allow me to help each farm that has been affected. Together, we can cure your lands and make them fertile once more."

Silence, and sudden applause. Everyone was enthralled and immediately convinced. Amber smiled, realising that she was quite the orator.

The meeting went on for a while, more proposals were made, and in the end everyone seemed to agree on the most important items.

At the end of the meeting, everyone walked out of the town hall and went back to their respective homes. Gideon Gray said hello to the Hopps family and was about to return to his bakery, when a warm paw held his arm back.

"Mr Gray," said the charming voice of Beatrice Lorena Wilde. "I'd like to take you up on that coffee and pie, if you don't have any inconvenient."

Gideon turned to meet the green eyes of Bea and his tongue seemed to get stuck in his throat.

"Um…uh…sure," said Gideon. "A little earlier…than expected…"

"All the better!" said Bea, hugging his arm and leading him briskly towards his bakery. "More time to chat and enjoy the day, I say!"

As Bea and Gideon walked away towards the bakery, Judy watched them as she held Nick's arm, standing in front of the town hall.

"Sly fox," she said to him.

Nick gave her a warm smile and they walked down the sidewalk to join the rest of the family.

Amber and Penny were at the McCotton farm. The McCottons were helping them with the irrigation machine. As Penny and Amber adjusted the machine to spray their solution of sodium chloride over the fields, a young buck came walking to the side of the machine, removing his hat. He was creamy-brown and his eyes were dark-grey.

"Miss Penelope Hopps," he said shyly.

Penny turned around and immediately her cheeks flushed.

"Charles McCotton," she said.

Amber looked at them both and instantly understood what was happening. She smiled delightedly.

Charlie McCotton turned to her.

"Miss Latrans," he said. "I would like to thank you and Penny…er…Penelope, on behalf of my family, for your help. We were all very moved by your words, and we just want you to know that anything that you may require, you have only to ask."

He sounded like he had rehearsed the lines ten times before speaking them to the ladies. Amber took his paw, and Penny took the other.

"We're all one big family," said Amber in her charming voice. "And family shares love, and we help each other in times of need."

Then she took Penny's paw and placed it in Charlie's paw, and held them there purposefully. Both bunnies blushed like mad.

"Penny, dear, why don't you help Charlie install the dosifier and show him how the regulators should be placed?" she said. "I'll take care of the pressure controls and let you know when everything is ready."

"Sure, Auntie Amber," said Penny.

The two females looked at each other and shared a wink of complicity. Penny was overjoyed to have a friend who understood and encouraged her.

"C'mon, Charlie," said Penny, tugging her sweetheart's paw. "Let's get your fields back to tip-top shape."

Amber watched happily as the two bunnies walked together to the other side of the machine, then continued to adjust the instruments inside the cabin.

Garth and Kevin were done installing the cameras. They were camouflaged in tree branches with a direct line of sight to the hole in the ground, which they had covered once again with a carpet of fake ground.

"Okie-dokie," said Garth as he and Kevin returned to the loft of the barn to activate the surveillance system. "Let's get the system online."

Garth typed in commands and paused. Then he turned to Kevin.

"Kev, would you do the honours?" said Garth.

"Sure thing, Uncle Garth," said Kevin, and he pressed the ENTER key with his little paw.

A progress bar flashed for a few seconds, and…

"Success!" said Garth as he saw the images of the clearing in live feed.

He turned to Kevin and they high-fived!

"Kevin Levin Little Colt! Faster than a lightning bolt!" chanted Garth and Kevin beamed. "Well done, partner!"

"Thanks, Uncle Garth!"

They could see the whole clearing and could zoom in on the spot where the hole was to see clearly if anyone approached it.

"Now what do we do, Uncle Garth?"

"Now we wait," said Garth, "and see if we catch us a bad guy in our trap."

Judy stood at the mouth of the hole in the clearing beside Garth and Amber. She had installed a makeshift well-head above the pit and a pulley with rope to help them descend. Nick was making sure the rope was secure. Garth and Amber were behind Judy, waiting for them to finish their preparations.

"All set," said Judy, putting a headlamp on her head.

"Great. Everyone ready?" asked Nick.

Amber and Garth looked at each other.

"Well, I've got my Gyro Gearloose Patented Portable Chem Kit," said Amber.

"And I've my Gadget Hackwrench Essential Compact Tool Kit," said Garth.

"Let's do it to it!" they said in unison, making a complicated paw sign and ending in a fist-bump.

Judy giggled and Nick chuckled.

"Like two peas in a pod," said Judy.

"Ain't life grand?" said Nick.

Garth was the first to descend along the rope. Amber, Nick and Judy slowly lowered him down until they felt him touch the bottom.

Amber descended next, and finally Judy. Nick remained on the surface to keep watch.

Judy switched her headlamp on and walked in front, illuminating the path for the others. She led them to where she and Nick had found the burrowing machine. It was still there.

"Okay," said Judy. "This is it."

"Great," said Amber. "Leave the rest to us."

They took out their tools and started working.

"Let's just unplug this tube for a spell…" murmured Garth as he worked.

"…and mix these two beauties," murmured Amber as she worked with her portable chemical kit.

Judy made sure they got plenty of light as they worked. Garth dismantled a section of the machine's engine and Amber poured in an oily red chemical that she had made by combining some other chemicals in her kit. Garth then sealed the engine up as it had been and they gathered their things.

"All set?" asked Judy.

"Yup," said Garth.

"When whoever he is switches on that machine, he'll have a nasty surprise," said Amber.

Up on the surface, Nick saw two familiar figures approaching. Bonnie Hopps and his cousin Bea were walking towards him. Nick smiled as they came to his side and greeted him.

"So, how was coffee at Gideon's?" asked Nick.

"Oh, just wonderful," said Bea. "Such a gentlefox, that Gideon."

"Glad to hear," said Nick. "I bet he'll whip up a killer wedding cake."

"Oh, you rascal!" said Bea, slapping him playfully on the arm.

Nick just gave her his teasing smile.

"So, are you still fixing on taking the evening train?"

"Yup," said Bea. "Garth gave me all the files and video evidence you've collected. There is definitely enough to begin an investigation. I'll take this to the head of my department and we'll look into it."

"I'm sure you'll earn yourself a nice promotion in the process," said Nick.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed," said Bea.

Suddenly, Nick felt a tug on the rope he was holding in his right paw. He pulled it up slowly and up came Judy. Nick helped her onto solid ground, and then they helped up Amber, and finally Garth. Once everyone was above ground, Judy removed the makeshift well-head and they carried the parts back to the house. Garth made sure the hole was convincingly camouflaged and they left the clearing.

"Now for the fun part," said Garth. "Watching the unsuspecting culprit spring the trap."

They went back to the house and got cleaned up. Bonnie went to the kitchen to get supper going. Bea offered to help her and they both got busy, chattering happily.

Everyone settled in the living room to wait for supper. Penny and Amber sat on the sofa, reading a science magazine that Amber had brought with her. Stu and Nick sat down at the game table, playing cribbage. Judy was helping Maggie with her math homework. And sitting close to the fireplace, Garth was reading a book with Bianca.

"So you see," said Garth. "The Lilliputian emperor commanded all Lilliputians to break their cooked eggs on the small end first. But the people of Blefuscu accused them of breaking an ancient sacred law in doing this. And so that was the beginning of a long war between the two nations."

"I think that's silly, Uncle Garth," said Bianca.

"You think so?"

"Yes," said Bianca. "Why fight over something so silly? Why don't they just talk about it and agree to make a deal, instead of fighting?"

"Ahh, Bianca, you are very young but very wise," said Garth. "That is indeed the best way to solve problems. Sitting down together and talking. Ah, if only more people thought like you."

And then, in one of those still silences, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," said Stu, getting up from his game of cribbage with Nick and walking to the front door.

It was Uncle Terry.

"Stu," said Terry. "The mayor has called for a meeting tonight, at eight o'clock."

"Another meeting?"

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