Toad Away - Morris Gleitzman [40]
Limpy didn't argue with that.
Now that Raoul had showed that Limpy's idea would work, all the other cane toads clamored to be next.
“Form a line, troops,” ordered Goliath.“No pushing, and that's an order.”
One by one the other cane toads jumped and floated down toward the forest, each under a big rubbery bubble.
“I hope they survive the biting ants at the top of the trees,” said Limpy.
“No worries,” said Goliath. “We did, and we're not even locals.”
The last to jump was Flatface.
Just before he did, he turned to Limpy.
“Bulldozers don't understand what peace is,” said Flatface. “To make them listen, you'll need something stronger than friendship.”
Limpy didn't know what to say.
Flatface turned to Charm. “Sorry I called you all those names,” he said. “Actually, you're quite good-looking.”
Limpy could see Charm didn't know what to say either.
Goliath stepped forward. “Limpy's mum reckons I'm quite good-looking too,” he said. “When I don't dribble.”
Flatface jumped.
“Our turn,” said Goliath, looking around for the last bits of bubblegum.
Limpy and Charm glanced at each other. They'd been dreading breaking this next bit of news to Goliath.
“Sorry, Goliath,” said Limpy. “I'm afraid there's none left for us.”
He put his arm round Goliath's big middle and waited for his cousin's anger to turn to tears, which it usually did when all their lives were in danger.
While Limpy was waiting, Charm tapped him urgently on the shoulder.
“Limpy,” she whispered. “Does this plane have automatic pilot?”
Limpy remembered that a pelican had explained to him once about automatic pilot. It was what pelicans used when they were filleting a salmon in midflight.
“I don't know,” said Limpy. “Why?”
“Well,” said Charm, her voice wobbling. “I was just wondering which was going to happen first. Us being captured or us crashing.”
Limpy looked up.
The pilot, surrounded by empty cages, was glaring down at them, furious.
“I think being captured,” said Limpy as the pilot picked all three of them up, flung them into the toolbox, and slammed the lid.
The plane didn't crash.
“Must have automatic pilot,” whispered Limpy in the dark.
“This toolbox smells,” said Goliath. “And these washers taste stale.”
“Limpy,” whispered Charm. “Where do you think this plane's going?”
“Don't know,” said Limpy.
He hoped it was Los Angeles, because at least they could get a plane back to Australia from there. Except the pilot hadn't looked like he wanted to help them get home.
Limpy reached out in the darkness and gave Charm a hug.
He didn't know what else to say. He also didn't know what to say if Charm asked him about the ancient secret.
How can I tell her? thought Limpy miserably. We've traveled all this way. We've been through so much. How can I tell Charm that I forgot to ask the ancient human the secret of living in peace with other humans?
OK, he'd had an excuse. He'd been overwhelmed at discovering Charm was alive. He'd been desperate to find her. But he'd still forgotten to ask.
How could I? thought Limpy. How could I forget the whole point of our quest?
He didn't have an answer, so he sat in silence. For a long time he heard nothing but the distant hum of the engines.
Then a long groan echoed around the toolbox.“Are you two OK?” asked Limpy, anxious that Charm or Goliath might be ill.
“It's Goliath,” said Charm. “I think those washers he ate are disagreeing with him.”
Goliath gave another groan. “It's not the washers,” he said. “I've just remembered something. I left an order with my troops at home. If we're not back by the full moon, I told them to assume we've been killed by humans and to go on a revenge mission.”
Limpy's insides dropped, even though there was no air turbulence outside the plane.
“What sort of revenge mission?” he asked.
“I ordered them to scratch all the cars in the human suburb,” said Goliath.
Limpy's insides crashed and burned.
“That's terrible,” he croaked.
“I know,” said Goliath. “I completely forgot to tell them to let all the air out of the tires as well.”
For the rest of the flight,