Read Online Forest Shadows by David Laing - Free Book Online Page B

was quick to say. ‘These were made by something much heavier. The impressions are too deep.’
    Reg looked thoughtful; then, as though coming to a decision, he said. ‘Anyway, it looks reasonably clear up ahead. We might as well soldier on.’ With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he said, ‘We might even find out what the mysterious web-footed creature is.’
    â€˜No way,’ Quenton objected. ‘Whatever it is might be dangerous. I say we go back. Anyway, I’m hungry.’
    â€˜Don’t be stupid, Quigley,’ Snook said, trying not to think of the webbed footprints. ‘What’s to be scared of? It’s just another way through the forest. And if you’re hungry, why don’t you suck on one of those lollies you’ve been hiding from us?’
    Looking a little guilty because he had been sneaking one of his boiled lollies from the stash in his pocket every now and then, he hurriedly changed the subject. ‘What are those things on those dead logs, all those orange and white lumps? They look poisonous.’ The logs were, in fact, fallen branches that had piled next to one another at the base of the trees and the lumps were various forms of fungi.
    Snook, trying not to laugh, shook his head. ‘C’mon, Jars, let’s go take a look up the track, but watch out for Quenton’s scary toadstools on those bits of kindling.’
    â€˜Laugh if you like. I only hope you know what you’re doing,’ Quenton mumbled as he brought up the rear. ‘There could be anything up ahead but that’s not all we need to worry about. Everything’s starting to look the same. We could easily get lost.’
    â€˜There’s no chance of that happenin’,’ Snook called over his shoulder. ‘Jars is with us and she never gets lost. Not in the bush anyway.’ He looked to Reg for confirmation. ‘That’s right, eh, Reg?’
    Reg grinned, nodding. Snook wasn’t exaggerating.
    Jars wasn’t listening. Something was out there. Ahead of them and slightly to their right. It was two blurred figures appearing to dash from behind one tree trunk to another. They were indistinct, hard to describe. She’d had the briefest of glimpses but there had been something, a flash of movement. ’Did you see that?’ she asked, pointing.
    The others stopped and followed her line of sight. ‘See what?’ Snook asked.
    â€˜Out there. There were two of them. One second they were there and then they vanished.’
    Snook looked at his cousin. ‘Two of what – wild animals?’
    â€˜No, what I saw was different. These were more upright, shadowy, sort of ghostly.’
    â€˜Wh-what?’ Quenton, who looked as though he really was feeling the strain of the walk, stammered. ‘G-ghosts? Wh-where?’ He caught up with Jars and then stood on his toes to see over her shoulder. ‘I-I can’t see anything. Y-you’re just messing with us … aren’t you?’
    â€˜No, I definitely saw something.’
    Shadow ran over to Jars’ side, whimpering. ‘You saw them too, didn’t you, boy?’ she said, ruffling his ears. ‘And like me you can’t figure out what it was.’
    â€˜C’mon. Let’s keep goin’,’ Snook urged. ‘We might find out what Jars’ ghosts really were.’
    â€˜I w-want to go back to the shack. I don’t want to find out anything.’ Quenton bent over, hands on his knees as though out of breath.
    Jars frowned when she saw the state he was in. He’d clearly had enough of the bush and its surprises for one day. She turned to Reg. ‘Maybe Quenton’s right. Maybe we should go back.’
    She didn’t tell the others about the sudden thump she’d felt in her belly or the cold shiver that had clawed its way down her spine. There was something ominous out there, some shadowy things that didn’t belong. She knew