The Balcus is very inquisitive and curious and sometimes goes on strange adventures, but always returns in order to tell the tale …
This is the story of how the Balcus went in search of the sun’s sleeping place.
Extract from the book
The Balcus took a deep breath (with a closed mouth) in order to stay calm. They were much smaller than he was, after all. Thwack! he swatted the bug off his nose just in time. He didn’t want to swallow another one of them!
“I am the famous and brilliant and positively the best Balcus,” he answered and prepared to tell the zingers all about himself. “I LOVE stories. I …”
“Never heard of you before,” the zinger interrupted him rudely and joined the others around his ears, nose and mouth with renewed energy.
The Balcus found it difficult not to lose his temper. Jumping Jellyfish!! He had never come across such ghastly beasts in his whole life!
“And I’VE never heard of YOU,” he hit back in a polite way. But first he counted to ten and again to ten. And then all the way to thirty-two …
“Our final warning! Leave our wood immediately!” brrrrzoiiied the zzzmighty zingers and charged in on the Balcus’ in a V-formation, nearly grazing his nose.
The Balcus stood his ground. He suddenly remembered why he was in the wood. He started getting hot under the collar. If they didn’t zip their lips he was going to lose his temper ANY minute now.
“I won’t leave this wood until I’ve found the place where the sun sleeps,” he announced.
“Zoi-i-ha-ha-ha,” chuckled the zingers. “Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?”
“Get lost, you long-nosed freak!” yelled the zinger cheekily and settled on the Balcus’s nose again.
“Look who’s talking! You lot don’t even HAVE noses!” Balcus roared.
He flicked the squadron leader off his nose angrily, but then tried his best to calm down by counting to eighty-seven before talking to them again.
