Stolen Treasures Read Online Free PDF Page A

flashed through her mind, like Stripes escaping on to the road or falling into the sea. Antonia was beginning to work herself into a state when Emily shouted, “I’ve found her.”
    Antonia raced up the garden, reaching Emily at the same time as Cai.
    “She’s under there.”
    Emily pointed at a blue flowering shrub from which Stripes’s stumpy tail was visible.
    “Thank goodness.”
    Relief flooded through Antonia as she reached for the cub. At first Stripes didn’t want to come out and Antonia found herselfengaged in a gentle tug of war.
    “Look at her nose,” she giggled with relief, as finally she pulled the badger cub out.
    Stripes’s nose was covered in dirt. Cai laughed but Emily’s face crumpled and she burst into tears.
    “What’s wrong?” said Cai.
    “I don’t want to leave Sea Watch,” sobbed Emily, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I really like helping here.”
    “Why are you leaving? You’ve only just started.”
    “When Claudia hears about Stripes she’ll throw me out.”
    “Aunty Claudia wouldn’t do that,” said Cai, astonished.
    “She’s not like that,” added Antoniaforcefully. “She never tells anyone off for genuinely making a mistake.”
    “Are you sure?” sniffed Emily.
    “Very,” said Antonia firmly. “Anyway, it was my fault too. I should have made sure you knew how to lock the padlock. Come and help me put Stripes back and I’ll show you how it’s done.”
    “Thanks, Antonia.” Emily looked so grateful that Antonia felt guilty about not liking her. But how could she be friends with Emily when her parents owned such a horrible shop? Antonia forced herself to be extra nice as she showed Emily how to fasten the padlock and let her practise locking it. As they headed back to the Sea Watch shed Claudia came out to meet them.
    “Good news,” she said, running a hand through her wavy hair. “Jackie from the badger sanctuary just rang. They’re definitely releasing two badgers back into the wild on Sunday, so there’ll be room for Stripes.”
    Emily’s face fell.
    “Does she have to go back? She’s only just got here. Can’t we keep her until she’s ready to go back into the wild too?”
    Claudia shook her head.
    “This was only temporary. It’s better for Stripes to return to the sanctuary. Badgers are very sociable animals and need the company of other badgers.”
    Claudia reached forward and gave the padlock on the pen door a hard tug.
    “Just checking,” she said. “It’s a bit stiff—doesn’t always lock properly.”
    Emily blushed but Claudia didn’t seem to notice.
    “That’s it, then. All done for today. Thanks for your help, everyone. I’m going up to the house to make dinner. Are you staying for tea tonight, Antonia?”
    Antonia shook her head.
    “I can’t, thanks. I’ve got swimming club.”
    “It’s squad-only tonight.” Emily rounded on Antonia in surprise. “Are you on the team?”
    “Yes. I’ve just been given a place.”
    “Wow! You must be an excellent swimmer. They don’t usually take you until you’re in Year Six. I’ve transferred from my old club. Tonight’s my first time but I already knowsome of the team from doing competitions.”
    Antonia stared at Emily in disbelief. Was there no escape from her?
    “I didn’t know you swam,” she said lamely.
    “Oh yes,” Emily nodded her head vigorously. “I’ve won a few medals. Dad said I can learn to scuba dive next year. Then I can go out with him and Mum. They love the water. We all do. See you tonight, then.”
    Emily waved as she loped up the garden in her awkward gangly stride, chattering to Claudia.
    “There’s not going to be enough time to go to the harbour after all,” Cai said. “We used it up looking for Stripes.”
    Antonia sighed in frustration. “‘We’ll have to go tomorrow, straight after school.”
    “Good idea. See you then,” said Cai.
    Antonia rushed home, ate an early tea, helped Mum clear up the dishes, then went to her room to pack her