Page 17 - The Black Deer and Charlie Rabbit

The Black Deer and Charlie Rabbit 15
Badger sighed and picked up the minutes of the last Wisdom meeting, which had been pushed under his door during the night. After reading them he felt uneasy and rubbing his brow, muttered:
‘We’re chasing a dark shadow; an invisible enemy. Am I expecting too much? Can we really succeed?’
Badger knew that the alternative was to lose Sophia and that was inconceivable. Just thinking about it made him feel dreadful.
Badger pushed the papers aside and went to the fireplace where his kettle had been merrily boiling away. There was just enough hot water left inside for a cup of tea but before he had a chance to sit down again, Rowley Weasel shouted through his front door letterbox:
‘Come on, Badger. Are you asleep? Open this door!’
Outside, stood Rowley and Cyril Rat, each holding a bottle of woodland cider.
‘What’s wrong, Badger?’ laughed Rowley as he entered. ‘The door is always ajar on card nights. Expecting burglars?’
‘Ah, you never know,’ smiled Badger, hurriedly putting his paperwork out of sight.
‘Look, Cyril. He’s writing his memoirs. Come along, Badger – bring those glasses over here.’
As usual, the evening was full of banter. By the time the rat and weasel had left, Badger felt relaxed. He told his friends that he was planning to build a second home in Barns Wood but didn’t say why.