Toad Away - Morris Gleitzman [17]
Limpy decided not to get into an argument about it. There wasn't time. The human passengers would be getting on the plane very soon, and Limpy knew he and Goliath wouldn't pass as flight attendants, not even if they did their nicest smiles.
“Look,” said Limpy. “Here's a good hiding place. Under the seat next to this rolled-up plastic thing.”
It was a good hiding place.
The passengers got on and Limpy and Goliath weren't discovered, not even when Goliath gave a loud whimper during takeoff.
Limpy nearly gave a whimper himself when he saw how close the nearest human feet were. He was glad he and Goliath had been able to wedge themselves under the strap holding the rolled-up plastic thing to the underside of the seat.
“Ow,” said Goliath. “My ears just popped.”
“Don't worry,” said Limpy. “I think it's normal.”
“A couple of my warts have popped too,” said Goliath.
Limpy wasn't sure if that was quite so normal.
“I hate planes,” grumbled Goliath. “They're cold and noisy and cramped and this rolled-up plastic tastes yucky.”
Limpy sighed.
“What about poor Charm,” he said. “She had to do this all by herself.”
He tried not to think about Charm hiding in an overhead luggage compartment in her plane, or in a paper bag, or even worse, in one of the engines.
Instead he reminded himself what a sensible sister she was. She wouldn't do anything stupid, not on such an important quest.
The thought made Limpy feel better. Goliath seemed to be calming down too.
“You're right,” said Goliath quietly.“I'm being selfish. This is a good hiding place. When does the in-flight meal service start?”
“Limpy,” said Goliath. “I don't think this is such a good hiding place after all.”
Limpy was trying to have a doze to take his mind off Charm. In his imagination he was in the Amazon, learning the secrets of a peaceful life from happy peaceful cane toads and happy peaceful humans and a very happy and peaceful tree fungus.
“Limpy,” repeated Goliath, more urgently.
Limpy sighed but didn't open his eyes.
Why can't Goliath ever stop complaining? he thought wearily. OK, it is a bit cramped under this seat, and this strap cuts into your warts something chronic, but it's not all bad. There's a feast of crumbs and food scraps under here, and Goliath really enjoyed that lump of old bubblegum he found.
“Limpy,” said Goliath, his voice wobbling.“Did you hear me?”
Limpy felt himself getting cross. He took a deep breath through his skin pores and reminded himself that poor Goliath had a good reason for being a whinger. His parents had split when he was very young. A truck had run over them and they'd each ended up completely split in half.
“Limpy,” said Goliath, sounding really upset now.
Limpy opened his eyes to ask Goliath to try and forget he was an abandoned child and to be patient for the sake of cane toads everywhere.
The croak froze in his throat as he saw what was peeking at him and Goliath under the edge of the seat.
Two upside-down human faces.
It could have been worse, thought Limpy.
The humans could have been angry, violent adults.
These two nice little kids are much better, decided Limpy. Especially as they just want to play with us instead of bashing us with heavy hand-luggage.
Limpy tried to stay as quiet as he could. He didn't want to wake the kids’ parents, who were dozing in their seats with the cabin lights off. But the game the kids were playing made that a bit difficult.
“Ooh,” giggled Limpy. “That tickles.”
“I know what you mean,” muttered Goliath.
Limpy had never worn dolls’ clothes before. They felt strange, but it was partly because the army outfit the boy was putting on him was a bit tight around the tummy.
The boy put an army helmet onto Limpy's head. It was a bit tight too, but Limpy didn't mind, because the boy was grinning happily.
So this is what it feels like to be friends with a human, thought Limpy, grinning happily too.
While the boy struggled to clip an army belt round Limpy's middle, Limpy wondered if this was the ancient secret his rellies in the Amazon had discovered. That humans don't hurt