Max’s Adventures with His Loyal Friends. Marina Golomidova

Чтение книги онлайн.

      “All of you come here at once! Who’s responsible for this?!” Auntie Jane was quite beside herself. Her face was flushed with anger, her hands trembling.

      Max and the cats had only just woken up, but came running as soon as they heard her voice – and they looked at the garden with such astonishment that anyone could tell they were seeing the damage for the first time. Deep down Auntie Jane knew they’d had nothing to do with it, but she was still struggling to come to terms with the destruction – and decided to ask Max and Hunter a few questions just in case.

      “Who was out in the garden last night and left this disgraceful scene? Was it you playing hide-and-seek? Or playing soldiers?”

      Max was hurt. “Of course not! How could you even think we’d do something like this? Hunter, Matilda, Tom, Sienna – tell Auntie it wasn’t us!”

      The cats lifted their tails in unison, then shook the tips ever so slightly to confirm what Max had said.

      Feeling terribly upset, Auntie Jane started to collect the flowers that were scattered on the ground – while Max, along with his team of furry helpers, brought fresh earth to fill the holes and spread seeds to grow new grass.

      Sadly, despite all their efforts the garden didn’t really look much better – the dark bare patches glaring in the bright green lawn made it a sorry sight.

      “Well, we can’t let ourselves get downhearted – we’ll just have to wait until the new grass comes through. And we mustn’t forget to water, that’s crucial – we can’t let the seeds dry out.”

      After a few days the first tiny blades of grass started to show, and the crocuses bloomed thicker and brighter than before, as if to make up for the ones that were lost. The garden’s old beauty and harmony returned. But one morning the house woke up to find the flowers broken and trampled again, and in the middle of their beautiful lawn… an enormous black hole.

      This time Auntie Jane couldn’t hold back the tears. She ran into the house in despair and threw herself onto her bed, stricken with a terrible migraine.

      “Poor Auntie Jane!” said Hunter. “That does it, we have to help her – and that means catching the louts who’ve been wrecking our garden! Well, I’ve got a plan, and I’d like to hear what you think of it.”

      Gathered by the fire in the sitting room, the friends had a meeting.

      “We need to set up a rota,” said Hunter. “We’ll take turns watching the garden.”

      And Max had an idea: “We can build a treehouse – that will make the perfect observation post! We’ll be hidden by the leaves, so nobody will know we’re there.”

      Right at the end of the garden, beyond the strawberry beds, there was a grand old tree with a thick trunk. It wasn’t that tall but it was very wide, with big strong branches that were thick with foliage. The tree had an unusual name – it was a eucalyptus. They said it was planted by one of Auntie Jane’s ancestors some three hundred years ago.

      That was the tree where Max planned to build their hideout.

      “It’s going to be quite the job,” he said. “Let’s sketch out a plan first, then get building. I say we lay down a deck on the thickest branch to make the floor, then make the walls out of rope and tie them to the branches up above.”

      Max took a piece of paper and drew a sketch of the treehouse. It looked so good that the friends couldn’t wait to get started.

      “Hunter, if you can find boards for the floor, I’ll put them together. Sienna and Matilda, you can make the walls – just don’t forget to leave holes for the windows. And Tom, climb the tree and find the thickest branch that’s suitable – so the treehouse is stable, but out of sight.”

      They set to work without delay. Hunter found a pile of sturdy wooden boards in the shed. Max joined them together with wooden slats and tied on the rope walls on three sides. Then he fixed his new deck to two of the tree’s main boughs, tying the tops of the walls to the overhanging branches. And just for himself, Max strung together a rope ladder – just what you need if you haven’t got sharp claws for scaling tree trunks.

      Max and the cats climbed up into their hideout. It was dark up there, and only snatches of light – broken rays which managed to steal through the leaves – played across their happy faces.

      “I’ve got some biscuits and a flask of milk,” said Max. “Let’s have a treehouse-warming party!”

      The friends tucked into the biscuits, washing them down with the milk – that well-known favourite of all cats, and children too. And they decided that – just for now – Auntie Jane didn’t need to know about the treehouse.

      That evening Hunter and Max headed out for the first shift. They sat still up in the tree, until they heard Auntie Jane calling out, “Max, where are you? Time to get washed and then it’s off to bed!” Max climbed down and ran into the house. He had a quick wash, said good night to his auntie, got into bed – and pretended to fall asleep. Auntie Jane kissed Max on the forehead and went to her room. Max waited a while longer and then, with the sausages for Hunter that he’d kept ready in his bedside table, he crept softly to the door that led out into the garden. And seconds later he’d climbed up to the treehouse then pulled up the rope ladder and thrown it over the nearest branch.

      When Hunter saw that Max had brought some provisions, he was happy beyond any words! He’d had to wait some time without a bite to eat, and was getting really hungry.

      Sitting up in the treehouse, the two friends tried to stay perfectly still as they peered out into the dark of the night. All was quiet. A few times that night Max’s head started to droop and he slept a while – but rather than waking him, Hunter just kept watch more vigilantly than before.

      And as soon as dawn had broken, Max returned to the house СКАЧАТЬ