5:18

“Caroline?”

“Yes,” murmured Edward as he unfolded his stiff body and banged his head on the roof of the crate as he tried to stretch, “You do recall I mentioned that there were other players. Or were you once again failing to listen to anything other than the sound of your own voice?”

“Now, now, bunny-boy. That’s a pot/kettle comment if I’ve ever heard one. You wouldn’t take advice from a hovering angel of god if it contradicted what your big furry ears wanted to hear,” the beaver said in a snide voice. He continued, “I bet …”

“Enough,” barked Edward. “I believe there a few more immediate issues confronting us. Shall we move on?” Before the beaver could answer, Edward settled back down and said, “Did you happen to glean any facts or information about our present predicament either before or after the gas affected us?”

“Gas, that explains it.” The beaver cocked his head and was silent for a moment. “No. No, I don’t think… Well, there is one thing. I thought I smelled aftershave or cologne. I remember thinking that was strange, because I can usually smell only the lemon when it’s nearby.”

“Cologne? Are you sure? I am quite positive that this is the work of Caroline, and she is known for her feminine accoutrements. If she was wearing a scent, I am certain it would be a classic like Chanel or Givenchy.”

The beaver’s only response was a grunt as the vehicle they were in hit a bump or pothole and both his and Edward’s heads banged off the low roof.

“Still, it is unlikely, I suppose, that she would be doing this alone. She is unnaturally terrified of all things natural. An abduction of two ’animals’ in the middle of the woods would be rather unlike her.”

“Hey,” the beaver snarled, “Speak for yourself. Animal.”

Edward’s face quirked into a bitter smile. “Indeed.”