CHAPTER Four - The Journey
Merry and Perva were walking down the dirt road, each carrying a basket full of bread, cheese and eggs. Aunt Eglantine didn't know when Pim would be in any shape to travel again. With her injured ankle and all, so she gave each child a basket laden with enough food that would last more than three or four days for Miss Ruby.
Perva was laughing and running as if the sun would go away tomorrow and never return. Merry kept reserved. He considered himself too old for such childish nonsense; he would be a teen soon and felt he must act grown up. Besides, he wanted to impress his aunt and uncle with his ability to be responsible.
For well over an hour of walking on the road, Merry thought he could hear footsteps behind him. He'd stop and turn. No one there. Odd... Merry did this several times. He would swear that he heard... There! He heard it again! This time he thought to surprise the sneak and kept walking, and after a few more steps did a twisting jump.
Merry's jaw dropped. "Pippin!! Where did you come from?!"
Pippin laughed at Merry and pointed, "From there!", Pippin pointed, "In da bush! I go wit you, Merry!" Pippin walked up to Merry, took hold of his cousin's hand and started walking as if nothing unusual was happening.
Perva stopped in her tracks upon hearing Merry's shout, and ran back to Merry. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Peregrin Took! You turn around and go back home this instant!!"
"No!", yelled Pippin, and stuck his tongue out at his sister in defiance. "Momma say I'm a big boy! So I come, too!", and stomped past his sister, still dragging Merry by the hand. "C'mon, Merry!"
Merry sighed and rolled his eyes, "He can't go home now, Perva! We're too far from home, and he'll get lost, or worse!" Merry looked at Pippin, "the Big Folks will find him and eat him, starting with his tongue!' Merry stressed the last part to teach Pippin a lesson.
Pippin got worried. "No!! No big fokes eat me! I want to come, too...", said Pippin, and he stamped his foot and sat down in the dirt to sulk. Pippin was lonely at home and only wanted to play with his big sister and....brother.
Perva stooped to admonish Pippin, "Mamma must be worried sick about you, Pippin!"
Pippin, wiped his nose with his sleeve. "What does that mean (sniff)? Is mamma throwing up?"
"No!", Merry grabbed Pippin's hand, "it means we have to hurry now so we can return home as quickly as possible!", said Merry. Then he looked up into the low green hillside, "I can see Miss Ruby's smial from here. So we may as well get going."
