Chapter 19 – Mole in Trouble?
As Christmas approached the village post office was busier than it had ever been as letters and packages were sent to friends and relations who had left the area. Cards and letters were received from as far away as the City (mostly from and for erstwhile weasels), and from America (from former stoats to friends and relations left behind). The schoolteacher, curate and other lettered locals were much engaged in writing and reading letters and cards for those with limited literacy.
Throughout that winter, which was long, cold and frequently white, Badger was always to be found in his favourite chair before the fire in the morning room. In the mornings he read the newspaper by aid of the sunlight streaming in through the great windows he had come to appreciate. Otter had arranged for an opthalmist to call on Badger, and with new reading glasses he no longer needed the magnifying lens he had been using of late for the fine print.
In the afternoon he 'held court' while a constant stream of visitors came to consult him on a wide range of issues. Most were villagers or Wild Wooders who were still coming to terms with the human world. Problems of law and law-breaking he referred to Otter, he being the local magistrate. Money worries - if they were small ones - he usually solved from his own pocket. He was supportive of the genuinely needy, but supplicants soon realised that Badger was no 'soft touch', and the more blatant 'chancers' found themselves back on the street in double-quick time, assisted in their exit by a hulking man-ferret whom Ma Ferret had assigned to Badger to help maintain good order. It was the same individual who had guarded The Door when Badger had taken Radagast to visit the old, ailing Ma. It seemed an age ago, but was only the previous autumn.
Serious cases of want Badger passed on to Ma Ferret or to Ratty as seemed appropriate. One or both of those worthy citizens were soon to be found attending these afternoon sessions on a regular basis.
By the New Year Badger was finding it difficult to tell what animals people had been. More: the villagers themselves seemed to be forgetting that they had been different in the recent past. Asked about their antecedents, many simply looked blank.
The routine of these arrangements was shattered one morning when Badger opened his paper to see the lurid headline:
Spy Arrested: Kaiser's Agent Found in Ministry
The article beneath related how 'our brave police' had 'detected, overpowered and arrested a spy' who had been passing 'state secrets and confidential documents to agents abroad.' No names were given. The item concluded with:
The villainous traitor has been charged with treachery, treason, resisting arrest and the use of bad language in a Government building. He has been incarcerated in The Tower to await trial and sentence.
Badger, harrumphed and muttered to himself, "Somehow I don't think they mean Blackpool Tower." He chuckled, remembering the hyperbole surrounding 'the outlaw Radagast von Braun'. Could they have arrested the wizard himself? Or someone working for him? It was certainly possible. Who did he know in the Ministry? – Mole, that's who!
Portly was sitting at a side table nearby, struggling with an exercise in an old Latin text book of Badger's and wondering if he shouldn't give up all hope of Oxford and join the army instead. His father might be able swing him a commission. Badger's call jolted him out of his reverie: "Portly, you are in touch with Mole aren't you? Come and see what you make of this."
He took the paper from Badger, who continued, "Mole might know more than the paper lets on. What do you think?"
"I think … oh my gosh … Badger, I hope it's not so … but I think this 'villainous traitor' could be Mr Mole himself!"
"What our little Mole a traitor? You must be getting carried away, my boy, it can't be so."
"But, Badger, Mole was working for the wizard – finding out things and passing on information. He told me so himself."
"For Radagast, eh! Good grief, I knew Mole would make something of his life, but a spy? … I suppose I'm the last to know?" Badger sounded peeved.
"No, I'm the only one. I mean that Mr Mole told nobody else. My father doesn't know. Even his closest friend Ratty – Mr Vole I should say – hasn't been told."
"Well they have to know now." Badger consulted the mantel clock. "Your father will be here in a couple of hours. Can you fetch Ratty … and that clever wife of his too?"
Portly nodded, and Badger continued, "We must have a council of war and decide what we can do for poor Mole, always assuming it is him who has been arrested. … Now, do we involve Toad? Irresponsible he may be, but he does have high-up friends and contacts – and money talks."
"Yes, Badger." Portly shook his head sadly – Badger had his old fire still, but was beginning to loose his memory at times. "Trouble is, sir, nobody knows where Toad is."
"Bother Toad. Abroad again is he? Well, we must do what we can. Off you go now and bring Ratty; no excuses mind, he must come at once."
…oOo…
When Portly, Ratty and Cola arrived at The Earth, cold and dusted with snow, it was to find Badger snoring loudly in front of the fire. However, a welcome and warming repast had been set out for them in the small dining room. Badger joined them, and over coffee and petit four they began to discuss what was to be done. Only after much absurd talk of 'appealing to the Minister', 'raising a petition' and such like, did Cola break in: "For goodness sake, we are all jumping the gun. We must first find out who has been arrested; it might not be Mole, and if it isn't then the last thing we should do is draw attention to him."
There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Badger nodded sagely. "Quite right my dear! I'm glad that at least one of us can think clearly. Now, how can we know if the papers won't publish a name? … Otter, could you find out?"
"Well … Not easily. Some of my fellow magistrates may have contacts in the City … "
"But you don't?" asked Badger, impatiently.
"No. Now Toad has loads of contacts of course, but none of us have the slightest idea of where to find him."
Portly spoke up: "Mr Badger, don't you know people, important people, in the City?"
"Once I did, young Portly; I exchanged correspondence with all sorts of people all over the world. But not now, those days are long gone."
Cola once more spoke up, angrily: "This is silly! All we have to do is wait a little: the papers are bound to name the 'villainous traitor' in a day or two – or at least give some more information. And never mind Toad, surely it is Wizard Radagast we need to find, even if he is on the Continent – we're pretty sure he is to blame for this."
The discussion eventually petered out; the only firm decision made was to keep reading the papers and take no hasty action. Two days later the news finally broke that the person apprehended for spying was a Mr Mole. Squirrel, the reporter, immediately headed to the City hoping for a scoop for the local paper. The following day it carried the headline:
Local Man in Spy Scandal: Mole Arrested Red-Handed
The River Bankers were discussing this in The Earth that day when a very large motor car inched its way along the deeply-rutted and icy village street and parked in the short carriage drive of The Earth. A liveried chauffeur emerged and opened the passenger door for his master. Before the doorbell could be rung the front door was opened; the gentleman presented his card and was ushered in, and his heavy travelling cloak taken.
Ratty came into the entrance hall to greet this unexpected visitor, who was elegantly dressed in the latest fashion, sported a Malacca cane and held an improbably long cigarette holder. He was a good deal thinner, but utterly unmistakable, and this gave Ratty such a shock of surprise that he quite forgot his manners. "Toad!" he cried, "what are you doing here?"
"Why Ratty, it is good to see you too. You know me, always going the extra mile to help my friends. I'm here about poor Mole, of course. Heard the news when I arrived back in the City, and came down straight away, despite the perilous state of the roads. You are going to need someone of my experience."
"Forgive me, Toad, it is, of course, wonderful to see you again. … Err, what exactly do you mean by 'experience'. Can you help Mole?"
"Ratty, dear fellow, who else has had the first-hand experience of a successful gaol break?"