7?

Tammohad never been so tired in all his young life. It was three hours after dawn and they were still running. His foot-paws felt heavy as two millstones, and the weight of the haversack on his back, which had been fairly light at first, was now like carrying another beast.

Those open plains that had always looked smooth and slightly undulating from a distance, what had happened to diem? Suddenly they had become a series of steep hills and deep valleys, with small sharp rocks hidden by the grass, areas of thorny thistle and slopes of treacherous gravelly scree. The welcome sunlight of dawn was now a burning eye that blinded him and added to the discomfort of his already overheated body.

Staggering and gasping for breath, Tammo slumped down on the summit of a hill, unable to go another pace forward. Russa Nodrey was already there, still upright, breathing calmly as she viewed the prospect to the south. From the corner of her eye she watched the young hare with a tinge of admiration, which she kept well hidden from him.

“Nothin like a brisk trot, eh, Tamm? How dyou feel?

Tammo was on all fours, head bent as he tried to regulate his breath. He spoke still facing the ground, unable to look up. “Not too blinkin chipper, marm. Need water, somethin to eat, and sleep. Give anythin for a jolly good snooze, marm!

Russa crouched down beside him. “Lissen, young un, call me Russa, pal, matey, anythin you like. But stop callin me marm. It makes me feel like some fat ole mother duck!

Tammo glanced sideways at her, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Ill do that, matey, but you stop callin me young un or Ill start callin you mother duck!

Standing behind him, Russa smiled as she pulled the haversack from his back. Despite her initial reluctance, she was beginning, if a little grudgingly, to enjoy Tammos company.

“Lets have this thing off ye, Tamm. We cant stop here, got to press on a bit afore we make camp.

Tammo flexed his shoulders and moved to a sitting position. “Whys mat? This looks like a jolly good spot, wot?

The squirrel pointed south, indicating another two hilly tors. “Weve got to land up across there by midday. Right, heres where yore eddication starts, young un ... er, pal. Tell me, why should we make camp there instead o here?

Tammo pondered the question a moment. “Havent a bally clue, old pal. Tell me.

Russa began shouldering the haversack. “Well, for a start, tis too open up here, we cn be seen for miles. A good camp should be sheltered for two reasons: one, in case o the weather; two, tstay hidden. Doesnt do tlet everybeast know where ye are in open country.

The young hare stood up slowly. “Hmm, makes sense I suppose.

“You can bet yore life it does. The squirrel winked at him. “But afore ygo harm off, let me tell you the rest. At midday itll be hottest, thats when we should sleep a few hours an save energy. We can eatndrink too afore we nap, sleeps good fer the digestion. If we ate an drank now, wed be travelin on full bellies. Itd take us twice as long to get there in that state. All right, matey, lets be on our way. Ill carry this avvysack fer a whiletis only fair.

Tammo started down into the valley, digging his paws in against a shale drift. He felt much lighter and better for the brief rest. “Indeed tis only fair, considerin the weight of your pancakes, old pal! he called back.

Russa caught up and quickly took the lead. “Less of the oW, young scallywag, or Ill put on a turn of speed thatll have ye eatin me dust fer a full day!

Tammo pulled a wry face at the squirrels back. “What ho, young Russa, point taken. Lead on, but not too fast.

Russa shook her head as she skirted a patch of mossy grass, still wet and slippery with morning dew. “Rest yore jaws an tet the paws do the work, Tamm, seasons o gabble! I never did so much talkin in all me life. Save yore breath fer travelin, thats another lesson yve got to learn.

“Right you are, O wise one, the jolly old lips are sealed!

“Good! Then shut up an keep up!

“To hear is to obey, O sagacious squirrel!

“Youve gotta have the last word, havent yer?

“Only because youre the strong silent type, great leader.

“Ill great leader you, ycheeky-faced rogue!

“Bad form fr a Commander to insult the other ranks, yknow. Whoops! Yowch!

Not looking where he was going, Tammo trotted into the area of mossy grass and slipped, landing flat on his back. Because of the steep incline, he rolled a good way downhill, until be was halted by a boulder.

Russa went by him, looking straight ahead, a smile playing round her lips. “Tut tut, Ive already told ye, matey, ycant Ue down fer a nap until we make camp!

Tammo learned a lot that first morning. By midday they were standing on top of the hill overlooking the spot Russa had chosen for a campsite. Down in the valley a little stream tum-.. bled over a rock ledge, forming a tiny waterfall. There were wild privets and dogwood to one side, making a shady bower. Hot and dusty, Tammo wiped a paw across his mouth at the sight of fresh water. He saluted smartly at Russa and said, “Permission tgo down an chuck mself in yonder cool water!

The canny squirrel shrugged. “Suit yself, matey, ifn thats what yfeel like doin.

The young hare let out a joyful whoop and sped off downhill.

Russa backed off and, dropping out of sight, cut off at a tangent, approaching the glade from a different angle.

Ducking out of his shoulder belt and dirk, Tammo cast both aside and leapt into the water. It was ice cold and crystal clear. The sudden shock robbed him of his breath for a moment; then he gave vent to a yell of sheer delight. It was good to be alive on such a day. Gulping down the sweet fresh water, Tammo stood beneath the cascade with his mouth wide open, falling backward and splashing playfully with all four paws.

“Yerrah! Now dats wot I likes ter see, Skulka, a young critter fulla the joys o spring!

Rubbing both eyes and snorting water from his nostrils, Tammo floundered upright to see who had spoken.

Two ferrets, big and lean and clad in tattered rags, stood on the bank, one with an arrow half drawn on her bowstring, the other with a spear stuck in the ground as he tried on Tammos belt and dirk for size.

The young hare knew he was in deep trouble. Glancing around to see if he could spot Russa, Tammo pointed at his property. “Good day, friends! I say, thats my belt an dirk youre jolly well tryin on, yknow!

The female kept her arrow centered on Tammo. Turning to her partner, she revealed a row of snaggled, discolored teeth in a grin. “Lah de dah, Gromal, aint e got nice manners? Didyer know mats is jolly ole dirkn belt yore tryin on?

Gromal had fastened the belt around his waist, and now he was stroking the dirk handle and admiring the fine blade. “Ho, is it now? Well eres the way I sees it, Skulka. That beast flung isself in our water widout so much as a by yer leave. Lookat im there, drinkin away an sportin about as if it belonged to im!

Tammo stood quite still in the stream and managed to force a friendly smile at the evil pair. “Accept my apologies, you chaps. Sorry, I didnt know the stream belonged to you. Ill just hop right out.

Gromal pulled his spear from the ground. “Aye, thats the ticket, me young bucko. You jusop right up ere on the bank sos we kin search yer. Yore gonna pay fer the use of our water. Keep that shaft aimed at im, Skulka. Ifn e makes one false move, shoot im atween the eyes an slay im!

Skulka drew her bowstring tight, sniggering. “If e dont ave no more valables, then mebbe we cn use im as a slave fer a few seasons.

A hardwood stick came whirling in a blur from the tree »over and struck the arrow, snapping it clean in two pieces. Russa hurtled out like a lightning bolt, shoving Skulka into the water and launching herself at Gromal. She caught him a terrific headbutt to the stomach, and he crumpled to the ground, mouth open as he fought for air. Tammo waded swiftly to the shallows, and as Skulka staggered upright, he dealt her a powerful kick with both footpaws. She fell back in the water, and he sat upon her, applying all his weight.

Russa had relieved Gromal of the dirk; now she grabbed her hardwood stick and stood waiting for him to rise. He came up fast, seizing his spear and charging her. Almost casually she stepped to one side, dealing him three quick hard blows to the back of his head as he rushed by her. The ferret dropped like a log.

Ignoring him, she turned to Tammo and said, “Best let tfaatn up afore ye drown her, mate.

Tammo hauled Skulka dripping and spluttering from the stream. He shook water from his eyes, peering indignantly at Russa. “I say, ymightve told me about these two before you let me flippin well dash down here an dive in the water, wot?

The squirrel kicked Skulka flat, trapping her across the throat with the hardwood stick. Then she shrugged indifferently. “I didnt know they were down there. Besides, you couldnt wait to dash into the water. I never approach a campsite without checkin it out first, mate, and so should you.

Tammo heaved a sigh as he took his belt from the fallen ferret. “Another jolly old lesson learned, I suppose?

Russa patted his back heartily. “You jolly well suppose right, me ol pal!

While the two ferrets sat on the bank recovering from their drubbing, Russa paced around them. She glanced across at Tammo, who was carrying the haversack out of the shrubbery where she had left it. “What dyou think we should do with these vermin, Tamm, kill em, or let em go?

The young hare was shocked at the suggestion of coldblooded slaying. “Russa Nodrey! he cried, his voice almost shrill with outrage. “You cant just kill them! You wouldnt!

The squirrels face was impassive. “Dyou know why Im alive today? Cos my enemies are all dead. Make no mistake about it, Tamm, these two scum wouldve slain you just fer fun if I hadnt been here.

The ferrets began to wail imploringly.

“No no, we was just sportin wid yer, young sir!

“We aint killers, were pore beasts fallen on ard times!

Russa curled her lip scornfully. “Aye, an Im a bluebird wid a frog for an uncle!

Tammo placed himself between Russa and the ferrets. “Youre not goin to slay them. Ill stop you, Russa!

The squirrel sat down and, unfastening the haversack, began selecting a few of Mem Divinias pancakes. “Huh! No need tfall out over a pair of nogoods like them. Please yoreself, mate, do what ylike with em.

Tammo flung Skulka and Gromals weapons into the water, then he drew his dirk and pointed it at the cringing duo. “Get up an get goin, you chaps. I never want to see your ugly faces again. Quick now, or Ill let Russa loose on you!

Without a backward glance, the pair sped off as if pursued by a flight of eagles. Tammo put up his dirk. “There, thats settled!

Russa filled a beaker with water from the stream. “So you say, me ole mate.

“What dyou mean, so I say?

“Ah, youll learn one day. I thought you were starvin. Come an get some o these vittles down yer face.

They dined on pancakes spread with honey, beakers of stream water, and a wedge of cold turnip and carrot pie apiece. The sun was unusually hot for early spring, and Tammo felt rather giddy after their adventure. Finding a soft shady spot beneath the hedgerow, he was asleep in a trice. Russa sat with her back against a dogwood trunk and napped with one eye open.