Beak & Paw Detectives - страница 5

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO AMITA? IT'S TIME FOR BARRY THE PARROT TO FIND OUT!

“Raja, talk to the seller in that candy shop at the corner, will you? What if he's seen Donut? And I'll have a word with the acrobats.”

“What makes you think he has?”

“He doesn't have any customers in the morning and spends his time watching the street.”

Raja nodded and ran toward the exit. The chipmunk looked a little distracted because he could not get the lines from the elephant's diary out of his mind:

The elephant dances in his hat, in vain,

For amusement and jest, a harmless game.

Yet my hour nears, revenge shall unfold,

No hand-to-hand combat, a different mold.

Magic weaves like strings for marionettes,

The chief instigator reduced to ash, no regrets.

A tale of retribution, a lesson learned,

In this short verse, a twist unearned.

“I'm sure the clown has decided to get revenge on those who touched his personal belongings, and has chosen some terrible magic to do it,” Raja whispered. “What does that have to do with dolls? What did Donut mean by that?” The chipmunk jumped down from the pavement and onto the road, the questions buzzing around in his head.

“Look out!” Someone cried in a thin, frightened voice.

Raja felt his tail grabbed. He was dragged off the road. The chipmunk turned around to look at his savior.

“I’m Oliver. Is your tail all right? It was a dubious adventure pulling you out from under the wheels of that crazy truck!” said the lizard.

“Thank you, Oliver!” The chipmunk exclaimed excitedly.

Krish the peacock ran toward them at full speed. He shouted, stretching his neck furiously:

“Raja, it was him!”

“Who?” asked the astonished chipmunk.

“I could see the red wig and the clown's hat!” squealed the peacock. “You almost got hit by a CLOWN!”

“Coincidence?” Raja said. “I don't think so.”

“Peacocks are adorable creatures, but their voice is so shrill,” whispered the lizard.

“Don't tell him! Krish likes to sing and might get very offended,” warned the chipmunk.

“I'm sorry,” Oliver said and smiled sadly. “Don't mind the depressed lizard.”

The peacock asked, “What happened to you?”

“I’ve lost my tail,” Oliver said, his eyes filling with tears.

“What?” The chipmunk exclaimed.

“Don't be sad. I’ll sing to you!” offered Krish, “What could be better than a good song!”