Attack of the Killer Frogs by Peter Clover

Chapter Two

The Trap
    The next morning at breakfast, Lily hardly said a word.
    â€œYou’re very quiet,” said Mum. “Are you still thinking about that silly frog?”
    â€œGiant frogs!” Dad laughed.
    Lily didn’t think it was funny. “Why don’t they believe me?” she thought.
    â€œHow big was it, again?” teased Dad. “I didn’t make it up,” said Lily.
    Her parents smiled at each other.
    â€œI’ll catch that giant frog and then they’ll believe me,” thought Lily.

    Lily found an old suitcase in the shed.
    She took it to the big stone by the pond. She lifted the lid.
    The open suitcase looked like a mouth, waiting to swallow a frog.
    Lily took some string and tied one end to a short stick. She used the stick to prop open the lid of the suitcase.
    She pulled the string to test her trap. The stick popped out and the lid of the case slammed shut.

    â€œCool!” cried Lily. “But how do I make the frog go in the case?”
    She thought for a moment.
    â€œI’ve got it! Jaffa cakes. Everyone loves Jaffa cakes.”

    That evening, Lily took three Jaffa cakes and went outside.
    Missy stayed behind. She hadn’t left the cottage all day.
    Lily ate one Jaffa cake and tossed the other two into the open suitcase. Then she set the trap, hid behind a bush, and waited.
    From her hiding place, Lily could see the Blue Harvest lab. The fields around Blue Harvest were very bright green. They seemed too green to be real.
    Everything was too quiet. No birds sang. The only noise she could hear was the low rumble of a farm machine on the Blue Harvest fields.

    The machine came closer. Lily heard a soft hissing.
    It sounded like something being sprayed through a high pressure hose.
    A strong chemical smell filled the air. It stung Lily’s eyes.
    She put a hand over her mouth.

    Lily didn’t want to breathe the spray. She thought it might make her sick.
    Lily didn’t notice the reeds on the far side of the pond start to move…

Chapter Three

Trapped!
    A huge, flat head forced its way through the reeds. Yellow eyes fixed Lily with an evil glare. Slimy snot bubbled as the frog sniffed the air.
    The giant frog peered over the side of the suitcase.
    Then it jumped inside – and knocked the stick that held the trap open.
    Lily jumped up as the suitcase slammed shut. She put a big rock on top of the case to stop the frog from getting out.
    Then she raced back to the cottage.

    â€œCome and look, quick. I’ve caught the mutant frog!” Lily cried. She pulled Mum through the door. Dad followed with a big grin on his face.
    â€œThere,” said Lily when they reached the pond. She pointed to the case. “I’ve trapped it.”
    Dad moved the rock and lifted the lid. “Argh!”

    Lily jumped with fright. But Mum and Dad were laughing. Dad held up the empty case.
    â€œIf you are going to hunt giant killer frogs,” said Dad, “make sure there are no holes in your traps.”
    He showed her a big hole in the suitcase.
    â€œThat wasn’t there before,” Lily said. “The frog chewed its way out!”

    The worst bit was that Lily’s parents thought it was all a joke.

    Hidden from sight, hungry yellow eyes gazed at Lily’s pink toes. Two giant frogs licked their lips.

Chapter Four

Night Noises
    At tea-time, Dad put his arm around Lily.
    â€œSorry I laughed at you,” he said. “Maybe it was a ferret you trapped. Or a rat.”
    â€œIt was a frog!” Lily yelled. She stormed out of the room.

    Rose Cottage only had one bedroom. Lily slept downstairs on a sofa bed. Normally, she thought it was cool. But tonight she was scared.
    Lily pulled a chair across the cat flap in the back door.
    Then she fell asleep – until an awful scream woke her.
    Lily sat bolt upright.
    The chair in front of the door had fallen over. The cat flap was hanging open. Missy was gone.
    â€œWhat the