Hunk and Thud by Jim Eldridge Page B

session, with stretches and press-ups and cartwheels to prevent any muscle strain.
    Then they ran through Big Rock’s favourite holds: the Half Nelson Driver, where Big Rock flipped his opponent upside down and dropped, driving his opponent’s head down onto the mat; the Cobra Clutch Bulldog, which also meant getting hold of his opponent, spinning them upside down, and driving their face into the ground; and the Brainbuster. The Brainbuster had a few additional elements, like Big Rock putting his opponent in a headlock, but in fact all the moves were very, very similar with the same ending: the opponent ended up going head first into the ground.

    They also tried other throws and holds, like the Mountain Bomb, in which Big Rock flipped the opponent back-first down onto the mat, before pinning them down for a fall; and the Half Nelson Legsweep, which was all about Big Rock catching his opponent off-balance and sweeping one leg away from under him, so they’d fall to the ground.
    Because Big Rock was so much bigger and more powerful than Jack, it was a wonder that Jack didn’t end up injured; but Jack knew that he was perfectly safe from harm as Big Rock was always gentle when practising. Really, it was just a matter of Big Rock practising the moves and getting them right.
    If I could will myself to turn into Thud, it would be better for Big Rock’s practice, thought Jack. Because Jack, this small, thin boy, was actually a half-troll, and he could turn into a huge Wrestling Troll called Thud, a Wrestling Troll just as powerful as Big Rock. Possibly even more powerful.
    But turning into Thud was something that Jack hadn’t yet learnt how to control. He often wondered if he would ever learn to control it. The only person he’d met who seemed to know anything about half-trolls had been Princess Ava of the country of Weevil, who wrestled in secret as the Masked Avenger. But even Princess Ava didn’t seem to know how Jack could control turning into a Troll.
    Maybe I’ll never find out, thought Jack. It had happened only three times before. Maybe it wouldn’t ever happen again.
    The truth was, it didn’t really matter. Right now, he was happy just being Jack, and practising with Big Rock, and knowing that later they would be sitting down to a great meal along with Milo and Robin.
    All in all, this was the happiest time of Jack’s life.

CHAPTER 3
    As Milo rode on Robin’s back through the green and beautiful valley, he was also feeling incredibly happy. For the first time in ages they had money and could afford to buy stuff, and get things mended properly, instead of making do. And he was surrounded by his best friends, Big Rock, Jack and Robin. Life didn’t get any better than this! Suddenly, filled with joy, he burst into song:
    Wrestling trolls
    Tum-di-dum!
    Wrestling trolls
    Tum-di-dum!
    â€˜Do you have to?’ complained Robin.
    â€˜I’m feeling happy!’ said Milo. ‘Life is great! Life feels wonderful!’
    â€˜Hmm,’ said Robin doubtfully. ‘That sort of feeling always worries me.’
    â€˜Why?’ asked Milo. ‘It’s called “being happy”!’
    â€˜It usually means that something bad is about to happen to spoil it,’ Robin replied.
    Milo chuckled. ‘Come on, Robin,’ he said. ‘Here we are, travelling through open countryside, through a lovely valley with beautiful trees and wonderful large rocks on either side, with not a cloud in the sky. What can possibly go wrong?’
    Robin stopped.
    â€˜How about goblins?’ he asked nervously.
    Milo looked, and saw that a gang of goblins had come out from behind the trees and large rocks and had spread out across the track, barring their way.
    â€˜Not all goblins are dangerous,’ said Milo, but even he knew he was putting on a brave front to convince himself. Goblins had a bad reputation. Yes, there were
some
good goblins – he’d met them