When we left off yesterday, the two lovely big brown Otters at the Worcester Ecotarium were telling Ping and Puma that *yes*, actually, there was something their two little Ferret relatives could do for them, as long as they had transportation...which of course, they did. "Well, Dudes, we can give ya a ride," said Ping, "buy how are you going to get out of your pool?" "Oh, that!," snickered the first. "We can jump out any time," said the second, we just don't let the hoomin staff see." With that he squatted back on his haunches, and gave a MIGHTY LEAP straight up, and over the tiled wall of the pool. Water splashed everywhere! Ping and Puma both jumped down to the ground on the far side of the wall, the rough stone side that they had climbed up, then they RAN, which was a really good idea because just then the first came bounding up out of the pool, and up and over the wall in a sheet of flying pool water! Gallons of it! Ping and Puma were drenched, and they had nothing to dry themselves on except the bare concrete sidewalk, which they rolled on energetically until they were marginally dryer, while the Otters half laughed themselves sick watching! "Oh! Oh! Please stop Little Ones! My sides hurt!," laughed the first. "Too delightful!" rumbled the second. Puma, damp and embarrased, said to the giants "Come with us. You can ride in the bucket." And so they did. In short order, the Otters climbed into the bucket, and Ping and Puma climbed back up into the 1020's seat. France was duly introduced, and affected not to be impressed by the sight of "Two wet gian' ferretsssss." The ignition key was turned, and the tractor roarded back into life. "DELIGHTFUL!," yelled the first! "YES, DELIGHTFUL!," yelled the second. Ping yelled "LET'S GO UP, THEN WE CAN HEAR BETTER!" With a meaningful look at Puma, who lifted her lip in a snarl and showed a little fang in response, Ping *gently* lifted the heavy iron bucket bearing the Otters, and slotted the gearshift into 'U' for "UP". And up they went, very slowly. Once they were about twenty feet up, it was clear to see that the concrete was actually cracked where Puma had accidently dropped the bucket upon their landing. She sighed deeply, and reached inside for Master Ho's Mantra. Ping would never let her forget this. Ditto that Hedgehog. Finally, Ping shifted into a forward gear, and they were flying. "You wanna steer?," he said to Puma. She just shook her head, she was still sulking over having destroyed the sidewalk. "Whatever, Dude," said Ping. Puma had had enough. She reached over and quick like a striking snake, bit Ping in the softest part of his thigh. He howled! Everyone, France, the Otters, turned to look. Puma settled back demurely into the seat and said with a fanged smile, "Don't call me Dude." Everyone was quiet for a little while after that. Finally Ping, who had one hand on the steering wheel, and was massaging his thigh with the other while NEVER taking his eyes off of Puma, said "Where do you guys need to go?" "Oh, not far, not far," said the first. "A little more to the left, and land in that parking lot if you please." So they did. They landed very, very gently in the Drive-Thru Lane, and slowly rolled up to the colorfully lit menu panel, and the little metal grate where you yell your order. That's where Ping turned the tractor's ignition key to "off", so that they could be heard. A crackling noise came from the little metal grate, and a young man's voice said "Welcome to Dunkin' Donuts can I have your order?" (End Part Five) Alexandra in MA [Posted in FML issue 4948]