Chook Chook Read Online Free PDF Page B

box and I clamped the lid shut, checking to make sure it held. When I looked up, the old woman was smiling broadly so I could see the gums in her mouth.
    I got to my feet, feeling a bit embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry, Paw Paw,’ I whispered. I hadn’t meant to cause so much trouble.
    But the old woman let out a laugh. ‘Nonsense! That was some real entertainment. I’ve never seen such a thing in all my life. Imagine, chooks catching a thief!’ I glanced up and saw that her eyes were shining.
    â€˜Now let’s get you on the train. But where has your brother gone?’ She looked around the station.
    I was wondering about Cap too.
    â€˜Here I am,’ came a loud voice and we both turned. There was Cap, by the ticket booth, his hands behind his back, grinning sheepishly. I glared at him. I was still mad he had run off like that.
    â€˜Oh, there you are!’ the old woman exclaimed. ‘We were wondering where you had gone off to. I was almost going to tell the guards we had a lost child.’
    I saw Cap wince when she said the word ‘guards’ but it was only for a moment.
    â€˜I was going to get the train tickets but I didn’t have any money,’ he explained, not even bothering to say he was sorry. I glowered at him but he just shrugged.
    The old woman helped us buy our train tickets. After all his boasting about being tall enough to ride the trains as an adult, I was pleased when she got Cap a child’s fare. We helped her through the gates to the platform, where we waited for the train. Cap was chatting away about all sorts of animals he had seen solve crimes. I thought that he was showing off, but the old woman listened and nodded.
    The train arrived and we got onboard. It was nothing like the trains I’d seen before. It was white and sleek, with hard plastic chairs and straps dangling from the ceiling for people to hold on to. It moved incredibly fast and we stayed underground the entire trip.
    I sat still, clutching my chook box in my lap and counting the stops in my head. We were getting close. I was excited that I was going to see Guo. I could imagine his face when he saw us, how surprised and happy he’d be that we had come to visit. I would run into his arms with my chickens and he would wrap us all up in a big warm hug. I couldn’t wait.
    â€˜We’re here,’ said the old woman and I bounded out of my seat, eager to get off the train. The shiny silver doors slid open and I leapt onto the platform.
    And came face to face with Guo’s worried frown.

Chapter Six

    â€˜Guo!’ I shouted and went to hug him but stopped. My brother held his arms tightly crossed against his chest, his brow knitted and his mouth turned downwards. He looked furious.
    Uh oh.
    Cap and the old woman had stepped off the train and were looking at us, astonished. The old woman hobbled over to Guo. ‘You must be this young girl’s brother. She’s told us so much about you.’
    â€˜Unfortunately, I am,’ Guo mumbled. I shrank back. Guo had never said anything like that before.
    He held out his hand to the old woman. ‘Ma’am, I am so sorry my sister has caused you so much trouble.’
    â€˜It’s quite alright. I can’t remember the last time I had such an exciting adventure.’ Her eyes twinkled and she gave me a wink.
    Guo didn’t care. ‘Mei, I can’t believe you. Ma is so, so angry with you, and I am too. When she found out you were gone, Jin went to the village train station. The ticket man said he remembered a young girl trying to buy a ticket to Guangzhou. Ma rang me at the university and Jin called the Guangzhou train station. The guards said there was an incident with some chickens and a thief?’
    I nodded eagerly. ‘That’s right. Little and Lo, they stopped a woman who was stealing—’
    â€˜I don’t want to hear it, Mei.’ Guo finally noticed Cap, who had been standing