“My noble friend,” said Lobo to the moose, “I commend both your conscience and your heart. Unfortunately, the matter is not quite as simple as that. School is not a single foe that can be driven away by brute force, no matter how mighty the bull who challenges it. It is a human way of life, and therefore a human problem, which must be dealt with by human means, by human intellect. And important as this issue is to young Ethan, there is still a more pressing matter that exceeds it.”
The land, I said. That’s the problem we all have in common.
“Yes, the land now effects you all equally,” said Lobo. “But the greater problem is that of your father, Ethan. For reasons that I do not know, though he is in fact one of the rare humans, he has forgotten the language he once spoke, the wonder he once knew. Now he must be reminded of his gift, of the duty his gift requires, and he must be reminded by someone he can understand in his current state of disconnect.”
Me, I said.
“You,” nodded the wolf.
What if he won’t believe me?
“Have you ever given him reason to doubt you?”
No. No, not really, I said after some thought. About the worst thing I ever did was sneak cold soda from the basement that was intended for guests.
“Very well,” Lobo said. “If your conscience is clear, all the better for you. But whether he believes you or not, it is still your duty to try to get through to him. I have done my part, traveling here to bring order and help speak up for the animals of these lands, whose ancestors resided here long before yours did. These animals have organized themselves well enough, and properly summoned a human Earthkeeper to this meeting. You are the one who responded to that summons, Ethan. You must take the next step, before I can take my next step.”
Okay, I said with a deep breath. I’ll do my best. But really I didn’t have a clue what I could or couldn’t do. The truth was that I felt pretty helpless.
“That is good of you to say now. But what you say to your father when the times comes will be the true test of your character. Do not lose heart. I and everyone here will support you as we may, but still the next steps in this process are yours to take. If you cannot get through to your father, Ethan, surely none of us can.”
“Okay,” I said aloud. I swallowed hard, nervously. What should I say?
“I trust that Ginny, the fine friend that she is, will be at your side. She will help you choose your words, if you should need her assistance.”
“Always,” Ginny said very proudly.
“But now look at the ground,” said the wolf. “See the tracks left in this dusting of snow and consider the story they would tell to one who found them. It is my belief that your father will see your tracks before tomorrow’s sun can melt this snow. From those tracks he will read the rough details of this night’s events. Then he will question you, and you shall have no urgent need to search for special words to convince him of what has taken place.”
Okay, I said.
“Take courage,” said the wolf. “If all goes well, he will need only your encouragement rather than earnest convincing. You may only need to say something as simple as, ‘Father, don’t you remember?’”
Chapter 8
It must be getting late, is what I said next. Maybe it was the weighty feeling of responsibility I felt on my shoulders. Maybe it was the thought of the long walk that was ahead of me, and the fact that my feet were beginning to feel a little numb and stiff from the cold.
“Do you regret your involvement?” Lobo asked, clearly seeing my anxiety.
No, I told him. No, I’m happy to have met you all tonight. I’m thankful you’re here to help us, Lobo. And I do want to help. I just wish there was some way of knowing that everything will turn out okay.
“Uncertainty is never comfortable,” replied the wolf. “But take comfort, my young friend. You are not alone in your uncertainty. As you said, you have made many new friends this night—friends that are both depending on you and rooting for you. But now direct your energies away from your worries. Focus on getting yourself home and getting what rest you can. Tomorrow may well be a very eventful day.”
Thank you, Lobo, I said.
“No need,” he said. “Now, I and my pack will take our rest. Come morning, we will be waiting near your home, waiting for word from you, and hopefully from your father. I eagerly await the chance to speak with him.”
I nodded to the great wolf and then looked down at Ginny.
“We have a long walk ahead of us,” she said. “The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll get home.”
“Hmm-hoom,” groaned Stomper. “Long walk? Not as long as it could be. Move aside, everyone. Let me get down so that the Ethan may climb up. He is small, remember, and probably well worn out from his travels. So, I will save him as many steps as I can.”
“You are a good bull,” said Lobo. “There are few as great as you, who would stoop as a domestic animal to carry a human child. You have my deep respect.”
“M-hmm,” groaned the moose as he lowered himself carefully to the ground. “I am a proud bull, but only in the face of enemies and unruly creatures,” he said. “It warms me to have made a friend such as Ethan, and to carry him is surely no burden to one as mighty as me. Climb on, little calf, and let us be on our way.”
I went through the same routine as before, removing my mittens and carefully climbing up onto Stomper’s massive shoulders. Again there was the same feeling of warmth emanating from his huge body, the same thrill as he stood up and I held on tight to his antlers, and as he turned to retrace our steps across the swamp, all the other animals around us began to cheer and offer their farewells.
Good night, everyone, I called. But I didn’t quite dare to remove a hand to wave. Then I looked down at Prowler, Twitch, and Barkrunner—who had only come down from his hiding spot in the tree as the meeting reached an end.
“I’m coming with you,” said Prowler.
“As am I,” said Twitch.
“Us too!” called the chipmunks as they came jumping and tumbling along.
“And me,” added Barkrunner as he scampered toward Lobo. “But first I must speak my mind.”
“Oh no,” sighed Ginny. “Not again.”
Lobo looked down at the red squirrel and asked, “What troubles you, little squirrel?”
“A matter of justice troubles me!” replied Barkrunner, sitting up straight and proudly before the wolf. “Before we all go, it must be known to all present here tonight, that there is a thief among us!”
“Thief?” said the wolf.
“Yes, a thief. A lazy, gluttonous thief! I’ll not mince my words, Lobo. Berrybottom bear is the thief’s name. He has wronged me earlier this very season as the leaves changed color, and before I depart from this meeting, I demand satisfaction.”
Berrybottom lifted his head and momentarily glanced around at the mentioning of his name. Then he lowered it again and held perfectly still.
“My friend,” said Lobo to the squirrel, “am I correct to assume that this matter of justice is more accurately described as a matter of food?”
“Of course,” replied Barkrunner. “What else but food could be stolen from me? Everyone knows we squirrels work tirelessly through the summers to collect our stores. It is common knowledge. So when a stockpile is discovered, by accident or by ill intent, it becomes a matter of justice when such a store is stolen from the one who collected it.”
Lobo turned his head and looked at Berrybottom. Then, returning his gaze to the squirrel he said, “Little one, I understand your plight and I sympathize with your feelings of loss. You speak truly of your labors to gather and store. Everyone here knows it to be true. But at this point, what do you expect to be done about this loss? The stores you speak of have long since been eaten, and I dare say, they were forgotten by this bear even before he was finished chewing.”
“Justice!” cried the squirrel. “That’s what I expect. Let him be shamed as a thief before this counsel of his peers. Let him b
e called Blundering Berrybottom the Lazy Thief! Let him gather and return a store of equal portion to me. Ha! Then I will be satisfied.”
“Why have you come to me with this matter?” asked Lobo.
“Why? Because you’re an Earthkeeper! Why else? Everyone knows wolves are the sentries of the forests, the ones that bring balance and order among the species. I couldn’t very well ask a snail for help, could I?”
Lobo narrowed his eyes, not menacingly but in an amused sort of way, and asked, “Then, do you trust my judgment?”
“Well, I’ve been given no reason not to,” replied the squirrel.
“Then hear me,” said Lobo. “I do not wish to trouble this bear any more than I already have. As you were wronged by the loss of your collection, so he has been wronged by being called unnaturally from his hibernation.”
“But—” began Barkrunner.
“Hear me,” said Lobo with enough firmness to silence the squirrel. “Injustices, both large and small, are a factor of life that I find just as disagreeable as you do. However, considering the one who wronged you, I truly doubt that the injustice you speak of was an intentional crime. We all know that squirrels labor long in their collecting in order to have plenty for winter. Likewise, we all know that bears must eat as much as possible—much more than seems possible to a small squirrel—in the gentler seasons. This is not gluttony but an act of wise strategy for survival. By hibernating, bears require less food than if they had remained awake.”
“Yes, I’ll give you that,” Barkrunner said.
“To do as you suggested would only inflict more injustice on the bear. That I will not do over a mouthful of food he most probably stumbled upon by chance. Now, it is my opinion that you will never again hide a stash anywhere that can easily be found by a bear.”
“But …” Barkrunner pleaded, seeing his chance for justice slipping away. “But …”
“It is a hard lesson for you,” Lobo resumed without pause, “but it is one you will likely never forget. And as for recompense, my nose tells me that young Ethan has with him a food similar to what was taken from you. My heart tells me that he will share with you what he can. And if you truly are in danger of starving later this winter, as a result of your loss, I believe you’re new friend will be willing to help you as he may.”
I noticed Lobo’s eyes making sharp contact with mine as he said this last part. With a small nod I told him yes, I would gladly help Barkrunner, if his need became great.
“I’m not starving,” said the squirrel in a slightly less agitated tone. His posture slumped lower. “Not yet anyway. It’s just … the principal of the thing that bothers me most.”
“You raised this issue with me,” said Lobo. “I have given you my answer. Now, do what you must. Let the spirit of generosity prevail over your hard feelings, or remain in your bitterness. Either way, your lost stores cannot be returned from the bear’s belly.”
For a long moment the red squirrel glared at the bear while the rest of us looked on in silence. Then, at last, with a deep sigh he muttered, “Fine, leave the bear in peace. He wouldn’t even remember my small stash anyway. We all know that bears don’t think the same way as we squirrels. They just wander around, eating whatever is in sight. And as I said, I’m not starving. In fact, I received a nice little gift from Ethan earlier this night. So, let it be as you say, Lobo.”
“Good,” said the wolf. He gave a nod to the squirrel and then to me he gave a wink. “Now, the morning is not far. Let us all rest while we can. Good night to you all.”
***
“Lobo is very wise,” Stomper said as he began walking along the pond’s shore in the direction of the inn. “Hmm, if it had been me the squirrel asked for judgment, I would not have known what to say to the little fellow.”
You would have said that we should all eat slimy, mushy stuff, I joked.
“Hmm, hmm, hmm,” Stomper laughed, his sides heaving as he walked slowly and carefully, making it look very easy with his long legs. All I had to do was hold on tightly for the somewhat bumpy ride. “Good joke, Ethan,” he said. “Very good indeed. For we all know what I like to eat is not the favorite food of squirrels. Hmm, hmm, hmm.”
“That went very well,” Prowler said excitedly as he ran up beside us, a safe distance from Stomper’s hooves. “Lobo is even wiser and more remarkable than I’d imagined him to be. There’s no way your father will be able to ignore his words, Ethan. Oh, what a wonderful night this turned out to be!”
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Twitch. “I don’t mind saying I’m feeling mighty optimistic!”
“We’re saved, we’re saved!” squeaked Leafpeeker and Twighopper.
“Don’t start celebrating just yet,” put in Bandit, who was skulking along at the back of our procession. “Nothing has been resolved. We could all be on the hunt for new homes any day now.”
“Must you be so negative?” asked his brother. “We should feel honored to be visited by the famous Lobo. Can’t you at least be grateful for that?”
“I have no problem with him,” replied Bandit. “The problem is, we’re trusting ourselves to humans. Since when have they given us animals anything to trust them about? Ha! Nothing against you personally, Ethan. But humans. Ha! What a joke. And not the funny kind.”
“I hate to say it,” Ginny remarked, “but Bandit does have a point. None of you know Ethan’s uncle. He is far from being a good man. Even if Russell can be swayed by Lobo, there’s no telling what Chuck might do.”
“Hmm, this Chuck,” groaned Clodstomper. “I do not like what I’ve heard of him. I do not even like the tone of voice used when mentioning his name. Hmm. No.”
There’s not much to like about him, I told Stomper. He’s mean and sneaky and doesn’t like anyone or anything except for money. Once, when my father wasn’t looking, he kicked Ginny.
“Oh I wanted to tear his foot right off,” Ginny growled.
“Get him, Ginny, get him!” cried the chipmunks.
“I wish I could,” she said. “But that would only create more problems. Only if he harmed Ethan could I ever be justified in biting Chuck, and that I do not ever want to happen.”
“Nor would I,” said Stomper. “But perhaps a good bite might cause him to consider his ways. M-hmm. Yet, I believe, best of all might be simply to drive him far away from this place. That, hmm, I would be more than willing to do.”
I laughed to myself at the thought of Stomper chasing after my uncle. Then I realized we were already coming up out of the swampy area toward the tree line. Stomper made a deep hmm-hoom and slowed his pace.
I can walk from here, I told him. Although it sure is fun to ride.
“You are no burden to me,” he said. “I am only worried about the trees. M-hmm. If walking alone, without someone on my shoulders, it causes me no problem to cut through branches and brush. But with someone so small holding on, I am not sure how to proceed.”
“You should probably let him down,” Ginny said as she looked up at me. “I know you’re having fun, Ethan, but a branch could easily send you tumbling.”
“Hmm, no good, no good,” said Stomper. He halted, checked the ground around his feet, and then proceeded to lower himself gently with a deep grunt.
I climbed down and stood close to him, wishing the fun could go on and on. Before putting my mittens back on, I gave Stomper’s muscly shoulder a good scratching.
“Mmm, very good, very good,” he rumbled, and began slowly rolling neck and head back and forth. “If you could,” he said, “be kind to me and scratch high on my neck, just below my ear. It is a place difficult to reach for one with a body shaped such as mine, with antlers and such, and it could use a good scratching.”
I did as he asked, scratching all around his great neck while being careful to avoid getting hit by his antlers. The moose groaned deeply and began to lean his weight toward me, saying, “Very good. M-hmm.” Without intending to do so, as he leaned closer and closer, he almost knocked me over backwards.
After that I stood back a few paces.
Is that better? I asked.
“Much,” answered Stomper. He stood up with a groan and gave his neck a few slow shakes back and forth. “It is very good to have such good friends,” he declared. “I never thought I would befriend a human, but now that I have, I am very glad that I did. Thank you, Ethan.”
I should be thanking you, I told him. I never would’ve made it to the meeting without your help.
“Hmm, then let us thank each other by continuing to be good to one another. As I see it, that is as friends should truly be. M-hmm.”
I see it the same way, I told him with a smile. Will you walk on with us, or have you got to go now?
“I will walk on with you,” he replied, then focused on Ginny. “If it is all right with you, Ginny.”
“Always,” she replied.
At that point Leafpeeker and Twighopper ran up Stomper’s leg and each assumed a position on one of his antlers. The moose shivered at the feeling of their little feet against his body, but otherwise seemed not to realize what was going on. Then, when they said in unison, “Let’s go!” Stomper only twitched his ears, seemingly confused as to where their voices were coming from.
***
We made good time on our march through the woods. Soon we were at Barkrunner’s tree. He said good night to us all and scrambled up to the lowest branch. Rather than disappearing into the tree, instead he hesitated. Though he said nothing, I knew full well that he was hoping for another peanut. I dug into my pocket for one and then handed it up to him.
“Oh, how very thoughtful,” he said as he accepted the nut. “You’re a nice boy, Ethan. No one could rightly say otherwise. Some are takers, but you are clearly a giver. I thank you for your generosity. And I don’t mean just for the peanut. Thank you for coming out tonight and trying to help us.”
You’re a nice squirrel, I said. And you’re welcome. I only hope I can help.
The Earthkeepers Page 9