Start!
=====
"Some say this treehouse is magical," the guide concludes.

The raccoon looks over at the alligator with suspicion, "Are you sure?" The alligator nods. "This isn't a trick to get me into that old rotted tree?" The alligator nods again but this time after a hesitation. The raccoon continues his assault, "'Cuz it looks rickety and about to fall over into the swamp at any minute."

Looking at the 'magical tree', it is just as the masked bandit described it. A big, hollow, rotting tree is tilted to one side over the water, weighted by the wooden sizable treehouse filling its limbs. Various vines entangle the trunk and branches and seem to be the only thing keeping it from capsizing. It's understandable that the raccoon is a bit nervous.

However, he did not ask a question, much to the alligator's relief, so he doesn't have to answer. The alligator tries another tactic instead. In his usual swarmy voice he says, "You asked for me and paid me to guide you to the various attractions here. I'm doing just that." He smiles a big toothy grin as he takes another couple of steps toward the tree and then looks back, "Bobby, right?" The raccoon nods. "Bobby, I'm here to show you the best of SuckleBerry Swamp" and in a lower voice, "and its surrounding areas."

The guide stops speaking here. Bobby, having been put in his place, quells his questions. And silence ensues. The alligator waits and the silence grows. Just as it is about to get awkward, the alligator repeats himself in a louder, oily tone, "I said, THE BEST OF SUCKLEBERRY SWAMP," and like before he mutters the rest, "and its surrounding areas."

Again, the silence grows. And again, just before it gets awkward, something happens. A distant, high-pitched squeal pierces the air. A pink pig with brownish hooves flies from the 'magical treehouse'. It's obvious that the sound is coming from there.

Encouraged, the guide continues on, "Oh look! Magic is already happening. Look at that pig fly."

Bobby isn't buying it, "Pigs can't fly." He takes a few steps closer to the tree beyond the alligator to get a better look. There he sees the pig slowing to a stop halfway between the 'magic tree house' and another tree. The pig's eyes are locked shut and the pink body shivers. Little paper wings are taped to the sides of the 'magical beast'.

"Of course they can," the guide insists, "Look right there." He points to the stopped pig in mid air. "See? It's hovering because of its wings."

"I don't think it's fly--"

"Get me down, please," squeals the pig, its whispery voice filled with terror.
--30 minutes--
Bobby races over to help and finds the poor animal above his head. From this angle, the fishing line tying the two trees together and the pulley are clear. Looking from tree to tree, he decides not to go to the dangerous treehouse one. The last thing Bobby wants is to fall into the swamp.

He darts to the destination and using his sharp claws he climbs it in a jiffy. Pausing for a moment to find the line, he spots it again the frightened pig's skin. He steps out on the line to head to the beast when the pig starts moving toward him. Another step forward and the 'magical beast' picks up speed.

By now, the alligator has seen what is happening and reaches the trunk of the 'magic treehouse.' He pounds on the side causing the tree to tip even more toward the water. The vibrations ripple down the line almost causing the raccoon to lose his balance.

Thump, Thump, Thump!

For the first time since Bobby has seen it, the pig's eyes spring open. Its snorting whimpers sound like a quiet chainsaw. "Please save me," it pleads.

Bobby backs up onto the branches to prepare for the pig's arrival.

Thump, Thump, CREEEAAAAKKKK!

The alligator's attacks on the tree are working. Like dripping molasses, the tree lowers toward the water. Quiet pings and higher pitched vibration sounds are all around Bobby.

Just as he realizes what's making the noise, TWANG! TWANG! The fishing lines holding the pig in the air pull free from the tree he's in.

Time slows. Bobby sees the startled pig that has almost arrived falling toward the ground. The big toothy smile of the alligator turns sinister as the tongue licks his mouth. Then he spots the nearly invisible lines.

He dives forward to catch the pig's lifeline.

Bobby's clawed paws wrap around it and holds. Then Bobby realizes a problem with this plan. The fishing line is being pulled by the falling tree. His masked eyes go wide as he realizes he is being pulled out of the tree.

The alligator's smile seems to become more sinister. It's like he realizes he's going to have one or two for dinner no matter what.

As his belly gets dragged towards the soggy dirt below, he realizes something. All might not be hopeless. He digs in his rear claws.

Time begins to speed back up. The guide lumbers toward them; the pig staying ahead above him. Bobby feels like he's being torn apart. His arms are pulling away from his legs and his middle is holding him all together, for the moment.

"Just a little longer," Bobby tries to convince himself. That and the pleading eyes of the pig keep him holding on.

Pain and red fill his vision. His hands grow tired and the fishing line starts to slip through. He tries to hold on, but he just doesn't have enough.

Something bumps him and then a screeching, "NOOoooo," fills Bobby's ears. He swings blind and a claw catches something. Exhausted, the raccoon just sits there.

From below, the guide's slippery voice calls up, "Hey there, Bobby, ol' pal. Just lower that employee down and I'll take good care of her."

Bobby opens his eyes. He sees his claw caught on a strap of the pig's harness. Below that the alligator has propped itself up on the tree so that it's long mouth is beneath Bobby's passenger. Bobby is sure that the smile is meant to be inviting and warm, but all he sees is a spiky doom for the pig.

The panicked pig makes its choice clear. Its pleading eyes match the shaking of its head. With the little strength that he has recovered, Bobby uses his free hand and back paws to climb back into the tree.

The slippery alligator still tries to win him over, "You see, ma boy, Glenda here belongs to me. And I am just looking out for my employee." Once the pig has the footing she helps by climbing the best she can. Both of them lean against a branch and take deep breaths.

"That pig owes me her life. I saved her when she was stuck in the mud." Bobby opens an eye to see the pig nodding. "Instead of eating her on the spot, I saved her and gave her a job." The nodding slows and fear fills her eyes.

It's then that Bobby decides not to give her back to the one who scares her. "No," his tired lungs push out.

The alligator stops his oily persuasion to catch what was said, "What?"

With a little more energy and determination, he repeats himself, "NO."

The voice seems to be moving but it is still below them. It sounds a little odd because it takes pauses in strange places and like something is in his mouth, "I'm sorry, son. I didn't quite catch that. Was that a 'No, you didn't save her'? Or a 'No, I'm not giving your employee to you'?"

"She's not going back to you," Bobby declares. Glenda's smile is so big it nearly wraps around her snout.

All the slipperiness leaves the alligator's voice. In a clear and serious and very dangerous snarl of a voice, he growls at them, "I'm sorry to hear that. Now I'm going to have to kill both of you."

Thump! Thump! Thump! With each hit of the tail, the tree shudders and tips a little. At first it is manageable, but before long they have to hold on or start to slide off. The former guide continues to talk between hits, "You see. I picked these. Trees. Because they. Are in mud. That makes. Them. Easy to topple. Just dig. Around. The roots."

crrrrreeee In his momentary silence, they all hear the tree giving way. The good news is that the alligator stops beating the tree. The bad news is that his voice is on the other side of the tree. "Now. Come to Papa."

Bobby looks over to Glenda who is hugging the branch nearest to her in a bear hug, so he carefully checks the tipping edge. There below them with mouth wide is the alligator waiting for them to fall off. Bobby realizes that if he doesn't do something quick that is where they'll end up.

CReeeeeAAA The tree interrupts his thoughts, but a glimpse of Glenda brings them back. I've got to get her away from him. He scrambles to the back edge and sees the alligator slither through the mud to meet him. No dice. Can't climb down.

EEEEaaaaaaakkkk No time. Slurp, slurp The predator slips back to the front as the tree begins falling. Need to get out of his reach. Higher!

He pulls Glenda off the branch, her hooves not gaining any purchase to hold him back. He holds her in his arms as his back legs propel them up. Jumping from branch to branch hoping that this will get them out of reach, his foot misses.

Glenda kicks out and hits the falling tree altering their course. With a sudden burst of courage, she utters the word she's said in a while, "Turn." Like a cat landing on its feet, Bobby turns to hit the mud with his paws. That's when he realizes that Glenda is still in his arms and will hit the ground first.

He tries to turn again, but it's too late. They hit the ground pig first. But then something amazing happens, Glenda's smooth back is cutting through the mud like a ski in the water. This goes on for a second before they begin to slow.

Bobby helps Glenda onto her feet and looks back to see where the guide is. Back where they leaped is their pursuer trapped under the fallen tree.

With many sticky steps pulled out by the other, the two of them work their way back to dry land and away from the alligator.

Safe at last, they make introductions, "Hi, I'm Bobby."

She shakes, "I'm Glenda and I'm afraid of heights."