The Scrambler

So today I became convinced that somehow Ralik was in Cherry Wood (I've decided to rename it, as its full of old cherry trees, and Windtop Wood sounds too wuthering). Last time I used my mighty powers of ninja dustbin hopping to get over the walls. This time, an old guy saw me speculating and offered me the use of his ladder. It made life much easier. So there I was, in the wood again, wandering around and shouting for him. The place is pretty enough, ivy smothered and old, with brambles and holly everywhere. Trouble is, coming in over the top of the fence, one walks on crumpled leaves and dead wood, which in turn may be lying on other detritus much higher than actual terra firma. I discovered this by falling through it. For one brief moment I felt like Alice down the rabbit hole, though I saw nothing more interesting than a duckweed infested pond, occupied by a mallard and his quackwife.

For one brief moment I thought I spotted greycaps sitting on the fence watching me. I got the distinct impression they didn't like humans much. Couldn't blame them really. My hunt took me to a part of the wood that backs on to some kind of education centre, where the charmers there could hear my calls but not see me. Just as well. They hooted and called back, and I could make them out to be older teens. It occurred to me that if they climbed the wall and came after me, I could be in trouble, so I waited. Then some girls joined them and jeered too, but not for long. They were all too desperate to be noticed by one another. I carried on. One thing I was sure of; Ralik would never go near them. No way was he at this end of the wood.

When the time came to return, I had lost my bearings. One part of the wall looked just like the rest of it, only the bit I was in always seemed angriest. Eventually I found the ladder, got over the wall, folded the ladder against a garage and came home. I had barely a chance to drink some squash when a woman phoned and said she had seen a black cat answering Ralik's description in her garden, eyeing up her fish pond. I ran to her house. It backs on to the other side of the wood. This time climbing in was much easier. I called out but there was no cat to be seen.

If Ralik is there, he's chosen a gorgeous house and garden. The lady reassured me that he looked very healthy, and if she sees him again, she'll call me. If it is him, he's leading the life of Riley. Me, I am dirty and smelly, with thorns in my fingers and a big yellow bruise across my upper leg. A small spider just fell out of my hair.

I am going out to leaflet another road, and I should do it now. But I really need a bath.

Edited to add: He was on that very road...and now he's home :-)