CHAPTER EIGHT

Oslo the Mink

The crimson sun began to dip below the horizon. Deep shadows crept along the forest floor. GEORGE noticed how many of the residents, the small and large creatures who lived in the giant pine, had scurried to hide between its roots and branches.

A dark brown animal crawled out from under the boulder. His short tail brushed over twigs and fallen pine cones.

GEORGE watched the mink creep toward the edge of the giant tree trunk. GEORGE focused his vision receptors and hovered above the boulder. He sailed toward the giant tree trunk where Oslo had disappeared into the underbrush.

GEORGE landed on the forest floor by a pile of leaves. He clicked on his nighttime vision sensors and saw Oslo.

“Hello!” GEORGE said.

Oslo blinked. His dark eyes sparkled in the dusky light. “You are,” he paused, before saying, “a stranger.”

GEORGE nodded. “Yes, I am. But I know CeCe. She told me how to find you.”

Oslo shuffled. Twigs snapped. Leaves crackled below his webbed feet. “CeCe?”

“Yes,” GEORGE said. “CeCe, the magpie, told me about the clever trick you played on humans. She said you might have the bronze owl.”

Oslo emerged from the pile of leaves.

GEORGE flew to Oslo’s eye level and explained his mission.

“Will you help me with the treasure hunt?” GEORGE asked. “If you do, my boss will trade in the bronze owl for the golden owl. She will donate it to a good cause, the Lonely Readers Society.”

Oslo placed his webbed paw on his chin. “Hmm,” he said.

GEORGE waited for his reply. Crickets chirped. Owls hooted. Wolves howled at the moon.

“First,” Oslo began, “I do like to support a good cause.”

Each of Oslo’s words hung in the air, like curls of smoke rising from a campfire. GEORGE watched a ribbon of clouds pass over the waning crescent moon.

Wondering if the MAV Pack had found the other bronze owl, GEORGE said quickly, “I’m so glad you agree. So are you willing to give me the bronze owl? The Lonely Readers Society helps lonely children who love reading feel connected to each other and to the world around them.”

In his own careful, Oslo way, the mink continued, “Yes, son, I have the bronze owl. The humans kept disturbing my home while they searched. I thought if they found an old iron bird, they would leave me alone.”

He leaned back on the wide tree trunk. The moonlight glimmered off his soft brown fur.

“But after I switched the owl for the iron bird, the humans came back. They dug up the ground. They took the iron bird. And then… they put another bronze owl in its place.”

“Yes, I know,” GEORGE said.

Oslo smiled. “I took that owl too!”

“You have two bronze owls?”

“I do,” Oslo said. He laughed a long, chortling laugh. “But since the Lonely Readers Society sounds nice, I will give you both bronze owls. Maybe that is the only way for humans to stop poking around searching for the treasure. Then my family and I can live out the rest of our days in peace and quiet.”