The Taunch Bowl and Moon Glow Wood

By Richard Spink

On the unknown planet Interk sits the dense and mysterious Moon Glow Wood. The planet mirrors Earth in all aspects of life and landscape. Two owls learn to read in the forgotten library of a dilapidated mansion which sits on the edge of The Wood. Smilecramp, the young owl, uses his newfound knowledge to form a plan that could present a life of peace and harmony to all the diverse woodland creatures. But to implement his plan to the predators of The Wood, who live by the dreaded food chain for survival, he calls for a self-imposed amnesty on preying. A group of courageous like-minded creature friends of the young owl, who are mystifyingly identified by unique silver adornments, join forces to promote the plan. Yuno, the old spider who has a silver dot on his forehead, is derided for creating his artistic webs which are purely for visual pleasure. "What a waste of valuable, capturing thread," scorn preying creatures. A frustrated mole named Sleames, bearing a silver circle around his right eye, has always nurtured a private aspiration to build things "and not simply scrape tunnels with my claws," Sleames sighs. "Stay positive, Sleames," advises Smilecramp with his silver beak gleaming. "A new way of life is coming soon." "Then, I will build you a school," Sleames declares with excitement in his voice. "I could create a hospital to cure sick and lame creatures who now become victims of the predators," says Netta, the bee, who sports an attractive silver waistband. She is famous in The Wood for saving the life of a raven by administering her honey lotions and potions. "They say that preying is nature's way. Well, now there can be another way," urges Smilecramp to Spitlan, the mighty vulture, who, with his fellow vultures, cast a brooding menace over The Wood. Meanwhile, hidden under the ground of Moon Glow Wood, unknown to any humind or any creature, lies the Taunch Bowl with its very own intriguing magical powers. What follows is a unique and gripping tale of intelligence, tenderness, and humor amongst the endearing and far-reaching creatures who enter into a romantic quest in the search for the improbable-the pursuit of a harmonious society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644713242

Book preview

9781644713242_cover.jpg

The Taunch Bowl and

Moon Glow Wood

A novel by

Richard A. Spink

ISBN 978-1-64471-322-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64471-323-5 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64471-324-2 (Digital)

Copyright © 2019 Richard A. Spink

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

About the Author

The Taunch Bowl and Moon Glow Wood is dedicated to my wife, Linda, who encouraged me to write this book. Also to my son, Ben, who as a young boy had an unbelievable imagination which many years later gave me the inspiration for the title of my first book and many of its characters.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the

friends, family, and acquaintances who allowed me to run this idea by them, and I valued the encouragement that ensued.

For the appraised comments on the drafts of the book, I am grateful to Norma Evans, Christine Spink, Rhona Hewit, and Deloris Smith.

My appreciation of support and assistance, I must give to Denice Hunter and Ashley Matthews.

I acknowledge that to take a manuscript from a darkened drawer to a bookstore shelf is quite an undertaking, and I am greateful to all at Covenant Books for their skill and experience.

Finally, both my late parents, Lillian and John Spink, were forced to leave school at the innocent age of fourteen to support their respective families. I am deeply indebted to their insistence on providing me with a sound education.

Chapter 1

"Quick, Mother, wake the children and

bring them to the front door!" shouted Sleames, the mole, in an anxious voice as he moved rather more quickly in his shuffling manner, which indicated to Mother that something was wrong.

What is it? What is the matter? Mother replied in her usual calm voice, even though she had just put the children to bed.

The Huminds have poured the vapors down our escape tunnel! Sleames yelled out between short gasping breaths. It was pitch-black there in the tunnels. But Sleames knew his tunnels well, and as he raced back to his home, his keen instincts made up for the poor eyesight, which allowed him to navigate them easily, without tripping over an odd root that might cross his path.

Does this mean we have to move yet again? asked Mrs. Sleames, this time with a sad, resigned tone in her voice. This would be the third time this warm season that the Sleames family had had to move from their living space. Old Sleames had been working very hard during the warm season, creating a crisscross network of tunnels under the ground in a piece of land that was easy for him to work. Although he knew that there was a risk, he also knew from experience that the best place to dig his tunnels was underneath several large houses that the Huminds had just built. The Huminds had these great machines that dug huge holes which turned the earth over and made it softer for him to dig. They also removed large rocks and tree roots to make it easier to enable him to carve his tunnels in straight lines.

Yes, we have to go, Mother, and quickly! I will collect Shuffle, and you collect Roll. We will pick up our things later when the vapors have gone.

Wake up, children! they both cried as they gently shook their twin children from their deep sleep.

Oh, Dad, moaned Shuffle to his father as Sleames lifted his son from his warm bed. I was just about to catch a great big fish. He was on the end of my line, he said in a thick, slow, sleepy voice.

Yes, in your dreams, his father replied. Now come along quickly, Shuffle. The Huminds have done it to us again.

Not the vapors again, squeaked Shuffle. They hurt my eyes and nose so bad the last time.

I know, I know, said Sleames. But I managed to notice them earlier this time. I had placed some tall grass shoots inside our escape tunnel as Smilecramp, the bright young owl, had suggested that I should. Because it was still daylight up above ground and there was light at the tunnel entrance, I saw that they were starting to turn yellow just a short time ago. So this early warning will give us some valuable time before the nasty vapors travel this far down the tunnel, explained his father.

Mummy! Mummy! I have to wait for Fidget to come back! I know he will be down the tunnel playing, pleaded her daughter Roll.

Fidget was Roll’s pet ant. She had found the young ant lost and hungry, and against all her natural instincts, she had felt sorry for the frightened, sobbing creature. She had fed him and kept him warm in her room, and so the smart young ant had decided that being with Roll was the best thing for him. Sleames, however, had not been happy with this situation at the beginning. Because ants were a good source of food for him and his family, he thought it might cause some confusion for Roll. But Mother had managed to talk him into letting Roll keep the young ant. She had put forward the reason that now the twins were getting older and starting to grow away from each other, it would be good for Roll to have a pet for company. She pointed out that he and Shuffle were away together, for long periods, gathering food. With this in mind, Sleames pondered the fact that his daughter had shown a remarkably unselfish attitude toward the unfortunate ant, and this demonstrated to him that compassion could overcome the instinctive desire to kill. Had she inherited his own radical thought processes through his genes and without realizing the true ramifications of her decision had she innocently broken the food chain reaction?

Hmmm, I wonder, thought Sleames excitedly.

Sleames finally agreed with Mother. But it meant that he had to explain to Shuffle that when they caught ants, they now had to sneak them to Mother so that she could cook them without Roll realizing what they were and without Fidget seeing his fellow ants being put into the pot.

Don’t you worry about Fidget, said Mrs. Sleames. He hates the vapors just like us, and when he gets a sniff, he will come hurrying on back here. She tried to reassure her daughter. Sure enough, just then, the little ant appeared coughing and sneezing and was swept up into the waiting arms of the relieved young Roll.

Sleames had remembered to collect the ready-to-go-quickly bag, which they had placed at the end of the escape tunnel, and Mrs. Sleames picked up the other that they had placed at the front door for just these very emergencies. Sleames told them all to follow him through the front door, and they would travel to the up-tunnel. Once there, at the end of this tunnel, they would stay with his brother Slomo and his family until he could build a new home for them. He knew that this would not be a problem as earlier this warm season they had taken his brother’s family in with them during a similar situation with vapors in their tunnels. They scurried in single file down the dark tunnels with Sleames leading as he knew his way better than the others.

Small insects, who also populated the tunnels made by Sleames, looked on in startled amazement as the oncoming creatures hurriedly rushed past them without making any moves to catch them, as they normally would have done out of instinct for a tasty morsel. The determined troop of moles just concentrated on making their way through the ink-black atmosphere, being guided solely by their natural instincts. This tunnel had a few tight corners, but in the intense situation, Sleames had his instincts tuned high, and he was able to sense the correct turns. Shuffle, however, kept up with his father. The young mole was learning fast. Roll with Fidget still sneezing in her arms was farther back, and finally Mother brought up the rear. They were all wearing their spider masks, which enabled them to breathe easily without the danger of inhaling the poisonous vapors. Mother lifted her mask periodically and, to her relief, could not smell the vapors yet so, she knew they were safe so far. They now turned into the up-tunnel, and it became easier for them all to travel along quickly because Sleames and his brother, Slomo, had made the up-down connecting tunnel in a straight line between their two adjoining tunnel complexes.

Sleames hammered on the front door of his brother’s house. After a short while, he heard murmurings coming from behind the door.

Is that you, Sleames? whispered Slomo from the other side of the door.

Yes, open up quickly, Slomo, Sleames replied, breathing heavily. Slomo opened the door wide and ushered the family inside.

Just give me one guess, Slomo groaned. The vapors again.

Yes, the Huminds poured the vapors down our escape tunnel, and by now the poison will be creeping into the house. We had some precious time to get away this time because of the long green grass that I had placed just inside the escape door. I noticed the grass turning yellow at the tips and knew immediately the vapors were on the way down. It gave me enough time to evacuate my family over to your place without breathing any of the vapors this time. I have to give that young owl, Smilecramp, great credit for his new invention. We must encourage all the creatures who live under or near the houses of the Huminds to use this early warning system. It will give them those vital few moments to escape unscathed, explained Sleames, now breathing a little easier.

While Sleames was explaining the incident to his younger brother, Mrs. Sleames and Slomo’s wife, Slufo, were helping the twins settle into one of the spare rooms.

OK, little ones, I know it will be difficult after all the excitement, but try to get off to sleep as quickly as you can, said Mrs. Sleames gently. However, she did not see Roll and Shuffle smiling to each other. The two young moles were now fully awake, and they did not mind these disruptions too much, as this meant that they would be staying for a while with their three cousins whom they enjoyed playing with. Also, this would make field studying much more fun with five in the class and two mums to teach them in turn. They wriggled with excitement in their fluffy beds, and Fidget had already jumped in beside Roll and disappeared down by her feet where he always slept inside her thick warm fur.

And now for some leaf tea, said Slufo, and she motioned Mrs. Sleames into her kitchen.

Slomo, you and I must go back into the up-down tunnel. We have to build a safety wall across the tunnel. The blockage will prevent the vapors from traveling down into your house. In a few sun’s time when the vapors have become weaker, we can go in and rescue our belongings, and I will start to build a new house, said Sleames urgently.

Here is some leaf tea first, said Slufo as she handed wooden bowls to Sleames and Slomo.

Thank you, Slufo, but we only have a few moments before we go, said Sleames seriously.

I don’t know if I can start another new home just yet, Sleames. Mrs. Sleames sniffed in a weak and tired voice. I loved our last house, even though it was small. I could pop up out of the escape tunnel and enjoy the Huminds’ pretty flowers, she said wistfully.

I know this has been a tough warm season for us, Mother, but we must not give in to the Huminds completely. I’m sorry that we have to move yet again. I have tried to build as close to the Huminds’ houses as possible because that is where the best source of food is available and where the earth is the easiest to dig through. But now I realize that I have to consider safety first of all to protect you and the children. This time I will go farther back into The Wood. I will build it bigger, and I will clear an area where you can plant your own flowers. It will mean, however, that Shuffle and I will be away for longer periods in search of food, said Sleames, his voice soft but strong.

Well, don’t worry, you are staying with us until your new home is ready, said Slomo firmly. You took us in when we had our own vapor problem. Our children enjoy each other’s company, and they seem to study their field classes better when they are together. I know that our wives enjoy being together especially when you and I and the three boys go off searching for food.

That is kind of you and thank you, said the grateful Sleames. But come on, we must now go and block the up-down tunnel or the vapors will travel down to your house Slomo, and we shall all have to move again.

Chapter 2

Don’t forget to take the spider masks with you,

reminded Sleames’s wife. You know how sick we all were at the beginning of the warm season when the vapors struck us. Remember the time when the vapors came in the night as we were sleeping and the masks saved us because we started to go down the wrong tunnel in our panic and confusion? Smilecramp’s tall grass early warning system is excellent and saved us this time. But it only works for us during daylight when we can see the blades turning yellow, said the practical Mrs. Sleames. So the masks will enable you to work faster in the dark and remember to take a spare pair just in case.

The spider masks, as they were now called, had been the culmination of much experimenting by Yuno the clever old spider, who had lived in The Wood for as long as anyone could remember. Yuno could make webs tighter than any other spider in Moon Glow Wood. All the creatures loved and respected Yuno because in addition to making webs for his own use, he enjoyed his work so much that he would make several other webs and place them in strategic areas of The Wood. These were known as his communal webs, and he distributed food that was caught in these webs to some of the older and weaker creatures and to families who had nobody to hunt for them. Yuno had collaborated with Smilecramp, the bright young owl, in creating the masks. Smilecramp had designed a very complex pattern of stringlines, that, if Yuno could produce the final design, would provide a filter that allowed a creature to breath and yet not let the vapors in through the mask. Yuno had this natural gift for stringing more intricate and stronger webs, and after many attempts, which had meant that some very brave creatures had tested various designs close to the areas that were polluted with the vapors, the final design had proved successful. Yuno, with the help of two of his apprentices, had produced a quantity of these masks which were then distributed to some of the underground creatures in return for a small amount of food. Yuno, once again, gave out this food to the less fortunate creatures.

Sleames and Slomo left the house, fitted their masks, and shambled off down the up-down tunnel. Sleames was ahead of Slomo, and he stopped every few steps, took off his mask, and tested the air with his mole’s very sensitive sense of smell. Finally, Sleames got a distinct whiff of the acrid vapors.

Stop! he shouted back up the tunnel to Slomo. Stay there and I will come back to you. Sleames shuffled backward just as easy as forward, and he was back with Slomo in no time.

OK, that’s far enough. The air is sweeter here, and it is safe for us to work, he advised. The tunnel is wider here also, and we can work in some measure of comfort. We will have more room to maneuver.

They had to block the tunnel in such a way that it would prevent the vapors from penetrating the wall. Yet not build it too strong because they would eventually take it down again when the vapors had evaporated sufficiently for them to retrieve their belongings from the house. However, they had carried out this procedure so many times with each other that they were now becoming experts at it. The task was to take the earth and small stones from the side walls of the tunnel and create the new temporary sealed wall at right angles across the width of the tunnel. The value of this method was that as they worked away at scraping the side walls, it opened out space and gave them more room to work in.

You start scooping, and I will start building, suggested Sleames.

Whilst Slomo was younger than his brother, he was much the stronger of the two. He began to scoop large amounts of earth with each of his strong paws. If a stone was found buried and stubborn to release, he could easily loosen it with the ferociously sharp five claws of his right paw and push it and the earth toward Sleames with his left paw. Although Sleames was not as strong as Slomo, he was a more skillful builder, and he had plenty of experience in both creating and blocking tunnels. He slowly gathered and piled the earth across the width of the tunnel making it sufficiently broad enough to prevent the vapors from leaking through into their space. He would press down a layer of earth then lay rows of small stones on top. He would repeat this method until it started to grow upward from the floor of the tunnel. The two moles worked quietly and efficiently in tandem for quite a long time. Finally, Sleames took off his mask, gave a couple of sniffs, waved his arm, and indicated to his brother to stop. The new wall was complete now, and the vapors could not be detected.

Gosh, that was warm work, Sleames, gasped Slomo. We were very foolish. In our haste to get down here, we forgot to bring some water with us."

You are right, Slomo, agreed Sleames. These tunnels are so low and tight that the space soon warms up. I would like to provide more ventilation in our homes. It is something I have been thinking long and hard about during this past warm season, but I can’t quite work it out. I have spoken with Smilecramp about it, but even he doesn’t have the answer.

Sleames indicated to Slomo to turn around, and he would follow him back to his house. Normally moles would have to retreat down their tunnels backward. Not that they mind this, as it was just as easy for them as shuffling forward. Living down there in the constant dark, their eyes were very weak, but their senses of hearing, smell, and touch enabled them to move just as easily as seeing their way. But because Slomo had scraped good-sized holes from both side walls, he had produced a large turning space. So he carefully backed into the space and turned around. Sleames also backed into the space and was about to follow Slomo down the tunnel when he noticed something sticking out of the tunnel wall.

Hang on, Slomo. This looks like a large smooth stone that we can use to support the blockage wall. Come back and give me a hand to remove it, said Sleames.

They both tugged at the stone for all their worth. But even pulling it together, they could not move it at all.

Let me get my claws underneath it and see if I can loosen some earth, said Slomo. He dug away a good pile of earth, and Sleames pushed the earth toward the new wall and patted it smooth. Slomo pulled at the stone again. Still it would not move. He continued to loosen more earth. He wasn’t going to be beaten by this stone; he was determined to get it out of there. As he toiled away and continued to pull on the stone, his claws kept slipping off. He was now perspiring quite heavily in the hot confined space, and as droplets of perspiration dropped onto the stone, it only made things worse.

Oh, this is hopeless, Sleames. Slomo moaned. I cannot get a good grip on this stone even with my strong claws. What I would give for a drink of water, he croaked.

Let me have a closer look, said Sleames. He could see his younger brother becoming frustrated and decided it would be a good idea to replace brute force with a bit of thinking. They swapped places, and Sleames began to brush some of the earth from the stone. He noticed that the stone was indeed very smooth and even shiny in places. Where Slomo had perspired onto the stone, he rubbed it with the top of his paw where his fur was the thickest, and the stone became even more shiny.

This is not a stone at all, Slomo. It is too shiny, and I think it is made of metal. I wonder, he said. He tapped the object with a claw, and sure enough, there was metallic sound.

What do you think it is, Sleames? enquired Slomo, leaning forward to get a closer look at the object.

I simply have no idea, but I am determined to find out. I don’t want to scratch it, so it may take us a little time to release it, suggested Sleames. Due to having greater patience than his younger brother, Sleames worked steadily and methodically, and gradually, slowly but surely, he exposed more of the strange object. Eventually, he could make out a shape. It was round, and it tapered inward away from his paws.

OK, Slomo, your turn. I am starting to become hot and tired, said Sleames quietly. But be very careful, he reminded his brother. We have got this far with it, and we don’t want to damage it. They swapped places, and Slomo who was well rested set to work eagerly. He scraped and pushed and scraped and pulled. Sleames, who was watching him very closely, removed the earth behind Slomo and packed it against their new wall.

It just moved! Slomo blurted out excitedly. Yes, it’s definitely moving. I can pull it slightly toward me.

Steady now, said Sleames in a firm voice. Don’t slide it yet. You might scratch it. Let me see, Slomo.

Slomo moved to one side, and as Sleames moved closer, he could see now that it resembled what he suspected it might be…a bowl, a Humind bowl.

I think it is a metal bowl, Slomo. A bowl to drink water from, said Sleames.

Oh, is that all, groaned Slomo, feeling rather deflated. I thought that it was going to be something exciting that the Huminds had thrown away. I certainly wish we had some water and could drink it right now, he said, licking his parched lips.

Well, after all the effort it took us to release it from the earth, I am going to keep it, said the excited Sleames. As he brushed the outside and scraped more earth from inside the bowl, he could see now that it was a very handsome vessel indeed. It was obviously larger than a drinking bowl that he would normally use. But he could lift it easily with both his paws placed underneath the cup part of the bowl. The circular cup gradually tapered to a long thin spindle, then flared out into a round flat bottom that Sleames placed carefully on the tunnel floor. As he delicately brushed more earth from the vessel, he said to Slomo, Wait until Mother sees this. She will make a fine job of cleaning it, and… Hello. What’s this? he exclaimed.

What’s what? said Slomo, trying to sound interested.

There are some markings here on the front. They must be Humind markings because I don’t understand them. Well, that doesn’t matter. I am still going to use the bowl for drinking, said Sleames, chuckling happily to himself.

So the two brothers started for home. Slomo picked up the spider masks and after having his excitement broken by the newfound object—only turning out to be a bowl. He was really feeling his tiredness pour over him. His head was drooping, and he was dragging his paws. Sleames, however, was thrilled with his new find and, for the moment, had quite forgotten the earlier incidents with the vapors.

Come along, Slomo. Get a move on, he urged. I can’t wait to show Mother my fine bowl.

Back already, said Mrs. Sleames with a twinkle in her eye. She knew that Sleames and Slomo would have been working hard on the safety wall, but she liked to tease them.

We have been working extra hard, retorted Slomo, having missed the irony from Mrs. Sleames. Just because Sleames here wanted this bowl that we found stuck inside one of the side walls.

Bowl? inquired Mrs. Sleames.

Yes, here it is, Mother, said Sleames, beaming wide. It took us quite a long time to ease it from the earth wall because I didn’t want it damaged. Look how smooth and shiny it is. It is made of metal and will be perfect to drink water from.

As Mother took the bowl from Sleames, she asked, What do you make of the markings on the front of the bowl, Sleames?

Oh, they must be Humind markings. I don’t know what they mean. I think I will show it to Smilecramp. He may know a way of finding out, said Sleames.

Surely you are not going to give this beautiful vessel to Smilecramp, said Mrs. Sleames anxiously.

Certainly not Mother. I am going to keep it and use it for drinking water with dinner. No more wooden bowls for me! said the jubilant Sleames. I like the look and feel of it. It is different and interesting. He passed the bowl to Mrs. Sleames who disappeared into the kitchen to clean it up.

Oh my! What a beautiful bowl, said Slufo. Where did you find that?

Sleames and Slomo just found it when they were building the safety wall. My Sleames wants me to clean it up for him to drink his water with dinner, explained Mrs. Sleames.

Well, dinner is almost ready. The children are fast asleep even after all their excitement. Their cousins Rally, Jimp, and Simo will be so pleased to see them in the morning, said Slufo, not realizing that the twins had slipped into their cousins’ bedroom and were whispering quietly and giggling at the prospect of spending whole days together. Things will turn out fine. You just wait and see, encouraged Slufo. You go and set the table. Tell the men to clean up, and I will fetch the food through to the dining room. After a few moments, they all sat down to enjoy the appetizing looking meal that the two ladies had prepared.

And now, Sleames, here is your new bowl. Pour yourself some water and take your very first drink, invited Mrs. Sleames. They all looked at Sleames as he carefully poured water from the jug into his new shiny bowl. Now that Sleames had washed and dried his fur, the silver circular birth mark that surrounded his right eye became more pronounced. He picked up the bowl with his two paws cupped around the sides because there were no handles on the vessel. As he brought it to his lips, he caught his reflection in the shiny vessel.

Gosh, this bowl is the same silver color as the ring around my eye, he remarked. Perhaps I was meant to find it.

Don’t be so pompous, Sleames, snapped back Mrs. Sleames. You know very well that there are other creatures in this wood with silver markings. Why should it be meant for you?

I was only joking, Mother. Sleames chuckled.

I’m not so sure. I think that you creatures with the silver markings seem to imagine that you are special, rapped back Mrs. Sleames rather huffy.

No, Mother, not special. The markings make us different, that’s all. Just different, replied Sleames quietly. He replaced the bowl on the table and placed a paw on top of Mrs. Sleames’s paw. It has been a long day, and we are all tired. I know that you are worried about your home, and you didn’t really mean what you said about us creatures thinking we are special. Did you?

No, of course not. You are quite right. I am just a bit tired and irritable, and I am sorry. Mrs. Sleames sniffled.

Now, let us enjoy this fine food, but first a sip of water, said Sleames, once more, lifting the bowl and taking a large drink. Ah, beautiful, he sighed.

What’s so special about a sip of water? grumbled Slomo.

Because my bowl is made of metal and not wood like your bowl. The water is kept even cooler, and it is more refreshing, explained Sleames excitedly.

Isn’t it a bit on the large side?, observed Slufo.

Don’t worry about that, answered Mrs. Sleames. My Sleames has a tremendous thirst, and that bowl will suit him just fine. She was now cheering up again.

The moles tucked into the fine food. Slomo also cheered up as he filled his tummy. They talked about their children and how they were growing up. How the three boys, Shuffle, Jimp, and Simo, were learning their survival skills and the two girls, Rally and Roll, were learning to cook.

I do wish that somehow The Food Chain could be broken, said Sleames. It is such a worry every day when we have to leave the tunnels. I hate to lose old friends, and the boys will be off by themselves soon.

But it has always been like that Sleames, said Slomo. I never really give it a thought.

Of course not, thought Sleames to himself. That is the problem with all the creatures in The Wood. Why am I the only one who thinks this way? Why do I feel in my heart that there has to be more?"

As discussion returned to the children once more, laughter filled the room at their antics and constant questions. Slowly, the experience of the vapors was far behind them. Sleames picked up his bowl and took a final sip.

Gosh, it is a large bowl as Slufo said, remarked Sleames. Even I can’t finish all the water.

Everyone laughed.

Well, my ladies, he said as he placed his bowl down on the table. That was an excellent meal, but with all the moving and the building of the safety wall, and—oh yes! With the digging out of my new bowl, I am ready for bed. What about you, Slomo?

Yes, I agree, said Slomo, stretching and yawning. Let’s go to bed. There has been too much excitement for my liking.

And my Sleames is excited about his new bowl as well. Mrs. Sleames smirked.

Oh Mother, you do like to tease, but yes, I am tickled pink about my bowl. It is not every day that you find such an interesting object. Sleames smiled. With that, the ladies began clearing the table.

Good night and thank you again for taking us in and feeding us so well, said Sleames to Slomo and his wife. "We will need to check the safety wall early in the morning Slomo before I go out and look for another site to build a house.

That’s OK, Sleames, said Slomo. But you know that you can stay here for as long as you need to. We know that our wives and children will enjoy being together, and I will enjoy watching and learning from your master building skills.

So Sleames and his wife climbed into bed, and before Mrs. Sleames had time to say good night, Sleames was fast asleep.

Chapter 3

Sleames was off to dreamland. We all knew

how curious dreams could be. We could go to strange places and get involved in strange things. Sleames suddenly found himself inside the house of a Humind. He had always wanted to see inside one of their fine houses. In real life, he had risked visiting their gardens many times, and on one occasion, he even looked inside a garden shed. He was amazed at the number of their fine tools that could be used, he imagined, to make digging and building much easier. Although Sleames had great tunnel-making skills, he had a longing deep inside him that he could not quite explain to other creatures—to create and build things, especially to build a better home for his family. Not to just scrape earth with his claws but to actually make things. He certainly knew he had the ideas and the skill, but he desperately needed the tools. Sleames was always very careful when he went hunting for food around the Humind properties. He was especially careful to look out for the dogs that are so dangerous to a mole.

Oh no! said Sleames to himself (back in his dream). Just my bad luck. There is a dog right there in front of that fire.

Is he sleeping? Surely, he is not just ignoring me." Sleames stayed in a dark corner, hopefully out of sight, and gazed around in wonder at all the fascinating things inside the room. There were bright lights that would make life down inside his tunnels more enjoyable. There was comfortable furniture everywhere, not the plain wooden boards that he had made. There were carpets on the floors, much softer than the rough earth he and his family had to walk on.

Everything is made for comfort and the colors are so outstanding. Mother would love a house like this. It is not damp and dismal, and it is so easy to keep clean, said Sleames to himself. As he looked around, he still kept his eye on the dog. But now he was looking beyond the dog at the fire.

Oh, that would be perfect for my cold and damp house down in my dark tunnels. So that is how they do it! They set fire to logs and the smoke goes up that tunnel and out of the house. It looks so simple but, I never thought of it before. I wonder how they set fire to The Wood? he said quietly to himself, puzzled.

He could certainly scrape a tunnel down into his spaces from above, and that would make the connecting tunnels less hot and stuffy and more comfortable. Yes, that would be good ventilation, but the fire? That would have to come later. He looked across the large room and saw the adult Huminds and a young boy Humind. They were sat in comfy-looking chairs and were all staring at moving pictures on a thing that looked like a window. He listens and hears the young Humind ask his father, What else is on the TV?

So he mumbled, A TV? That is what the contraption is called.

As in all dreams that are so realistic, you cannot control what comes next. You just have to go with the flow. Suddenly, he caught sight of a quick movement, and to his horror, a cat was running straight at him.

Oh no! he cried to himself. This is going to be ugly.

But just as he raised his razor-sharp claws to defend himself, the cat passed straight through him.

Oh my gosh! What happened there? he exclaimed, and to his relief, he watched the cat race out of the door. He was just catching his breath when he turned to see the dog coming toward him in great bounds.

Oh, this really is the end! he cried. But no, the dog also passed through him. Phew! This is nerve-racking. Poor Mr. Sleames realized the dog was chasing the cat. Then, almost at once, a little girl came running at him. This was too much for Sleames, and he again instinctively raised his paws and thrust out his claws. But the little girl, who was squealing with delight, ran through him as well. Sleames shuffled quickly into another corner of the room out of sight behind a big old arm chair and sat there to catch his breath.

Now come on, said Sleames to himself. Get yourself together. What is happening here?

After a short while, he gathered his thoughts and asked himself. Is this just a dream? The Huminds and their animals, can they really see me or am I invisible? I can see myself so why can’t they? He decided not to take any chances so he waited until the chasing game between the little