Chit's Encrypted tightbeam to Robin:

<Dunwich? Ah, excellent. [flick] We can notify you of the specific
<arrangements through Almond's group... but basically you'll make your
<way to the general area at a prearranged time and we'll have a pickup
<ready.

And so our story begins...


                        ***           ***             ***

"Here, squirrley squirrley squirrlies."

<silence>

"I know you furfaces hang out in the woods. This is the woods. So like
appear already. I'm on an important mission."

<silence>

"Cool. I'll just hang out."

<time passes>

                        ***           ***             ***

"Just check this assertion for me," said Almond. "The human with the
crossbow expects us to come out of the trees and approach him?" [chitter]
"Is he insane?" She paused. "Did he bring cashews?"

Second Assistant Nutpaw, hero of Dunwich squirrels, hopped to a higher
branch and peered, with his superior vision, at Robin. "No."

"Are you sure?"

Nutpaw squinted carefully at the crossbow. It was under full tension. 
"Yes." [flick]

"Then [chitterspit] it. Orders or no orders, Chit can just -"

"/Chit/ has something to do with this?"

Almond dug her claws into the branch more securely. "Not to speak of."

Nutkin, master of battle and noted local hero, detected something amiss
here. "But you mentioned Chit."

"Forget it. No cashews, no heroism. Let's leap. I want a nap."

"Yeah. But Chit is our lead to Teral, and Teral is the last known
supplier of working portable lasers."

"I know another source. McGregor. He took yours away after the Laundry
Line Incident. And that's human gratitude for you. No cashews, no lasers,
and a padlock on the chicken feeders. C'mon."

"OK."

Nutpaw and Almond skittered trunkward. At the last second, Nutpaw flicked left,
jumped, and headed for Robin.

"[chitterchirp]!"

---

Nutpaw, squirrel of action, approached the armed human. Being, he judged,
the brighter of the two, he opened the conversation.

"You wanted to meet -"

"Yes. I'm supposed to arrange -"

"Yes, of course. We know. And you are prepared to...?"

"Uh..." (long pause) "Yeah."

"Very good. Meet me here in twenty minutes. I just have to arrange
things with our leader. Oh, and bring some cashews as a token
of good will."

---

Nutpaw found Almond and woke her up.

"Huhwha?" [leapchitter] "Nutpaw! I told the others you were dead!"

"You did?"

"Yes! You did something brave and stupid and suicidal! Of course
you're dead!"

"Well, it was pretty grim and harrowing, but I survived. And I arranged 
for some cashews. Come on. The human has some sort of deal in mind."

"What sort of deal?" [suspiciousflick]

"I don't know. I couldn't find out without letting him know I didn't know.
You're the one getting messages from Chit."

"You better know what you are doing, Nutpaw."