Watership Down

'There you are, you see. It did work. I think there's more than we know to some of these old rhymes and spells. Of course, it might have been just going to fly away anyway. But you must admit it's gone.'

'Probably all that prancing about as we came up to it,' said Chervil sourly. 'We must have looked completely mad. What on earth will the Mark think? Anyway, now we're out here, we may as well go round the sentries.'

'I'll stop and feed, if you don't mind,' said Bigwig. 'I didn't get much last night, you know.'

* * *

Bigwig's luck was not altogether out. Later that morning, quite unexpectedly, he came upon a chance to talk to Blackavar alone. He had been through the sweltering burrows, finding everywhere quick breathing and feverish pulses; and he was just wondering whether he could not plausibly go and press Chervil to ask the Council's permission for the Mark to spend part of the day in the bushes above ground-for that might very well bring some sort of opportunity with it-when he began to feel the need to pass hraka. No rabbit passes hraka underground: and, like schoolchildren who know that they cannot very well be refused a request to go to the lavatory as long as it is not too soon after the last time, the Efrafan rabbits used to slip into the ditch for a breath of air and a change of scene. Although they were not supposed to be allowed to go more often than was necessary, some of the Owsla were easier than others. As Bigwig approached the hole that led into the ditch, he found two or three young bucks loitering in the run and, as usual, set himself to act his part as convincingly as he could.

'Why are you hanging about here?' he asked.

'The prisoner's escort are up at the hole and they turned us back, sir,' answered one. 'They're not letting anyone out for the moment.'

'Not to pass hraka?' said Bigwig.

'No, sir.'

Indignant, Bigwig made his way to the mouth of the hole. Here he found Blackavar's escort talking to the sentry on duty.

'I'm afraid you can't go out for the moment, sir,' said Bartsia. 'The prisoner's in the ditch, but he won't be long.'

'Neither shall I,' said Bigwig. 'Just get out of the way, will you?' He pushed Bartsia to one side and hopped into the ditch.

The day had become even more lowering and overcast. Blackavar was squatting a little way off, under an overhanging plume of cow parsley. The flies were walking on his shreds of ears, but he seemed not to notice them. Bigwig went along the ditch and squatted beside him.

'Blackavar, listen,' he said quickly. 'This is the truth, by Frith and the Black Rabbit. I am a secret enemy of Efrafa. No one knows this but you and a few of the Mark does. I'm going to escape with them tonight and I'm going to take you as well. Don't do anything yet. When the time comes I'll be there to tell you. Just brace up and get yourself ready.'

Without waiting for an answer, he moved away as though to find a better spot. Even so, he was back at the hole before Blackavar, who evidently meant to stay outside for as long as the escort-clearly in no hurry themselves-would allow.

'Sir,' said Bartsia, as Bigwig came in, 'that's the third time, sir, that you've disregarded my authority. Council police can't be treated in this way. I'm afraid I shall have to report it, sir.'

Bigwig made no reply and returned up the run.

'Wait a bit longer if you can,' he said as he passed the bucks. 'I don't suppose that poor fellow will get out again today.'

He wondered whether to go and look for Hyzenthlay, but decided that it would be prudent to keep away from her. She knew what to do, and the less they were seen together the better. His head ached in the heat and he wanted only to be alone and quiet. He went back to his burrow and slept.

38. The Thunder Breaks

Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark!
The storm is up and all is on the hazard!

Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

Late in the afternoon it came on dark and very close. It was plain that there would be no true sunset. On the green path by the riverbank, Hazel sat fidgeting as he tried to imagine what might be going on in Efrafa.

'He told you he wanted you to attack the sentries while the rabbits were feeding, didn't he,' he said to Kehaar, 'and that he'd bring the mothers out in the confusion?'

'Ya, say dis, but not 'appen. Den 'e say go away, come again tonight.'

'So that's still what he means to do. The question is, when will they be feeding? It's getting dark already. Silver, what do you think?'

'If I know them, they won't alter anything they usually do,' said Silver. 'But if you're worried in case we're not there in time, why not go now?'

'Because they're always patrolling. The longer we wait up there, the greater the risk. If a patrol finds us before Bigwig comes, it won't be just a matter of getting ourselves away. They'll realize we're there for some purpose and give the alarm, and that'll be the end of any chance he's got.'

'Listen, Hazel-rah,' said Blackberry. 'We ought to reach the iron road at the same time as Bigwig and not a moment before. Why don't you take them all over the river now and wait in the undergrowth, near the boat? Once Kehaar's attacked the sentries, he can fly back and tell us.'

'Yes, that's it,' answered Hazel. 'But once he's told us, we must get up there in no time at all. Bigwig's going to need us as well as Kehaar.'

'Well, you won't be able to dash up to the arch,' said Fiver, 'with your leg. The best thing you can do is to get on the boat and have the rope gnawed half through by the time we come back. Silver can look after the fighting, if there's going to be any.'

Hazel hesitated. 'But some of us are probably going to get hurt. I can't stay behind.'

'Fiver's right,' said Blackberry. 'You will have to wait on the boat, Hazel. We can't risk your being left to be picked up by the Efrafans. Besides, it's very important that the rope should be half gnawed-that's a job for someone sensible. It mustn't break too soon or we're all finished.'

It took them some time to persuade Hazel. When at last he agreed, he was still reluctant.

'If Bigwig doesn't come tonight,' he said, 'I shall go and find him, wherever he is. Frith knows what may have happened already.'

As they set off up the left bank, the wind began to blow in fitful, warm gusts, with a multifoliate rustling through the sedges. They had just reached the plank bridge when there came a rumble of thunder. In the intense, strange light, the plants and leaves seemed magnified and the fields beyond the river very near. There was an oppressive stillness.

'You know, Hazel-rah,' said Bluebell, 'this really is the funniest evening I've ever gone looking for a doe.'

'It's going to get a lot funnier soon,' said Silver. 'There'll be lightning and pouring rain. For goodness' sake, all of you, don't panic, or we'll never see our warren again. I think this is going to be a rough business,' he added