Continental Drift by Susan Korman

Author:Susan Korman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Manny and Diego found a heavy rock and used it block off the opening of a tree. Then they imprisoned Shira inside.

“Is this how you treat all your guests?” she demanded. “Let me out of here.”

“Sure,” Diego said sarcastically. “We totally trust you not to tell Gutt we’re here.”

Back at Switchback Cove, Captain Gutt was still barking out orders at the hyrax. “You call this a ship, you miserable runts? This is nothing. I want a ship, not a floating trash heap! Faster, you worthless, wormy, sorry excuses for shark bait weevils!”

“What did he say?” Flynn murmured to Gupta.

Gupta shrugged, nervously keeping an eye on the captain. “I don’t know.”

Captain Gutt cracked his whip at the hyrax. “Now get this chunk of ice seaworthy by sundown, or I will keelhaul the lot of you!”

Diego had shown his friends the cove with the two channels that led out to the sea. “You’re right, Diego,” Manny said excitedly. “It’s the way home!”

“Yeah,” Sid chimed in. “Too bad we don’t have a ship.”

“Sure we do,” Manny said, gesturing at Captain Gutt’s new ship, which was nearly finished. “It’s right there.”

“Well, that’s a flawless plan,” Shira muttered sarcastically. “You want to pirate a pirate ship from pirates?”

“It pains me to say this,” Diego said. “But she has a point. It’s a crazy idea.”

“Yeah, well—” Manny started to argue, but Sid quickly hushed him.

“Guys! Shhh! The trees have ears!” he said, gesturing to dozens of little hyrax who were peeking out from behind trees, bushes, and rocks, watching them.

“Wait a minute . . .” Looking at the small creatures, Manny suddenly had an idea. “Maybe we can help one another!” He leaned down to talk to a few of the hyrax. “Hey, little fellas. Come on out.”

The hyrax stayed where they were, too afraid to move.

“It’s okay,” Manny coaxed them gently. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

The shy creatures stepped a little closer.

“How about you and us against the pirates, huh?” Manny went on. The hyrax stared at him blankly. Finally, Manny sighed. “You have no idea what I’m saying, do you?”

He tried another approach. “Uh . . . ship . . .” He pantomimed the words. “Me . . . want.”

Shira scoffed at him. “Nice try, Jungle Jim.”

“Go ahead, make fun,” Manny snapped. “He got it.”

Just then a hyrax named Fuzzy came forward and gave Manny a banana. “Thank you,” said Manny.

“May I try?” Sid came over.

“Knock yourself out,” Manny muttered.

“Okay, watch this!” Sid told his friends. “Ahem.” He cleared his throat and then began warming up his vocal cords. “Me me me me. Six sloths sip broth. . . . Six sloths sip broth. . . .”

When Sid was finally ready, he crouched down. Then he crossed his arms and grabbed his shoulders. “Wooga, wooga, wooga, wooga,” he said, speaking what sounded like gibberish, tapping his shoulders at the same time. “Yarg!” he went on, imitating a pirate, and then making some other strange sounds.

To Manny’s astonishment, the hyrax began to nod and cheer.

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