The next morning, everything seemed to be going as planned. Wally was the first beast on site, he anticipated a quiet day. The students were done working on the dig site. They would return to their planned internship, assisting with research. Dr. Lockben was also supposed to be back from his holiday, along with Dan and Beth. Buckling on his work belt, the otter gave a friendly smile to the departing security staff. Removing the protective coverings he set back to the slow and steady work with brush and trowel. Carefully clearing away the soil from the remains of what had been a squirrel. He hummed lowly to himself, when he heard a car pull up. He was most surprised to see Bulfie getting out, and trudging over prepared to start working.
"What are you doing here mate?" The otter asked, looking baffled by the sight of the ferret.
Bulfie crouched down and began brushing away the soil, as Wally had previously done. "Bluella managed t'talk me into letting 'er take the kids. I figured I had two options. Either sit at 'ome doing nothing go to the university office and do nothing. Or come here and work with ye muckers."
Wally knew all too well about the strained relationship Bulfie and his separated wife had. Ever since the pair started dating, he had bad feelings about Bluella. Of course, such inklings had to be kept to himself. Bulfie was right; working on the site was perhaps the best option for him.
It wasn't long before Dan and his daughter arrived. Beth was eager to tell Wally and Bulfie all about her adventures. While they worked away, she balanced upon a bucket chattering away as young squirrels frequently do. Unknown to her the others were blocking her out, nodding on occasion to fake interest.
"Sounds lovely missy, how about y'take some photos for us." Wally suggested, his ears nearly talked off.
Cheerful as ever Beth complied, snapping away at photos of the latest artifacts. Snaps were taken of the bits of shark-skin leather that had once made a sling, and the remains of a squirrel lying alongside that of an otter.
Dr. Lockben arrived, nodding approvingly as Beth continued to take pictures. "Don't forget to include a ruler in all those image m'gel." He added passing her by. "Hmm… seems t'be most productive thus far wot." He peered down at the work site. Fixing a wide brimmed sunhat over his long ears the hare joined in, stretching out on a corner of earth, where he too brushed away the soil. "Tell me Dan, wot word from Salamandastron?
Sitting upright, Dan brushed dirt off his fur. "Oh they asked about you, y'know how they get. I think it went quite well. Lord Urthbriar does want to make an appearance, but he's also granted up access to those records."
There was a loud grumbling from Bulfie. "We have t'play host to that badger an 'is 'ares?"
Lockben shot the ferret a cold look, but truthfully even he wasn't thrilled about the idea of official visits interrupting his work.
Wally just held in a laugh, his brush sweeping the outline of his latest uncovered find. As with most otters he rarely took life too seriously. He was roused from his lackadaisical ways when a car pulled up to the site. Two rather puffed up looking bankvoles got out. They each carried surveying equipment and immediately began measuring and marking a nearby plot of land.
"Who're they?" Wally asked Lockben, the hare did tend to know all the goings and comings of his research sites.
"I haven't a bally clue." Lockben looked a little perturbed at their sudden arrival. Strolling over he decided to make introductions and find out what was going on.
"Morning chaps, Dr. Lockben from St. Ninian's university. Wot are you two up to t'day." He offered out a friendly paw in greeting.
The two voles glanced up from their note taking. They spoke not a word at first, just handed the hare a piece of paper. Ignoring the polite offer of a pawshake.
"Sorry, we're in quite a hurry." The first explained.
"No time to chat, the digging crews arrive tomorrow." The second added.
The hare read over the paper. It seemed the Olympic committee and the Mossflower government were pushing ahead with plans to build on the land despite the archaeological work not being completed. Folding the sheet, he tucked it into the breast pocket of his shirt. Saying nothing to the surveying voles he marched right up to the caravan and was heard loudly speaking on the phone.
"I don't blooming well care about your blinking Olympic village! The site is far larger than predicted; I've been in open communication with you about that. A beast could give me the decency of doing the same. Dash it, y'can't send construction crews in unannounced. This is the absolute limit." The conversation continued much the same, with Lockben becoming all the more irate with the minute.
Beth had never heard such shouting before. The camera hung over her neck unused as she slinked back towards her father. "What's going on?" She looked to the others hoping for an answer.
While questions were in abundance, answers were few and far between.
"Back t'work. " Wally encouraged. "If something is amiss best be getting as much as we can get done, done. Come on mates."
Looking quite red in the face Lockben finally emerged from the caravan. He handed the letter off to Wally. "Seems they plan on moving ahead with the buildings faster than we anticipated."
"But they can't." Bulfie said.
"Seems they jolly well can. Although how they sorted it, seasons only knows. "
"We ain't even explored the whole ridge yet. There might be more. We got historical evidence on our side, the whole bit." The ferret pointed down towards the crest of the ridge. "I can almost feel it in me gut that if we dig down there we'll find the Rapscallions."
Wally heaved a sigh reading the letter. "Bulfie, I don't think we're going t'win this one matey."
"Does that mean the dig is over?" Beth asked.
"No no m'gel. We still have this area, just can't explore any further. An' they want us wrapped up by season's end. That means we'll have t'move everything." Lockben didn't appear pleased with this possibility.
"Move everything? Lord Urthbriar isn't going to like that. He offered to voice his concern to the government. Perhaps he can sway them." Dan suggested.
"May help." Wally tried to sound optimistic.
"I'll call his aide; see if we can't get some support. I'll also contact Redwall Abbey. Perhaps we can move up this ceremony, media involvement may encourage public opinion."
The plan was put in motion. If the government was so set on building around the area, Lockben and his crew would fight for the preservation of Mossflower's rich history. Phone calls were put into the office of the Father Abbot of Redwall, as well as the Lord of Salamandastron. While they could not stop construction crews arriving the next day, their arrival would also co-inside with a special visit from the Abbot. A visit that would bring media, which would interrupt with building. The hare got little work done on site. Immediately after making the phone calls he was on the computer writing up press releases, and emails to the varying officials involved. After all one couldn't expect to cross a determined hare, and not meet with a fight.