Chapter 9 – Busy Monday

It was a busy day for many, though it was a little while before all this busyness became widely known.

The morning was particularly busy and frustrating for Otter. After walking with the rabbit constable to the Wild Wood, he went into town and to the police station. Despite him being a magistrate and well known there, all they would tell him about the arrest warrant was that they were "expecting developments." He went to see the newspaper editor, who could only tell him that the hundred pound award had been donated by a gentleman staying at the Grand Hotel. He went to the Grand Hotel, only to be told that the gentleman had taken an early train and was not expected back before late.

By good fortune, while taking lunch at an inn, he met a fellow magistrate who gave him a ride back in his motorcar. His day's work not done though, Otter, taking Portly with him for company, then made the trek into the Wild Wood to see what progress Badger had made with the stoats.

Badger had paused at the Otter's long enough to assure Mother Otter that her husband and son had not been up to mischief the night past, and that Otter was in no danger. Then, leaving the two Water Rats there, he had gone home "to check that all is well" – by which he meant that he was going to put his feet up for an hour or two.

All the to-ing and fro-ing - though he had been enjoying himself hugely - had had its effect on his elderly frame, so that when he left home again he needed his walking stick. Fortunately it was not far to the stoats. Once there he spent a long and increasingly jovial time in their company. Two senior stoats accompanied him back home, and he was just saying goodbye to them on his doorstep when Otter and Portly arrived. Warm greetings all round were followed by cheery good-byes, and the two stoats marched away. Badger beckoned the two otters indoors.

Otter was amazed: "Badger, what's been going on, what did you say to them? I have never known any stoat to behave like that. Since I became magistrate they've been down right stand-offish."

Badger grinned. "They are still angry with Fox, but they've agreed to leave him to the two of us. I now know their big secret, but I've sworn to tell no one, not even you, until they've done the courtesies. You know how it is in the Wild Wood: once they've spoken to Ma Ferret and the Chief Weasel and his nephews - which they are to do this very day – then the news can go out."

"It must be something big for them to observe those old customs," said Otter. "Knowing the stoats as I do, their happiness must be down to money; you've given them a lot, haven't you?"

"Yes, all that elves gave me to pass on, and with the promise of a great deal more."

"Then are they dropping this absurd hunt for Radagast? Or have they realized already that he must be in Toad Hall?"

"Yes and no. They are too busy celebrating their change in fortune right now, and they are 'withdrawing their sentries'. But it will take more than all my threats and promises to keep them away from a hundred pound prize for long. And of course the ferrets and weasels, and the rabbits come to that, are still up for the award. The sooner we find who is behind that reward offer the better."

Otter related the little he had found out in town that morning. The two friends agreed that the 'gentleman' in the Grand Hotel should be confronted as soon as possible. They did not admit it in front of Portly, but they were glad of any excuse to delay a confrontation with Fox. However, Badger declined to go into town the next day, pleading with some justification his poorly foot and general fatigue. "I'm getting old, and that's that."

It was finally decided that Otter and Portly, together with the Water Rat if they could persuade him, should descend on the Grand Hotel as soon as they could manage it the following morning, and not leave until they had interviewed the unknown 'gentleman.' As all were more than a little tired, the two otters paused only for 'a glass of something warming' before leaving for home, resolved to get an early night.

It had been a dull day, dank and chilly, for autumn was now setting in, and it was getting dark early. "Poor Badger," said Otter as they trudged through fallen leaves dislodged by the recent storm, "His life has been turned upside down ever since that wizard turned up out of the blue."

It had been a busy day too for the stoats and ferrets. Especially so for the stoats, because when you are not as organised and efficient as you would like others to believe, maintaining unruly stoats and disgruntled rabbits as spies, watchmen and sentries over a wide area requires a great deal of dashing about. There was much confusion, duplication of effort, and pointless activity. After the soaking many had received in the storm, a number of the rabbits refused further cooperation point blank, which only added to the stoats' difficulties.

Their watchers saw Otter and his special constable arrive early in the Wild Wood and Otter depart again in the direction of town. Their riverbank lookouts observed Portly arrive home alone in his rowing boat. Their spies, advancing up river, spotted Badger being rowed down stream by the Water Rats. A little later, their observers noted the arrival home of the two Water Rats. However, no stoat agent had gone so far afield as Toad Hall before the general recall went out following Badger's visit to their headquarters.

The ferrets too were busy in their own, more relaxed and better co-ordinated, way. Their amusement at the frenzied chaos of the stoats turned to puzzlement at the volte-face in the stoats' behaviour. The ferrets had the village under observation, which the stoats had neglected to do, so only they witnessed a motorised van draw up outside The Earth and take away Fox and his family together with a load of luggage. Only later, when Fox's duplicity became common gossip, was it realised that he had 'done a bunk.'

It was the ferrets too, who had noticed a gang of strangers arrive at the edge of the Wild Wood furthest from the River and uncomfortably close to the village. They kept a close and secret eye on them and passed the word on to the weasels. The elves at Toad Hall alone had seen a second gang of the same strangers in a spinney close to the road to town, and only the elves knew them to be goblins, or in their language, 'orcs'.

Later, two of the most senior stoat captains, each accompanied by his wife, left the celebrations at their headquarters, one pair to see Ma Ferret and the other to see the Chief Weasel and his three nephews. Their news changed the Wild Wood for ever.