42?

Vermin snored and muttered in their sleep, fighting imaginary battles, some of them even singing snatches of songs as they lay around their campfire embers in the warm summer night. The guards of the cage were still at the fire of the stoat Bluggach, within easy distance of the prisoner they were supposed to be watching. Like Bluggach, they too were flat on their backs, mouths open wide to the sounds of thenpainful rasping snores.

The old squirrel watched the two ragged figures silent approach to his cage. He grabbed at the food they pushed through the bars to him, and his throat moved up and down as he gulped water from a canteen, drinking until the vessel was empty. With his head bent low he gave a long sigh of satisfaction, then began chewing the food slowly, while Midge whispered questions at him.

“What do they call you, and how did ycome to be here?

“My name is Fourdun. I live alone in Mossflower. They took me by surpriseI must be gettin old.

Midge passed the small knife through to him. “Were both Long Patrol hares. Im Midge, hes Tammo. Listen to me, old fellerdont do anythin silly. Well get you free. Maybe tomorrow night or the night after, but well do it. So watch out for us an dont try escapin by yourself.

Nudging Midge, Tammo hissed urgently, “Look out, that big stoat Capns awake!

Bluggach woke with a throat that was both sore and dry from snoring. Coughing hoarsely several times, he staggered down to the stream. Crouching in the shallows, the stoat pawed water into his mouth until he had drunk enough, then he straightened up and belched.

There was no place for Tammo or Midge to hideone movement from either of them and they would be discovered. Midge shoved Tammo toward the stream, muttering to him, “Sit by the water an look as if youre meditatinhurry!

Tammo walked straight for the stoat, bumping into him as he slumped by the shallows, and stared intently into the water. Bluggach was about to say something when Midge strolled up.

“Pleasant night to ye, Capn. Take no notice of ole Burfal, e goes off doin odd things any hour o the day or dark.

The stoat drew his cutlass, eyeing Midge suspiciously. “Wot are yew doinround ere?

Midge produced the flask of grog he had been about to give Fourdun. “Oh, jus keepin an eye on Burfal, seeine dont disturb nobeast. Ere, take a pull o this, sir, Warfangs own private grog. Twill put a throat on ye like a cob o velvet.

Bluggach was still not quite convinced by Midge, but he took a good swig of the fiery grog as he weighed the ragged beast up. “Youll be the Seer, then? Some sez yore a magic creature.

Smiling craftily, Midge moved close to the stoat and reached out. “I aint magic, Capn. You are, though. Wots this candied chestnut doin in yore earlug?

Grinning widely, the big stoat tossed the nut into his mouth and gave Midge a friendly shove that almost knocked him flat. “I knew you was magic the moment I clapped eyes on ya, haharrharr!

Midge laughed along with him, urging Bluggach to drink some more. “Bein magic aint as good as bein a Rapmark Capn like you, sir.

The stoat warmed to the tattered Seer. Throwing a paw about him, he said, “Ho, aint it though? I tell yer, matey, sometimes I wish I cd magic some discipline inter this lot. Lookit those two, snorin like weasels at a weddin, an theyre supposed tbe on guard! But tell me more about yore magic. Yknow wot I like, haharr, I likes beasts like yerself who know clever riddles. Go on, do a riddle fer me. Tis ages since I eard a good un.

Midge tapped a dirty paw against his stained teeth. “Hmm, a riddle, now lemme see ... Ah, eres a riddle fer ye. Wot goes gurgle gurgle snuffle trickle blubber ripple scrawf scrawf? Dyer know the answer to that one, Capn?

Bluggach took another good pull at the grog and sat down, narrowing one eye and scratching his head. Midge beckoned Tammo silently, and together they began moving away. The stoat Captain drank some more, halting them with an unsteady wave.

“Er, burgle sniffle truckle sprawl, wot goes like that? Hah! Thats a good un, mate. I dunno, tell me the answer.

Midge pointed at the two sentries sleeping by the fire at the waters edge. “Theres yore answer, Capn. Two fat lazy guards sleepin their eads off by a stream all night. Cmon, Burfal, time we was goin1.

They departed as the jokes punch line dawned on Bluggach, and made their way back to the shelter and their own fire with the stoat Captains laughter ringing out behind them.

“Oh harrharrhair, thats a good un, hohohoho! Wake up, you two, an lissen tthis. Harrharrhohoho! Wot goes grungle snirtle, worf worf an sleeps like youse two by the stream all night? Yarrharrhahaha! Betcha dont know the answer, do yer?

Sitting beside their own fire, the two hares discussed their plans.

“If Rockjaw gets a message from the Major tomorrow, well be able to quit this place once Ive worked more of my magic on Warfang.

Gathering his rags about him, Tammo lay back to rest. “Aye, but wed best wait until late night to make our escape. Thatll be a good time to break Fourdun out, toowe cant leave him there for the vermin to starve an torment, he must go with us.

Midge smiled at the determination on his young friends face. “Of course Fourduns goin with us, wouldnt have it any other way, Tamm. But it aint goin to be easy, by the left it aint!