A 12-year-old who wrote a story about a murderous sea villain who has to cover his tracks has won an award.

Nirvan Marathe, a pupil at Quainton Hall School, in Hindes Road, Harrow, was the runner up of the National Young Writers Award, run by Explore Learning.

In the story, sea villain Cataclysmic Crustacean murders Mr Sarrison Snail, but has to cover his tracks as he evades the police.

M0re than 14,000 children entered the competition, which is open to children aged 14 and under.

This year’s theme was ‘strange events and peculiar happenings’ and entries were judged by Jonathan Meres, author of popular children’s book series ‘The World of Norm’.

Pincers

The cunning, cackling crustacean crawled along the rippling riverbed. Cataclysmic Crustacean had struck again at the midst of twilight. He’d killed, ‘Everyone’s favourite hero!’ Mr Sarrison Snail. He took out his pilfered camera and beckoned to his pet whom he adored-Octopus, Ten-Tickles, by nature he loved to be tickled! Cataclysmic Crustacean took a photo of them then gloated his way past emerald seaweed, sapphire shells and the gleaming, golden sun rays. Then, he retreated to his shimmering, salty home. The reason behind this treacherous behaviour is that Mr Sarrison Snail nearly exterminated him a few years ago. It was his time now.

Larry the Lop-Sided Langoustine was out for a jog in his navy blue tracksuit. He took along a ham and lettuce sandwich and planned to eat it by the Rolling River. As he approached it he had a brief glance into the normally aquamarine river only to see a pale crimson. He jogged the water slightly and what he saw put him off lunch. ‘Everyone’s favourite hero’ Mr Sarrison Snail was lying blank, expressionless and dead on the soft, rough sand. He had been deviously and coldly murdered. Larry tried pulling Sarrison out of the water but it was no use. He sprinted to the police station.

The police intercepted the body and gave it to a morgue where a scientist examined it. They found out that Sarrison was pinched to death, but who could pinch with such sheer force?

Cataclysmic Crustacean snuck up to the back door of the morgue. He was the only being with pincers who had a criminal record. Cataclysmic Crustacean couldn’t afford to let word reach the police the plan was to kill the scientist! What he didn’t know was that there was a trainee scientist rapidly taking notes in the room too. The main scientist dropped a pen. The trainee lurched under a table to retrieve it, when the door swung open and Cataclysmic Crustacean scuttled in. The attack was swift and he was out in a jiffy but the trainee had….. witnessed it all.

When the coast was clear he crawled out of his hidey-hole and ran to the police station. The police station was a gloomy, grey and grim building and as it also functioned as the town prison it was the largest structure in the city. The trainee hurried in and demanded to see the policeman taking charge of this case. He had to walk past cells filled with hideous, cadaverous criminals. He didn’t want to dawdle so he hastened his pace and ploughed on through to the office. The policeman wanted to know what the pandemonium and hullabaloo was about. The trainee explained it and the policeman was shocked. They formed a sneaky, devilish plan.

The trainee was taken to hospital for a check-up for any minor injuries but the police were on top form. They wore scuba gear (snorkels, goggles and a wetsuit) and were equipped with harpoons. They were ready to capture the criminal who was obviously (though no one at the beginning realised it) Cataclysmic Crustacean. They ventured into the glistening aurora of crystal clear water. They marvelled at what they saw: spiralling seahorses, spinning starfish, cartwheeling clownfish and conch shells.

Finally, they found his lapis lazuli lagoon home. They surrounded it in a ring with no gaps. Suddenly, one dropped dead….. then another…..then another. They found Cataclysmic Crustacean behind an officer but ‘SQUIRT’ ink was everywhere thanks to Ten-Tickles but then……………… They were gone.