Operatic Duck / Duck on Tour (4 page)
Read Operatic Duck / Duck on Tour Online
Authors: Hazel Edwards
Chapter 1
All Aboard
âAll aboard!'
âTrouble is, they aren't,' said Cate to the Platform Attendant.
âAs Tour Manager, it's your job to make sure our cast and luggage are on the train,' said Pig, adjusting his backpack.
âYes, Pig, I know. And you can help by putting these stickers on the luggage.'
Things had been pretty busy at the farm over the past couple of weeks. The Opera Aida had been a triumph. Mr Bigge had arranged with his friends in the government, to take the farm animals on tour.
Train tickets were organised, bags packed, costumes made, sets and props bought and rehearsals completed.
Everyone was feeling very nervous because they were leaving home and starring in the Arts Train Tour.
Duck had been ready since 4 a.m. too excited to sleep. Even his feathers were brushed. Standing on the platform, he observed the magnificent, rainbow train. Each carriage was a different colour and the engine was bright purple.
The farm animals were in the yellow carriage with the blue spots. The rock band was in the black carriage with the skulls on it. The performance Rap Poets were already rap dancing on and off the step of their red carriage.
âWonderful day for a trip on a train,
Lots of red dust, hope it don't rain.
Yo... Say Yo....'
âYO!' yelled their fans on the platform. âYO!'
The two opera singers were hard to recognise. They had scarves wrapped around their throats and noses. They were in the silver and gold carriage.
A bright red-haired woman was urgently telling the opera singers, âNow call me if the beds aren't comfortable, the food is rotten or the toilets are dirty. I have insisted that you get top class treatment. Call me any time, day or night if you have a problem.'
âHow can beds be comfortable on a train?' said the opera singer.
âI asked for an extra mattress,' said his red-haired agent.
The graffiti-artists had decorated their own carriage. It looked like a trifle.
Clowns were tumbling near their green carriage. Watching, Parrot decided he could do better. A long time ago, he had trained with a Russian gymnast in a circus.
âGet that bird off my station clock!' yelled the Platform Attendant.
âCatch me if you can,' cried Parrot as he somersaulted, with three flips from quarter past nine to the Train Departures Board.
âIf Parrot breaks his wing, he won't be in the show.' Sheep checked he had enough batteries for his mini-disk player.
âWhere's Goat?' called Cate.
Duck noticed that Cate's neck had gone pink. She was getting worried.
âHe's drumming for the Rap Poets,' said Cow.
âRappers! Adding to the noise. Are all stations this noisy?' complained Pig. âWhistles. Horns. Banging trolleys. Slurping drink cans.'
âBe grateful you're not travelling in the luggage van, in a cage,' said Cate.
âWhat?' choked Pig.
âThat's where animals usually travel,' said Duck. âBut we're special, so we have seats in the yellow carriage.'
âI want a window seat,' said Pig.
âEveryone will get a turn. We'll swap.' Cate counted the bags and checked her mobile messages.
Parrot landed on Cate's shoulder. âDid you bring the munchies, Cate?'
âYes.' Cate checked. âApples, bananas, jelly babies, snakes, Tic Tacs and salt and vinegar chips. Have I forgotten anything?'
âMy sultanas,' said Pig.
âNo, I haven't forgotten,' said Cate. âThey're with the cook. You'll have your sultana porridge every breakfast.'
âHerd your cast onto the train!' boomed the Platform Attendant. âThe train is leaving for OuterTarn in one minute.'
âI thought we were going to Darwin?' said Duck.
âWe are,' said Cate. âBut we're performing at places along the way. Some towns don't get many live performances. They're excited we're coming. The Arts Committee in every town has organised morning and afternoon tea for all the guest artists.'
Pig said quickly, âNo ham sandwiches, I hope.'
âMaybe,' said Cate. âBut there'll be lots of lamingtons and cream sponges.'
As each animal boarded, Cate ticked her Tour Manager's List.
âAll here.' Cate beamed at the Platform Attendant.
At 9.21, the guard blew his whistle, the platform
attendant waved his flag, the crowd cheered and the multi-coloured train pulled out of the station.
âWe're the Rainbow Train,' said, Duck poking his head out of the window and watching the carriages curve around the tracks.
Chapter 2
On Board
As the train rattled and lurched
,
the farm animals played their favourite game of Hide and Seek. It was a bit of a squeeze for Cow and Horse. Sheep could hide under the bunk bed but they had to hide in a toilet cubicle. Duck always found them. Pig didn't play; he was too busy unwrapping his âfreebie' travel kit.
âWhat's this, Cate?'
âYour free toothpaste.'
âNot enough here to brush one tooth,' complained Pig.
Crash!
âOh dear,' said Cate. âGoat's trying to walk with his sleep shades on.'
âI'm starving,' said Parrot. âWhere's the dining car?'
âFollow me.' Duck had read every brochure and map in the side seat pocket. âThe orange dining carriage is in the middle between the Rappers and the Rock Band.'
âI need a cup of tea.' Cate grabbed her handbag.
They lurched down the inside corridor, peering through compartment windows. There were pull-down bunks, tables and basins.
âHow do we get through to the next carriage?' said Sheep. âAnd how do I remember which carriage I'm in?'
âWe're in the yellow carriage with spots. Like measles,' said Duck.
âMeasles aren't blue,' said Parrot.
âBe careful,' Cate warned. âThe wind will knock you flat as I open the door.'
Duck's feathers went flat as the wind hit him.
âBe careful as you cross the coupling. Don't want any of you squashed on the track,' warned Cate.
Duck tried not to look down at the ground rushing underneath him. He leapt through the second door which was painted black with silver skulls. He was in the Rock Carriage.
Rat tat Rat tat. The drummer was drumming the vinyl seat with his sticks.
Goat was impressed. The Rock Carriage was rocking.
âAre these jeans tight enough?' the lead singer was asking his girlfriend.
Clothes, guitars, lolly wrappers and boots were lying all over the carriage.
âWow! Am I seeing things or is there a farm moving through my carriage?'
âWe're on our way to the dining car,' said Cate.
âOff to the Diner? Any hay for lunch?' asked the drummer. âWhatever's on the menu, I'll eat. I have to get through this afternoon's rehearsal.'
âFollow us, âsaid Cate. â It's our first gig tonight too.'
Duck fluffed his feathers. The Diner was full of food smells and people. Hot chocolate. Toasted sandwiches. Gravy.
Balancing on the bar stool, Duck read the signs of the railway stations as they whizzed through.
âDo I have to share my table with a Pig?' said the Opera Singer.
âPig is one of the guest artists,' said Cate. âHe was featured in
Who
magazine for his belly dancing.'
âTell them about me,' said Parrot. âAnd my perch-gymnastics.'
Uh oh, thought Duck. Here we go again. No-one understands us like Cate does.
âCan you understand these farm animals?' asked the Opera Singer.
âYes,' said Cate.
âWell, ask Pig to please use a napkin when he's dining with US,' sniffed the singer.
At 2 o'clock sharp, everyone gathered in the Performance Carriage.
A tall, bald headed man in a grey suit with purple braces and a yellow bow tie was waiting for them.
âGood afternoon Artists. I'm Albert. Welcome to the Arts Train Tour. You are part of a wonderful experiment. This is the first time that so many different artists have been gathered. Our first performance this evening in OuterTarn will be a treat for our country audience.'
âIs the stage big enough for all our equipment? Will there be enough electricity for the guitars and microphones?' demanded the lead singer.
âWell,' said Albert. âYou will be performing in a wool shed.'
âJust like home,' said Sheep.
âElectricity will be supplied by a generator. And I believe dressing rooms have been created.'
âCreated?' said the Opera Singer. âAlbert, what d'you mean?'
Albert spoke fast. âSome bed sheets have been strung up to create cubicles. Spotlights have been provided by the kangaroo-shooters, and I have been promised that there will be no nails, tacks or broken beer bottles on the stage.'
âStage? In a wool shed?' exclaimed one of the Rappers.
âYes. The locals have regular bush dances.' Albert checked his list. âI have the running order here.'
âRunning order?' asked Duck.
âThat's the list of who goes on when,' said Cate.
âGood.' Albert smiled at Cate. âWe have an interpreter. I wondered how I was going to communicate with the Animal Artists.'
The Rappers started rapping.
âFire away,
We ain't got all day.
We're here to play.
So have your say.
Yo!'
âYo,' echoed Parrot. Duck giggled.
âI introduce the artists. First act gets everyone rocking with the Rock Band and Pig's belly dance. Followed by the Graffiti Artists Demo accompanied by Aida chorus hits by the Animal Choir. Then other Opera highlights by our distinguished...'
âThank you. Thank you.' The Opera singers bowed.
âThen interval. Tea, scones, sausage rolls and cordial will be served. Second Act opens with our Rappers followed by perch gymnastics and multicoloured ribbon callisthenics by Parrot and Duck. We finish with a bush dance, with music provided by our rock band.'
Duck and Parrot grinned. They had been working hard on their act.
âI love a good barn dance,' said Horse.
âIf you're my partner, don't step on my hoofs,' said Cow.
âYou change partners quickly in a barn dance.' Cate led them back to their yellow carriage with the blue spots.
Above their carriage, thunder rolled and a torrent of rain poured down.
âDo you want to roll in the mud, Pig?' giggled Parrot.
Pig snorted.
âHope the performance isn't washed out.' Cate worried as the rain got heavier.