Chapter 21 – Mole in Hiding

The train back to Town had only one carriage, and even the first class compartment was crowded. Otter and Ratty sat together, not speaking because who knew who was listening? It was also a very slow train which did not help. Nevertheless, they were back in Town by dusk and were able to use the town's one taxicab to convey them, rather slowly and at considerable expense due to the precarious state of the roads, to The Earth.

The perishing cold of that winter's night had blunted their haste to share what they had learnt that day, and it was only after hot drinks seated before a blazing fire that they were persuaded to give meaningful answers to their fellows' inquiries. Fortunately, Toad was not present and they could be candid, for Ratty did not altogether trust Toad. "I don't doubt his loyalty to his friends," he had told Otter. "But he has been led astray over Radagast in the past and could be again."

Otter took a back seat and left Ratty to tell everything to an eager audience of Cola, Portly and Badger. He told them of their shock and surprise when Radagast was led into the visiting room, and enjoyed his audience's surprise and disbelief.

"He was brought in in chains and shackled to the wall; then the guards left. He seemed quite unbothered, just said that everything was fine and that we could speak freely; no-one would hear what we said. Well, we hardly knew where to start."

"Never mind all that," interrupted Badger. "What about Mole? What did he say about Mole?"

"Mole is at liberty: the wizard did some sort of swap," said Ratty.

"Like Toad and the washerwoman, eh?" asked Badger.

"Better: the authorities have not noticed the changeover. All Mole needs to do is keep out of sight."

"I hope he is all right," said Cola. "This is awfully cold weather to be on the run."

"I expect he is holed up somewhere comfortable and will be in touch when he can." Ratty did not sound convincing, and was, in fact, very anxious about his friend. But there was nothing he could do but try to be optimistic.

"I do hope so, dear, it would be dreadful if anything happened to him."

"What about Wizard Radagast, Mr Vole?" asked Portly. "He is in a real fix now, and eventually someone will realise that he is the outlaw they have been looking for."

"That puzzles me too. The wizard finds it amusing that they have him in custody and don't know it."

"Not only that," said Otter. "He seemed blissfully confident. He told us that he would 'break jail' as soon as he is certain that Mole is safely out of reach of the law."

Ratty continued: "He told us that he gave Mole that crystal ball from his old chest to look after."

"That reminds me," said Badger. "When he first appeared he was very bothered about getting hold of that chest, and doubly worried about it getting into the wrong hands. He surely hasn't left that with Mole too?"

Ratty shook his head. "No, Badger. He left it, empty, at Toad Hall a while ago, and didn't seem to mind when the goblins took it away. And today, when I showed him the paper – do you have today's paper? … No? Never mind. There was an article in it about an 'underground explosion'. When he saw that, he positively laughed! He was certain, he said, that the goblins had … had … what did he say Otter?"

"'Activated the self-destruct' is what he said. Wizard talk I suppose. Anyhow, he thinks his chest is no more."

"That's right," added Ratty. "He said that now that was gone he had no further reason to stay in the world. He sent his thanks to everyone for their help and kindness – especially you, Badger – and said we were not likely to see him again."

"But what about the other thing?" asked Portly. "You know: getting Mole to spy for him. Something to do with another wizard who was up to no good."

"That's why he went abroad," said Cola. "He reckoned that this other wizard was stirring up trouble in Germany."

"Saruman!" said Ratty. "He told me a lot about this Saruman when we were travelling back from Bredon Hill. He and Saruman are the last of the original wizards from ancient times, and he reckoned that Saruman was behind all the bother he has had, including the appearance of those goblins."

"Did he succeed? You know: defeat this Saruman?" asked Portly, eagerly.

"Sort of," replied his father. "He overcame Saruman, so he said, but too late: he couldn't undo all his machinations. 'War,' he told us, "was now utterly inevitable, and could envelope the whole of Europe and beyond.'"

All were silent for a while. Even in their rural backwater every last individual, however isolated, knew that the nation was preparing for war, had known it for many months, but had thought it would be averted, somehow. Only Portly was pleased, he liked the idea of seeing some 'action'.

. . . . . . .

When the constables came to take Mole from the Tower it was quite easy for Radagast to be the driver of the Black Maria. At the railway station all was hurrying crowds, muddle and confusion. There, in the handover to the new gaolers, he was able to substitute himself for Mole without raising suspicion. His parting words to Mole were: "Do not worry about me. You must go into hiding for a while. Once war arrives they will forget all about Von Braun and his agent. I am intrusting you with the palantír; it must be safe and not forgotten. The day may come when men have need of it."

Mole had to assume that he was a hunted man with all hands against him. He couldn't go abroad, the ports would be watched. Going to Weasels was too risky; too many people knew he used to frequent it. He made his way back to the area he knew. He could have gone to one of his friends, Otter or Ratty, who would hide him, but that would have put them at risk. He might have looked for sanctuary in the Wild Wood as Radagast had done, but times had changed: someone would likely inform on him.

The weather was bitter; he needed a roof over his head, and food. He made his way to Toad Hall. He expected mess and damage, but found the place in good order. Tradesmen had been in and done the necessary repairs; cleaners had been in and done what they could. There was a smell of fresh paint; the pantries were stocked; the coal scuttles were full; and but for the absence of staff, Toad Hall was ready for its owner to take up residence.

Few places are so well equipped for hide-and-seek as Toad Hall, and Mole knew the house well: if need be he could hide there from all but the most thorough and rigorous search. He would stay there for the time being. At first, Mole was cautious, paranoid even: he did not light a fire during the day lest the chimney smoke raised suspicions; he drew close the heavy drapes at night before lighting any oil lamp or candle; neither did he venture outside or linger in front of the windows.

As day followed day Mole began to relax. The cold forced him to have a fire during the day. The silent isolation became unendurable and he took to looking out of the windows at the white beautiful silent world outside. He watched the snow fall. Even when the sky was clear and the sun bright he saw no one. Perhaps nobody was looking for him. If only he knew for certain!

He brooded on what to do with the palantír. He spent hours looking into it without seeing anything but the odd glimmer of light in its depths. Finally, he carefully placed it on a side table in the Grand Salon and left it.

Come the thaw, come the Toad! Mole knew that sooner or later Toad would arrive, probably in the midst of a shoal of servants. His plan was to hide in the house until he could be certain of catching Toad alone, and then plead for Toad to shelter him. Toad arrived by motor car accompanied only by his chauffeur and his cook. It was immediately obvious to them that Toad Hall had an intruder, albeit a tidy and considerate one who tended fires in the grates and raked out the ashes.

Toad armed himself with a sword, one of several ornamenting the entrance hall. "You two go about your duties, I can deal with our unexpected guest," he boasted, doing practice lunges with the sword. Seeing that their master was likely to be a greater hazard to them than any number of housebreakers they did not demur.

Toad was tiptoeing along an upstairs corridor, beginning to regret his braggadocio, when he heard a whispered voice behind him. He felt an icy chill down his spine and backed against the wall, sword held awkwardly in a trembling hand.

"Toad, it's me: Mole. Moley!" The speaker held his hands up to prove he was unarmed.

Toad pointed his sword threateningly. "No you are not! Poor Mole is in jail."

"It is me, Toad. Mole: who rode with you in that caravan, who was with you and Ratty and Badger when we won back Toad Hall from the Stoats and Weasels."

Toad lowered his guard. "Mole, it is you, old fellow! How … how did you escape?"

Mole too relaxed a little. "It's a long story. They aren't looking for me then? There is no hue and cry?"

The two friends had a long talk together in which the names Radagast and Saruman occurred frequently. Toad at once offered to shelter Mole, and they agreed a story to tell the servants: Mole was Moley, a cousin of Mole's, whom Toad had invited down to escape the attentions of the press. He had come down early, found Toad not at home, but had been snowed in and obliged to remain. So was all explained, and Mole remained openly and at ease at Toad Hall, much to the relief of his friends.

As for Radagast, his treatment improved now that Saruman was not poisoning the minds of men. His fetters were removed; his straw pallet replaced by a feather bed. He went from bread and water to dining with the governor, from a dank stone cell to the best guest room in the fortress. A wizard can be very persuasive. When he judged the time was right he simply walked out, his departure un-remarked, and vanished from our world.