Edie Amelia and the Runcible River Fever Read Online Free Page A

he’s up to and what he’s done with that box!’
    â€˜Not to mention what’s in it,’ said Cheesy. ‘Get your torch. If you stand on the window ledge and look through that vent you can see down into the garage.’
    Edie fished her trusty yellow torch out of her detective kit and climbed onto the narrow window ledge, steadying herself by hanging on to the top of Cheesy’s head. She aimed the light down the vent and saw Hogmanay closing the garage door. With a lot of puffing, panting and sniffing he dragged what looked like the heavy box to a corner of the garage and then went to great pains to cover it with a tarpaulin.
    Cheesy began to wobble.
    â€˜Hold on, I think he’s coming up now,’ whispered Edie. ‘He’s heading for the side door. Try to stay still for a few more seconds.’
    â€˜You try standing still with a detectiveyanking on your left plait,’ Cheesy muttered. ‘What on earth can he be up to now?’ she said, craning her neck in an effort to see.
    â€˜Let’s go and find out,’ said Edie.

Flannery Will Get You Nowhere

    H ogmanay’s large auburn beard shone under one of the many ceiling lamps as he stood with arms crossed and legs apart in the centre of the Chompsters’ kitchen. He reminded Edie of a conquering Viking. Edie, Cheesy and Beltane stood staring at him from the doorway.
    â€˜Girls,’ he exclaimed.
    Edie thought his eyes looked red; it was as though they burned with energy. ‘Well, don’t just stand there with your tails between your legs. Come in.’
    â€˜What is it, Dad?’ said Cheesy.
    â€˜Well now, between you and me and that farty little dog you’ve hidden away somewhere in the house—I can still sniff him out, you know—I’ve decided it’s time to cut my losses. No more world-record ballooning nonsense. I agree with Mummy. We return to Glasgow.’
    Cheesy groaned.
    Edie caught sight of a tubular object Hogmanay was continually tossing up and down in his left hand. She could make out the words
Woodworm Repellent
on its side.
    â€˜Well? What are you goggling at? You should be packing,’ boomed Hogmanay.
    â€˜That’s wonderful!’ said Beltane, returning to her boxes with a cough. ‘Good news. To bonny Scotland, away from this dreadful Fever.’
    â€˜But, Dad,’ Cheesy stammered, ‘
I
don’t want to leave.’
    â€˜It’s not safe here, wee one. Your mummy’s right.’
    â€˜I don’t want to go!’ said Cheesy.
    â€˜Hush-a-bunny. It’s arranged. That’s all there is to it. We’ll leave . . . er . . . tomorrow.’ So saying, he did a little jig right there in the middle of the kitchen, dislodging the silver cat clock. Mister, who had scuttled into the kitchen thinking it might be teatime, caught his right eye on the sharp corner of the clock as it fell and yelped with pain, confirming his dislike for all things to do with cats.
    â€˜Och, puir wee beastie! I didnae see ye there!’ said Hogmanay, giving Mister a pat. ‘See you in an hour,’ he called over his shoulder, then walked down the hall, whistling.
    Edie grabbed Cheesy by the sleeve and pulled her out of the kitchen.
    â€˜Where’s he going now?’ Edie whispered.
    Cheesy watched as her father opened a hatch in the floor at the end of the hallwayand disappeared into it, closing it behind him.
    â€˜The basement. Again,’ Cheesy whispered. ‘Why?’
    â€˜Let’s go and start packing
your
suitcase, Charisma,’ Edie said loudly, winking conspiratorially at her friend (which is just a fancy way of saying that she had another plan of her own).
    â€˜Honestly, I could cry,’ said Cheesy as they hightailed it back to her room.
    â€˜I don’t think your dad’s telling us everything.’

    â€˜Why’s that?’ asked Cheesy.
    â€˜Why isn’t he packing boxes with your