The squirrel gasped when he saw Malcolm, who growled ferociously and began climbing the dam. Two broken sticks fell from Billy’s hand as he turned to run, kicking out sticks from under him and hitting Malcolm in the face. Malcolm leaped through the air, stretching his arms out and grabbing the bushy tail. The squirrel scratched at the wood, trying to break free, but Malcolm pinned him on his back and held his chest tightly. The other three tried to climb up but couldn’t. Benjamin watched on tiptoe.

“Well, well, if it isn’t bushy tail Billy,” Malcolm panted and gnashed his teeth.

“M-Malcolm! What brings you to this nape of the woods, neck of the way…why are you here?”

“Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing. After all, you can’t pay Marlon his overdue walnuts from so far out here, can you?”

Billy’s heart beat rapidly against Malcolm’s finger. “N-now look here. Times’ve been pretty tough lately. I lost my–”

“Save it! You’re too late, and you know what that means.” He squeezed harder.

“No! No! Please! Not the tail! I beg you! Please!”

Malcolm held Billy’s tail in his free hand. “You know, the boss is one squirrel’s tail short of his nice bushy necklace.” Billy’s teeth chattered. “And I believe this one will just about do it!”

Chomp! The squirrel leaned forward and bit Malcolm’s hand. “Yeeoow!” He shook his hand up and down in the air and the squirrel took off.

“What’s happening, Sire?” Clementine eagerly asked the boy.

“The squirrel bit Malcolm and got away.”

Paco rolled his eyes. “Good grief! We don’t have time to chase squirrels!”

Billy ran across the dam, Malcolm at his heels. “Get back here, you no-good tree rat! It’s useless–Ouch!” Malcolm’s foot sank through loose sticks and stuck between two tree branches. He tried to twist it loose as Billy ran up the creek wall. “Billy!”

“What happened, Sire?”

“He’s stuck.”

“Great! Some guide!” Paco said in frustration.

Malcolm couldn’t see his foot. Billy ran up a tree but Malcolm didn’t care. “Help, please! Benjamin, can you see me?” The boy’s sandy-blonde hair was sticking up.

“Hold on, Malcolm. I’ll climb up and free you.” He grabbed some heavy branches and pulled himself up, then walked slowly so as not to upset any of the logs underneath.

“Sire, be careful!” Roscoe cautioned.

“Oh, good boy! Thank you very much for coming,” the raccoon said in relief.

Billy laughed from high in the tree. “Looks like you’re not doing too good there, Malcolm! If you ever get out of that mess, go back to your fat, ugly boss and tell him I did have his walnuts, but decided to eat them! Ha ha!” He jumped up and down, laughing hysterically. Cri-i-i-ck! The tree leaned and loose dirt fell off the roots.