Beeware Read online

  Thanks a lot.

  I don’t have time to think anything more, because Killer runs at us. His bark is so loud it’s like he’s ready to explode.

  RAH, RAH, RAH, RAH, RAH, RAH, RAH, RAH … BOOM!

  That’s what I’d wish for, if I had my own genie. Unfortunately, I don’t have my own genie, just an annoying little sister.

  ‘Do something!’ Katy screams.

  I go to grab the rocks but reach into the wrong pocket and pull out a handful of Twisties. I throw them at the dog anyway as I can’t think of a better idea. They miss.

  Killer comes closer, snarling and baring big teeth, and I get ready to be eaten. Katy hides behind me and grips my leg, so I can’t run away, even if I wanted to.

  Suddenly, Killer stops. He puts his nose next to the Twisties and sniffs. Then he puts his mouth on them and starts eating. He seems to really like the Twisties. When he finishes, he growls.

  I pull out some more Twisties and throw them on the ground. Killer starts eating again. Katy and I try to sneak past but he steps in front of us.

  ‘Do something!’ Katy says.

  Killer looks up at me – the sides of his mouth yellow – hoping for more Twisties. But I’m all out. I’m staring fear right in the eye, and I know what I have to do. I reach down gingerly towards Killer’s head.

  I touch his fur and it’s softer than I expect. I’m ready to pull my hand away quickly, in case he tries to bite, but he doesn’t. In fact, his tail wags.

  ‘I think he likes you,’ says Katy.

  Chapter 7

  When we make it home, alive, Katy runs to tell Tommy about our adventure. He can hardly believe it.

  ‘Where’d you get the Twisties from?’ he asks.

  ‘George Winterbottom gave ’em to me.’

  Tommy shakes his head. ‘Winterbottom? But he hates you!’

  ‘Not any more. Now he hates his dad.’

  Tommy shakes his head again. ‘It took some quick thinking, what you did.’

  I don’t tell him I didn’t think that quickly. In fact, I didn’t think much at all.

  ‘And to reach out and touch Killer,’ he continues. ‘That took a lot of guts.’

  ‘I thought Danny’s hand would be bit right off,’ Katy says. ‘Hey, can people still juggle with one hand?’

  ‘Not professionally,’ I say.

  Katy giggles.

  Tommy cuffs me on the shoulder. ‘I knew you could do it, though.’

  ‘Do what?’ I say.

  ‘Face Killer.’

  Pride fills my stomach. It tastes better than anything.

  First published 2007 by University of Queensland Press

  PO Box 6042, St Lucia, Queensland 4067 Australia

  www.uqp.com.au

  © Pat Flynn

  © Illustrations Gus Gordon

  This book is copyright. Except for private study, research, criticism or reviews, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any foram or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

  Typeset by Peripheral Vision

  Sponsored by the Queensland Office of Arts and Cultural Development

  Cataloguing in Publication Data

  National Library of Australia

  Flynn, Pat

  Beeware: Adventures of Danny Book 1

  For primary school aged children

  A823.4

  ISBN 978 0 7022 3622 8 (pbk)

  ISBN 978 0 7022 4016 4 (pdf)

  ISBN 978 0 7022 4019 5 (epub)

  ISBN 978 0 7022 4017 1 (kindle)