There had been several complaints about the water pressure dropping and getting worse.
When Benbow Boggins learned that the water supply from the Eldingwood dam that was piped into the village was at risk because of a leak, he consulted Mungling, the hob goblin that dealt with the communities plumbing needs. However, as the goblin was busy, he asked that Benbow visit the secret, highly secured parts department, in order to speed up the job. He needed a grungling wave washer for the job. Benbow readily agreed and was given the location of the entrance; it being the mystical tree in the Eldingwood wood. He was told what knot to press, that is what ‘knot’, as opposed to what ‘not’, and Benbow set off immediately.
When Benbow found the tree he pushed the large knot, as described, and a great portion of bark swung open. As he entered, the door closed quietly behind him. He made his way down three short steps to the entrance of a narrow tunnel. He could make out torches burning as far as the eye could see. The tunnel was very long. At the end he came to more stairs cut into the rock. This time he climbed down three flights before coming to the entrance of another even longer tunnel. At the end of this tunnel, he found a thick knotted rope hung down over a hole. He slowly descended, using each knot as a hand hold, until he reached the ground. Here, he found himself staring down a further tunnel.
At this point he stopped for a rest. He had no idea how long he’d been going, but he was getting hungry. At the end of this he came to an elevator door with a single button. He pressed it and the doors slid open. When they closed, he stood in darkness for a moment. Then, seeing a phosphorescent button he pressed it and felt himself being jolted upwards. When he stepped out he could see that he was at the entrance of yet another long tunnel. This one was even narrower than the others. Half way along he found himself crossing a swing bridge that was suspended over running water.
At the end of this he found that it turned sharply to the right and he was facing an even longer tunnel, poorly lit this time, with torches spaced further apart. The ground was rough and he had to move forward carefully. At the end he came to the bottom of a spiral staircase, which he slowly climbed.
At the top he stood panting. He was now staring down what would have to be the last tunnel, because at its end he could make out a door with the words ‘Parts Department’ displayed in large red letters above it. As he came close he could see a hand-written note pinned to the door.
It was at this point that it came to Benbow that hand-written notices pinned on doors can’t always be relied on.
It read, ‘Closed. Back in five minutes.’