Operatic Duck / Duck on Tour by Hazel Edwards Read Free Book Online Page A

the map?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Parrot.
    â€˜Is that Pig’s trough next to the fence?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Duck.
    â€˜Not much room,’ said Sheep. ‘Pig will be eating right under this black square.’
    â€˜That black square is Isis Apartment 101.’Parrot knew his numbers as well as his colours.
    They looked at each other. Pig was a VERY messy eater. And you could smell his dinner from a long way off.
    Time to see Cate, thought Duck. Cate fed all the farm animals, and decided who ate where. Maybe Pig would have to change his habits?

Chapter 2
    Mr Bigge

    â€˜You have to do something!’ Cate said.
    Duck heard voices and smelt warm scones coming from the farm kitchen. Cate had a visitor.
    Duck waddled in.
    Cate’s friend Ned was waving an Isis leaflet while spilling his mug of tea and dropping crumbs.
    â€˜Ned, Mr Bigge has promised that his Isis Apartments won’t block out the light for the Farm.’ Cate buttered more scones. Ned was skinny but he ate whatever was there, Duck noticed.
    â€˜That’s what Mr Bigge says, but have you looked at the plans? The pig trough is right under the most expensive apartments!’ said Ned.
    Cate said, ‘Pig won’t mind moving.’
    Won’t mind moving, thought Duck. Pig minds EVERYTHING to do with his food. Or where he sleeps. Or where he walks. Or where he does ANYTHING!
    â€˜Mr Bigge said our visitors can use the new car park.’
    â€˜Only because we made him,’ said Ned. ‘I said the only way he could build his new Isis Apartments in the old Abbey gardens was IF he turned the Abbey into a community centre.’
    â€˜Yes, ‘said Cate. ‘The new centre will bring lots of visitors to the farm.’
    â€˜Did I hear the word “visitors”?’ a voice boomed from a large dark shadow in the doorway.
    Duck looked up, and up, and up... Mr Bigge was big.
    â€˜Cate, I’ve got a great idea for you.’ Mr Bigge hurled himself onto a kitchen chair. ‘Oh, hello again Ned.’
    â€˜Hope the chair doesn’t break,’ whispered Duck to Sheep, who nodded.

    â€˜Let me guess, ‘said Ned. ‘Something about your Isis Apartments?’
    â€˜Spot on, young man. Wait until you hear this.’
    Cate and Ned leaned closer and Parrot, who liked to have any news firsthand, landed on the window sill to listen. Sheep and Duck looked up and up at the round tower that was Mr Bigge.
    â€˜We’re going to do an opera!’
    Everyone looked blankly at Mr Bigge.
    â€˜Thought that would surprise you. Lots of singing, dancing and music, that’s what the opening needs.’
    â€˜Opening?’ said Cate.
    â€˜Yes, I’m starting the Isis Apartments on July 1 st , and to celebrate we’re going to put on a community opera. Everyone who looks good in a costume can be in it!’
    â€˜Which opera?’ Ned added more jam to his scone.
    Duck noticed that Ned liked details.
    â€˜Aida, of course. I named my apartments Isis because the Egyptian temple of the goddess Isis was by the river. My apartments are by the river.’
    â€˜What’s all that got to do with apartments and opera?’ whispered Sheep to Duck.
    â€˜So, why the opera “Aida”?’ asked Cate.
    â€˜Glad you asked,’ boomed Mr Bigge. ‘Aida is a love story set in Egypt. And everybody is going to love my apartments, so – let’s do Aida.’
    â€˜Of course,’ mumbled Ned. ‘And there’s a battle in the opera.’
    â€˜Where will the performance be?’ asked Cate.
    â€˜In the Abbey.’
    â€˜Aida in the Abbey. Wonderful!’ Cate loved music. ‘Aida is set in the temple of Isis, the Egyptian winged goddess who looked after things.’
    â€˜Yes, my architect told me,’ said Mr Bigge. ‘He drew the plans. That’s why my roof will have wings.’
    â€˜Wings, like mine only bigger,’ said Duck to