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the Amazon,” said Limpy.
    Goliath sat up, eyes open wide.
    “The Amazon?” he said. “Good idea. We can get all the cane toads over there to join our army and crush those mongrel humans forever. And blow up their freezers.”
    Limpy sighed.
    He'd agonized most of the night about whether to bring Goliath on the trip. He'd finally decided he had to. It was the only way he could keep an eye on Goliath and stop him starting wars.
    Please let it be the right decision, thought Limpy while Goliath had a stretch and checked under his eyelids for breakfast.
    The first wart-blush of dawn was creeping into the sky. Limpy grabbed Goliath's hand and led him quickly toward the far end of the swamp.
    “How are we getting to the Amazon?” asked Goliath.
    “By air,” said Limpy. “Some birds are taking us.”
    “Ripper,” said Goliath. “I want the fastest one.”
    Even as he was saying this, something swooped low over their heads. They both looked up.
    “That's not fair,” said Goliath. “Charm got first pick.”
    Limpy stared upward. He desperately wanted Goliath to be wrong as usual, but the bird turned and swooped low again and Limpy saw with a jolt of panic that Goliath was right.
    Gripped in the bird's claws was Charm.
    “Sorry, Limpy!” she yelled. “But I can't let you do it. Brazil's much too far for a bloke with a crook leg. Tell Mum and Dad I'll be away awhile, but not to worry, I'll be fine.”
    Limpy could barely hear her last words, because the bird was already heading for the blood-red horizon.
    “Come on!” Limpy yelled at Goliath as other birds swooped over their heads. “We can't let her go on her own.”
    Limpy burst through the bushes at the far end of the swamp and almost fainted with relief.
    There were two birds left.
    “They're still here!” yelled Goliath.
    “Don't get your beak in a twist,” said one of the birds, looking up from the mud he was pecking at.“We're having a late breakfast. Is that a crime?”
    “No need to get your wings in a knot,” said the other bird to Limpy. “Your sister's gone instead. And I personally think she'll do a better job, because in my experience girls are better at quests that involve being polite and asking questions.”
    “We need to go too,” said Limpy. “Right now.”
    Before the birds could answer, Mum and Dad burst through the bushes, looking distraught.
    “We saw Charm flying away,” said Mum. “Where's she going?”
    Limpy tried to think what to say that wouldn't upset Mum and Dad even more.
    “She's going to the Amazon to find the ancientsecret of how to deal with humans,” said Goliath.
    “But don't worry, we're going too, so it'll be OK. We probably won't all be killed, so at least one of us'll make it back.”
    Limpy wished Goliath was somewhere else. Like under the mud.
    Mum and Dad's faces fell further.
    So did Goliath's when he realized what he'd said.
    “On second thoughts,” he mumbled, “perhaps none of us should go.”
    The two birds looked at each other, then at Goliath.
    “He does look a bit heavy to carry,” said the first bird.
    To Limpy's surprise, Mum spoke up.
    “No, he's not,” said Mum. “It's mostly wind.”
    “Show them, Goliath,” said Dad.
    Goliath let out a lot of wind, fast and loud.
    “See?” said Mum. “Get him airborne and he'll help you catch up to our daughter in no time.”
    The takeoff was fine.
    Sort of.
    Limpy and Goliath waved to Mum and Dad, and they both waved back. Limpy saw pride on their faces as well as concern.
    “Try not to worry,” he called to them.
    “That's right!” yelled Goliath. “We'll be back safely before you can say Aunty Pru!”
    Limpy hid his head.
    The birds carried them higher, over the human suburb. Limpy looked down at the tiny humans starting their day. They didn't look so scary that size, and Limpy was filled with a happy feeling.
    This quest was going to be a success, he was certain.
    Then he saw that Goliath was scowling and doing a pee onto the supermarket