Bob and Stanley smiled proudly as they stood on either side of the tiny throne, which was elevated high enough for all to see. Bob gently lifted the queen and placed her on the velvet cushion. She wore a simple crown of woven greenery that matched her forest-green grown.
The Great Hall grew hushed as she rose from her throne to speak in her high-pitched, lilting voice.
“Our subjects, Our people, Our friends. This last year has been a hard one like none since the days of Our greatest grandfather, King TheoDore the Wise, who banished hunting from our land. We are ashamed that it was during Our rule, under Our watch, that an uprising occurred. Many of you suffered. Some of you were forced to work in factories and mines, others had livelihoods stolen.” She paused for a moment, as if holding back tears. “But We can say that some good has come from this tragedy. We learned that not all Tassie devils were keen to return to the savage past. Some, in fact, actively worked to stop that from happening. Which is why here, on Our birthday, I have decided to begin a process of reintegration for those who are willing to live peacefully alongside all other critters of our land.” Some mumbling arose. The queen raised her paws. “We understand your concern, but We have enlisted the help of a critter who has proven his loyalty. Tonight, We wish to honor Snarl, son of Snarl, with his new title, ambassador to Mount Ossa.”
Applause arose as Snarl stood, placed his paws together, and bowed. Lola beamed. It was almost impossible to remember how frightened she’d been when she’d first seen him standing in the doorway of the grain silo. He was one of the most peaceful critters she’d ever met.
“Tonight We wish to present another ambassadorship, one that has become vacant—the position of ambassador to the Northern Burrows and the Realms Beyond.” Again there was a bit of mumbling. Lola fidgeted. That was her uncle’s old job. He’d abused his power and brought the island to the brink of chaos. Who would the queen choose to take his place? Lola had no idea.
“The ambassadorship is hereby granted to Alice Budge.”
Applause filled the hall. Lola jumped to her feet and cheered. “There’s goes my peace and quiet,” Arthur said with an amused expression.
“Guess that means you’ll be visiting Dore quite often,” Melvin said to Lola.
“I guess so. Maybe I’ll even live here someday,” she said, which made her even happier.
When the applause had faded and critters had settled once again, the queen continued. “Before Our royal chef brings out Our royal birthday cake, there is one more honor We wish to present.” Silence fell and all faces turned up, eagerly awaiting this unexpected news. “Lola, Melvin, and Blue, would you please join Us beside Our throne?”
Lola and Melvin shared a surprised expression. Lola’s heart did a little pitter-patter dance. She had no idea what was about to happen. “Go on,” her mother said, giving her a gentle nudge.
“Lola!” Blue exclaimed as he hopped off his chair and waddled up to her. She lifted him into her arms and carried him up the stairs. Melvin delicately dabbed bread crumbs from his whiskers, then joined them. Queen Myra nodded at Bob, who reached into his golden bucket and pulled out a book. It was a copy of The Tales of Tassie Island, but it wasn’t the copy that she’d lost so many months ago. This one appeared to be brand-new. He held it out to her. She set Blue next to Melvin, then took the book.
“This is a new edition of Our most beloved book,” the queen explained. “We understand that it is your favorite book as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Lola said. “I love this book. I read it every morning before I went to sleep in my burrow.”
“Please turn to the marked page.”
A satin bookmark peeked out from the book. With a trembling paw, Lola opened the pages. What she saw nearly took her breath away. “Oh, hooly dooly,” she whispered.
31
LOLA THE UNSHY
And there, beneath the chapter title, was an illustration of a wombat, a swamp water rat, and a baby penguin.
“In honor of the journey that Lola Budge took to save her family and her home, and in honor of those who helped her along the way, We have commissioned a new story that will be told forevermore,” Queen Myra said.
Lola turned the page toward the audience so they could see the lovely drawing. Applause filled the air again. It was the most perfect moment in Lola’s life. “I’m a story,” she told Melvin. “We’re a story.”
“We’re not just a story,” he said with a flourish of his paw. “We’re the stuff of legend.”
The Royal Chef wheeled in the royal birthday cake. Merriment and feasting commenced. A cast of characters united in camaraderie, friendship, and love.
“Lola! Cake?” Blue bounced at her feet. Then he waddled over to the cart and bounced even higher, trying to get a better view.
“Uh-oh, he’s wandering again,” Melvin said, rushing over to grab him before a disaster could occur. Lola saw much of her own inquisitive nature in Blue and remembered a time when she, too, had been scolded for being inquisitive. But that felt like a lifetime ago.
Lola hugged the book to her chest and chuckled to herself. She may not be like other wombats, but …
She wouldn’t have it any other way.
EPILOGUE
Bale Blackwater had promised Lola that if she ever needed a message delivered, he’d give her a free delivery. And he was going to keep that promise. So he made his way down, down, down, into the bowels of the palace, his messenger bag strapped to his back, his webbed feet slapping the stone floor. He was in an extra cranky mood. He was supposed to deliver messages in the water, not on land.
“Oi! You there!”
There was no one down there but a single wombat, who turned around at the sound of Bale’s voice. He was a stout critter, with chin hairs waxed into a pointed beard.
“Are you addressing me?” He set aside his mop and wiped his paws on his plain apron.
Bale came to a stop, then scratched his head. “Course I’m addressin’ you. Do ya see any other critter standin’ about?”
The wombat frowned. “Is there something you want?”
“Course there’s somethin’ I want. I’m here ta deliver a message.” Bale reached into his messenger bag and pulled out an envelope. “But I gotta make sure yer the right wombat. Cause if I deliver to the wrong wombat again, I’ll get fired from the union for sure.” He smacked his flat tail against the floor.
The wombat sighed. “Well? I can’t stand here all day. I have a floor to mop.”
Bale looked at the envelope. “It’s addressed to Uncle Tobias.”
The wombat’s eyes widened with surprise. “It is? I’m Uncle Tobias.”
“Ya sure about that? Like I said, I can’t make another mistake.”
The wombat held out his paw. “I’m very sure.”
“Well I reckon ya know who ya are.” Bale handed over the letter. “All right, mate, have a g’day. But don’t be expectin’ me to come down here again. Being out of water for this long makes me feel as cross as a frog in a sock!” And with that, he spun on his feet and waddled away.
The wombat stared at the unexpected envelope for a long moment. Then he opened it. And this is what he found.
Dear Uncle Tobias,
Enclosed is a ticket for a hot-air balloon ride from
Dore to the burrows. We will be expecting you for a family foraging as soon as you can join us.
Signed, your niece, Lola
Tobias Bottom read the message again and again and again.
And, despite the grimy apron and overwhelming stench of dirty mop water, he felt richer than he’d ever felt in his entire life.
A FEW WORDS FROM THE AUTHORS
While this story is loosely based on the beautiful part of the world called Tasmania, it is a fantasy, which means we took liberties. Many, many liberties. For that is the joy of writing fiction and the special joy of writing fantasy. We made stuff up. Of course we did. Wombats don’t carve bowls and spoons.
And so, there are times whe
n we created our own terrains for the purpose of world-building. We made the island swampier than it actually is. We made the island smaller than it actually is. And there are times when we brought in critters that don’t normally live in Tasmania, and times when we modified existing species, like turning the Australian swamp rat into a garbage-eating, stinky critter, when in fact they are quite clean and cute. And, though Tasmanian devils are native to the island, we chose to make them invaders to up the tension of the story.
Most of our writing was done in coffeehouses, to which we thank the owners of Hot Shots Java in Poulsbo, WA, and Cups in Bainbridge Island, WA.
We are grateful to our Tasmanian reader, Jodi Haines.
And to our publishing team: Michael Bourret (Literary Agent), Erin Stein (Editor Extraordinaire), Carolyn Bull (Designer), Ilana Worrell (Production Editor), Raymond Ernesto Colón (Production Manager), Janine Barlow (Copyeditor), and Cory Godbey (Cover Artist).
And a big thank you to Brian Jacques, whose Redwall books inspired us to embark on this journey. We both got to meet him a few years before he died and it was an honor.
But we also want to thank each other, for it is not every mother and son who can sit down, day after day, to create a novel together, and still be on speaking terms when the process is finished. But we made it through. Thank you, Walker. Thank you, Mom.
Happy Reading!
ALSO BY SUZANNE SELFORS
FORTUNE’S MAGIC FARM
WISH UPON A SLEEPOVER
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
SUZANNE SELFORS is a best-selling, award-winning author of over thirty books for young readers, including Wish Upon a Sleepover and Fortune’s Magic Farm. She lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest where wombat sightings are extremely rare. This is her first book cowritten with her son. Visit her online at www.suzanneselfors.com, or sign up for email updates here.
WALKER RANSON studied engineering at Gonzaga University and worked as a pizza chef before finally admitting to his family and friends that what he really wanted to do was be a writer. This is his first published novel. Walker currently works as a bookseller at an independent bookstore and is writing his next novel. Visit him online at www.walkerranson.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
DEDICATION
1. PEACE AND QUIET
2. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
3. A MONSTER IN THE FOREST
4. A “T” AND A “B”
5. THE TRADING POST
6. CUPPA BAD NEWS
7. SWAMP SOUP
8. ALL ABOUT MUD
9. BABY BLUE
10. THE MISSING MESSAGE
11. THE ROYAL ROAD
12. STELLA’S STAR
13. THE STEAMING DRAGON
14. A MONSTROUS PAIR
15. SNARL, SON OF SNARL
16. HOT AIR
17. BIRD’S-EYE VIEW
18. A PLATY’S CONFESSION
19. OUTSIDE THE GATES
20. RAKE AND LASH
21. WELCOME TO DORE
22. THE GRAND GOVERNOR
23. THROUGH THE WINDOW
24. T.B. IS READY
25. BLUE TO THE RESCUE
26. LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE
27. BUCKETS AND SHOVELS
28. THE TINIEST QUEEN
29. CRASH LANDING
30. A NEW TALE
31. LOLA THE UNSHY
EPILOGUE
A FEW WORDS FROM THE AUTHORS
ALSO BY SUZANNE SELFORS
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2020 by Suzanne Selfors and Walker Ranson
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All creatures take heed, A warning indeed, Whether feather or fur, Web-footed or spur, If you steal a book The predators will look, FOR YOU.
Proclamation from the Royal Librarian of Dore
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
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Imprint logo designed by Amanda Spielman
First hardcover edition, 2020
eBook edition, 2020
eISBN 9781250220332
Braver Page 23
