The Quest

 One day, Tom’s uncle asked him to meet him secretly in the study. There, Tom’s uncle told him he wanted Tom to find a dragon’s egg.
 Tom nearly jumped out of his skin. “A dragon’s egg?”
His uncle nodded solemnly. “Yes. Some unqualified biologists named Keepers — led by a very clever man named Marius — want to steal this egg to win themselves money and fame. We must preserve it and keep it safe.”

 “There’s a cave in the center of the valley,” Tom’s uncle told him. “The egg’s inside.”
He handed him a map. “It is a very long way,” he warned. “Beware.”
He held Tom’s hand for a brief moment, then he looked away.
Tom put the map in his rucksack and left the laboratory. From there, he took a train which led straight to the mountains. When he arrived, it was already dark, and he rented an inn to stay for the night.
Three men were staying in the room opposite Tom’s. As Tom got ready for bed, he heard one of them say outside, “Do you reckon William sent him? Marius won’t be pleased.”
Tom straightened - William was his uncle’s name.
  “Nah, he can’t have. Hurry up, Jordan - we’re going to the valley straightaway tomorrow.”
As Tom lay down in his bed, his heart hammered in his chest.
 The Keepers! They were here!

Tom woke up early and went all the way to the valley. The Keepers appeared not to have arrived yet, and relief washed over Tom’s face.
The valley was dry and rugged, with rocks scattered over it. Tom walked on.
“Ow!”
He tripped and twisted his ankle badly.
“Rats,” he grumbled.
Tom limped towards the valley’s center. A small cave came into view, and he launched himself inside. A huge dragon’s egg was shining in the middle.
Suddenly, as Tom’s fingers brushed the egg, a loud voice sounded. “Rowle! It’s up here!”
Rowle came up. “Royal?”
“I’ve found the cave, come up here now! JORDAN!” Royal bellowed.
The three men entered the cave. Tom’s injured leg lagged behind him as he thrust himself up to a tree stump, his arms hugging the dragon’s egg — he felt a feeling of despair — he would never reach the stump in time —
“GET THAT BOY!” Royal howled.
Both Jordan and Rowle lunged at once. Tom stumbled and ran as fast as he could out of the cave.
  “STOP RIGHT THERE!”
 Tom’s shoulders sagged in relief.
  “Don’t move,” his uncle emerged. “I’m calling the police.”

“My nephew’s a witness,” William said later to the police. “You can get Marius for questioning - and these here.”
“Very good,” the policeman nodded. “We’ll arrest them.”
As he handcuffed the three and left, William put his hand on Tom’s shoulder.
“I’m quite proud of you,” he said gruffly. “You managed to get the egg back before the Keepers - and outsmart them in time. Good job, Tom.”