LITMIR.BIZ

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      First published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books and in Canada

      by Penguin Random House Canada Limited.

      First published in Great Britain 2019 by Egmont UK Limited

      The Yellow Building, 1 Nicholas Road, London W11 4AN

      © 2019 Mojang AB and Mojang Synergies AB. MINECRAFT and MOJANG are trademarks

      or registered trademarks of Mojang Synergies AB.

      All rights reserved.

      ISBN 978 1 4052 9381 5

      eISBN 978 1 4052 9831 5

       www.egmont.co.uk

      Printed in the United Kingdom

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      Prologue

      IT’S ALWAYS DARKEST DURING THE FLASHBACK BECAUSE THAT’S ALSO

      WHEN THE ZOMBIES ATTACK!

      S

      ix figures stood together in the fading light of day.

      Five of them were classmates, friends, and rather short. Some strange, recent events had them learning to work together to be a team. But tonight, the odds they faced seemed overwhelming.

      The sixth figure was taller and wider than the rest. It wasn’t human. Its skin was grey and made of iron. Its eyes glowed red.

      The friends hoped it could protect them.

      “Get ready,” said one of them. “They’re coming.”

      It was true. Not far away, there was a huge group of monsters – zombies and skeletons and hostile mobs. They were only just visible in the glow of the newly-risen moon.

      And they were heading straight for those six figures.

      8

      Chapter 1

      Bats, Part One: Are They Friends, Foes, or Classmates?

      A

      sh Kapoor listened carefully for her name. She didn’t want to be marked absent by mistake even though her form teacher, Ms Minerva, had acknowledged the shiny red apple that Ash had placed on her desk upon arriving in class.

      Ms Minerva was trying to take attendance, but there was a strange sound coming from the

      9

      air-conditioning vents. Ash, seated at the back of the room, found it distracting.

      “Po Chen,” the teacher called.

      Ash’s friend, Po, spun around in his wheelchair. He raised his arm like he was lining up a hoop shot. Po was a master on the basketball

      court. Everyone at school knew him for his skills as an athlete. “Here!”

      After calling a few more names, Ms Minerva said, “Harper Houston.”

      Reading as always, Harper raised her hand without lifting her eyes up from her textbook.

      Ash thought Harper was brilliant. She was especially good in maths and science. She also had a great memory. She seemed to remember everything, from algebra formulas to friends’ birthdays.

      Ash was next alphabetically. She waited for Ms Minerva to call her name, then raised her hand and made eye contact with the teacher. Ms Minerva smiled, nodded, and marked Ash down as present.

      Ash was new to Woodsword Middle School. She’d

      moved to town only a few weeks ago. But now that she was here, she hoped to get perfect attendance. Ash liked doing her best in all

      things. It was how she’d obtained so many Wildling Scout badges.

      From the vents came another small shuffling sound, followed

      by a metallic clanging. Ash looked

      around. No one else seemed to have noticed.

      Maybe the air-conditioning just got loud sometimes.

      “Jodi Mercado,” the teacher said. Ash smiled. Jodi was the first friend she’d made here. She was creative, fearless, and a little bit weird.

      Since Jodi had skipped a grade, she was younger and

      smaller than her classmates. She was every bit as smart as the others, though, and Ash thought she was the best artist in the class.

      Jodi’s big brother was next in the roll call. He

      was obsessed with Minecraft, like Ash herself. It was one of many things they had in common.

      “Morgan Mercado,” said Ms Minerva.

      13

      “Here!” Morgan said. He spoke loudly. Enthusiastically.

      The noise in the vents came back louder. It was almost as if something was reacting to the sound of his voice. There was more shuffling and a small chirp.

      This time, Jodi noticed it, too.

      What was that? she mouthed silently.

      Ash gave an exaggerated shrug, as if to say No idea.

      It was at that moment that the door to the classroom flew open, slamming against the wall with a tremendous bang.

      Their science teacher, Doc Culpepper, stood

      in the doorway. “Ms Minerva,” she said, out of breath. “I’ve come to warn you . . .”

      Before Doc could finish her

      sentence, the air-conditioning

      vent above Ash’s head burst open.

      Dozens of dark shapes flew into the

      classroom, squeaking and chirping,

      flapping and fluttering.

      “Are those . . . ?” said Jodi.

      “Bats!” Ash shouted.

      The classroom erupted into chaos. The kids

      screamed. Some ducked low, while others tried to wave the bats away.

      Ash hid beneath her desk. She saw that Jodi had done the same.

      “This is pandemonium!” said Ash.

      “I know!” Jodi replied. “But I kind of love it!”

      Ash laughed despite herself. Of course Jodi would see the humour in this.

      Ms Minerva was swatting away bats as they

      swoopedtowardsherfrizzyhair.“Everyone,outside!” she instructed. “Please hurry. But don’t run!”

      16

      Ash very much wanted to run, but crawling worked well enough. She had to drag her backpack behind her.

      Most of the class was already out in the

      hallway when Ash had a sudden realisation.

      They’d left Baron Sweetcheeks behind!

      She only hesitated for a moment before turning around and heading deeper into the classroom.

      “Ash!” Jodi called. “What are you doing?”

      Baron Sweetcheeks was the class hamster. It was Ash’s job, as well

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