Chapter 3

Chapter 3 "Before we do anything drastic," said Dirt, "I think we need to confirm that Barbara isn't actually in the house. For all we know, she's in the basement doing laundry." "Dirt has a point," said Sugar. "We'll do a quick search of the house—" RING!!! The squad jumped at the sound of the phone. RING!!! "Answer it!!" cried Poppy. "It could be Barbara calling for help!" RING!!! "Hello?" said Dirt, tilting to the left from the weight of the receiver. Then she nodded.

"May I ask who's calling?" She furrowed her brow. "Just a moment, please." "It's for you," said Dirt, handing the phone to Sugar. "He won't give me a name." "Sugar here," said Sugar into the phone, before turning back to Zippy and the squad. "A little privacy, please!" She motioned for them to give her some space and then spoke into the phone again. "I see," said Sugar, nodding slowly. "Are you certain?" asked Sugar, beginning to pace.

"Big thing? Brown? Scary?" asked Sugar, nodding for another minute. "Ra-BUM? Ra- BUM? You're certain? I see." Sugar placed the receiver back on the hook. "Who was that?" asked Dirt. "Dangerous Danny Finnegan," said Sugar. "Guinea pig who lives in the house behind us. Owes me a couple of favors." "What's a big, brown, scary thing?" asked Dirt. "A bear!" yelled Sweetie with mouthful of pineapple. "Wait a minute.... That was too easy." "'Ra-BUM? Ra-BUM?'" asked Dirt. "No idea," said Sugar. "Dangerous Danny mumbled something about a headless bear and a funny sound. But he didn't have breakfast this morning, either, so I'm not sure he's thinking clearly."

该页暂无翻译

"How did Dangerous Danny know to call you here?" asked Dirt. "A little bird told him," said Sugar, turning to Zippy. "Now, we're going to need the Hammer." "What on earth for?!" asked Dirt. "Hammer, with a capital 'H,'" said Sugar. "She's a house mouse, tiny little thing, spends most of her time in the basement." "Why do they call her the Hammer?" asked Poppy. "You don't want to know," explained Zippy right before he let out a long, slow, deep whistle. Then two short higher-pitched ones. A small, gray mouse appeared from someplace behind the oven. "Hammer, you know Zippy, and this is the squad—Dirt, Poppy, and that rolling ball of rainbow down there is Sweetie." They exchanged polite nods. "Did you happen to see Barbara in the basement this morning?" "Our Barbara?" replied Hammer.

"Yes," said Dirt. "The Barbara in the house?" asked Hammer. "The one who feeds you and takes care of you?" "That one," said Sweetie. "Tall lady? Brown hair? Pretty blue eyes? Smells like gardenias?" asked Hammer. "Yes, that one!" said Sugar. "Drives the silver pickup truck?" "Same one," said Sugar. "Lactose intolerant?" asked Hammer. "Did not know that," said Sugar. "YES. THE SAME ONE!" shrieked Zippy. "How many Barbaras do you know??" A long, steady whistle leaked out of his face. "Well, if you're sure that's the Barbara you mean, I can confirm she has not been in the basement today."