Fox's Feud (13 page)

When Mole stumbled into Badger’s set he was amazed to find most of his other friends already there. But he quickly realized the reason for it. He described his tussle with Scarface and Badger jumped up to examine the little animal’s wounds. Because of the darkness he had to do this by scent. Mole told him that the damage was only slight.

‘How many of the enemy are there?’ Fox wanted to know.

‘I didn’t have time to count,’ Mole answered. ‘But there certainly seemed to be quite a horde of them.’

Fox looked exceptionally grim but, thankfully, his expression could not be seen in the blackness.

‘We’ll stay put for the present,’ he told them all, ‘until
I’m more sure of developments. Does Scarface know of your set, Badger?’

‘Probably. He seems to know most things,’ answered Badger. ‘We’re very vulnerable in here, you know, Fox,’ he added. ‘We have no food – any of us – and there’s nothing to stop Scarface coming down here just as you did.’

‘We have
one
advantage,’ Fox pointed out. ‘Our enemies can only come down your tunnel one at a time. So we can dispose of them in the same sequence.’

‘But Badger has more than one entrance to his set,’ Weasel remarked. ‘What of that, Fox?’

‘Then we must block all but one,’ replied Fox.

‘No!’ Badger said sharply. ‘If we leave ourselves only one exit we could be trapped here.’

Fox thought for a moment. ‘I think you had better give me a short tour,’ he said to Badger. ‘Then I shall know how we’re fixed.’

Badger nodded and led Fox out of the chamber. Once away from the others Fox asked: ‘What do you think our chances are of defending this place?’

‘Slight,’ Badger said bluntly. ‘All you can do is to post the strongest animals at each entrance.’

‘How many entrances do you have?’

‘Four.’

Fox mused. ‘It’s all but hopeless,’ he said wearily. ‘As a fighting force we are effectively six strong: Vixen and myself, Bold, Friendly and Charmer and yourself. Weasel’s too small to be of much help. As for the others, all that can be said is that their hearts are in the right place.’

‘I wonder why Scarface chose to come during the daytime?’ remarked Badger.

‘Obviously he knew about our watch system at night,’ Fox said. ‘I think I know where that piece of treachery
stems from.’ He was thinking of Ranger.

Badger looked at him blankly. ‘Surely we don’t harbour a traitor amongst us?’ he whispered.

‘Not exactly,’ Fox answered. ‘But the workings of the heart can blind us to our duty.’ Of course, he had then to explain the development of Charmer’s friendship with one of Scarface’s cubs.

‘Goodness gracious!’ exclaimed Badger. ‘This is one development I never looked for.’

‘That’s pretty much what Vixen said,’ Fox told him. ‘Naturally, Charmer trusted her new friend implicitly.’ He made a sour face. ‘As if I hadn’t enough problems already.’

‘There’s just a chance she might have been right to do so,’ Badger observed. ‘I think we may be in danger of making Scarfaces of all the other foxes.’

‘I suppose there’s something in what you say,’ Fox allowed him. ‘Perhaps I am maligning him. But I feel this raid is too much of a coincidence.’

‘You’re probably right,’ agreed Badger. ‘The cub’s loyalty is bound to lie with his father.’

‘Unlike
my
cub, I suppose?’ Fox suggested bitterly.

‘Not at all,’ Badger declared. ‘That’s a bit strong, my friend.’

They were silent for a moment or two. Then Fox said: ‘I wish I knew what was going on outside.’

‘Why don’t you ask Mole to go back the way he came and have a look?’ Badger asked.

‘No, bless him, I wouldn’t expose him to that savage’s mercy again,’ Fox answered. ‘In any case, his eyesight’s so poor he wouldn’t be able to discover much.’

‘
I’ll
go then,’ Badger volunteered. ‘I’ll be very careful, and I shall know by their scent how close they are. I needn’t go outside at all.’

‘Thanks, my dear fellow,’ said Fox. ‘Meanwhile I’ll post
someone at each of the other exits.’

Badger shuffled off down the tunnel and paused near his main entrance hole. Exercising his powerful sense of smell he turned his striped head in all directions, sniffing for the tell-tale odour of the group of foxes. Then he went back to the chamber.

‘There’s only a faint smell,’ he announced, ‘so they can’t be very close.’

‘Good,’ responded Fox. ‘But I wonder what he’s up to?’

‘We shall know soon enough, I’ll be bound,’ said Weasel.

‘I’m worried about Hare and the rabbits,’ Fox confessed. ‘They won’t know what’s going on, and we know how jittery the rabbits are. If Hare can’t keep them calm, they might start to panic down in their burrows and then they’ll be coming out and running all over the place. Scarface and his tribe would have a field day.’

‘Surely one of the birds will come and tell us of any further movement?’ Vole asked querulously. ‘
They’re
all out of danger. Aren’t they thinking of us?’

Fox nodded. ‘I’m sure Kestrel will come,’ he said soothingly, ‘and, don’t forget, you have him to thank for giving us all the breathing space at the beginning.’

The day dragged on and, just as Fox was wondering if his faith in the hawk was misplaced, Kestrel could be heard calling outside. Vixen, who was now guarding the main entrance answered him.

‘Scarface is coming nearer,’ Kestrel told her. ‘I think he must have guessed now where you’re all hiding. You’d better tell Fox.’

But Fox was already coming up the tunnel. ‘Kestrel,’ he called. ‘Please go and see how the rabbits are doing. They must stay out of sight.’

The hawk flew off and Fox and Vixen peered together
out of the entrance. They could see Scarface now, leading his band towards the set. Amongst them they recognized Ranger.

‘So he
is
involved,’ muttered Fox to himself. ‘Come on, my love, back to the chamber,’ he said aloud. ‘I’ll get the cubs back from the other entrances. Guards are of no use against such an army. Our only hope is to stay completely quiet. We may fool them yet.’

Back in Badger’s deepest chamber, the animals hardly dared to breathe. They felt that the artful Scarface would be listening for the slightest sound. The smaller creatures’ nerves were stretched to breaking point but, for the sake of all, they tried to hold on.

After what seemed an eternity a scuffling noise was heard, and they knew that one of the enemy had entered the set. The noise came nearer. Fox tensed himself, ready to spring on the animal.

‘Is anyone there?’ whispered a voice in the darkness.

No one replied.

‘Charmer? Are you there?’ came the voice again.

‘Father, it’s Ranger,’ whispered Charmer. ‘Perhaps he’s come to help.’

‘Help?’ hissed Fox. ‘He’s the arch-villain in this raid. Help? Yes, he helped his father all right, telling him to strike in the daylight. But if he comes any closer I’ll make sure he’s no help to anyone again!’

‘No, Father, please,’ moaned Charmer. ‘Let me talk to him. He’ll listen to me.’

Before Fox could stop her, she had run out of the chamber towards Ranger. ‘Here I am,’ she said. ‘It’s me-Charmer.’

Fox rushed after her. ‘Get outside before I kill you,’ he threatened Ranger.

‘You don’t understand,’ came the reply. ‘I offered to be the first to look round here.’

‘Of course you did,’ said Fox. ‘You’ll want all the credit for finding us.’

‘No! No!’ said Ranger vehemently. ‘You’ve got me all wrong. I’ll tell my father the set’s unoccupied.’

But before Fox could register his surprise at these words, a sneering voice cried down the tunnel: ‘The game’s up, my friend. You and your cronies are trapped. The set is completely encircled. Ranger, come out! I want no clashes down there. We’ll fight them in the open when we’ve starved them out!’

Ranger turned this way and that, torn between obedience to his father and his feelings for Charmer.

‘I believe I’ve wronged you, my young friend,’ Fox said to him. ‘Go back outside now. I won’t have your father’s wrath turned against you.’

Ranger turned unwillingly to leave the set. He felt he was leaving his heart behind him. ‘Whatever happens, you have one opponent less,’ he told them, ‘for
I’ll
do no fighting.’

Fox and Charmer went back to the chamber.

‘I’m afraid we’re surrounded,’ Fox said simply.

‘We’ll die here! We’ll die here!’ wailed one of the female fieldmice.

‘Not if I can help it,’ Fox answered her quietly. ‘I propose to see just what that scarfaced killer is made of. It’s me he really wants dead. Well, he can try his strength against me, but in a fair fight. I shall challenge him to single combat.’

There was an excited buzz of conversation in the set as Fox crept into the tunnel and vigorously shook himself in preparation. Vixen followed him worriedly.

‘Must you do this, dearest?’ she asked him.

‘It’s our only hope,’ answered her mate. ‘If we stay here we shall all be slaughtered or starved to death.’

‘But Scarface is treachery itself,’ Vixen urged. ‘You can’t trust him. Even if he should accept your challenge, he might set the others on you if you showed signs of winning.’

Fox smiled gently at her. ‘I know you are concerned for me and, were it just you and me, things might be different. But I must take this risk for the others’ sake.’

‘Oh, why must they always depend on
you
?’ she
whispered fiercely. But she knew Fox would not be budged.

He answered: ‘It was my quarrel in the first place. I’m doing no more than my duty.’

Then she watched him go out into the sunlight.

At Fox’s appearance Scarface yapped in triumph. But there was no movement towards him as yet. Only Tawny Owl and Whistler flew to a closer perch, while Kestrel hovered low in the air, ready to swoop down if necessary.

Fox looked at Scarface steadily and then his glance turned to the other assembled throng, who were fidgeting nervously. He noticed Ranger had placed himself well back in the rear.

‘You have come in strength, I see,’ said Fox coolly. ‘Do you need all these to overcome me?’

‘You have your followers also,’ Scarface growled.

‘No.’ Fox shook his head. ‘No followers – only friends.’

‘Oh yes – your precious friends. Well, today they are going to regret they ever were your friends.’

‘You have no dispute with them,’ Fox said. ‘It is me you fear.’

Scarface’s eyes blazed. ‘Fear?’ he barked. ‘You talk to me of fear? I didn’t acquire these scars by being afraid. I fear nothing!’

‘An idle boast,’ Fox answered provokingly. ‘I say you fear me; and I believe your fear has governed all your actions since I first came to the Park.’

Scarface tensed himself and seemed about to spring on the taunting Fox, who watched him through narrowing eyes. But then his body relaxed again. ‘You are clever,’ he said. ‘I see what game you’re playing.’

‘Game?’ Fox queried. ‘I haven’t come to play, but to fight.’

The tribe of foxes began to mill about, murmuring to
each other. It was clear their confidence did not match their leader’s.

‘You are an arrogant creature,’ Scarface replied with a cynical grin. ‘You would set yourself against the whole pack?’

‘Not I,’ said Fox. ‘Why would I wish to fight them? Only
you
have made yourself my enemy.’

‘Oh, so you wish to fight
me?
’ Scarface chuckled.

‘To settle this issue once and for all – yes.’

‘You’re a cool customer, I’ll give you that. But, you see, the odds are against you.’

‘I believe we have an even chance,’ Fox replied, ‘in a fair fight.’

Scarface fell silent. He seemed to have fallen into a trap. If he should refuse the fight, he would be taken for a coward. He looked up with a grim smile. ‘Why do you offer yourself as a sacrifice?’ he asked with a grudging respect.

‘Because I fight on one condition,’ answered Fox. ‘If I prove victorious, my friends are to go unharmed.’

Scarface broke into a harsh laugh. ‘And all this for a collection of mice and hedgehogs,’ he rasped. His face became as hard as stone. ‘All right, you have your wish,’ he growled. ‘And when I’ve killed you, I’ll fight your cubs, one by one, and destroy them all.’

Fox was quite aware of the seriousness of his situation. He had laid his challenge at the feet of an animal more hardened and experienced in battle than any in the whole Reserve. The only advantage on his side was his comparative youth, for he had no illusions about the other’s strength and cunning.

The two animals faced each other as if assessing the opponent’s qualities. Fox decided to take a defensive stance and so, at Scarface’s first rush, he had ample time
to swing aside. Then Scarface again rushed headlong at him but Fox dropped flat on his belly, and Scarface’s jaws snapped at the air. But the old warrior turned quickly and bit savagely at Fox’s scruff. Fox broke free, leaving Scarface with a good mouthful of his fur. The other foxes watched in silence as their leader paused before his next move, while his adversary backed steadily away.

Scarface raced forward again and, with a leap, crashed right on top of Fox, bowling him over and driving all the breath from his body. As Fox lay, gasping painfully, Scarface barked in triumph and, teeth bared, lunged for his throat. But Fox scrambled clear in the nick of time and stood with heaving sides, his lungs labouring with difficulty. From the corner of his eye, he saw the heads of Vixen, Badger and Bold at the entrance to the set, watching in dismay. With a supreme effort he gulped down more air and held himself ready again. Now Scarface came in close, snapping left and right with his awful jaws, while Fox stepped further and further back at his advance. He felt his enemy’s teeth and knew that Scarface had tasted blood. They reached a patch of uneven ground and Fox stumbled, his back legs stepping into a dip of the land. Scarface got a grip on his muzzle and held on, biting deep. But Fox kicked out fiercely with his front legs, knocking him back on to his haunches, and then followed up with a lightning thrust at his front legs.