We Were Only Strawberry Picking by Henrietta Defreitas Read Free Book Online Page A

said. ‘How on earth did a bear get down here?’
    ‘Now folks, don’t listen to Enoch, it was no bear. These creatures are very small, probably not much bigger than Jasper,’ uttered Nora.
    ‘Well, all I can say is that I heard a bear growl at me and I know what noise a bear makes, so believe me or don’t believe me, I don’t care anymore …’
    ‘Enoch, you poor thing!’ said Jasper. ‘How are we ever going to fight off four bears?’
    ‘We’re not,’ said Cooper. ‘Did you not hear Nora say they were not bears?’
    ‘But Enoch heard them with his own ears,’ reminded Jasper.
    ‘But did you actually see the creatures?’ Cooper enquired.
    ‘Not exactly …’ replied Enoch.
    ‘Well, Nora heard the creatures talking earlier and she has the best hearing out of all of us, so I believe her when she said they were not bears,’ stressed Cooper.
    Surprisingly, Nora had remained quiet throughout their conversation as she was thinking carefully about the next course of action. Nancy had made everyone a cup of strawberry tea as they all sat around the table. They sipped on the delicious tea, apart from Escargot who was fast asleep as per usual. Nancy tapped on his shell to wake him up as she left a saucer of tea for him and out popped his head.
    ‘Have I missed anything? Um, strawberry tea – thank you, Nancy,’ as he inhaled the scent of the sickly sweet strawberries and siphoned some of the tea.
    ‘I suspect the little creatures are heading this way, as they obviously know they were not the only ones down here in this mine and were looking for a way out. They would have thought Enoch could lead them to the actual way out, which is why I suspect they were following him as they heard him talking to himself in the tunnel – you were talking to yourself again, I take it, Enoch?’ He looked a little embarrassed but confessed: ‘Yes I’m sorry, it’s the only way I remember things!’
    ‘Right I suggest that Alfonso, Enoch and Jasper come with me and bring that net with you. I should be able to hear the creatures when they are fairly close and as they come out of the tram tunnel into the camp tunnel, we will capture them with this net. I will act as bait and hang above the little creatures to distract them and then you can throw the net,’ suggested Nora.
    ‘What a brilliant idea,’ remarked Cooper.
    ‘We don’t have much time left, so come with me and the rest of you, please be vigilant, as they could be smarter than we think and come from the other side of the tunnel but that would mean they won’t get here until much later, judging by where Enoch said he had heard them. So, are we ready?’ asked Nora.
    ‘Yes, Nora,’ and off they went.

CHAPTER FIVE
Our Meerkats Are Missing
    Back at the Mortimers’ house, Mama Mortimer was starting to get a little worried, as she looked at the clock. It was gone five and still no sign of Henratty and Lyndi Lou. She just had this sick feeling that something was wrong. She decided to wait a little longer as Papa Mortimer would be home shortly and then they could consider what they should do.
    She was just about to put the kettle on, when the door bell rang. She jumped with excitement as she thought it must be her little ones who had forgotten their keys. Well, who else would be ringing the door bell? She quickly turned the tap off and set the kettle to boil as she rushed to the front door.
    ‘Henratty, what have you done with your keys?’ she demanded but to her surprise it was neither Henratty nor Lyndi Lou at the door, but Mama Katie.
    ‘Have you heard from Henratty or Lyndi Lou by any chance?’ said Mama Katie anxiously.
    ‘No, I would have asked you the same question. All I know is that they were going strawberry picking with your Jack and Oscar. They’re not usually this late but I know Henratty would never do anything silly and just assumed they had gone back to yours.’
    ‘I’m afraid not,’ as Mama Katie entered the Mortimers’ house.
    ‘Papa