5:19

“So, we can conclude that Caroline is not acting alone,” Edward continued. “And since she isn’t acting alone, it may be that we can elevate these other players to the level of conspirators. I had not anticipated an organized enemy. I shall have to think on this a bit.”

“Think? That’s your solution? We shall sit in this container and contemplate our predicament?” the beaver snarled in a mocking tone. “I have no idea how you managed to survive this long. How about we put the postulating aside and figure out how to get out of this stinking crate before we both end up at the taxidermist? How about that for a plan, eh?”

“Bloody stupid rabbit,” the beaver muttered to himself as he turned to examine the wooden sides of the crate. He wrinkled his nose and sniffed. “Smells like pine,” he pondered aloud.“Not much in the way of preservative. Smells like it was stored in a machine shop or metal-working facility, definitely an undertone of grease …”

The beaver circumnavigated the four sides of the box, shoving the rabbit aside as he investigated all the wooden surfaces. At last he came to a small knot in the panel beneath where Edward had originally been lying.

“I’m pretty sure I can get muh teef …” The rest of the sentence was lost to mumbling as the beaver managed to get his two incisors locked onto the small out-jutting edge of the knot. He clamped down his powerful jaw and carefully and slowly extricated the knot from the slat.

“Well,” the beaver said triumphantly after spitting out the remains of the wooden plug, “there’s a good start and I didn’t even have to break a sweat. How’s that thinking going, hare-brain?”

Edward looked at the beaver and and sniffed. “Bon appetit.”