Toad Away - Morris Gleitzman [14]
“No need to get your wings in a knot,” said the other bird to Limpy. “Your sister's gone instead. And I personally think she'll do a better job, because in my experience girls are better at quests that involve being polite and asking questions.”
“We need to go too,” said Limpy. “Right now.”
Before the birds could answer, Mum and Dad burst through the bushes, looking distraught.
“We saw Charm flying away,” said Mum. “Where's she going?”
Limpy tried to think what to say that wouldn't upset Mum and Dad even more.
“She's going to the Amazon to find the ancient secret of how to deal with humans,” said Goliath.
“But don't worry, we're going too, so it'll be OK. We probably won't all be killed, so at least one of us'll make it back.”
Limpy wished Goliath was somewhere else. Like under the mud.
Mum and Dad's faces fell further.
So did Goliath's when he realized what he'd said.
“On second thoughts,” he mumbled, “perhaps none of us should go.”
The two birds looked at each other, then at Goliath.
“He does look a bit heavy to carry,” said the first bird.
To Limpy's surprise, Mum spoke up.
“No, he's not,” said Mum. “It's mostly wind.”
“Show them, Goliath,” said Dad.
Goliath let out a lot of wind, fast and loud.
“See?” said Mum. “Get him airborne and he'll help you catch up to our daughter in no time.”
The takeoff was fine.
Sort of.
Limpy and Goliath waved to Mum and Dad, and they both waved back. Limpy saw pride on their faces as well as concern.
“Try not to worry,” he called to them.
“That's right!” yelled Goliath. “We'll be back safely before you can say Aunty Pru!”
Limpy hid his head.
The birds carried them higher, over the human suburb. Limpy looked down at the tiny humans starting their day. They didn't look so scary that size, and Limpy was filled with a happy feeling.
This quest was going to be a success, he was certain.
Then he saw that Goliath was scowling and doing a pee onto the supermarket far below.
OK, thought Limpy. Almost certain.
Once the birds reached cruising altitude, Goliath's warts turned pale and he started to panic.
“Can you fly a bit lower?” he said to his bird. “It's not that I'm scared of heights or anything. I'm just trying to spot more human targets so we can do more bombing runs.”
Goliath's bird ignored him.
“All right,” wailed Goliath. “I am scared of heights.”
His bird still ignored him.
Limpy wasn't enjoying the flight either, and he didn't mind heights. He didn't even mind his bird's claws digging painfully into the loose skin at the back of his neck, or the cold air making his warts and eyeballs ache.
What he hated was how, apart from a few clouds, the sky ahead was completely empty. Not a sign of Charm.
Limpy tried not to think of the awful things that could be happening to his little sister. Lightning strikes. Thunderstorms with hail the size of mice. Attacks by eagles or ducks.
He tried to console himself by thinking about Charm's strengths. He knew she could look after herself, he'd seen her do it loads of times. She could disable a killer wombat just with tickling.
But she'd never done it this high up.
“Excuse me,” Limpy said to his bird. “Any chance of flying a bit faster?”
“Excuse me,” said his bird. “This is a three-day flight. I'm trying to conserve energy. Any chance of reducing wind-drag by keeping your mouth shut?”
After a lot more flying, Goliath started to enjoy the trip.
“This isn't so bad,” he called across to Limpy. “I really like the in-flight meal service.”
Limpy had to admit it wasn't so bad. Every time the big wings flapped above his head, a shower of tiny lice and mites tumbled down out of the feathers. All you had to do was stick your tongue out.
That's if you could stomach food in the first place.
Limpy's guts were so knotted he had lice and mites knocking on the inside of his mouth asking to be let out.
“Look!” yelled Goliath. “Humans!”
Limpy peered down. Goliath was right. They were flying over the outskirts of a city. Limpy could see roads