Stay:The Last Dog in Antarctica Read Online Free PDF Page A

the bucketful of ingredients and glanced over at Stay. ‘But not disgusting enough, according to Cookie. Let’s see, what else can I mix in?’
    She rummaged through the shelves. ‘Vegemite … always good. Peanut butter … adds texture. Soy sauce?’
    She straightened up. ‘Ah, I forgot the main ingredient!’ She went back to the fridge. ‘Week-old fish guts … check!’
    The last ingredient smelt a bit strong even for Stay’s liking, but in it went with everything else. Ranga stirred and then lifted the spoon, holding her nose with her fingers. The mixture was thick and sloppy and light brown in colour. Something told Stay that humans wouldn’t find it so attractive.
    As Ranga carried Stay and the bucket back into the kitchen, Stay could hear a strange distant roar that sounded like voices.
    ‘Phew!’ Cookie waved his hand in front of his face when Ranga put the bucket down. ‘Smells like a good mix this time. The hordes are gathering in the Mess and Neptune’s getting ready. Anyone in the kitchen crossing sixty degrees for the first time?’
    Everyone put their heads down and chopped or stirred or scooped harder.
    ‘Nemo, you’re a newbie, aren’t you?’ Cookie said. ‘Get out there. And take the dog too.’
    The boy who’d been stirring the soup trudged over to Cookie. ‘They never mentioned this in the apprenticeship agreement,’ he said, picking up Stay.
    ‘There’s a lot that never gets mentioned about Antarctica,’ Cookie said.
    A sudden cheer rose from outside. ‘Greetings, King Neptune!’ Stay heard someone call.
    ‘Out you go, son,’ Cookie said to Nemo, and gave him a push. ‘Be grateful it can only happen to you once.’
    Nemo carried Stay out of the kitchen. The Mess was jammed with people. Stay had no idea there were so many on board. There must have been a hundred at least.
    A very tall creature in a long blue velvet cloak was standing with his back to Stay. His hair was pure white and on his head was a gold crown. He held a bright red trident with three sharp-looking spikes.
    ‘Come on, you slimy pollywogs,’ he called.
    There was a gasp in the room as Nemo and Stay came into sight: everyone stared.
    ‘Stay!’ She heard Chills call her name from somewhere in the crowd, but there was nothing shecould do. The big man in the cloak turned around to see what the commotion was about. His skin was dark blue to match his cloak and his white beard hung down to his belly.
    Nemo backed away and Stay would have run if she could, but Neptune waved his hand and another blue-skinned man, draped in fishnets and seashells, stepped forwards and grabbed Stay.
    ‘What have we here?’ Neptune boomed.
    His assistant held Stay out for everyone to see. ‘A dog, King Neptune.’
    ‘A dog! And has it ever been south before?’
    There was silence in the room.
    ‘No? Then the dog goes first,’ Neptune said.
    ‘Wait!’ Stay was grateful to hear Chills’s voice and see him pushing forwards through the crowd. ‘Her name is Stay. She’s with me.’
    ‘No problem,’ Neptune said with a grim smile. ‘We’ll do you both together.’
    ‘But … I’ve been south before,’ Chills said. ‘I’ve had Neptune’s blessing.’
    ‘Oh, come on, Chills!’ a voice called out. ‘Don’t be a wuss.’
    The crowd started a slow clap, and Chills shrugged and pulled off his jumper.
    ‘Kneel before Neptune!’ the assistant demanded.
    He knelt. The assistant put Stay down on the floor next to him and together they faced Neptune.
    ‘Hey — don’t let that stuff get inside her!’ Chills yelled as Neptune dipped a ladle into the bucket of slops that Ranga had prepared.
    Stay felt a trickle of cold, gooey liquid run down her shoulder and the crowd started to cheer. She saw Neptune ladle the gloop from the bucket onto Chills’s head and everyone began laughing. Neptune’s helper stepped up and rubbed the slime hard into Chills’s hair.
    ‘I now pronounce you South Polar Sea Dogs!’ Neptune boomed.