by Billy Miner
The group crosses one field after another until they hit a train tracks. They stare at it for a while and look at each other.
“What are they?” the chickens ask.
“Oh, I know what these are,” Bruno says. “They’re train tracks.”
They all look at him.
“How come you know so much and we don’t?” Porky asks.
“I’ve been uhm… around…” Bruno says.
“You’ve escaped before, haven’t you?” Indy asks.
“Yeah, sort of. I guess.”
“Do you know where we’re supposed to go then? I mean, I have no idea where the hills with the purple flowers are. None of us do.”
“I think that we’ll find them if we take the train,” Bruno says.
“Are you crazy?!” one of the chickens says. “How are we going to get on the train? I can’t even jump that high.”
“We’ll have to look for a train station or wait for it to stop,” the dog answers.
The animals aren’t sure how to do it, but right when they are about to discuss the solutions, they see a train coming. It is still in the distance, but it seems to slow down. As the train comes to a halt in front of them, the group watches in amazement. All of them have their mouths and eyes wide open. They can hardly believe what just happened. The train stopped exactly in front of them. What a coincidence!
“Oh, well… there you go,” Indy says. “Looks like fate is smiling at us. Let’s go inside.”
Oliver jumps on the door and opens it up. Indy throws the chickens inside, lifts up the pig, and helps the Bambam to climb inside the wagon. It is so easy that they wonder if they might have done something wrong.
The train takes off again. Why it stopped, is not clear.
The seven animals look around them. They are in wagon with straw and hay in the corner. It looks nice and soft, and Porky and Oliver jump into it immediately, attempting to claim their own space.
“Who are you?” they suddenly hear.
It sounds like a low, heavy voice from a humongous animal. They all turn around, a little scared to find out who or what might talking to them. Then, out of the dark shadows, a giant bear steps forward.
“Aaaaah!” the animals scream.
“Wait!” the bear says. “You don’t have to be afraid. I have enough to eat. I wouldn’t eat you. Besides, I haven’t really fought or hunted in years. I am a circus bear. See?”
The bear stands on its hands and shows the farm animals what he is capable of.
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Indy says. “Where did you learn to do that?”
“Well, like I said, I am a circus bear. We go all over the country to perform and do tricks. And then people clap and cheer at us. They love it.”
“Sounds like a fun thing to do,” Indy admits.
“Sometimes, but I would actually prefer my freedom,” the bear says. “I have been trying to escape many times, but it just didn’t work out.”
“And where would you go if you were free?” the dog asks.
“Oh, I have already figured that out. I’ve been to the purple meadows. That place is beautiful. I would feel at home there. That’s my plan, to go to those hills.”
Indy and the others look at each other again.
“Are you thinking what I am thinking?” Indy asks Bruno.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I am thinking we should have this bear guide us to those hills. That way, we can take Bambam to his mother.”
“The name is Bart,” the bear says. “I am Bart the bear.”
“Very well, Bart,” Indy says. “We’ll make you a deal. If we get you out of here, will you show us where the purple meadows are?”
“Of course,” Bart says. “That’s where I am going anyway. But I have to warn you. It wouldn’t be easy getting me out of here. See this? This is the chain the people hooked up to the train. My foot is stuck in it, and I have no clue where the key is.”
“That’s a problem,” Indy says. Then she turns to Bruno and asks, “Would you take Oliver and Porky with you and find out where to get those keys?”
“Of course,” Bruno says. “We have a mission. Are you ready, guys?”
Chapter 4: River
The train keeps going at a steady pace, occasionally hitting a little bump on the tracks or swaying to the left or right side. The six farm animals are inside one of the wagons, with Bambam the deer and Bart the bear. One of them needs his family back, the other simply wants his freedom back. The situation has become more complicated than it already was.
Bruno, Oliver, and Porky are discussing the best way to get a hold of the keys to release Bart the bear.
”I think most of the people are in the front of the train,” Bruno assumes. “If we can get out of this wagon, we could sneak towards them via the rooftops. When we see the conductor, we will each have something else to do.”
Some further details are discussed, and the trio escapes the wagon via the ladder and the hatch in the roof. They walk over the wagons’ rooftops and hop from the one to the other. By repeating this a few times, they get to the front of the train. Bruno holds the hatch, and Oliver and Porky jump down. When they land on the floor, Bruno follows them and looks around. The conductor is looking in front of him, making sure the train ride goes smoothly and without problems. The shiny keys to the chains and wagons are hanging from his pocket.
They are ready. Their plan is about to be put into practice. Bruno barks.
“Bark! Bark!”
The conductor looks at him.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” he asks.
Then it’s Porky’s turn. He dashes forward and hits the conductor’s legs, causing him to fall backwards and end up on the floor.
“Get them, Oliver!” Bruno shouts.
Oliver jumps on the conductor and meows as loud as he can, scratching his head and attacking his back. The conductor cries like a little kid. It has been a long time since he has last been assaulted by a cat. He covers his head and screams with fear. Oliver shifts his focus from the conductor to the keys in his pocket and snatches them away.
“Got them,” he says.
“Good,” Bruno says. “Now, let’s go.”
As the conductor is recovering from the sudden scariness of the situation, the three animals quickly climb up the ladder and head back to the open hatch on the rooftop of the bear’s wagon. They slide down and present the keys.
“Great job, guys!” Indy comments. “Let’s get Bart out of those chains.”
“Wait,” Bruno says. “If we get him loose, he might eat us.”
“Oh no,” Bruno denies. “I told you. I am not hungry, and I have been eating a lot of vegetables. Besides, I couldn’t hurt you after helping me. I just wouldn’t feel good about myself.”
Indy gets a little closer and looks at him with squinted eyes. “You have to promise,” she says. “You have to promise that you will never touch any of us, not even the chickens.”
“Can I chase them, just for fun?” the bear asks.
“Well, maybe,” Indy says with a smile.
“Hey,” the chickens protest. “We don’t want to be chased.”
“Oh, be quiet,” Bruno says. “We are trying to negotiate. So how about it, Bart? Will you commit to leave us alone and guide us to the hills with the purple flowers?”
“Yes, yes. I promise. Now, please get me out of here.”
Indy and Bruno nod at each other and Indy unlocks the bear’s chains. The train stops, something they didn’t expect.
“Wh-why did it stop?” Bambam asks.
“Oh, how convenient,” Indy says. “It’s like they stopped to help us leave.”
“Don’t be naïve,” Bart says. “They stopped because you stole the keys. It’s because they are trying to keep us in here, not to help us leave. Come on! We have to move! Quicky!”
With his strong hands, he opens the wagon door; he encourages the others to leap out immediately. One by one, they climb out of the wagon and look around. When
they are outside, they see a dozen angry men running towards them with sticks and whistles.
“What are the sticks for?” Indy asks.
“I hate those,” Bart says. “They poke you with those if you’re not listening. And when they do, a spark of electricity goes through your entire body. It’s awful. But we don’t have time to talk. We have to run. So let’s go already!”
The animals run away as their legs can carry them. They come to a riverbed.
“O-oh,” Indy says. “How are we going to cross the river? If we don’t, they will catch up to us.”
“There!” Bruno says. “Look over there.”
They all look to the right, where they see a beaver carefully construct a beautiful dam. Then they look at Bruno as to ask him if he is crazy.
“What?” he asks. “Do you have any other ideas?”
They don’t, so Indy decides to go first. She crosses the dam carefully, placing one foot in front of the other. Then the dog, the cat, the chickens, the deer, and finally the bear. The beaver seems a little displeased with their decision, but there is nothing he can do about it.
“Go somewhere else!” he yells. “I spent hours creating this dam. I don’t want it to break.”
The people from the train are gaining on them. They are near the dam and are about to walk across the river by using the dam. Bart looks at the beaver and shrugs his shoulders.
“Sorry, buddy,” he says.
Then he leans forward and destroys the end of the dam. The branches, rocks, and clay are falling apart, causing the whole thing to rip in half.
“Go back! Go back!” the men shout to the person crossing the dam. But it is too late. As the dam breaks apart, the man falls into the water and barely holds onto one of the big rocks in the river. The other men help him up and watch their last chance of catching up with the animals disappear in the quick current of the flowing river.
The animals look back and cheer.
“That was awesome, Bart!” Indy says.
“Well done, big bear,” Bruno adds.
“You’re welcome. Thanks for setting me free, guys. Now, let’s go to those meadows. It’s a little walk, but I know exactly where we are going.”
Chapter 5: Forest
The night is young. The weather is great, but the full moon shines with its creepy face through the barren branches of the various trees. It’s a dark forest, a nightmare for any trespasser and a danger for any unfamiliar spirit to walk through. But there is no other way. The meadows are right behind the forest, according to Bart. They have to walk through this eerie place to reach their destination. Having the company of a smart dog, a brutal bear, and a hyperactive cat can make you feel safer though. And with that thought, Indy leads the way… right behind big Bart, who points them where to go next.
“I don’t like this place,” Bambam says shakingly.
“Oh, we’ll be all right,” Indy explains. “Of course there may be wolves, and bats, and hyenas. We may bump into the occasional clever fox, bloodthirsty lion, or cranky crocodile, but I can assure you that we’ll be safe. Besides, I am with you, so what can go wrong?”
Bambam looks at him with a scared expression on his face.
“I don’t think it helps to put him at ease by telling him about all the threatening possibilities of this forest, Indy,” Bruno says.
“Sorry. Just trying to comfort you. Don’t worry. I am stronger than a bear.”
Bart turns around and looks into his eyes. “Oh yeah?” he asks.
Indy steps back and laughs sheepishly. “Heheh…” she says. “Of course I was just speaking in metaphors. I meant it figuratively, not literally.”
“Good,” Bart says. “Because even when you have me with you, I wouldn’t underestimate the dangers we are about to face. I’ve heard pretty horrible stories about this forest. Things exploding and disappearing… it doesn’t sound a place I would want to stay any longer. So let’s keep going.”
Now Indy becomes a little scared. What could a big, strong bear like Bart be scared of?
They move along and quickly find out, because in the distance, they hear a loud noise.
Boooom!
“Wha-what was that?” Bambam asks.
“I am not sure,” Bart says. “But whatever it is, I don’t want to go and see.”
“Then let’s move along,” Indy says. But before she can say anything else, a green monster runs at them with great speed.
“Creepers!” Bruno yells. “Step aside! Those things can explode!”
The creeper speeds at Indy and Bruno pushes her aside, after which the creeper misses and bangs into a tree.
Boooooom!
The tree explodes and evaporates into a million pieces.
“Quickly!” Bruno the dog says. “Let’s run! Let’s get out of this forest.”
The chickens jump on Indy’s back to ride along, and the other animals follow the big bear, who tries to estimate the right distance and direction that leads to the other side of the forest.
“Watch out!” Indy says.
Another creeper comes running at them, this time at the cat. Indy runs at Oliver and pushes him aside. That was close. The creeper explodes about 20 feet away from them.
“Thank you for saving my life,” Oliver says. “I didn’t see that creeper coming at all.”
“You’re welcome,” Indy says as she looks around her for more creepers. “These woods are the most dangerous place I have ever been in.”
Fortunately, the group of animals has no more encounters with these explosive creatures anymore. When they see the edge of the forest, they sprint towards it and take a breath when they leave the last tree behind them.
They are panting, all of them. And none of them is looking up, because they are too tired to do so.
“That…” Indy says, “… that was something I never want to go through again.”
Suddenly, the bear takes his hands off his knees and stands up.
“Well, would you look at that!” he shouts excitedly.
Chapter 6: Hills
They have reached the hills with the purple flowers. The whole group of animals is looking up now. They are amazed. The meadows are fresh and colorful, with purple being the dominant color. Other flowers are yellow, white, and red, standing between the lush green blades of grass. The sun hits the far hill in the meadows with such an angle that it makes them stare at it for a while. The view is breathtaking, like a little paradise on earth.
“There you go,” Porky says to Bambam. “Now we can go home. You reached the purple hills. Good luck.”
“Oh, come on,” Indy says. “We have to take him to his mother. We can’t just leave him here.”
“You can leave me here,” Bart says. “I am going to be fine now. See you later, guys.”
Well, that was sudden. The bear waves and says goodbye as the others watch their most protective predator take off. Great. Now what?
“Let’s just start looking,” Indy suggests. “We’ll just head in that direction and eventually, we will bump into his mom.”
“You are such an optimist,” Bruno says.
But he doesn’t have a better plan, so everybody follows Indy again. They walk through the flowers and the grass, feeling more alive in this vibrant environment of the best nature has to offer. However, no matter how lovely and peaceful everything around them seems, they can’t help but feeling tired. The chickens are on Indy’s back, Oliver looks exhausted, and Bambam can’t take another step, or so he says. Indy talks with Bruno and decides it is time for a break. It’s getting late anyway. The sun is setting.
“Where shall we sleep?” Bambam asks.
“We can just sleep in the grass,” Indy says. “I wouldn’t mind it.”
“But one of us should stand watch,” Bruno says. “It’s not safe. There may be deer around here, but I don’t believe that they are the only ones. This piece of nature probably is just as attractive to predators as it is to you guys. But who should stand guard? That’s what we n
eed to determine.”
The others simply stare at him. The chickens start smiling. Indy shows a smirk on her face. Porky oinks, and even Oliver raises one eyebrow while keeping his eyes half-closed. Bruno knows what they’re thinking.
“Oh no,” he says. “I didn’t even sleep enough last night. Besides, I am not the most dangerous animal in this group. I won’t be able to alert you or defend you. And my nose isn’t as good as it used to be.”
The others still stare at him.
Everything Bruno says is just making it worse, because his reasoning is flawed. Each sentence only confirms that he would be the best one to stand guard…
… It’s midnight. All the animals are sound asleep… all, except for Bruno. He still mumbles random complaints, but nobody is bothered by it. They are happy and comfy, with sweet dreams about flowery meadows and beautiful skies.
Bruno is sitting there, looking around, looking at the floor, looking at the moon… he can’t focus. It’s getting so late, and now he has to skip the night, making sure that the others are safe. He hates it, but they convinced him to do it. Well, actually he convinced himself by not shutting up when he had to. Either way, he is the one who is awake. That’s the only thing that counts.
He thinks about delicious bones, about the yummy dog food he got at the farm, about his comfortable pillow in the dog house the farmer had provided for him. His stomach is growling. Breakfast has been a while; and although he isn’t starving, he could definitely go for a snack. Even the sleeping chickens trigger his carnivore instinct a little when he looks at them.
Suddenly, a sound interrupts his thoughts. The rustling of leaves shouldn’t bother anyone in the meadows, with sporadic trees offering shelter to the bypassing visitors, and decorative green bushes covering some of the empty spots where flowers and certain cannot grow; but for some reason, an intuitive feeling worries him. Indy feels it too. The sound wakes her up.
“What is it?” she says. “I just have this hunch. Something may be wrong. I don’t trust it.”
“I will go see,” Bruno says. “Stay here.”
