Through the Tiger's Eye by Kerrie O'Connor Read Free Book Online Page B

soldiers came from Burchimo when I was seven and put people in jail. They killed many people and set fire to their houses. They stole many things. They say our country is part of Burchimo, but it is not. They never lived here before the invasion. Toro was only a baby when they came. He cannot recall anything before the Bulls came.’
    ‘But isn’t Toro Spanish for bull?’ Lucy asked.
    Rahel frowned.
    ‘Mama named him Toro because he was born one month too soon. She said he was as impatient as a little bull. But if she had known the Bulls were going to invade, she would never have done it.’
    Lucy’s head was spinning. This girl is crazy! Or is she? What about the tiger? We don’t have tigers in Australia, except in the zoo . . . and cats aren’t supposed to beam video clips right into your brain. And what about those psycho trees? They’re all the wrong colour. Maybe it really is another country.
    Rahel’s quiet voice broke in.
    ‘We have been in jail for six months. The Bulls came for us on Toro’s birthday on the sixth of June.’
    ‘That’s slack!’ said Ricardo.
    ‘How old are you now?’ Lucy asked Rahel, because that, at least, was an easy question.
    ‘Twelve.’
    The same age as Lucy. Lucy suddenly felt like a big, dumb elephant next to Rahel, who looked about two years younger, she was so little and skinny.
    ‘How old is Toro?’
    ‘Six.’
    Yipes! The same age as Ricardo! Toro didn’t have a puffed-up belly like those famine kids on TV, but he looked like a shadow next to Ricardo. And he barely spoke.
    ‘What do you get at your canteen . . . I mean what do they . . . What do you eat?’ asked Ricardo.
    ‘Rice.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘Vegetables . . . but not every day.’
    ‘You’re lucky! Mum and Grandma make me eat mine all the time. What do you have for breakfast?’
    ‘Rice.’
    ‘Rice Bubbles?’
    ‘No. Rice.’
    ‘Lunch?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘Recess?’
    ‘Retardo! They don’t have recess! Don’t you get it? They’re not at school. They’re in jail. They don’t even have lunch!’
    That shut him up big time. He poured another bowl of Cocoa Puffs while he struggled with the concept of rice for breakfast and dinner, with nothing in between. Then he realised what he had done and quickly offered more to Rahel and Toro, but Toro was holding his belly as if it hurt.
    ‘He is not accustomed to this food,’ said Rahel.
    ‘I’ll have it!’ Ricardo said helpfully, then, at Lucy’s face, ‘What?’
    Lucy shook her head in disgust but she felt stupid herself, for not remembering what they’d said on that TV show – that kids who had been hungry have to get used to food again, gradually. She would have to find out more; but right now, time was ticking away and they had to get back to the house, load up all the stuff they needed and get back here before Grandma arrived.
    ‘We have to get more stuff for you. We’ve got blankets and pillows at home and more food. You can stay here until —’ Lucy didn’t quite know how to finish that sentence, so she was glad when Rahel interrupted.
    ‘I must locate my aunt!’
    ‘What? Where is she?’ said Lucy.
    ‘She fled to the rebel base in the mountains just before we got taken. I must find her. She will know what to do. She is the only one who can help Mama and Papa. She said she would care for us if anything bad happened. I have committed all her maps to memory. I know how to get there.’
    ‘But Toro can’t walk. And what about the Bulls? If they see you, they’ll just put you back in jail,’ said Lucy.
    ‘Toro will recover. It is just that we have not eaten. We must find her. If we take food we will be able to hide from the Bulls. We will walk at night and follow her directions.’
    Lucy didn’t know what to say. Who in their right mind would go out the jungle jail end of the tunnel again?
    ‘At least stay here for a while,’ she urged. ‘Eat good food for a few weeks and get a bit fatter . . . I mean stronger. We’ll bring you