Forest Secrets. David Laing

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СКАЧАТЬ deep down I knew it’d do no good. Who in their right mind would believe a story like that?

      Gloria’s father continued to question Snook. ‘You’re feeling fine, eh? According to Gloria, that wasn’t the case last night. In fact, she was most upset when you had your … whatever it was.’ He pointed to Gloria who was still studying the carpet. ‘The thing is my daughter’s really concerned for you. That’s why I’m here now. She asked me to come and see you – to make sure that you were all right. As I have said, she was worried about you, and quite frankly, after seeing you, so am I.’

      I could almost feel the white heat of Snook’s anger. He didn’t like being talked about publicly like he was now. I was wondering what the best plan of action would be to relieve the tension in the air that was starting to build up, when Mr Huntingdale’s mobile phone rang; it was a text message. ‘I’m wanted at Sunny Rest Home,’ he said, looking over at Gloria. ‘You’ll have to find your own way home, I’m afraid.’

      ‘She’ll be right,’ I assured Gloria’s dad. ‘My Aunt Irene will be home soon. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind running Gloria home.’

      Looking relieved that the cross examination was over, Snook backed me up, ‘Yep, Mum’ll do that. No worries.’

      ‘Thank you,’ he said putting the phone away. ‘That would be very helpful.’ He then said to Snook, ‘I’d like to see you in my surgery first thing Tuesday. I think a good check-up is in order.’

      ‘Yeah,’ Snook said under his breath as he watched Gloria’s father head for the door. ‘That’ll be the day.’

      Chapter 7

      ‘Someone must be sick at the old folks’ home,’ Snook said after Gloria’s father had left.

      ‘Oh, there’s a couple of old folk at Sunny Rest Home who often call him,’ Gloria explained. ‘They’re too old and frail to go to his surgery. He’s probably gone to see them.’ In a more serious tone, she added, ‘I’m sorry about my father asking all those questions earlier, but he means well. I-I guess he was concerned. I suppose I am too. So, tell me, why did you act so standoffish last night? I didn’t know what to think when you ignored me like you did. You were the same today on the bus. I-I really can’t understand what’s going on.’

      Shrugging and putting on a goofy face, Snook looked over at me in a what do I say now? gesture. I must admit, I was in a bit of a quandary too. How do you rationally explain the visions that Snook and I had both had … and at the same time? Like Snook, I just shrugged. I didn’t have the answer. Eventually, he said, ‘Look, Gloria, I wanna explain, but I dunno that you’d understand. It’s kind of complicated.’

      ‘Why don’t you try and tell me, anyway?’

      Yeah, I suppose I could, but first there’s somethin’ I wanna ask you.’

      Sensing that the conversation was about to get mushy, I decided it was time to go. ‘C’mon Shadow,’ I called. ‘It’s time we were out of here.’

      ‘Where’re you off to?’ Snook asked. ‘You don’t have to leave. I’m not gonna go all gooey and do that eti –eti- stuff that you told me about this afternoon. I’m just gonna have a quick word with Gloria.’ Reluctantly, I sat back down again. Shadow curled up at my feet.

      Probably wondering what the quick word was, and after a few moments of silence, Gloria told Snook to get on with it.

      Rubbing the palms of his hands on his jumper, Snook said, ‘I wus just gunna ask you about a photo competition.’

      I couldn’t believe it. I knew darn well what was on his mind, what he wanted to tell Gloria, but he’d squibbed it. Simple as that. I nearly said something but Gloria beat me to it. Just as well, I suppose. She walked over and sat on one of the chairs, the one nearest to Snook. ‘You mean the photo competition that’s advertised in Sam’s shop? I know about that.’

      ‘You know about it? How come?’ he asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

      ‘Quenton told me about it this afternoon,’ she said, looking at her hands as though she had a splinter.

      ‘Did’e now. Well I was … that is, I was wonderin’ … if you’d like to help me win it … the competition I mean.’

      Stroking the back of her neck and biting her lip at the same time, Gloria said, ‘You mean you want me to go with you when you take photos?’ Wringing her hands now, she said, ‘Gee, I didn’t expect you to ask me that. I thought you didn’t like me anymore – especially after last night and this afternoon.’

      I was beginning to feel like an intruder again. I had no business being there. The conversation was getting to the nitty gritty part. I got up to leave, but once again Snook gestured with his hand to stay where I was.

      ‘That’s why I‘ve agreed to go with Quenton,’ Gloria went on to explain. ‘He’s going in the competition too, and he’s asked me to help him win it.’

      Snook’s eyes darted from side to side and his face suddenly turned to a deep crimson colour. Eventually finding his voice, he spluttered, ‘You’re going with Quigley? That phony? You know what he’s like. He can’t be trusted.’

      Gloria started to defend him. ‘Everyone’s saying he’s changed, that he’s not a complete dork anymore, and he’s definitely lost a lot of weight. He’s not so frumpy now.’

      ‘Whatever,’ Snook said as if he were resigned to the situation. ‘But for the record, I didn’t mean to give you the brush off last night or ignore you today, but somethin’ creepy has happened that’s made me … different.’

      ‘How do you mean?’ Gloria asked, her voice suddenly higher.

      Snook didn’t answer. His jaw had dropped and his eyes were wide and staring. He was just standing there at the head of the lobby, not saying a word. I followed his line of sight and saw what had caught his attention.

      It was the kid, standing in the doorway, smiling thinly .

       In full stride, the rhotosaurus ran out of the forest towards the open plain, trying, hoping, to escape the trees as they fell and burned around him. The other dinosaurs were quick to join him. The dinosaur drew to a halt. He had to figure out what the next step should be. What would be best for him and the other dinosaurs that seemed to have adopted him as their leader. It was hard to decide; the obstacles were mounting. In front of him and on every side, the fires, fanned by the wind, were spreading as they raced across the plain, burning everything in their paths. And above the flames, a blue-grey cloud of smoke was blackening everything before it, making it impossible to see.

       The dinosaur shook his head in an effort to get rid of the grime that had lodged in his eyes and mouth and he gagged as the smoke and sooty particles from the fires stuck in his lungs. Trying to ignore his discomfort, he strained to see through the darkening haze, looking for a way out. But all he could see were the formless shapes of the other dinosaurs that had gathered around him.

       Then there were the pterosaurs, which were diving and swooping, one after the other, shrieking and squealing, jabbing at his and the others’ bodies, flying blind. Cringing and shying away once too often from each senseless attack, the rhotosaurus came to a decision. He lifted his head to the sky and roared for the third СКАЧАТЬ