Page 77 - The Black Deer and Charlie Rabbit

The Black Deer and Charlie Rabbit 75
gazed at the stream and didn’t move. The only sound was the water trickling over pebbles. The deer gave a backward glance into the dense woodland. It stepped cautiously over the ground until it was only three steps away from the hammock and the crown was in its reach.
‘Drop!’ yelled Alfie. In a fearful panic, the deer let out a whistling snort, leapt into the air and collided with the falling netting. It thrashed back and forth in an effort to free itself as the net tightened. The creature twisted and turned, kicked and cursed and shook its head.
Otter and his team bounded out from the stream to hold down the net on their side. Tom, Edward and Sam did the same on the other side and finally, the deer was still, panting as it lay there. Charlie wondered if at any second the creature would transform itself into something else and charge at the onlookers: but even if it did there was no escape.
Now the badgers had to make a grab for the head. They stepped forward, uneasy as they did not know what the deer was capable of. Two otters jumped on its back whilst the gulls and woodland animals tightened the netting, holding it fast.
The deer’s fiery eyes widened as Badger approached it. He looked down at the animal and with fury in his voice declared, ‘You are finished! Hold the head still.’
Badger put his hand on the net and grasped a protruding antler. He pulled at the first gold ring, but it wouldn’t budge. He tried for a second time, then a third and wiped his brow.
Daisy Rabbit stepped forward and yelled out: ‘Try twisting it, Badger. Twist it and see what happens.’