Firestar by Anne Forbes

Author:Anne Forbes [Anne Forbes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782500766
Publisher: Floris Books
Published: 2013-09-28T16:00:00+00:00

20. Stag at Bay

“Would you just look at them!” Kenny gasped, pulling up in a lay-by that gave them a glimpse of the road ahead, for about half a mile further on, a group of at least six giants barred their way.

Kalman’s heart sank as he peered at the wall of giants that stood threateningly across the road.

Larry turned white. “Oh boy!” he muttered, his face the colour of chalk, “they’re really out to get us, aren’t they!”

Inside the van, fear now replaced the atmosphere of easy friendship that had grown between the Jelly Beans and the stag.

“It’s too dangerous for me to stay with you any longer,” Kalman observed. “Don’t worry, I’ll get out here and take to the hills.” He flung the giants an assessing glance, knowing that the van wouldn’t stand a chance if they were to attack it. “It’ll be all right,” he assured them, “when they see me on the hill, they’ll leave you alone.” He looked at them grimly. “I’d hoped that we might get closer to Ballater before they stopped us but at least I’m rested now.”

“But Ballater’s miles away,” Larry protested. “The giants might still catch you!”

“Hang on! Don’t get out here,” Kenny said, swiftly reversing the van and driving back the way they’d come. “We passed a lay-by a while back that gives onto the mountain,” he explained, “and further up I noticed a pass. If you cross it, I reckon you might save a bit of time, for the road takes the long way round. Show him the map, Larry.”

Larry fished in the glove compartment and drew out a rather tattered ordnance survey map. Folding it to where they were on the road, he pointed to the pass and a way across the mountains that would, indeed, cut a huge chunk from the stag’s journey.

Kenny drew up when they reached the bottom of the grassy slope that rose towards the break in the mountains. “That’s the way to go,” he said, nodding towards the pass. He switched off the engine and clambered out to open up the back of the van for the stag. Kalman backed his way down onto the road, feeling the stag’s hooves scrabble to get a grip on the tarmac. His antlers proved more of a problem but by carefully turning his head Kenny finally extricated the increasingly panic-stricken stag.

Once clear of the van, the stag lifted its head and stretched its legs with a sigh of relief. The mountain air was fresh and clean and it was glad to be free of the confined space inside the dreadful machine. Concentrating his mind, Kalman calmed the stag and brought it under his control again. Seeing the anxious faces of Larry and Kenny, he felt a twinge of remorse at having put them in such a position and knowing that their danger was real, he stepped forward, gently resting the stag’s head on their shoulders. They thought it was his way of saying thank you for their

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