II. Ferret

The quietest rustle enveloped the forest. A thick layer of dry, multi-colored leaves and yellowed needles covered the ground and withered grass. The air seemed unusually transparent. It was windy in the height above the tops of the trees, while silence and serenity reigned below.

"You don't want to tell them why we're really here?" asked 2-D quietly, sitting on the grass in a lotus position and out of boredom he rolled a flower from a fallen leaf.

"No," replied Murdoc, albeit without a flower, but in exactly the same pose . "I don't want to. What for?"

"But we love you," 2-D said.

"Mmm. And why should everyone know about my depression? What you know about this is already a lot."

"We could help if you needed help."

"I don't need it," Murdoc said.

"But maybe they can still know? Everyone is worried about you."

"Exactly" Murdoc pointed out.

"Oh... you don't want to worry anyone?.."

"Yes. Perhaps in a month there will be nothing to talk about."

"Or we will have to fill you up completely with meds so that you come to your senses at least a little."

"I came here to hear my thoughts," Murdoc said, raising his voice.

"That means it's time for me to shut up," 2-D concluded.

"Yes."

"I shut up."

"Thank you."

"I would be very glad if this trip helps you."

"Well."

"And by the way, I won't tell anyone about you."

You better not!"

"I wasn't going to. But now I definitely won't tell anyone. You know."

"Oka-ay."

"Okay."

Murdoc closed his eyes and took a deep breath. For a while it was quiet around, but after a few seconds there was a barely audible crunch of leaves from 2-D's side. Murdoc decided he wanted to calm down and sit again.

Catching a second of silence, Murdoc tried to cheer up, but the timid crunch came again. 2-D got up very slowly from the leaves, carefully walking around Murdoc and, when he thought he was gone, said in a whisper right next to his ear:

"I'll go look for acorns."

Making Murdoc shudder all over, he crunched to the left. Finding blissful silence, Murdoc continued to calm down and meditate.

For a while no one bothered him, but when a new crunch was heard, he couldn't resist and opened his eyes to say everything he thought about it. But he discovered it was not 2-D, but a small ferret, standing opposite from him, looking at him intently.

"Who are you?" Murdoc asked.

The ferret sniffed the air, fell on its front paws and rushed to the motionless seated Murdoc.

"Hey! Don't eat my shoe!" Murdoc waved his hands. "Go away! Get out of here!"

He threw the ferret away from him, but it wasn't leaving. Murdoc reached into his pocket, pulled out a bag of peeled peanuts, and tossed a handful to the ferret.

"Take that! Go away!"

The ferret sat down and began to eat nuts, quickly dealt with them and again climbed to Murdoc.

"Take it and leave!" throwing more nuts at him, recoiled Murdoc, moving further away.

While the ferret was picking up new nuts, footsteps were heard from behind the bushes and he, frightened, ran away to hide in the grass. Murdoc realized it was 2-D, but decided not to show it, closed his eyes and ignored his return. As he approached, 2-D walked slower and rustled quietly. It was so painful that Murdoc wanted to burst into tears, but continued to sit without moving, willing himself to maintain a calm expression.

2-D stopped very close. The branch he cut off rustled.

"Ah!" He cried, stepping on Murdoc, rolling to the ground and falling head over heels on him.

Murdoc found himself in the ditch with him before he could do anything.

"I," 2-D said, looking at him from the bottom of the ditch, "found it."

He showed a handful of acorns. Murdoc sniffed at the air.

"Don't hit me," 2-D pleaded, covering himself with his hands, lying on his back in a vulnerable position.

"What makes you think that I'm going to hit you?" Murdoc asked calmly. "I never beat you. Stop doing that."

"But you…"

"Do not!"

"We discussed it with you, you said…"

"Okay, maybe!" backed down Murdoc. "Maybe. But I won't anymore"

"Well." 2D holds out an acorn for Murdoc. "Take it."

"There was some kind of squirrel walking around. Let him eat," Murdoc said, tossing the acorn away.

"Squirrel?" 2-D got interested.

"Yes, with no tail."

"No tail," he repeated, disappointed.

Murdoc slid down to lay his head on 2D's sweater, snuggling into his chest,puzzling him, but still he said nothing, hiding the remaining acorns in his jacket pocket and putting his hand on the grass next to him. 2-D looked up at the pale, almost white sky shining through the red and yellow branches of the trees.

"We can't lie on the ground for a long time in this weather," he said.

"We won't be long," Murdoc said.