Chapter Eleven

Escape from Efrafa

Woundwort stared down at the newcomer. He looked strong and well built and had an air of bravery about him.

"Tell me, Thlayli," the general asked, "why do you want to join Efrafa?"

"I've heard it said that you are a leader of warriors."

"Yes, go on," Woundwort sighed, sounding slightly bored.

"I am a wanderer and a warrior looking for a chief who can appreciate my talents."

"Where do you come from, wanderer?"

"Sandleford warren, sir. A long journey on the path of the setting sun. It lies in ruins now, destroyed by man."

"Man," Woundwort snarled and swiped his paw though the air in a fit of anger, "may Frith burn the flesh from his bones."

Then in a more level voice he said, "So, you're a warrior are you?"

Bigwig nodded.

"Could you fight him?" the Efrafan chief asked, pointing to Vervain.

Quick as a flash, Bigwig knocked the maroon buck to the ground.

"Shall I kill him?" he asked, one paw holding Vervain down, the other raised.

"Not today," Woundwort replied with the slightest hint of a smile.

Bigwig nodded and let the other rabbit get up. Vervain glared at him but said nothing.

"Thlayli," Woundwort said, "I appoint you probationary captain of Owsla. Captain Campion, instruct him in the ways of Efrafa."

Campion bowed then led Bigwig away. Vervain began to move off as well.

"Hold, captain Vervain," the general ordered.

Vervain turned to the general. "Sir?"

"This Thlayli had an odd scent about him," Woundwort said thoughtfully, "watch him closely."

"Yes general," Vervain replied then hopped away.

Primrose, seeing that everything was over, retreated back into the food chamber and stopped next to Blackavar.

"The guards are looking for you", he told her, "it's time for silflay."

"Well then, we had better get outside," she answered then left the burrow.

...

Back at the bridge the Watership Down rabbits were getting nervous. The two Efrafan guards still hadn't left.

"Persistent, aren't they," Fiver said in a murmur.

"All this way to rescue Primrose and Blackavar, and we sit under a bridge waiting for Bigwig," Hawkbit sighed. "Some heroes we are."

Hazel put his paw on the grey rabbit's shoulder.

"Hold it together, Hawkbit, it'll be over soon," he reassured him.

Turning to Blackberry and Violet on the boat he inquired as to how it was going.

"It won't take much to chew though the rope and this boat should carry us all without sinking," Violet told them.

"It should or it will?" asked Hawkbit doubtfully.

"It will," she told him. Then she turned to Hazel and asked if there was any sign of Bigwig yet. Hazel shook his head.

"He's gone and done something foolish! I just know it," she sighed.

Hazel chuckled, "what we call foolish, Bigwig calls exciting."

...

Vervain followed Campion and Bigwig all around the inside of Efrafa and then back again to the gathering place. Finally they climbed up and out of the large scar in the earth and arrived at the great base of the tree.

Here he hid as the two rabbits ran up one of the exposed roots, stopping on an area half way up the tree, where they could have a good view of the warren.

"Woundwort likes everyone kept in line, doesn't he?" Bigwig observed as he watched the slaves at silflay.

"Without order and control there is no purpose, wouldn't you agree?" Campion replied as he turned his gaze towards the other rabbit.

"Oh, I'm all for strict military discipline" Bigwig said in answer, "after all, we can't have everyone going around thinking for themselves, now can we!"

"No, we can't," Campion snapped. Then in a more even tone he said "You and I are going to be working with one another from now on, aren't we Thlayli?"

"That we are."

"Then tell me a bit more about your old warren...and your life there."

Bigwig was quiet; evidently thinking. After a while he shrugged, "I suppose Sandleford was alright; nice and green and big with plenty of food. All in all, a great place to live in...much nicer than here."

"You do surprise me!" Campion chuckled, then added "please continue."

"Well, that's about all there is to the warren really. As for me, well, I was born an only child."

Campion looked at him in surprise. "Forgive me for saying so, but that's a bit odd isn't it?" he asked.

Bigwig nodded, "Well Mum was very ill at the time. Forget about anyone else, she was lucky to have me! And everyone thought she wouldn't even manage that, but she did." He looked at the ground thoughtfully. "Died not long afterwards though."

"Oh!" said Campion. "Sorry."

"It's alright. I didn't really know her, and the other does took it in turns to look after me until I could eat proper food, then it was all up to Dad. His name was Twig. Told me when I was older that I was a right pawful," Bigwig grinned. "Not naughty, just a pawful. Anyway, when I was old enough I joined the Owsla. My job was to guard the chief; did it for years."

"What made you leave?" Campion inquired.

"Had a bad argument with the chief, so I hightailed it out of there, and wandered around the countryside until you found me." Bigwig chuckled, "Just a good thing I did leave! Not two days after, I heard from a sparrow that Sandleford had been destroyed! No what about you? What's your story?"

Campion swallowed hard, "I'd rather not talk about it, if it's all the same to you. It's painful, and I don't like thinking about it."

"I can respect that," Bigwig said and went back to watching the slaves.

All the while that the two rabbits had been talking, Primrose had been watching and listening to Bigwig from where she was silflaying.

"There's something different about that new rabbit..." she told Blackavar.

"It won't be long before he's just like the rest," he whispered back.

Primrose would have said something more but stopped when she noticed the two Owsla rabbits coming down from the tree and heading towards them.

Campion looked at the sun then turned his head to the guard watching the slaves.

"Time's up for this mark," he said, "get them back underground". Turning to Bigwig he added "We'll tour the perimeter now".

"Sounds lovely," remarked Bigwig.

Campion nodded and hopped towards the bushes on Efrafa's east side. Bigwig followed but not before the slaves had passed him on their way underground.

"Hazel says hello," he whispered as Primrose passed.

She stopped and looked at him for a moment before moving on.

"Are you coming Thlayli?" Campion shouted back at him.

Bigwig sighed and hopped after the Efrafan buck.

Vervain followed close behind...

...

"I knew Thlayli was different!" Primrose told Blackavar as soon as they were back in the warren. "He's here to get us out! Hazel sent him".

"Get us out?!" Blackavar cried in exasperation. "How?"

"He'll do it", she replied calmly. "I feel it"

"One rabbit against Woundwort and his Owsla?" the buck protested and shook his head.

"Three rabbits," she reminded him. "We can help, but we must be ready when our chance comes. Keep watching. I'm going to check on the escape tunnel." and without another word she hopped away.

Blackavar stared up at the roof of the burrow and squeezed his eyes tight shut.

"Escape from Efrafa," he prayed, "please Frith..."

...

Bigwig followed Campion about a quarter of a mile, being told constantly to remember the lay of the land. Campion told him it was important to know the way to and from Efrafa, just in case Elil attacked or you needed to get somewhere quickly.

Or in case I get lost when the time comes to escape with Blackavar and Primrose, Bigwig thought to himself.

They were just about to continue on their tour when Bigwig heard something in the distance behind them. Listening carefully he could make it out to be the sound of another rabbit, probably following them.

"I think we're being followed," Bigwig told Campion.

"Get used to it," Campion replied, "in Efrafa someone's always watching..."

"That makes things difficult" Bigwig muttered to himself as he followed Campion in the direction of the stone bridge.

They had only taken a few more steps when Bigwig noticed something strange in one of the trees. Hopping over to it he stared in disbelief.

Near the base of the tree was a small section of bark jutting out, and atop the bark was what looked like the skull of a fox.

"Oi, Campion!" Bigwig yelled, calling the other rabbit over, "is that what it looks like?"

"Yes" Campion said with a nod, "that Homba came into Efrafa last season looking for an easy meal"

"Doesn't look like things worked out for the Homba"

"No. He met Woundwort and the Owsla. The general ordered the skull left as a warning to other intruders"

"How many did you lose in the battle?" Bigwig asked.

"None," Campion replied smugly, then moved off.

Bigwig looked back at the skull.

"Very difficult indeed..." he muttered again.

...

At the bridge one of the guards had hopped away from his post to nibble at the grassy slope.

Hazel and the others who were watching the guard from under the bridge stood rigid. If the guard came any closer he was sure to see them. Hazel was just trying to think of a best course of action when a voice yelled "Guard, on the double!"

Hazel recognised the voice as Campion's. The guard swallowed hard then hopped up to the fuming Owsla captain, clearly in trouble.

The Watership rabbits heard a second voice.

"I thought you said your Owsla was disciplined, Campion?"

It was Bigwig.

"A pair of mangy, flea-ridden, slack-eared softbottoms! That's what you are!" Campion roared at the guards. "If I ever catch you off your posts again I'll smack your ears off...Understand?!"

The Guards nodded, both too afraid to speak.

"You've a fine way with words, Campion", Bigwig said, before hopping over to the edge of the hole in the middle of the bridge, "I think I'll enjoy serving in the Efrafan Owsla!"

"Stay here" Hazel told the others, then hopped over to the hole and peered up at Bigwig. Bigwig looked down at his chief and grinned, before he resumed talking to the Efrafan rabbit.

"But you know, Campion, I've spotted a few holes in your perimeter security. We should discuss them."

Hazel nodded at him then darted back to the others just as Campion came over to Bigwig.

"I'd be happy to, Thlayli," Campion replied then looked through the hole and asked, "anything interesting down there?"

Bigwig didn't answer but instead hopped over to the two guards.

"Right," he warned them, "if anyone gets through this guard post you'll have me to deal with. And I'm nowhere near as polite as Captain Campion. Clear?"

Both guards nodded again.

Bigwig scowled at them and then he and Campion moved away. As soon as they were gone, Hazel began whispering to the others.

"Foolish or not, Bigwig's on the inside."

"Makes El-ahrairah look like a clumsy clog does our Bigwig," said Hawkbit in admiration.

"From the way he talked it sounds like he's got a plan to get Primrose and Blackavar out of Efrafa," Hazel finished.

"You should have asked him how we get out from under this bridge," Fiver replied.

"I've worked that out for myself," his brother told him then turning to Violet he said, "Violet, you and Blackberry will stay with the boat. Get it ready for our escape. Walt for us as long as you can. If we're not back by Frith-set then go without us."

"I'll wait as long as it takes, Hazel," she replied.

"Right," Hazel said then added, "onto the boat now and take cover."

Violet nuzzled him on the cheek then hopped into the boat and wriggled under the green cloth. Hazel jumped as he heard a voice demanding the guards tell him what Bigwig and Campion had been up to.

"Time to get out of here," the golden-brown buck whispered as the guards gave their reply.

Looking at Kehaar he asked," How's your precision flying?"

"Better than yours for sure," the gull replied with a grin as he caught on to what Hazel was saying.

"So," said Vervain to the Efrafan guards, "they talked about security then stood around this hole. Anything else?"

"No sir, nothing," one of the guards responded.

"Well, I'll just have a look then," Vervain replied and gestured at the hole.

Before he could move, Kehaar flew towards the three rabbits screeching. All three rabbits turned tail and ran. As they did so, Hazel and the others darted up the grassy verge and into the bushes at the top.

"I think he got them," Fiver said with a chuckle.

...

As soon as they got back to Efrafa, Campion informed Bigwig that he had a digging crew to supervise and that the other rabbit would have to look around on his own for a bit.

"Okay I will," said Bigwig and began to hop off.

"One last thing, Thlayli," Campion called over his shoulder, "don't try to leave the warren. You're still on probation."

"Who'd want to leave?" Bigwig said with a grin then hopped away.

As soon as he was out of sight of the Efrafan captain he went straight to the slave quarters. After a few minutes of looking through the burrows he found Primrose.

"Come with me," she said quietly and led him to the food chamber where Blackavar was waiting for her.

Blackavar's eyes widened slightly when he saw Bigwig.

"You're Hazel's friend," he said, stating a fact rather than asking a question.

"I'm Thlayli," the other rabbit replied, "but everyone calls me Bigwig. I've come to get you and Primrose out."

"We're ready," Primrose told him.

"Good girl," he replied, "If we can get clear of the warren without rousing a fuss then we've got a chance."

"We were going to make a break for it," Primrose told him and pulled away the roots at the end of the burrow, revealing the escape tunnel.

Bigwig poked his head into the tunnel and was slightly taken aback by how much they had done.

"The tunnel leads up to the embankment behind the guard", Primrose informed him.

"Hazel's right about you", he replied with a smile, then addressing them both, he said "we'll go just before Frith-set. I'm off for one last look around the boundaries." Having finished his say, he hopped out of the burrow.

Blackavar turned to Primrose, a gleeful look on his face. "Maybe, just maybe, we can pull this off after all".

...

Woundwort listened with great interest as Vervain made his report.

"I'm sure of it, Sir", Vervain said. "The gull we saw at the bridge was the same one that helped Hazel and Fiver escape from Efrafa, and we saw him just before the Homba attacked Campion and myself in the woods. I tried telling Campion that it was the same gull but he wouldn't listen".

"Hmmm", said Woundwort thoughtfully. "The gull reappears and Thlayli arrives to join my Owsla."

"Do you think they're working together?" Vervain asked.

"Find him!" the general ordered, clearing answering Vervain's question in the affirmative. "Bring him to me!"

"As you command, General!" Vervain replied, then ran off, a smirk on his face.

...

Bigwig hopped along the grassy stretch on Efrafa's right side. He was just about to have a mouthful of grass when he heard movement in the bushes. Looking up, he saw Hazel.

"Bigwig," the golden-brown buck whispered. "We've found a way out of Efrafan territory. Make it to the bridge".

"Tonight", Bigwig replied, "just before Frith-down. See the sentry on the embankment?"

Hazel followed Bigwig's gaze to the guard post. "Yes, I see him", he told the Owsla captain.

"We'll be coming out of an escape tunnel, up there, right behind him".

"Good luck", Hazel said, then disappeared back into the bushes. Bigwig bent down again but was interrupted by the sound of an unpleasant laugh. Bigwig swore silently and looked up. Standing in front of him was Vervain, a strong-looking guard on either side.

"General Woundwort wants a word with you", Vervain snarled. "You're under arrest!"

...

Bigwig looked up the general, an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He didn't know how this was going to turn out. Either the general knew he was an enemy or, more likely, Vervain had told him so. Woundwort had spent the last four minutes telling Bigwig about the gull that had helped the outsiders, finishing on this note.

"The gull reappears and you arrive to join my Owsla."

"Do you deny consorting with the gull? The same gull that has formed an unnatural alliance with Hazel and his alien warren?" Vervain growled.

"A gull," Bigwig snorted, hoping this would work. "Oh, that's quite a story, Vervain," he went on, "I'd say you're out for revenge, pure and simple."

"Sir," Vervain said and looked up at the general, "the prisoner is out of order."

Woundwort stared back at Vervain, giving him a like I care look.

"You can't beat me in combat so you tear me down with lies," Bigwig roared at the maroon buck.

With a snarl Bigwig leapt on Vervain, raising his paw as if to strike.

"I've had my fill of you," he yelled.

In a flash Campion grabbed Bigwig's upraised paw. Bigwig turned to him with a glare.

"Don't make things worse, Thlayli", Campion warned him as he let go of the grey rabbit, letting the two guards take hold of Bigwig's paws.

Suddenly and without warning Woundwort leapt from his platform, landing with a crash in front of Bigwig. Bigwig's mouth dropped open slightly in shock. He hadn't realised until now how big the general really was. Woundwort reared up on his hind legs and struck, Vervain grinning wickedly behind him.

Vervain's smile disappeared, however, when he saw the three red cuts on Bigwig's left shoulder.

"Your probationary period is over, Captain Thlayli of the Shoulder Mark", Woundwort announced calmly. "There is no fear in you. If your loyalty matches your courage, you'll do well in Efrafa. But betray me", he added, pushing his face close to Bigwig's, "and I'll grind your bones to dust".

Bigwig closed his eyes and bowed.

"As for you", the general said, turning on Vervain, "high guard duty until further notice". With that, he walked back into his burrow.

Vervain glared hatefully at Bigwig and stormed off.

"Well, you're one of us now", Campion said with a smile. "Well done".

"Thanks, Campion", Bigwig replied, then hopped away to find Primrose and Blackavar.

...

Blackavar and Primrose sat in their burrow, waiting for Bigwig. A thousand images flashed through their minds- images of everything that could go wrong. Blackavar was just wondering whether it would be better to wait until dark when Bigwig appeared.

"Right, this is it!" he said.

"Let's go!" Primrose responded.

"Stay close", Bigwig ordered as he quietly led the way to the food chamber, "and when you get into the open, run like El-ahrairah".

...

Vervain hopped along the route that led to the guard post. Staring up at the sky and muttering to himself, he was looking out for the outsiders' gull. He knew it was somewhere nearby, he just couldn't see it.

"I know you're out there, gull", he growled. "I'm waiting".

Vervain hadn't been paying attention to where he was going and so with a yell he fell into the escape tunnel, coming face-to-face with Bigwig and the two slaves. Vervain stared at Bigwig in confusion for a moment before it dawned on him what was going on.

"Escape!" he yelled. "Call out the Owsla!"

"That's torn it", Bigwig said, and kicked Vervain in the stomach. Vervain hit the burrow wall with a heavy thud. Coming to his senses, the maroon-coloured buck growled at Bigwig and was about to charge him, but before he could move, a large amount of dirt fell on him and half-buried him.

"Run!" shouted Bigwig at the two Efrafan slaves as he shot out of the tunnel and back the way they had come. Primrose and Blackavar followed, not really needing to be told. Vervain snarled in fury and clawed away at the dirt covering him.

"Escape!" he yelled, as he chased after the three other rabbits. "Owsla to me!"

Bigwig, Primrose and Blackavar raced through the warren until they reached the main entrance burrow, where they were confronted by two guards. Moments later, Vervain arrived with Campion.

"Get them!" Woundwort roared from atop his ledge.

With a snarl, Bigwig slammed into one of the guards, sending him flying. The other took a swipe at him; Bigwig sidestepped it and smacked him hard across the muzzle, knocking him out cold.

"This way!" Bigwig ordered the two slaves as he ran out of the warren.

"Kill them!" Woundwort howled at his two captains, and leapt off his platform.

"Yes Sir!" both rabbits replied in unison, following the general outside.

Bigwig, Primrose and Blackavar scrambled up the side of the wide scar and onto the grassy earth above.

"Bigwig!" called Hazel from the bushes.

"Hello, Hazel", Bigwig said, as he ran past, "lovely evening for being chased by a bloodthirsty nut and his army, wouldn't you say?"

"Quite", agreed Hazel as he followed him, Blackavar and Primrose close behind. The four rabbits ran faster than they had even run before, all knowing that Woundwort and the captains were only seconds behind them.

"Where are we going?" Blackavar panted to Hazel as they raced through the woods.

"There!" Hazel panted as the bridge came in sight.

"But it's broken!" Blackavar told him.

Just then a furious roar was heard from behind as Woundwort and the other Efrafans made it out of the wood.

"Less talk, more run-like-hell!" Bigwig shouted.

"Stop them!" Woundwort bellowed at the two Owsla rabbits on the bridge. The two rabbits turned round to face the outsiders but before they could move they were dive-bombed by Kehaar. This gave Hazel and the others enough time to make it down the slope and to the river.

"They're trapped!" laughed Woundwort. "Bring them to me".

"Any time, Blackberry!" Hazel said to the buck who was biting his way through the rope that secured the boat to the shore.

"We need to delay them", Bigwig said, jerking his head in the Efrafans' direction.

"Agreed", Hazel replied, then hopped out from under the bridge and faced the enemy, Bigwig right beside him.

"I'm sorry it has to end this way", Campion told Bigwig.

"Me too", Bigwig replied, getting ready to fight.

"Kill them!" Vervain hissed to the two guards.

At that moment, Blackberry bit through the last of the rope. "Hazel-rah, Biggy, come on!" he urged. Bigwig and Hazel ran along the shore and jumped through the air to land safely in the boat. With a roar, Woundwort, who had been standing on the bridge observing the action, leapt after them, landing in the water with a huge splash. Snarling, he broke the surface of the water and grabbed onto the edge of the boat, forcing the nose to dip dangerously near the water and causing Bigwig to slide towards him.

"We're all full up, Woundwort", shouted the Owsla captain. "Get your own boat!" With that, he slammed both his feet into the general's nose. The force of the blow sent Woundwort crashing backwards into the water. He came up coughing then gave a howl of rage as he saw the boat moving away- too fast for him to catch.

"Well", said Bigwig as he watched the Efrafan chief, "All in all, that came off quite nicely".

Hazel nodded, then turned to Primrose. "Are you OK?" he asked.

"Yes", she replied. "I knew you said you'd come back for us, but we were afraid to believe it".

"You don't have to be afraid any more", he told her, placing his paw on hers. "You're free".

"Free", she repeated with a smile.

...

That night, Campion stood alone atop the small ledge in Efrafa's dead tree, the cold air ruffling his fur as he gazed into the darkness, Vervain's words running through his mind. What made you think she would choose you anyway? You, a captain of Efrafa, over him, the dashing outsider who promised to rescue her?

"Oh, Primrose", he sighed. "Why did you have to choose him? We could have been happy together, Primrose. I would have made you happy". With a final sigh, Campion made his way back into the warren, a single tear falling from his eye and rolling down his cheek.