“I don’t care! I told you, you can’t trust a ‘coon!”

“This is one of the largest dams I’ve ever seen. But where are the beavers?” Benjamin looked around.

“I don’t know. I’m almost afraid to ask what happened to them,” Clementine answered. “The place looks nice, though. If I was a beaver, I would want to live here.”

“Except for the occasional giant tree that comes smashing down on your home when you least expect it!” Roscoe countered.

They reached the end of the dam and followed a limb to the ground. Malcolm was far ahead, keeping his distance so they couldn’t hear his crying. The late afternoon sun gradually made its way over the trees to the west. Dusk was near. They didn’t talk much, except for an occasional comment about a rock or tree. The mood was somber. They all knew the worst part of their journey was to come.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Confession Time

“EVERYBODY STOP!” Clementine exclaimed, then whispered, “Malcolm! Malcolm!” The raccoon turned. “Don’t move!” Clementine mouthed without sound.

“What is it?” Paco whispered. Clementine lifted his eyes to the sky. A buzzard high above was flying east. “That’s gotta be one of Farangis’s. We must be close.” Three more followed and disappeared beyond the trees. “That road should be coming up.”

A few more turns in the creek bed brought them to a small stone bridge built long before any of them was born. Large stones had been carelessly laid over each other to form a hump that rose over the creek. A small tunnel went under it, allowing the water, whenever there was any, to flow.

“I guess this is the road then,” Benjamin said, butterflies in his stomach. Large rocks stuck out of a long strip of green grass stretching west to east. Tall, old hedge trees lined both sides of the road, creating a long shadow over the lane. “I’ll bet nobody has been down this way in a long time. I never knew it was here.”

“But you never knew about our kingdom either, Your Majesty,” Roscoe smiled.

“Good point.” Benjamin graciously patted his head. A screech and a shadow across the sun heralded another buzzard overhead.

“Quick, into the tunnel!” Paco led the way under the bridge, Benjamin crawling on hands and knees. They waited in silence. “King Benjamin, can you hear anything?” Paco asked quietly.

He backed up to the entrance and listened. “Nothing.” He crawled out and the others followed, standing near the opening. Paco turned to the raccoon.

“Okay, friend. You have fulfilled half of your part of the agreement we made. Now it’s time for you to turn around and go back home, like you promised.” The raccoon stood staring at the ground. “Go home, ‘coon! This is private business now!”