Nana Ana's Secret Hideout

Chapter 13 - Coffee Tsunami! Call For Help!

Eirik gripped Anders' arm and spun him around. Through the forest a tsunami-like flood rushed toward them, blackish and roiling, with violent speed and power, making the earth tremble. There was no time to run. 

Anders looked up the nearest tree, quickly. "We need to get higher." 

Most branches were out of reach, however, after spotting a good candidate and with a strong running start, Anders launched off the trunk and managed to grab the branch with both hands. He pulled himself over. Once up, he reached down and Eirik tossed him up the cub. 

The flood was too swift. Seconds remained before Eirik would be consumed, too little time for Anders to shout the briefest advice, even as Eirik's running start commenced. Anders realized this in helpless abhorrence from his perch. 

As the torrent closed the distance in a frothing flash, the herald reappeared and snatched up Eirik by the coat, wings pounding the air in tremendous bursts, and carried him safely aloft as the wave smashed past the tree trunks. The bird deposited its surprised burden on a branch in the next tree, and perched nearby.

A distinct aroma permeated the air, rising from the rich black torrent below. The men, knowing the scent immediately, exchanged amazed stares from their respective trees.   

"Coffee," said Anders. 

Eirik laughed which made Anders smile despite the panda, with untrimmed claws, latching painfully onto his neck. 

The parrot straightened abruptly, alert, and sounded off like an alarm. "LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALK!!!!"  

In instant response a jolly voice boomed from below. "Baldersdash! I don't listen to anyone! Oho, who's there?" 

A full-grown manatee floated among the trees like a low-flying blimp. The flood of coffee actively fled from the airborne animal. Within minutes the dangerous morning beverage had completed receded to parts unknown leaving no trace, with exception of steam rising from the earth like a thick fog and a lovely, though overpowering, aroma of freshly ground arabica beans. 

The manatee flinched. "STOP FOLLOWING ME!!!" It turned round once like a tug boat with a broken rudder. "Oh, there's nothing there." It shrugged---or seemed to---and carried on. 

Eirik's amazement showed plainly on his dirty face. 

Anders called down. "Are you MacPherson?" 

"Who's there?" The manatee spotted them after a moment. "Yes, sir. Hello! Do I know you?" 

"I'm Nana Ana's grandson." 

"Ah! Indeed? Wonderful! Come down from there and let me have a look -- careful, don't fall. There now, let me look at you. Her grandson. Anders, your name is Anders, if memory serves. She mentioned you many times, bless her soul. Said you'd come calling. What is -- oh, my, your compass is sniveling -- they're typically so hardy. What frightened it?" 

Relieved,  Anders smiled politely. "Rabbits and coffee." 

"You mean squirrels." 

"Er, no, I mean rabbits and coffee." 

"Little devils, squirrels are. Always lurking, stalking the unwitting, stealing things, rearranging table settings and store displays. I know a village where a gang of them took over local government and outlawed dog-walking, cats, and argyle socks. Squirrels are -- I HAVE PROBLEMS, TOO, FUZZBALL!!!!!" MacPherson shouted this at the nearest tree. As expected, the tree made no reply. The manatee looked up and down the evergreen as though having been initially certain that a squirrel had been there and, upon a more considerable inspection and surmising he was mistaken, he resumed his previous train of thought.

"All menaces," he grumbled, "All of them." 

Anders and Eirik puzzled at MacPherson's strange behavior. 

The jovial manatee patiently listened to a recounting of events and their plight, and eagerly agreed to guide Nana's boys through the coffee-scented wood. A short walk led to a break in the trees and an impressive chest-high stone wall. Their destination announced itself with sound before it became visible --- lazy ocean waves on a sandy shore and the unmistakable rustle of palm fronds.