Mr Gum and the Power Crystals. Andy Stanton

      

       For Toby, all the way in New Zealand

      Mr Gum and the Power Crystals First published 2006 by Egmont UK Limited This edition published 2019 by Egmont UK Limited, The Yellow Building, 1 Nicholas Road London W11 4AN

      Text copyright © 2006 Andy Stanton

       Illustration copyright © 2006 David Tazzyman

      The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted

      First e-book edition 2019

      ISBN 978 1 4052 9372 3

       eISBN 978 1 4052 5930 9

      mrgum.co.uk www.egmont.co.uk

      A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library

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       Contents

       Title Page

       Dedication and Copyright page

       Introduction

       1 The Strange Stones

       2 Polly’s Bad Dream

       3 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       4 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       5 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       6 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       7 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       8 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       9 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       10 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       11 Polly Goes to See Old Granny

       12 What Happened at the Windmill

       13 Chasing Time!

       14 Inside the Tree

       15 Old Granny Tells Her Tale

       16 Attack of the Roo-de-lallies

       17 Meanwhile, Over in Spain

       18 Polly Goes Back to the Windmill

       19 Inside the Windmill

       20 Midsummer’s Eve

       21 Captain Excellent

       About the Author

       Also by

       Praise

       Some of the crazy old townsfolk from Lamonic Bibber

       INTRODUCTION: Why do things Happen?

      ‘Why do things happen?’ That’s the question on everyone’s lips these days.

      ‘Why do things happen, Science?’ everyone’s lips ask Science. And luckily, Science usually has the answer. For example, if you ask Science why your little sister is crying, the answer is plain – because you called her ‘Stinky’ and broke all her dolls with a hammer. Or if you ask Science why rain falls from the sky, the answer is simple – because it just does and stuff.

      But every so often something happens which is so extraordinary that even Science does not hold the answers. For instance, take the horrifying events of last summer in the little town of Lamonic Bibber. ‘Why did they happen, Science?’ you may ask. But you will get no answer.

      For some things are so strange that they cannot be explained away with Science. Or Maths. Or even P.E. But like Old Granny said as she rocked back and forth in her chair by the fireside:

      ‘The past has a way of repeating itself. The past has a way of repeating itself. The past has a way of repeating itself.’

      And perhaps that is all that anyone can say of such things.