Nostradormouse by Chris Tinniswood

Author:Chris Tinniswood [Chris Tinniswood]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feedbooks (http://www.feedbooks.com)
Published: 2009-08-26T12:27:41+00:00

Outside, the young dormouse reached the river bank. He stopped to have a drink, and caught the reflection of the moon in the water. He began to follow the winding trail of the river through the woods, when he became aware of someone or something swimming alongside him in the darkness. He could hear the quiet lapping of the water. Panic took hold of him. What if it were some creature that wanted to eat him? He shivered involuntarily, and was about to run, when Find’s voice sent a wave of calm through him and he knew who it was.

‘What can I do for you, Arvic?’ he asked, without stopping.

There was a splash from behind him and a spluttering sound. He turned towards a large vole, who was struggling out of the water, an astounded look on his face.

‘What did you call me?’ he said.

‘Arvic,’ replied the dormouse. ‘It’s your name.’

‘It is?’ said the vole. ‘Are you sure?’

‘I’m sure. Say it to yourself and see.’

Arvic considered this for a while; he felt a warm glow whenever he thought the name.

‘How did you know?’ he asked, and added, a little sheepishly, ‘…when I didn’t?’

‘I know many things, Arvic. I know, for instance, that you will meet a lovely young Vole called Clethrion, fall madly in love and have a large family. I know that you will soon need the help of your cousin, Pitamus, and that your debt to him will lead to you travelling a long way. I know, also, that this will not be our last meeting.’

‘Oh,’ said Arvic, thoughtfully, ‘Well, that told me, didn’t it?’

The dormouse smiled. I’m getting the hang of this prophet lark, he thought, and turned back to continue his journey.

‘So how come this Clethrion already has a name?’ asked Arvic.

The dormouse continued walking, but raised an eyebrow, and said, ‘because I just named her.’

‘But,’ said Arvic, determined to catch him out, ‘she won’t know it’s her name, will she? She wasn’t here to hear you say it!’

The dormouse still didn’t stop, but quite enjoyed the challenge. ‘She’ll know in her heart, just as you did.’

‘So, what’s your name, then?’ asked Arvic, ‘So I may greet you properly when we meet again?’

‘My name?’ said the dormouse, halting in his tracks. He turned his head and looked the Vole in the eye. ‘My name… is Nostra.’

‘And what manner of creature are you?’ continued Arvic.

‘I am a dormouse,’ he replied, ‘the first of my kind.’

‘I see,’ said Arvic. ‘Well, then, Nostra Dormouse, I bid you farewell until we meet again.’ And with a quick flick of his tail, Arvic Vole slipped silently back into the river, leaving his new acquaintance to continue his solitary path.

For a while, he was content to listen to the sounds his feet made on the soft earth, and the gentle whisper of the wind in the willows, until presently he stopped and peered at his reflection in the river. He bowed, as if meeting someone important for the first time, and said to his watery alter-ego, ‘Good Morrow, Sir.

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