“Why me?” Paddington asked, confused.

  “Oh, she never told you?” Clarissa smirked. “It’s your bracelet, Paddington. It was round your ankle when she pulled you out of the river.”

  Paddington’s eyes widened with astonishment …

  “If anyone could show the way, it would be you. So I lured you to Peru, and arranged for your aunt’s ‘disappearance’,” Clarissa said with glee. “I grabbed Aunt Lucy’s glasses and the bracelet and pushed her away in a canoe, which flowed downriver towards the rapids. I knew you’d never rest until you found your dear Aunt Lucy. And with a little ‘help’ from me … Yes! I was the one who slid the map behind the photograph in Aunt Lucy’s cabin for you to find. You led me right here. So, please …” She held out her hand expectantly. “Give me the talisman. Thank you.”

  Paddington checked his paw and did a doubletake. There was no bracelet. He looked aghast and started looking around.

  “I don’t seem to have it,” he said. Clarissa looked furious. “I really don’t!”

  “Then WHO HAS …?” roared Clarissa.

  They all turned to see Hunter holding up the talisman.

  “Hand it over or I shoot,” said Clarissa.

  “With Great-grandad’s gun?” Hunter laughed. “That thing’s over a hundred years old. It won’t even work.”

  “How about we test it?” Clarissa suggested. She tugged on a rope and Gina stumbled into view, gagged and tied up with cargo netting from the plane.

  Everyone gasped.

  “Gina!” Paddington cried.

  Clarissa pulled Gina close, ripped the gag off and pressed the gun to her.

  “She means it,” Gina said. “And she’s very strong for a nun!”

  “She’s not a nun!” said Mrs Bird.

  “The gold or your daughter?” said Clarissa to Hunter. He looked between Gina and the talisman, seeming not to know which he should choose!

  “You’re all family. Couldn’t you just … share the gold?” Mrs Brown suggested.

  “CABOTOS DON’T SHARE!” Hunter, Gina and Clarissa chorused.

  “All right,” said Mrs Brown hastily, “just a thought …”

  Clarissa thrust the gun at Gina.

  “Papa! Please!” she cried.

  Hunter looked at Gina and saw the disappointment in her eyes. He struggled with how this made him feel. “But I’m so close! I can’t lose it now. I’ve been searching forever in this sweaty jungle. I’m hot, flushed and uncomfortable …”

  Paddington was giving him a very hard stare …

  “Why do I feel so queasy?” Hunter asked nervously.

  “It’s called a hard stare, Mr Hunter,” said Paddington, “and it’s for when people have forgotten their manners and the important things. Gina’s your treasure. Don’t lose your daughter because of gold.”

  Hunter considered these words. He looked at Gina – then at the ancestors who were still there, urging him on – then at the wall, and the talisman in his hand …

  His cousin Clarissa tightened her grip on the trigger …

  Hunter looked up at Gina …

  “I’m sorry, Gina …”

  Gina’s face dropped.

  Hunter looked up at the crashed plane. It was caught on a branch with a vine wrapped round it. The vine led around the plane and all the way to his feet.

  “All I can say is …” he went on as he picked up the vine, “boom.”

  Gina looked back at Hunter, understanding.

  Clarissa looked puzzled. “Boom?”

  Hunter yanked the vine until it snapped and allowed the tree branch to pivot round. Gina ducked, and it swung directly at the Reverend Mother, knocking her on the head.

  “Ow!” She slumped into a dead faint.

  In that moment, all of Hunter’s ancestors evaporated into wisps of smoke – Caboto last of all.

  Hunter ran to Gina, and they embraced.

  “Papa! You broke the curse!” Gina cried.

  “We’re free!” said Hunter. He turned to Paddington and, with great ceremony, handed over the bracelet. “Go and find Aunt Lucy,” he said. “I’ve got all the treasure I need.”

  “Thank you, Mr Hunter,” said Paddington politely.

  He held up the talisman. It glinted mystically. He walked up to the wall where the symbol of a bear was carved into the rock and traced his paw over the slots for its nose and mouth. Everyone waited, wide-eyed. Paddington slid the talisman into the nose … Then with a pathetic “clunk” the talisman dropped out of the mouth hole! “Oops. I’ll just try that again …” said Paddington. Mr Brown rolled his eyes. Paddington retrieved the talisman. He blew on it and gave it a “special rub”, just as he had done with his coin in the photo booth at Paddington Station.

  “I’m coming, Aunt Lucy,” he said. He confidently thrust the talisman into the nose slot, and this time it dropped into the device with a satisfying CLANG.

  The ground began to tremble. An ancient mechanism engaged … The wall rumbled – from deep within, weights and stone gears crunched and turned, dust vibrating out of every crack, and the entire wall slid open – revealing a passage through the mountain.

  Paddington was about to enter when the undergrowth around them started to shift and move. What appeared to be huge plants by the citadel wall were actually the espíritus del bosque who had been hiding in plain sight all along. Everyone’s eyes widened.

  “The forest spirits. They’re real!” cried Judy.

  The lead spirit growled.

  “And they don’t sound friendly,” said Mr Brown.

  “Quite the opposite, Mr Brown. That was my bear name,” explained Paddington.

  It roared again.

  “I think they want us to go inside,” Paddington went on.

  The forest spirits stepped aside and Paddington and the Browns walked into the passage through the mountain. Then the forest spirits followed them in, and the huge stone walls shut once more with a heavy thud.

  Paddington bravely led the Browns through the dark tunnel, not knowing what lay beyond. Up ahead, there was a dazzling light, just as Paddington had seen in his vision.

  “Look!” he said in amazement.

  Paddington and the Browns emerged into a vast green valley, which had been hidden behind the stone walls. They gasped as they took in the beautiful sight – the entire valley was bursting with orange trees: rows and rows of them, the brilliant sun shining on them, casting a magical golden glow. Vibrantly coloured flowers grew from lush green bushes. Exotic birds flew from tree to tree. Waterfalls tumbled down the mountains on the far side of the valley into a turquoise lake. And down in the centre of the valley was a collection of cosy-looking huts with thatched roofs in the shape of bear heads!

  “Oranges!” exclaimed Mrs Brown in wonder.

  “Thousands of oranges!” said Judy.

  “And juicy ones at that!” said Mrs Bird.

  Paddington was inspecting the fruit, smelling them. “They’re perfect – every one!”

  “But what about the gold?” asked Mr Brown.

  “I think we’re looking at it …” said Mrs Brown, putting out a hand to touch the fruit.

  “Of course! The gold is oranges!” cried Mr Brown, taking one and sniffing it in delight.

  Mrs Brown nodded in agreement, her eyes bright with happiness. “El Dorado is an orange grove!”

  “Paddington, look,” said Jonathan, pointing.

  The forest spirits now stood before them in a line. Then, one by one, they removed their masks to reveal they were in fact …

  “Bears …” said Paddington in wonder.

  One of the bears pointed and growled, and Paddington looked over. His eyes widened as he dropped the orange. And he roared … And an answering roar came back to him from somewhere deep inside the bear village.

  Paddington immediately broke into a run. He raced down the valley to the village, past a whole tribe of bears who watched him go. Shy little cubs peeked out from behind the legs of their parents as Paddington ran and ran. He hurried through the village square past a large stone statue of a bear. He didn’t stop until he reached a thatched hut where, sitting in the shade, on a bamboo chair was …

  “AUNT LUCY!” he cried.

  “Paddington!” she replied in amazement.

  He rushed towards her and threw himself into her arms.

  “I always knew you’d come for me,” she said, hugging him tight.

  Then Paddington stopped and remembered something. “Oh! You’ll be needing these.”

  He handed over her glasses. She put them on and saw Paddington properly, and the Browns arriving too.

  “My, my! Quite the rescue party!” she said.

  The Browns gave Aunt Lucy a massive hug.

  “We’re so pleased you’re safe,” said Mrs Brown.

  “All thanks to these bears,” said Aunt Lucy. “They heard my roars and rescued me.”

  “Who are they, Aunt Lucy?” Paddington asked.

  “And why do they dress up like trees?” asked Mrs Bird.

  “To stay hidden,” Aunt Lucy explained. “They are the secret guardians of the El Dorado oranges …”

  “They know my bear name,” said Paddington in wonder. “And I’ve been dreaming about that statue.” He pointed at a bear statue in the village, just like the one at Mr Gruber’s shop and Rumi Rock.

  Aunt Lucy looked at Paddington. “It’s time,” she said. “Help me up …”

  Paddington helped his aunt to her feet. Leaning on Paddington’s arm, she led him towards the tribe.

  “When Uncle Pastuzo and I found you,” she said, “we were so happy to have you in our lives. You told us you were orphaned as a cub. But we always wanted to know where you came from. The answer was with us all along – your bracelet. I kept it safe for you.”

  Paddington thought for a moment. He looked around at the bear tribe, who were now smiling and nodding at him encouragingly. All the cubs were wearing the same kind of knotted bracelet as his – some on their paws, and the smaller ones wore theirs on their ankles.

  Aunt Lucy looked back at him. “All the cubs here have them. So, if they get lost …”

  Paddington finally understood. “… they can find their way home.”

  Aunt Lucy nodded.

  ‘I think … I remember …” Paddington looked up at an orange hanging from a tree. He frowned as a vague memory came to him of reaching for an orange, and then falling into a river and getting lost.

  “In finding me, you have found yourself,” said Aunt Lucy. “They are your tribe – you are an El Dorado bear.”

  Paddington looked at his tribe. He hesitated, then walked forward to a joyous welcome.

  The Browns looked on as the El Dorado bears spoke with Paddington in their native language.

  “What do you think they’re saying?” asked Mr Brown.

  “I think they’re just … happy to have him home,” said Mrs Brown.

  Paddington came up to the Browns, his eyes shining with joy. “Mrs Brown,” he asked, “would you mind taking these for me? There’s something my tribe may enjoy. I just need Jonathan’s help …”

  He handed her his hat and coat.

  Mrs Brown smiled, but there was a little sadness in her eyes.

  Jonathan used his invention-making skills to help Paddington build a wonderful wooden marmalade-making machine! So, later that day, Paddington and Aunt Lucy were able to cook up some marmalade in a huge stone pot.

  “That is good!” said Paddington. “With oranges this wonderful you have to make marmalade!”

  Aunt Lucy was stirring the pot, and she let Paddington lick the stick. He nodded approvingly.

  The Browns and Mrs Bird watched Paddington and his tribe together.

  “He looks so happy,” said Mrs Brown. “Like he never left.”

  Mr Brown and Judy put their arms round her.

  “Oh, Mary …” said Mr Brown.

  “It’s all right. This is how it should be. Paddington belongs here,” she said.

  “With his clan,” said Mrs Bird.

  Mrs Brown was still holding Paddington’s duffel coat. Then she noticed something in the pocket. She slowly pulled out … a battered luggage tag. She stared at it and read it. “Please Look After This Bear. Thank You.”

  She fought back tears, remembering how the Browns had found Paddington all those years ago, sitting on his suitcase outside the Lost and Found department of Paddington Station.

  She slipped the luggage tag into her own pocket.

  “I didn’t realise it was this difficult,” said Judy.

  “It’s just what happens next,” said Mrs Brown, giving her a hug.

  Paddington came over, holding a pot of freshly made marmalade. Mrs Brown put her smile back on for him.

  “This one’s for you,” he said. He gave the jar to Mrs Brown.

  “Thank you, Paddington.”

  “No, thank you, for … well, for everything you’ve done for me. And … um … there’s something I wanted to ask.” Paddington looked at the ground awkwardly. “You were all so kind to take me in all that time ago … I know it couldn’t have been easy … and that I’ve sometimes been a bit of a nuisance. Sorry about that business with your pyjamas and the paper shredder, Mr Brown.”

  “That’s all right, Paddington,” said Mr Brown.

  “So, I wanted to ask, if you didn’t mind terribly, if … um …”

  Mrs Brown tried hard to prepare herself for what Paddington would say next. All the Browns were trying to keep it together.

  “Yes, Paddington?” said Mrs Brown. She waited, barely able to breathe.

  Paddington swallowed, plucking up his courage.

  “Could I come back home with you?”

  Mrs Brown’s eyes brimmed with tears as she took this in.

  “Of course, you can, Paddington! You don’t need to ask that. I thought you were going to ask to stay here.”

  Paddington looked at the other bears, then back at Mrs Brown. “Mrs Brown, they are my tribe, but you’re my family. This is where I’m from, but you’re where I belong.”

  Mrs Brown and the rest of the family smiled with delight and relief.

  Paddington cleared his throat. “There is one more thing I wanted to ask …”

  Paddington had persuaded the Browns to let his El Dorado cousins come to London for a holiday! They loved staying at number 32 Windsor Gardens. The Browns were a little worried about the wisdom of having so many bears to visit, as the house was full of chaos – but also joy. There were bears sliding down the bannisters and stampeding up and down the stairs, while Mr Brown’s desperate pleas of caution could be heard.

  “That was my mother’s!” he cried as they accidentally knocked a vase from the hall table.

  Paddington and his cousins charged up the stairs into his little attic room.

  “And this is my bedroom – from my window, you can see all of London,” Paddington said proudly.

  The bears looked around, amazed, and then stampeded away again.

  Paddington took them on a sight-seeing tour of London. They squashed together into a pod on the London Eye, caused a rumpus in a teashop and posed like the Beatles pop group as they strolled across Abbey Road! They even had a takeaway from Jonathan’s favourite chicken shop, the El Dorado.

  When they got back to Windsor Gardens, several cubs tried to have a bath all together! They filled the bath with too much water and when they jumped in they flooded the bathroom. Paddington smiled. I was like that once, he thought fondly.

  Meanwhile, back in the Home for Retired Bears, Aunt Lucy was having her breakfast. She took a bite out of some toast and El Dorado marmalade and settled down to read a letter. (Her glasses were now thankfully repaired.)

  Dear Aunt Lucy

  It seems a long time since our holiday together in the valley and everyone’s lives have changed so much since then … It’s good that Mr Brown was able to sort out the insurance for Mr Hunter and Gina, and they now have a new boat.

  I gather the Church forgave Clarissa Cabot – providing she became a REAL nun and took a new posting. Apparently, she ended up in the Arctic, working at the Home for Retired Polar Bears. I don’t think she was very happy about it!

  As for the Browns, it seems as though Jonathan has given up “chillin’” and is hardly ever in his room … He spends most of his time at trade fairs now, doing something he calls “hustlin’” – the “g”is silent. He has shown his inventions, including the Gobsleigh and the Bicy-chill, to some businesspeople who were very impressed.

  Mr Brown has been promoted at work and he is now Head of Calculated Risk. He showed everyone a slide show of Judy’s photos from their time in Peru and included lots of pictures of himself in dangerous situations. He told them all about the purple-kneed tarantula landing on his face and said that some risks are worth embracing, but only if they’re for the greater good. And for the people you love. Apparently, everyone clapped in appreciation. He finished by saying that he was doing a sponsored parachute jump for the Home for Retired Bears – and then he did the jump there and then, out of the window!

  Mrs Brown has been working on a new art project called “Taking Flight”. It’s a beautiful picture of a flock of birds, spread across the sky above Windsor Gardens. And, despite her previous fears, she’s actually closer to Judy now than ever. The pair of them have been playing “Scrabble with Friends” while Judy is away at university. Judy’s travelogue about her time in Peru got her accepted on to her favourite journalism course, by the way, so she is already hard at work “setting the world to rights”. She has also been writing an article for the student newspaper. The editor told her that she had done good work and that, with a few changes, the article could make the front page. Judy was thrilled, but was less pleased at the prospect of “changes”!

  I hope Mrs Bird is enjoying her stay with you, and that she’s ticked a few things off her new “to-do” list. She told me that she was going to install a mirror ball and disco lights in the main hall. I can just imagine her as the Home’s DJ …

  As for me, I think I made the right decision. Mr Gruber was right when he told me you can have “mixed feelings” about where you’re from. But maybe that’s okay because I suppose I am a bit of a mix. Part London, part Peru, a sprinkle of El Dorado … But most of all – a whole lot of Brown.

 

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