Chapter Four

The Journey

Hazel woke early the next day. The wood was silent so most of the others were still asleep. He was just about to nibble some grass when he heard Violet's voice behind him.

"Morning Hazel", she said.

"Morning", he replied with a yawn, then added "looks like a good day for travelling.

"I suppose so", she said with a sigh.

"What is it, what's the matter?"

"I'm just thinking about home, I still expect to wake up and find myself in my burrow."

"I know, I think leaving Sandleford was hard for everyone, but we didn't have much of a choice did we?"

"Yes, I know, and I guess I should be more grateful to you and Fiver, but I just wish it didn't have to happen or at least that I wasn't the only doe here".

Hazel smiled. "Don't fancy the idea of listening to a bunch of bucks squabbling over this, that and the other".

"No, it's just I would have liked the company of some of the other females that's all, you understand."

Hazel nodded, "Yes of course." Then he added, "If it makes you feel any better I'm glad you're the only doe here...err...I mean I'm glad that out of all the does in Sandleford you're the one who came with us...b-because you're a good digger and know how to keep a cool head and...and...and I've made a fool of myself haven't I?"

Violet laughed, "Yes you have but it's okay and thank you- it's very sweet of you."

Hazel went pink. "You're welcome. Well we had better wake the others and be on our way."

It didn't take long to wake the others and most were happy to get going. Dandelion and Hawkbit grumbled about the lack of sleep and Bigwig had to tell Pipkin to stop running about, but at last they were all ready.

Hazel turned to Fiver and was about to ask him if he knew where they were supposed to be going, when Fiver began to shiver and stare blankly into space.

"What can you see, Fiver?" he asked.

Fiver spoke as in a trance, "High on lonely hills where the wind carries every whisper, that's where we have to go, Hazel, that's where we'll find our new home."

"Is it far?"

Fiver was just about to say he didn't know when suddenly a loud screech was heard. Several of the rabbits looked up just in time to see a big black and white bird fly past, high above them.

"I've never see a bird like that one," said Pipkin," he's not elil is he?"

Violet chuckled, "Not all birds are enemies, Pipkin. He's just a gull."

Bigwig shook his head, amazed at the younger rabbit's lack of knowledge, "Young bucks these days don't know a thing about the world."

"And being Owsla you must know everything right, Bigwig?" commented Hawkbit sarcastically.

"You wouldn't have made it this far without me- I know that much. If not for me and Silver fighting off Holly, you would still be in Sandleford".

"We should never have left Sandleford in the first place," Hawkbit snapped.

"Darkness comes in the light of day, no hope for those who stay," Fiver said and looked at Hawkbit.

"Oh by Frith he's off again," moaned Dandelion.

"Oh," said Hawkbit in a voice that he meant to sound like Fiver's. "My nose tickles. It's a sign from Frith; it's the end of the world, run away."

Hazel, who was furious that his brother was being made fun of, was about to give Hawkbit a piece of his mind when all of a sudden a bark was heard from close by.

Instantly all of the rabbits were on alert. "Dog", said Bigwig, "close, doesn't sound like he's got our scent yet."

"Let's not wait 'till he does, "replied Hazel.

They all ran through the wood as fast as their legs could carry them, all hoping they could get away without being noticed. Suddenly another bark was heard- only this time much closer. "He's on to us," yelled Bigwig, "coming fast."

"Go", Hazel ordered the others, "we'll be right behind you." He turned to Bigwig. "They won't have a chance unless we can draw off that dog."

"So we offer ourselves up as a dog's breakfast?" asked Bigwig.

Hazel looked over to where there was a hollowed out log. "Not necessarily."

The dog, a big brown one, broke though the bushes, growling. It saw Hazel who was standing on top of a log and ran towards him snarling. Hazel ran into the log. The dog was just about to enter when Bigwig appeared from the other side. The dog ran after him; Bigwig ran into the log, Hazel came out from the previous side and the dog ran at him following him into the log. Seeing both its prey the dog gave a happy yelp and tried to push though the log. Both the rabbits shot out of the log and kicked it down a small slope.

By this time the others had made it out of the woods and to a stream, beyond which was open countryside.

"There's no way across downstream." said Hawkbit.

"And it just gets wider the other way," replied Violet.

At that moment the dog's barking reached them again.

"Well, that's the trouble with dogs isn't it", whimpered Dandelion, "they just don't know when to give up."

"What's happened to Hazel and Bigwig?" Pipkin asked Fiver in a frightened voice.

"Why are you lot hanging about?" shouted Bigwig, answering Pipkin's question.

"Well we didn't fancy our chances of hopping on water," Dandelion joked.

"We'll swim", Bigwig said, as he and Hazel joined them on the bank," now, everybody in".

"Oh wonderful," moaned Hawkbit as he entered the stream, "follow Hazel and Fiver, see the world, drown." Dandelion and Violet followed him.

"Come on, lad you're next." Bigwig said to Pipkin.

"I don't think I can Bigwig," stammered Pipkin as he looked into the cold dark water. The stream wasn't deep and crossing wouldn't have been a problem for most of the rabbits. Pipkin however was very small and not a good swimmer.

"Well you can't stay here."

"He'll never make it, Hazel," said Fiver turning to his brother. At that moment Blackberry who had been further downstream came running up. "Follow me;" he told the others, "I may have an idea."

"What is it?" asked Pipkin.

"Come and find out," responded Blackberry as they followed him.

Noticing that Hazel wasn't behind him, Bigwig looked round to see his old friend standing his ground as the dog's barking came closer. "You can't fight a dog, Hazel," he told him, as he came to stand next to the golden-brown buck.

"I led Pipkin into this; I won't leave him."

"If you stay I stay."

"Me too," said Silver appearing at Bigwig's other shoulder.

"What! No, what good will that do?" Bigwig said.

"Three heads are better that two when it comes to a fight," replied Silver proudly.

"Not if that fight ends in a very painful and bloody death."

Hazel and Silver swallowed hard and both looked at Bigwig, an expression of fear on their faces.

"Sorry," said Bigwig," I just though you should know this will most likely be the end of us. It that dog gets us in its jaws all it needs to do is..."

"Bigwig," interrupted Silver.

"What?"

"Shut up, just shut up."

"Oh... right...sorry."

"Here," they heard Blackberry shout. "There's a way across."

"Thank Frith," Bigwig sighed, "I didn't really fancy a heroic last stand."

Bigwig, Hazel and Silver ran over to the far end of the bank, where Blackberry and the other two were waiting. Hazel looked at Blackberry. "I thought you said there was a way across?"

"Yes," the other buck replied, pointing to a small log. "On this wood, look, it floats."

"And toads hop, so what?" asked Bigwig.

"Blackberry, that's brilliant," shouted Fiver happily.

"I'm missing something here," said Bigwig, who although he was a strong and brave fellow wasn't that bright.

Fiver ignored him and turned to Pipkin. "Get on the wood, you and I will use it to cross to the other side."

Pipkin gave Bigwig an unsure glance.

"Do it."

Gathering all his courage, Pipkin jumped onto the log, making a huge splash and soaking the others. Fiver got on next to him. Blackberry pushed them out then began to swim across to the opposite bank, Silver with him.

All of a sudden the dog burst out of the undergrowth and ran straight at them.

"Go," yelled Bigwig, pushing Hazel into the water then leaping in after him. Bigwig had almost made it to shore when he heard Hawkbit shout, "Bigwig- behind you!"

The log which Fiver and Pipkin had been floating on had been knocked and turned round by the current and was now heading back the way they had come, back towards the dog. With a snarl the dog bound into the water and swam right at them.

"I'm sorry it has to end like this," Fiver told Pipkin.

At that moment Bigwig's head broke the surface of the water. "Nothing's ending while I'm around," he said and with that he began to swim towards the others, pushing the log along with his nose. The dog came at Bigwig, jaws snapping. But Bigwig hadn't left Sandleford just so he could become this dog's dinner. With a growl he shot his right back leg out and gave the irritating mutt a hard kick on the snout. The dog, taken aback by the sudden attack, stopped dead in the water, giving the rabbit's time to make it to the shore. The dog watched the rabbits go; it had made up its mind that this meal wasn't worth the trouble. With a last growl it swam back towards the wood.

Bigwig watched Fiver and Pipkin jump from the log to shore, before climbing the bank himself and collapsing. All the rabbits cheered, with a "Well done Bigwig," from Dandelion and a "Thank you, Bigwig that was so brave," from Fiver and Pipkin.

"Nothing at all," he gasped.

Hazel gave him a quick "Thanks for saving my brother" nod then turned to Blackberry.

"And well done you, that was a clever idea".

Blackberry gave an embarrassed laugh, "Thanks Hazel but I'm sure someone else would have thought of it if I hadn't".

"I doubt it," Hazel replied then addressing the whole group he said," right, let's get moving."

"We're half dead Hazel, give us a minute will you," moaned Hawkbit.

"We'll have time to rest when we get where we're going," Hazel told him before starting off.

"You heard him, hop to it you layabout," ordered Bigwig, looking at the small grey buck. Hawkbit glowered at him, and then followed Hazel. The sooner they got to this high hill the better, he thought. And that was if it even existed, which he doubted.

By mid-day the small group of rabbits had reached a large bean-field.

"This looks like a safe place to rest," Hazel said.

Fiver nodded "It's so peaceful here."

"Enjoy it while it lasts", replied Hawkbit, "the next disaster can't be far off".

Fiver and Hazel ignored him and looked around at the others. Most were lying on the ground taking a rest after the morning's travelling; the others were sitting a little way off and talking about the incident with the dog. Pipkin however was hopping about and sniffing at the beanstalks.

"You should rest, Pipkin," Hazel told him "we have a long way to go yet."

"I will, I just want to look around a little".

Hazel nodded and told him to stay close, before going to lie down next to Bigwig. Bigwig looked from Pipkin to Hazel. "The boundless energy of youth hey Hazel." Hazel groaned and told him to shut up and go to sleep.

Pipkin soon got bored of exploring and was about to go back to the others when he heard a strange noise coming from beyond the field. After taking a few seconds to listen for danger he hopped out of the field to have a look for the cause of the racket.

Directly in front of him was a long wooden fence and atop this fence, singing to himself, was the gull he and his friends had seen earlier that day.

"Hello," Pipkin said politely. The gull gave a surprised squawk and flapped his wings to stop himself from falling off the fence. Once his balance was regained he glared down at the young rabbit and snapped in a very angry voice, thick with an accent Pipkin didn't recognise.

"You crazy, why you sneak up on Kehaar for?"

"I'm sorry. You're a gull, aren't you?"

"Yar, gull from big water."

"What's a big water?"

"Sea, water forever, full of fish. You know where big water gone?"

"No. Are you lost?"

"Lost, hungry, want fish."

"I wish I could help," Pipkin told Kehaar truthfully, then added "I saw you flying, it must be wonderful to fly, then we could find our home in the high hills."

"You lost too?" asked Kehaar, "like me, like Hannah."

"Hannah is another gull?"

"No, mouse. She say, if you got no home make home where you are. She nice but confusing".

Just then they both heard a grumpy voice shout for Pipkin. "Who dat?" asked Kehaar.

"That was Hawkbit, I'm Pipkin," Pipkin replied, "I have to go; it was nice meeting you, Kehaar", and with that he ran back towards the others.

Kehaar watched the small rabbit run off.

"Everybody lost", he sighed, "nobody got a home," and with that he flew off to look for the big water somewhere else.

By early evening all the rabbits were exhausted. The journey since the bean-field had been long and hard, and for most of them it had stretched faith in Fiver and his vision to the limit. All of a sudden a loud squeal of pain was heard, making all the rabbits jump and look round. The cause of the sound was Hawkbit. He had been hopping along muttering to himself when a sharp bit of thistle had caught him in the leg. Hawkbit looked down at the thin trickle of blood running down his leg.

"That's it," he whined, "I've had enough of this."

"Me too", added Dandelion, "I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I'm sore."

"We can't stop here, it's too open," Hazel told them. Hawkbit rolled his eyes and said "we can't do this we can't do that. We've been following this vision of Fiver's forever".

"And it doesn't look like it's getting any clearer," Dandelion added again, "I mean do you see any high hills, I don't?"

"We're going back," stated Hawkbit. And with that he turned round and bumped right into Bigwig. "No one's going back, now get moving", growled the Owsla rabbit.

"You're afraid to go back", Hawkbit said accusingly, "you and Silver deserted the Owsla, you're afraid Captain Holly will arrest you".

"Hawkbit", said Fiver, "Sandleford is gone, I feel it in my bones, there nothing to go back too."

"Well that's what you say, well what if you're wrong, what then."

"I said move", snapped Bigwig, "I won't say it again."

"Make me!" Hawkbit replied defiantly.

Bigwig lunged at him. The terrified grey rabbit gave a squeal and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction. "What if Fiver is wrong?" Bigwig asked Hazel, once all the others were out of ear shot, "We can't keep them going on dreams forever."

"Dreams are all we have Bigwig," Hazel answered, before hopping off.

It was only an hour later when another cry was heard. This time it was Fiver. He had tripped and fallen head first into a puddle. Hazel went over to him to see if he was alright. "Come on Fiver, the high hills can't be that far now."

"What if Hawkbit was right, Hazel", said Fiver miserably, "what if there is no high hills?"

"But you saw them."

"In a vision, in my head, what if they were right back at Sandleford, what if I am mad?"

"If we stop believing..." began Hazel but was interrupted by Bigwig shouting for him and Fiver.

"You two come here, quickly."

They ran over to where Bigwig and the rest of the group were standing at the edge of a small cliff. "What is it?" asked Hazel.

"Just for a moment I thought saw something."

Hazel looked out but couldn't see anything for a thick mist. He was about to tell his friend that he must have been seeing things when Silver shouted, "look!".

The mist parted and far away in the distance they could just make out a lone hill atop of which was a beech tree.

"The high hill," gasped Hazel.

Bigwig gave a loud whoop and turned to Fiver. "You were right lad, you were right all along."

"Wow, it looks very far away", said Pipkin.

"Yes", laughed Dandelion, "but it's there."

"I smell cabbages", said Hazel.

"And carrots", added Bigwig, "and lettuce."

"Flayrah!" cried Violet excitedly. Flayrah was the rabbit word of good food such as vegetables and fruit.

"But where is it coming from?" asked Fiver.

"There", answered Blackberry, pointing to a farm some way below and ahead of them.

"I could run the rest of the way to the high hill on a belly full of carrots", yelled Bigwig, "What are we waiting for?"

"No", said Hazel firmly, "there might be dogs or cats down there not to mention men".

"In the Owsla we have a saying; who dares wins" replied Bigwig.

"Everyone's exhausted; we need our wits about us for a raid."

"Well we need food if we're going to make it the rest of the way to the high hills".

"I agree with Bigwig on this one," said Hawkbit," If there's lettuce down there I want some and I want some now".

"At least wait until its dark," pleaded Hazel.

"Alright," said Bigwig with a sigh, "We'll wait."

Hazel turned to Dandelion. "What about a story Dandelion, to pass the time?"

"Oh, yes please, Dandelion," said Pipkin.

Dandelion though for a moment, "How's about the story of Frith's blessing?" he asked. All the other thought this was a great idea, so Dandelion began.

"Long ago when Lord Frith made the word all the animals were the same. They lived together sharing the sweet grass of the hills. Now the greatest of all the animals were the rabbits and El-ahrairah was the father and prince of all the rabbits and soon his people covered the whole world, eating so much that there was none for the other animals. Now Lord Frith saw this and was worried for the other animals. He turned to the prince rabbit and said, "El-ahrairah you must control your people. They are too many!"

"That is because you have made them the best in the world, Lord Frith, I cannot control them."

"Then I will do it El-ahrairah."

Frith summoned all the animals to his sun cave to grant them all a gift, making each one different from the rest. To the fox and the weasel he gave claws and teeth and the desire to hunt and kill El-ahrairah people. When El-ahrairah heard about this he knew Frith was angry with him and his people. He feared what Frith might do next and so when Frith came looking for him he tried to hide, but Frith found him.

"El-ahrairah, come here and I'll give you your blessing."

"I can't, the fox and the weasel are coming for me so I must find somewhere to hide." But Frith shone down upon him anyway.

"Never again will your people cover the world El-ahrairah, for it is filled with enemies now, and when they catch you they will kill you. But first they must catch you. Runner, digger, listener. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people will never be destroyed"."

When Dandelion had finished there was a loud cheer from the others. Bigwig looked up at the now dark sky. "Right, let's be cunning and trick men out of some lettuce."

The farmyard was empty, no sign of cat or dog. "Good," thought Hannah to herself, that was what she had hoped for. Hannah was a small brown furred mouse. She was intelligent and had a determined nature. Her one shortcoming was she was very, very bossy and it didn't seem to bother her that most of the creatures she bossed about could squash her with a single paw.

She was about to go into the barn when a loud voice suddenly bellowed next to her.

"Hello Hannah." It was Kehaar.

"Give me a warning next time you drop from the sky," she scolded, "What do you want this time?"

"Kehaar hungry, want fish."

"We were lucky to get away with stealing the fat cat's fish last time, no more after this, you silly bird!"

They both entered the barn. Kehaar saw the bowl of fish and flew over to it. He was about to gobble one down when he heard a growl above him. He looked up and gasped. The cat leapt...

Bigwig looked up from his third carrot. He and the rest of the rabbits had found a crate round the left side of the barn; it had been full of Flayrah.

"What is it?" asked Silver.

"There's a cat about," he replied.

Hazel stopped nibbling at his carrot as well. "Let's not over stay our welcome", he said.

They all ran as fast as they could, past the barn door and into the surrounding field. As Pipkin ran past the barn door a loud squawk came from within. He stopped and turned round just in time for a mouse to shoot out of the door and bump into his stomach. "Rabbit run for your life," the mouse shrieked, "cat's got Kehaar!"

"Kehaar the gull?" he asked and poked his head round the barn door.

Noticing that Pipkin wasn't behind him Hazel looked back. "Hraka," he swore when he saw what Pipkin was doing.

"What's the matter now?" asked Hawkbit as he and Bigwig came over to him.

"That," answered Hazel, pointing to the barn.

"Oh, the IDIOT!" roared Bigwig.

"Come on," Hazel yelled and ran towards the farmyard, the other two close behind him.

"Get away from there, you halfwit," Hawkbit snapped at Pipkin as they reached the barn.

"I won't leave without Kehaar."

"Who in Frith's name is Kehaar?" asked Hazel.

"He's a gull and he's lost just like us- we have to help him."

There was another loud squawk followed by an unpleasant cracking sound.

Hazel gave the young rabbit a hard stare then ran into the barn, followed by Bigwig and Hawkbit.

They found Kehaar and the cat fighting over a bowl of fish. The gull had a cut on his left wing which was bleeding badly.

"What do we do Hazel?" asked Bigwig.

"I don't know, try and find something to knock on top of that cat".

Before either of them could move, Hawkbit gave a snarl and slammed into the side of the cat sending it flying into several plant pots, he then turned to Kehaar and roared, " Move it you great twit or so help me I'll kick your feathery backside halfway across the farmyard!"

Needing no further encouragement, Kehaar waddled out of the barn as fast as his legs would carry him.

"What?" asked Hawkbit when he noticed the way Hazel and Bigwig were staring at him.

"You...you just tackled a cat," whispered Bigwig in awe.

Hawkbit smiled. "You can only push this little grey rabbit so far."

"Are you badly hurt, Kehaar?" asked Pipkin once they were all safely away from the farm.

"Not too bad," he answered and wiggled his wing. "Yow," he shouted, "maybe not fly so good for a time".

"You won't last long in the open with a bad wing, Kehaar," Hannah told him.

"Then come with us," Pipkin said, "we're going to the high hills."

"Now hang on a minute Pipkin," began Bigwig.

Pipkin looked at Hazel, "he's a friend Hazel, let him stay please."

"We're all newcomers here," Hazel said, more to Bigwig then to Pipkin, "I think Kehaar should stay."

"Right", said the Owsla rabbit, "Let's get moving then".

It took then an hour to reach the foot of the hill. "How far is it to the top, Kehaar?" asked Hazel, the very thought of climbing it making him feel weak.

"Not far if you fly, long way if you walk," the bird told him.

"Well," said Hazel "we've made it this far, so let's do it".

Dawn was breaking as the small group of rabbits made it to the top. The sun shone down, bathing the hill in its rays.

"This is where we'll start again", said Hazel.

"It's called Watership Down", Hannah told the rabbits.

"Watership Down," Fiver repeated, "home."