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Bingo felt his heart shrivel up as he listened to the bickering between Sondo and Falco, and heard his own brother's preference to continue south to the Ford. The one thing he'd wanted from this trip was to become close friends with the rest of the lads. The part about going on an adventure was fun, but not the real heart of the thing as far as Bingo was concerned. Now it looked as if the whole group might split up in petty squabbles and fights. This was not what he'd hoped for or expected. He would prefer to be a peacemaker, and get the two lads to come to some agreement, but he had a sinking feeling that such an attempt would never work. He'd have to take a stand.
Whether they continued south to the Ford or went back to Buckland was not particularly important to Bingo. Either way would be fine. But the one thing that did upset him was to see Falco showing so much disloyalty to a friend. This trip had been Sondo's idea. He knew Sondo had put in a lot of time and effort planning and getting things right. They had all promised to follow Sondo's lead. The events of the day had not been pleasant. But who knew it was going to rain so hard? Bad times and bad things happened to everybody. Of all people, Bingo knew that. When their parents had died he thought at first that he would be next to shrivel up and die. But he'd gotten though it. He'd gotten through it by sticking to his brother and the rest of his Brandybuck kinfolk, as irritating and wrong as they could be sometimes. That was the right thing to do.
Glancing at Reggie, but speaking loud enough for everyone to hear, Bingo shook his head, "It wouldn't be right. When we started this trip, we all agreed that Sondo should be the leader. What kind of hobbits would we be if we went back on our word? Maybe Falco is right about heading south, and maybe he isn't. And maybe some of us will get whipped when we get home. We knew that when we started. But all that's not what's most important. I'm no turncoat, and I don't go back on a promise. I don't desert my friends just because they're in a little trouble, or it seems like more fun to run off and do something else. I'm sure Falco doesn't really mean it, but that's what he's asking us to do. I mean, what if we go with Falco and things get tough? Will we decide to desert him too?"
Bingo glanced hastily over at Falco and saw a very unpleasant look on his face. Then he turned back to Reggie. "You're my brother, and I love you with all my heart. But I hope you'll agree to stay with Sondo wherever he decides to go. It's your choice, and the last thing I want to happen is for us to split up. But deserting Sondo just isn't right."
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