Toad Away - Morris Gleitzman [37]
“Where is she?” he said.
“I don't know,” said Limpy.
He pictured Charm somewhere in the jungle, lost and scared, with monkeys throwing things at her and jaguars stalking her and insects trying to lay eggs under her warts.
He felt dizzy with worry, and joy, and more worry.
The ancient human gave another soft smile. “I know where she is,” he said.
Limpy stared at him.
“Where?” croaked Limpy. He could hear Goliath croaking it too.
“You love your sister very much, don't you?” said the ancient human.
“Yes,” said Limpy. “I do.”
“So do I,” said Goliath.“That time I put a tickle bug in her bed was just a practical joke.”
“Twenty-seven tickle bugs, wasn't it?” said the ancient human.
Goliath stared at him.
So did Limpy.
How did he know that?
“Your sister came to see me this morning,” said the ancient human. “I told her you were both in the jungle and I told her where to find you.”
“But she didn't find us,” said Limpy.
“That's because,” said the ancient human, “after I sent her, you left to come here.”
“So where is she now?” said Limpy.
“Give me a moment,” said the ancient human.
He took a very deep breath and closed his eyes. And stayed that way for what seemed to Limpy like much longer than a moment.
“I think he's asleep,” said Goliath. “Shall I tickle his foot with a bit of mucus?”
Limpy shook his head. “Raoul reckons this bloke can see everything in the forest,” he whispered.“Without leaving his hut.”
Many more moments passed.
Limpy was getting concerned.
The ancient human didn't seem to be breathing.
What if the effort of trying to see everything in the forest had been too much for him?
What if he'd died?
Not only would Charm never be found, but the humans might blame Limpy and Goliath for over-stressing their wise ancient leader and a war might break out between the forest humans and the forest toads for the first time since time began.
The ancient human opened his eyes.
“Your sister is safe and well,” he said. “I'll draw you a map.”
He started drawing in the dust at his feet.
“Thank you,” said Limpy, weak with relief. “Thank you so much. How can I ever repay you?”
“Well,” said the ancient human, “you could do a pee in that pot.”
He pointed to a pot similar to the ones the women outside had been carrying.
Limpy was confused.
“Are you sure?” he said to the ancient human. “Isn't that a drinking-water pot?”
“Yes,” said the ancient human. “That's why I'd be grateful if you could pee in it.”
Limpy looked at Goliath.
Perhaps the strain of locating Charm had been too much for the ancient human's brain.
“I'll do it,” said Goliath, hopping up onto the rim of the pot.
“Actually,” said the ancient human, “just your cousin, if that's OK.”
Goliath looked hurt.
Limpy shrugged.
If that's what the ancient human wanted, fair enough. He'd been very kind to them, so it seemed ungrateful to argue.
All Limpy could think about as he peed into the pot was finding Charm.
The ancient human's map was spot on.
Limpy and Goliath followed the path to the frangipani bush he'd described, turned left, were chased all the way to the giant fungus by a hungry crab, turned right, found the tree with the orange moss growing on it, turned right again, followed the slime trail of a giant slug who tried to suck their eyes out, took the left fork at the bat skull, meandered through the forest while Goliath went after a flying beetle for lunch and then spat it out when it tried to eat his tongue, turned left again at a big rubber tree, where Goliath filled his mouth to bursting with Amazon bubblegum, hopped for ages keeping an eye out for bloodsucking bats, and suddenly there she was, standing on the riverbank next to where Limpy had dug the grave for her necklace.
Charm.
Limpy was about to yell her name and rush over and fling his arms around her when he saw something that hadn't been on the ancient human's map.
Flatface, standing close to Charm, speaking to her in a very unpleasant voice.
“Call yourself a toad?” he was saying. “I've seen bigger pimples on a monkey's bum.”
“Go