’ Jonny said smiling.

‘So, after three we start to sing and not after four?’ Sloppy Botty asked. ‘And we sing I am a bee keeper.’

‘Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I’M A BELIEVER,’ an irate Jonny replied.

‘Alright keep your hair on Jonny Dumb. We heard you the first time,’ Carcuss added giggling.

‘Ok, 1, 2, 3 and SING,’ Jonny shouted. Right on cue all the Sea Life began to sing.

‘What’s a bee keeper?’ Sloppy Botty asked while dropping yet another bomb of a parp.

Jonny jumped out of the bath holding his nose and said, ‘Ok, see you all tomorrow, strange fish.’

‘Yes, see you tomorrow, strange child,’ all the Sea Life replied, and in a whoosh, they were gone.

* * * * * * *

Jonny ran upstairs to his bedroom, jumped into his bed, grabbed hold of his teddy bear Pod, quickly stroked his two faithful Rottweilers, Legion and Legend, and turned the light out. He was sound asleep in seconds.

* * * * * * *

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