Read Toad Away for Free Online

them to say “who wants to know” but they didn't.
    “No,” they said quietly. “We haven't.”
    “So humans in the Amazon don't kill cane toads,” said Limpy.
    “Don't think so,” said the birds. “We've never seen any sign of it.”
    It was exactly what Limpy was hoping they'd say.
    “I need to go to the Amazon really urgently,” he said. “My ancestors have been living there since time began, and I need to visit them to learn the ancient secret of how to live in peace with humans.” He took a deep breath. “Any chance of a lift, please?”
    The biggest bird's beak fell open.
    He stared at Limpy.
    “You're asking me,” he said, “to carry you halfway round the world, across plains and mountains and cities and oceans, risking wing strain and leg rupture and claw cramp, just so a bunch of your family and friends won't get squashed by humans?”
    “Yes,” said Limpy.
    The bird stared silently at the piles of rellies.
    “OK,” said the bird. “We're leaving first thing tomorrow.”
    After Limpy finished thanking the birds, and they left, he started packing for the trip.
    His one worry now was how to tell Mum and Dad.
    He was pretty sure the journey to the Amazon would be long and dangerous. What if Mum and Dad got upset and tried to stop him from going? Or, even worse, wanted to come themselves? Crossing plains and mountains and cities and oceans was much too risky for a couple their age.
    But he had to let them know he was going so they wouldn't think he'd just disappeared or been arrested by an angry supermarket company.
    Suddenly he knew what to do. Once he was airborne, and it was too late for anyone to stop him from going, he'd get his bird to swoop low over the swamp so he could tell Mum and Dad he'd be away for a while, but not to worry, he'd be fine and so would they, with Charm and Goliath to look after them.
    He felt better now that he'd decided that.
    Then Charm hopped into his room and he didn't feel better anymore.
    “Have you had birds in here?” said Charm.
    Limpy could see she'd spotted some feathers on the floor.
    “No,” said Limpy. “They're just left over from an old lunch of Goliath's.”
    He felt awful, lying to Charm. His insides felt yucky, like the time he ate the car-deodorant block Goliath gave him for his birthday.
    Charm's face fell, and Limpy could see she knew he was lying.
    He couldn't bear it.
    “Yes,” he said quietly. “I have had birds in here. They're going to take me to the Amazon so I can find out how our rellies there live in peace with humans. I didn't want you to know in case you wanted to come. I don't want you to come because it'll be too dangerous and I don't want anything to happen to you.”
    Limpy hoped Charm wouldn't be angry.
    She didn't seem to be. She was gazing at Limpy, mouth trembling. She put her arms around him.
    “I love you, Limpy,” said Charm. “And I'm really glad you're my brother.”
    “I love you too,” said Limpy.
    They hugged each other for a long time.
    “There's something I haven't had a chance to tell you,” said Charm. “You were really brave, the way you saved Goliath from that supermarket freezer. And the way you saved that human girl from that drink. And it wasn't your fault we couldn't save Aunty Pru.”
    “Thanks,” whispered Limpy.
    I'll miss you, Charm, he thought sadly, trying to stop his glands from trembling too much.
    Suddenly he was hoping the journey to the Amazon wouldn't be too long and dangerous.

“G oliath,” whispered Limpy. “Wake up.”
    Goliath moaned and tried to wriggle deeper into the mud puddle he was sleeping in. He opened an eye, then closed it.
    “No,” he said. “It's not even dawn yet.”
    “We're going to be late,” said Limpy. “It's taken me ages to find you. Why can't you sleep in your room?”
    “It's better out here,” mumbled Goliath. “If you're lucky, worms crawl into your tummy while you're asleep.” He opened an eye again. “Late for what?”
    “We're going to