Warrior Boy by Virginia Clay (author)

Author:Virginia Clay (author) [Clay, Virginia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781911490371
Amazon: 1911490370
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
Published: 2018-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

When he had built a cattle pen that was higher and stronger than the first, Ben lay down in the centre of it, thirsty, hungry, covered in scratches but satisfied. They might never come back for me, he thought to himself. I might die here, but I have made this thing. He chuckled to himself, then laughed out loud. He had no idea why the thought was so funny, but he laughed harder and harder until, suddenly, his laugh sounded a bit like a moo.

He stopped and listened. And there was the moo again, but it seemed to be coming from some bushes about fifty metres away.

He jumped up and crept as quietly as he could towards it, quickly breaking into a jog, anxious not to lose the only remaining cow. And as he neared the bush, the cow’s noises became louder and more intense, like it was in pain.

If Kip was here, he’d probably sing his ridiculous song. Ben hadn’t been able to get it out of his head since yesterday, but he couldn’t remember the words. Maybe he should try humming it – after all, what did he have to lose?

At first, it came out as a few dry croaks and Ben felt stupid, like it might actually be Kip behind the bush and at any minute he’d jump out and say, ‘Fooled you!’ But as Ben found his voice, the painful sounds of mooing completely stopped.

He peered round the bush. It was one of their cows all right, but something was wrong. Her head was down low, and every so often she would swing it from side to side, trying to bite her flanks. She gave a long, low moo as if she was asking Ben for help, and he wondered if her back legs might be stuck in the thorn bush.

He reached out to stroke her neck, then ran his hand along her back like he’d seen Kip do. Then steadily, he inched round to her rear end and immediately froze at the sight of a tiny and very slimy little hoof, sticking out of her back end. So, she wasn’t stuck in the bush, but it might have been easier for Ben if she was.

As his brain caught up with his eyes, the cow mooed again and bit at her sides, then gave a huge push. She shifted her legs and tried to brace herself, but nothing happened. Ben wondered if he should help her somehow. He started singing again, but slightly more nervously this time.

A video he’d once seen at school came to mind, about vets helping animals give birth. He had remembered being grossed out by it, but sadly that was all he could remember. He did know, though, that if he was going to help, he needed to be in the right place, and so he moved round to stand behind the labouring animal, all the while humming Kip’s song.

Tentatively, he touched the little foot – it wasn’t moving. He shuddered. Maybe this would make his task easier, but he hoped it didn’t mean the calf was dead.

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