Giant by Nicola Skinner

Author:Nicola Skinner [Skinner, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2022-06-01T17:00:00+00:00

THE CLOUDS RUMBLED with distant thunder. It was as if time had stopped. For a while, the two children and the jackal merely held their places, wondering who would make the first move. Minnie shot confused looks between the blood-soaked jackal and the shaking boy. ‘But – but I … I know this jackal,’ she said, softly. What had got into him?

Even though Robin was rigid with fear, he managed to give her a quick, terrified glance. ‘You know it? How?’

‘He saved my life, last night! We, er … we even shared the same moss, to sleep on. He was really harmless, apart from with the screechers.’

‘Well, it’s not harmless now,’ hissed Robin. ‘It’s looking at me like I’m dinner.’

The jackal took a deliberate step closer to them, his eyes fixed on Robin the entire time. He stank of fresh blood and fear and fight. There was a nasty bite mark on his cheek. His hackles were up and his front legs were bent. Minnie recognised these signs. He was seconds away from attacking.

‘What’s wrong?’ she murmured to the young pup.

The animal’s eyes flickered for a moment towards Minnie, and she caught a flash of recognition in them. Then they resumed their laser-like intensity on Robin. Minnie took a step towards the jackal, as if to soothe him.

Robin flinched. ‘Careful,’ he urged. ‘Don’t get too close. It might kill you first.’

‘He,’ she muttered. ‘He’s a boy.’

‘I don’t care what it is: it’s got murder on its mind,’ whispered Robin.

Robin had a point. The jackal’s entire body bristled. A terrifying growl grew in the back of his throat. He treated Robin to a front-row view of his teeth, still flecked with blood from when he’d sunk them into the dogs.

Robin turned deathly white. ‘He … wants … to … kill … me,’ he moaned. The thunder cracked again, closer this time.

An angry sort of exhaustion swept through Minnie. She just wanted to go to Robin’s and stay hidden. Every second out here made them more vulnerable. Frustration made her brave. She bent down on her haunches, reached a hand out and placed it on the jackal’s neck. He flinched a little, but stayed where he was.

‘What are you doing?’ hissed Robin.

‘It’s all right, he trusts me,’ she murmured. ‘Now, Robin. Walk over to us.’

‘Are you insane?’

‘I think he needs to sniff your hand.’

A scornful silence greeted this.

‘It was the only thing that calmed him down last night,’ went on Minnie. ‘He was exactly the same with me when we met. Then he sniffed my hand, and he changed. I think he just has a thing about scent. And – oh, can you just get on with it, please?’ She glanced nervously around the lagoon. ‘We’re really exposed here. Anyone can see us.’

‘If it bites my hand off, you’re going to do all my rubbling work for ever while I sit around and eat grapes.’

‘Fine,’ said Minnie. ‘Just hurry.’

As Robin approached, the jackal shook all over. ‘Easy,’ she soothed. A low, continuous warning rumble began in his throat, as if he was trying to out-thunder the thunder coming their way.

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