The Scary, Scaly Visitor: Part 5

By JON GADSBY

It was a pretty ordinary morning in Toi Toi Valley. Maria Moa and Penny Pukeko were sitting on the veranda when the sound of frightened, excited squeaks and squawks came from the bush edge. Puffing and panting out onto Maria's lawn tumbled Perkin and Parkin, Penny Pukeko's youngest chicks.`What's happened?' asked Maria, striding over to them.`Yes, what's going on?' demanded Penny.`I'll tell you what's going on,' said Perkin. `We've seen this thing...'`

It was a monster,' said Parkin.`It was horrible! All scaly and slimy with great big eyes.'`Oh dear,' said Maria Moa.`Just when I thought things were quiet.'`Quiet?' yawned Piha Penguin, emerging from his burrow and rubbing his eyes.Suddenly there were loud, raucous cries from high above and Kia and Kaha Kea landed in a tangle on the lawn.`What's going on?' said Kia.`We heard something was going down,' said Kaha.`Something went down all right,' said `No Worries' Weka, emerging from the bush. `It was me. Those two young pukeko just ran right over me while I was digging for a worm...

'Maria Moa interrupted. `Look. Parkin and Perkin say they saw a monster down by the creek. Did you see anything, No Worries?'`No Worries' Weka considered. `Yes I did actually. I saw a worm. I was just going to grab it when these two ran over the top of me and squashed my head in the mud. I couldn't see anything after that ... in fact I can't see much now.'Penny Pukeko produced a handkerchief and wiped his eyes.`Oh that's better,' said No Worries. `I wish I'd thought of that.'`Can we get to the point?' said Maria. `If a monster has come to live in the creek we'd better do something about it.'`How about the two of us take a fly-by and see what's going on down there?' said Kia Kea.`I suppose I could come with you,' said `No Worries' Weka. `Of course I can't fly.'`And neither can I,' said Piha Penguin, cleaning his glasses. `But I think we should have a trained observer on the team; a scientific mind on the case.'`All right then,' said Maria. `If you need any help just shout.'The two kea saluted and sailed into the sky while Piha Penguin and `No Worries' Weka followed them into the bush.Across the garden, twitching, pointed ears and two mean little eyes took all of this in. Sneak the Stoat watched them from behind a hydrangea.Ten minutes later there was a shriek and a rattle of wings as the two kea rocketed into the air like missiles, to fly in excited circles around the valley, squawking `Monster! Monster!' Piha Penguin and `No Worries' Weka stumbled out of the bush hurriedly, casting fearful glances back over their shoulders.`There's a monster there all right,' said Piha. `In the cave ... by the waterfall pool. There's a monster living there.'`Just what did you see?' asked Maria Moa.`Monster! Monster!' squawked Kia and Kaha, looping the loop high above.`Get down here this instant and tell me what you actually did see,' demanded Maria.`Well I saw an eye,' said Kaha.`I saw the tip of a tail,' said Piha. `It was pointed and it looked like it had spikes on it.'`I saw some teeth,' said Kia Kea. `All yellow and sharp and dangerous.'`What about you, No Worries/'' asked Maria.`Er ... I didn't see anything actually,' said No Worries. `I must have had something in my eye again.'`He was hiding behind a tree,' said Piha sternly.`But I felt something,' said No Worries. `Yes I'm pretty sure I felt a monster.'`I think we should talk to Tuahiwi Sargesson,' said Maria Moa.Crouched flat behind the hydrangea, Sneak the Stoat smiled.`Just wait till I tell the boss,' he thought to himself, slinking away into the ferns.Scaly Tail the Rat was trying to warm his dirty paws by a campfire that wouldn't burn. The rest of the gang was coughing and sneezing in the smoke as Sneak the Stoat arrived back.`Where have you been?' snapped Scaly Tail.`Interesting news, boss,' hissed Sneak the Stoat.`Well?' demanded Scaly Tail.`It seems a monster has come to live in the cave by the waterfall pool in the creek,' said Sneak.`A monster?' said Scaly Tail doubtfully.`Yes, a terrible monster,' said Sneak. `With great bulging eyes and a long, pointed tail with spikes on it ... and huge yellow teeth as sharp as razors.'`That sounds like a monster all right,' said Scaly Tail. `Our sort of monster. With a monster on our side we'd soon have Toi Toi Valley to ourselves. I'll go and have a talk to this monster. This is the most brilliant plan I've had since yesterday.'`Brilliant,' agreed Sneak. 'Brilliant,' muttered the gang.`Great bulging eyes and huge teeth as sharp as razors, you say?' said Scaly Tail.`Yes, boss, so I've heard,' nodded Sneak.

Publisher: Reed

Price: $12.95

Age group: 7-11 years