Larry of the Levels

 

Animals had ever been the first inhabitants of the levels, and because of this they owned the rights and deeds to the Land. Above all others the otters were thought the natural leaders because of their innate sense of justice, and their prowess as fishers of the waters. Their kingdom stretches far and wide and was left unchallenged for many ages.

That is until the age of man and mink. When one came so did the other as if carried on an evil wind, the idiot moans, creaked the willows lifted the peat and upset the sacred balance of the place.

The hunters came for the otters, and their king in an act of supreme self sacrifice led them away to perish at sea.

Then the mink came when the kingdom was weakened by the loss of their figurehead and ruler, and this story is about those animals quest to take back the levels from the hands of the mink, specifically to topple the evil King Stink the Mink or to use his proper name Darius Illiashi.

 

Enemies will always be at large to topple Noble state (and at small just beyond your own garden gate). And if on one side you may love your neighbour on the other you may hate.

But England ever vernal, ever flush with new shoots grows. And those cancerous roots of old may still stand but soon the rot spells their death throes. And so it was with Mink and Otter now balance was restored to the levels and spirits revived, the mink like a dark memory always in the background survives but so goes it for often in amongst the thickest weeds the strongest sapling will yet thrive.

 

Some small hamlets such as Stileway had gone over to the mink side completely, the troop found whoever they spoke to of the virtues of freedom from under their rule the animals were unhearing even had adopted mink mannerisms of a shifty quick glance and weasel like suspicion, mixed with fear. Their speech too had become more mink like squealing, talking of the higher purpose of Darius and mink kind, that their slavery was a necessity. Their food and markets were controlled, all food available came from minkland and was stored in vast halls on the peat fields, only so much permitted per community and drugged to stupefy e occupants and recipients.

These places touted the party line in their dull plodding way. Then the other side were the Meare cats who desired power and luxury. They were the urban contingent of the mink arm, the Mink need them to legitimize their plans to other pets to those who lived beyond their rural reach. Though they were still only puppets for Darius, they transferred his mink language into polite society, they held balls and dinners and lead acceptable lives. However the rats, and mice who lived in the village were still suspicious even if on the surface they may have pretended to get on with the cats. Though they never fully trusted the cats from times past they had learnt this hard lesson. 

 

 

They hissed at him to get out and beat their wings in such terrible vehemence that the noise alone terrified him. Though he would not have given up for all that it was their apathy and lack of political will which made up his mind they were a lost cause. Somewhat, dejected he found himself wandering into the grounds of the otter palace now left unguarded, some wall defaced with mink graffiti – mink Rules,Darius for king, ok. He found himself

 

 

They came to the bottom of the lane of Kirlegate and walked beside the gate. The company included Mr Matravers the badger otherwise affectionately known as brother Small Fry. Larry, the otter, a family of rabbits the Roberts and a field mouse named Teddy Murdoch. Eliza Wood the Spider came and met the rabble as they were discussing how to journey across the estate of Kirlegate to get to the Shapwick heath levels. The gates of Kirlegate were a black and uninviting place, like the lair of spider. They were intermittently looking over their shoulder, for time who bowed its head to no animal was catching up with them. Soon warned Eliza who did not like the analogy of Kirlegate with his own home, the levels would completely fall into darkness and it would be too late to save it.

 

           

          Larry was standing looking at his friends. They arrived at one am and had to cross the peoples state of Meare - it was a treacherous road and held many dangers. It was filled with people the good and the bad and had a criminal fraternity who ran a racket and were in with the peat barons, they cared not for the levels wildlife they wanted the mink to prosper because they kept the curious types from snooping in on their dealings and dodgy businesses. Of the good there were some who stood up for the rights of the wild life but these were a precious few and their will to fight was crushed by the continual progress of the peat barons - unstoppable it seemed under law.

The animals stood poised - a sound could alert the men folk who were wary of wild animals and kept pets of Dobermen dogs and tabby cats to ward against their intrusion. The cats ate the wild birds and prowled the streets of Meare and were known to the animal travellers all around as the dreaded Meare Cats. Their strong hold was Meare Manor where they breakfasted, luncheoned and dined in great style and often invited their raucous cousins the Mink to come off the levels to join them, headed at the table by Stink the Mink. The head of the Meare cats was a cat called Moses, a mean spirited gypsy like cat who had two sons one Morris and the other Tobias.

 

 

         

Brother Small Fry was a Dorsetshire badger and originally a school teacher of that fine and sunny county who went by the name Mr Matravers. He and his wife Mrs Matravers had lived a good and happy life settled in their Sett, when on one dark night the men came with their cull. On that tragic night his wife had been killed and after that life seemed aimless and Matravers drifted the countryside until the Abbot at Glastonbury Abbey found him one day by a river bank laying down to die. He was nursed back to health and entered into the cloistered halls of the Abbey to become part of the order there.

Here many a badger who had lost loved ones found some solace and rectitude and slowly they began to live for a new master – the lord. Their works were many feeding the poor of the local animal community of the surrounding villages and homesteads. Following the sacred code of the brotherhood in their daily lives and keeping to strict routine and rituals.

          Much of the work was in fishing for which the badgers frequented the Meare pool and built a fish house for the drying of these catch. Small Fry was tasked with the responsibility of being in charge of this fish house. A hefty responsibility to bear since the vast pool accounted for most of the abbey’s fish- the staple diet of a brother badger and also for the local villages as well. For this he was given the title Brother Fryer or Small Fry for short. Although since he was of stout frame and heart and stood a good four feet off the ground on his hind legs, this was more a term of endearment than it was factually correct.

          Now this was how Matraver’s or Small Fry met and knew Larry from a young age, the rascal otter would spend many hours with his friends fishing and playing in the Meare pool and in general upsetting Small Fry’s ability to concentrate on the catch. That is until the curious otter one day wandered in to the fish house to enquire what it was about and generally be nosey. When he saw the plethora of fish hung up in all their glory he was beside himself in wonder and awe and sort of stood their swaying on the stone slab floor staring upward. When the brother badger had come in from his excursions with his catch, in need of a strong brew of his favourite bitter tea he discovered this young otter chewing on a flavoursome head of dried perch that looked like a lollipop in his paws. He was sat up behind some old rope and fishing nets left in the corner. At last caught red handed spoke the badger. Pleading his innocence then deciding escape was the better option a scuffle ensued after which the badger had man handled the otter into a crayfish cage.

          The young otter had fight it was true and kept up a howling bellyache of sound all the afternoon. Until it was agreed he could be set free if he would just be silent. After this the young otter and the brother badger became friends. Small Fry would teach Larry how to fish with a rod and pole and nets, how to handle a boat and to dry the fish out in the house, and Larry would show him how he was taught to fish with natural flare and underwater ability. His speed and grace in the water were impressive and in time Brother Small Fry had Larry working for him around the clock when he was free from his studies.

          The years passed and with them the levels changed, strange goings on were heard of in the wilder parts of Somerset, some darkness seemed to be taking over folk, an unspoken danger or threat seemed to creep onto the levels like a chill wind, ruffling the napes of rabbits keeping them under ground, causing some who were too close to mysteriously disappear or else feel compelled to move to more agreeable climes. This sort of thing went on in a subtle close to unconscious way for a few years and then stopped abruptly, but by the time it had stopped there was a perimeter of several miles in radius in the middle of the levels across which no one dared cross. Or if they did, they did not come back again. The threat did not go un noticed by the King, but due to its stopping the matter was not pursued because the levels was a great place for to be ruled. The local magistrate and therefore governor was an otter named Sir Kendal Wisebrow, who happened to be Larry’s father. Now he did consider the threat to have more importance than just a freak occurrence that had gone away, his loyal otters at arms had witnessed the transport of certain carts and figures moving at the black of night, for months before the strange occurrences began.

          Gradually things came to a head as more animals started to die and Larry’s father decided action had to be taken even though the otter king was ignoring the problem and in fact was somewhere swimming in a foreign sea.

One night in a furious night skirmish the otters of his band invaded the darkened regions and discovered much opposition. In the end only a few otters escaped with their lives, telling the tale of their ambush and out numbering by hoards of black mink, lead by a truly gruesome character who called himself King Stink or Darius. Their last memory was of looking back seeing this giant mink slay Lord Kendal Wisebrow standing on a pile of slain otter corpses.

          Since that time the region had been fenced off with a wide perimeter. Larry still a young otter, took the death of his father hard and left the levels and the stewardship of brother Small Fry, though for a time tried the way of the cloth but was unsuited, being too angry. Some say he went north, some into Wales, and some even he went to join the King who was still abroad.

          In this time the Mink strength grew to domineering levels so that whole areas were overtaken by their powers and they became the industrial owners of peat works. Some resisted however but the spread had begun and their influence increased with slave run peat production.

          By the time Larry returned as a grown otter he was unaware of the sea change in power on the levels away from otter rule to a tyrannical mink rule. The government of Swans who tried to take control in the vacuum left by the absented King Otter, was struggling and on its knees, manipulated coerced and corrupted by the mink.

          Some areas such as Meare still stood on the outside edge of the Minks dominion and did not interest them being too high and dry as land went. Hidden from them was the Meare pool and Brother Small Fry who carried on regardless with his fishing though he too felt that something had to be done.

          Larry walked back in Brother Small Fry’s fish house his larger leathered paws and dripping pelt pooling water on the stone slabs. Larry, the brother exclaimed, is it really you? Why you are so big I hardly recognise you.

          He saw now with new eyes this place that had held him in awe as a young otter, the same fishy smell, it all seemed so much smaller now. He was a tall and lean otter with a distant reserved look in his eye, for much had he seen in his young life and far had he travelled. He looked his old mentor up and down after viewing his workshop,

you’ve grown old, old badger.

Well time does that to you, Larry, as do the levels affairs. When I think all my world is this small pond I call the Meare pool I think a badger can be happy with that, it is all one could need. I even thought you too may one day take my place here, but you chose a more worldly path and that was your right. Now I do not think you any longer could be happy with this only and anyway it is not the secure future it once was.

          Of what do you speak?

The mink! Larry, the mink!, Darius and his band of devils have taken so much, and they are still greedy for more, soon their greasy claws will spread to Meare and beyond, this pool will be poisoned and it will break my heart. It will also prove the end of the Abbey and brotherhood for there will be no more fresh fish supplies for us.

But surely the Otter King has returned and quashed their forces?

He never came back, no one knows of the news from him, just the fools of governors he appointed in his place, the Swans have lost all control. The mink have overruled their authority.

          But what of the other otters left some must have stood up to Darius?

They did but they were too few and were killed or enslaved and are now in bondage.

          And what of the badgers, or the brotherhood?

Badgers are and ever have been too private, they moved to woodland on high ground, and the church do not believe in violence.

          I do not believe that, they must know the consequences of no action.

          There were some of us trained secretly by the Swans and otters left, the band of badgers, and we had some effect in the early days but divisions existed and one traitor Charlton Adam betrayed many to our doom. Now we have been disbanded and he has joined the mink.

          So we are all doomed, we have no more options left is that what you are saying brother?

          Now, now Larry I did not say it was that bad did I? No you will come with me tonight we must speak with the wise owl Cherrybatten , a scheme is a foot and you my dear otter are a big part of it!

          With that the badger put down his rod and flung Larry a fish, and stomped out behind the fish house facing the pool. A hidden trapdoor lead down to a musty cellar, and as Larry followed him down it revealed as an arsenal of weapons, pikes, spears, broad swords, short swords, cudgels and maces and body armour.

          As I said, the brother interrupted Larry’s stunned silence, all is not lost.

          One thing is sure, said Larry, you never cease to surprise me dear friend.

 

The traveller’s tale began when The Voice of The Wind said to Eliza the forces of Stink the Mink will be wiped out when the ring of roses has been brought to the floor of reeds. Eliza Wood was a blind spider who webbed prophetic messages across tow paths, gate ways in hedgerows etc where they would be seen, by interested animals. Business had been going fairly well for Eliza for the past few hundred years but unfortunately he did not see the arrival of the mink coming. The general way of things he believed was that God had made the levels to be paradise and it would continue that way with the odd hiccough for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately the Mink’s introduction proved a bit more than a hiccough in fact it left a very bad taste in the mouth and made a mess of all his prophesies. It used to be his signs read things like 'rejoice for a new dawn is come', and 'consider the lily isn't it pretty', then it turned to 'try and be an optimist', 'look on the bright side its not so bad'. In recent years his signs had read more 'the end is nigh', and 'repent your sins you are basically doomed'.

        His Friend the shield bug, Ralph Bernstein, tried to cheer him up saying its not that bad and at least you aren't an enslaved Rabbit.

One day Ralph decided that something had to be done to help the levels and so crawled up to Eliza in his web and said Look Eliza you have to find a prophecy that actually works I can't stand to see you just mopping around like this. Eliza thought for a bit then climbed to the top most quarter of a nearby Scots Pine...and he listened to the wind. It told him there was a golden egg that held the secret of the levels its salvation from the Mink Dominion by Stink. There is a bed of Roses over near Godney at a Garden Centre. And In the Garden centre there is a sad eyed seamstress and she works all day and all night to make Rings of Roses. Unfortunately she doesn't sell many and so is very poor but in amongst the pile of dying rose rings which have been discarded is one magic ring that will not fade or die even unto the end of all time. If this one ring of roses can be brought to the golden egg then a new dawn will reign over the levels one of freedom for all animals except the mink, and will see the end of the cruel King Stink for ever. When Eliza had heard this he climbed down and told his friend Ralph who said - there you go now don't you feel much better now?

 

Larry Wisebrow, who had been chosen for this quest by Ralph acting as a kind of casting director for Eliza Wood, stared at what seemed to be an enormous pile of rotting roses. In fact that was exactly what it was. The smell was really awful and there were alot of flies buzzing around who had evidently laid eggs there. "But why do I have to go in there?" , Because the Brown owl, Hubert Cherrybatten, said you are the chosen one. Well it did not say anything about rummaging through rotting compost in the job description.

He protested. Stop being such ‘a big girl’s blouse’ Larry Wisebrow and get in there. There was something in the serious and stern way the owl pronounced his name that made Larry or Lazy Larry to his friends, feel compelled to jump in.

Sarah Sutton who had made the rose rings was sitting a way back previously with her back to them but with the scuffling sounds now turned and watched interestedly while an owl squawked at an otter who then proceeded to jump in

her compost pile.

Stranger things had been known to happen in the Garden Centre, it was true, like the time a porthole to another universe opened up and Miss Sutton journeyed instantaneously to the prehistoric town of Clacton on Sea bought a shell fish then returned. That had been about four months ago and it didn't involve an owl and an otter on speaking terms. Suddenly she saw the otter emerging black and slimy but with what appeared to be an intact ring of her roses. As unbelievable as this actually sounded the otter then ran off followed by the owl.

 

 

 

Sometime later...Somewhere near the northern face of the isle of Meare.

 

Beckoning in the distance of a long forgotten pose

The brown owl scowls morosely at the rose.

By any other name it would but smell so sweet

And the name of this one went by

Was St Mary's Street

The cock eyed cockerel crew again

Yearning for his winter Hen

And above the church tower the weather vein

Wheeled and squealed in a mild sunny breeze

 

The village was drowsing as men cut lawns

The sound of drilling rang out

While mothers hung laundry out doors

It was a good day for washing

And the shabby tabby cat lazed

Sprawled out on

The tar pitch roof of the granny annex

Warming itself in the rays

 

 

 

Larry observed this scene here

With the cool serenity

Of one that knows his destiny

Is to travel across the Great Plains and estates of Meare

And far from loathing the prospect of danger

Coming from many a quarters

He courts it like a suitor to the otter king’s pearly daughter

Starlings chattered in ever amassing flocks

As the animal troops look to the West

Of the eastern Glastonbury Blocks

The Tor faced back at them

The sun its glimmering halo

And stretching between vast plains of country side

Thick with streams of alder and willow

And next to these Larry spied

The dark moors of Shapwick heath

Now shrouded in shadow

As if beset by some dark ineffable force

Yet this must be their final goal.

"Long will be our journey guarded the owl Hubert Cherrybatten

And many our foe,

The road will be dark

And every day the enemy grows

But end in sight there will be

Even when times seem darkest,

Even then the floor of reeds will call

The ring of roses to it."

 

Larry the otter knew that if all the minks bred and bred that all there would be was mink and that where as in a balanced world the forest would self replenish but the minks killed the wood land because they ate the birds that propagated the seeds of the fruits and then the deer would die because they had no berries to graze on. The mice would all die because they would be eaten and the waters would be poisoned because the mink would eat the fish and then the plants would die and so on.

As he stared across the levels which once were his home, a monologue began in his mind and he was lost in remembering more innocent times, before the rise of the mink:

 

The Reeds which mark the water's edge

Do stay to unburden my night

In them I have all hope of day

And think my future bright

They are the Natural statutes

Upon which are written Nature's Laws

 

And they mark the edge of an otter's emotions

How he conquers all his fears

My heart is proud, I cry aloud

Will see me through dark night

I will not stoop to fear

Though I feel close to tears

That nature has absorbed from me

She will not let it near

 

The mighty oak stands in the bog

Myrtle sweetly smelling sways

Pigeons flock across the corn

On long hot summer days

 

The sun pours down it's virgin rays

Upon this holy ground

The earth its hold

As nature's song sings on and on

In this place which has my mould

 

The midnight swans move on the lake

The drake's song is clear

The twilight to the heaven turns

A wheel on celestial sphere

 

Ladders of Law turn into the sky

Where silhouettes of statutes silence roll

Into passing cloud shadows

As into Nature's folds I fall

As if carried by spiralling sparrows

 

The mink had broken these laws they had taken the reeds and whipped them upon the backs of their slaves. They had taken them and strapped them to form their mud brick houses. The reeds were burnt and the greenery scorched, the mink had ridden rough shod over Larry’s youthful dreams for the levels and now he was angry, now he wanted pay back.

 

Thus began the animals’ travels to free the levels. The animal troops led by Larry chose to travel through the gardens of Meare as the lamp lit pavements were too obvious a route and the Meare cats would spot them, at least that was the plan.

          Larry crawled up to the fence and looked over a black current bush into the garden. Then they snuck in. A light was on in the kitchen as old Ann the retired teacher was pottering around, she had yet to let Tobias the fearful nine- paw high cat back in so he was somewhere around. A crow came down from above in the frozen sky but Small Fry threw a piece of shingle and knocked it down. Then as if as a swarm more crows began dive bombing the animals and Larry lead them all into the safety of a potting tunnel. The crows flew off and the animals exited the garden onto the pavement.

          There was an amber glow to the estate, the tarmac road and drives seemed to suck the sound out of all living things added to this the layer of ice frosted curb edges and chilled the feet of the animals. The rabbits were shivering in the semi circle that they all made around Larry awaiting his command.

 "We must make it across the estate - the other side is Down's orchard and beyond the farmers' fields until we reach Shapwick heath."

“But what of Tobias and Moses?” asked a timid rabbit at the rear

“We shall have to face them when our time comes.” Came the answer

“And what of King Stink? How can we hope to fight him after marching across those fields day and night we shall all be exhausted?” -Asked Nancy -Michael Rabbits wife.

There will be time enough for rest once we have passed our immediate obstacle - said Owl and that is the Meare estates and its Meare Cats.

“Yes these are no mindless rabble of buffoons made up of stoats and weasels. Who we will be facing, said Mr Small Fry are a highly organised collective of vicious Pets and their owners are all members of Neighbourhood watch. Even now their spies may be watching us.”

“Well that leaves nothing for it said Larry than to start right away the sooner we get moving the safer we will be.”

“Yes indeed Mr Otter I second that, we shall be much better in our spirits once we have passed out of this dark and gloomy cul-de-sac.” - said Michael Rabbit.

At this the smaller rabbits started to giggle at the look Nancy Rabbit was giving her husband - as if to say one of these days father - you will have pushed this family too far. Even though after these they all knew that she would forgive them and that to keep moving would be for the best.

 

Try as they might they could not walk without stumbling and then stumbling lead to falling and disorientated they came to a stop. Looking around Larry saw that one road seemed to lead to another and the whole appeared to him as a maze.

All we have to do said Mr Small Fry is to follow the fence line surely. And yet it was not as simple as there appeared to be any number of nooks and crannies false ways and cul-de-sacs leading to who knew where.

“Oh we should never have come this way”, muttered the field mouse. “Only a lion would have attempted walking through this terrain and at dusk too. Nothing much remains of our path; I can hardly see the tail in front of me let alone be sure of my or his footing.” 

The owl gave a toot at this and flew up into the circling fog out of sight in a minute he had returned to say that the fog was thick and was covering most of the levels but a bank of clear air could be seen on the road - if only they could get to this.

Larry commanded: We will go forward I will be at the front and Michael Rabbit you bring up the Rear. With this they moved on...

 

Moses had been settled in one of the big luxurious armchairs at Meare Manor. A roaring fire and his owners rich brand of pedigree cat food had lulled him into a sleep in which he was coughing and spluttering in a dream. In it He was Stink the Minks butler and personal maid and had been charged with scrubbing him down in a bath. No matter how hard he scrubbed the Stinky mink just would not lose hid foul odour. Moses, feeling he was losing his master affections, rapidly kept pouring more and more suds into the bath to make it better. This only resulted in the whole room filling with soapy bubbles. Eventually the whole wing and then whole of Meare Manor was filled to the brim with bubbles and Moses was in a raving panic being carried away down out onto the street and into the Brue in a sea of soapy foam!

He awoke to his own voice screaming -“no more Bubbles Sire! Please No more Bubbles!” And then the rap taps tapping of a rook on the window. His owner hearing only the sounds of an annoying “meeeoow!” bellow forth, threw a determined slipper at him and he scarpered away behind the curtain. Now at this time, to inform the reader, I should mention that Moses had been planning a party and banquet in Stink's honour at the Meare Manor to commemorate his rise to the king of levels. This was to be held when his owners were mercifully away on a holiday cruise around the Mediterranean.

          Still here now again, what was that sound, a rapper tap, tap on the window. Moses sidled up to the glassy pane and lifted it a little to let the cool evening air rush in and with it the fog. Then and there mysterious as a ghost the large black Rook revealed itself once the fog veil lifted. Sir- the rook spoke in that rough military way of a soldier. “A Party of animals has been spotted entering the valley of Kirlegate, wild animals sir with what appears to be an otter at the head of them.”

 

 

“Animals, Wild animals you say well there cannot be any of them left surely King Stink has eradicated them or else brought them under the whip in one of his slave camps?”

“Sir they are as wild as the day I was born, if you'll pardon the expression and they mean to cross the whole village that is what my spies have heard.”

“Well we can't have that can we, Leopold?”

“No we can't” a sly faced Siamese cat said sidling up beside him around one of the ornamental armchair feet.

Addressing the Rook Spy he spoke again “You as head of ravens And Spy Master Rook will inform my son Tobias. And I will be damned if a son of mine can't stop a few rebels from going against the herd. Mark my words they will rue the day they decided to cross the estates of Meare.” With this, the Rook left in flap of feathers and Moses had shut the window pane.

“You are aware that Stinks visit is only hours away and we can't have a scene like this upsetting the apple cart Moses?”

“Yes, Thank you Leopold quite aware and nothing that these scoundrels are playing at will deter me from my preparations. Now how are the decorations coming?”, they both walked off into the hall way talking on the banquet and how it was to be achieved.

 

          Meanwhile Larry had reached nearly the end but one corner of Kirlegate when he saw the terrible site of Tobias the tabby cat, one of swarthiest looking cats he had ever seen. By his side were his flexible feline friends, lucky and nine lives. They charged and with that so did the animals. There was much hissing and clawing, but the troop of animals fought back bravely. The rabbits lead by Michael Rabbit out flanked the cats and attacked from behind jumping and sinking their quick teeth into the cats’ hides and tails. Soon the badger had thrown off several cats that had suddenly attacked him and pinned him to the fence. Tobias had Larry on the ground and was clawing at his face trying to get his eyes. With the stunned body of a Siamese cat Small Fry swung it then flung with force the Mog at Tobias knocking him sideways off Larry.

Much angered now Tobias disappeared into the mists along with what was left of his forces of Meare Cats. Larry had quickly recovered but one rabbit was lost along with the field mouse whose body could not be found. Without hesitation Larry began to move telling everyone to make a run for the road. After 50ft they thought they spotted it but had to cross over a garden to reach it. They screeched past a green house, over a garden hose and gnomes who seemed to stare at them disapproving. Just as they passed them, Tobias and the cats launched themselves on Larry again. With the force of their attack the badger threw the cats into a pond where they thrashed around in panic. Larry now rolling down the slope of the garden with Tobias on his back had his bloodied face pushed in the mud so he could not see. Then with suddenness he felt Tobias' body go stiff and then shake with an awful meowing howl. Larry tore himself free and saw that Tobias had been impaled on an up turned garden rake. In the darkness he could see the silver light glimmer off the cat’s eye and then it closed and he knew him to be dead. The other cats who saw this scampered off and left the animals to recover in the garden. They slowly drank water from the pond and now could clearly see the Road before them.

 

 

 

Jim Waverly was King Stink’s fool. E was the product f a pairing of a mink and an otter, and for that was ridiculed and thought lacking in brainpower and wit.

On the King’s parade to be welcomed by the hospitality ofMear Cat Manor by Moses, he danced around the King as he was carried on his willow woven chair saying marry a lot and never keeping still. His mind jumped from one subject to another constantly, oe moment he was praising the sparrows and starlings of the sky, naming and attempting to count their number, next examining a mushroom, scampering up a tree trunk or singing a song.

Keep still you damn fool, or I will have you ham strung, said the King angrily.

Marry nuncle I mean nothing by it, I have jumping beans for brains, that want out of the can! The King in his chair so proudly up there, but what do you mean when you are King of fresh air? We are all free to be in this land, no God given right to the keys of the levels. Unless they are Ash Keys, The Jailor tree locking up the summer lands for from greasy mink hands.

Shut your trap you lowly mole – put in the heavily built Charlton Adam chief of the King’s guard, a badger to boot. I should skin your hide for being of otter blood and wear you to keep of the chill!

The fool stood his ground though much the lesser stature.

When a badger follows a mole to live in a mink hole, who is the greater fool? The one who is blind but follows his nose or the one who sees and knows the wrong path he chose?

One more riddle from you and the world will really turn dark for you!

The confrontation would have become worse  Charlton Adam’s second in command had not distracted him at that moment.

Captain, he said, a greeting party of Meare Cats are coming this way over the rise yonder according to our raven eye spies.

Turning away from the King’s jester his countenance changed, lost his rage as duty took over his bearing.

I will go to meet them, you stay here and guard the King with the royal Entourage.

 

 

He left the royal party and wet forward to meet Samuel one of Moses sons further on down the wooded path. He came with a small greeting party dressed out smartly.

Greetings Noble Adam

And to yourselves, Samuel of Meare, I see the cats have made preparations His Royal Highness is on his way.

The Manor is not lacking in feline comforts for which the Mink King will find himself most agreeable.

That will remain to be seen, but I thank you for your welcome. Now a word in private.

They walked under a bowing Alder glistening wet from new rain fall.

The other preparations we discussed are coming along too I trust , said Adam, severely

You mean the cat combat training? They are secreted away in a camp in Westhay as we speak. Learning the sacred badger arts.

Very good, one day my friend cats and badgers will have power to share, the mink will rot in a peaty grave.

As you say, the time is soon?

Nearly here Samuel but we must choose it carefully, too soon and all will be lost, we are yet not strong enough

 

Meanwhile As the king made head way, Waverly spoke his counsel

Try to build an empire on a single blood, those underneath where the boot heel trod, will rise back up one day in an animal flood. The hawk flies, the rabbit dies, the otter will rise.

 

 

He saw the world for what it was and found himself laughing at it almost all of the time. Though being a fool he lacked the wit to know quite why he laughed and just did mostly at those who appeared to take themselves most seriously but generally clowned about at everyone.

The King showed him a wearied glance, if you were not my fool I would have your head on a spike, yet there you make me laugh and are but a simpleton who knows not what he says.

 

Soon after much travelling and jesting they arrived at meare.

 

On the occasion of King Stink the Mink's Royal visit to the Meare Cat's Manor Jim had already been at the sherry. The king entered to a fanfare, bunting and much applause from his subjects, acolytes, well-wishers, brown-nosers, yes-cats and entourage of flexible spined feline felons. There was much bowing and meowing as Moses crawled up to The Stinky one. He had his claws retracted as the bodyguards had made sure of this. For all of this many of the cats had to wear pegs on their noses as the smell was so foul it could not be described in pleasant company. The lady cats all dressed up were standing making a line either side of Stinks entrance and curtsied although had to turn away from the pungent odour.

Your Highness, said Moses, it is my honour to welcome you to my humble home may you please make yourself welcome.

Stink looked around impressed by what he saw as although he was King the finery of these town houses were far beyond the dredge of a dump that was his abode on the levels. The mink are not great home makers and prefer to take over other animals homes instead of making their own. With this in mind Stink could see the place had very promising potential.

          "These bare walls should serve sufficiently for my needs brother cat. I hope we may enjoy each others company and see that the race of cats and the race of mink will cohabit together favourably, for the levels is a great expanse and each will have his share."

          "Yes Sire though as you know the Cats among us do much prefer the domestic scene to the less inviting sides of the levels wild expanse."

          "Ah Moses, always thinking of others, eh? Well let us discuss these matters and more over food and wine." At this a great cheer went up among the mink

Moses said subserviently “Follow me, a Banquet awaits..."

          With this the Cats and the mink sat down to a vast spread of sandwiches salted meat of pork and beef, rabbit and pigeon, grapes, olives and assorted other delectable delights. When they were fatted and well intoxicated with mead and wine and the mink that had not left their barracks and mill for months began fighting. Here and there scraps broke out between cats and mink; some mink began circling around the female cats and would get a paw in the nose for their advances. Moses seeing a riot on his hands went to King Stink who seemed to be enjoying the attentions of Moses own pride of cat wives, and was nonchalant. "Let them have their fun he said",

 

 

 

"But your highness I must insist if the humans catch us there will be no more Manor Parties." Stink reluctantly raised himself from his couch and commanded the fighting to cease.

          Almost as if he sensed the perfectly wrong moment to mess up Jim staggered over to the King. The mink who had been scraping turned bolt up right prepared to defend their king. Jim toppled and twisted then landed sitting in front of stink and stared up at him blinking. Stink was only moderately built for a mink but towered over poor Jim. Jim looked the king up and down in all his finery then to Moses' eternal embarrassment he burst into laughter. It was remorseless, unremitting jest; his object of mirth was an unwholesome braggart of a king. It then changed to a chuckle com howling snort that Stink finally could not bear; he had been boiling up like a pressure cooker and was turning red. Moses thought he saw green smoke coming out of his ears and stepped back as did all others around. Finally it happened; an almighty roar erupted from stink SHUT UP!!!!! and he grabbed Jim by the whiskers and threw him against the mantel piece, where finally Jim did stop laughing in a clatter of breaking china and porcelain vases, and then there was silence. Stink was visibly fuming and stood panting. Moses thought about saying something then thought better of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then From an open window the Spy master Rook appeared.

          Addressing Moses "Sir, they have broken through the defences of Kirlegate, Tobias is no longer". Moses blanched, his favourite son gone, the grand impression was falling down around him like a towering trifle all in front of King Stink. While Moses stood in shock, Leopold took the rook to one side saying "Warn Morris of the creatures' advance to Down's Orchard and recover the body of Tobias."

          Meanwhile Larry who was now battered and bruised and Mr Small Fry bleeding from his head, and the rest of the crew had passed the sight of the cat fight with Tobias and the others. They approached through the fog the Road. The Road was big and black apart from the red and yellow lamps that whizzed past them at great velocity. These lamps seemed to be the eyes and tails of enormous beasts that few of the animals had encountered before, except by hearing the legends.

          Larry stood the animals in a line beside the road and addressed them pacing up and down in front of them. He told them they must all cross this and together no one was to be left behind. As he said this the smaller rabbits were shaking the lamps seemed to dazzle them and had a strange effect of freezing them on the spot. Somewhere behind them a howling rang out and a call of many crows and rooks. Without Hesitation a young Rabbit ran out into the road the glaring lamps blinding him. His father Michael hopped out quickly and saved him. The words don't panic crossed Michaels lips and everyone was still, perhaps calmer more resolute than before but aware now they only had one chance to move and it had to be done fast. The badger Mr Small Fry came to the foreground and said being more familiar to the Road than Larry he would lead them while the otter brought up the rear.

 

 

 

Larry agreed with that and so they braced themselves to begin. A row of fast moving Lamps had passed them. Small Fry made his move scurrying on all fours, immediately the other animals chased after him. Last to leave were the rabbits and Larry.

          Hopping now Michael and his family made it half way then all the way across. His son Tony hopped bravely to begin with but then seeing some brightness like eyes in the middle he stopped to stare at them afraid they were a cat's ready to catch him. While he was staring, behind him were the true lights of an angry, smoke-spuing beast fast approaching. The lights he was focusing on were false lamps bedded in the road, and Tony was again frozen stiff when he realized turning wide eyed to stare into the eyes of the oncoming terrible beast. Meanwhile Larry who had crossed completely had looked back and realized Tony's peril, now scurried and scampered back to the Road's middle. "Come on now my fellow" whispered Larry in Tony's trembling ear. "I cc...Cannot mm.mo..ove" answered Tony. With seconds to spare before the beast was upon them Larry swung Tony under his arm turning as he did so and jumped to the middle of the road on top of the false eyes. The beast rushed passed them in a heart beat but it seemed to Larry as if time had slowed as he tried to keep his balance from falling under its thundering legs or what ever drove it. In a cloud of diesel, dust and black smoke the pair were left standing but alive. In the next moment Larry had somehow moved himself and Tony back to the side of the road where the worried looking parents waited for them. Together now harangued by the perilous road but glad and relieved to be rid of it they found a safe spot beside it under a hedgerow to rest for the night as all in the company needed their sleep.

 

After King Stink and his entourage had left the Manor and returned to their levels stronghold, the Cat servants cleared up and went to sleep. Meanwhile in the nearby Church Halls the village animal life held an emergency meeting, titled the Mink Threat on Meare and You.

At the meeting rats and mice, rabbits, hares and moles sat on the floor in front of hens, Swan representatives, a family of blue tits, chaffinch and bullfinch, herons, gulls, a cormorant perched in the window and a plethora of other wildlife including deer and a few owls. This was the first meeting of its kind in many a year even within living memory for some of the animals and many were very nervous. A spokes mouse named Mirriam said “this meeting is to be held for the purposes of deciding what we shall do about the Forces of the mink – The Marquis of the Marsh Darius Illiashi.”

          Since we have been kindly helped by Mr Larry Wisebrow and his friends we were hoping.. –then she was interrupted by Terrence a rather rude large brown Rat that lived on the Farm down on Meare way lane.

“Now I having lived here for many a year some 60 I should say give or take a leap year find it hard to see why these mink were ever invited onto this land we call our home –no one opposed them when they came just harmless gypsy’s they said everyone has a right to live somewhere they said, well I think they had no right. This is our home and only we deserve to live here. They should all be thrown off this land immediately.”

Now, now said Mirriam mouse we all know many animals who have come here to roam from many place for example your friend the newt and you would suggest he left because he was not born here.?”

The point is Dee a roe deer from the corner, said that the mink are wildly out numbering us, they eat and eat more than they need or want, kill without reason and are un-rulable!”

There was general consternation and rustling and hurrumping in the ranks of the manor hall

A representative of the swan council raised its long neck and loomed above the throng. “The government have done what they can with the Mink.”

“That it is a lie, all you have done is made them worse” a rather timid rabbit piped up finding his voice. “The Swans have been worse than useless call back the King!”

“The King is engaged on foreign business as is his army.” Answered the Swan official.

Well our enemy is here on our home turf, spoke the Cormorant Burt Pennywhistle from the window. It is alright for many migrants we can fly somewhere else to settle down but many have to stay and it is the Swans’ responsibility to protect its citizens!

And then it all broke down, much cheering and shouting, and still nothing was solved.

 

 

Enemies will always be at large to topple Noble State

And if on one side you may love your neighbor

On the other you they may hate

 

But England ever vernal, ever flush with new shoots grows

And those cancerous roots of old may still stand

But soon the rot spells their death throes

 

And so it was with Mink

And otter now

balance was restored

 

So sat the otter in the Palace of the much love but lately absent King Murther. Within whose walls once walked the stately secretaries, pledge makers, oath takers and scribes busy with the Kingdoms business. Now, chagrin, those halls are hollow only hallowed ghosts wander there.

Some aged counsellors still meet thee in secret but most municipal business was passed to the parliament of Swans whose governing house was much more meager in aspect and less noble though in Authority was yet as graceful as the birds themselves.

          Their long necks and desire of a placid lake to glide gave some to think them weak and ineffectual. Though when Larry went there to plead with them for some action to be done about the mink e were unmoved indeed quite mute.

          But when he pressed for more an army even, they hissed at him, to get out and beat their wings in such terrible vehemence that the noise alone terrified him. Though he would not have given up for all that it was their apathy and lack of political will which made up his mind they were a lost cause.

          Somewhat dejected he found himself wandering into the grounds of the otter palace now left unguarded, some wall defaced with mink graffiti “mink Rules OK” , “Darius for King”. He found himself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Stink and his entourage meanwhile made the journey back to his swampy castle, via the road they were constructing to Meare. The Meare Cats left in a certain disgrace at the hands of Larry and his crew. Fearing that Darius would abandon him completely Moses set about to put a stop to Larry himself. Such was the force of the mink that the race of Cats did not want to be side lined in the new world order that King darius had in mind.   

 

Darius Iliashi was a giant mink 1 meter in length and had descended from ancestors who were a mysterious breed from Transylvania. This place was a very rural, wooded region of mountains and some rivers and some swamps. Their kind had been left alone because they were believed to be the embodiment of evil spirits and thought to possess black magic powers.

The countrymen eventually drove them out of their hiding during a time when the church were burning and persecuting "witches". They burnt their lands and left them no home so they travelled Eastern Europe for decades moving into Asia but every place they came to they were forced out by the angry and fearful villagers of that region. Finally those who were left numbered only under a hundred and they decided they must find a safe strong hold where they could rebuild their numbers. Lead by a young Darius Iliashi the survivors journied back across Europe and through France to stow away on a cargo ship bound for the Dover coast of England.

          The mink being drawn by a strange magical centre that originated on the levels they travelled to Somerset. They found the Somerset Levels much to their liking, which they found by chance after the container they had stowed away in was delivered to one of the peat baron's property. The owner was unaware when Darius slipped out of a crate in dead of night. Then his dog began barking wildly, and turning on his light he went down to see what the fuss was about. There he witnessed this ferocious mink leap and tackle his guard dog and mortally wound him. Starving the mink began to feast on the dog's still bleeding body. Then only after the owner beat his walking stick against the iron railings to scare him off he turned and gave a look of such dreadful blood thirsty horror that the Peat baron did not sleep for days. The mink along with the others who had survived the journey fled the peat yard and was later occasionally spotted by peat workers and named the 'black beast'. Being superstitious and a bit afraid the peat Baron ordered his workers to carry on but they refused and would no longer work in the strange few fields.  So eventually after a long period an isolated island of peat survived surrounded by lakes and boggy ground. On this island the Mink dominion began as they bred and bred.

          Misfortune always seemed to befall those peat workers who ventured too close to this island and so it inhabited a sense of sleepy shade, but within a restless evil which kept growing. Eventually the barrier of superstition was reinforced by guards of patrolling mink. And then finally Darius' rule began to spread to taking over more and more of the levels. In time his claws of power stretched into the state of Meare and began poisoning the minds of the cats who resided their pulling them over to his side.

          While this threat was growing the government of Swans who held parliament over all the levels were forced to try to qwell the Rise of Darius or Stink as he was nicknamed. They brought regiments of badgers and some otters, though many of these were travelling abroad on the sea. Of the badgers an elite band or brigade were trained with the purpose of destroying Stink's mini empire before it was too late. This attempt failed when a schism turned the brigade into splintered factions and then finally many changed allegiances and joined the Mink.

By this time the Minks stood together with the Weasels, the Stoats and the snakes. Darius’ control of the levels had led to huge evacuations of some areas of marsh natives who had lived there for hundreds of years. This land became occupied by Mink and some weasels and was known as Minkland. In other areas the inhabitants were permitted to stay but lived under constant bullying and harassment by the military mink and under curfew. Crossing between these isolated territories was controlled by Mink guards and checkpoints and few dared to. The Levels was on the verge of becoming a mini Mink state completely independent of the Swan’s government.

In a last ditch attempt, with the government of Swans in disarray, feathers flying everywhere the single voice of the shield bug was heard proclaiming another way out that had nearly no chance of working but just might.

 

Meanwhile back with Larry’s band.

          The animals began moving off in the direction of the opening of the Main Meare to Glastonbury road and felt their way along the edges of the plank board fencing that lined the pavements and meant a barrier between them and what ever lurked in the gardens beyond. Even though, Michael rabbit still felt a slight uneasiness and an itching began in his nose as they moved further and further into the unmarked territory of Kirlegate. And almost imperceptibly as he was feeling this and Larry too by this time, a fine mist began to descend on the troop. Before they knew it the entire road had become a blur -the other side now seemed a million miles away as a swirling fog enveloped them.

 

 

Eliza Wood the Blind prophet spider came to Larry in his sleep. Larry he said you must hurry to save the levels animals, a darkness has descended on them with each day they lose hope and with each day Stink the Mink and his forces grows stronger soon they will out number all other animals and there will be no way to stop them. Follow the signs I will leave you across the levels but do not follow the beacons. That is a treacherous road and will surely lead to your demise.

 

Larry's dream then became confused he heard himself say

"I can rise from the dead

From the cold slab where me they laid

From the inky blackness of the jelly

Where is Nathaniel the brother badger?

Holy is his way of life

And he does not fear a cocker spaniel

Where is Marjoram the hen of many colours?

How can she leave me now?

That mother of my mothers

Hark I hear the Meare Cat

Mewing out his Song

Now is the long, long night

Where left is right

And right is wrong."

 

Without knowing at all what this dream meant he awoke, the grey clouds where stealing across the pale sky and soon dawn would break. He felt his future bearing down on him, and the weight of the world’s responsibilities on his shoulders. He longed for his old house by the river bank and wished he had never been given the task of carrying the ring of roses.

          Larry rose up from his cold bed and looked out to the other side of the hedge row. A barbed wire fence ran the length of it protecting the property of Down's Orchard. This was an evil place a cat named Morris patrolled there and none who ventured in were thought to come out alive. A chill ran up his spine as he stared into the estate that was strewn with litter, rubbish and the faint yellowish glow from street lamps. As he stared he felt as if he were falling into the scene before him like a horizontal vertigo and at that moment Small Fry’s hand clutched him firmly on the shoulder. "You don't want to be going in there on your own Larry, not yet anyway. There is a back Lane which I have heard of and will take us around the estate." Go on he said relieved to hear the encouraging tones of Brother Small Fry’s gravelly voice again. And so the Badger explained the plan.

          By the time the party had had breakfast and were all ready for the off the sun was risen and the world was moving again. Beyond the hedgerow next to the road Dogs were being walked and up high on garden walls the Cats of Meare began to patrol. The party of animal kept close to the hedge line and moved south following badger’s new plan. Keeping in the shadows they made it to what appeared to be a tranquil Lane that ran behind the gardens of Down's orchard estate and led them to the fields of A farmer behind. As they walked they could see all manner of bird that had been caught and strung up on the barbed wire fences by the cats -Robin, chaff finch, Blue tit, starling and sparrow. All there like a grim mosaic or a tapestry. It was a warning saying this is the Cats territory. Already by this time Tobias' owners had put up signs on the lampposts and fences they passed by saying "Have you seen this cat?" with a picture of Tobias' Mug shot on it. The territory they were passing now was Morris' his brother who would also be looking to revenge his brother’s death.

          Morris had been expecting them and laid his trap well. As the Party followed Small Fry down the lane they became aware of the high walls down either side. To them they were impenetrable and behind the hedge rows safety seemed a long way off. Finally hope was given as they saw daylight under to arching trees beyond as the path lead out into a field. Some of the young rabbit hopped on a head while Michael rabbit ran after commanding them to yield. They did what their father said but now the party was separated and behind and above them the hissing started.

 

 

Then meowing began as Morris the leader came into view jumping from a roof onto a wall beside him other cats then appeared and prowled the length of the wall. The animals began to run but it was too late The Cats pounced. There was a tousle a head as a gang of cats laid into the rabbits and the rabbits fiercely fought back, though Michael mortally wounded two cats another killed Tony his son and dragged the body off. Morris leapt down heavy as a tank in front of them and Small Fry attacked him. The battle was soon over and now much wearied they moved on.

 

The sun as an Arc, carried the animals away from the flood

All feared from starvation of loss

They leave behind the village of Blood

And wander back to the fiery road

Still with hope intact in the Ring of the Rose

 

Somewhere on the lower border lines of Meare:

          The Cantonese witch in the guise of a Siamese Meare cat -Leopold- prowled the perimeter of the village.

She had strung up the bodies of poor field mice and voles

Upon it's fences and poles

Which she had caught for sport

And exhibited here in her mock graveyard

The owners of the houses did not mind they thought what marvellous presents

The Chinese cat has brought us

All the more luck for us

Ah disgusting the cruelty of these beings

Thought Larry

That they should parade their ill-seeming gains for public

Enjoyment

 

Larry spat in its direction and the cat turning slowly to the sound

Blinked its emerald and yellow eyes in the dusky light.

Then purred softly, devil sweetly

To itself before turning surreptitiously back to its quarters

And return journey's leg.

She hopped behind a garden shed.

Then Small Fry and Larry stepped out of the shadows.

If they were to scale the perimeter

It had to be here in full sight of whomever

And they had to break through the cat’s territory

The lives of their captive friends were at stake

Now must be the moment

They sprinted then CRASH a claw thrashed at Larry'

Side then another

And another until blood had soaked into his furry pelt.

 

 

He stumbled back to see Moses the Giant ring leader Cat

With Leopold the Siamese cat at his side

Others prowled in the background.

Small Fry pounced forward and Moses and he tumbled to the ditch

Then Larry followed attacking the Siamese cat

She was tall and lean and moved fast and he could not grab her

She kept scraping him and scratching him with her long claws

But he finally tricked her by feigning a fall

Then he caught her off guard when she went in for the kill.

She was thrown off into some milk bottles and did not get up.

Small Fry was unconscious and Moses had been battered

But seeing Michael Rabbit and his family

He thought them an easier target.

Michael Rabbit sped off with Moses in pursuit.

 

The story of Michael Rabbit

And the Death of Moses

 

Moses ran with uncommon speed

Across the flower bed and through the weeds

Chasing Michael Rabbit as was his habit

But Michael was an uncommon Rabbit.

 

He darted here he darted there

Dived in rose bush and out bushy lair

The cat tried his best but could not keep up

He was all puffed up and all blown out

His mane looked bedraggled, hedge worn and ill

His crooked glass eye was spying Michael still

 

Michael had led Moses away from his brood

They were safely travelling on another road

He thought he'd escaped but came round a corner

And saw a brick wall an impassable border

Finding now there was no way back

He hid behind a bin and waited for the cat

 

Then came Moses fur-torn and coat in tit tat

But still large and strong for all that

I can smell you little Rabbit give the chase up

We can be friends, come out and drink from my cup

There is no need to be foes in this tiresome war

What in the world is all this fighting for?

Michael did not trust him called him a liar

 

And with nowhere else to run, he jumped out

To face Moses' fire

 

He hopped with courage to face this cat so much bigger

But Michael was a brave Rabbit known as the Shapwick Digger

A shadow cast long foreboding over him

The last rays of light were running out as the night was unfolding

The rabbit leapt as the cat slept

But his feint was a cunning ploy

For Moses was no more resting than he was jesting

And Michael had been a foolish boy

Up came a claw, razor sharp

And cut poor Michael to the heart

In that moment the rabbit was quick as a dart

Cutting deep with teeth Moses who’s neck bled fast

Then both down fell

As if under a spell

And were there lain bleeding until their faces ran pale

Moses life blood thinned,

Seeing this Michael let go his death kiss

And himself shut his eyes for to take his last sleep.

Out of the Dark a spritely otter now leapt

Thinking he would wake his friend where he slept

But alas this small animal could but cradle

His friend

As the pierced bleeding heart throbbed out its end

 

A Lament for Michael Rabbit

 

My friend he said

Won’t you come to town?

A dirty cat has been brought down

Now Meare is free of those grim pussies

It's up to us to scare off the hussies

Said I why yes, though I must confess

I like nothing better than to chase the tail

But what in jail, you shall not find me neither

My friend is dead, I have culprits to tether

The earth is bound by those who live

But heaven surrounds with those who are dead

And never was there a more sociable guy

Than my friend Michael who with Angel’s now fly

 

 

 

I waited with Larry beside the Iron Gate

While his friend was lowered down

As a king lauded by the state

But his weight was worth more than gold

And his actions for the cause

Were never bested by the most bold

He was a rabbit of uncommon courage

In the end that was his downfall which lead to mortal damage

 

But here and now Larry sees him thus

Cavorting rapidly as cloud shapes above us

And that is how he will be remembered

As quick as the wind, that blew through the timbers

And nature has returned to her breast

That one true creature she did love the best

For that is how she saw fit to multiply

Its form so often in the hills and valleys

And under the sky

 

Larry who was a joking kind of otter was now much heavier of heart. He was at home playing in the waterways and lakes and this life did not suit him well. It was in that moment surrounded by this alien landscape and losing a friend to the terrors of these urban dangers that he most missed his simple life. He remembered looking at the face of Moses and thinking a cats face is not much like an otters because there is a mystery in it like it has a secret. And a cat knows it knows what others don’t. This he thought is why my kind and his will never mix. The mink’s face seemed also a kin to his or at least once long ago it may have been but it had badness in it, like it was very bad and mean, and cruelty had warped its nature. He looked over to his friend the badger and thought him like a bear strong and big and he thought him much more serious than himself but still better because the good had grown in him more than the bad. There was a side to him he thought was quite dark when he saw him brooding late at night, where as Larry did not concern himself too deeply in thought except when he was remembering his river bank and watery home. Small Fry and Larry now stood at the perimeter while the rabbits lead by Nancy dug a hole under it. They were about to escape but had lost many friends had a long road ahead.

 

Small Fry Point of view of the journey south to the Levels

 

Larry and I, we walked on out the yard

The church bells were tolling

And now our road was so hard

It seemed flecked with obstacles in between

Where we were and our final goal

Yet what we had was faith and hope in our soul

 

 

And this did embolden us and our spirits

Climbed to new folds

The surviving animals joined us by the field's stile

And we journeyed forth from the hamlet

With heavier hearts but renewed guile

The cats were broken in retreat

Now the Mink would have their day

It was time for them to meet their maker

And we would be the instruments in their demise

Like Shiva become their destroyer

We had lost some good friends it was true

But this had re-forged our resolve something new

And we passed through Meare

And left behind all that was cat-like and queer

To the levels now we marched

And the plains of Stileway

Across farm tracks and mad cows

The Raving ravens nesting as spies

Soon brought word of our travels

To Stink and his guys

As darkness drew in again we nearly lost our way

But saw in the sky great beacons of the mink

And so close did we stay

Thinking these lights would lead us to Zion

Yet we were as innocent lambs

Walking into the den of the lion

Before Long Larry recalled

The wise words of the prophet Eliza Wood

So soon as we could

We sped from that road

And followed the spiders signs

This brought us to Marshes

Those were our safety but cold.

Some there we lost

As the bog grew much deeper

And I struggled there as I am a woodland creeper

The Otter though I saw now was filled with much joy

He began splashing in the water

And found each flotsam like a toy

 

 

A lotta Otter

From long ago the otters had lived on the levels. But they had been hunted by man and many killed. The first otter King who was the rightful heir to the levels kingdom led his hunters away who all pursued him down rivers to the sea where they were lost. Since then it has been a tradition for the King to spend some of his rule abroad as a mark of respect. He left the levels without a ruler and in this vacuum the animals voted that the most regal and just creatures should rule in his stead and so the Government of Swans was elected. They ruled proficiently for a long time, and mean while the otter Kings family lived quietly without fame or recognition almost reclusively. He had four sons and of those two had families and then these fought alongside the badgers against the mink. After many battles all the dog otters were killed and all that remained of the royal line was the daughter of one of the sons Celandine. In the battle of the Catcott sedges she was captured after mink hoards razed an otter strong hold to the ground and the otter kings heir was imprisoned on Stinks island fortress. Stink already considered himself the king but felt that he would not be recognized as such until he had married the Otter Kings heir and inherited all the levels as his own. The date for the wedding now coincided with the Full Moon.

 

 

Larry and his band made head way down beside hedgerows and field margins where corn grew and waivered in the wind. The sun shone happily in the sky, an occasional buzzard soared high above keeping an eye on them. When an odd crow came too close the buzzard would turn them off course. In this way the owl was separated from the party in the mid afternoon as the animals approached the perimeter of Minkland. The owl Cherrybatten had led off a rabble of bullying crows and this was the time Larry most needed his advice and far seeing eyes. Larry turned to Brother Small Fry and his anxiety passed to him in that look, however he turned again to face the blackened landscape of excavated peat smouldering tree stumps and polluted rhines. Our way lies over to the south West where the stink is strongest.

          They walked on, wary now of the dangers around them, skirting between and under rotting debris of felled woodland. Some frightened looking water voles scurried passed them squealing. Further in they followed a small ditch where frogs sat on the bank looking tired and glum, some of their family were there stretched out on a fern leaf bed sick and ailing. The water was poisoned they spoke. As they went further on they heard similar stories from newts.

          The ditch eventually  turned into a wider lake which excited Larry, for the water seemed clearer here and he began to climb in, until Brother Small fry stopped him, what if this too is poisoned Larry? We others cannot swim we need a raft. Soon they had fashioned a fallen log into a canoe shape which would carry them, and they set out on the lake. As they left the bank they saw beneath them some fish swimming, some schools on their way to the ditch to leave. Out from the cover of the reeds they suddenly felt very exposed and realised as they drifted nearer the middle that they were passing marker buoys floating beside them. Suddenly a shower of arrows flew out of the air and narrowly missed them. From the opposing bank a commotion was starting as black figures began racing up and down, screeching. The rabbits began to panic, even Larry and Small Fry were worried as the black mink began diving into the water and swam towards them.

          Quickly the otter and the badger began madly paddling toward an enclave of willows water logged and standing like a mangrove nearby. Their raft touched the twisted roots above the water just as the first mink caught up with them. As the party ran off the boat Larry turned and leapt into combat. The mink was smaller than him but vicious and surprisingly strong who also wore leather body armour, it wriggled and writhed out of Larry’s clutches and then came around behind with a thin blade, and was about to plunge it into his back when his brains were scattered across the willow bark raft by a blow from Small Fry’s staff.

          Don’t give them the chance Larry, you must make every blow count, he threw Larry a knife. Relieved Larry picked up the weapons from the canoe and they chased out away into the safety of the willow mangrove.

 

The scouting mink found the body of their comrade some time later and reported it back. Message went back through the ranks, and eventually it came to the spy master rook and Darius himself.

          Who are these fools come so far out of their way to trespass on my land?

We believe they are the same who have given the cats their problems recently. We think they may be carrying a dangerous weapon which could threaten the safety of your Minkdom sire. Spoke the rook.

          Nonsense who has heard of such an idea!

Well with the wedding coming up in the next few days we do not want any distractions sire, however minor.

          Very well, you solve these troublesome few

From the corner A badger stepped out of the shadows, this was Charlton Adam. Dressed in a long red robe and hooded, his face was darkened but revealed a snarling mouth.

          I may know this badger, my Lord, from a past life, let me deal with him, there is unfinished business between us.

          As I said, eliminate this nuisance I want no interruptions to the Royal Wedding.

Charlton Adam was a badger of the same brotherhood as brother Small Fry and at one time they were trusted friends. When the swan government had secretly trained and recruited the brotherhood to fight the mink, they had gone on many missions together, one other brother badger Rodney Stoke was there also and they were a forceful trio to contend with. In the early days they made good progress, repelling the mink, pushing back the boundaries and reclaiming some villages and freeing their inhabitants.

          However before long things began to go awry. Vital targets just escaped the trio’s grasp moments before they arrived, it seemed as if mission secrets were being leaked to the mink somehow. At first, blame fell on other brothers in the band of elite fighters and then on the swans. Rodney Stoke began solo missions deep into the heart of mink land, being gone for days, sometimes weeks and he was presumed dead more than once, his belief was that he could now only trust himself. This riled the Swan authority and the abbot of his order who threatened to excommunicate him.

          Such tensions came to a head and one night brother Small Fry noticed his friend Charlton Adam go off on his own into and over the boarder lines of Minkland. There was a glade in some woodland there and in the dead of night he witnessed Adam meet with the Mink, deep in whisperings. When brother Small Fry reported this back to his Abbot, Charlton Adam denied it, but turning on the Abbot himself he threw his throwing knives in an assassination attempt. Small Fry leapt in front taking a deadly wound, while Rodney Stoke attacked Adam. The fight that ensued was bloody and the betrayal of Adam to his sworn friends and order great. Though he escaped into the Marshes to be picked up by the Mink. Rodney Stoke was maddened by this betrayal and went AWOL. The brotherhood of badgers was disbanded never to fight again.

          Though he survived the assassination attempt, brother Small Fry spent months recuperating and fishing in Meare pool.    

 

Larry and his gang were tired and thirsty, they had run for hours to evade their pursuing mink. But the initial howling and beating of bush behind them had faded they had passed into a heavily wooded area where the land rose to a hump and became dryer again. This must be Tanner’s wood spoke the badger brother Small Fry. Many a badger once lived below these trees we may find shelter in a Sett here. While he went off in search of a suitable haven, Larry and the others rested, he looked again at their dwindling numbers, tired and in need of sustenance. They needed some more help.

He sang to himself :

I am but an otter

An otter but am I

And if the butter gets Ot

Then the Otter butter die

But if the Ot gets butter

Then quite away I'll fly

Because I'm not an otter butter

But I am a butterfly

 

Meanwhile Brother Small Fry had found an abandoned Sett and busied himself in making it habitable, thinking to himself the while:

There he played care free of the mink

But soon we past graveyards

That made him stop and think

The smell of rotten fish was pungent in the air

And soon we entered Minkland,

The peat fields that were Stink’s lair

 

Great mounds rose like black hills on our horizon

The smog from diesel engines filled the sky

Turning it grey and dark

Machinery clunked and clicked with heavy iron

And the sound of mink voices

Came across to us like screaming or a bark

This stopped us in our tracks

And behind some fern we sheltered

The mist then took over us,

In a kind of fever we all sweltered

There were few, who could stand the heat

So we ordered them back behind cover of woodland pleat

On, Larry and I went

Thinking then to spy on our enemy’s tent

 

Some restful hours passed for the gang safe in the Sett the brother had found. Later Larry and Fry went on a reconnaissance mission to assess the extent of mink activity in the local region. The difficulty and loss of life the troop had suffered at the hands of the cats of Meare had put all in mind of the challenge ahead.

“The infrastructure of mink land seems far larger than the Swan’s and the Shield bug had informed us of.”

“Either an army is needed or a specialist with skills, spoke Larry the otter, and since an army is out of the question for now, the latter will have to do. “

          The other animals were hushed, then looked to each other whispering who could be the one to help.

From the shadows of the Sett watching the group with an ominous and foreboding presence, Hubert Cherry batten gave a “twoot- tawoo” that immediately hushed the whispering voices. The animals looked into the dark and saw the yellow eyes of the owl glowing like burning coals, then they blinked in the half light and he spoke with gravity and seniority-

 “There is one I have heard of said the owl, his name is Rodney Stoke he is a badger.”

 An air of mystery and awe passed across the faces other animal’s as he said the name. Larry approached the owl further into the gloom so he could listen better and watched the owl’s keen eyes intently and saw his outlined shape.

“No one really knows who he is or where he came from, continued Cherrybatten,

“Some say he was trained by the Parliament of Crows to fight in the swans government army. Many of those badgers went AWOL  they snapped under the huge strain.

There was a crack brigade who infiltrated into Minkland as spies, but when the crows and the ravens went over to the side of the mink, many in the brigade snapped under their strained allegiances.

They were trained to die for Swan and county but some were also so loyal to those crows who had trained them that they went over to the other side to become double agents for the mink. The government of Swan commanded the ministry of Swan Security to track down and kill all in this brigade because they could not be sure of who was loyal anymore. Most were terminated by the Cignette liberation army (CIA), but a few survived the assassinations. Rodney Stoke was one of these now he is loyal to no side.

He hates both his government for abandoning him and he hates the mink for destroying his brigade -his band of badgers. He is a dangerous creature, lethal in a fight a trained killer. He lives off worms and beetles and his own wits.”

 

Larry felt in himself the uncertainty of this unknown agent, Rodney Stoke, but knew if there was the slenderest of possibilities of success it must be tried.

“He is a born survivor, the owl continued, and is on a one badger crusade to wipe out the mink using guerrilla tactics. We need him, Larry, more than I can express but you will need to persuade him and he hasn't had any contact with normal animal life for three to five years. No one is really sure. The local villagers who live near his territory speak of seeing shadows move in the night, then in the morning they find the strung up bodies of mink on fence posts or hanging from trees. He skins them then leaves their pelts over shrubs on rocks or else wears them himself. They do not know if he is still all badger having had his instincts so far twisted by the gruelling training and his harsh existence. They call him El Umbero -the shadow.

          Larry sat back after hearing this. The atmosphere in the cave had gone icy cold, as the other animals all looked at each other and blinked in wonder at the story. El Umbra he whispered to himself then stared out in to the thick dark greenness of the forest. Somewhere far off a fox screeched “I will go alone to find this Stoke, he said.” Hurrumpf announced the badger Small Fry how can we trust this badger? I knew him once he knows no law, listens to no one’s authority but his own”

“The question is how can we not trust him given our predicament we have little choice.”

          Small Fry exchanged a look of resignation with Larry who looked back at Cherry batten.

“There is one last thing you should know Larry. Stoke despises mink, but above this he hates like no other his previous friend and brother Charlton Adam, the renegade badger who joined the mink in the schism of his brigade. If these two should meet I do not know the consequences, but I know Stoke would not pass up an opportunity to kill this traitor.”

 

The light faded in the cave and some little, restful sleep came to the animals as they waited till dawn.

         

          At just before sunrise the next day Larry set out at dawn in search of the elusive badger. He wandered deep into the woodland that stretched towards the Catcott marshes. By midday he had reached where the owl had said was the edge of the badgers territory.

          As he walked he thought of Brother Small Fry’s discomfort at hearing Stoke’s name the previous night. Small Fry had been a school teacher and then found all he needed from his holy order. Fighting for him had been a necessity but he did not have a lust for blood which Stoke and Adam’s had.

 “Why don’t they take their war games somewhere else and go and bother another woodland” he would say to Larry. But soon the time came when no animal could avoid doing his part for Swan and county, soon even Small Fry’ brother badgers of the holy order or St Barnabus were embroiled in fighting the mink to defend their monastery.

While he had been reflecting he now encountered a village who’s occupants had a kind of despondency about them. So many of the young males of rabbit, hare, mouse, badgers and good stoats(for there were a few) had been taken by Stink's mink troops to work as slaves in the peat works.

And yet out here there was also some fighting spirit and defiance by some animals. This Larry discovered was partly due to the fact there was a gorilla fighting group who were made up of animals from the villages and camped secretly close by. They were able to make raids on the mink camps and inflict casualties and acts of no small sabotage which set the minks progress of domination back by weeks. But while their numbers were few and dwindling even small losses on their part had a great impact on their overall effectiveness and ability to fight.

Larry was taken by an elder of the village to meet this band of rebels and after making their acquaintance and coming away with their warm approval of his plans to overthrow King Stink, he was led up the winding overgrown path to where Rodney Stoke had his hide out.

          All of a sudden his guide stopped and told him he would go no further, so from here Larry had to go on alone. Up the twisted path winded under ash and hornbeam to where the soil became sandy, and stakes hammered into the ground showed upon them the bodies of slain mink left limp and lifeless in the leafy gloom. The hill seemed almost a graveyard of mink skulls suspended from leafy shelters and vines, now dripping with the drizzling rain that had started. He pressed on sure now his own life was in grave danger and sensing from behind the cover of thick trees, the eyes of woodland animals watching him. Though each time he turned to look to see if he could spot them they seemed to disappear leaving only the ghost of their presence in his mind. Now the sky was darkening and dusk had descended and he approached the hills summit and in the sandy loamy soil was a hole evidently from the row of skulls leading up to it the home of some dark and brooding mind. With his courage pulled up he ventured inside.

          The tunnel was dark and musty and on its walls the intestines and sinews and pelts of mink hung down emitting a foul odour he found almost impossible to manage. But then up a head a faint amber glow drew him. And as he reached it he found an expansive chamber lit by bees wax candles, all around where tables covered with bones and on some wall weapons carved to razor sharp points all made of bones, which he presumed must be those of dead mink. As he approached the inner sanctum of the chamber where a fire was smouldering up to a chimney that reached the outside he looked up and smelt the fresh air mix with the smoky Minky odour of this cavern he was in. And as he was doing this he felt the keen sharp edge of a cold bone knife come up to his throat and he tensed instantly under the pressure of a large and furry muscular arm around his neck. Larry was dragged back by this dark black form and shoved in a chair. The creature was standing in the shadows and then slowly it revealed itself. The otter was speechless horrified at first by what seems to be a being, he did not want to label it yet as a badger or even animal, covered from head to foot in mink skin pelts. Over his head he wore the upper jaws and skull of a giant mink, which must have been a ferocious creature when alive, and this fellow Larry thought had killed him. Covering his shoulders which in themselves where broad and muscular were more mink upper heads smaller though. And then his body tapered down to a narrow waist giving him a lithe but powerful appearance as if he could strike a fatal blow at any time. As the creature revealed more of himself, Larry could see he had a necklace of mink lower jaws and teeth around his neck and only then did he look into his magnificent face. A snarling aggressive look to it, scarred and tattered yet unbeaten as if it could never be beaten. The otter had found him. This was Rodney Stoke himself. At first he growled and circled him. Then he sniffed and came closer. Larry took his moment.

Rodney, Mr Stoke, I have come to ask you for help.

          And why should I help you?

          A fair question but hear me out. I am come to seek your help to destroy mink forever and put an end to King Stink.

The badger spat king, king he is not my king, I do not recognise his rule he is a vermin, a plague every last stinking mink

          I know, and I know how much you hate the mink and that is why I have come to you. You are the only one who knows their ways enough so that we may stop them. You can get us past his guards into his fortress where we can kill him. The government of Swans will pay you a hefty sum to do this, join us brother.

          Ha the swans. What do I owe the swans. They tried to assassinate me or did you not do your research properly eh. With this he moved up close to the otter and held out his knife under his chin. He drew himself close to Larry then, and Laz could small the death on him. Looking into his cold eyes he thought is there a shred of the merciful animal left in you? In those eyes he could see pain that seemed to stretch way back into the forests of generations of badgers and all the pain Stink and the mink had caused for so long.

          Tell me why should I not kill you now eh?

          And there is nothing to stop you I am completely within your power. But I believe you want your life to be more than all this meaningless destruction. Work with me and my brother animals on our side and we can put an end to the mink tormenters. I know you care for your fellow animals and want to see an end to the cruelty inflicted on them at the hands of the mink. I know you want the slaves to be free and together we can free them. Join me.

          With this Rodney withdrew he went back up his tunnel and stood on the hillside looking at the sun set over the levels. In the distance he could see the smog of the peat work camps. Larry came and stood next to him.

Join us , he said, and we can put a stop to all that for good.

Join us he pleaded, for your brothers if you still have a heart beating in you.

The badger turned then, and the otter could see the wetness in his eyes. Standing beside him he could feel his soul burning, in torment but knew that this soul was going to be saved.

          Alright, Rodney relented you have a deal, but I don't work cheap.

 

Larry returned back to his gang in the Sett under Tanner’s wood late in the evening. As he stepped into the living chamber lit by candle light, a flicker of surprise went up across the animals faces, like a dancing spirit, their hearts were revived with courage upon seeing him, and then refreshed again by seeing his companion Rodney Stoke. It was this badger barrel chest which stood out proud, which gave them heart for they knew they could rely on him for protection. Even Small Fry who had stayed back while the greetings were going on, came forth eventually and embraced Stoke. Opposed in personality, beliefs and codes of honour, they were physically well matched, and at least both knew one thing  - they would give their lives to see the end of the Mink empire.

          Brother! Stoke exclaimed

Brother Stoke, spoke Small fry calmly, we are most glad to see you.

          The sun is down, Larry said addressing them all, it is time we are moving on. Beyond this wood lies the reed bed then shallow marshes. After that are the peat fields which is our aim. There I fear many of our comrades are enslaved to work the fields and feed the factory. We will free them by the end of the next day and strike a blow to Stink’s forces he will reel from.

 

 

Meanwhile back in the guard room of Darius’s Mink Fortress.

What do you mean they disappeared! The assassin Charlton Adam bawled at his Mink commander.

          One scout was killed others pursued the targets but they must have gone underground. We have searched the swamps to the mid west and there is no sign. We believe they must be in Tanner’s wood.

          Then we shall surround it, ready the mink ranks, do not let them slip through your grasp, Boris or you will pay with your pelt.

          Yes Sir, Major Adam.

The mink hoards were there already in the dusk in a circle around the wood, When Boris and Adam arrived at a wave of their paw the ring of mink tightened and they began to sweep the woodland, killing all they came upon.

 

While above them mink feet rustled Small Fry led the animals underground, through dusty and sandy root infested hollows, through which the mink voices their sharp hissing and squealing reverberated. The outlet tunnel delivered from a bank side that fell sharply from the tree line into the cover of a thick reed bed. Here the owl’s keen eyes led them between the fanning mink forces who were combing the bed. Larry was relieved when they were out of the tunnels and came to the end of the reeds, however looking back only Rodney Stoke was unaccounted for. Small Fry carried on, and though Larry’s heart sank at the thought of losing Stoke already he followed his old friend and mentor.

          The shallow marshes proved a ghostly and haunted place in the moon lit night. Voices seemed to travel fast as light, more than once they disturbed a pheasant who’s alarmed call threatened to call attention to them, but by some grace they travelled unnoticed. As they went Larry felt sure someone was watching him, a figure perhaps on the very edge of his vision. In the greeny yellow light of dawn he was sure he saw this shadowy figure again, by now they had crossed the swamp and arrived on the cracked land of the peat fields. Small Fry and the rabbits dug a cave shelter into the peat bank of a gulley that ran out from the swamp into the field, and there they rested, while the sun climbed up.

 

Deep in Tanner’s wood a cry of anger went up from Adam as he caught Boris up from the neck. Your useless regiment have lost my prey again, Boris

 

Bbb..but Boris did what he was asked, tth.th..the slippery ones went under , my mink went in tunnels but no one there. Give me another chance Boris knows they went into the marsh.

It is too late now,    with that Charlton Adam held the mink by the skull and crushed his head, in front of his horrified troop. Now who wants to give me some good news?

Dead mink Sir, one said, in the reeds no skin, left on spikes.

Mmm...interesting that sounds like the work of Rodney Stoke. So you’ve chosen a side then Stoke? Finally gone back to those weak Swans who treated you so badly.

We will pursue them, follow the trail, he is dangerous so keep your distance and inform me when you have found them.

 

Word spread of the death of Boris back to one of the King’s guards Sebastian. He was if ever there was one a good mink. He wanted to see a union and peace between the other animal races and the Mink.

          Many of the ordinary Mink soldiers also felt dissatisfied with their commanders, especially they saw Charlton Adam as a tyrant only hungry for the power and influence that Darius had promised. The mink who now pursue Larry begin to doubt their betters.

          Beer dark waters, low belly peat slipping on the glove of dark mystery, they pooled and paddled it with their oars making head way through the moors. Reeds like sentinels standing guard on the bank and in the shallows shading willows casting shadows across the stream waters, cool and warm by degrees.

          The afternoon sunlight reflecting off crests and peaks of the rippling wake sent out by their dug- out canoe.

          The bull frogs burred and ribbeted in chimming tune, the heave and haze of crickets in the hay and grass. Slowly flapping crows pass over them as high above buzzards soar in the sky like glass. Their mouths are dry, they drink the water, when their stomachs are empty they catch and  eat fish. They go on like this until they find the otter kings daughter and within the fortress surrounded by water.

          The slaves are yelling in the mink work camps, their lives are old as soot is black, the staves and stoves are burning the sunlight, to bring Darius his gold and cover his crooked back.

          Their souls are old from suffering, yet young in world knowing they are creating the yoke upon their backs. The weight upon their shoulder and the strap around their necks pulls and rubs til red sore and their faces are peaty black.

          His regimen is strict, his forces of army soldiers, they do his will and bidding as a mountain is to boulders. They hunt the birds down from the trees, his kingdom is his making but the apple does not fall far in the breeze and now the foundations are shaking.

          Sebastian sees his liege at his gold mad murky look within his eyes, the peat mounds fill his coffers like refugee birds fill the skies, his love of power has twisted and warped his animal mind. Now his soul is more like a man’s corrupted for all of time.

          With one hand he would give power to the cats, all they ever wanted with the other he would give away land to rats and leave his closest allies affronted.

          The kingdom of the mink is on toppling stilt few knew on what weak foundations it was built. For it was Darius alone, through his will and blood spilt, had carved out a future for his kinfolk.

          The king mink is old some whispered in private, he’s marrying the otter princess out of vanity or madness and she’s illegitimate, no half mink half otter could rule in his place, his crown is half on half fallen down his face.

          They look at the otter slaves who malnourished and weakened skit, low in stature and standing stooped none of them could be equal to a mink. With their king gone they gave up the fight, the resistance was beaten like light from the night. They scattered or like those who remained were put in bonds of slave-hood and now wander enchained.

          Only some whispered-the renegade few – that is for Larry the brave and his lion-hearted crew. He roams the fields and stock pens at night giving words of encouragement to keep up the fight. He would make a fine king even less do admit to boot, that is if otters ruled and the shoe was on the other foot. He could command some mink agree, those soldiers who honour pride and valour to the highest degree. Only they wish some brave and noble mink  like Sebastian could match his quality. They feel they are led by Darius’ puppets and they do his bidding at his every whim like a handful of muppets.

          Beyond what he stands for Darius’ dream never came true, for the multitude of mink now live in poverty too, he promised homes and he promised schools all we have to chew are bones and our young ones learn from fools. While he and his acolytes just get richer and more rich, how can he sleep at night, he in his castle we in the ditch?

          He has never delivered, never given to the poor, we ask for kidney and liver so he leaves rotten fish at our door.

          The stock piles keep on growing but they are locked away in store, the peasants have no access and no rights anymore.

Time for revolution something must be done, we call on our protector Sebastian to become our new kingdom’s liege and son.

          A chorus rises in the village a chorus of agreement and antipathy to Darius.

          A spokes-mink steps forth – Will you Sebastian, for we know you strong of will, make an attempt upon the king’s life, it is a case of kill or be killed?

          Sebastian who had come down from the fortress walls to speak with the crowds stood in silence for some moments while in contrast to the shouts and cheers of the previous moment now the crowd waited in a deathly hush not single voice could be heard to murmur. Regicide the murder of a King he half whispered to himself replied – I promise by the virtue of the reeds, by all the songs that the birds may sing, to give back honour to the race of mink, and save our ship before she sinks.

          I promise to in state a new model army to instigate a martial law the people will be a republic without the terrible Darius’ claw.

 

 

 

 

In the midday sun the animals awoke, the cave had become too hot, and they all piled outside. On the edge of the peat field, Stoke sat whittling an ash spike with a knife. He had made a sun shade out of fresh mink pelt which he had stretched over willow poles and were drying in the sun.

          The young rabbits scurried up to him in awe and hero worship, you are back they said, we’re saved.

          So you reverted back to your old ways then friend, decried Small Fry.

Stoke glanced at him, I protected you, they were following you.

          You left us! Stepped in Larry, I had no idea if you lived, were captured or killed. By that act you left us, you who swore to protect these young.

          They are alive, you are all still alive because of me, because I have the stomach to do what you cannot, that is why you came to me is it not Larry.

          With this slaughter you make a statement, a show of strength to the mink, but don’t think I don’t know it is a joy for you. We move on the sun is high and there are others who need our help.

By late afternoon after gruelling walk in scorching temperatures, they reached the operations of the mink slave camp and peat works.

 

The Ground was cracked and baking

Towards the end of a gulley we saw

A line of animals trudging looking very poor

The head of the Column a large Mink

They walked in a peaty basin or sink

 

Lucy Lysander the salamander

Bit hard into the reins that bound her

Into the chains of the gang of slave rabbits around her

As they walked around in circles

As they went they churned up the peat

And left it beside furrows

 

Where others shovelled it to barrows 

Then covered in sheets

They brought it to a large iron building

Where they processed and bagged it

The Mink with whips always driving them

 

The dark cogs of the peat plant could be heard

Turning the machinery beyond

This scene  Small Fry and Larry perused

Wondering and feeling the grim darkness of it

On their souls it abused

It was the depression on the faces of the enslaved animals

That Larry thought he’d never seen a more unhappy lot

Already the air was thicker and heavier here

There was no bird song but a warm sickly wind

Carrying the occasional call of a rook or crow

Letting them know that spies were all around.

 

Small Fry said - We have to contact Lucy Lysander

She can help us to free them if we can get into the plant.

The pair waited until nightfall when the animals were in their bunks

These were dug outs where they slept

Peppered across the faces of huge mountains of peat

 

Of an evening the slaves were given a fishy gruel and sent to bed. They were not permitted to talk and all social interaction was forbidden. While the slaves rested in their dug outs the mink guards would occupy themselves with playing cards, torturing victims, scraping in fights over bets or else just sleeping. This night though the moon was bright and the air chill cold making the peat steaming from its own heat and gave Larry and Small Fry some cover as they approached the mound and began to scale its side. Great beacons burnt in the sky giving the guards a good view of the surrounding yard but the pair ran behind enormous iron buckets that still moved slowly through the night. The beacons stretched all the way to Meare lighting the way of more chain gangs who worked to build the long straight road to Meare.

          Larry had waited and watched where Lucy went to her dug out and knew now it was three quarters the way up one mound. They made their move, camoflaging themselves in black peat water. They had to go silently and swiftly before any mink saw them and as they went the sad faces of the slave animals stared up at them, most too bleary eyed and tired assumed they were their mink masters and cowered away or else huddled and shivered. Few looked as if they had strength to fight and this worried Larry. Finally they came to the dug out of Lucy Lysander the salamander, she had her back turned to them and appeared to be sobbing.

 

 

“Is this Lucy who I once knew long ago?” asked Larry, Lucy paused stopped crying and without turning her head said once Lucy was my name, an age ago but she is lost now, now there is only my number. Surely she can be re-found, we have come to find you Lucy and help you to remember what the world once was, " with this he touched her shoulder and turned her to face him wiping the tear s from her blinking damp eyes,

 " and what the world can and will be again. Lucy's reptilian skin seemed to shimmer in the moonlight and from when it was faded and well worn with these words it seemed to be renewed and flashed the sliver light back again. I have been dreaming Larry my friend, darkly as if in a nightmare but now I have awoken and can see for the first time." said Lucy.

 

 "the whole of the levels has been sleeping and dreaming a dark dream but now that spell will be broken, and the animals there will be freed from their chains and come alive again!"

 

Answered Larry Stink will be brought down. With this, some other animals who had been listening pricked up their ears and moved in closer.

 

"We shall put a spanner in the works of his great Peat robbery plant and you all will help me. We shall help each other to do it." With this the plan was hatched and all animals who could hear it were told then. Then they told all those other weaker or sick animals of the plan and soon the spirit level was rising as a fire of hope was lit beneath them.

          The night passed on and with the dawns first light the animals rose and began the daily grind of putting back on the shackles of the chain. What Larry had done in the night was loosen the bolts of the shackles, and the links in the chain were weakened. Lucy had spoken in the night of the only way to stop the plant from working was to break the chain that drove it. Larry and Small Fry had to enter the machine through the waste disposal shoot. Old fish bones lay in a great pile beneath the shoot and stank though most of the living quarters of the mink were the same stinking of rotten fish flesh and bone that the mink ate raw. As they climbed up the slippery stinking shoot dripping with fish juice they could hear the weasel like chatter of the mink, harsh sounding words no roundness to them speaking of ruthlessness but also reckless, lawless nature from their chuckling hyena like laughter. In the night they had tortured one of their many victims and had the Hare hanging up by its hind quarters above the factory floor. The Hare was still alive breathing but panting and bleeding profusely onto a puddle of blood on the floor. They were prodding it with sticks and swinging between themselves. Larry thought it would be better if the hare had died in the night than let it go on. But the pair snuck in behind a conveyer belt of the peat and its whirring mechanical sound stifled the whooping laughter of the mink. The pair crept silently around large barrels and bags of peat. They were ready to be shipped away when the road to Meare was completed. Suddenly a Mink slipped in the blood and fell over producing an effect of ludicrous laughter and hollering from the other mink, there was clearly one big mink who was the bully and the others were joining in. The one who had slipped bolted up and then attacked one of the smaller ones who laughed at him and then the scraping broke out with this the big one walked off to start the factory up again. Larry and Small Fry seized their chance and while Larry freed the knots of twine around the hare Small Fry approached the circle of fighting mink. He took out two from behind by bashing their skulls together with even the others noticed with four to go he grabbed another by the throat and flung him against a barrel.

Another noticed this and jumped on his back biting into his neck. The two who were fighting looked around and then joined their friend. The badger with three on him now went into a roll the crushed one and broke the leg of another. The fourth went running for the big one. Larry having seen this picked up a loose piece of chain and flung it at the escaping mink catching him around the ankles and down he fell though not without giving out a final yell.

          A whistle rang out then and factory seemed to start ringing in alarm. The hare having recovered slightly said that there was an ignition source near from which the mink had lit the first beacon - a natural flame that came out of the ground. The mink practically worshipped it in a strange religion. There was little time to lose Larry wound a sheet of mink fur around a stick and lit it in the flame then setting it amongst the bags of dry peat let it all go up in flames. Smoke was filling the factory as the three animals leapt from the platform onto the yard outside and here they met the big mink with all the guards behind him. Suddenly and without warning the enslaved rabbits and animals who had been waiting for the right time now broke free of their shackles and together pulled the chained free of its housing in the factory it whipped out and took with it a line of mink. The mink guards faced the slaves and with anger in their hearts and revenge on their minds the free slaves now faced them back. As one they charged and without weapons attacked the mink that carried sabres and were armoured. Some animals picked up whole bags of peat and tossed them into their enemy others leapt blindly into the fray while Larry and Small Fry took on the other flank that faced the factory and them. Larry ran at the big mink that moved slowly because of his size and head butted him, with a turn the mink threw Larry down and onto the conveyor belt that moved into the factory. The big mink pounced on top of him and began a barrage of punches that hurt Larry greatly. His whiskered face swelled up in bruises, and he lay still for a moment while the big mink stood back. While Larry was regaining his senses the belt had risen and was taking him toward the drop into the shredding shoot. The big mink turned to run off the conveyor belt but then Larry grabbed his tail and dragged him back.

“Not learnt your lesson yet eh?” The mink said then stamped a foot down onto his chest. Small Fry had seen this and sent a stone pebble hurtling through the air to catch the mink on the forehead. With a heavy crunch he fell backward narrowly missing Larry who clambered to his feet and ran for his life against the ever moving conveyor belt.

Back on the battle field the freed animals were triumphant and chased the remaining mink off. Some who were captive then were tied in to the chain and left to watch as the factory burned.

          Small Fry rejoined Larry and asked if he was alright. The castle of stink the mink beyond the reeds began buzzing and the yells of minks preparing to fight rang out.

 

 

"Stink will be much angered by this and will have his retribution, but we must reach the castle walls to free the levels for good. And with that be done with Stink the Mink."

          Rodney Stoke took charge of organising the slaves. Nancy the mother rabbit looked after the cooking and feeding of them, under the shelter of a nearby spinney of Alder trees.

          Larry and Small Fry decided that as these slaves clearly needed protection, they would set them on the right path home, accompanied by their young fighting rabbits.

          When this had been organised, and they were ready for the off, Larry, Small Fry and Stoke would go on into the Mink fortress. At this moment the pursuing forces of Charlton Adam and his Mink arrived at the scene of a devastated and burnt out factory.

          At their sight, a line of armoured and armed soldiers the slaves began to be afraid that again they would be captured or worse. Larry ordered the caravan to begin to leave led by the rabbits. Stoke had picked out some brave fighters and armed them.

          I will hold them he said to Larry, you two must go, there is no time, you must stop Darius.

          Larry went to Stoke’s side, but Small Fry stopped him, He is right, he said. We must live to take the fight to Darius.

          At the other end of the field, Adam saw brother Small Fry and Larry leave the field, he cried out to Stoke,

It seems your cowardly friends have abandoned you Stoke. Now you are all alone, or is that how you like it? Tell me why do you go with this weak otter, you know his race will never flourish again, his King has left them. The Swan’s betrayed you, why not come over to our side it. We take what we want, we are feared and respected over the levels. You would be given power and wealth!

          Stoke seemed to be deep in thought and his animal soldiers, the rabbits and young badgers around him, fearing his changing mood and appearance.

          Finally Stoke Spoke, and when he did he had fire in his eyes and rage in his voice: There is one thing I despise more than a filthy low bellied Mink, and that is a filthy, low bellied badger Traitor! You have betrayed your holy order Brother Adam, and I am come to deliver the Order’s justice upon you. I have no need of your Wealth or Power, I have my friends and I have the Holy Order I see now is the only family I need. You threatened its survival when you tried to kill the Abbot and for that you will pay. For that you will die!

          With that he gave his war cry and charged with his broad sword unsheathed flashing in the sun, the others followed him and they met the Mink and the Badger Charlton Adam in furious battle.

          Much slaying went on and wild heroic fighting on the part of the badgers they were out numbered by mink who were like barbarians and had no rules to fighting. In the centre of the storm a calm opened up as Adam and Stoke found one another, and like heavy weight wrestlers went to it in a great thud and clanging of armour , Stoke had his helmet shattered by a strike from Adam’s long spear, other mink leapt upon Stoke and tore at his chest armour straps tearing it from off his back. He leapt up again at his attack thrashing at his arms and legs, but a swipe from Adam’s short sword caught him a grievous wound across his belly. Slumped down now the weight of Stoke fell to the ground, he was down on all four paws bleeding hot blood into the black peat.

          Adam seeing his foe so wounded, and rendered incapable of attack removed his helmet to take a good look at his prey. Stoke howled in pain, and this sight of such a mighty warrior brought so low, saddened the brows of his brother badgers still fighting the mink.

          So you have come to the end, which was always your lot, Stoke for you are nothing more than a failed monk, you were not good enough for the order, you were a killer with darkness in your heart. Ah what a pity you did not join us what a party we could have had.

          Stoke spluttered, You ...you have forgotten one thing... he manoeuvred his huge body round on limping paws.

Oh and what is that, Adam said as he raised his sword above his head to bring down upon Stoke’s back?  

          The reach of the order’s arm of justice is long indeed! And with that he pulled his right paw back and swiped his long claws across the exposed throat of Adam severing his jugular and nearly removing the head. Adam’s body fell back to the peat lifeless with a mighty crash.

          The mink surrounding saw this and fled. Stoke fell back down to his paws and over onto his side dying from his wound. The other badgers surrounded him and picked him carrying him to a high place where they laid him down to rest. From this place he could see the Majestic sight of Glastonbury Abbey shining in the Sun as it went down. Ah Abbot he spoke I am coming back home brother at last. With that passed the life of Rodney Stoke.

 

Stink the mink was pacing inside his palace it was built of stick and stone and mud and stuck together with fish glue. Built upon a huge mound of peat on an island in the reeds it towered above the levels. And so he had a view of his burning factory long before any escaped guards had made the news known to him. Those guards who returned were executed made an example of by Stink who ruled with an iron fist the rowdy and war like mink. "There will be no rest for anyone until this Larry and his gang are dead. I want their heads. The marriage will take place immediately Find out from the Meare cats spies who they are and what they are doing to my precious kingdom." When his Mink stalled he yelled again then sent his Crow spies to relay with the rooks from Meare.

Sebastian stood hearing all of this but would not command his Mink to action.  His regiment came to him calling, what is to be done?

We will instigate the plan – manoeuvre the troops loyal to me we will wait on the outskirts of the swamp, Darius will fall and when that time comes we need to be ready send word I will meet with Brother Small Fry.

 

Larry and Small Fry ran, they chased through briars and tangled fells, through ditches and across swamps, around them Mink were out in canoes and boats archers, and spear-mink, going on Darius’s orders to rescue the factory and kill the rebels.

While this commotion occurred Larry and Small Fry paddled a raft up to the marshes of the fortress.

         

Larry had always imagined himself a king though maybe of a far off country like Denmark or some where and he often lounged like he was one in these waterways. But as the time of judgement drew near he allowed himself the thought that perhaps he too might be king of this Land one day. But he thought alas it is only a dream the otter princess would be married to some fine fellow otter from a class high above his own. No he thought you do not have a place in these matters all you must do is do your duty rescue the princess and that is enough let folk far cleverer than you work out or guess what the future holds. He looked back to his compass he had made from a metal pin and a leaf on the water Stinks castle was not far off - he could smell it due south.

 

 

When Rodney stoke the badger and Stinks champion Charlton Adam were doing battle on a peat bank around the head land of Stinks castle, Larry the otter was bounding towards the castle to rescue Celandine the Otter Kings Daughter.

 

Charlton Adam knows of this alliance and the identity of his captives out of a fear of a mink otter race, his better nature tries to hide their true identities from King Stink. He locks them in the Castle’s tower and sets guards to stand at their door preventing them from leaving or being discovered by unwanted enquiries. Celendine tends her wounded brother and as battle commences from without by Larry and Brother Small Fry she describes to him what she sees for he is too sick to fight. He wishes he was there in the thick of it.

          Arrows and crossbow bolts fly at Larry and his companions but the embattled knights fight on they cross the bridge an attack the gate. It is made of oak logs and huge in stature but with a cry of For King Murther and Princess Celendine his strong arm aims blow after blow at it until it splinters and weakens. But then they are beaten back by the sheer number of stones and arrows flung at them including the boiling water and fish stew.

           

 

 

Larry and Small Fry decided it was best to split up. Small Fry would distract the Fortress troops to give Larry the chance to get in. So Small Fry went about this, making an obvious walk in the main entrance to the castle. This worked as planned and all the eager mink hoping to prove their worth to their king by killing or capturing this well known Badger, came upon Brother Small Fry. He had his staff and his Order’s martial Arts training to help him, and many an opponent was bested, fighting along the prow of the slope which rose to the castle he saw in the distance Larry infiltrate the walls, and then he drew back, running around the side of the castle walls.

          Around the bend Brother Small Fry encountered more Mink but their bearing was more in submission strangely, they spoke of one named Sebastian who wished to talk of a truce. Mistrustfully, the brother Badger went along with this and followed the Mink to the meeting place.

Larry bounded on land comfortable on the moist lettucy ground and undergrowth, through twisted roots. Mink guards on the palisade saw a creature move, caught a glimpse of his head and thought him a Tom Cat. One guard said to the other it must be one of Moses' sons bringing word from Meare Manor.

Like a streak of black Larry melted back seamlessly into the black water of the lake within the walls. Beneath the waves on the surface the underwater world was a myriad some small fish darted away, then he passed a large pike came to face to face with him and some secret understanding passed between them in the silence and muted hubble bubble sounds of peat machinery. The pike turned about and Larry followed him. It was hard to keep up but being part fish himself the otter managed it and the fish led him through an underwater tunnel into the inner courts of Stink's Castle. He arose imperceptibly with his black nose first barely breaking the meniscus of the water.

Then used it to take in all the woody smells of this new enclosure some burning of reeds was going on the odour drifted over the water. Then came the smell of water parsnip and parsley and turning his senses pricked the taint on the air of fish killed recently on the shore. Being of nature a fish eater his instincts mingled with his desires for doing his duty and serving justice. Like syrup dollop he dropped himself on the bank and shook off the water  -no one was around they all faced out wards towards the up roar caused by the badger. Then he walloped his feet down onto the stone path that was littered with fish head and scales and galloped up the path to the pantry room of the castle where a mink kitchen porter was hauling in the fresh kill to be cooked on the enormous burners which held on top of them huge urns.

The odour coming off the steaming urns was over whelming to the otter and he became dizzy in his senses and over powered by the days of hunger that had accompanied his hard journey. The Mink chef had been cooking up a vegetable and fishy soup made of the water parsnip growing around, parsley and fdresh herbs and of course delicious fish of all varieties minnow.

          The otter slipped in as barrel of fish was being trundled into the kitchen and came up to one urn as the chef head was turned and sunk his mouth in. The scalding heat caused him to spit it out and so then he used a clay cup he found and slurped it down beneath a table. All of a sudden a bell rang it was the master and the kitchen mink all scrambled round to prepare his meal and bring it up to him. In the commotion the otter leapt up and ran through with his foil the kitchen mink then charged head long into the hallway where he collided with a group of soldier mink, bowling them over like skittles.

          Larry looked up from the floor and seeing stairs scampered to his feet, charging up them again.

          Darius had by this heard much noise, and seizing his wife to be fled to the balcony.

          Larry at the head of the stairs searched around for the bedroom door, it was dark on this level but the lavish door indicated that only one door must be Darius’s. He went in.

 

          The light was dusky and lit with candle light. Some shafts of the sun’s rays broke through heavy animal skin curtains that were left undrawn. King stink apparently liked the dim darkness of a dungeon it seemed as it reminded him of his home in Transylvania. Somehow much of the dampness of these place remained here still and as the otter stood absorbing the atmosphere.

 

When his eyes had adjusted he saw on the walls spears and shields the skulls of bats with what appeared to be fangs and in the corner a monstrous beast frozen - it was a wolf sleek and hungry in a prowling stance where its lean shoulders seemed to cut through the darkness like a knife.

 

In a flash the lean and itself wolf like body of the King came around the corner and he sniffed the air then prowled around the bed stead moving his body rhythmically up and down as he moved. He ran his claws as he moved over the spears shaft and tip and over the cold dead body of the wolf. He seemed to be swaying and for a moment though the otter knew he could not be seen in the dark he felt himself mesmerized by the magnetic movement as if like a mongoose hypnotizing the snake before he strikes down his prey.

I can smell you. Darius Spoke

Larry leapt out charging a spear shaft into the giant Mink. Darius somehow caught the shaft but the force of the charge carried them both out through the window and clattering onto the balcony.

          Celandine screamed and edged back she began to climb onto a hanging vine nearby. Larry looked up at her in surprise and then the balcony collapsed into the jungle of knotweed, ferns and nettles below. Disorientated Larry looked around at this new scene. An unknown territory that seemed to be a mixture of abandoned peat works and railway paraphernalia.

 

The King mink Darius stalked out in the twisted jungle of ferns and vines that hang from hundred year old oak and willows.

 

Larry found himself in confusion for he had lost sight of the castle, he rested on the sleepers of long ago railways all stacked up.

The twisted and rusted rails of the gauge ran off through the distance of what was once a yard. Rain began to drizzle and the temperature turned cold, then a brief hail storm began.

 Almost as a breath the minks looming presence alerted the otter, his wet fur ruffled to spikes around his neck and head shivered and tingled. Then his whiskers and nose began to twitch.

As Larry slowly turned he saw Darius prowling behind him, side stepping like a tiger sniffing out his prey. His face was a smirk and a grimace and he spoke his mesmerizing voice that had swayed so many others under his spell:

Here I have you

 

Long in the Marsh I have waited

To be king of all I survey,

Of this land which is a like the one I call home

Back on the Romany way

And still have I slept like a serpent

Black in the bowels of the earth

To then snatch as a devilish servant

The bird eggs before they have birth

 

And tyranny so have I courted

It has brought its just deserts

As the swamp land is like to a graveyard

Where animals bow to me as peasants and serfs

 

Now when the otter king abandoned his kinsmen

And fled like one fleeing a War

His cow heart led him to the seas breast

And we do not see him anymore

 

But who is this I see before me

But another who I can bully and cajole

For no otter have I seen will stand his ground

When his land with my cunning I stole

 

Go on like your King Larry

Go leave while your pelt is intact

Save your skin or like your father before you

I shall slay you if you try to attack

 

Larry stood his ground, thinking of all those friends he had lost, at the hands and machinations of the evil King Stink.

 

The Mink prowled over and pounced upon the stack of sleepers above Larry. The otter made himself low but stood his ground and Darius sent out a searching razor claw that sliced into the otters back. Bleeding the otter rolled to the side to avoid more of the same then fell from the ledges of wood. He hit the wet moist ground in a tangle of brambles and stinging nettles and the mink King had followed him down so that now when the otter stood at full height to face his foe the mink attacked again from above and they wrestled, the otter biting the mink on the shoulder and causing swelling and bleeding there. Then the mink dashed off out of the undergrowth and into the open yard over the railway tracks where he stopped. The otter meantime had leapt after him his powerful limbs propelling him through the foliage and squatting his cat-like clawed feet on the rails he leveled himself to the attack.

The mink had picked up a spike from the ground that had been hidden behind a rail thrust it towards the otters breast. Larry parried the blow with his right paw but this was broken by the force and he fell again back wincing from the pain. The otter struggled back on three legs to the sleeper stack but was unable to climb it and he lent exhausted from the effort. The big terrible mink came forward and bore down on him no hint of remorse in his eyes.

 

"Now it seems time we end this revolution of yours here"

And he raised the spike to bring it down upon the otter. As he did so Larry ducked and the spike missed grazing the skin of his shoulder and pinning him to the sleeper. As Stink the mink was trying to pull free the spike with both hands, the otter picked up a rusted nine inch nail from under the stack where he had slumped and thrust it into the minks cold heart. He stood there wincing and the look of defeat and fury and impotence came into his face as he clutched his chest and fell away onto the ground and died.

 

 

Song of Larry at the killing of Darius

 

I have killed him now, that tyrant of the levels

Now the great shadow has passed

 

The otter king who was father here now may return at last

Darius Iliashi you most formidable foe

One who stalks in the forest of the dark

I stand on your skin, that is bedraggled and thin

Now your fur will cover my back

 

Darius was king of the stinking marsh, all poisoned

With his greedy reign

The clouds will come and go when the west wind blows

Then I'll sleep happy by the rhein again

 

I wish I were a king for now the king is dead

And the animals all cry long live he

For now so many years have come and gone

That the King otter has moved on

To a happier land beyond the sun

 

Larry gathered himself together and made his way back to the castle, as he approached he witnessed the beautiful sight of Celandine standing next to Brother Small Fry. Beside him a noble and unusually kind looking mink Sebastian, with no fear in his eyes nor did he seem to inspire it in the others around him.

          Eventually Celandine married Larry, the remaining mink and otter lived together in a harmony unheard of before. The Peat Slave Camps were destroyed and the peat works abandoned. In time nature took her course and returned the levels to their former glory.

Sebastian takes over the ruling of the mink. They become a nicer more fair race under his rule and are put to work rebuilding the community which stink destroyed, living side by side with the otters and other animals.

Larry however never returned to the peace he once knew, his charge was the rule of the otter Kingdom and the rebuilding of the otter lands of old. Brother Small Fry married the couple in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey and finally returned to his old life as the Fisher badger of the Meare pool, but had a good story to tell his young badger and otter apprentices as they fished the teeming waters.

 

 

 

Forever after this Larry was known as St Lawrence of the levels, and many young animals learnt of his kindness and courage and even sometimes how he was lazy in his younger wilderness years and they tell them, stop being a lazy Lawrence.