Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE The next morning, Ms Nettles announced that the whole school was going to be allowed to travel to the coast using the magic map to save time. Everyone was very excited– the map was an exact model of the island that stood in the assembly hall and could be used to take people and their unicorns anywhere on the island they wanted to go. Seated on their unicorns, Phoebe, Zara, Aisha and Lily gathered around the map with the rest of the school. Their rucksacks were filled with camping equipment. Zara's was heavier than everyone else's because she seemed to have packed half the library!

Phoebe felt like she was going to explode with excitement. "This is so awesome!" she exclaimed. "I can't wait to get there. Budge up," she added to Zara. "I can't see the map properly." The map was usually protected by a magical force field but as the teachers and students crowded into the hall it shimmered and fell away. Ms Nettles sat on her unicorn, Thyme, examining the west coast of the map and discussing with Ms Tulip, Ms Rosemary and Ms Rivers where would be the best place to make a camp. Mr Longnose, dressed as usual in a dark suit, seemed to be arguing with them. Nudging Zara, Phoebe said, "I've just thought of something, why doesn't Mr Longnose have a unicorn?" "He didn't come to the academy when he was younger so he went to a different school and he's never had one," said Zara. "In fact, I heard Ms Tulip telling Ms Tansy that he can't even ride!" "Ms Tulip won't let him get away with that if he stays much longer!" said Lily with a grin. "She thinks everyone should ride!" "Ms Tulip is looking at him rather a lot," said

Phoebe, observing the riding teacher who kept glancing at Mr Longnose. "Perhaps she's planning to get him on a unicorn while we're at the beach!" Aisha giggled. "Or a donkey!" Lily grinned. "Do you think he'll put on swimming shorts and go paddling in the sea while we're there?" They all burst into giggles at the thought. Ms Nettles raised her hand for silence. "Quiet please, everyone. This is the first time I've used the map to transport the whole school. The magic should be strong enough but for it to work, everyone must hold hands. Don't let go or you will be left behind." Phoebe took Zara's hand as Zara took Lily's. Phoebe was very glad she wasn't next to Mr Longnose. She definitely wouldn't want to hold hands with him! Ms Nettles cleared her throat. "Are we all ready? Aisha, you're not holding on to anyone." "Sorry," said Aisha, who was suddenly shrugging off her rucksack. "I think I've forgotten something important."

Ms Nettles sighed. "If it's your flute, my dear, then I can see it sticking out of your bag." "Phew! Thanks, Ms Nettles." Phoebe grinned and squeezed Aisha's hand as she took it. Aisha squeezed back. Ms Nettles placed her free hand on the magical map. Speaking in a loud clear voice, she said, "Take us all to the west coast." At first, Phoebe thought that the humming noise she could hear was Aisha but then she realised it was the magical map. A wind sprang up, snatching Phoebe's hair and whipping at her cheeks. Zara's and Aisha's hands were ripped from hers as the wind lifted Shimmer up. Lights flashed and then they were spinning so fast that it was impossible to see.

"Eeeeeee!" squealed Phoebe, grasping hold of Shimmer's mane. Her long plaits flew around her face as she spun through the air, then just as suddenly she was falling. Her stomach dipped as the ground rushed up to meet her, but Shimmer landed safely with only a soft bump. "Wow!" said Phoebe, catching her breath as Zara, Aisha and Lily landed beside her on their

unicorns. Around her, unicorns, students and teachers were landing with gentle thuds. They were on a grassy clifftop that rolled down to a cliff edge where red rocks fell away to golden sand beneath. In the distance, Phoebe could see the blue sea. "Isn't it beautiful?" said Aisha. "Oh, it's so good to smell the sea again!" said Lily, sniffing happily. She and her mum lived on the east coast. There was a louder bump and a strangled shout behind them. Phoebe turned and had to clamp her hands over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Mr Longnose had arrived and landed face down with his legs crumpled beneath him and his bony bottom sticking up in the air. His face was berry beetle red as he scrambled up and brushed the grass from his smart, dark suit. "Ms Nettles!" he said crossly. "You have brought us to the wrong place. I distinctly remember saying that we would camp on the beach. We shall be recording the level of the tide at all hours of the day and night and I don't want to have to walk too far."