Chapter 15 – 'Knowledge is Power'

Very early the following morning, almost before daybreak, four charabancs rolled up the drive of Toad Hall exactly as arranged. Within minutes their passengers were aboard, silent and thoughtful. Instead of going back down the drive, they were directed through a farm gate and along a narrow track, no more than a pair of ruts crossing an empty field. In five minutes they were on a little-used, unmade road and heading away from Toad Hall. Meanwhile the goblins had put a barrier of telegraph poles across the drive of Toad Hall, unaware that their plans had been thwarted.

Radagast was travelling with the elves. He had the palantír with him. His empty chest was closed and left behind (being very heavy even when empty), and the remaining contents had gone down river, in the care of Otter and Portly, to be hidden in various places.

The convoy kept to minor roads until well clear of the area. Mid-morning they pulled into a small village and Ratty went to the local shop to buy a newspaper. Excitedly he showed the main headline to the wizard:

Troops Occupy Hills in Surprise Manoeuvres

"This is an odd coincidence!"

"Does it list which hills?"

Ratty put on his reading glasses. "Glastonbury Tor, Symonds Yat, Old Sarum, the Wrekin, some places on Exmoor, Brierley Hill … I think that's it. That covers a lot of ground. Err, where are we going by the way?"

The Wizard whispered it in his ear: "Bredon."

The Water Rat read through the newspaper again. "I can't see that here."

"Then the elves have a chance of leaving unmolested."

"Why should anyone want to stop them?"

"Why indeed? I think I have the answer, but now is not the time to stand 'gassing' as you would put it. Let us get on our way, we cannot afford to waste time now, and we must choose our route with care."

They drove on, but stopped briefly several times more during the day: for a midday meal; to repair a puncture; to re-fuel (large quantities of petroleum spirit not being easy to find out in the sticks); to fix an overheating engine and to repair a second burst tyre. They avoided towns and travelled mainly along narrow roads, sometimes along farm tracks with gates. The elves seemed to have a perfect knowledge of the way; not once did they go wrong and have to backtrack; not once did they get stuck in mud or in a lane too narrow for their vehicles.

The going was slow, and it was nearly dusk by the time they were within sight of Bredon Hill. The four charabancs pulled into a field where high hedges and overhanging trees gave some cover from spying eyes. The lead driver, Sidney the Weasel - who had brought the advance party only two days before - went off with two or three of the younger elves to reconnoitre. The other three drivers got together to 'light up' and discuss the journey and the large bonuses they had been given for such an awkward job. While the drivers were happy, their passengers who had all now descended from their seats were looking solemn. They were about to leave the world where they had lived the whole of their long lives and find themselves in ancient Elvenhome, which none had seen with waking eyes. They were apprehensive too about the presence of troops, for they would fight any who stood in their way.

Ratty and Cola had travelled in a different vehicle to Radagast, and now was Ratty's first chance to talk with the wizard since their meeting over the newspaper. Ratty again asked why there might be soldiers waiting to stop them. Was it in order to catch Radagast, or were they after the elves as well?

The wizard pointed to the elves who were now lined up, ready to march. "They say that they are travelling light, but they are carrying many irreplaceable little items with them. More valuable, though, are their memories: where things are, what happened when. There is one individual behind all this who wants that information; who wants the palantír we have with us; who wants to capture me for what I know. Knowledge is power; he craves more."

Ratty's eyes were wide with excitement, this was more like it! "You know who this individual is?"

Before he could have his answer Sidney and two elves came running into the field, signalling everyone to be quiet. They had met up with the advance party, and they had seen soldiers at the top of the hill.

"There is only one platoon up there," said an elf from the advance party, "but we fear that others are on their way."

"Do they know that we are here?" someone asked.

"No, and they seem to think that we will head for the very top of the hill. But we must not delay. Sidney, thank you for everything, be so good as to stay with the vehicles and the other drivers. Follow me now everyone; Wizard Radagast please defend our rear."

They silently marched off, heading for Bredon Hill. At her request the two water rats walked alongside Lady Espinal near the front of the column, and Radagast brought up the rear. He carried his staff, but entrusted the palantír to Sidney. "Guard this for me Sidney, I know I can trust you to keep it out of the wrong hands." The crafty weasel chuckled, he was enjoying all this 'cloak and dagger business' immensely.

Cola asked Lady Espinal where they were headed, if not to the summit?

"There are two stones close together, my dear, locally they are called the King and Queen stones. Our way is between them, and it is there that we must part. They lie below the summit, but we must be cautious. We have no wish to harm the young soldiers; it is not their fault that they are here. We must leave your world, but we have no wish to do so with blood on our hands."

They marched along a gently upwards footpath, stopping after about a mile when they realized that even in the gathering gloom they would be visible from further up the hill. Should they wait for the sun to set? Those who had elven cloaks drew them around themselves. All, including the Water Rats and Radagast, waited in the shelter of a band of trees. It was that time of day when voices carry. Radagast and Lady Espinal had a last, whispered conversation in a language which the Water Rats did not know.

Then word came down from above that "the way is open," and the whole party began the final climb in single file, a guide from the advance party leading the way and Radagast again bringing up the rear.

The King and Queen stones are shrouded by vegetation and are not clearly visible from the top of Bredon Hill while autumn leaves remain on the trees. The gap between the stones is narrow and it was now a portal to another place; as each elf reached the gap he or she turned, bowed to the world, turned back, and stepped through the gap. Ratty went the long way round the stones to check for himself, and found it true: elves were going between the stones and not emerging the other side. In less than five minutes only the four of them were left: Radagast, Ratty, Cola and the Lady Espinal, who seemed reluctant to go.

"Hurry," said Radagast, "the way is about to close, you must go! You and I shall meet again in Eldamar." Shouts were heard from up the hill. She nodded, slipped something small into Cola's hand, bowed to the wizard, and strode through the gap without a backward glance. Even in the poor light Cola had seen the tears on her face. There were the tears running down Cola's face too.

"The way is closed," pronounced the wizard. "If there are any elves left in this world they will be hard put to reach Elvenhome now."

"I thought," ask Ratty, "that you would be going with them?"

"I only came to see them away safely. Thankfully that is now done, but we must see to ourselves now. Quickly and quietly now, back the way we came before those soldiers find us."

Before they were halfway to the field with the charabancs they could hear the shouts and curses of men behind them and see three or four lanterns moving around. Quickly Radagast gathered the others close to him and whispered instructions to them. "These few soldiers are no match for me. You two go back to the motors as quickly as you can. Have them ready to move out – but no lights to be shown as yet. I will create a diversion and then join you. Now go!"

The Water Rats scuttled back down the track hand in hand. They were aware of flashes of light and rifle shots behind them, but did not slow down. They had hardly given Sidney and the other drivers instructions when the wizard joined them. Sidney's charabanc would go first with the three passengers, going as fast as Sidney could manage without lights. The other three would light their carriage lamps and go at a slower pace, taking different directions at the crossroads to act as decoys. "Good luck everyone."

When it was clear that they had made a clean getaway and there was no pursuit they stopped and lit the carriage lamps. Soon they reached the highroad and headed for home, finally stopping for the night in a rural inn a good twenty miles from Bredon.

Ratty waited until the next morning, when Sidney was not in earshot, to ask the wizard who he thought was behind sending in the troops and his harassment by the authorities. The wizard drew a deep breath.

"I have no proof as yet; I expect the palantír will provide the final confirmation, but I am certain; the evidence is clear. He has always thirsted for knowledge and power over others. His main weapon was always the power of his voice: persuading the strong, intimidating the weak, inveigling the ambitious with false promises. Behind the scenes it is he who is moving the power of the state against us: Toad's 'contacts', the police and magistrates, and now the army. By his cunning he has made himself the puppet master, pulling the strings of government. Saruman has risen!"