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clothing, it held it up towards the building. Even from high above, Sophie could see that it was glowing with a yellow light.

    She remembered how the key had glowed with a green light when it had been near the green gem a few days ago. The Swamp Boggle must be using it to try to find the gem!
    Two other Swamp Boggles came climbing out behind their leader. Goo dripped from them on to the courtyard. Rubbing their slimy hands, they headed towards the unlocked back door!

S ophie raced up to the attic. “Sam!”
    â€œSophie, look!” He had got down from the ladder and was holding something in his hand. “I’ve—”
    Sophie interrupted him. “The Swamp Boggles are here!”
    Sam’s face paled. “Where?”
    â€œOutside! I saw them climb out of the drain in the courtyard! They had the key, and it was glowing. They know the gem is somewhere in this shop!”
    â€œIt is.” Sam opened his fingers. Sophie’s eyes became the size of dinner plates as she saw the glowing yellow jewel in his hand. “I just found it, on the top shelf!” he said.

    â€œOh, wow!” Sophie was torn between relief and panic. “That’s brilliant! Now we just have to somehow get it away from the Swamp Boggles. Maybe they haven’t come in yet.” She grabbed Sam and started pulling him to the staircase. “We might still be able to escape!”
    But as they reached the top of the stairs, Sophie knew it was too late. Power tingled through her and she heard the Swamp Boggles below. Squish! Squelch! Their soggy feet moved across the carpet as they searched for the gem. “Where is it?” one of the boggles grumbled.
    â€œIt’s got to be here somewhere,” said another with a very hissy voice.
    â€œAnd when we find it, we’ll take it to Ug and open the gateway. Har… har… har…” Sophie recognised the chief boggle’s laugh.
    She and Sam stared at each other and then slipped away as quietly as they could. They crept back to the attic. “We’re trapped!” Sam whispered.
    Sophie looked around the room. “What about a window?” But there weren’t any in the attic. She took a deep breath. “OK, so… we’re going to have to fight them!”
    Sam paced up and down. “How are we going to do this?” he muttered almost to himself. “I know! Let’s hide and lie in wait. The key will lead the boggles up here. When they come in we’ll attack them with the starch cans, then hopefully you can fight them off and we’ll get past them and escape.”
    â€œOnly one problem,” Sophie pointed out. “The starch is downstairs!”
    They exchanged dismayed looks.
    â€œOK,” Sam ran a hand through his hair. “Think again. What can we do?” His eyes fell on the pile of dusty hairdryers. “I know! We can use those to dry the boggles out!”
    â€œGreat idea!” Sophie gasped.
    They quickly took the four hairdryers out of their faded boxes and plugged them into the wall. Then Sophie took the gem from Sam and slipped it into her purse belt along with the green one. She just hoped the boggles wouldn’t realise the gems were on her!
    Shoving the thought away, she picked up a hairdryer in each hand and waved them about like pistols. “Hairdryers at dawn!” she said in a small voice.
    Sam only gulped in reply.
    Sophie sympathised. Even with her Guardian powers surging through her, her heart wasracing with fear. Then her scalp prickled as down below she heard a slow squelching noise on the stairs. The Swamp Boggles were coming!
    â€œCome on, we’ve got to hide!” she said. She and Sam ducked behind one of the shelves, holding the hairdryers tightly. After a few moments, Sophie heard the Swamp Boggles’s voices on the other side of the door.
    â€œLook at the way the key’s glowing!” chortled the chief boggle from the attic landing.