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."This is just the first few chapters, unfortunately.You'll probably have to wait until Christmas for the rest.Would you like to see what it's called?"Lucy gave an ecstatic nod.David turned the manuscript around and showed her.SNIGGER and the NUTBEAST a squirrel story for Lucy Pennykettle(age 11 today)"Sit back, be good and listen," said Liz.Lucy sat back, as tame as one of Martin's mice.But she couldn't resist whispering, "What's a nutbeast?""Ah," said the tenant, "you'll have to wait and see."And with that he turned the page and started to read.147The Truth about the NutbeastChapter One," said David."The Nutfall That Wasn't.""The nutfall that wasn't?" Lucy repeated, already interrupting."Oh, Lucy," her mother chided."It's all right," said David, raising a hand."There's too much to read all at once, anyway.I'll have to do it in pieces." He leaned forward."This is the opening line: Once upon a time there was a squirrel called Snigger, who lived in the beech tree near the wishing fountain in the beautiful library gardens in Scrubbley.""Aah," went Lucy, smiling at her mom."One blustery morning," David continued, "Snigger was sitting on the fountain wall, enjoying his usual148morning grooming, when another squirrel appeared at his side.It was Shooter --"Lucy turned to her mom."Told you they went to the gardens," she whispered, then clamped a hand quickly across her mouth."-- and judging by the way he came dashing up the hill, he clearly had his tail in a bit of a fluff.'Snigger! Snigger! Come quickly!' he panted.'Cherrylea says a nutbeast has come!'"Bonnington looked warily over his shoulder."'A nutbeast has come?' Snigger repeated, doing a frenzied twirl on the wall.'It was in the clearing by the oak tree!' gasped Shooter.'It took our whole nutfall.Lucy bit her lip and grabbed for a cushion.She squeezed it tightly onto her lap."We used to get a nutfall in the Crescent," said Liz."Every autumn, before the oak was cut down, hundreds of acorns spilled across the road.It used to drive Mr.Bacon mad.When he went off to work in the149mornings, they used to splinter and crack underneath his car.He said it cost a fortune in garage repairs.""Mom," huffed Lucy, "we don't want to know about Mr.Bacon.We want to know what Snigger did next.""He ran to the clearing with Shooter," said David, "and had the misfortune to bump into Birchwood.""'Watch it, fleabag!' Birchwood snarled.'Or I'll pull your whiskers out and throw them in the pond!''Not while I'm around!' cried a voice.""Who was that?" asked Lucy, sitting up so quickly she disappeared inside her hat."Ringtail," said David."He's Snigger's best friend.He came leaping to Snigger's defense.Before you could say 'fluff and whiskers,' Ringtail and Birchwood were in a fight.They rolled and hissed and scratched and bit, each accusing the other of stealing the nutfall.It was a good thing Cherrylea came when she did or one of them could have been badly hurt." 'Stop!' she cried.'I know what happened.There150was a horrid black beast in the clearing last night.It was scuffling around in the fallen leaves, picking up as many nuts as it could find.'""I bet it's that crow," said Lucy."What crow?" said Liz, looking confused."David saw one in the sycamore tree."Bonnington twizzled an inquisitive ear."It was bigger than a crow," David said spookily.He turned another page."Now, Ringtail, when he learned what had happened to the nutfall, decided to organize a nutbeast watch.Each of the squirrels took turns hiding in a yew tree and watching the oak at dusk that night.Guess who was watching when the nutbeast came back?""Snigger.""Correct.He'd been sitting in the tree for absolutely ages, when all of a sudden something came plodding down the path." David lowered his voice to a whisper: "Snigger's body turned as cold as ice.It was all he could do to prick his ears and concentrate on which151way the thing was heading.First it shuffled along the path, kicking up little explosions of leaves.Then it was skidding down the earthy embankment, snapping twigs and stumbling against tree roots.It made strange, floppy, thudding sounds as it moved awkwardly into the clearing."Suddenly, a chill wind howled across the gardens --""Hhh!" squealed Lucy.She covered her eyes and paddled her feet.Bonnington scooted off behind the television.Liz raised an eyebrow.David leaned forward."-- and the branches of the yew tree parted! At last, Snigger saw the beast.It was just as Cherrylea had described: a great black shape, crouched low to the ground.Snigger watched with a sort of fascinated horror as it sifted through the leaf litter, hunting for acorns.Bravely, he crept along an outlying branch, hoping to get a closer look, when suddenly, without warning, the nutbeast reared! Snigger bolted for the152top of the yew.He sat there, panting in terror.But his fear was soon replaced by anger.For in that one daring glimpse he had learned the truth: The nutbeast was nothing more than.a man."Lucy's mouth fell open in shock."It was YOU!" she cried, jumping up."You in your big black stinky coat! He's a robber, Mom.That's where he got those nuts for our trap.He stole them from the library gardens.That's why Snigger came to our garden -- to see where the nutfall went!""Oh, David," Liz said, with a smile."Is this true?""Chapter Two," he admitted."It's all here; my complete confession -- right up to the point where Snigger gets trapped in the box by mistake.""I bet he went home to tell the others," scowled Lucy."It wouldn't surprise me if Birchwood came around and bit your toe.""Well, let's find out," said David, turning a page."Stop!" cried Lucy."What now?" her mom sighed."The dragons aren't here."153Liz rolled her eyes."You can fetch Gawain and Gwendolen.But you'd better be quick -- and we're not going to start again.""Can Gadzooks come, too?""He's on my windowsill," said David, meeting Lucy's eye.Lucy whipped around and scooted to the door."I might want to go to the bathroom as well.""Oh, for goodness' sake," Liz sighed.Lucy shot down the hall.Seconds later she returned with Gadzooks.She placed the special dragon on the coffee table, pushed her hat from her eyes, and dashed out again.After a pause Liz said, "You do realize you'll never be able to leave this house now? You'll be chained to your computer forever and a day writing squirrel stories for my daughter.""It's your fault for giving him to me," said David
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