Toad Away by Morris Gleitzman Read Free Book Online Page A

Africa on approach and stink beetles in a holding pattern.”
    “We're looking for my sister,” said Limpy. “She was on a pile of luggage next to a bus, but the bus and the luggage have gone.”
    “This is an airport,” said the cockroach. “Buses and luggage don't hang around.” He paused in the middleof landing a pelican and peered at Limpy. “There was one of your lot here just now. Cute kid. On her way to the Amazon.”
    “That's her!” yelled Limpy.
    “Excuse me,” said Goliath to the cockroach. “That pelican just crashed.”
    The cockroach ignored Goliath. “You've missed her,” he said to Limpy. “She took off ten minutes ago.”
    “So she's OK?” said Limpy, giddy with relief.
    “Bit knocked about,” said the cockroach. “But not too bad. Nowhere near as bruised as that pelican, for example.”
    “Which bird did she leave with?” said Limpy. “And where can we find two more?”
    “It wasn't a bird,” said the cockroach. “It was a plane.”
    Limpy knew what planes were. Those huge shiny metal things over in the human part of the airport. Like slugs, but with wings. And much faster.
    “There isn't a direct plane flight from here to the Amazon,” said the cockroach, waving in the African butterflies. “Your sister's gone via Los Angeles. Next plane to L.A. is that one over there leaving in about four hours.”
    Limpy stared across at the huge plane. “What's the best way to get on it?” he wondered out loud.
    “I'll get a sharp stick and bash a hole in the side,” said Goliath.
    “Lots of ways in,” said the cockroach, waving the stink beetles out of the butterflies’ airspace. “Once you're on board, find yourself a comfortable pozzie before the human passengers get on. Stay away from those big things under the wings, they'll suck your eyeballs out. I prefer the overhead luggage compartments myself.”

T he overhead luggage compartments were nice and roomy, with attractive decor, but Limpy was worried they were too dangerous. The plane would soon be filling up with passengers, and Limpy had noticed how human hand-luggage was mostly heavy bottles.
    “We could hide in these paper bags,” suggested Goliath.
    Limpy looked at the paper bags Goliath had pulled out of the seat pockets. He wasn't sure what they were for, so he shook his head.
    “You never like my ideas,” complained Goliath.
    “I'm not saying it's a bad idea,” said Limpy. “It's just that those bags remind me of the ones moths use when they hit air turbulence. You know, sick bags.”
    “So what?” said Goliath. “There'd be room for us in there as well.”
    Limpy decided not to get into an argument aboutit. There wasn't time. The human passengers would be getting on the plane very soon, and Limpy knew he and Goliath wouldn't pass as flight attendants, not even if they did their nicest smiles.
    “Look,” said Limpy. “Here's a good hiding place. Under the seat next to this rolled-up plastic thing.”
    It was a good hiding place.
    The passengers got on and Limpy and Goliath weren't discovered, not even when Goliath gave a loud whimper during takeoff.
    Limpy nearly gave a whimper himself when he saw how close the nearest human feet were. He was glad he and Goliath had been able to wedge themselves under the strap holding the rolled-up plastic thing to the underside of the seat.
    “Ow,” said Goliath. “My ears just popped.”
    “Don't worry,” said Limpy. “I think it's normal.”
    “A couple of my warts have popped too,” said Goliath.
    Limpy wasn't sure if that was quite so normal.
    “I hate planes,” grumbled Goliath. “They're cold and noisy and cramped and this rolled-up plastic tastes yucky.”
    Limpy sighed.
    “What about poor Charm,” he said. “She had to do this all by herself.”
    He tried not to think about Charm hiding in an overhead luggage compartment in her plane, or in a paper bag, or even worse, in one of the engines.
    Instead he reminded himself what a sensible sister she was.