Toad Heaven - Morris Gleitzman [27]
“Yes!” he screamed as his head burst into sunlight and he sucked sweet air in through his mouth and every pore in his face.
The human hadn't killed him.
The national park was everything he'd hoped for.
Okay, except for the water.
Charm and Goliath's gasping heads appeared next to him.
Limpy turned to tell them that things were looking fairly good, but as he did, he saw that things weren't looking good at all.
The water around them was full of humans swimming facedown and breathing through plastic tubes.
“Stack me!” spluttered Goliath. “The mongrels have stolen our idea.”
Limpy was glad they had. With their faces in the water, the humans hadn't seen him and Charm and Goliath yet. But they could at any moment. And what if the surface of the water wasn't part of the national park? What if, when the humans took their face masks off and saw three cane toads treading water, they reached for their golf clubs before you could say “Cane toad hunting season is open”?
Limpy looked desperately around for the cooler lid.
It was gone.
Instead, looming over them was a gleaming white boat, bigger than any Limpy had seen on the highway. More humans with face masks were clambering down ladders fixed to the side of the boat and lowering themselves into the water.
“We've got to hide,” said Limpy.
“Where?” said Charm. “The palm fronds have gone, and we can't go back under the water because we haven't got tubes.”
Goliath scowled. “I could bash some humans and grab some,” he said.
Limpy sighed.
“The whole point of hiding,” he said, “is so the humans don't notice us. I think they probably will if you start bashing them.”
“Not if I do it gently,” said Goliath.
Charm grabbed Limpy's arm.
“There's only one place we can hide,” she said.
Limpy knew she was right. The idea terrified him. But it was their only choice, and they had to do it fast.
The hardest part was climbing up the big slippery chain.
Luckily, it was hanging off the other side of the boat from where most of the humans were swimming, but Limpy was still scared.
He knew a boat chain definitely wasn't part of a national park. If he and Charm and Goliath were spotted, the humans could bash them with any type of sporting equipment quite legally.
Limpy didn't say anything to the others. But when they finally clambered through a hole in the top of the boat and flopped down gratefully onto a cool metal floor, he trembled with relief.
“Good on you Limpy,” said Charm. “I was worried about you, climbing that slippery chain with your leg.”
“Thanks,” said Limpy.
“It wasn't easy for me either,” said Goliath. “I'm weak with hunger, plus I've got a splinter in my toe.”
“I was worried about you too, Goliath,” said Charm.
“Thanks,” said Goliath. “I've got a slight headache as well.”
Limpy looked around. They were in a big area full of machinery that he guessed was for making the boat go, or grinding up cane toads, or possibly both.
There were no humans around.
“We'll be safe here for a while,” said Limpy. “As long as we keep our heads down. Give us a chance to think about how we can find another national park.”
“One that's not underwater,” said Charm.
“No,” said Goliath. “I can't do it. I can't go looking for another national park. Not without food. I need food. There must be a picnic area on this boat. Or a worm farm.”
Goliath was already hopping toward an open doorway.
“Don't be stupid,” said Charm, hurrying after him. “Come back.”
Limpy hurried after them both. This was what he'd dreaded. Nothing could stop Goliath when he was hungry.
Except possibly a human with a large meat hammer.
As Limpy clambered over the metal wall at the bottom of the doorway, he saw that Goliath was already halfway along the passage on the other side.
“Goliath!” yelled Limpy. “If Ancient Eric were here, he'd be telling you to come back immediately.”
Limpy knew that wasn't strictly true. If poor Ancient Eric were there, a human would probably be using him as a floatie, but it was worth a try.
Goliath didn't even slow down.
Limpy went after him.
Hopping in circles wasn't