Chapter One
In the dim light just before dawn, a dark shape stood on the cliffs of Round Rock Island. It stared across the sea towards another larger island where the castle of Beaver Towers stood. Hatred glowed in the creature’s red, serpent eyes and a growl or anger rumbled in its throat.
‘Soon you will be mine. And I, the Prince of Darkness, will destroy you.’
At that moment, the first rays of the sun struck the flags flying from the top of the walls of Beaver Towers. The dark shape hid its face and scuttled back into the shadow of a cave.
Philip woke with a start and listened. Had somebody spoken?
There was silence.
Where was he? At home? No. He looked round and remembered.
Oh yes, he was in Baby B’s room in Beaver Towers. There was the little beaver curled up in his bed on the other side of the room. Philip smiled at the sight of his sleeping friend. Then he got out of bed and tiptoed over to the window.
The sun was coming up and a new day was beginning. And what an important day! Today he was setting off on a long and mysterious journey with the old beaver, Mr Edgar. Philip felt sad to be leaving all his friends at Beaver Towers but he was excited at the thought of all the adventures in store.
‘Come on, Baby B, time to wake up,’ Philip said, gently shaking the little beaver’s shoulders.
Baby B’s eyes opened sleepily, then he blinked and sat up.
‘Hello, Flipip,’ he yawned. ‘Is is morning?’
‘Yes, time to get up. Mr Edgar is probably waiting for us.’
Philip dressed quickly but Baby B kept getting the straps on his dungarees buttoned up the wrong way round.
‘Oh drat these gungarees!’ Baby B said as the straps got tangled up again.
‘Let me help,’ Philip suggested.
‘No thanks. Grandpa Edgar says that I’m bigger enough to do it on my own. Hooray, I did it – look, Flipip!’
Philip didn’t have time to say that Baby B had still got the straps done up the wrong way round because the little beaver was already running out of the room. Philip ran after him.
Baby B bounded down the stairs two at a time then raced along the corridor. At the top of the main staircase he jumped up on to the banister and started to slide down the rail.
‘Wheeee! Look at me, Flipip,’ he shouted as he whizzed down.
He was so busy shouting that he forgot to slow down at the bottom. Sergeant Robin was perched on the end of the banister and the little bird darted into the air as Baby B swept towards him. The beaver shot off the end of the rail, turned a somersault in mid-air and flew towards Mrs Badger who was talking to Mr Edgar in the Great Hall.
‘Baby B, look out!’ Mrs Badger cried out just before he crashed into her tummy, knocking her flat on her back.
‘Thank you for catching me, Mrs Badger,’ Baby B said, scrambling off the poor badger. ‘I nearly hurted myself.’
‘Blow me down, Baby B, you are a scamp,’ Mr Edgar said as he helped Mrs Badger to her feet. ‘Are you all right, ma’am?’
‘Yes, thank you,’ Mrs Badger said, rubbing her tummy. ‘Just a bit puffed, that’s all.’
‘I should say you are, ma’am, I should say you are. This madcap grandson of mine came at you like a dratted cannon ball. Really, Baby B, how many times have I told you not to slide down the banisters?’
‘Millions, Grandpa,’ Baby B said sheepishly.
‘Yes, millions,’ the older beaver said, patting his grandson on the head. ‘And it’s high time you listened and started to grow up.’
‘But I am growed up. I did doing up my gungarees all by myself this morning, didn’t I Flipip?’
Philip smiled and nodded.
‘Hmm, yes … well, there’s a bit more to being grown up than being able to put on your dungarees,’ Mr Edgar said. ‘And remember, now that you’ve learned how to think-talk, I’m relying on you to keep things shipshape at Beaver Towers while I’m away. So you must start acting in a responsible way.’
‘Yes, Grandpa,’ Baby B said, his eyes growing big and his lower lip starting to tremble. Then he had an idea that seemed to cheer him up. ‘It’s not just me. Nick can think-talk too. So he can be riskonstable as well, can’t he, Grandpa?’
‘He most certainly can. The only reason I can go away like this because I know that you and your young hedgehog friend will be able to get in touch with me just by thinking.’
‘Even if you are millions and millions away?’ Baby B asked.
‘Yes, no matter how far away I am.’
‘And will you think-talk to me and Nick, Grandpa?’
A little flicker of sadness passed across Mr Edgar’s eyes, then he smiled and shook his head.
‘Fraid not, you little rascal. I’m too much of an old duffer nowadays – bit by bit I’m losing all my magic powers. I’ll be able to hear you and talk to you when you contact me but I won’t be able to contact you. I’ll have to rely on young Philip to do that for me. That’s why I’m pleased as Punch that all three of you have learned how to do it. Now come along; I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m starving. Time to get some breakfast. We’ve got a big day ahead.’