The Warrior Sheep Down Under by Christopher Russell

shouted did she realize that the raft was manned by sheep.
    â€œHoly-moly…Is that them again…?”
    Deidre wasn’t looking at the raft. She grabbed Shelly’s arm. “Miss Barton made it! Sort of…”
    She started snapping away with her camera as the kayak, with Alice still on-board, bounced and slithered out through the foam and ended floating upside down toward the bank. Alice thrashed about and righted herself, gasping and coughing.
    â€œSmile, Miss Barton,” called Deidre.
    But Alice didn’t smile. “Those…” she gargled through a throat full of river water. “Those sheep! ”
    â€¢ • •
    By now the raft was speeding up again, as the river raced onward. Wills did a quick head count. Nobody had been lost overboard.
    Links was the first to speak. “Man, we is awesome,” he gasped, shaking his curls out of his eyes. “We flied like woolly birds.”
    â€œEr, yes,” said Wills, who was now peering back the way they had come. “But we flew a bit too fast…”
    They all looked. Their fairy godtingy was in the water far behind them. And there was nothing the warriors could do to get back to her.

15
Mr. Creeply Arrives
    Shelly waded into the river, caught hold of Alice’s kayak, and hauled her onto the bank before the current could sweep her away again. Deidre rushed forward with a dry towel as Alice climbed out.
    â€œOh, well done, Miss Barton!”
    Alice pushed the towel aside. “Don’t well done me…” She was gasping but furious. “What’s your game, Deidre?”
    â€œGame, Miss Barton…?” Deidre’s eyes widened.
    Alice dropped her crash helmet. “Sheep do not stow away on boats,” she panted, moving closer so that her nose was almost touching Deidre’s. “Sheep do not bungee jump. Sheep do not raft. They’re your doing. You have brought them here. You’re trying to sabotage my claim to Barton’s Billabong!”
    â€œWhy on earth would I do that?” Deidre stepped back away from the angry, wet face of her employer. “I’m just…a secretary.”
    Alice stood for a moment glaring at Deidre and breathing deeply to calm herself. Then she stalked off to get changed, kicking the crash helmet as she passed. It rolled down the slope and plopped into the river.
    â€œThat’ll cost her a few dollars extra,” said Shelly, watching it float away. She patted Deidre’s shoulder. “She’s all keyed up with the kayaking. She’ll soon get over it.”
    They sat and waited in the truck. After a short silence, Shelly asked, “Looked at the photo yet, Miss Secretary?”
    There was something of a challenge about the way she said “Miss Secretary,” but Deidre pretended not to notice. She shook her head and handed over the camera. Shelly looked at the screen. Her face twitched, then creased, then she burst out laughing.
    â€œRemember I said this couldn’t possibly be worse than the bungee shot?” She held out the screen for Deidre to see. “I was wrong.”
    â€¢ • •
    At Barton’s Billabong, Ida and Tod were getting in a bit of cricket practice.
    â€œWell bowled, Gran,” called Tod, as one of her spinners knocked his stumps flying.
    â€œShe always was handy with a ball,” called Frank. He was cleaning out one of the bird cages. The sanctuary looked after orphaned parrots as well as joeys. “Pity she’s no good with a bat.”
    â€œI could whack you for six any day,” said Ida. She flopped down in the shade. “Phew, it’s getting hot already.”
    â€œIt’ll be a bit cooler in Brisbane,” said Frank.
    â€œFor the test match? I hope so.” Ida was fanning her face vigorously with her hanky. “But I’m going to enjoy it whatever.”
    â€œGlass of water, Gran?” asked Tod, and he trotted off toward Frank’s