Anaconda Adventure Read Online Free Page A

S.W.I.T.C.H. like candy, you know. Well … I did once, but that was a bad idea …”
    â€œBut I’d be ever so careful!” insisted Charlie. “I would never use it in public or …”
    â€œCharlie! You are a first-rate girl, and I would love to get you on the S.W.I.T.C.H. Project,” Petty said. “But I’m not handing over S.W.I.T.C.H. spray to you just for fun. You know how dangerous it is. Didn’t you nearly end up as a heron’s breakfast last time? No—I’m sorry, but that’s that.”
    And Petty turned on her heel and fell over.

    â€œOooh—these stupid woodland paths!” she snapped, as Charlie helped her to her feet. “What’s wrong with a nice bit of tarmac?” And, carefully stepping over the tree root that had tripped her, Petty hurried away.
    Charlie was about to call after her. She really was. Because a small white bottle with a squirty spray button on it had fallen out of Petty’s coat pocket as she tripped. Charlie really wouldn’t have kept it if Miss Butcher hadn’t, at that moment, turned around and bellowed at her from farther along the path.
    â€œCharlotte Wexford! Come here AT ONCE!”
    â€œOh, well,” muttered Charlie, slipping the bottle into her blazer pocket. “I’ll be able to mail it to her. Probably.”

    Josh and Danny hit the emergency exit button and got off the bus at the back, without getting noticed. Happily, it didn’t set off any kind of alarm. A minute later they found Petty Potts stomping up to the parking lot, muttering to herself.
    â€œIt’s OK—we’re safe,” called Josh.
    â€œYou’ll never guess what!” called Danny, as they reached Petty on the path to the parking lot. “We were rescued by—”
    â€œCharlie Wexford!” Petty said. She seemed to be turning out her pockets. “Yes, I know. I just met her on the river path. And I do believe the little lightfingers pickpocketed my S.W.I.T.C.H. spray!”
    â€œWhat—Charlie? Steal? She wouldn’t do that!” Josh said.
    â€œDon’t be so sure,” sniffed Petty. “She’s a very determined young lady, and she wanted some S.W.I.T.C.H.”
    â€œEven so,” Danny said. “Charlie’s all right!”
    â€œI didn’t say she wasn’t all right,” Petty said. “I’ve been known to steal things myself when it was desperately important. But not just for fun! Come on—we have to find her and get that sprayback. There’s been far too much upset today. Why on earth did you think it would be a good idea for us to try out a S.W.I.T.C.H. at the zoo?”
    â€œWe didn’t!” Josh said, stonily. “You did!”
    â€œI did not!” Petty turned and stomped back into the park again, and they hurried along with her.
    â€œYou did!” Danny said. “You said you wanted to see how S.W.I.T.C.H.ing near real snakes affected us.”
    â€œYes, of course I did!” Petty said. “So why did you say I didn’t?”
    â€œPetty, you could have some amazing arguments just on your own,” sighed Josh.
    They saw Charlie, at a distance, down by the river with the other St. Gwendoline’s students following the river wildlife walk. “We’ll run ahead,” Danny said. “Make sure she doesn’t get away!” He and Josh took off, leaving Petty grumbling as she marched on after them, looking out for trippy tree roots.
    â€œGet that S.W.I.T.C.H. spray back!” she called after them. “Charlie has no idea how dangerous it can be! If she uses it, there will be trouble. Desperate trouble …”

Charlie caught up with the others as they reached the river, which wiggled through the many acres of the zoological park, passing the enclosures of giraffe and rhino and ostrich. At this end, though, it had left the exotic animals behind and was rushing into the countryside.