Operatic Duck / Duck on Tour Read Online Free PDF Page A

audience.
    Pig was impressed; he’d only got one Bravo from the audience.
    There wasn’t a scone or a teaspoon of jam left after interval.
    â€˜We love it here in OuterTarn,
    the weather’s wet, the puddles brown,
    You people are great
    So much food on the plate
    Yo! Yo!
    Wish we could stay
    Would love another day’

    By now every foot was tapping and rapping so loudly that no one ever heard the last lines.
    Parrot’s gymnastics from the roof of the wool shed were a highlight of the show. His multi-coloured ribbons swirled and twirled.
    Duck was glad he’d practised when he and Parrot did a triple somersault mid-air, exchanging ribbons as they passed each other.
    The crowd went wild.
    â€˜What fantastic fliers,’ said the farmer and the Rappers called everybody to the dance floor.
    â€˜Grab your partner by the hand,
    Leap on the floor and make a stand,
    The Barn Dance is the way to go,
    In a circle, quick and slow.
    Say Yo! Yo!
    Horse and Cow led the Barn Dance and nobody lost any toes as they weaved through the dancers.
    Exhausted but happy, the artists fell into their own beds on the Rainbow Train.
    Sam, the train driver who’d had his sleep while the cast were performing, slowly pulled out of the station.
    â€˜Hope you get through safely to the next town, ‘ called the Farmer as he locked the station and turned off the lights. ‘A lot of rain has been falling.’
    Sam looked ahead at the glistening rail tracks. He’s been stranded by flood waters once before, and hoped it wasn’t going to happen this time.

Chapter 4
    Flood

    ScreeeAAAAaaaCH. Sam put on the brakes.
    Ahead was water and more water as far as he could see. The bridge was completely covered with flood waters. There was no way the train could move ahead.
    Crunch. Crunch. Squeak. Groan.
    Sam put the engine in reverse, to head back to OuterTarn.
    That’s when it happened!
    Flood waters washed over the line behind.
    â€˜We’re stuck,’ Sam muttered.
    Then something worse happened.
    Sizzle. Sizzle Fry.
    The lights flickered and went out.
    Sam hit the emergency light switch.
    Crickle Crickle Pop. There was a flash, followed by a burning smell.
    â€˜AAAhhhhh.’ A loud scream came from the rock band’s carriage.
    When Sam reached the carriage, in the torch light, he found the lead singer on the floor with a teatowel wrapped around his head. The girlfriend was crying.
    â€˜He electrocuted himself,’ said the drummer. ‘His hairdryer fell into his cup of tea.’

    Flip. Flop. Paddle. Paddle Thump. Thump. Whoosh.
    The farm animals crowded into the carriage, quickly followed by Albert and Cate.
    â€˜Lots like a bad burn,’ said Albert who had passed his St John’s First Aid course. ‘I can help but he needs to see a doctor. He’s in shock. And second degree burns.’
    â€˜Where’s the nearest hospital?’ Cate wrapped a blanket around the singer to keep him warm.
    â€˜We’ll have to phone the Flying Doctor Service,’ said Albert.
    â€˜Can’t,’ said Sam. ‘The train’s lost power. The wires are fried. No mobile phone coverage. The floods have wiped out all the connections. I can’t even get the boss back at the city station.’
    â€˜We have to get a message through to OuterTarn. They can contact the flying doctor,’ said Cate.
    â€˜Are you planning on swimming?’ said Sam. ‘It’s the only way to get there. The floods have closed behind us too.’
    â€˜I could fly there,’ offered Duck to Cate.
    â€˜On your own?’
    â€˜I’ll fly with him,’ said Parrot. ‘I’ll hold the torch.’
    â€˜How will you know which way to go?’
    â€˜We’ll follow the metal railway lines,’ said Duck. ‘They will shine in our torch light.’
    â€˜Even under flood water,’ added Parrot who thought he knew everything.
    When Cate had explained, everyone