And now for something completely different... or not, as the case may be. Don't be fooled by the somewhat familiar circumstances in which this story begins - trying to keep track of the plot in a logical manner just ain't gonna work, people. There is the occasional bit of Lapine in the story for the purposes of atmosphere, but nothing too difficult, and in any case the context should make it clear what's going on.
When You're in a Hole, Start Digging
Chapter 1: All I Have to Do is Dream, Dream, Dream
There was, of course, a sentry at the mouth of the run, but it was
Burnet, who, thought Loganberry, shouldn't be too much trouble to get
past. Loganberry went up to him, with Rooli Roo following at his heels.
"On lay veth hay u Naylte Rah?" he asked.
"The Chief Rabbit? You c'n see 'im when 'e's ready," answered
Burnet. "E's with 'is doe, see, an' 'e gave strict instructions that
they weren't to be disturbed, like. 'Til then, you c'n wait 'ere. Or go
back to y'burrow. Or silflay, or whatever. But you'm not seeing
Beechnut-rah 'til he's good an' ready t'see you, 'kay?"
"Well, of course," said Loganberry. "But it's pretty
important, Burnet. Rooli Roo here needs to see him as a matter of urgency."
"Why?"
"He won't tell me. Says it's top secret, and only the Chief can be
told. You could try asking him, seeing as how he's here."
"Well?" said Burnet, looking at Rooli Roo. "Woss all that,
then? C'mon, y'can tell ol' Burnet, eh?"
The little kitten looked doubtful for a moment, but then spoke. "Oh,
I suppose it won't do any harm to tell you now. I've been having some odd
dreams, and in one of them there was a great big fox that came onto us and
killed Beechnut-rah right in front of your nose. I have to warn him about
it. There were other dreams, too. One of them had you in, actually."
"Sounds like one of 'em Ellery Rah tales, 'fy'ask me," grunted
Burnet, scratching vigorously. "All good stuff on a winter's night,
an' Frith knows we'm lucky t'ave 'im watchin' over us, like. But I always
reckon some of these stories're jus' plain silly. I mean, all this stuff
'bout Rowsby Woof, or that one where Rabscuttle sees that field all full
of blood. Since when's 'e bin an embleer veheer, eh? Give us a good yarn
like The King's Lettuce anyday. 'Least y'can get yer teeth into that'n."
"Frith ven hrududu," thought Loganberry to himself, but out
loud he said, "Well, you may be right. But now I hear it for myself,
I can't help wondering whether Rooli Roo might be onto something. Still,
if you want to send us away, that's up to you. On your own ears be it."
He made as if to go, but Burnet had reached a decision. "Well, I
s'pose I c'd go an' 'ave a look t'see if the Chief's able to give y'an
audience. You'm gonn'ave t'be quick, though, 'cos 'e's off on a lettuce
party later - says 'e's bored; wants summat t'do, I s'pose. 'Ang about
while I check, 'kay?"
He hopped off down the run. Loganberry and Rooli Roo looked at each
other. Could it really be this easy? Rooli Roo slipped into the small
alcove just inside the entrance and nosed around in the dirt until he
found a carrot Burnet thought he'd hidden.
"Don't you ever stop eating?" asked Loganberry.
"I'm a growing rabbit," answered his friend, the words almost
incomprehensible through the chewing. Hearing Burnet coming back, he
hastily gulped down the remains and almost choked himself. Loganberry gave
him a meaningful look.
"Looks like yer in luck, like," said the sentry. "The
Chief's in a good mood. Not s'prisin' really, when y'think o' that
Thlayonil, really - she'd make any buck sit up'n'take notice, eh?" He
leered rather unpleasantly. "Anyroadup, y'd best come on down now -
not one for waitin' when 'e's got summat better t'do, is our gaffer."
The three rabbits made their way along the twists and turns of the warren
to the deepest and most luxurious of all the burrows, where Beechnut and
Thlayonil made their home. There weren't many other rabbits around, it
being a glorious June morning, but one or two stopped to pass the time of
day with Burnet, who was generally thought of as an asset to the warren:
he might not be the sharpest thorn on the bush, but when it really counted
he seemed to have a knack of doing the right thing.
At length, they came to the Chief's burrow. The guard (who happened to be
Elderberry) stood aside and in they went. Thlayonil was not there, but
Beechnut raised his somewhat large form and came over to meet the
newcomers.
"Ah," he said. "Hazel, isn't it?"
"Actually, I'm Loganberry, Beechnut-rah. And I'm sure you know Rooli
Roo here."
"Oh really, Loganberry, must we have those ridiculous nicknames
still? He's getting on for three months old now, you know - surely he's
long past the time of silly games. What's wrong with Worcesterberry, for
heaven's sake?"
"A lay nahl varu me," muttered Rooli Roo under his breath, but
just loud enough to be heard.
"Whyever not?" asked the Chief. "As I recall, one of our
best fighters a couple of years ago was called Worcesterberry. Tremendous
asset to the warren, he was. Saved us more than once, I should say -
terrible shock when he got done in by a cat. You never knew him, of
course, but he was a real hero. I can't see why you shouldn't like the
name; actually, you ought to feel honoured."
"It's just silly," mumbled Rooli Roo, "stupid plants-"
but Loganberry nudged him into silence.
"Anyway," said Beechnut, "Burnet told me you had something
terribly important to say to me. Out with it, then."
Rooli Roo explained about his dreams, but as he went on he could see the
Chief Rabbit losing the little interest he had started with. He trailed
off, and glanced at Loganberry, who returned his gaze with a look of
resignation.
"I think we'd better go now, Beechnut-rah," he said. "Thank
you for letting us see you, and... and I hope you'll think about what I
said."
"Oh yes, of course," said Beechnut, already falling back into a
contented doze.
