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.Sophie Prentice, wildlife volunteer.He raised his eyes and had a good look at her.She was tall and slim with copper-blonde hair that framed her plain, but attractive face.Her eyes had a gentle, inquisitive look, as if everything she saw were slightly unfocused.She coughed uncertainly and flicked her head.A raindrop glistened on her strong, dark eyebrows.David delved into his pocket for coins."Well done," said Liz, and tipped his hand so that every last coin poured into the envelope."Liz-zz? That's all I've --""He's very giving," Liz said, sealing the flap.202"Especially when he's in a good mood." She handed Sophie the envelope."Thank you, that's very generous," Sophie said shyly, dropping it into a plastic bag.David sighed in defeat and pushed his hands into his pockets."It sounds like a very good cause," said Liz."It is," said Sophie, glad to have the chance to justify David's grand donation."We take care of lots of sick animals at the hospital.Badgers, birds --""Squirrels?" said a husky voice."Do you take care of them?"Lucy was sitting in the middle of the stairs."Yes," said Sophie, smiling at her."Any kind of wildlife.""There's an injured squirrel in our garden," said Liz.Sophie's gray eyes flickered with interest.Lucy clomped downstairs to stand by her mom."His name is Conker and he can't see well.We're going to catch him and take him to the library gardens.""Oh?" went David.This was news to him.203Sophie thought carefully for a moment, then said, "If he has a bad eye, you could bring him to us.Our vet will check him over, absolutely free.Shall I give you one of our leaflets?"Lucy gave an uncertain shrug.Sophie felt in her pocket and pulled out a folded leaflet and a pen."Our telephone number's on here.I'll give you my cell number, too -- in case you need me after hours." She scribbled down the number and held the leaflet out.Lucy's hand went up to take it.Liz intercepted and handed it to David."Thank you, that's very helpful."Sophie nodded bashfully and edged toward the door.Outside the rain beat gently on the path."Well, nice to meet you.Don't hesitate to call.Thanks again for the donation." She glanced at David.His gaze dropped to the leaflet."Bye," Sophie whispered, and turned up her collar.Liz had all but closed the door when David blurted, "Are they intelligent? Squirrels, I mean?"Sophie paused on the step."Hmm," she said, with204a gentle nod."They're very resourceful, good at overcoming obstacles and such.""You don't think we're wasting our time -- trying to catch it?"Sophie tilted her head.A dolphin-shaped earring scraped the collar of her coat."No," she said in a voice that was little more than a murmur."You're doing it because you care about him, aren't you?"There was silence then.Lucy bit her lip."Call if you need me," Sophie said again, and this time, with a click of her umbrella, she was gone."I like her," said Lucy as Liz closed the door."Yes," said Liz."She's very unassuming.Lovely smile, too.Didn't you think so, David?""She's got interesting eyebrows," he said."He likes her," sniffed Lucy."Can I look at the leaflet?"Liz guided her back to the stairs."No.Let David study it first.Now that he's met someone from the Wildlife Hospital, I'm sure he'll want to ask for advice205on all sorts of things.Now come on, madam, back to bed.You're supposed to be resting, remember?"Lucy pouted and stomped up the stairs.As David turned to go, Liz tapped him on the shoulder."Make up with him, David.""Who?""Your dragon, that's who.If you want his spark to stay lit, you have to love him -- remember?"David pulled a face and dragged off to his room.He went straight to the bookcase and crouched beside Gadzooks."All right, I'm sorry.I love you, really." He brred on the dragon's snout and polished it."There.You don't get that every day.Come on, vacation's over." And he reached out and picked Gadzooks up off the shelf and returned him safely to the windowsill.To look out over the garden once more.206Do Not Distrub'The following day, the rain had slowed to a tolerable drizzle and David did get away to college -- not that he really got much done.He played foosball with a couple of friends, collected an essay from the departmental office, and attended a lecture on global cooling in something called the Pleistocene Age.It could have been snowballing in the Plasticine Age.His mind wasn't much on geography at all.It was lost in Snigger and the Nutbeast.In total contrast to the previous day, his mind had been buzzing with ideas all morning.So much so that by midafternoon he skipped the Camera Club meeting and practically sprinted home from college.Throwing his coat on a hook, he dived into his207room, started his computer, and quickly reopened the Snigger file.Chapter Eight, he typed.Conker found.Yes, this was it.He could feel the creative excitement building, sense the ideas flowing again.He could feel -- dunk, the weight of a tabby cat landing in his lap."Not now, Bonners." With an effortless swing he lobbed the cat, underarm, onto the bed."No interruptions," David warned him, just as he heard Liz shout."Lucy, can you come into the kitchen, please?"Lucy? Up and about again? She really MUST be avoided.Grabbing an orange felt-tipped pen, he scribbled out a message on a large scrap of paper and taped it surreptitiously to the outside of his door.Shortly afterward, Lucy clomped downstairs.Her footsteps halted outside his room."Mom," David heard her say, "what does ' do not distrub ' mean?"More footsteps announced Liz's presence in the hall."It looks to me like a note written in haste by a person who would not appreciate another person bursting into his room right now -- even if she knocked extremely politely."208"But the rain stopped.That means the person can go squirrel hunting.""No," said Liz, her voice growing fainter as she moved toward the kitchen."It means that one particular person is going to help her mother hang out some laundry.""Oh, but my dragon pox is really bad now.""Lucy, don't lie.Get the clothespins."Lucy's voice trailed off with a glum-sounding, "Ohh."David clenched his fists in triumph and swung his chair around to face the computer.Within minutes he had typed his opening paragraph:At last, the rain had stopped hammering on the watering can.Snigger woke with a start and crept toward the light.He poked his whiskers out of the hole.The world dripped with the scent of warm, moist air.Sparrows twittered.Trees rustled in the breeze [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]