The Tattoo Fox Makes New Friends by Alasdair Hutton

Author:Alasdair Hutton [Hutton, Alasdair]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Children's
Publisher: Luath Press Ltd
Published: 2014-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

People were hurrying up and down the gangway carrying boxes and crates. ‘That’s all the food on board,’ one of the men called as he jogged down the gangway. ‘We’ll be back this afternoon with the glasses.’

‘Thanks, Ed! The band’s due any time – they want to rehearse,’ replied his friend. ‘This is going to be quite a party.’ He waved and headed back on board.

And that was when the Tattoo Fox noticed that he was not alone. Four pointed ears were following him up the gangway.

The kits!

They ignored the dog fox’s first furious bark. Then the second… There was nothing else for it. Their parents would have to go and fetch them.

The two foxes and the cat crept out and along the quayside, then scurried up the gangway. They paid no attention to the beautifully laid table in the State Dining Room, and barely noticed the Queen’s Sitting Room or the Royal Bedrooms. They looked everywhere – in every nook and cranny. Where were the kits?

‘I hope they haven’t fallen overboard,’ said the Tattoo Fox.

‘We’d have heard all about it if they had,’ remarked the cat, shuddering. ‘They can’t have vanished into thin air. Let’s make for the Verandah deck. Follow me!’

‘Somebody’s coming!’ whispered the dog fox. ‘Quick! In here!’ The door to the Sun Lounge had been left open and they all dashed inside. A steward walked by carrying a tray of glasses, humming to herself. All of a sudden there was a mewing noise from behind one of the chairs. The two fox kits were snuggled up together, shivering with fright.

‘What have I told you?’ said the Tattoo Fox. ‘Never ever go off on your own!’ She was relieved to find them, but very cross too.

‘They’re safe, that’s the main thing,’ soothed the dog fox. He nuzzled the kits toward the doorway. ‘Your mother’s right,’ he whispered. ‘You’ve given us the most dreadful fright.’

The Castle Cat simply shook his head and turned on his heel. He was fond of the kits, of course, but they were a handful.

Silently, the five animals headed for the gangway. But escape wasn’t to be that simple.

The Band of the Royal Marines began their rehearsal for the evening’s party, including By Land By Sea, the bugle march named after the Royal Marines’ motto, songs from all over the British Isles, a dazzling display of drumming and finally Rule Britannia followed by the National Anthem.

‘Bravo!’ cried the conductor when they’d finished. ‘You’re in excellent form.’

But one of the trombone players had caught sight of the tip of the Tattoo Fox’s tail behind a curtain. ‘Isn’t that the fox from the Tattoo?’

‘You’re right – I’d know that tail anywhere,’ said a bugler.

‘Run!’ barked the dog fox, and to the amazement of the band and everybody else on board the Britannia, four foxes and a large grey cat streaked past them and leapt down onto the quayside.

‘Hope you enjoyed the concert!’ yelled one of the trumpet players. ‘Let’s give them a proper send off,’ he cried, and the band broke into a spirited rendition of Life on the Ocean Wave.

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