Toad Away - Morris Gleitzman [36]
Limpy stared.
Perhaps this was a clue.
Perhaps the secret of living in peace with humans had something to do with being useful.
“Here to see anyone in particular?”asked the monkey.
“We've come to see the ancient wise man,” said Limpy.
“Over there,” said the monkey. “Second hut on the right.”
“Thanks,” said Limpy.
While he and Goliath hopped toward the hut, Limpy glanced around at the humans, who were all still watching.
Most of them were smiling.
“This is great,” said Limpy. “But it's a bit unusual. I wonder why all these humans are being so friendly. I mean, we're cane toads.”
“I was wondering that too,” said Goliath. “I think it must be our very special personalities.”
Inside the hut everything was dark and smoky.
Limpy could see the shape of the ancient human sitting on the ground.
“Welcome,” said a voice in a language Limpy understood. “Come in.”
Limpy and Goliath hopped toward the figure.
That's good, thought Limpy. The ancient human must have a monkey in his hair too. Perhaps the monkey can help us explain to him why we're here.
But as they got closer, Limpy saw that the ancient human didn't have a monkey in his hair. He didn't even have any hair—his head was completely bald. And there was no monkey hiding in his clothes, because he wasn't wearing any.
“What can I do for you?” said the voice.
Limpy stared.
The voice was coming from the ancient human's mouth.
Stack me, thought Limpy. A human's speaking to me and I can understand everything he's saying.
Goliath was looking amazed too.
“He must have a monkey halfway down his throat eating cough germs,” he muttered.
“Don't be alarmed,” said the ancient human. “I speak your language. In ancient times all humans and animals spoke the same language. Then humans developed languages of their own. It was so they could swap recipes without their dinner overhearing and getting nervous.”
Limpy was impressed. This ancient human really did possess ancient wisdom.
The old man smiled and winked at them.
“Have you got something in your eye?” said Goliath. “I've got some mucus here that's really good for getting grit out.”
“No thanks,” said the ancient human. “I'm fine. But you're obviously not or you wouldn't have come to see me.”
Limpy opened his mouth to explain their quest, but before he could start he saw something so amazing, so incredible, that the words jammed in his throat.
Hanging on the wall behind the ancient human was a necklace.
Charm's necklace.
Limpy leapt past the old man, snatched the necklace off its hook, and examined it more closely.
It was identical to the one Aunty Pru had given Charm. Woven from spiderwebs with dried mouse eyes threaded on it.
Limpy was about to demand to know what Charm's necklace was doing there when he saw something even more amazing and incredible.
Hanging on other hooks on the wall were other necklaces.
Exactly the same as the one in his hand.
Limpy struggled to speak.
“These … these necklaces. Where did you get them?”
The ancient human gave a gentle smile. “They're traditional,” he said. “Folks around here have been wearing them since time began.”
Limpy struggled to take this in.
“Are there many of them?” he asked.
“Yes,” said the ancient human. “Everyone's got them. I've got six.”
Suddenly Limpy's mind was racing.
The necklace he'd found in the mud.
Perhaps it wasn't Charm's.
Perhaps she wasn't dead.
Limpy saw that the ancient human was watching him, still smiling.
“The necklace you found was one of mine,” said the ancient human. “I hung it on a bulldozer to try to remind the driver that his ancestors came from this forest.”
Limpy stared at the ancient human.
He wanted to shout with joy. He wanted to swing from the roof rafters and beat his chest and yodel with joy.
Instead he grabbed Goliath.
“Those necklaces,” Goliath was saying with a frown.“I've seen one of those somewhere before.”
“Goliath,” said Limpy. “Charm's not dead. The necklace I found in the clearing wasn't hers.”
Goliath stared at