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

trailing slime behind him. There was a big round of applause as he disappeared.
    ‘Dinner’s in an hour!’ Cookie yelled out. ‘Remember, Neptune likes to turn off the hot water!’
    There was a collective groan and everyone who’d been slimed made a rush for the door. The rest started to clean up with mops and buckets. Ranga knelt beside Stay with a wet cloth and a bucket of fresh water and wiped her clean again.
    ‘I’ll put her in the Window of Sin,’ Cookie said. He bent down to pick her up. ‘Phew, girl, you’re heavy now,’ he said, hoisting her in the air. ‘What did Chills say her name was?’
    ‘Stay,’ Ranga said.
    ‘Righteo, Stay,’ Cookie said. ‘I know just the spot for you.’ He carried her over to the window that opened between the Mess and the Galley, where Stay had seen all the desserts being laid out earlier. One of the kitchen boys moved the bowls and trays around to make some space. Cookie placed Stay right in the middle of the desserts, between the bread-and-butter pudding and the blueberry tart.
    ‘A coin for each dessert!’ He laughed.
    Everyone came back for dinner not long after. They had fresh clothes and wet hair and some of them still smelt faintly of Neptune’s slime. A few were grumbling about the cold showers, but most were smiling and some gave Stay more coins before they helped themselvesto dessert. As the coins clinked down and joined the growing pile inside her, Stay felt very pleased.
    Until she looked up to see the Boss standing in front of her. He took a few scoops of blueberry tart and looked down at Stay, his forehead wrinkled. ‘It’s all very well to raise the money,’ he said. ‘But how’s it going to get back to the Royal Guide Dogs?’
    Stay felt a pang. It was true: she had no idea how to get the money back to Hobart and, until it was there, she wasn’t really doing her job.
    The Boss gave her a pat on the head. ‘Perhaps you’d better come and stay with me for safekeeping. Cookie! Bring the dog up to the Bridge after dinner. That’s an order.’
    ‘Sure thing, Boss,’ Cookie called out from the kitchen.
    Stay didn’t like the sound of that at all.

Chapter 9
    Cookie and Nemo staggered up the five flights of steps between the Galley and the Bridge with Stay in their arms, groaning under her weight and stopping to rest several times.
    ‘Where do you want her?’ Cookie asked when they reached the Bridge.
    ‘Right there,’ the Boss said, gesturing at the instrument panel. There was an empty space next to the radar screen.
    Cookie hoisted Stay into position. ‘Must be a fortune in there,’ he said, rubbing his shoulder muscles.
    ‘Best she stays where I can keep an eye on her, in that case,’ the Boss said. ‘That money needs to be kept safe.’
    Cookie shrugged. ‘No one steals in Antarctica. There’s nothing to spend money on anyway.’
    ‘Can’t be too careful,’ the Boss said.
    ‘Good night then,’ Cookie said. ‘I’ve got an early start.’
    As Cookie and Nemo headed off, Stay looked out ahead of the ship. Snowflakes fluttered down and landed on the foredecks, covering the cargo containers. They must have come a long way while she’d been hidden in the storeroom — far from the spring days in Hobart.
    The Aurora Australis steamed steadily ahead and, as it grew later, the last of the visitors to the Bridge gradually drifted away.
    Stay saw the Boss look around the Bridge. The first mate was right over the other side, looking at some charts. ‘Happy there?’ the Boss asked her softly. ‘You’ve got the best spot on the ship, girl. You can see everything. We’ll be cracking through the sea ice tomorrow. You’d like to see that, wouldn’t you?’
    Yes, thought Stay.
    ‘We mustn’t let those expeditioners keep you in Antarctica,’ he said. ‘Believe me, you’ll never get home again. I know what they’re like. Stick with me up here, and I’ll make sure you and your money get back to the Royal Guide Dogs.’ He patted her