Llama Drama by Rose Impey Read Free Book Online Page B

remember? In it to win it! I believe in you, Bertie.”
    Bertie stopped sobbing and went quiet for a moment. “You do?”
    Lewie bent down and rubbed noses with the little lamb. “We all do.”
    Then, very quietly, Bertie said, “OK, I’m ready. Let’s do it.”
    Liberty and Ginger waited nervously, having heard one or two false starts as the lambs struggled to make their pyramid in the dark.

    â€œI can’t see where I’m standing,” Shah complained.
    â€œOn my tail!” Shep bleated.
    More than once they heard, “He-e-elp! I’m falling!” before they finally saw Shoo’s tentative little hoof poking through the small gap above the door.
    â€œTo the right! No! No!” Ginger said sharply. “That’s your left.”
    â€œDon’t worry, try again,” Liberty told him more gently. “A bit further … further still … down a touch. There! There! Now
push
!”
    It took Shoo a few tries, but finally the bolt slid back. The door gave way and a whole pyramid of lambs came tumbling out at Ginger’s feet. She quickly helped the lambs up and pounced on her own precious Bertie, cuddling him so close he was soon gasping for air.

    â€œI did it, Mama,” he said. “I did it!”
    â€œI’m so proud of you,” Ginger whispered in his ear.
    The lambs were ecstatic to be out of that horrible, dark place and in the fresh air again. They danced around, bleating away, trying to tell the story over the top of one another.
    Liberty left Ginger to manage the lambs while she went over to her exhausted-looking brother. Lewie gave a brave smile, but he clearly wasn’t his usual bouncy self.
    â€œOh, Lewie, I wish I’d listened to you,” Liberty admitted, “when you told me about those terrible men. If they’ve hurt you …” she said threateningly.
    â€œI think I banged my head when I was pushed over,” Lewie told her. “But my leg hurts too and I’m not sure I can walk properly.” He took a couple of hesitant steps and managed to limp forward, but he was clearly in pain.
    â€œLean on me,” said Liberty.
    Ginger walked over and supported Lewie on his other side. Between them they managed to take most of his weight, but it was slow progress. The lambs kept running ahead and then skipping back to encourage Lewie.
    â€œNearly there,” they told him, long before it was true.
    â€œYou’re doing really well,” Shoo told him kindly.
    â€œNot far now,” Bertie said.
    The lambs, though very hungry, seemed none the worse for their ordeal, but poor Lewie was weak and weighed down by feelings of guilt and responsibility.
    â€œIf I hadn’t been so greedy,” he kept repeating, “and so stupid …”
    Liberty and Ginger tried to reassure him. “Look how brave you were, Lewie. You went out in the night all on your own and you found them.”
    At last, as the sun was rising, they reached the livestock yard and made their weary way back into their pen. Liberty and Ginger urged Lewie to have some water and a little food, but he was too tired to eat more than a mouthful. Then the sheep surrounded him, and the lambs sang him to sleep.
    â€œRest is what he needs most,” Ginger told Liberty. “You can go now. We’ll take care of him. Those two villains will have to get past me before they can do him any more harm – and I promise you that is
never
going to happen.”
    Ginger looked so fierce that Liberty didn’t doubt for a moment that she could handle Bolt and Dolt. She bent down and gently nuzzled her brother. “You’re a hero to me, Lewie,” she whispered in his ear. “You’re the bravest llama in the world. You rest now. You’re safe again.” Then she hurried back to the llama pen where, despite endless questions from Leo, Lamar and Latisha, she lay down and promptly fell fast asleep.
    The sight of