Pylimitics

Hedgehog was worried.

“I’m worried,” he said to Squirrel, who had just leaped onto a branch above where Hedgehog was sitting.

“What’s bothering you this time?” asked Squirrel, who was kind enough not to say anything about Hedgehog’s worrying.

“I found this on the path yesterday,” said Hedgehog, carefully unfolding a piece of paper that had been crumpled up into a tight ball. “And now I’m worried about what it means.”

Squirrel hopped down to take a closer look. On the paper was a drawing with lines and symbols, some words, and a big X marked at one spot.

“It’s a map,” said Squirrel.

“I know it’s a map,” said Hedgehog. “That’s why I’m worried.”

“Why would a map worry you?” asked Squirrel.

“Because,” said Hedgehog, pointing to the X, “there’s treasure here. And you know what happens when there’s treasure? I’ve heard about this from Magpie. People come looking for it. With shovels. And they dig. And I’m worried they might dig up my house, or Hare’s house, or your tree. They might dig up the whole forest!”

“Let me see that again,” said Squirrel, taking the map from Hedgehog’s paws. She turned it upside down, then sideways. “Are you sure this is even our forest? I don’t recognize any of these landmarks.”

“Look here,” said Hedgehog, pointing to one of the symbols. “This is Beaver’s pond. And here’s Hare’s meadow. And over here is the big oak tree where Owl lives.”

“Hmm,” said Squirrel, “I suppose those could be what you say they are. But this X is way over here, past the farm, almost to where the mountains begin. Nobody lives there.”

“Exactly!” said Hedgehog. “Nobody WE KNOW lives there. But what if there’s something important there that somebody buried, and now they’re coming back for it? Maybe it’s dangerous!”

“I think we should ask Beaver,” said Squirrel. “He’s got books. Maybe there’s one about buried treasure.”

“Good idea,” said Hedgehog. “Let’s go right away!”

On the way to Beaver’s pond, Hedgehog and Squirrel ran into Magpie.

“Where are you two off to in such a hurry?” asked Magpie.

“Beaver’s house,” said Squirrel. “We found a treasure map and we’re worried about what might happen.”

“A treasure map?” said Magpie, her eyes widening. “Let me see!”

Hedgehog reluctantly handed over the map, and Magpie studied it.

“Oh my!” she said. “I know exactly what this is! It’s a treasure map, all right, but not the kind with gold or jewels.”

“What other kind is there?” asked Hedgehog.

“This is what the people in town call a ‘geocatch,’” said Magpie proudly. “I’ve heard them talking about it at the café. They hide little containers with trinkets in them, then make maps to help other people find them. It’s a game they play.”

“A game?” said Hedgehog. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” said Magpie. “They do it all the time. They call it ‘geo-catching.’”

“I think it’s ‘geoCACHING,’” said a voice. It was Owl, who had been listening from a branch overhead. “I’ve seen the humans do it. They use those little things they’re always looking at to find hidden boxes.”

“So no danger?” asked Hedgehog hopefully.

“No danger,” confirmed Owl. “Just humans playing games in the forest.”

“But now I’m curious,” said Magpie. “What’s in the box? Maybe it’s something shiny I could add to my collection.”

“We were just heading to Beaver’s,” said Squirrel. “Why don’t you two come along? If we figure out where this X really is, we can go see what’s in the box.”

By the time they reached Beaver’s pond, word had somehow spread — even though they hadn’t told anyone else. Dog, Raccoon and Hare were already there. So was Beaver. They were all waiting outside Beaver’s house.

“I hear you have a map,” said Beaver.

“How did you hear that” asked Hedgehog. “Evberybody that knows about it just got here.”

“I dunno; I just heard it,” said Beaver. “I looked it up in my book about recreational activities. If you’ll show me the map, I might be able to translate it.”

Hedgehog handed over the map, and Beaver studied it carefully.

“Ah, yes,” he said after a moment. “Hedgehog, I’m afraid you’ve been reading this map upside down. The X isn’t past the farm toward the mountains. It’s actually very close to here—just on the other side of my pond, in fact.”

“Oh,” said Hedgehog. “So it’s nothing to worry about?”

“Nothing at all,” said Beaver. “In fact, I think I’ve seen the box. It’s under a hollow log.”

“Let’s go look!” said Magpie excitedly.

Everyone clomped around Beaver’s pond (Magpie and Owl flew) until they came to a fallen log. Underneath was a small metal box.

“This must be it,” said Dog, sniffing at the box. “Should we open it?”

“I don’t see why not,” said Raccoon, who was always curious. “The people leave these things for others to find. You’re supposed to open them.”

Raccoon opened the box. Onside there was a small notebook, a pencil, a marble, a plastic dinosaur, a tiny metal car, and a small butterfly made out of cloth.

“That butterfly is pretty,” said Magpie. “Can I have it?”

“Wait,” said Beaver, opening the notebook. “There are rules. It says here if you take something, you should leave something else in its place.”

“Well, that’s no good,” said Magpie. “I didn’t bring anything to leave.”

“I have an acorn,” offered Squirrel, pulling one from her cheek pouch.

“And I have this pebble I found yesterday,” said Hedgehog.

“I think those would be appropriate,” said Beaver. “The point is to leave something for the next finder, and put the box back.”

Magpie took the butterfly. Squirrel and Hedgehog placed their offerings in the box. Raccoon carefully closed it and put the box back under the log.

“So that’s what all the fuss was about,” said Hare. “A game where humans hide things for other humans to find. Seems like a lot of trouble to me.”

“I think it’s charming,” said Beaver. “It’s a way for them to share little adventures with strangers they’ll never meet.”

“Like a secret between friends who don’t know each other yet,” said Dog thoughtfully.

“Exactly,” said Beaver.

“Well, I’m glad it wasn’t real treasure,” said Hedgehog. “Real treasure brings nothing but trouble. Pirates and maps with skulls on them and digging and…and…”

“Why don’t we all go back to my place for teacakes?” suggested Hare, seeing that Hedgehog was working himself up.

“Yes, let’s,” said Beaver.

As they walked back through the forest, Magpie flew above them with her butterfly tied to her tail feathers. It fluttered in the breeze behind her.

“You know,” said Hedgehog to Squirrel, “I’m still a little worried.”

“About what?” asked Squirrel. “We solved the mystery of the map.”

“I’m worried that the humans might be disappointed if they come looking for their box and find an acorn and a pebble instead of the butterfly and whatever else was in there before.”

“I think they’ll understand,” said Squirrel. “After all, that’s how their game works. And besides, your pebble is very nice. It’s smooth and round and just the right size.”

“Do you really think so?” asked Hedgehog.

“I do,” said Squirrel. “And you’re forgetting the most important thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Hare’s tea cakes,” said Squirrel. “They fix everything.”

Hedgehog nodded. “That’s true,” he said. “I suppose there’s nothing to worry about after all.”

By the next day, of course, Hegdehog was worried again.