Tales From Watership Down Part 39

General Woundwort was never seen again. But it was certainly true, as Groundsel said, that no one ever found his body, so it may perhaps be that, after all, that extraordinary rabbit really did wander away to live his fierce life somewhere else and to defy the elil as resourcefully as ever. Kehaar, who was once asked if he would look out for him in his flights over the downs, merely replied, "Dat d.a.m.n rabbit--I no see 'im, I no vant I see 'im." Before many months had pa.s.sed, no one on Waters.h.i.+p knew or particularly cared to know whether he himself or his mate was descended from one or two Efrafan parents or from none at all. Hazel was glad that it should be so. And yet there endured the legend that somewhere out over the down there lived a great and solitary rabbit, a giant who drove the elil like mice and sometimes went to silflay in the sky. If ever great danger arose, he would come back to fight for those who honored his name. And mother rabbits would tell their kittens that if they did not do as they were told, the General would get them--the General who was first cousin to the Black Rabbit himself. Such was Woundwort's monument: and perhaps it would not have displeased him.

One chilly, bl.u.s.tery morning in March, I cannot tell exactly how many springs later, Hazel was dozing and waking in his burrow. He had spent a good deal of time there lately, for he felt the cold and could not seem to smell or run so well as in days gone by. He had been dreaming in a confused way--something about rain and elder bloom--when he woke to realize that there was a rabbit lying quietly beside him--no doubt some young buck who had come to ask his advice. The sentry in the run outside should not really have let him in without asking first. Never mind, thought Hazel. He raised his head and said, "Do you want to talk to me?"

"Yes, that's what I've come for," replied the other. "You know me, don't you?"

"Yes, of course," said Hazel, hoping he would be able to remember his name in a moment. Then he saw that in the darkness of the burrow the stranger's ears were s.h.i.+ning with a faint silver light. "Yes, my lord," he said, "Yes, I know you."

"You've been feeling tired," said the stranger, "but I can do something about that. I've come to ask whether you'd care to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you and you'll enjoy it. If you're ready, we might go along now."

They went out past the young sentry, who paid the visitor no attention. The sun was s.h.i.+ning and in spite of the cold there were a few bucks and does at silflay, keeping out of the wind as they nibbled the shoots of spring gra.s.s. It seemed to Hazel that he would not be needing his body any more, so he left it lying on the edge of the ditch, but stopped for a moment to watch his rabbits and to try to get used to the extraordinary feeling that strength and speed were flowing inexhaustibly out of him into their sleek young bodies and healthy senses.

"You needn't worry about them," said his companion. "They'll be all right--and thousands like them. If you'll come along, I'll show you what I mean."

He reached the top of the bank in a single, powerful leap. Hazel followed; and together they slipped away, running easily down through the wood, where the first primroses were beginning to bloom.

Lapine Glossary Bob-stonesA traditional game among rabbits.

Crixa, theThe center of Efrafa, at the crossing point of two bridle paths.

EfrafaThe name of the warren founded by General Woundwort.

El-ahrairahThe rabbit folk hero. The name (Elil-hrair-rah) means "Enemies-Thousand-Prince" = the Prince with a Thousand Enemies.

ElilEnemies (of rabbits).

EmbleerStinking, e.g. the smell of a fox.

FlayFood, e.g. gra.s.s or other green fodder.

FlayrahUnusually good food, e.g. lettuce.

FrithThe sun, personified as a G.o.d by rabbits. Frithrah! = the lord Sun--used as an exclamation.

Fu InleAfter moonrise.

HlaoAny dimple or depression in the gra.s.s, such as that formed by a daisy plant or thistle, which can hold moisture. The name of a rabbit.

Hlao-roo"Little Hlao." An affectionate diminutive of the name of Hlao, one of the rabbits in the story.

HlessiA rabbit living above ground, without a regular hole or warren. A wandering rabbit, living in the open. (Plural, hlessil.) HombaA fox. (Plural, hombil.) HrairA great many; an uncountable number; any number over four. U Hrair = The Thousand (enemies).

Hrairoo"Little Thousand." The name of Fiver in Lapine.

HrakaDroppings, excreta.

HrududuA tractor, car or any motor vehicle. (Plural, hrududil.) HyzenthlayLiterally, "s.h.i.+ne-dew-fur" = Fur s.h.i.+ning like dew. The name of a doe.

InleLiterally, the moon; also moonrise. But a second meaning carries the idea of darkness, fear and death.

LendriA badger.

MarliA doe. Also carries the meaning "mother."

M'saion"We meet them."

NarnNice, pleasant (to eat).

Ni-FrithNoon.

Nildro-hain"Blackbird's Song." The name of a doe.

OwslaThe strongest rabbits in a warren, the ruling clique.

OwslafaThe Council police (a word found only in Efrafa).

PfeffaA cat.

RahA prince, leader or chief rabbit. Usually used as a suffix. E.g. Threarah = Lord Threar.

RooUsed as a suffix to denote a diminutive. E.g. Hrairoo.

SaynGroundsel.

SilfOutside, that is, not underground.

SilflayTo go above ground to feed. Literally, to feed outside. Also used as a noun.

TharnStupefied, distraught, hypnotized with fear. But can also, in certain contexts, mean "looking foolish," or again "heartbroken" or "forlorn."

Thethuthinnang "Movement of Leaves." The name of a doe.

ThlayFur.

Thlayli"Fur-head." A nickname.

ThrearA rowan tree, or mountain ash.

VairTo excrete, pa.s.s droppings.

YonaA hedgehog. (Plural, yonil.) ZornDestroyed, murdered. Denotes a catastrophe.