---

Rammi was not a fan of flying beasts. Especially ones that drooled in gusts of wind. It wasn’t long before Rammi ended up with flying dog saliva droplets all over his face that were slightly sticky. He wiped them on his jeans, but it left a shiny mark that he knew was going to take at least five washes to get out. He complained to Dave, but Dave was already running the numbers on how long they had before the dam completely collapsed. It was already losing a fair amount of water, but the outlet was managing. Just. Crystal, on the other hand, loved the experience. The sun was beginning to set, and the clouds were lit up in an explosion of fiery yellow, oranges, and purples. Being so high up, with a slight sea-salt air from the ocean and the fresh pines underneath, created a scent that no popurri master or guru could recreate. The view, smells, and sensations were specific to that moment in time, and she was going to enjoy it with every fibre regardless of the potential death of thousands.

Bill shouted something and pointed. They all turned to look. Down below, on the town roofs, was a little old lady that seemed to be swinging between each roof with a knitting needle and yarn. Her shawl and skirt fluttered in the wind, revealing old brown socks that went up to her thigh.

“Is that Maude?”! Lydia shouted.

Bill seemed to nod. They watched her glide and parkour her way towards the outskirts of town; no doubt having noticed the dam, she was in the process of her escape.

They landed at the top of the bridge. The view of the town below, with the sea in the distance, was a sight that they all just wanted to sit and enjoy, but there was no time for it. The beavers had to get to work. They scurried off Smut as he landed with a thud. It wasn’t long before he was scratching his ear and smiling in a manic fashion. The beavers, on the other hand, took a few steps off Smut, in a stiff fashion, before falling face first onto the paving. Their little brains had expanded beyond any beaver’s brain could expand, by flying. Ordinarly, these creatures stay close to earth. The only reason why their brains hadn’t fully exploded was that most of them were nearsighted, and while they could feel something was wrong, as they travelled thousands of feet in the air, they couldn’t quite see what was wrong. Their perception of reality vs. their gut sensation were at terrible odds, and all in all, it caused them to go into a frantic panic nap.

“We need to wake those beavers up!” Lydia announced.

Bill knelt next to one and shook it slightly. Gurgles of joy bubbled out of its mouth, but they weren’t sure what they were supposed to do.

“Right,” said Dave. “What we need to do is make enough concrete for the beavers to get going and fix those issues.

“Sounds simple enough,” Rammi said, pulling up his sleeve. “Just one question. How do you make concrete?”

They all looked at Crystal.

“Don’t look at me,” she said. “I’m a scientist, not a contractor.”

“Well, it can’t be that hard,” said Bill. “I’m sure I’ve made it before. Also looking at the items we have here, surely it is easy which one is the most important?”

“What?” said Rammi.

They all looked at the wall where the items were. There was water in a barrel, gravel, sand, cement, a bucket, and what appeared to be one of Ziggy’s books.

Dave then understood what Bill was on about.

“Of course,” said Dave. (Click/Tap an option below)