Читать книгу Щенок Элли, или Долгая дорога домой / Ellie the Homesick Puppy онлайн на КулЛиб

Finally she ran out of breath[92] and collapsed, panting, underneath a tangle of brambles. She lay in the leafy dimness, breathing fast, and loving the feeling of being out on her own. Walks with Megan were the best thing, of course, but it was fun not to have a lead on and to be able to go where she liked. The bramble bush smelled nice. Earthy, but sweet at the same time.

Ellie tried to work out[93] which way she should go next. Where was Megan? Which way?

She rested her nose on her paws. It wasn’t that she was going to sniff Megan out exactly, that would be silly, she was much too far away for that. This was different from finding Megan’s scent. It was more of a feel. Megan – and home – was that way.

Ellie wriggled eagerly out from under the brambles and set off down the lane. She knew it was going to be a long way – longer than any walk she’d done before[94] – but she wasn’t scared. She was Megan’s dog, not Gran’s, and she was meant to be with Megan.

* * *

Back at the house, Gran was searching anxiously for Ellie. She hadn’t missed her until a few minutes ago, when she had put out Ellie’s lunch, and she was hoping that the puppy was hiding in the house somewhere.[95]

‘Ellie! Ellie! Here, girl! Where are you?’

Gran crouched down to check behind the sofa, in case Sid had frightened her again. The cat was still curled up on the back of the sofa.

‘Where can she be, Sid?’ Gran muttered worriedly. ‘Oh, she can’t have got[96] out when the postman came? I would have seen[97] her, surely. And that’s the only time I’ve opened the door. But then where is she? I’ve looked everywhere.’