Toad Heaven - Morris Gleitzman [3]
“Uncle Nick and I couldn't have done it without Goliath,” said Limpy. “Three croaks for Goliath!”
The rellies who weren't feeling queasy gave three more croaks.
Limpy felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Well done, son. We're proud of you.”
Limpy turned, and Dad gave him a hug.
“I always knew you'd be a leader,” said Dad. “When you were a tadpole and that flood washed away most of your brothers and sisters and you got wedged in that rock, I knew you were destined for great things.”
“Thanks, Dad,” said Limpy, throat sac trembling with pride. “But I don't want to be a leader, I just want to keep us safe.”
He saw Mum had hopped over too. She was standing there, looking down at Uncle Nick with a sad expression on her face.
Limpy realized all the flying insects had been picked off Uncle Nick and eaten. He was just about to offer to get Mum some more when she spoke first.
“Poor Uncle Nick,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with a moth.
Limpy felt a pang in his guts. Was Mum upset about him and Goliath chucking one of her brothers around?
“Your Uncle Nick was a dreamer,” continued Mum. “He used to spend hours gazing up at birds and planes, wishing he could fly. And now, thanks to you, Limpy, he can.”
She gave Limpy a tearful kiss and hug.
“We're so lucky,” she said. “Having you to keep us safe. We're the luckiest cane toads in the whole wide swamp.”
Limpy enjoyed the hug for a few moments, but then found himself thinking about the four-wheel drive again.
What if it came back?
How safe would Mum and Dad and the others be then?
Standing there, watching Mum and Dad lick the last insect legs off Uncle Nick, Limpy felt his warts tingle. Suddenly he had a new plan. A plan so big and scary it made his glands ache.
He tried to pull himself together.
Stop being a jelly bug's wobbly bits, he said to himself sternly. This is urgent. You've got to tell this plan to the others now, straightaway, tonight.
Most important, you've got to tell it to Ancient Eric.
Limpy felt faint at the thought.
Ancient Eric was very scary.
Maybe not tonight, he said to himself. Tomorrow. Or next week.
He decided to have another hug with Mum. Before he could, there was a buzz of excited whispering among the relatives. The crowd parted to let someone through.
Limpy looked up.
Aunty Ellen was coming toward him. She was leading someone carefully by the hand. The relatives were all gazing in awe, even the queasy ones. Limpy saw who it was and gulped.
Ancient Eric.
Limpy could hardly believe it.
Ancient Eric never came out of his cave under the big rock. The rumor was that even moonlight was too strong for his ancient skin, which had gone completely smooth and white with age. Ancient Eric didn't like visitors either, though that wasn't so much to do with his skin as his really bad temper.
I've got to risk it, thought Limpy. I've got to tell him my plan.
As Ancient Eric got closer, Limpy opened his mouth.
But no croaks came out.
“Let's get it over with,” snapped Ancient Eric to Aunty Ellen.“I've got a snake stew waiting for me, and I want to get back before the snakes escape.”
Aunty Ellen cleared her throat.
“Limpy and Goliath,” she said. “Ancient Eric would like to say a few words.”
The swamp fell silent.
Ancient Eric looked at Limpy and Goliath, then at Uncle Nick, then back at Limpy and Goliath.
Limpy could feel Goliath trembling next to him. He hoped Goliath didn't wet himself. It wasn't a good thing, doing a wee in front of someone as important as Ancient Eric.
“Well done, boys,” boomed Ancient Eric. “Thanks to your ingenuity and imagination, cane toads will be able to gather flying insects in safety and live in peace, harmony, and security forever. Now where's my dinner?”
Ancient Eric started heading back toward his cave. The relatives gave three more croaks even louder than before.
Limpy took a deep breath and shouted above the din, “No, they won't!”
The swamp fell silent again. Blood drained from warty faces. Limpy heard Mum gasp. Goliath crossed his legs.
Ancient Eric turned and glared at Limpy.