Extract from Chapter  : 8  In which the Children get into a spin over a sea monster.

There was no wind and the sea was like glass. Simon was confident with boats and before long they were nearing the island. As they got close occasional noises shattered the silence; eerie roars and savage growls similar to those you hear at a zoo—only a thousand times louder and a zillion times scarier. Then, softly at first, they heard the strangest noise of all—sweet singing. Gradually the sound engulfed them. Although it remained soft and gentle it somehow blotted out all other sounds—blotted out their thoughts. They lost all fear of the creatures that awaited them on the island. They lost all desire to go to Ghoga and save the world from Doctor X. Now they had only one desire—to reach the source of the singing. Simon turned the boat away from the shore and rowed up the coastline. A short distance ahead a beautiful sea nymph sat on a rock playing a golden harp. Her skin was azure blue and long sea-weed colored hair flowed down her back in gentle waves. She smiled sweetly as she watched them approach. Simon rowed faster. As her song was in Greek they couldn’t understand the words but even if they had it would have made no difference. They were spellbound—trapped by the nymph’s wondrous voice as she sang her enchanting song . .

Come children,
Come one by one,
Come to my seaweed wonderland.
My sea-horses will serve you,
A feast of oyster and caviar,
As you rest your weary heads,
On pillows made from turtle-shell.
And the cod will dance,
And the salmon will sing,
And you my dears will have everything.
Come children,
Come to my seaweed wonderland,
Come, come, come to your graves.
 

From the still water an enormous head rose up. A green scaly head with a mouth so big it could swallow fifty men in one go without the use of a knife and fork. The children were so entranced by the song that they kept heading towards it. Three gigantic bulging eyes watched them approach. Just a few days earlier this fierce sea monster had been Melissa’s mild mannered teacher, Miss Doogooder. Now she planned Melissa’s demise.