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It was a long way from Shallow Pond to Nottie's home. Nottie pedalled as fast as he could. His legs were beginning to ache.

"I can't leave Webbie like that," said Nottie to himself, trying to get his tired legs to pedal harder. "I must help her -- and help her quickly."

Nottie felt relieved when he finally saw the red roof of his home a little distance away. He jumped off the bicycle and ran up the steps to the front door. He knocked hard and loud on the front door. Nobody answered. He knocked again, this time harder.

"Oh, no! There's nobody at home," said Nottie, in an impatient voice. "Now I remember -- Mom had said she needed to do some grocery shopping. What do I do now?"

Nottie sat on the steps dejected. His little legs were still aching. Suddenly, he jumped up.

"I know what -- I can get in through the window to my bedroom," said Nottie, rolling his eyes with excitement at the naughty idea. "I remember leaving it partly open."

Nottie rushed to the back of the house. There was a small wooden ladder lying on the grass. He placed it against the wall, ran up it, and squeezed through the little gap in the window.

"Well, Mom keeps the first-aid kit on the top shelf in the bathroom cupboard," said Nottie, thinking to himself. "I will need a chair to reach it."

He dragged a chair to the bathroom, climbed it, and managed to just get his finger-tips to the handle of the first-aid kit.

Nottie then jumped off the chair, squeezed himself out through the window, and rushed down the ladder towards his bicycle. Off he was to Shallow Pond.

It took Nottie over thirty minutes to get to Shallow Pond. Webbie was still there. She was unable to move.

"Hi Webbie, I am back!" cried Nottie, startling Webbie who had dropped off to sleep. "Look what I have brought with me."

"What's that?" asked Webbie, peering through her sleepy eyes at the little box that Nottie was holding up.

"This is the medicine my Mom always applies when I hurt myself," said Nottie, opening the first-aid kit and removing a bottle from it.

"It will burn a bit," said Nottie, applying the red-colored medicine to Webbie's feet. Then, he removed a piece of bandage and wrapped it carefully around Webbie's feet. He had seen his Mom do that several times. Now, here was his chance. Nottie was enjoying himself playing doctor. He never had the opportunity to do that before.

"You are very kind," said Webbie, putting her big yellow wing lovingly over Nottie's shoulder. She was already feeling much better.

"Will you be my friend -- my best friend?" asked Nottie. "I always wanted an animal friend, but I never managed to find one."

"Of course, I would love to have you as my best friend," replied Webbie. "I have many animal friends in Syberland. I can introduce them to you."

"Really!" said Nottie. "You are such a wonderful duck. I knew ducks could quack, but I didn't know they could talk English. Some of my friends have pets. They make different sounds, but none of them can talk. Well -- except the parrot, who can speak a bit."

"All the animals in Syberland can talk English," said Webbie. "We have been programmed that way in SyberSchool."

"But where is Syberland? Will you take me there?" asked Nottie.

"You will have to come with me in my SyberJet," said Webbie. "I have hidden my SyberJet safely behind these tall bushes here. I didn't want the other ducks to see it."

Nottie was confused. He didn't understand this talk about Syberland and SyberJets. Webbie noticed the puzzled look on Nottie's face.

"Let me explain," continued Webbie. "This afternoon I felt like taking a short ride in my SyberJet. It appeared a pleasant day. As I was zooming around in my SyberJet, I saw these beautiful woods. I zoomed in closer and saw some ducks wading in a pond in the woods. I landed my SyberJet, parked it behind these bushes, and swam out to meet these other ducks. But the ducks were very unfriendly! They started splashing water all over me and pushing me away. Just when I swam back to the edge of the pond, your bicycle and you fell by mistake on me. Do you understand now?"

"Yes, I do," replied Nottie, nodding his head vigorously. "That means you don't belong here."

"No, my home is in Syberland," said Webbie. "I want to get back soon. I have two little ducklings. They must be worried."

"Can I come with you to Syberland?" questioned Nottie. "Can we leave for Syberland right now in your SyberJet?"

Webbie pondered over the question for a moment. Then, she answered, "It's already quite dark. And my feet are still hurting. How about setting off for Syberland early morning tomorrow?"

Nottie would have liked to set off immediately. But, he realized there wasn't much of an option. It would have to wait till the next morning.

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