Free Selby Santa by Duncan Ball Page B

we’re gonna … we’re gonna …’
    ‘Or you’re gonna what?’ Selby said. ‘Okay, so I should never have talked to you in the first place.But nobody believes a word you twerps say, so let me go and we’ll forget all about it.’
    By the time Selby realised what was about to happen, it was too late. Willy had jumped up on a Wom-Bin and slid open the bolt at the top of Midnight’s case. In a second, he and Billy had thrown Selby inside.
    ‘Hey, hang on, guys, let me out of here,’ Selby shouted. ‘
Sheeeesh
! I’m standing on the snake! Oh yuck!’
    Selby quickly moved his feet, stepping between the big black coils of snake, and pushed as hard as he could against the lid of the case. But, just as he did, Billy slid the bolt across, locking him inside. Now Selby could feel the massive snake moving under and around him. Each time he felt the touch of its cold skin, he moved his feet again.
    On the other side of the window, Willy and Billy watched and laughed.
    ‘Hey, Billy!’ Willy squealed. ‘The stinky dog is gonna get eated by the snake!’
    ‘Hey, guys,’ Selby said. ‘Let me out. Come on, you’re going to be in big trouble.’
    ‘We can’t hear you, can we, Billy?’ Willy said.
    ‘You can hear me. Let me out! You’re going to get spanked! Then the police are going to put you in jail till you’re very, very old!’
    Midnight was moving faster now, his head slithering across Selby’s back and then under his legs. Selby moved sideways and stepped over the snake, only to have it wrap around him again.
    ‘Oh
sheeeesh
,’ Selby muttered. ‘This is my worst nightmare come true!’
    One of Midnight’s big black coils landed on Selby so heavily that his legs went out from under him. In a second, he found himself slithering like a snake to get out from under the huge python.
    ‘Okay, guys!’ Selby yelled. ‘You win! Let me out and I’ll talk!’
    ‘Okay,’ Billy said,‘I’ll get Mummy!’
    ‘There’s no time! Let me out and I’ll talk to her. I’ll talk to everybody!’
    ‘You tell lies!’Willy said.
    ‘Yeah! You’re a liar poop dog!’ Billy said.
    ‘Listen, if this snake eats me,’ Selby called out, ‘no one will ever believe you when you say that I was a talking dog! So you’ve got to save me! Think about it — if that isn’t too hard for your tiny little brains.’
    ‘You’re not nice!’ Willy said. ‘That was bad what you said.’
    ‘I was kidding! Just unlock this case and I’ll do anything you say!’
    Selby was twisting like a corkscrew now as the snake tried again and again to wind itselfaround him. Suddenly he felt the flicker of the snake’s tongue on his ear.
    ‘I was kidding about your tiny brains! Help me!’ Selby pleaded. ‘Oh no, his jaw is coming apart! He’s opening his mouth really wide! He’s going to swallow me!’
    Selby dodged quickly to the side and felt a heavy rock under him. In a flash, he’d picked it up and hurled it with all his might, smashing the front of the case.
    ‘Out of my way, you little mongrels!’ Selby cried as he dived out of Midnight’s grasp, knocking Willy and Billy to the ground.
    And in the blink of an eye, Selby was outside, his heart pounding like a piston engine, his legs shaking so much he couldn’t run straight.
    ‘Those kids tried to kill me! I’ll get them back for that!’
    Selby was heading for the zoo exit when he heard Aunt Jetty’s voice nearby.
    ‘Has anyone seen Willy and Billy?’
    ‘They were in the Nocturnal House,’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘I didn’t see them come out.’
    Selby looked back and saw Midnight slithering out into the bright sunlight.

    ‘A snake!’ someone screamed. ‘Help, a snake-escape!’
    ‘It’s Midnight,’ Postie said. ‘Stand back. He’ll go to sleep now that he’s out in the sun. I’ll get a net.’
    But there was something strange about Midnight. In the middle of that huge, long, black body were two boy-sized lumps.
    ‘He’s eaten Willy and Billy!’ Aunt Jetty