'You again?' Bellowed Loftus.

Zach couldn't run, not when Maisie stood firmly at his side. Fortunately, that act seemed to throw the big man off balance.

'Why did you do that?'

'It was an accident.'

Loftus whacked the stick against his hand. 'I'm sure it was.'

'Honestly, I-'

The wind suddenly picked up again, and while an impromptu hug from Maisie was nice, the thought of chasing a dozen runaway bowling pins wasn't.

Clifford was the first to go, and all that remained between him and a mile-long roll was the rickety wooden fence post he'd clung to. Amy saw him, but it seemed rescue was not what she had planned, not yet, at least. She pulled out her phone to take a photo.

'Come on!' Yelled the older volunteer.

'Relax,' laughed Amy. 'I've got you. Zach, will you fetch Poo Bag?'

Maisie leaned closer to the lad. 'Who's Poo Bag?'

'Another of the volunteers. Let's just say the name suits her.'

'Bitchy.'

'Hey, I didn't coin the term. Anyway,  want to help me look?'

Maisie grinned. 'Try and stop me. I have to meet Peggy now.'

They couldn't find the lady at first; she'd tumbled down a slope to the opposite side of the field, nearest the llama enclosure. And if she hadn't been dressed in white, they'd have missed her altogether. 

Stuck upside down in a ditch, with a face full of hay and soil, Peggy kicked her legs. But being so top-heavy, she had no chance of escape.

As Zach and Maisie drew closer, they noticed two runaway llamas were using her as a windbreaker. 'So, you are good for something besides complaining?'

Peggy mumbled and spat out grass. 'Get me up, or I'll have Hilton sack you.'

Maisie looked horrified as she turned to Zach. 'Surely, volunteers don't have that kind of influence here?'

The lad shook his head and began to heave Peggy onto her feet. She stayed upright for a few seconds before toppling over again and again. 'This is ridiculous.'

'Can't we just drag her out of the costume?'

Zach waved Maisie forward. 'By all means, have at it.'

The visiting curator felt around for the Velcro fastening, then ripped it open for the volunteer to crawl out like a worm weaving through the mud.

Peggy eventually regained her composure and then prodded Zach's chest with her finger. 'Never in all my years have I met such a horrid boy. The way you mistreat us is disgusting and will not go on. I'm reporting Flurbury's Museum to the Police.'

Poo Bag Peggy kicked the costume one last time for good measure before storming across the field, her arms swinging with every determined stride.

'You don't seem concerned?'

Zach shrugged at Maisie. 'I can't deny that Amy and the others should treat her better, but my goodness, she makes it hard. What's she going to report us for, though? The museum hasn't actually broken any laws-'

Masie made a face. 

'Okay,' corrected Zach. 'They haven't broken any laws regarding the volunteers; they're just terrible at managing them.'

'What now? Are you going to herd the Llama?'

The lad took one glance at the sleeping creatures and smiled. 'No. They're not going anywhere. I say we get you what you came here for.'

Maisie raised her eyebrows. 'You seem eager to drop your boss in the shit.'

Zach puffed out his cheeks. 'Honestly, I'm just ready for home.'

The curator nodded and went to move in the lad's wake when she skidded onto her arse. And in an instant, grass stains spread from her ankles to her shoulders, and every time she tried to stand, she'd only sink deeper into the clagging mud. 'I don't know why I make an effort.'

'Here,' Zach offered his hand, but she hesitated. 'What? I won't yank it away at the last minute, you know.'

She gripped tight. 'After what I've just seen, nothing would surprise me.'

'Fair-' Zach spotted movement in the distance.

'What is it?'

The lad frowned. 'People are leaving.'

'You've half-assed this event. What did you expect?'

'Don't put this shitshow on me! I only do what I'm told. Look around. Can you see Loftus anywhere?'

The change in topic caught the curator off guard, so instead of responding, she searched from left to right. She even ducked to see if he was hiding in the nearby hedge. Thankfully, he wasn't.

'We're clear?'

Maisie nodded and steamed ahead to reach the museum entrance first.

Zach grimaced and tried to keep up. 'What are you, six?'

The only answer the lad got this time was a childish chuckle, but several seconds later, the pair rounded the corner to step inside.

At least the flood water had drained enough to be passable. The flooring still squelched underfoot, though, and the stench of dampness was so intense that Maisie couldn't help but pinch her nose.

'Hilton Flurbury, good to see you.'

Zach had thought he'd be sneaking the curator past as they'd discussed, but now, he stood awkwardly without a clue of what to do next. And when the Manager smiled back, he truly felt out of place.

'Likewise, Maisie. What brings you here today?'

She pursed her lips as she considered her next words. 'I didn't think you'd remember me.'

'I'd never forget a face like yours. How can I help?'

If the curator was unnerved, she didn't show it. 'I'm here to see the artefacts you borrowed. I've been tasked with ensuring you still have-'

Maisie's phone rang, and the obnoxious beeping seemed to echo without end.

When she answered, Zach let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. But as he glanced at the Manager, he saw him massage his neck; the stress was already getting to him, so he gestured to the bathroom. 'I'm guessing it's fixed.'

Hilton nodded but didn't take his eyes off the curator. He was trying to read her lips.

'What do you mean, he paid it all off last week?!' Maisie realised too late she was shouting and moved a few feet away to whisper. 'He doesn't owe us a thing now? Thousands of pounds don't grow on trees, Bunger. Did he say how he got it?'

The curator looked up. 'Sorry, I'll just be a minute.'

Hilton was enjoying himself too much; there was no mistaking that he knew what the call was about. 'Take your time.'

'I know we don't have to ask, you idiot! But, did it cross your mind that he might have sold the damn things I'm here to look at and swapped them with fakes?'

Zach could hear mumbling on the other end of the phone line, this time as the person yelled back. Maisie didn't respond, though. Instead, she closed her flip phone and cleared her throat. 'My apologies, I'm here to perform a routine check on our artefacts, if that's alright with you?'

Hilton's face lit up even more. 'Of course, it's alright! Let me show you around,' the Manager paused halfway out from behind the counter. 'Zach, how would you feel about being a Park Ranger this weekend?'

The lad's jaw dropped. 'I literally know nothing about the role.'

Hilton waved away his complaint. 'You'll do fine. Remember, you've got to act like you're doing the job you want, not the job you've got.'

Zach watched on, speechless, as Hilton led the visiting curator away. Yet again, he'd been volunteered to do a job he wasn't even qualified for, and it seemed there was nothing he could do about it. Yes, his weekend was going to be interesting.