Morlun was very impatient. "Well? Did you?"

"Of course not! I don't know where it is! For all I know it's down your pants!" *Hmm...he'd probably like to check wouldn't he?*

Sam started crying. *What a cry baby!* "Well where is he then?" Just then Morlun saw something run out of a bush. "There," he said as he pointed it out. The three chased it. It was a little squirrel and it had the magical rubber duckie! *Oh no!* *Cue evil music*

"he's got the rubber duckie," cried Domre. "Hurry!"

They ran and ran, but could not catch up.

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this." Morlun reached his hands out and said some mumble jumble and the squirrel froze instantly. *Poor little squirrel!* "Hurry, it won't last long."

Finally the three caught the squirrel. Luckily it was still frozen in place. Sam grabbed his rubber duckie. "I missed you so much!"

"I wonder why the squirrel took it in the first place. It's not like it's magical or anything," Domre said. He still didn't know that it really was magic. *What a moron. Isn't it like...obvious yet? Ok...maybe not yet...but soon, very soon my pets.*

Morlun used his magic *he's a wizard in case you didn't notice by now* and unfroze the squirrel. It looked around frantically, confused, it was totally lost.

"Where am I," it asked.

"Don't play games with us Mr. Wood, why did you take the rubber duckie," Morlun asked him. His patience was running very low by now. *Does Morlun have any patience at all? Man...he's always so grumby...don't ya think?*

"I...I...," the squirrel looked up at the wizard with his sad puppy dog eyes. "I was lonely. I saw it sitting near the lake. It looked like it would keep me company, or at least entertained. So...I took it." The squirrel began to cry. He was so ashamed of himself.

"What is your name little squirrel," Sam asked him.

"Nemo Wood," it replied.

"Please Mr. Morlun...may he come with us to the city?"

The wizard was very unsure about this little squirrel. He knew he could cause troubel. "You'll have to take care of it, feet it, bathe it..."

"What," exclaimed the squirrel interrupting Morlun. "Excuse me Morlun, but I'm able to take care of myself as you can see."

"Alright, yea yea yea...he can come."

Now the five *Morlun, Domre, Sam, Mr. Wood and the rubber duckie* headed back to the wagon. They all hopped on board and headed down the yellow dirt road.

Next chapter

Retrace your steps