Wild Moose Chase by Siobhan Rowden

big,” answered Cam, “but Zogs is clever. She will find a way to win.”
    â€œYou don’t stand a chance. Genghis and I have connected.”
    â€œThat’s because you both have yak brains,” grinned Cam.
    Attila led them through the festival to the start of the race. Bert let go of Genghis’s long hair and began waving at the crowds.
    â€œAs Lord Curd mounts his trusty steed,” he said, “his loyal fans gather, eager to see a true master of the yak race—”
    Genghis sneezed and Bert slipped, tumbling forward over the yak’s dipped head. The crowd laughed and Cam giggled as Attila picked him up and helped him back on. Bert scowled and held on tightly to Genghis’s shaggy mane.
    A line of flags marked the start. Attila explained they had to race along the grassy plain towards a star-shaped rock in the distance.
    â€œYou must gallop around the rock-star and back towards the start. First across the line of flags will receive the pot of rennet from the fourth stomach. I will be watching you with interest.”
    They lined up with the rest of the competitors. They weren’t the only children. Two Mongolian boys and a girl of about the same age were crouching over their yaks, focusing on the rock ahead. There were several other people dressed in colourful robes and at the far end three men all in white suits and white sunglasses.
    â€œLook!” cried Cam. “It’s the men from the Specialist Cheesemakers Association. They must have got the moose milk.”
    â€œSo we’re not just racing against each other,” said Bert, “and look who else just turned up.”
    Cam turned to see the two Easy Cheesy Doggy Treats men. Their yaks were tiny and it was hard to see where the yak ended and the men in their doggy outfits started. As they lined up next to the children the twins could hear them chanting.
    â€œMoose cheese, moose cheese, moose cheese…”
    A tall man in a yak-hair hat stood at the end of the line and held up a large gong. Cam bent low over Zogs, holding tightly with her hands and knees. She glanced over at Bert, who was sitting up high and holding on with one hand.
    DONG!
    The gong donged and the yaks jumped into action.
    â€œYEEHAA!” cried Bert.
    He was almost thrown off as Genghis exploded forward, propelling him backwards. Cam closed her eyes and clung to Zogs’ thick hair as the yak broke into a run. Her body bounced furiously up and down and she bent lower still, so that her head was resting on Zogs’ neck. She could hear the pounding of hooves all around her and briefly opened her eyes to see one of the men in white suits hammer past.
    â€œC’mon, Zogs!” she called, squeezing her knees tighter.
    The yak sped up and Cam could see they had left several competitors behind, including both the Easy Cheesy Doggy Treats men and two of the Specialist Cheesemakers. She heard Bert shouting in front of her.
    â€œRide ’em, yakboy,” he yelled, as they raced up to the rock-star.
    One of the other boys in the race reached the rock first, closely followed by the girl and one of the Specialist Cheesemakers. Bert was close on their heels, with Cam just behind him. As Zogs galloped around the bend, Cam began slipping sideways. She gripped tighter with her knees but that just made the yak go faster and she slid down further. Zogs caught up with Genghis. Bert glanced over as they thundered past.
    â€œHey!” shouted Bert. “You’re not allowed to ride them sideways.”
    â€œI am not doing this on purpose!” screamed Cam as they zoomed ahead.
    She managed to pull herself up on to Zogs’ back again and glanced behind at Bert. Genghis had slowed right down to a trot. Eventually he stopped to eat a particularly large clump of grass. Bert was desperately trying to urge him on.
    â€œWhat do you think you’re doing?” he shouted in frustration. “No wonder you’re so