Toad Away - Morris Gleitzman [39]
Limpy glanced over his shoulder and saw why.
Goliath's mouth was bulging with a huge amount of Amazon bubblegum.
Before Limpy could suggest Goliath ditch some of his load, they reached the plane. Limpy pulled the others into the shadow of the fuselage, well away from the pilot, who was tinkering with one of the engines.
The cargo door was still open. Limpy peered in and what he saw made him forget bubblegum completely.
The plane was full of wooden cages, each one with a cane toad in it.
“Stack me,” croaked Limpy.
“It's a mass kidnapping,” said Charm.
“This,” muttered Goliath, “is war.”
The caged toads saw Limpy and Goliath and Charm and started croaking for help. Until they were silenced by a familiar voice.
“Be quiet, everyone. Do you want our friends to be captured as well?”
Limpy saw it was Raoul, gripping the bars of his cage, head bruised and warts bleeding.
“We've got to move fast,” said Limpy to Goliath and Charm. “We've got to get them out before the plane takes off.”
Luckily there were rivets on the side of the plane, and rust, which gave Limpy and the others something to grip with their toes and fingers. They clambered into the plane.
Limpy saw that the cages were held shut with twisted pieces of wire.
He grabbed a spanner from an open toolbox and tried to pry the twist of wire off Raoul's cage door. It was no good, he wasn't strong enough.
“Let me,” said Goliath. “I've straightened out lizard's intestines that are tougher than this.”
Goliath jammed the spanner behind the wire and pulled until his eyeballs and warts bulged.
Suddenly the wire gave and the cage door swung open.
Raoul stepped out and embraced Goliath.
“Our ancient legends tell of a hero,” said Raoul. “A hero who will one day come from afar to save us. Now I know he has arrived.”
Goliath blushed. “Don't forget Limpy and Charm,” he said. “They're my assistants.”
Limpy was about to suggest that they get to work on all the other cages, but before he could the whole plane started vibrating.
“It's the engines!” yelled Charm from the doorway. Limpy could hear the roar getting louder.
“Quick!” he yelled. “Let's get these other cages open!”
They grabbed more tools and worked on three more cages, Charm and Limpy using a spanner together. But before they could get them open, the plane lurched forward and they were flung back in a heap.
“The plane's taking off,” said Charm after she'd moved Goliath's knee out of her mouth. “It's too late.”
“The pilot's left the cargo door open,” said Goliath.“Why's he taking off with the door open?”
“Probably so we don't suffocate,” said Raoul.“Wherever he's taking us, they want us alive.”
All the cane toads fell silent. Limpy could see they were each imagining what kind of awful place that might be.
Then Limpy had an idea.
“Goliath,” he said. “Spit out your bubblegum.”
Goliath stopped chewing and glared at Limpy. “All our lives are in danger,” he said, “and you're worried about a bit of bubblegum?”
“Spit it out and give it to me,” said Limpy. “I've thought of a way to get our friends back on the ground.”
Raoul stood in the doorway of the plane, wind whipping across his noble face. He embraced Goliath, then Charm, then Limpy.
“You are all heroes,” he said. “May you fulfill your quest and live long and happy lives.”
“Thanks,” said Goliath. “Hope the scabs heal.”
Raoul gave the bubblegum in his mouth a final chew, then jumped.
Limpy peered anxiously down at Raoul's plummeting figure. He hoped Goliath's bubble-blowing lesson had been clear enough. And that Raoul had enough gum in his mouth.
Suddenly a large bubble erupted over Raoul's head and his plummet slowed to a float.
“It's working,” said Charm, gazing down, amazed and delighted.
The other cane toads, all crowding around the doorway and all chewing enthusiastically, broke into applause.
“I told you dividing my mouthful of bubblegum among this lot would give them enough each,” said Goliath. “I've got