Read Online The Warrior Sheep Go West by Christopher Russell - Free Book Online Page A

my ear,” said Sal, lurching even farther. “It’s buzzing again.”
    â€œOhmygrass…” Jaycey gasped as she stared.
    Sal’s ear was sticking straight out from her head and pulling Sal with it. She stumbled and fell, her neck outstretched.
    â€œSal, Sal, get up!” cried Jaycey. “The vulture birds will think you’re dead and rip you to bits and then you will be dead and you’re not dead so getupgetupgetup!”
    The buzzing was louder now. Wills suddenly realized what it could mean. He remembered the flood.
    â€œDig,” he cried. “Dig!”
    â€œWhat for?” asked Oxo.
    â€œJust dig,” Wills urged. “Here, by Sal’s head.”
    He started to scrape at the hard dirt. They all joined in, and slowly the dust-dry ground beneath their hooves became heavier and stonier. Oxo drove his head into the hollow they’d created and his nose came out wet.
    â€œWater!” he coughed. “There’s water down here!”
    They dug deeper, faster, and tiny puddles of moisture began to join together, forming a bigger puddle. Sal’s ear finally stopped quivering.
    The sheep leaned over the puddle in turns and lapped a little of the cool, clean water.
    â€œThe humans now,” said Wills.
    Phoenix had seen and was trying to speak.
    â€œCam…Cam…” he rasped. “They’ve found water…”
    Still on his knees, he tried to drag his brother across the dirt. The warriors came to meet him and, by gently butting and nudging, did their best to help.
    Phoenix scooped up water from the hole and splashed it on Cameron’s face. Then, heaving him into a sitting position, he trickled water between his brother’s lips before leaning over and sucking in a mouthful himself. Then the warriors took it in turns again and this time, as water bubbled up from somewhere way below the surface, they drank their fill. When they’d finally had enough, they stood in a circle around Sal, their faces dripping. Her ear and the stud in it were still and quiet.
    â€œRespect, man,” said Links, tapping a hoof against Sal’s shoulder. “How did you know it was there?”
    Sal looked modestly at the ground. “I suppose it’s because I’m in touch with my inner sheepliness,” she said. “Being able to sense the presence of water must have been so useful to our ancestors.”
    â€œNot in Eppingham,” objected Jaycey with a frown.
    â€œCool though,” said Oxo. “Couldn’t sense the presence of a few fat cauliflowers as well, could you?”
    Sal merely beamed at the warriors. “We all have powers long since forgotten,” she declared.
    Wills wondered if it had more to do with silver studs applied with staple guns, but he said nothing. And if he was right, then there was another question: why had the Staple Gun Woman tagged Sal to find water? And what was Oxo’s gold stud for?
    Wills glanced across at the boys. They had water now, but Cameron was shivering despite the heat. He looked really ill and Phoenix didn’t look much better. Clearly, they could’t walk and they were too big for the sheep to carry. But the warriors couldn’t just leave them. The vultures had drifted away but they would be back.
    Wills scanned the empty landscape, hoping to see the dust of a vehicle. Nothing. Then, above the rim of the far-off mountains, he saw a speck in the sky.
    Phoenix had seen it too.
    â€œHelicopter…” he croaked. “Cam…there’s a helicopter!”
    The chop and whine of the rotors gradually became audible in the still desert air, although the machine was a long way off. Was it searching or just passing?
    â€œGuys, we’ve got to attract its attention!” cried Wills.
    He began running backward and forward.
    â€œOh dear,” sighed Sal. “It’s really too hot for this.”
    But she and the others joined Wills, running up and down