Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Crumpled Capers (9 page)

At the duck pond, Timmy took a deep breath and plunged his paws into the icy water. He flinched as he touched Snif's wet fur.

“Snif! Snif!” he shouted, but the dog didn't respond.

Timmy had to act, and quickly. He undid his own collar and felt around for the old piece of rope around Snif's neck.

With one paw, he caught hold of the sodden rope and looped his collar around it. Then, he looked around for a sturdy branch to grab onto with his other paw, and pulled on the rope with all his might.

Slowly, the limp lump of fur came to the surface.

Timmy jumped back from the tree, still hanging on to his collar and edged forward to the hole in the ice. As he grabbed hold
of Snif's shoulders, his own collar, with his prized Badger badge attached, fell into the depths below.

Inch by inch, he heaved Snif's heavy form out of the water and up onto the ice. He pushed and pushed until they were both clear of the danger and on the grassy verge.

Timmy listened at Snif's chest for a heartbeat.

Suddenly, a big dark shadow loomed over them. Timmy looked up to see Badger hovering above.

“I came as soon as I could,” panted Badger. “The toast showed me where you were. Oh my goodness, what have you got here? Is that Snif?”

“Quick!” said Timmy “He needs a miracle and some of your Badgical-Magical healing.”

Badger landed swiftly and, for once, without a thump. He took one look at Snif.

“Stand back,” he said. “This is a job for 'Chief.”

He tapped his neckerchief urgently and said,
“Show koo ray, show koo ray, show koo ray.
Revitalise our friend, before he fades away.”

'Chief flew immediately off Badger's neck and started billowing over Snif.

“That's the kiss of life,” said Badger as sparkles of light twinkled around him. “I just hope we're not too late.”

They both watched anxiously as 'Chief continued its mission to revive Snif.

After what seemed like an age, 'Chief finished its task and formed a blanket over Snif.

Badger and Timmy laid their heads against his fur and listened.

His heartbeat was weak and faint, but at last, Snif was breathing.

“Right,” said Badger relieved. “Let's get you both back to my garden for some hot toast and blankets. Hop on.”

'Chief wrapped himself around Snif to form a sling. Badger straightened his legs, wiggled his bottom and took off, pulling Timmy and Snif along below him.

When they arrived in the garden, Badger ran inside to his Big Folk's house and appeared moments later, carrying warm fluffy blankets and a pile of toast dripping with butter.

“Into the shed, both of you!” he ordered.

Inside, with their teeth chattering and their bodies shivering, they wrapped the blankets around them, and chomped on the toast hungrily.

Snif, who had come round a bit, thanked Timmy for his bravery, and Badger for his neckerchief.

“Timmy, where's your collar? And your Badger badge?” asked Badger.

Timmy shrugged his shoulders. “I had to use it to rescue Snif, and it fell into the hole in the ice. There wasn't any time to try and find it. I'm sorry, Badger.”

“Don't worry, Timmy. I think you had more important things to think about,” said Badger kindly.

Snif looked apologetically at Timmy and they all munched on some more toast.

“Oh!” said Badger in surprise, “Snif's ears have turned purple.”

Snif raised a weary paw to touch them. “I can't feel them,” he said. “They're numb. It's probably the cold.”

“Don't rub them,” warned Timmy, “otherwise you could end up with crumpled ears too.”

“If I had even half of your courage, I'd be happy with a couple of crumpled ears,” said Snif yawning. “It doesn't matter what you look like in order to shine. It's what's in your heart that matters.”

And with that, Snif fell fast asleep.

“Oh dear!” said Badger. “I think Jack Frost has had a nip of Snif's ears. We're going to have to warm them up slowly to stop severe frostbite, otherwise he'll lose them.”

As Snif slept soundly, Badger set to work. He tapped his neckerchief again and asked it to form a heated bandage around their friend's ears.

“'Chief, 'Chief, wrap up Snif's lugs. Keep them
warm and give them hugs.”

Badger's neckerchief unfurled dutifully from his neck and wrapped itself around Snif's ears. As Timmy and Badger snuggled in for the night, only morning would tell whether Snif would be dog-eared and crumpled … or not.

The next morning, Snif woke first. He was groggy and thirsty and felt something on his head. He reached up and touched what seemed like a bandage around his ears. He quickly remembered the events of the day before.

Badger, who had been keeping a watchful eye on Snif throughout the night, said, “Let's take a look at your ears.”

Snif grimaced as Badger and Timmy took an ear each and gently removed the neckerchief bandage, worried as to what they might see.

“The tips look fine,” said Badger, unwrapping a little bit more.

“The fur seems soft enough,” said Timmy.

“Uh oh!” said Badger. “This one looks a bit blue.”

“And this one is covered in blisters,” said Timmy.

“Can you feel that, Snif?” asked Badger, poking a paw into his ear.

“Ouch, yes!” yelped Snif.

“Well, that's a good sign. I think you'll be back to normal in a day or so. ‘Chief has done an amazing job,” sighed Badger in relief.

“Good work,” he said to 'Chief as it shook itself out and wrapped back around the Mystical Mutt's neck.

“No crumpledness at all,” joked Timmy.

“Now, 'Chief and I have to go and see about something very important. I'll leave you two here to have breakfast. There's still some toast left from last night, and there's water in that dish in the corner,” said Badger.

Badger slipped through the crack in the fence and into the lane where he spotted Pogo Paws, Pickle and Lennie with their heads down.

They seemed to be on a trail and were
engrossed in following a scent. He shook his head and carried on.

“We need to find him. He's been missing now for a day and a night,” said Pickle.

“I think Timmy has kidnapped him,” said Pogo Paws.

“Why would he do that?” asked Lennie.

“Zip it, Lennie!” sighed Pickle and Pogo
Paws together.

“Right, we need to arm ourselves. This could be war,” snarled Pogo Paws.

“Yes, dogs against cats. Let's settle this once and for all,” growled Pickle.

“Oh, are we dressing up?” asked Lennie excitedly.

Pogo Paws and Pickle looked at Lennie in despair, before they all headed off to the bins to see what they could find.

In the shed, Timmy and Snif shared a few slices of cold toast.

“I'm so sorry about the way I've been treating you, Timmy. How can I ever thank you for saving my life yesterday?” asked Snif.

“I'm sure you would have done exactly the same, if you'd been in my position,” said Timmy modestly.

Snif shrugged and said, “I suppose we don't know how we'll react until we're in that situation, but I know how much cats hate water.”