FANTASTIC PLANET v2.0 Read Online Free PDF Page B

Traag, little one. Why is it you talk like one?'
    'I've
already been told that. It's because I spent my childhood with Traags, and
because I learnt a little.'
    'Yeah
right... Don't laugh, you lot, let him make himself clear. So you were coming
over to warn us of... of what?'
    'The Traags
are about to deomise. They're going to kill all the park's Oms, or capture them, I'm not sure... It's written on the sign at the
park entrance.'
    A big Om
with red hair interrupted him:
    'Don't
listen to him, Old Lady, it's a trick from Brave's group to make us leave the
bush!'
    'Shut up,
Redhead', said the old lady. 'You, little one, how do you know what's on the
sign?'
    'I read it.
I learnt to read with the Traags, which is very useful.'
    The old lady
scratched her head with both hands and then, bored with looking for lice, waved
to the black Om who'd knocked Terr out.
    'Scratch me,
son.'
    The black Om curry-combed vigorously her head with his nails.
    'That's
enough', said the old lady. 'And now...'
    She drew her
son over and whispered something in his ear. The black Om went away beneath an
archway of branches.
    'Now that
you're informed', hazarded Terr, 'I wouldn't mind going back to Brave. I...'
    'Shut up!'
said the old lady.
    And as he
was insisting, the redhead Om slapped him sending him tumbling into the hay.
    Infuriated,
Terr got up slowly with a threatening stare. All of a sudden, without any
warning, he jumped on his opponent and head-butted him in the stomach, causing
him to double up in pain. The others joined in. Blows rained on him and cut
short his victory, and as he lost consciousness he could feel his hand
clutching a throat, his teeth biting an arm.
    ***
    When he
opened his eyes, he found himself bound hand and foot with metal wire . Facing him, the old Om lady was doubled up with
laughter.
    'True
enough! Ha, true enough, you messed up three of my people, little one! Hey you
guys, ha ha, the little one caused you problems, isn't that so? He's young
still, but once he's grown in a few days time, he'll be quite a lad!'
    Her voice
sounded hoarse, and her throat whistled as she coughed painfully. She seemed to
lose her breath but she gained control again, panting and wiping her eyes.
    'Yeah', she
said several times, 'yeah, yeah.'
    Then, turning to her son:
    'You, give
me this.'
    The black Om
gave her a large colourful piece of paper. She unfolded it before Terr and
winked.
    'Here's a
label', she said. 'If you can read, tell me if what was in the tin was good to
eat.'
    Terr kept
quiet, as he was still not over his trashing. The old lady laughed some more.
    Look at
him', she said, 'just look at him! He's sulking, what a temper!'
    And then
suddenly, more serious:
    'Listen,
little one, I like you. I like guys like you, hard and all. You're young but
promising, for sure! So here, I'd rather believe you, regarding the ...
deomising.
    But I want
to be sure, you understand, sure you're not telling lies. If you give me the
right answer about this label, I'll let you go... Understood? So tell me if
it's good to eat and what the label says. Prove to me you can read.'
    'It's not
edible', Terr called out bluntly, 'it's Irsaan paste to colour Traags' clothes! Green paste!'
    The old lady
looked merrily around her.
    'Good', she
said. 'Untie him!'
    The Oms
grudgingly obeyed and Terr was freed.
    'Don't go
right away', said the old lady as the teenager was rubbing his wrists.
    She came up
to him and spoke into his nose:
    'I'm letting
you go, young one, but if I realise I was wrong, beware. I'll always find you!
On the other hand, if you're not having us on you can always come to ask me
something if you need it.'
    'I spoke the
truth,' declared Terr.
    'Good, little one, good. Now go... Not this way,
stupid! Redhead, guide him.'
    Terr
followed the red haired Om in a maze of covered alleyways where some daylight
filtered through and which suddenly opened into the meadow. They split up
without a word.
    Back at the
fork, he took up his look-out duty