Jet Flashfeet, Chuck Cobracrusher, Donnie Dragonjab, and Bruce Willowhammer . . . Together they are THE CLAN OF THE SCORPION! Armed to the teeth with ninja know-how, this ultimate fighting force has one goal―to thwart the evil Ringmaster's plans for world domination. Ninja-Boom! An Indian emerald with mystical powers has been stolen from under the noses of the monkeys who guard it. The meerkats team up with kung fu supremo the Delhi Llama to investigate. Some monkey business is afoot, and there are no prizes for guessing who's behind it. . . . The meerkats smell a rat in a top hat. It's time for the Ninja Meerkats to leap into action! “Fast, funny and charming.” ― Kirkus Review, praise for The Clan of the Scorpion “Equal parts silliness and action.” ― Publishers Weekly, praise for The Clan of the Scorpion “Perfect idea for boys who love martial arts or action packed adventures.” ― sbroadhurstreviews.blogspot.com “This is an exciting new series from . . . award-winning author Gareth P Jones. The Clan of the Scorpion are Jet Flashfeet, Chuck Cobracrusher, Donnie Dragonjab and Bruce Willowhammer--these are names to conjure with! . . . Appealingly laid out, pacy and fast-moving, with lots of illustrations and clear font, this is ideal for encouraging boys to read.” ― Amazon.co.uk, Top 500 Reviewer “What is with the sudden love for meerkats?? They started out on that TV advert and now they are everywhere!! Here they are hitting the high street book shelves in their latest hit on market dominanation! . . . I think this book would be great for young boys, gaining confidence in reading alone or sharing with others. It would appeal to fans of martial arts or boys who want to read about something other than football and cars.” ― Amazon.co.uk, VineVoice “Another cracking book by Garteh P Jones--buy this now! The Clan of the Scorpion introduces the amazing ninja meerkats and their cunning skills to keep the evil ringmaster at bay and all done with great comedic moments, for kids and adults to both enjoy. A truly original book.” ― Amazon.co.uk Gareth P. Jones is author of the Dragon Detective Agency series, The Thornthwaite Inheritance, and the Ninja Meerkats series. He also works as a TV producer of documentaries. He lives in London with his wife, Lisa. Luke Finlayson is the illustrator for the Ninja Meerkats series by Gareth Jones. CHAPTER ONE THE DELHI LLAMA The streets of Old Delhi can be a confusing place for newcomers. They are noisy, dusty, and jam-packed with cars, vans, rickshaws, bicycles, street sellers, tourists, and cows, which are allowed to wander anywhere they wish, getting in everyone’s way. This can also be said of the tourists, although the cows tend to take fewer photos. On this particular morning, there were also four meerkats who were enjoying the hustle and bustle because it allowed them to walk unnoticed through the streets. “I still don’t understand where we’re going,” said Bruce. “We’ve been through this,” said Donnie, who was wearing a hefty backpack full of gadgets, disguises, and inventions. “We have come to see Smo Ka, the Delhi Llama.” “Smo who the what?” said Bruce. “Smo Ka, the Delhi Llama. He’s a kung fu legend,” said Jet. “He invented the Lightning Spin Kick, a kick so fast if you blink, you’ll miss it. I’ve never managed it, but I’m hoping he’ll give me some tips. He also wrote The Four Elements of Kung Fu . I’ve brought along my copy to have it signed.” Jet held up a well-thumbed book from his collection of martial arts manuals. “Many years ago, Smo Ka trained with our own Grandmaster One-Eye,” said Chuck. “That is how he came to hear of us and why he requested our help.” “But what does he need our help with?” asked Bruce. “That we do not know,” Chuck replied. “All we’ve been given is his address. He will explain when we see him.” The Clan passed a street vendor with a large stack of samosas. Bruce’s stomach rumbled. “Can we stop for a quick bite?” he asked. “No, Smo is expecting us,” replied Chuck. “But what about breakfast? All I’ve eaten since we left the Red Desert were those sugar-coated ants’ antennae,” moaned Bruce. “And doesn’t my mom always says it’s important to try the local food?” “Your mom has never left her burrow in her whole life,” said Jet. “Exactly. She always eats locally,” replied Bruce. Donnie rolled his eyes. “All right, I’ll get you one of those samosas.” From his backpack, he pulled out a device made from a fishing rod and a pair of tweezers. He cast the line, sending the tweezers flying into the air. They latched onto a samosa on top of the pile. “Nice one, Donnie,” Bruce cheered. But the flying snack did not go unnoticed by the street vendor. “My samosa has sprouted wings,” he cried. “Donnie, like the elephant who puts on a bikini and enters a beauty contest, you are drawing too much attention to yourself,” said Chuck sternly. “Release the samosa.” “Sorry,” said Donnie. He reeled in the line and dropped Bruce’s snack on the ground.