Mission Climate Change by Bindi Irwin Page B

This is something I will be talking about at the conference. But there is much more to do and discuss with the international community. Even locally, in my small village, there are people who don’t believe the changes we are seeing in the world today are caused by humans.’
    Robert, who must have drifted off to sleep, began murmuring,‘Northern Corroboree Frog … Sunset Frog … Yellow-bellied Frog … White-bellied Frog … Spotted Frog …’
    Madi turned to Bindi. ‘What’s he saying?’
    Bindi smiled proudly at her snoozing brother. ‘He’s listing the different types of frogs that may become extinct in Australia if the country keeps getting hotter and drier.’
    Madi was impressed. Robert was so committed to the cause he was thinking about it even while he slept!

Worn out by their long plane trip, all three children eventually drifted off to sleep. Professor Tikkanen woke them a few hours later, once they’d arrived at his home. The sun had set hours ago, but Bindi could make out Alek’s stationwagon parked in the driveway.
    The professor led his guests into the large farmhouse. The children were surprised by how beautiful its high beamed ceilings and wooden interior were; they felt as if they had entered a grand old concert hall. With the snow outside, and the crackling fire inside, Bindi, Robert and Madi could feel in their bones that they were a long way from home.
    Kelly and Hannah were already curled up on the sofa, chatting away like old friends.
    Terri gave her kids a quick hug. ‘How are you feeling?’
    â€˜Tip-top terrific!’ said Bindi. ‘Ready to take on the world.’
    Terri smiled. ‘That’s my girl!’
    The housekeeper, a plump and cheerful woman called Elina, was passing around cups of hot chocolate and a light supper of something she called Karelian pasties, which were delicious and filling. After the meal, Professor Tikkanen explained that the adults would be sleeping in the main house, and the kids would stay in their own separate guesthouse.
    â€˜Awesome! It’s just like a school camp,’ said DJ.
    The professor gathered up the children and their belongings, and was opening the door out of the kitchen, when the phone in the hallway rang. ‘Ah, kids, I betterget that. If you would just follow the path up to the guesthouse. The door’s open, and there are bunk beds aplenty.’ He went back to grab the phone, and the kids scampered up the path towards the guesthouse.
    Bindi opened the door, but inside was pitch black. ‘Where’s the light switch, I wonder?’ she said, feeling around the doorframe.
    â€˜Did anyone bring a torch?’ asked Hannah. DJ and Robert were behind them, shivering. ‘Hurry up, guys, let’s get inside.’
    Kelly bounded ahead into the darkened house, full of her usual positivity. ‘How great is it that we’reall here. It’s going to be totally fantastic …’
    All of a sudden there was a screech, followed by a menacing growl.
    Everyone froze.
    â€˜What was that?’ yelled DJ, as he pushed his way into the room.

Bindi finally found a light switch further along the wall, and turned it on … to find Kelly sprawled on the floor with two dark-furred, sharp-toothed creatures walking around her, sniffing.
    â€˜Oh my gosh, wild … What arethey? Wolves? Small bears? Is Kelly about to get eaten?’ asked Hannah, starting to hyperventilate.
    Kelly was not impressed. ‘Hannah, I can still hear you. I’m being stalked by two scary creatures, but my ears are working fine!’
    Hannah felt awful. ‘Sorry, Kelly, I’m just … ah, nervous … for you,’ she replied meekly.
    Kelly grimaced. ‘Okay, thanks, I guess. Can someone help me out here?’
    Bindi edged closer to the two creatures. ‘Kelly, stay still. They’re not behaving like they want to attack,’ she said