The Warrior Sheep Down Under Read Free Page A

skittering across the messy floor. They charged back toward the little roped-off area under the life rafts, all of them slipping and sliding on their greasy hooves.
    Alice burst into her cabin, surveyed the mess for a moment, then strode out on to the deck, colliding with Deidre, who’d responded to her call. Deidre peered in, shocked.
    â€œIt wasn’t me, Miss Barton. Honestly it wasn’t.”
    Alice pushed her aside and began to follow the trail of lotions and potions. “Then we shall find out who it was , shan’t we…”
    Back in their little pen at the stern, the warriors huddled close together.
    â€œI only wanted to try some perfume,” whimpered Jaycey.
    â€œQuite nice stuff this,” mumbled Oxo through a mouthful of face cream. “Dunno what it is but it’s all right…”
    Links was looking at a trembling Wills. “What you tinking now, man?” he whispered. “You’s ’bout to explode.”
    â€œDidn’t you hear?” breathed Wills. “Maiden Tower…She was mixing up lotions and potions and she knows about a Maiden Tower…”
    â€œMm…” said Oxo, licking off the last of his face cream. “Lotions and potions, eh? Must remember that—”
    â€œListen,” hissed Wills excitedly. “When I was in the farmhouse, Tod had a book about knights. Knights were sort of warriors. Like us? Only in the olden days.”
    Sal started listening. She was interested in the olden days. Even human olden days.
    â€œAnd these knights,” said Wills, “went about doing good deeds. Like rescuing maidens in distress.”
    â€œWhat, even tacky ones?” asked Jaycey.
    â€œYes! And here’s the strange thing. Sometimes they had help from a lady. I think Tod called her a fairy godmother. Anyway, this lady always had lots of special lotions and potions she mixed together to make things happen to other people.”
    â€œOhmygrass…” Jaycey’s eyes stretched wide. “You think the Alice woman is a fairy whatdidyoucallit, then?”
    Wills shrugged. “Yes—maybe.”
    â€œOhmygrass…” repeated Jaycey. “You don’t…you don’t think she’ll be angry and make something happen to me , do you, Wills? She won’t make me ugly ?”
    â€œNo, Jaycey,” said Wills. “That’s the whole point. If we’re right about her, she’ll be on our side!”
    But as he spoke, a shadow fell across the sheep. Alice Barton was looming above them.
    She stared silently down, but then turned abruptly and strode away. Ed the skipper had heard the earlier commotion and was coming down the steps from the bridge. Alice barred his way.
    â€œWhat…” she demanded, when they were face to face, “are those filthy creatures doing on my boat?” She didn’t give him a chance to answer. “In fact, I don’t care what they’re doing,” she added through gritted teeth. “Get rid of them at once. Throw them overboard!”

3
The Fairy Godtingy
    Skipper Ed could feel his jaw jutting.
    â€œIf you don’t want them,” he demanded, “why did you bring them?”
    Alice was astonished. “ Bring them?” She looked at her unfortunate assistant. “Is this another of your mistakes, Deidre, poppet?”
    â€œNo, Miss Barton—”
    â€œWhat are they going on about?” murmured Oxo to Wills.
    â€œI can’t hear properly. They’re too far away. But, um, I think she wants to throw us in the sea,” replied Wills awkwardly.
    â€œOhmygrassohmygrass!” squeaked Jaycey. “Can I swim?”
    â€œMan,” said Links to Wills, “I thought you said the Alice Barton dude was on our side?”
    â€œNow, Links, dear,” said Sal. “Wills is only a lamb, remember, and lambs do make mistakes. It’s part of growing up.”
    â€œAnd now his growin’ up’s