Eagle Crow and Emu Read online

  ‘They live in trees,’ laughed Crow.

  Goanna scuttled up a tree and climbed to the top.

  ‘Be careful you don’t fall and hurt yourself!’ Crow cried.

  Goanna threw himself from the tree, flapping his wing feathers all the way down to the ground. Luckily he landed on a sleeping wombat.

  ‘You’re a lizard not a bird!’ the wombat grumbled. ‘Lizards don’t fly!’

  Crow felt sorry for Goanna when she saw him slump down in the sand. It was true, he was just a goanna. But Crow thought he might be special too, just like the baby in her egg. As she watched, tiny black feathers sprouted all around the larger wing feathers Goanna had strapped to his body.

  ‘Goanna!’ Crow cried. ‘You’re changing! Look at yourself in the water.’

  Goanna shuffled over and looked at his reflection. His mouth fell open when he saw his new feathers. ‘What am I?’ he asked in awe. ‘I’m not a goanna anymore, but I’m not a bird either. I must be a Goannabird!’

  GOANNABIRD

  The following morning Crow woke to find Goanna had grown even more feathers overnight. His wing and tail feathers looked so long and strong, she was sure he would be able to fly higher than any other bird.

  When the other animals saw what had happened, they rushed over.

  ‘There’s no doubt about it,’ Emu said as he inspected Goanna. ‘They’re proper feathers. You know, Goanna, if your dream is to fly then I believe you will.’

  ‘So do I,’ said Crow smugly. She felt very proud of her friend Goanna.

  Filled with confidence, Goanna marched to the tallest tree in the Cavern and climbed to the very top. Everyone had faith in Goanna, but just in case he got into trouble, a large group of wombats lay around the base of the tree to give him a soft landing.

  ‘You can do it, Goanna!’ called Crow.

  Goanna launched himself from the highest branch. And this time, instead of falling, he flew.

  He soared over his friends in long, graceful swoops.

  ‘Goannabird!’ Crow cried out gleefully.

  Soon all the animals were chanting, ‘Goannabird! Goannabird!’

  THE WINGLESS BIRD

  The next day another exciting thing happened. Crow felt her egg move. There was one small peck and a little black-feathered head poked out of the eggshell.

  Crow was overjoyed. ‘How much happiness can one bird have?’

  News of the baby bird’s arrival spread quickly through the Cavern.

  By the time the other birds had gathered to look at him, the baby bird was almost completely out of his egg. But when the last piece of shell fell away, they all gasped in shock. Baby Bird was missing his wing feathers.

  ‘He’s a bird who will never fly,’ said Magpie sadly.

  Goanna looked at Crow’s baby and felt very guilty. Had Baby Bird been born without wing feathers because of him? Goanna began to cry.

  ‘It wasn’t your fault,’ Crow said, but the old goanna kept on crying.

  Then a strange thing happened. The little bird stumbled over to Goanna and snuggled up to him.

  Goanna smiled. ‘I will be his wings, Crow. Your baby will fly with me.’

  From then on, Goanna flew with Baby Bird on his back. Goanna’s eyes were growing weak, so Baby Bird helped to guide him safely. Together, they were like one big, beautiful bird. At night Goanna and Baby Bird would return to Crow. She had built a much larger nest so they could all sit and talk about the adventures of the day.

  ‘If you could have one wish, Mum,’ Baby Bird said one night, ‘what would it be?’

  ‘I’d wish for Moon to stop fighting with Sun. Then we could all return to our homes,’ she replied. ‘What would you wish, Baby Bird?’ Crow asked her son. But Baby Bird did not reply, he was already fast asleep.

  MOON’S TRICK

  The next day a meeting was called.

  ‘We have a problem,’ Red Kangaroo reported. ‘The Great Cold is spreading. If it reaches the wall of coloured stones, this place will no longer be safe for us.’

  ‘The cold must be stopped!’ cried Emu.

  ‘Has Moon finally won her battle with Sun?’ asked Wombat in a worried voice.

  ‘No,’ Red Kangaroo replied. ‘But Moon has played a trick that has made things worse.’

  ‘What trick?’ asked Crow.

  ‘Moon offered to stop fighting with Sun if he let her see what his place in the heavens was like. Sun agreed, and now Moon is blocking all his warmth from the earth. We don’t know how long it will be before Sun can take his place back.’

  ‘If it’s not soon, it could be too late,’ moaned Magpie.

  Then Goanna spoke up. ‘I can shift Moon. My feathers are so long and strong I can fly to great heights.’

  Crow was fearful. ‘But Goanna,’ she cried. ‘Once Moon is not blocking him, Sun will shine so brightly you’ll be burnt!’

  ‘There must be another way,’ the animals agreed, and they all returned to their homes to think about it.

  But Baby Bird had noticed the stubborn look on Goanna’s face. What was his friend up to?

  ‘Can I sleep at Goanna’s place tonight?’ Baby Bird asked his mother.

  ‘Of course,’ said Crow.

  ‘I love you, Mum.’

  ‘I love you, too.’

  After Baby Bird had left, Crow wondered whether there was something he wasn’t telling her. But she knew her son would be safe with Goanna.

  GOANNABIRD’S FLIGHT

  Goanna was very surprised when Baby Bird appeared.

  ‘I’m sleeping the night,’ Baby Bird said.

  ‘All right,’ agreed Goanna. But secretly he thought, I will have to be very quiet when I sneak away for my trip to visit Moon. Otherwise Baby Bird will want to come with me.

  Goanna was so worried about Baby Bird finding out what he was up to, he decided to leave before dawn. Goanna stumbled through the Cavern back to his secret entrance. The rocks there were covered in icy chips. Goanna stepped out into the frozen world then spread his wings and soared high into the pale sky.

  Tucked hidden beneath Goanna’s large wings, Baby Bird looked down on the silent, white world and thought how awful it was.

  ‘It’s a good thing we’re doing,’ Baby Bird shouted to Goanna.

  Goanna was shocked. ‘Is that you, Baby Bird?’

  Baby Bird laughed. ‘I’m under your left wing. It’s nice and snug here.’

  Goanna didn’t know what to do. When Crow found out Baby Bird was missing she would be sick with worry. Should he turn back?

  ‘Don’t even think about going back,’ said Baby Bird. ‘This is the job we were born for. You will be my wings and I will be your eyes. Together we will sort out Moon.’

  Goanna knew it was the truth. He hoped Crow would forgive him if they did not return home. As Goanna and Baby Bird flew further and further from the earth, the air became thinner and colder and Goanna wondered whether they would make it.

  ‘You can do it!’ Baby Bird cried. ‘I can see Moon! We’re almost there.’

  Goanna surged forward. Suddenly he could see Moon, too. With the last of his strength, he uncurled his tongue, wrapped it around Moon and pulled her across the sky.

  When Sun realised what Goanna was doing, he waited until Goanna and Baby Bird were safely away, then he returned to his rightful place in the heavens.

  At first Moon was very cross, but when Goanna and Baby Bird explained all the trouble her envy of Sun had caused, she felt ashamed.

  ‘I will never fight with Sun again,’ she said.

  Goanna and Baby Bird hoped Moon would keep her promise.

  WE DID IT!

  Meanwhile, back in the Cavern the animals were very surprised to find the wall of coloured stones had disappeared.

  ‘What has happened?’ cried Emu. ‘And where are Goanna and Baby Bird?’

  Everyone looked at Crow.

  Crow knew what must have happened. She brushed away her tears.

  ‘I think Goanna and Baby Bird have saved us after all,’ she said. ‘If the wall has returned to the earth, they must have shifted Moon.’

  ‘Then it’s safe to go outside!’ laughed Wombat.

  When the animals made their way back into the world, Sun was shining, the ice was melting and beautiful wildflowers were springing up everywhere.

  The animals said to Crow, ‘Your son is a hero. The courage he and Goanna have shown will always be remembered.’

  Crow felt very proud, but sad at the same time. ‘I’m going to be so lonely without them.’

  Suddenly, there was a shout. ‘Look, what’s that?’

  All the animals looked up. A strange creature was falling from the sky.

  ‘It’s Goannabird!’ Crow shouted excitedly.

  Quickly the wombats joined together and laid themselves like a furry carpet on the ground.

  Down, down, down Goanna and Baby Bird fell.

  THUD!

  OUCH!

  Goanna rolled off the fat wombat he had landed on. He was so tired he couldn’t even stand up.

  Baby Bird peeked out from beneath Goanna’s wing. ‘We did it, Mum! We really did it!’

  Crow rushed over and hugged them. ‘I always knew you were special, Baby Bird. And you are special too, Goanna. Because of your friendship and bravery our world is safe once more.’

  All the animals cheered.

  The Red Kangaroos hoisted Goanna and Baby Bird high into the air, and headed off singing, ‘No more ice, no more snow, back to our homes we go!’

  EMU AND THE WATER TREE

  THE WATER TREE

  One day Emu was out flying when he spotted a strange tree growing high on top of a large hill. The tree had two long branches, no leaves, and a thick trunk covered in bright red bark.

  ‘Oh, this i
s exciting,’ said Emu, ‘I’ve never seen a tree like that before.’ And he flew down to have a closer look.

  Landing on one of the branches, he saw that the top of the tree was open, and the huge hollow trunk was filled with pure, clean water. Emu was thirsty after his long flight, so he dipped his beak into the water and drank deeply.

  ‘Who’s drinking my water?’ asked a cross voice.

  SERPENT

  Emu pulled back in surprise. When he looked again, he saw a serpent lying far down in the water at the bottom of the tree.

  ‘Oh,’ said Emu, ‘I didn’t know you were there. I’m sorry I drank some of your water without asking.’

  Serpent smiled slyly and replied, ‘If you want to drink my water, you must always give me something first.’

  Emu was curious, so he asked, ‘What is it you want?’

  ‘I want the shiny coloured stones that lie on the ground beyond the tree,’ said Serpent. ‘Only if you bring me some of those, can you drink again.’

  Emu knew the stones the serpent wanted. He nodded in agreement and flew slowly home.

  SECRETS

  That night, all Emu could think about was how wonderful the pure, clean water had tasted. The very next day he returned to the water tree, collecting some of the shiny coloured stones on the way. Emu gave Serpent the stones, and drank again.

  Day after day Emu collected shiny coloured stones for Serpent. Day after day Emu drank and drank and drank the pure, clean water from the tree. And day after day, with each new gift of stones, Serpent rose a little higher towards the top of the water tree.

  Emu did not tell any of his bush friends what he was doing, because he wanted to keep the secret of the pure, clean water all to himself.

  THE GOLDEN FEATHER

  One morning as Emu journeyed to the water tree, he searched and searched but no matter how hard he looked he couldn’t find any of the shiny coloured stones. He had collected them all.

  I can’t give Serpent any more stones, he thought. I will have to find something else to trade for his refreshing water.

  Emu saw an orange speckled leaf lying on the ground not far from the tree. He swooped down, picked it up, then flew to the top of the water tree.

  ‘Serpent,’ he called out. ‘I’m back and I have a lovely new gift for you.’

  Serpent opened his eyes. When he saw the leaf Emu was holding, he cried, ‘A leaf? I don’t want a leaf. Throw it back where you found it.’

  Emu flapped his wings in disappointment, and dropped the leaf to the ground.

  Serpent was now very close to the top of the water tree, resting high on the pile of shiny coloured stones. He glided closer to Emu through the water. When Emu had flapped his wings, he’d seen a beautiful golden feather nestled under Emu’s right wing. He wanted it more than anything.

  ‘Give me your golden feather,’ Serpent said, ‘then you can have all the water in the tree.’

  ‘I can’t give you my golden feather,’ said Emu. ‘Without my golden feather, I cannot fly.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Serpent, ‘but until you do, you will not drink another drop.’

  Disappointed, Emu flew home, his huge wings casting a dark shadow on the ground below him.

  THIRSTY

  By the time Emu arrived home he was very, very thirsty. He saw that all his friends were gathered together at a bush meeting. They looked tired and upset.

  I wonder what’s wrong? thought Emu, as he flew down to join them.

  When he asked his friend Kangaroo what was going on, Kangaroo replied, ‘Haven’t you noticed how empty the rivers and creeks and waterholes are, Emu? The rains haven’t come. There is no water. Soon we will all be dying of thirst.’

  Emu looked around. It was true. The other animals looked even thirstier than Emu.

  Emu felt terribly guilty when he remembered how day after day he had guzzled from the water tree. He also felt angry at Serpent. Suddenly he understood that Serpent had stolen the water and was hoarding it for himself. Emu knew he could keep his secret no longer.

  I must tell the other animals, thought Emu.

  CONFESSIONS

  Emu told the bush animals about Serpent and the water tree. He told them about the shiny coloured stones and the pure, clean water. He told them how he had drunk from the tree every day while they had gone thirsty.

  His friends were shocked to hear the tale. Some of them were very angry at Emu but others felt sorry for him, he looked so miserable. As the animals began to quarrel, Emu interrupted them.

  ‘Please don’t argue,’ he said, ‘I know what to do.’

  Then he told the other animals about his special golden feather. He told them that Serpent would trade all the water in the water tree for it.

  ‘Yes, stupid greedy bird, you give him your fancy feather,’ yelled Lizard. ‘We will all die otherwise you fool.’

  But Goanna said, ‘Excuse me Lizard, Emu might be foolish but only he can decide whether or not to sacrifice his golden feather.’

  Magpie agreed. ‘The rains may still come,’ she said. ‘What you must do, Emu, is listen to your heart. If you follow your heart, then you will make the right choice.’

  THE FINAL TRADE

  Early the next morning, without telling any of his bush friends, Emu flew back to the water tree. Serpent was very pleased to see him. He rose up out of the water to greet Emu.

  ‘Hello Emu,’ he said, ‘are you here to trade your golden feather for my pure, clean water?’

  ‘I am,’ said Emu. And he plucked the single golden feather from his wing and passed it to Serpent. With a cry of delight Serpent snatched the feather in his mouth and shot up into the air.

  ‘Wait!’ cried Emu. ‘How do I release the water from the tree so my bush friends can drink?’

  Serpent laughed. ‘That’s your problem silly bird,’ he said and flew away.

  WHAT TO DO?

  Emu perched in the tree for a long time, not knowing what to do. He was determined to figure out how to release the water. Now that his golden feather was gone, he’d never be able to fly to the top of the water tree again. This was his only chance.

  By the middle of the day it was very hot and Emu was very thirsty, but he refused to drink.

  None of my friends can drink, he thought guiltily, so I won’t either.

  Late in the afternoon Emu was still sitting, still thinking. Finally he wailed, ‘I don’t know what to do! I don’t know how to free the water from the tree.’

  Emu began to cry. ‘What a foolish bird I’ve been,’ he said.

  His salty tears fell into the water tree, and as they did they changed into cool fresh water. Emu kept on crying. He cried and cried and cried. Soon there was so much water in the tree, it began to overflow from the top of the trunk. It flooded down the side of the tree and out onto the land, filling the dry riverbeds, the empty creeks and the waterholes with pure, clean water.

  Emu looked at his reflection in the water. He realised that not only his golden feather was gone, but most of his wing feathers had fallen into the water and disappeared in the flood.

  Emu knew that from then on emus would never fly again. This made Emu cry even more. By the time he climbed down from the tree he was exhausted. And he still had to walk all the long way home.

  HOME AT LAST

  When Emu’s friends saw him coming, they rushed to greet him. They crowded around him saying, ‘Thank you, Emu! Thank you for saving us!’

  ‘Here, Emu,’ said Magpie, pushing some hollow bark filled with water towards him. ‘You must be thirsty. Drink!’

  Emu drank. Then he sat down with his friends, his poor tired legs curled beneath him.

  Emu was happy his friends were happy, but he was very sad that he would never fly again.

  WINGS AND LEGS

  For a long time Emu mourned the loss of his wings. He missed travelling over the country. He missed flying higher than any other bird in Australia. Walking on the ground just wasn’t the same.

  Then one day Magpie came and spoke with Emu.