Chapter Seven - The Plot

After the terrifying journey in the hrududu, Blackberry was surprised to see such familiar sights. He recognized the buildings of the farm from which Hazel, himself, and the others had rescued three hutch rabbits - two does and a buck. What on earth was he doing back here? Why had the people brought him here? Where were the hutch rabbits that had been here last summer? There wasn't much time to worry about that before he found himself surrounded by people inside the man burrow that was at the farm, and they all seemed to be paying great attention to him. The same bothersome boy was holding him while talking with some of the older people; once Blackberry tried to squirm free, but eventually gave up and went half tharn.

Finally, things quieted down as some of the people who were carrying odd- looking instruments left. Blackberry's hope for peace was finally realized when he was carried outside in his tiny cage, and put into a new and much larger cage inside the barn. Even the ever-present boy let him alone after babbling at him for some time, and he was able to get some much-needed rest. Blackberry was wondering what could possibly happen to him next.

*** After the news crew had left, Josh was hoping that his pet could get special privileges.

"Please Uncle Mark, can't Hopscotch stay in the house?"

"No, Josh, wild rabbits aren't meant for houses. I know he's a special little guy, but look at what he did do our sofa..." Mark pointed at the sizable tear in the fabric courtesy of Hopscotch's claws during the interview. "He's to stay outside. I'll make sure he's safe and warm, not to worry."

Josh started to protest, but Lucy offered to help pick out a spot to keep Hopscotch. Josh followed Lucy and her father outside.

Mark surveyed the hutch rabbits' shed. "I think it best that Hopscotch have his own cage. He'll just get in fights with the others. Personally, I think that wild rabbits shouldn't be in cages either, but I can see why you wouldn't want to part with the little fella." Mark looked at Josh, then at his daughter, who owned the rabbits in the hutch, after all, and was the rabbit expert of the family.

Lucy replied, "Yes, Dad, a wild rabbit and hutch rabbits don't mix. The only reason they put up with that poor rabbit that old Bob got at last year was because it was dying anyway. Best to keep Hopscotch by himself." Lucy looked at her cousin. "Besides, you'll only be here a few days. No need to try to acquaint them. Go get Hopscotch, I'll get an empty cage, and we'll put him in the barn."

Josh did as Lucy wished, and was preparing to spend the rest of the day in the barn telling his best recollection of Christmas stories to Hopscotch, but his mother eventually appeared and scolded him for being unsociable and urged him inside to be with everybody else.

*** Kehaar flew direct to Watership Down with, all the while trying to consider how he could possible explain what he had seen to his rabbit friends. He himself had no clue how man was able to send images the way that they could, but he was aware of the basic idea of faraway scenes being transmitted mysteriously into those magic boxes. He had more experience with men than the Watership Down rabbits, no doubt. Of course, he often depended on man as a food source, be it fish stirred up by a boat's wake, garbage heaps, or tossed bread crumbs. Kehaar reckoned that the rabbits would consider him mad.

He would have checked on Nuthanger Farm to see if he could find Blackberry, but the last light of dusk was failing quickly under an overcast sky, and he had dread in his heart of the vicious dog and silently stalking cats there.

Just as it was becoming impossible to discern the horizon and the hills, he arrived at the beech hanger at Hazel's warren, performing a rather spectacular crash landing in the snow.

He made his way into the hole which the rabbits had dug for him the previous summer, and squawked loudly for Hazel, or any rabbit that was in hearing range. As it turned out, that was most of the warren.

A rather indignant Hazel appeared in Kehaar's lobby, snapping, "I'm sure that wasn't necessary, Kehaar. You scared all of the kittens half to death. I've a right mind to turn our marlis loose on you." Bigwig followed Hazel, scowling enough to cause Kehaar to back up a few steps.

Kehaar saw no reason to beat around the bush. "Meester 'Azel, dis ees important. Meester Plackperry ees not dead! I've seen 'im!" He waited for the inevitable reaction.

Hazel was silent, then started, "I see. I don't suppose you would care to explain how-"

Bigwig cut in, growling, "I saw him killed by the hrududu. I saw the embleer men take him away. What are you talking about, you foolish pest?"

The insult didn't even register. "Men steel 'ave 'im. I see dem vid Meester Plackperry. Just a while ago..." Kehaar decided to take the chance. "I see 'im vid da men, vid von o' man's magic poxes."

"Magic boxes? What under Frith are you talking about?" replied Hazel with a most sincere tone of irritation.

"Magic poxes," repeated Kehaar, "Faravay places dey see vid magic poxes. Meester Plackperry ees on magic pox. I see 'im."

Hazel calmed himself. "You're saying that you saw Blackberry on a magic box that men have?"

"Ya, ya!"

"So what does that mean?"

"'E be vid da men! 'E alive! An' 'e be vid men on da farm with rabbits in box! I know farm ven I see farm! Vere Mees Clover an' Mees 'aystack an' Meester Poxvood come from."

:"Oh, for Frith's sake, Kehaar. You are truly insane. At least if you wish to tell us news, don't make up stories." Hazel was turning back to return to his burrow when he bumped into Vilthuril..

"No, Hazel. I think Kehaar is onto something here. I believe him."

"Vilthuril," growled Hazel, " Not you, too. I won't have this!"

"I'm going, brother. Tonight." Fiver had followed his mate into the run and was now sitting beside her. "I know now where Blackberry is. With this news, there is no doubt. We must go and fetch him the way we did the hutch rabbits."

Hazel considered his brother's insistence, given the past record of Fiver having feelings that proved true. Still, this was just too much for Hazel to comprehend and accept. "This sounds too crazy. I'll not have you endanger yourself like that. Or anyone else here. What of the dog, the cats, the gun?" Hazel's spoke in a slightly calmer tone, "Besides, you are ill, are you not? Get some rest. You'd best stay here."

Fiver didn't say another word there. He glanced at his mate, hoping that she would understand the look in his eye, then returned to his burrow with Vilthuril following.

"I sure hope that your fever is better, because I'm coming with you, Fiver," whispered Vilthuril before they drifted to sleep.

*** It was first light, and Bigwig was repeating his observation to a dumbfounded Chief. "Yes, he's gone, sir. And he's taken Vilthuril with him." Bigwig was trembling with anger.

Hazel thought and replied, "I should have known he would try to leave. But, I can't just imprison him - this isn't Efrafa."

Bigwig was quicker to favour discipline, hoping that Hazel would see reason and send out some Owsla to bring the two wayward rabbits back. He wanted to be the one to go, and personally give Fiver the what-for that he deserved for pulling such a foolish and dangerous stunt like this..

Hazel said, "Bigwig, let's go speak with Kehaar. He is still in his lobby, isn't he?"

Bigwig nodded and relaxed. It didn't take as long as he had feared for Hazel so see reason. When they woke the dozing bird, Hazel was first to speak and was as direct as possible. "Kehaar, I want you to do two things. First, find Fiver and Vilthuril. Tell them to return here at once. The farm is too dangerous."

"Ya, ya, I vill, Meester 'Azel."

Hazel paused and looked intently at the seagull. "Kehaar, you say that you saw Blackberry on the farm through this magic box of the men. Will you bet my life and Bigwig's life that he is actually there?"

Bigwig looked at Hazel in consternation. Kehaar nodded vigorously.

"How do you know for certain that it wasn't just any rabbit?"

"Plack-tip ears, Meester 'Azel! No udder von I know like dat! Ees 'im!"

"Then I also want you to watch out for Bigwig and I - we're going to go get Blackberry. Just take our messages. And don't tell Fiver or Vilthuril anything about our going to the farm, or they'll want to come, too. Now, GO!"

*** Kehaar found Hazel and Bigwig again before the middle of the day, and he was nearly out of breath. "Meester 'Azel, I find Meester Fiver and Mees Vilt'uril. I tell dem vat you say. I not tell dem you come. Dey still no come back. Dey say good Cheef vould vant go for finding lost friends."

Hazel growled. "Then I want you to lead Bigwig and I to those two first - it's too dangerous for them to go to the farm alone. And go slow, Kehaar - there's much snow to navigate through."

The snow did serve as an aid for finding where Fiver and Vilthuril were, even though Hazel and Bigwig knew what their friends' destination would be already. They were also concerned that elil might also pick up on the same track, but fortune was on their side in that there were no elil to be seen, heard, or smelled. They caught up with the other two just before dusk and within sight of the farm. It appeared as though Fiver and Vilthuril had been waiting there for some time.

"As soon as Kehaar found us, I knew that you'd be coming along," said Fiver flatly, "And I'm glad -we need your help."

Hazel glared at his brother, but Fiver added, "You wouldn't be here if you hadn't any thought of helping Blackberry. You're the most honourable Chief that El-ahrairah has ever seen."

Hazel tried not to sound too upset. "Fiver, I told you that this is too dangerous."

"I really don't see why you're angry with me, Hazel," replied Fiver calmly, "You know now that I was right about Blackberry. How could I not try to help him? How could you not try? You know-"

"Very well," said Hazel quickly, "Let's just get Blackberry and get back home."

*** As darkness fell, the rabbits crept silently through the snow toward the shed that held the hutch from which they had rescued Clover and the others. Hopefully, the entire operation would be done quickly and without incident, taking lessons from the summer breakout of the hutch rabbits.

Unfortunately, one simple problem existed that Hazel had not even considered: the shed door was shut tightly. In the summer, the shed door had been left open to give the rabbits some air. Now, the door was shut tight against the bitter winter winds.

"Embleer Frith," muttered Hazel, "To come this close..."

"Let's go around," suggested Fiver, "Perhaps there's another way in."

"Meester 'Azel," whispered Kehaar, "I no see in vindow. You get in dere?"

Hazel sighed. The shed yielded no way in. The rabbits split up to investigate different parts of the shed. Hazel tried digging under the walls beside the door, but the ground was frozen solid. His work was interrupted by a faraway squeal that struck fear and dread in his heart. He ran around the shed with the others to see what had happened.

Fiver stopped beside him, trembling. "It's Vilthuril, Hazel. She must have wandered off. I know that was her we heard just now."

"And where is Bigwig?" asked Hazel desperately. All of the snow was packed and the scents of farm animals blotted out any other track.

"He must have gone to find her."

"In parn, Meester 'Azel! Meester Pigvig go for find Mees Vilt'uril in parn."

Hazel grew even more worried. The barn would certainly be home to the cats. It was another good reason why Blackberry could not be there, and a good reason for Vilthuril to not go there. "Follow me, Fiver."

They made their way to one of the barn doors. The bottom edge was worn and provided enough room for a cat - or a rabbit - to squeeze through. A dim light shone through the hole. Just then, a terrible mix of snarling, scuffling, and yowling broke out from within. Hazel and Fiver quickly slipped into the barn to see what was happening.

Already, the scene was quieter. Bigwig was crouched on the floor, bleeding from several wounds, but ready to attack again. He was glaring at a ginger, black, and white female cat, which glowered back at him. "Let that be a lesson to you, you pet-of-man! I remember you from the summer, and I beat you then, as well. If you don't leave my friends alone, I shall kill you just like the cat that tried to attack my home."

Bigwig hoped that his bluff would work. Indeed, the cat remembered her humbling tangle with Bigwig when the rabbits came to free the hutch rabbits. However, there had never been a cat sighted anywhere near Watership Down for Bigwig to fight.

"You're no match for myself and my friends," hissed the cat, "You just wait here." With that, she hissed again and vanished.

This worried Bigwig indeed. He could beat one cat alone, but not two, or a whole pack of them. "Hazel, we have to be quick, if Blackberry is in here."

Hazel was checking on Vilthuril, who was lying half-tharn in a corner. Other than some lightly-bleeding scratches, she appeared fine. "Vilthuril, come to, already! We have no time to loll about!"

"I've found him!" cried Fiver from the distance.

*** "Would you get up, you lazy dolts?" the cat cried, "There's rabbit dinner waiting for us!"

One of the other cats, Trax, stirred momentarily. "We've already had dinner, thank you, Ginger. Besides, we can't get a rabbit in a cage."

Blackberry had been the object of much attention from the barn cats. However, earlier that day, entrails from the Christmas goose that was to be cooked the next day had been left for the cats as a special gift. That had taken the cats' attention off of the rabbit. Unfortunately for Ginger, though, she was absent for the feast, and was busy trying to catch the sparrows that clustered around the feed spread out for the cattle in their pens. By the time Ginger had returned, the feast was all but over. As a result, she was still itching for a meal, while the others couldn't care less.

"No, you fool! There's three more rabbits in the barn - and they're not in any cage. If you help me, we can have another dinner."

Trax noted the bleeding wounds on Ginger. "You got beat by a rabbit again, did you not?"

Ginger growled. That incident had become well-known on the farm, and Ginger was not allowed to forget it. The other cats did not stir. It is cats' nature to hunt alone, anyway, not in a group. Besides that and the fact that they were not hungry, the idea of meeting an unusually vicious rabbit did not appeal to any of them, though none of them would admit it aloud. Ginger just sat there, fuming.

*** "Blackberry, you are alive!" Bigwig ran into the wire of the cage to greet his long-lost friend. Hazel, Fiver, and Vilthuril crowded beside him. "We thought you were dead!"

Blackberry was shocked, then elated. "I can't believe it! It's you! How did you know? I never thought I'd see you again!"

Hazel got right to the point. "It's thanks to Kehaar, Blackberry, but we can talk later. We need to get you out of here. Can you see a way?"

Blackberry's eyes dimmed. "I've tried all day to think of a way out. The men have made this cage impossible to escape from. Obviously, they learned from when the others escaped." He looked down and mumbled, "I fear you may have come all this way for nothing. I may never get out of this." Tears came to his eyes, as he choked, "I - I don't want to stay here. I can't take this - I'm a wild rabbit; I'm not meant to be here. I'm going to be here until I die, aren't I?"

"Hush," soothed Vilthuril, "Calm down. Just think - I know you can think of something."

"I can't calm down! I'll end up just like poor Reed!"

Vilthuril paused. "Reed? Did the hutch rabbits at our warren tell you about him?"

"Yes, some time ago. All wild rabbits die in cages!"

"But Blackberry," reasoned Vilthuril, "Clover told me that Reed was already hurt by that dog. He would have died anyway."

Bigwig cut in. "You're going to be hurt if we don't get out of here before those embleer cats come back. I can't fight them all off."

"We can't just leave Blackberry!" cried Fiver.

Bigwig replied reassuringly, "He's not going anywhere; we'll come back for him when we've got a solution to get him out."

"You're just giving up! And I thought you were a fighter!"

Bigwig growled and raised a paw to cuff Fiver, but Hazel interrupted. "Stop it, you two! We need to stay together!"

Vilthuril was distracted, then turned back to Blackberry. "Trust me, Blackberry. You won't end up like Reed."

"Yes I will," Blackberry sighed, "I'll go mad and die in here, just like Reed..."

Vilthuril was getting frustrated with trying to calm her friend, so she decided to go along with Blackberry's misery. "Yes, I suppose you're right. You will end up like Reed, taken away and put in the ground by the men..."

At this, Blackberry buried his head in his paws and moaned.

Vilthuril turned to Bigwig and Fiver, who were still glaring at each other. "Come on, you two, there's nothing more for us to do here." She started hopping determinedly toward the barn door. Bigwig, nervous of the cats, followed.

Fiver paused, looked at Blackberry, and offered, "We shall come back perhaps tomorrow. We won't leave you here forever." He then started to leave as well, accompanied by Hazel.

After a while of moping in his cage, Blackberry sprang to his feet, his eyes lighting up again. "Wait! Come back!" he squealed. "I know how to get out! Don't go!"

But his friends had already left the barn and there was no answer. "I shall see you tomorrow," he whispered, "I promise it."

*** Hazel and the others were crouched in a hole dug out of a snowdrift just outside of the farm. "Does anyone here have any ideas at all? We can't not go back." Hazel waited for a response.

Vilthuril spoke first. "We have to go back before it gets light and the men are awake. I don't think that the cats care to tangle with Bigwig, so they're not to worry about."

"Oh, that's easy for you to say," muttered Bigwig, licking a scratch on his haunch.

Kehaar was getting impatient. "Meester 'Azel, vere you go now? Back to varren?"

"For now, we stay put. We need to think, Kehaar. Fiver, what do you make of it? Do you feel that we can succeed?"

"To be honest, brother, I'm not sure what to do, exactly. We can't get Blackberry out of that cage. Only the people can open it up." Fiver paused for some moments. "But, wait... I think that's got to be it! I know we have to go back to free him, but it's not the cage that we need to worry about."

Hazel was clearly confused. "What's this, then? I don't follow you. That cage is all there is to worry about."

The other rabbits waited impatiently for Fiver to respond. Finally, he offered, "I can't quite make it out. I'm sorry; I need some rest."

Hazel persisted. "Shall we go now, or wait until morning?"

"In the morning," replied Fiver, "After the people are awake..."

"We could all use some rest," affirmed Hazel, "But we shall go back - in the morning." He noticed Vilthuril's fidgeting, and added, "Don't worry. Let's just keep together on this one.

"I vatch for da men for you ven you go," said Kehaar cheerily.