Blacky Blasts Back Read Free Page B

Tasmania by the end of next week,’ said Blacky. ‘When you’re there, I will give you more information.’
    More information?
    I laughed.
    â€˜You just don’t get it, do you, Blacky?’ I said. ‘You really have no idea how the world of humans works. Well, here is something you do need to know. I am twelve years old, tosh . I can’t throw a few clothes into a bag, book a flight on the internet using my credit card, order a taxi and take off to Tassie at the drop of a hat. I am forced to eat all the green beans on my plate, wear matching socks and wash behind my ears. Now, I have no idea why the dark side of my ears should get particularly dirty. Maybe that’s on a need-to-know basis. But I do it because I have to do what I’m told. I can’t go to Tasmania, Blacky. I’ve got to go to school and wash the dishes on Tuesdays and Fridays. This is my world. I can’t change it.’
    There was silence for about thirty seconds.
    â€˜I understand one thing, tosh,’ said Blacky. ‘I understand your school is organising a trip to Tasmania. I even know your dropkick mate Dylan is going.’
    I was tempted to ask him how he knew, but I was worried he’d tell me I didn’t need to know. Anyway, he carried on talking.
    â€˜This is the most important mission I have ever set you, mush. The other two are trivial in comparison. This one will alter history. So I suggest you find a way of getting on that trip. If you are serious about helping the world, you’ll be on that boat.’
    I was shaken. True, Blacky wasn’t above pulling the wool over my eyes. If he thought it would help him he’d shear the sheep and knit the wool himself. The last mission I completed was proof of that. But, somehow, I knew he was telling the truth. This mission was going to be the most important thing I’d done so far. I felt it in my bones.
    Of course, knowing this didn’t mean I was any closer to getting on the trip. The greatest drawback of having a dirty-white dog as your main informant is the difficulty of getting anyone to take you seriously. ‘I need to go to Tassie, Miss Dowling. A small, farting dog told me I was going to change history.’ Plus, I was aware the trip was only for the special boys unit. But, then again, I was resourceful. It wasn’t impossible, particularly if the stakes were as high as Blacky reckoned.
    I turned to tell him all this, but the pillow was empty. I could see my window, open about thirty centimetres.
    â€˜Blacky?’
    Nothing.
    I went to the window and raised the sash. The air outside was chilly. The stars were sharp in the sky.
    â€˜I’ll try, Blacky,’ I yelled in my head. ‘I can’t do any more than try.’
    There was no reply. I watched clouds drift like smoke against the bone-white moon.
    â€˜I’ll try, Blacky,’ I whispered to the night.

At least I don’t have to go any further back in time, which is cool. I was starting to confuse myself.
    It was Tuesday morning and I felt depressed. Not even a good kicking from Rose could stir me up. The trip was the day after tomorrow! I sat at the breakfast table, my head down. Concentrating. There was no way now I’d be joining Dyl as part of the official school expedition, so I needed to come up with alternative strategies.
    When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
    Perhaps I’d have to arrive at school on Thursday and stow away on the school bus going to the ferry. Maybe I could pack myself into Dylan’s suitcase. Or I could hitch a ride to Tassie. Pretend to be a dwarf and join a travelling circus. Make my own hot-air balloon. Tie a whole bunch of material together and get Blacky to fart into it.
    Hopeless.
    When the going gets tough, Marcus loses it.
    I dragged myself to school. Depressed. Tonia Niven was waiting at the school gates, mouth full of metal, face splattered with freckles and red pigtails sticking out of her