Zap’s heart pounded as he slowly turned round. His wings drooped with relief when he saw the crickets standing behind him.

“Thank goodness, it’s you!” Zap cried. “Where did you go?”

“We were taking the baby mice back when we spotted some gossiping money spiders,” said Sergeant Stealth. “So, we sneaked up and listened in on their conversation. It was very interesting.”

Buzz, Lurch and Crunch crawled over to join them.

“Was Spinner there too?” asked Zap.

“No,” said Sergeant Stealth. “But we found out where he’s hiding – Stinking Bog.”

Zap shared a worried look with the Bug Buddies. Apart from Shadow Creek, Stinking Bog was the smelliest, scariest place in Spinner’s Wood.

“But Gonzo has always told us to avoid the bog,” said Crunch, nervously.

“I’m afraid we’ve got no choice,” said Zap.

 

The smell almost knocked Zap over. “Now I know why it’s called Stinking Bog,” he said.

It hadn’t taken the team of crickets and bugs long to get there. All they had to do was follow the pong …

“It’s revolting!” said Buzz, his legs wobbling like he was going to faint.

Crunch used his giant claw to waft the smell away from Buzz.

“Mmm … it smells just like my breakfast!” said Lurch, smiling. “Yum!”

“Yes,” cried Buzz. “But you eat poo!”

“And I eat beetles!” cried a hissing voice from above.

Zap looked up to see a thick strand of silk hanging from a branch. Lowering himself down on it was Spinner – looking bigger and meaner than ever.

“The only question is,” said Spinner, “which one of you shall I eat first?”

The giant spider landed on a rock in the middle of the bog, spreading out his thick hairy legs. Zap shivered. How could they take on this monster and win?

Zap crawled forward, trying hard to stop his wings trembling.

“Ah,” smiled Spinner, “are you volunteering to be the first inside my stomach?”

“No,” said Zap, “I’m challenging you to a final showdown.”

Spinner burst out laughing. “You what?!” he said.

“This is your last chance,” continued Zap. “If we win, then you will promise to live by Gonzo’s rules and respect the life of every bug in Spinner’s Wood. But if you win … Gonzo has agreed to leave the wood forever.”

Spinner immediately stopped laughing. His eyes lit up. “In that case,” Spinner said, “it will be my pleasure. But if you have friends to help you, it’s only fair that I do too.”

Zap watched as hundreds of spiders crawled out from behind every rock in Stinking Bog.

Everywhere he looked, beady eyes stared at him. They were surrounded!