Panda-Monium (4 page)

From the safety of the other side of the wall, Wangchuk watched Tom snort and paw the ground. Tom's dinner was still piled at the boy's feet. Hungry, the bull was getting very angry indeed.

Wangchuk looked up when he heard Bindi approach. ‘How did you go?' he called.

Bindi dashed across and pulled him down so they would be out of sight of the road.

‘What did you see?' Wangchuk whispered.

‘Those men. They're coming. I think they're going out into the forest. And I think they might have a gun!'

Bindi popped her head up. The men were only a short distance away. Soon they'd be passing the yard. After that they'd be on the forest trail to find the pandas.

‘What are we going to do?' Bindi looked at her friend.

Wangchuk stared back at her. ‘Poor Tom still hasn't had his dinner,' was all he said.

Bindi clicked her fingers. ‘You're a genius!'

‘Let's do it!'

They scuttled along the wall until they reached the old wooden gate. Wangchuk climbed up and wrestled with the latch. Seconds later the gate swung open, and they leapt behind it to be well out of the way of the bull.

Wangchuk whistled loudly.

Raising his head, Tom glared in their direction. He pawed the ground with his hoof, snorting and tossing his head before trotting over. Spying the open gate, he picked up speed and cantered through.

At the sight of the two men in the road, Tom stopped short, snorting loudly. Again, he pawed the ground. Then, dust flying, he charged.

Hearing the thunder of hooves, the two men looked up. Tom was almost upon them. Throwing their packs on the ground, they ran for their lives as fast as they could, back in the direction of the village.

Wangchuk and Bindi followed the chase at a safe distance.

Outside Aunty Maya's place they caught up with Tom. He'd stopped in the middle of the road, having bailed up the men against the front fence across the way.

Bindi and Wangchuk approached cautiously, Tom stamped his hoof, a crazy look in his eye.

At that moment, Aunty Maya's door opened and Vicki, Chandra, Aunty Maya and Finju came out onto the verandah.

Bindi waved.

‘It looks like you've caught the panda-poo thieves,' Vicki called out. ‘But I'd get in here and out of the way of that bull quick smart.'

Bindi and Wangchuk made their way across to Aunty Maya's verandah, being careful not to provoke Tom.

‘It's like we're in the middle of some crazy movie,' Bindi said when they were safe.

Wangchuk nodded. ‘Let's call it
Stampede
.'

Bindi thought for a moment. ‘Or what about
Panda-monium
? It sums up everything that's happened.'

Wangchuk grinned, his eyes sparkling. ‘
Panda-monium
. Starring Bindi, Wangchuk . . .'

‘. . . Jangmu, and Ang . . .' Bindi added.

‘And guest starring Little Bindi.' Wangchuk raised his arm for a high-five.

‘Ah yes, Little Bindi,' Bindi said, slapping her friend's hand.

Wangchuk looked at Bindi, his eyes laughing. ‘The bravest, cleverest little red panda in the whole wide world.'

It couldn't be possible, but it was. Against the azure sky, those distant ice palaces looked even more stunning, a sparkling tiara of pearl, ivory and glass.

‘What an amazing place to live,' Bindi said.

She was standing at the top of the stone steps with Wangchuk. Today they would be visiting the red pandas on their own. Chandra and Vicki, with the help of Finju and Aunty Maya, were busy talking to the villagers about the new sanctuary they'd agreed to help create.

‘Wangchuk nodded. ‘It's not bad, is it?'

‘And lucky you will be spending more time out here!' Bindi wouldn't be able to stay to help set up the sanctuary, but her friend would. With his knowledge of the red pandas in the area, Wangchuk had already been offered a role.

‘It'll be a lot more fun than feeding angry old Tom,' Wangchuk replied. ‘Mr Ming-Ma is going to have to do that himself.' He laughed, his eyes shining.

‘Mr Ming-Ma's going to have to do a lot for himself from now on. Everyone else seemed very angry with him.' Bindi shook her head. ‘Even the dogs won't go back to him!' It was true – when the two dogs were released they refused to return to Mr Ming-Ma's. They were still at the teahouse, playing with their new ball.

Wangchuk flashed Bindi a smile and suddenly sat down on the step. ‘Let's have that morning tea I packed,' he said. ‘I'm hungry.' From his bag he pulled two small packages wrapped in brown paper. He purposefully handed one to Bindi, before quickly opening his own to reveal some rice and vegetables.

‘Mmm, that looks nice,' Bindi said. ‘She began to open her package. But when she pulled back the paper she leapt to her feet. ‘Ew! Panda poo!'

Wangchuk burst out laughing and slapped his thigh. ‘Got you!'

Bindi screwed up her eyes. ‘I'm going to get you back!'

Stuffing his morning tea into his pocket, Wangchuk jumped to his feet. ‘Only if you catch me!' he shouted, running off up the trail.

At the big rhododendron he took a sharp left and dashed off into the forest. Bindi was struggling to keep up, but she gave it her best shot – she wasn't going to let a ten-year-old boy outrun her!

Not far from the rock ledge where they'd first seen Jangmu, Ang and Little Bindi, they slowed down and began to move very quietly. At the ledge they stopped and waited.

It wasn't long before Wangchuk patted Bindi's arm. She looked where he was pointing.

There, half-hidden by bamboo leaves, was a red panda. She was munching daintily on bamboo shoots, taking her time to pick the greenest, juiciest ones. Every now and then she stood up on her back legs and looked about her. She showed no fear – only curiosity. Then she'd go back to her lunch.

‘Which panda is that?' Bindi whispered.

Wangchuk turned to look at Bindi. ‘Which do you think?'

Bindi shrugged. ‘I'm not sure . . .'

‘It's Little Bindi, of course,' he said with a wide grin. ‘Isn't she incredible?'