The Golden Flight by Michael Tod Read Free Book Online Page A

of solving challenges and not just to do what everyone else is doing. Zander’s daring exploits earned him a new tag and ever since he has been remembered as Zander the Great.
    ‘Are there any questions on that story?’ Meadowsweet asked, looking expectantly at the assembled Greys.
    ‘Surely what he did was against the rules?’ a Grey asked.
    ‘Not really,’ Meadowsweet replied. ‘The Kernel just said Solve the challenge of the Knot , it didn’t say Untie the Knot. The others just assumed that is what they had to do and, as we learned yesterday, it is dangerous to ‘assume’. Who can remember that Kernel?’
    Several Greys raised their paws and Meadowsweet chose one near the back to answer.
     
    ‘Squirrels who don’t check,
    May ‘assume’ a fox’s mouth
    To be a safe den.’
     
    ‘Correct,’ said Meadowsweet and the Grey looked pleased with himself.
    ‘Rubbish,’ Silica mumbled, only half awake. ‘Rules are meant to be broken – do whatever you can get away with. Might is right – so fight .’
    Meadowsweet glanced at Rowan.
    ‘I think we have learned enough for today. We’ll meet here again tomorrow after dawn-foraging. You are welcome to join us if you wish,’ he said to the Three Lords.
    ‘We’ll see, we’ll see,’ Malachite replied. ‘Where do we sleep if we should decide to stay?’
    ‘There are dreytels in the wood over there,’ she said, the ugly word harsh on her tongue. Greys seemed to prefer these characterless, one-squirrel structures to the traditional, comfortable, communal dreys whilst they were studying here, or when they stopped off in passing.
    The Reds, as they always had, still used a drey for each of their families on Steepbank near the Blue Pool.
     
    The next morning, to Meadowsweet’s surprise, the Three Lords did come back to the class, taking their places quietly among the other Greys.
    She asked for a volunteer to retell the story of Zander the Great and the Gaudian Knot and she was flattered when Lord Malachite recited almost word for word what she had said the day before.
    She thanked him, and Rowan was about to move on to the Action Kernel when there was a disturbance in the tree tops and Sitka, Hickory’s assistant, leapt into their tree.
    ‘There’s a new Great Lord Silver at Woburn,’ he announced breathlessly. ‘A batch of colonists have just arrived and told me all about it. A Grey from a place called Seven Oaks arrived at the Oval Drey at dawn with a band of supporters, and challenged the Great Lord Silver to fight for his position. The challenger didn’t even wait for a reply – just pitched straight in and had Redwood’s tail off before he was fully awake, but they say he’s quite an old squirrel himself and may not last for long.’
    There was a murmur of excitement from the class. Each knew that a change of occupant at the Oval Drey meant a change of policy. At least Redwood’s had been benign. What changes would this new leader bring?
    ‘What’s the name of the new Great Lord?’ Hickory asked Sitka.
    ‘Monterey,’ said Sitka. ‘By all accounts his views are very different to Redwood’s. Some are saying that he doesn’t believe in the Learn from the Natives policy. It might be back to the Take and Hold philosophy again.’
    Rowan moved closer to Meadowsweet and put a paw on her shoulder.
    ‘The class is dismissed for the day,’ he announced and, looking frequently over his shoulder, he led Meadowsweet away to find their daughter, Bluebell, and the ex-zervantz and their two daughters, Rosebay and Willowherb. They found then replacing the moss used for the linings of their dreys in the tree they all shared on Steepbank, next to the Blue Pool.
    ‘We have a new challenge,’ Rowan said and went on to tell what he had just heard, and explain its significance.
    ‘I think we would be wise to slip away and try to get back to Ourland somehow. Before we’re missed. You can’t trust these Greys when there’s instability at their