Kurda dropped her eyes. There was no point in trying to argue with dangerous sea vermin. Yarr, ve stay.
Midafternoon found the five friends taking a cutoff up a sidestream.
Shogg rested his oarpole and listened to the stillness hanging upon the quiet sunny air.
Wot d’ye think, Kroova, did our liddle plan work? The sea otter leaped from the boat to the nearby bank. I think it prob’ly did, mate. Don’t seem to be a sound of anybeast followin’. Can you’ear anythin’, Triss?
Bounding ashore, the squirrelmaid shot up the trunk of a tall elm. She was back down directly. Not a move anywhereÑI think we’re safe for the moment, Right, let’s get some vittles organised, I’m hungry!
Scarum was at her side in the wink of an eye. Well, thank me auntie’s pinny for a handsome gel with a bit o’ sense, wot, excellent suggestion, marm. Capital!
They split up and went foraging into the woodlands, whilst Triss stayed behind to guard their boat.
Sagax was the first to return. He brought some wild berries and a few early plums, which, while sweet, were still quite hard. The two otters arrived next, followed by Scarum, who assessed the fruits of their search.
He was, by turns, both critical and optimistic.
Not bloomin’ much, chaps, is it? A few measly berries, some hard-as-rock plums, a load of roots, dearie me! Still, I suppose we’ll make somethin’
of them once I start cookin’, wot?
Triss shook her head. Sorry, no fires to give off smoke signals. Besides, what would you use for a cooking pot? Scarum’s ears drooped. I thought you were on my side! What in the name of fiddlesticks d’you expect us to do, scoff’em raw an’ drink streamwater? It’s not jolly well civilised.
Sagax pulled the boat into the land and moored it to a tree. Sshh! Listen, can you hear singing?
The strains grew louder and clearer as they listened. From round an upstream bend, four shrew logboats appeared. They were packed with shrew families, singing at the tops of their voices to the accompaniment of drums and tambourines. Stringed instruments blended with the harmonious melody. The shrews did not appear to have a single care in the world.
Summer, summer, what a lazy afternoon,
Music, laughter, sun a-waitin’ for the moon, Twilight, my light, stream is all a-slumber, too, Babes a-sleepin’, willows weepin’, skies so blue.
Nothin’ like a good ole river,
On a sunny afternoon with you,
Sittin’ in a dear ole logboat,
Plunkin’ out a tune or two.
We’ll sail off to a shady bower,
Kettle will be boilin’ soon,
While we sport an’ play, the livelong day, An’ sleep beneath a golden moon.
I’ll find a place so filled with mem’ries, Where the waters kiss the shores,
When yore ma an’ pa ain’t watchin’,
You’ll hold my paw in yours.
Then we’ll have a good ole picnic,
With such nice things to eat,
While the babes all go a-paddlin’,
Let’s dance to the ole drum’s beat.
Summer, summer, what a lazy afternoon,
Music, laughter, sun a-waitin’ for the moon, Twilight, my light, stream is all a-slumber too, Babes a-sleepin’, willows weepin’, skies so blueooooooooooh!
Triss had never seen creatures so happy. There was no question of their being foebeasts. She dashed into the shallows, waving and calling to them, Hello there, good afternoon to you, friends!
A fat shrew wife in flowered pinafore and bonnet waved her parasol back at the squirrelmaid. An’ the same to you, missy, that’s a luvverly boat you got there. Want to tag along an’ join our picnic? There’s plenty for everybeast, yore welcome!
Scarum danced along the bankside, grinning like a buffoon and blowing kisses outrageously. Profusions of thankfulness, gorgeous creature, we accept your wonderful offer gratefully, nay, jubilatorially!
Shogg squinted one eye and scratched his rudder. Ju-bila ... wotsit?
I’d better warn’em not to go downstream, they’ll run into those vermin.
Ahoy, marm, comin’ aboard! He dived into the water, vanished momentarily, then popped up on the logboat’s deck. Beggin’ yore pardon, marm, but we’re bein’ chased by a pack o’ vermin. I wouldn’t go downstream if’n I was you.
A stout old shrew touched his snout respectfully. Thankee for tellin’
us, sir. Looks like we’ll’ave to put about an’ go t’the water meadows.
You follow us in yore pretty boat. Nobeast’ll find ye there, we’ll make sure o’ that. He waved a paw back upstream. Backpaddle, we’re goin’
to the water meadows an’ takin’ these good-beasts in tow. Backpaddle, Guosim!
Poling along behind, they followed the logboats along a series of cutoffs and backwaters. Scarum worked harder than his four companions.
Keep up, chaps, don’t want t’get lost an’ miss the picnic now, do we?
Stop dawdlin’ an’ move yourselves, wot! Scarum had a dreadful singing voice. However, that did not stop him from breaking out into an off-key warble:
O I don’t wish to be rude,
But the very mention of food,
Is the nicest word I’ve heard,
Tumpty tumpty turn turn,
Lalalah deedly dee,
I’ve forgotten the next flamin’ word ...
Shogg chuckled. Keep singin’ like that, mate, an’ they’ll banish ye from the picnic for frightenin’ the babes.
Dragonflies hovered low over platelike water lilies, butterflies and gaily hued moths stood swaying on reed ends, bees droned to and fro with a leisurely hum. The water meadow was a haven of peace and tranquillity, fringed with bulrushes and backed by willows, splurge laurel and catkin-laden osiers. The Guosim shrews lashed their log-boats to the small vessel, forming an island in the shallows that was hidden by reeds and treeshade. Food hampers and picnic baskets were brought out, lots of them.
Scarum could scarcely restrain himself. Oh corks, I say, these shrew chaps don’t believe in stintin’ themselves, do they, wot? Allow me to help you with that heavy grub container, marm. Hoho, your little ones look fine and chubbyÑI expect you feed’em jolly well!
He flinched as the hefty paw of Sagax drew him to one side. The young badger’s eyes had a no-nonsense look about them. Listen carefully to what I say, Scarum. If I catch you hogging food, or offending these good shrews, I’ll personally deal with you. No excuses this timeÑput one paw wrong and you’re on your own. Triss, Kroova, Shogg and myself will personally disown you, and our friendship will be ended. Now, did you hear me? Have I made myself clear?
Scarum twisted neatly out of the badger’s grasp. He appeared quite indignant. Me, are you talkin’ about me, old chap? Tut, pish an’
fiddlesticks, how you can say such things is beyond belief. You mind your own manners, sah!
He stalked regally off to join the feast. Triss murmured to Sagax, Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him.
The jollity, singing, dancing, drinking and feasting in the sunlit water meadow made Triss happy, but wistful. Mimsy, the kind shrew wife who had invited them, passed the squirrelmaid a leek-and-turnip pasty.