Chapter 24.
The Tunnel.
On the other side of the bridge bordering Efrafa, Hazel, Fiver and the others had managed to get as far from Efrafa as Possible and made their way through some Marshland.
"I think it's Probably safe to say Efrafa patrol's don't unusually wander this far." Said Bluebell.
"Yes." Agreed Hazel. "This seems like a good place to wait. We'll wait until Sundown and then meet up with Bigwig at the Iron Road when he breaks out."
"And what do we do till then?" Asked Hawkbit. "Play sit on our heads until we slump onto our backs?"
The Rabbit went a little Further until they came upon a bridge, It was largely intact, except for two large gaps in the left side, There they found Kehear catching fish from the Water and gobbling it up.
"Ah, You hear now!" He said as he noticed the Rabbit's arrival. "Good, Good, You can hide under bridge, Efrafa no come here much."
Hazel, Fiver, Bluebell, Hawkbit, Dandelion, Silver, Blackberry and Rosemary scurried under the bridge and discussed their options.
"Alright." Said Hazel. "Now we just have to figure out the next part of the plan."
"We came to bust out the Doe's here." Said Silver. "What else is there?"
"Getting out in one piece." Said Hazel.
"Hazels got a point." Said Hawkbit. "Let's rethink this at home." No one listened though.
"But we've already got Bigwig on the inside." Said Bluebell. "He'll get them out in no time."
"True." Said Hazel. "But let's say we do get them out and Woundwort sends his army after them? What then?"
"Then Kehear comes in, Does his little hawk attack to keep them occupied, they all run back here." Said Silver.
"But the Efrafans will be fast and savage." Said Fiver. "We need a better way to escape."
As the Rabbits talked, Rosemary found something near the riverbank. It was large and wooden and floated in the water. "Hazel." she called. "Come and look at this."
The other rabbits come over to where Rosemary now stood.
"What is it?" Asked Hazel.
"I don't know." Said Rosemary. "But floats Hazel, It floats!"
"By Frith Rosemary." Exclaimed Blackberry. "I think you just found our escape route!"
"It's just like the Plank!" Said Rosemary. "Remember when we had to get Fiver, Violet and Pipkin across the river? This is the same sort of thing!"
"But what is it?" Asked Dandelion.
"Its boat!" Said Kehear.
"Boat?" Asked Hawkbit.
"Yeah, Yeah!" Said the gull. "Man make em go on water, lots of boats on big water, some evan big as whole city!"
"What's a city?" Asked Bluebell.
Kehear wingpalmed. "Rabbits…"
Meanwhile,
Bigwig made his way down one of the runs to the burrows where the does were kept, As he searched them all one by one, He found other Rabbits besides the one he was looking for, All looking haggard, weary and beaten, Some looked like they had not sean the sun in days.
"Oh, Poor beasts…" Bigwig softly said, A gun was too good for these Efrafans.
Eventually, he came across one run with Four Familiar Does from Earlier, All looked to be listening to some form of Story from who Bigwig supposed was Hyzenthlay.
"Long ago…
The Orange beetles clung to the rye-grass stems.
The windy grass was waving, a buck and doe,
Ran through the meadow. They scratched a hole in the bank,
They did what they pleased all under the hazel leaves.
But the beetles died in the frost and my heart is dark;
And I shall never choose a mate again.
The frost is falling, the frost falls onto my body.
My nostrils, my ears are torpid under the frost.
The swift will come in the spring, crying "News! News!
Does, dig new holes and flow with milk for your litters."
I shall not hear. The embryos return
Into my dulled body. Across my sleep
There runs a wire fence to imprison the wind.
I shall never feel the wind blowing again.
"That's a sad story for a group of pretty does." Said Bigwig as he entered the burrow, The Does, disturbed from their thoughts, looked at him resentfully and drew back.
"Who are you?" Asked Vithuril.
"Into poetry are you?" Asked Nettle. "Didn't take you for the sentimental type."
"It's not exactly poetry." Said Thethuthinnang. "It's more of an allegory, When a Warren becomes overcrowded, Does become infertile and aggressive and if that can't mend their troubles…"
"Please don't talk like that, Thethuthinnang." Interrupted Nelthilta. "You make me queasy."
Bigwig looked at the Forth Rabbit, Who hadn't spoken a word yet. "Hyzenthlay?" He asked. "Are you Hyzenthlay?"
"I am in the Mark and under your orders, Sir." Said the Doe as she edged forward. "But you have made a mistake."
"No I haven't." Said Thlayli. "Come with me, The rest of you stay here."
And with that, Bigwig and Hyzenthlay left the burrow together as the others watched on.
"What a great oaf." Remarked Nettle.
Outside the Burrows, Bigwig and Hyzenthlay made their way to the grounds and stood together near an Uprooted tree branch.
"Now, Hyzenthlay." Said Bigwig, When he was sure no one was watching. "Do you remember, Several days ago, Three Rabbits came to Efrafa and you were marked along with them."
"How do you know?" Asked Hyzenthlay.
"Never mind that." Said Bigwig. "Just listen, My name is Bigwig, and I'm from a warren, where life is free and you can live as you wish, I've come to get you, your friends and any that want to leave Efrafa."
Hyzenthlay stood up. "Why should I believe you? You might be a spy, sent by the Council or Captain Orchis."
"I'm a friend of Captain Holly, Fiver and Bluebell." Said Bigwig.
"You're lying." Said Hyzenthlay.
"You know I'm not." Bigwig said. "Will you join us, and convince all your friends to come too? My friends are not far away, Our Chief is with them, and we're a new Warren, we certainly need you, Efrafa does not."
After another silence, Hyzenthlay spoke again. "My courage… My spirit, It's so much less than it was."
"We can escape from Efrafa, Believe me!" Said Bigwig.
Hyzenthlay said nothing for a moment, then agreed. "Yes, She said, I think I do."
"Good lass." Said Bigwig. "Now get back to your friends, Make sure to spread the word among as many does as you can, And try to get Blackavar if you can. The poor wretch has suffered enough."
Hyzenthlay agreed and hopped back to the Burrow to find her friends, Quietly sneaking past the guards as she did.
Nettle, Vithural and Thethuthinnang were waiting around the Burrow, when Hyzenthlay came back looking delighted.
"I knew he was different!" Said Hyzenthlay excitedly
"What do you mean?" Asked Vithural.
"Thlayli!" Said Hyzenthlay. "He's a friend of Holly, and he's here to help us.
"He's going to get us out?" Asked Nettle disbelievingly. "How?
"He'll do it." Said Hyzenthlay. "He didn't explain everything to me, But he will soon."
"One Rabbit against Woundwort! And his entire Owsla?" Asked Thethuthinnang.
"Not just one Thethuthinnang." Said Hyzenthlay. "We can help! But we've got to be ready for when our chance comes, You and I need to spread word to the other does, Vithural, Nettle, Keep watch over the Tunnel until we're back."
And with that, Hyzenthlay and Thethuthinnang crept off, leaving the other two does to mind the Tunnel.
"Escape from Efrafa." Sighed Vithural. "Please Frith."
Meanwhile,
Back at the River, Hazel gave Kehear his instructions.
"You go now and talk to Bigwig." Said Hazel.
"Yeah, Yeah." Said Kehear confidently. "I go talk to Mr Bigwig."
"He''ll be be waiting for you, in the field, by the Iron Road." Said Hazel. "Go find him."
"By Iron Road, Yeah." Nodded Kehear.
"He'll tell you the plan." Said Hazel.
"Tell Kehear plan?" Asked the Gull. "I know plan!"
"Now don't attract attention." Hazel warned.
"Of course, Of course." Said Kehear as he lifted off into the air. "I be quite, You wait here."
And soon he took off into the sky.
Meanwhile,
Bigwig stood in a field not too far from Efrafa, waiting for Kehear to show, as he scanned the sky for any trace of the gull, Until at last, Kehear landed in a bush next to him and poked his head out.
"Ah there you are." He said. "Listen now, We'll be making a break for it tonight."
"Ah, Tonight, Plenty good." Nodded Kehear.
"There will be lots of us. We'll meet you at the Iron bridge." Continued Bigwig.
"AH!" Kehear cried, but he quickly stifled it as it as they noticed Vervain had heard the sound of Kahears' cry from nearby.
"Then you have to lead us to where Hazel and the others are." Bigwig whispered.
"Yeah then we pull the trick!" Said Kehear as he swallowed a passing bee.
"Trick? What trick?" Asked Bigwig, But Kehear only laughed, Just as Vervain caught notice of them.
"Listen." Said Bigwig. "If you see a patrol coming after us, You have to drive them away!"
"Yeah, Yeah, I fly at them!" Said Kehear as he spread his wings, Bigwig quickly shushed him again.
"Remember." He said, Patting Kehear's back. "Tonight at the iron road, I have to go!" And Bigwig hurried off.
"Yeah, You plenty good fella." Kehear said, nodding his head.
As Thlayli hurried off, Vervain eyed him closely. He hadn't heard what the Hlessi had said to the Gull, But he thought the General would like to know.
Meanwhile,
Back in the Burrows, Bigwig snuck through the Tunnels of Efrafa to find Blackavar, He was careful not be caught by the guards, and when he found him, Blackavar was too well guarded, Seeing no loophole to get him out, Bigwig left, Along the way he found Hyzenthlay.
"It's set." He told her.
"When?" She asked.
"Get as many as you can to the Near Hind Mark at sunset." Said Bigwig. "Just before Early silflay."
The two then ducked into a burrow as two guards passed.
"Do you suppose something will happen?" Asked Hyzenthlay.
"Nothing will happen." Said Bigwig. "We can do it."
"Right." Said Hyzenthlay. "We'll just use the Tunnel and…"
"Tunnel?" Asked Bigwig. "What Tunnel?"
"We were making a Tunnel in our Burrow before you arrived." Explained Hyzenthlay. "We were going to use it to make our own escape and then…"
"Why didn't you tell me this before?!" Asked Bigwig incredulously.
"I… thought it didn't matter." Said Hyzenthlay.
"Oh embleer Frith." Said Bigwig. "This could upset everything. How far does this Tunnel go?"
"Up to the embankment of the Right Middle Toe Mark." Said Hyzenthlay. "Near the guard post."
Bigwig decided. "Alright then, Change of plans, I'll be at the post to help cover for you. We will go tonight and a bird will meet us at the Iron road."
"A bird?" Asked Hyzenthlay surprised.
"Not even Woundwort will expect that." Said Bigwig. "Now hurry back and tell the others, I'll meet you at the Guard post."
And with that, Bigwig hurried off.
Meanwhile,
Word had spread among the other Does of the Right Hind Mark, Though others remained skeptical of Thlayli's intentions to break them out, A few of the Doe's decided to take a chance, and Joined Thethuthinnang, Vithural, Nettle and Hyzenthlay in their burrow to make their escape.
"Alright now." Said Hyzenthlay. " Everyone follow my lead, Quietly."
And with that, the Doe's made their way up the Tunnel.
Bigwig had relieved the on duty guard of his post and took over from him, He scanned the sky as he looked up at Frith.
"This is happening too soon." He said to himself, Just then, He heard a voice whisper out to him.
"Bigwig, Down here!"
Bigwig looked to the Hole and found Hyzenthlay's head poking out.
"How long did it take you to make this Tunnel?" He asked.
"Several days." Said Hyzenthlay, as she along with Nettle, Vithural, Thethuthinnang and six other does emerged from the Hole. "What now?"
"This is too soon." Said Bigwig. "We should be waiting for tonight."
"Tonight!" Asked Nettle incredulously. "But Captain Campion will be on Patrol this evening, We're sure to be caught!"
"Oh Inle." Groaned Bigwig, He was starting to actually like Campion and didn't fancy any confrontation with him.
"We'll." He said. "Then we better move fast, Get back under ground before we're all spotted, and wait until-."
But before the Does could go back, Campion himself suddenly appeared around the Corner, Followed by Moss, Sainfoin and several other bucks.
"Thlayli?" Asked Campion upon seeing the Doe's and Bigwig together. "What is all this?!"
"There was a collapse in one of the Tunnels due to the dry Weather." Bigwig responded quickly. "I moved these Doe's up here for their safety in case there was another one."
"On whose Authority?" Demanded Sainfoin.
"My own authority." Said Bigwig. "I heard cries for help and I answered."
"Wake up Thlayli you've been tricked!" Scoffed Moss.
"At ease Moss." Said Campion. "Take three bucks down to the Tunnels, Check to see what's happened."
"Right sir." Said Moss and he hopped off with three others, Campion turned to the rest.
"Take the rest to the deep burrows." He said. "We'll hold them there until we get all the facts straight."
And so the Bucks surrounded the Doe's and began to lead them off, Campion locked eyes with Thlayli, As if suspecting him of being behind this whole ordeal, Knowing Bigwig needed his cover safe, Hyzenthlay rushed at Campion with a grunt, But was quickly pinned down by Sainfoin.
"Consider yourself on Strike one Thlayli." Said Campion. "And frith help you if the General or the Council hear about this."
And with that, Campion left, With Hyzenthlay and the others in Toe, Bigwig let out a flustered growl.
"Frith Damn it, this just got a lot more complicated." He Muttered to himself.
To Be Continued.