Page 37 - Book 8 Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase

Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase 35
able to walk, he and Sam supported her back home to the wildlife garden, where she could rest awhile and wait for more news until she felt able to go to the school.
‘I’ve made another pot of tea. Please drink something, Betsy,’ Sadie Squirrel said gently.
The hedgehog sat on Matty’s bed vacantly looking around. Clutching his football kit, her muffled sobs were heartbreaking. ‘I don’t understand. Look! It was here. Why did he go inside the school? Why?’
Sam sat in the kitchen with Badger, Rowley Weasel, and Cyril Rat, trying to fathom out what had happened. Like Betsy, he was mystified as to why his son had gone inside the school. ‘Why did the building collapse?’ he asked.
Badger leaned back in his chair. ‘I’m not sure, Sam. I heard tell that an old river bed was discovered years ago in that area or maybe the torrential rainfall we had during the storm might be to blame. I can’t think of any other reason.’
Sam nodded. ‘How much longer do we have to wait, Badger?’ said the hedgehog anxiously.
‘It won’t be ...’ he began when the kitchen door burst open.
‘Badger, they want you at the school,’ said Simon Blackbird, who had been flying back and forth bringing information from the rescue site. As Badger passed him, the bird whispered in his ear. ‘I think the lad is all right, but he can’t move his legs.’
‘Let’s go then,’ the badger said quietly. ‘You coming, Sam?’