Read The Secret Invasion of Port Isabel for Free Online Page B

asked, puzzled.
    ‘I am, Mr
Mayor. But as there are no talking animals in Australia—that’s
where I come from—we don’t need to use the name of our House to
tell us apart. We are all humans, you see. We use family names
instead. Mine’s Fairweather , sir.’
    ‘Ah, now I
understand,’ said the Mayor, nodding. ‘Fairweather’s like a
subspecies name, we have those here too. We find it a strange
custom but will adjust accordingly.’
    The Mayor
paused, drew himself up and began again.
    ‘Flossy
Fairweather Human, we owe you the sincerest of apologies. For too
long we have lived in fearful ignorance of your kind. The prejudice
displayed towards you last night is most shamefully regretted. Any
ill treatment our forebears received at human hands is no excuse
for last night’s mindless aggression. The way you stood before us,
brooking no fear and demanding that we show ourselves, testifies
that humans are a courageous species and worthy of great respect.
We know of no one else who has stood so boldly before a roaring
lion. We know of no one as small who as single-handedly bested a
mountain gorilla in equal combat. You have done your House proud,
Miss Fairweather Human. We mistook you for a pirate but instead of
granting you a fair hearing as Mr Elephant urged, we tried to take
your life. For all this we are deeply sorry and beg your
forgiveness.’
    Flossy fell to
one knee, a quintessentially human symbol of gratitude she hoped
would not be lost on anyone present.
    ‘Like
Reginald, I hold no ill feeling, sir. And I am grateful for the
opportunity to walk freely among your people. Also, I send
greetings and the desire for friendship from the House of Human. It
is my sincere hope that any animosities of the past be washed away
by renewed friendship and the common desire to establish the rule
of law in all countries.’
    The Mayor sat
back on his haunches. He looked surprised.
    ‘We feel
greater shame upon hearing how freely you forgive our
inhospitality. Please arise, Miss Fairweather Human. No animal who
has distinguished herself so courageously need kneel before this
office. It is rather I who should kneel.’
    Flossy rose
and looked around. Harry stood beside her and smiled, nodding.
‘Well done,’ he silently mouthed.
    ‘And next, we
recognise the courageous acts of Harry Possum and Larry Monkey,’
said the Mayor, looking over the crowd. Finding the black boar, he
asked: ‘Where is Larry Monkey, Sergeant?’
    Sergeant Boar
stepped forward. ‘But the monkey was not there,’ he whined. ‘So I
didn’t bring him like you said.’
    ‘Well then?’
promoted the lion, eyebrows raised. Flossy could see he was not the
kind of person to suffer fools lightly.
    The black
boar’s face grew red. ‘I won’t unfind him again, Mr Mayor!’ He
turned and ran from the hall amongst a clatter of noisy
trotters.
    The mighty
lion turned to Harry. ‘Harry Possum, we have heard of your bold
attack on the pirates, your remarkable rescue of Miss Fairweather
Human and your efforts to aid Reginald Elephant during the riot.
You are…’
    The Mayor
stopped short and looked sharply towards the hall’s entrance doors.
Everyone else turned too, ears pivoting as they were able.
    Outside in the
Square, someone was ringing the town’s alarm bell.
    Again!
     
    CHAPTER 6

    ANOTHER FALSE ALARM
     
    Flossy, Reginald and
Harry followed the Mayor out of Town Hall and down the broad
stairs. Outside, misty rain continued to fall. Everything was black
and shiny-grey under the low and heavy clouds. Flossy wished she
hadn’t left her tricorn in the Windrush , the fast little
skiff Harry and Larry had used to rescue her from the pirates. The
pirate hat’s wide brim and deep runnels would have kept her head
and shoulders dry.
    Descending the
stairs behind them and jostling for a better view were the
multitude she had seen in the Hall of Deliberation. When they
reached the Square they quickly surrounded the alarm bell rotunda.
On the low