The Siege of White Deer Park by Colin Dann Read Free Book Online

in his life. ‘I am a mole,’ said the unhappy creature. ‘But not the one you want. He was my father!’
    Weasel was glad he could not see Badger’s reaction. He would have found it too distressing.
    ‘I – I blundered into your set through one of the passages. I know my father used to use these tunnels,’ the young mole explained. ‘I can be company for you, and willingly, if you wish it. But I can’t be the mole you want – only myself!’
    Weasel thought he had never been witness to such a pathetic encounter before and he heartily wished he was elsewhere. He tried to divert the conversation.
    ‘I’ve come to tell you, Badger,’ he said awkwardly, ‘about a discovery. Whistler has seen a great cat, and we think it must be the Beast.’
    There was a deep silence. Weasel wondered if he was understood. Then Badger said, ‘Cat? A great cat? Well, Iwonder what we should do about it. What do you think, Mole?’
    Weasel stared into the darkness in disbelief. Was Badger’s mind wandering? He seemed not to have grasped what the little animal had told him. And this time the young mole remained quiet. Perhaps he had decided it was futile to make a further denial. Or perhaps he was too stunned to speak.
    ‘You suggested, didn’t you, Badger, that the stranger seemed to have feline characteristics?’ Weasel prompted.
    ‘What? Oh, oh yes, Weasel,’ Badger murmured. ‘I did. I recall it. But I don’t think I can do anything for you, you know. I’m really getting very feeble now . . .’
    ‘No one expects you to do anything,’ Weasel assured him. ‘I merely brought you the news. It helps to know what we’re up against.’
    Suddenly Badger’s mind seemed to have a moment of startling clarity. He said, much more briskly, ‘No doubt Tawny Owl has refuted the notion of a cat, straight away?’
    Weasel was impressed. ‘Well, yes, he did, in a way. How did you guess?’
    ‘Oh, Weasel,’ Badger chuckled, ‘don’t you think I know our Owl after all this time?’
    Badger’s shrewdness did not tally with his previous confusion. Weasel began to realize that the old creature had wanted to believe Mole had returned and was rejecting the truth. He had shut out the idea that Mole was gone and was going to use his youngster as a substitute.
    ‘Well, where’s the harm in it, if it gives him comfort?’ Weasel said to himself. He had an idea. He whispered to the young mole whose velvety fur his whiskers had located nearby, ‘Go along to the outer tunnel. I’ll join you there.’
    When Weasel was sure they were alone he said to Badger, ‘I haven’t any more to tell you for the present. I’m sorry you’ve been lonely. We can’t expect you to go visiting so much now, so we must come to you. And I, for one, promise to do so.’
    ‘Thank you, Weasel. How very kind,’ said Badger joyfully. He seemed to be quite moved. ‘Do, please. I should enjoy it.’
    They bade each other farewell and Weasel made haste to find the perplexed young animal who had, quite unintentionally, got himself into such a pickle.
    ‘Come to the set entrance,’ he said to him.
    The youngster obliged.
    Now Weasel was a last able to see him properly. When he had a good look he was astonished to note just how much the young mole resembled his father. ‘What do they call you?’ he asked him.
    ‘My father used to call me Mossy,’ was the answer. ‘I’m not quite sure why, unless it had something to do with the texture of my coat.’
    ‘Well, listen – er – Mossy,’ Weasel said. ‘From now on you can allow yourself to be called just plain Mole. It’s for the old badger’s sake, of course. He won’t know the difference, as you must already be well aware. It’ll mean such a lot to him, and what does it matter? Will you mind?’
    ‘Er – well, no, I suppose not. But won’t it be confusing?’
    ‘Not at all,’ Weasel answered. ‘I can soon explain the situation to the others. Thank you, my young friend. And, by the way, do drop in