“Uncle Ereth,” said Junior, “fell onto a lever just as I was turning the key. It began to move. On its own.”
“Ereth,” said Poppy, “is that true? Are you the one to blame for this?”
“Actually,” muttered Ereth in such a low voice that Poppy was not certain she heard right, “actually, it was the salt’s fault.”
CHAPTER 34
The Wreckage
CONFIDENT THAT AT LAST the bulldozer had truly halted, some of the mice began to approach the wreckage of the house, poking and prodding it. Others continued to stare at the bulldozer. A few gazed nervously up at Ereth and Mephitis.
Last to arrive was the slow-moving Lungwort, still supported by Lilly and Sweet Cicely.
“There!” cried the old mouse as he came through the crowd of onlookers. “Didn’t I tell you porcupines were the most dangerous creatures on earth?”
“Who’s that?” Ereth demanded of Poppy, lifting his head.
Poppy sighed. “It’s my father, Lungwort. Papa, I’d like you to meet Ereth, my friend.”
“Friend!” sputtered Lungwort. “This so-called friend of yours was driving that machine! He’s the one responsible for smashing down our dearly loved house.”
Poppy took a deep breath, offered a reproachful look at Ereth, and said, “I’m afraid so.”
“Grandpa,” said Junior.
“What?”
“It wasn’t Ereth. It was me. I did it.”
“Impossible. How could you?”
“I turned the key. Really. It was my fault.”
“Please,” said Poppy, “all three of you, come down here. I’m afraid we need to make some introductions—and explanations.”
Ereth, Mephitis, and Junior reluctantly climbed down from the bulldozer. The mice gathered around, staring. Mephitis and Junior, side by side, kept bumping each other, suppressing giggles. An embarrassed Ereth scowled, his tail twitching.
“Ereth, I should like you to meet my parents,” began Poppy. “Papa, Mama, this is Ereth. This is Junior’s friend Mephitis.”
“Keep that porcupine away from me!” cried Lungwort, backing away. “Porcupines are a menace. A danger. A threat to the peace. And he stinks. Away with him!”
“Cardboard crocodiles,” Ereth said, turning to Poppy with a look of exasperation.
“Uncle Ereth,” said Junior, “I don’t think he likes you.”
“Well, I don’t like him, either! He’s just a toilet bowl of nose drip!”
“And who are you,” shouted an enraged Lungwort. “You . . . you bumbling beast of destruction!”
“See here, you—,” Ereth began to reply.
“Ereth,” shouted Poppy with all her breath. “For once, be quiet!”
“Mice cavorting with porcupines and skunks,” cried Lungwort. “The world’s gone insane. I want nothing to do with it! Poppy, if this is the way you would lead the family, I clearly have made a grave mistake. Is there no one who understands me?” he cried.
Lilly held out a paw. “Papa, would you like a pine seed?”
Lungwort stared at her and blinked. “Lilly,” he cried, “it’s perfectly clear you should be the head of the family!”
With a snort, Lungwort pulled off his thimble cap and brought it down on Lilly’s head. Then, muttering under his breath, he marched haltingly away, Sweet Cicely and Lilly by his side. Lilly, reaching up to touch the cap, tried to suppress a smile—but could not.
Even as she did, a mouse in the yard called out, “Look! A human just arrived!”
All the animals turned their attention to Tar Road. Sure enough, a pickup truck had driven up and stopped. The next moment a man stepped out.
CHAPTER 35
A Discovery
THE MAN WHO GOT OUT of the truck was the same one—tan overalls and large stomach—who had come before. Now he stood by the side of the truck and looked about where the bulldozer had been. Puzzled by what he was not seeing, he pulled at the peak of his cap a couple of times. Then he spied the collapsed house and the bulldozer. He stared, puzzlement deepening. With another tug on his cap, he moved cautiously toward the wreckage.
The mice scattered.
As for Ereth and Mephitis, they ran behind the wreckage and crouched down. Poppy and Junior were with them.
“I don’t know how I am ever going to forgive you for this,” Poppy whispered.
“Freckled pork feathers,” said Ereth, “who are you talking to?”
“Each and every one of you!”
“But—”
“Ereth, for once, keep still!”
Junior belched. Mephitis giggled. Poppy looked at them severely.
Up by the road, the man moved slowly, as if unsure what he was seeing. A few times he paused and looked around. When he came to the place where Gray House had stood, he gazed at the shorn foundation.
After a moment he continued on toward the bulldozer and the wreck of the house. Drawing near, he considered the mess, then suddenly turned away, covering his nose with his hands.
A grinning Junior turned to Mephitis and whispered, “You got him, dude!”
“Shhh!” said Poppy.
The man, one hand holding his nose, climbed into the bulldozer and turned the key. There was a grinding, clacking noise, but the motor did not start. Baffled, the man pocketed the key and hurried back toward his truck, looking over his shoulder, once, then twice, his brow deeply furrowed.
“Where’s he going?” asked Junior as they stepped out from their hiding place to watch him.
“Let’s hope it’s to his own home,” said Poppy.
Just as the man approached his truck, Laurel and Pine, with a troop of their young friends, appeared. Every one of them had red fur. Unaware of what had happened at Gray House, they had gone to where the bulldozer had been.
Arriving at his truck, the man turned to take one last look back. As he saw the red mice, he halted and gasped. When the mice began to belch, he jumped into the truck and raced away.
It was Junior who said, “Cool, I think those red mice scared him.”
“Hey, everyone!”
The mice all turned. Atop the pile of rubble stood Basil. “This place has a million rooms now!” he cried. “Everyone can have a little space and privacy!”
There was a general squeal of delight as all the mice raced for the wreck and began to explore.
CHAPTER 36
Farewells
A FEW HOURS LATER, deep within the mass of rubble that had once been Gray House, in the space Lilly had found for Lungwort and Sweet
