Run with the Wind by Tom McCaughren

Author:Tom McCaughren [Tom McCaughren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847178572
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2016-11-27T05:00:00+00:00

Nine

The Otter and the Mink

Daylight broke to reveal a valley that to all outward appearances was calm and peaceful. Rooks and wood-pigeons flew around the trees on the slopes above the pheasant farm, and down at the farm itself a hooded crow sat on the wire fence waiting his chance to go in and snatch some food. The chaffinches and sparrows felt no need to wait, and flitted in and out of the pens whenever they liked. Occasionally the harsh shriek of a cock pheasant shattered the stillness.

In the alder trees along the river, the small birds rested between their raids among drooping catkins and empty cones. Under the willows, which were now sprouting soft silvery buds, a tiny blue-tit hung upside down, showing his yellow underparts to the sky. He was unconcerned with what was happening in the pheasant farm, and unaware of the drama that was soon to take place there.

In the woods above, the foxes pondered on what Whiskers the otter had told them. The fact that the mink was back in the valley was serious news. It meant that he would soon be raiding the pheasant farm again, and once he started that, the men and the fun dogs would be scouring the undergrowth looking for foxes. If that happened, they would be in trouble.

‘Maybe we should move on,’ said Fang, knowing that the inability of Old Sage Brush and Hop-along to run fast endangered them all.

Vickey, however, felt that the two weren’t ready to move yet, and she wondered if the danger was so imminent as to require their departure immediately. ‘Can’t we wait just a little longer?’ she asked.

‘It would be a pity to move on without even one supper of pheasant,’ said Skulking Dog.

‘Even so,’ said Black Tip. ‘I agree with Fang. The moment the mink strikes again, we’re in great danger.’

She-la thought it would be better for her mate, Hop-along to move on, however slowly, rather than risk a hopeless flight from the fun dogs. ‘I think,’ she said, ‘we should go and make the most of it while we can.’

‘Sinnéad?’ asked Old Sage Brush.

Sinnéad tried to put a brave face on it. ‘We’ve outrun fun dogs before.’

‘Hop-along?’

‘Maybe the others can — not me.’

‘Nor me,’ said Old Sage Brush.

‘What do you want to do then?’ asked Black Tip.

The old fox thought for a moment. ‘It’s not what we want to do. It’s what we have to do. As long as the mink is allowed to do as it pleases, no fox is safe in this valley’

‘Let me go after it,’ urged Fang.

‘And me,’ said Skulking Dog. ‘We’ll soon drive it out.’

‘That is not the way of survival,’ Old Sage Brush told them. ‘I admire your courage, Fang. And yours too, Skulking Dog. But what use will it be to us if one of you gets injured? The mink is small, but he is a savage fighter. We need all the strength and courage we have for the journey ahead.’

‘What would you have us do then?’ asked Vickey.

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