Chapter 3: The Pleasure Garden
With a beautiful pearl in his backpack, Scruffy ventured further into the forest. He passed an eerie sight he had only heard in rumours. " The Unmarked Grave." It was a scary place beside the creek. But if the rumours were true, there was treasure around it. He tried to remember the poem...
Dare ye stand on the grave
peer hence toward the cave
Across the water in a tree
lay a rich man's destiny.
But that would have to wait. There was an island to find. Besides, standing on the grave was said to be certain doom.
As Scruffy started an uphill climb he noticed that the creek was dry and the plants were parched. By the time he reached a mountain clearing the grass was lifeless and yellow. The trees drooped low for lack of water.
In a desolate meadow stood a giant green tower. But what it held was a secret, for there was no door leading inside. Other buildings were scattered helter skelter on the hill. Checking around the compound, Scruffy found a note...
"Ye who enter this land be blessed with flowers gigantic and fruit a plenty. For these pleasure gardens have been planted for the benefit of weary travellers. Partake in all you wish and stay as long as you like. Our gardens are yours."
But there were no gardens. There was no fruit to pick, no vegetables in sight, and no grass on which to sit. Scruffy viewed the sun scorched landscape and imagined that one time many years ago it was a place of beauty.
Was there nothing to be done to help the trees and flowers grow again? Oh, how sad the little skunk was, and as he started to leave, he began to weep.
Down a steep walkway Scruffy noticed a strange box. And when he looked inside he saw a switch of some kind with a message attached... "LEAVE ON." But it was clear that the switch was turned off long ago. Who would have turned it off, Scruffy thought to himself. He examined the switch closer and saw that it was attached to a little tap -- and where there is a tap there has to be water.
Scruffy knew what he had to do. He scampered to the switch and tried with all his might to turn it on. It was stuck but Scruffy didn't give up. He pushed and pulled and nibbled at the metal. He yanked and tugged but it was no use. Then he noticed a little hole that said "INSERT PEARL" and when he did the rust finally gave way and water began to flow. But there must have been a build-up of pressure from being turned off so long. In an instant a blast of water spewed from the green tower and flooded the hillside.
Before Scruffy knew it there was water everywhere and no dry land in which to escape. The flash flood grew into such a deluge it swept the little skunk from his perch on the box. The torrent carried him down the mountain. He grasped for tree branches, rocks, anything to save him but it was no use until he managed to climb onto a floating log and ride the current down. Further and further on the rapids he went and at that time there seemed to be no end. Scruffy clung for dear life as he plunged over a waterfall.
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