Me: You and Dave were in deep discussion on our walk.
Nell: David thought he saw a bear in a tree.
Me: Was it a bear?
Nell: Don’t you think I would have told you?
Me: What was it then?
Nell: A large cat.
Me: Like a tiger, or a lion?
Nell: No. Like one of The Cat’s relatives.
Me: Oh. You mean a Maine Coon?
Nell: Yes.
Me: I can’t believe there’s still no sign of Herr Hoffmann?
Nell: He appears to have vanished into thin air.
Me: He can’t have done.
Nell: I know that.
Me: Do you think we should ask the Beefies?
Nell: I beg your pardon?
Me: They’re always flying around poking their beaks into everything. They might have seen something.
Nell: They’re not going to tell us if they have, are they?
Me: What if we offer a reward?
Nell: I’m not rewarding a Beefy.
Me: They’d do anything for one of Poppy’s scones.
Nell: They’re definitely not to be trusted.
Me: Maybe we should call Book a Beefy and ask Terry.
Nell: You don’t always get Terry when you Book a Beefy.
Me: We could request him specifically.
Nell: Yes, it might be worth a try.
Me: Terry could put the word out on the Book a Beefy network.
Nell: That’s actually quite a good idea.
Me: Maybe we could give Terry and Tony the ‘Have You Seen This Bear?’ posters to distribute on their rounds?
Nell: Yes. Herr Hoffmann isn’t the only one missing, by the way. Sir Roger Blubbery didn’t come home last night.
Me: You know he’s only a Sir because Poppy knighted him with her sword, don’t you?
Nell: Don’t start all that again. You’ll be telling me David isn’t the Mayor of Kingsbridge next.
Me: He wasn’t. Sorry.
