# ■ 4 A meeting with Mr Badger

They waited patiently for a very long time, jumping up and down in the snow to keep warm. At last they heard feet coming slowly towards the door. Then the door opened, just enough to show a long nose and pair of sleepy eyes.

And who, 'said a deep, angry voice, 'is making visits at this time of night?'

Oh, Badger, 'cried the Rat, 'let us in, please. It's me, Rat, and my friend Mole, and we're lost in the snow. '

What?' said the Badger, in a very different voice. 'My dear Ratty! Lost in the snow, and in the Wild Wood! Come in at once, both of you, and get yourselves warm. '

That was a wonderful moment for the Mole and the Rat, when they heard the door close behind them, shutting out the Wild Wood. They followed the Badger down long dark tunnels until they came into a large kitchen. There was a bright fire, with comfortable armchairs round it, and a great wooden table with long seats.

This is not the kind of night for small animals to be out, 'the Badger said, in a fatherly way. 'Sit yourselves down by the fire, while I get you some supper. '

Soon the Mole and the Rat were warm and dry, and the dangers of the Wild Wood seemed a long way away, like a bad dream. Then supper arrived. It was enough for ten small hungry animals, and the Rat and the Mole realized just how hungry they were. When at last they could eat no more, they sat with the Badger round the fire, and told him the story of their adventures.

Then the Badger said, 'Now then! Tell me the news from your part of the world. How's old Toad getting on?'

He's going from bad to worse, 'said the Rat sadly. 'He had another crash only last week, and a bad one. You see, he thinks he's a wonderful driver, the best in the world. But he isn't. He's terrible! But he won't take lessons, he won't lis ten to anyone. '

How many has he had?' the Badger asked.

Crashes, or motor-cars?' asked the Rat. 'Well, with Toad, it's the same thing. This is the seventh car, and the seventh crash. His garage is full to the roof with bits of broken motor car! '

He's been in hospital twice, 'the Mole added. 'The police have arrested him for dangerous driving three or four times. And he's spending so much money! '

That's another problem, 'the Rat went on. 'Toad's rich, we all know that; but his money won't last for ever. Sooner or later, one of two things will happen. He'll kill himself in a crash, or he'll have no money left at all. Badger! We're his friends-can't we do something?'

The Badger thought for a while. 'You know, don't you, that I can't do anything now?' he said at last.

No, no, of course not, 'the Rat and the Mole said together. Everybody knew that in the animal world the winter was a time for rest and sleep. Nobody wanted to do anything important or tiring.

Very well, 'continued the Badger. 'But when the days are longer and warmer, then we'll do something. We-you and me and our friend the Mole here-we'll try to teach Toad a lesson. We won't listen to any silliness. We'll bring him back to reason, and turn him into a sensible Toad at last. But now, it's time for bed. Don't hurry tomorrow morning-come for breakfast as late as you want! '

The two tired animals slept long and deeply, and came down to breakfast very late indeed. In the kitchen they found two young hedgehogs, busy with bowls of bread and hot milk.

Hello! 'said the Rat pleasantly. 'Where did you two come from? Lost your way in the snow, I suppose?'

Yes, sir, 'said one of the hedgehogs politely. 'We got lost on the way to school, and Mr Badger said we could come in and have some breakfast. '

The breakfast things were all ready on the table, and the Mole and the Rat quickly got to work. The Rat made the coffee while the Mole fried several pieces of bread and an enormous number of eggs.

When the door bell rang, one of the hedgehogs went to answer the door. He came back followed by the Otter, who gave a shout of happiness when he saw the Rat. He ran across the room and almost knocked the Rat off his chair.

Get off! ' said the Raf, with his mouth full of fried bread.

I thought I'd find you here all right, 'said the Otter happily. ' Everybody along the river bank has been so worried about you. Rat never came home last night, and nor did Mole; something terrible has happened, they said. But if anyone's in trouble, Badger usually gets to hear about it, so I came straight here this morning. And oh my, didn't the Wild Wood look grand, with the snow everywhere and the red sun coming up, shining through the black trees! Halfway here I met one of those silly rabbits. He told me that Mole had lost his way last night, and that “They” were out and chasing him all over the wood. I' d like to meet one of “Them” myself this morning, and tell them what I think. '

Weren' t you at all—um－afraid? asked the Mole, remembering how frightened he had been.

Afraid?' The Otter laughed and showed this strong white teeth. ' I don' t think any of them would argue with me. Here, Mole, be a good fellow and fry me some eggs. I' m terribly hungry, and I've got a lot to talk about with Ratty here. Haven't seen him for weeks. '

Breakfast was almost finished when the Badger entered, looking sleepy. ' It' s nearly time for lunch, ' he said. ' Stay and have some with us, Otter. You must be hungry this cold morning. '

The hedgehogs were sent home, the breakfast things were cleared away, and soon the four animals sat down to lunch together. The Rat and the Otter were having a long conversation about river-bank matters, so the Mole began to talk to the Badger.

This is a wonderful, comfortable home you have here, ' he said. ' There' s really nothing better than a place underground like this. You can shut off the world up there when you don't want it. And when you do, you can just go up and there' s the world waiting for you. '

The Badger smiled warmly at him. ' That' s just what I say, ' he replied. ' Down here, you' re safe and dry and warm. With a house above ground, you' ve got to worry about fire, and wind and rain, holes in the roof and broken windows. No, above ground is fine in its way, but one' s home should be underground. '

The Mole agreed with everything that the Badger said. His own little home was underground, so it was natural for him to feel comfortable there. He and the Badger became very friendly, and after lunch the Badger took him all round his home, down tunnel after tunnel, through room after room. The Mole was interested in everything and thought it was all wonderful. '

When they got back to the kitchen, the Rat was walking up and down, very restless. Unlike the Mole, he didn' t really feel comfortable underground. He wanted to be back in his own home, where the windows looked out over the river, and where he could hear the wind whispering through the trees.

Come along, Mole, ' he said. ' We must get off while it's daylight. We don't want to spend another night lost in the Wild Wood. '

It' s all right, ' said the Otter. ' I' m coming with you and I know all the paths. '

You mustn' t worry, Ratty, ' added the Badger calmly. ' My tunnels go further than you think, and I' ve several back doors at the edge of the wood-although I keep them secret from most people. '

So the journey home was really very easy. When they came out of the Badger's secret back door, they found a path across the fields and soon they could see the river in front of them. The Mole looked back at the Wild Wood for a moment, thinking of the terror that he had felt there. Then he hurried on after the others, happy to be back in the open fields, and looking forward to the bright firelight of home.

■ 4 與獾先生相遇

他們耐心地等了很長時間，在雪地裡又蹦又跳以保持身體的暖和。最後他們終於聽到了腳步慢騰騰地向門口走來。然後門開了，僅僅夠露出一隻長鼻子和一對睏倦的眼睛。

“是誰，”一個低沉、慍怒的聲音問道，“這麼晚還來串門？”

“噢，獾，”水鼠叫道，“請讓我們進去。是我，水鼠，還有我的朋友鼴鼠，我們在雪地裡迷路了。”

“什麼？”獾用完全不同的語調說，“親愛的阿鼠！在雪地裡迷路，在野樹林！趕快進來，你們倆，先暖和暖和。”

聽到門在他們身後關起來，把野樹林隔離在外，對鼴鼠和水鼠來說，這真是美妙的時刻。他們跟著獾向下走過長長的黑通道，來到一個大大的廚房。那兒有明亮的爐火，四周擺放著舒服的扶手椅，一張特大的木桌和長椅。

“這種夜晚小動物們是不應該出來的，”獾慈父般地說，“坐在火邊，我給你們取點晚餐。”

很快他們就烤乾了衣服，也感覺暖和了，野樹林的危險像一場惡夢顯得已很遙遠。晚餐準備好了。它夠十隻飢餓的小動物吃個飽，水鼠和鼴鼠也才意識到他們已飢腸轆轆了。他們吃飽了以後，便與獾圍坐在火爐邊，說著他們的危險經歷。

最後獾安慰道，“現在好了！告訴我你們那邊的消息，老蛤蟆怎麼樣啦？”

“他的情況越來越糟糕了，”水鼠難過地說，“上星期他又撞車了，很嚴重。你知道，他自己認為他是駕車能手，是世界上最好的。但是他不是，他很差勁！但他不吸取教訓，也聽不進別人的勸告。”

“他已有多少了？”獾問。

“撞車，還是汽車？”水鼠問。“不過，對於蛤蟆來說是一樣的。這是第七輛車，也是第七次撞車。他的車庫裡堆滿了撞壞的汽車殘骸！”

“他還住了兩次醫院，”鼴鼠補充道。“因為危險駕車，他被警察抓過三四次，他正在花大把的錢呢！”

“那是另一個問題，”水鼠接著說。“癩蛤蟆很富，我們大家都知道；但他不可能永遠有錢的。遲早總有一件事要發生。他要麼被撞死在車禍中，要麼一無所有。獾！我們是他的朋友——難道我們不能為他做些什麼？”

獾想了一會兒，最後說，“你知道的，難道你忘了，我現在什麼也幹不成嗎？”

“不，不，當然不是現在，”水鼠和鼴鼠齊聲說。每個人都知道，在動物世界裡冬季是休息和睡眠的季節，沒有誰想幹任何重要或吃力的事情。

“很好，”獾繼續說。“但是日子變長變暖後，我們還是會幹些事的。我們——你和我，還有我們的朋友，鼴鼠——我們設法教訓他一下。我們不願再聽到任何蠢事了。我們要讓他恢復理智，最後變成聰明的癩蛤蟆。但是現在該睡覺了，明天早上不要趕時間——睡夠了再用早餐！”

這兩隻疲倦的動物沉沉入睡了很長時間，的確很遲才下來吃早餐。在廚房裡他們看見兩隻小豪豬正忙著吃碗裡的麵包和熱牛奶。

“你們好！”水鼠愉快地說，“你們倆從哪兒來？在雪地裡迷路了吧，我猜？”

“是的，先生，”其中一隻豪豬禮貌地答道，“我們去學校的路上迷了路，獾先生說我們可以進來用些早餐。”

早餐配料已準備好在桌子上，鼴鼠和水鼠很快開始工作。水鼠煮咖啡，鼴鼠煎了幾片面包和一大堆雞蛋。

門鈴響了，一隻豪豬起身去開門，回來時後面跟著水獺，當他看見水鼠，高興地叫了起來。他小跑著穿過房間，差點把水鼠從椅子上撞了下來。

“走開！”水鼠說道，嘴裡塞滿了煎麵包。

“我想我會在這兒見到你們安安全全的，”水獺高興地說，“河岸邊的每個人一直都很擔心你們。他們說，水鼠昨晚沒回家，鼴鼠也沒有，一定發生了什麼可怕的事。但是，只要有人遇到麻煩，獾常常能聽說點什麼的，因此我今早就直接過來了。噢，野樹林是不是看起來很壯觀，到處都是積雪，紅紅的太陽升起來，透過茂密的樹林照射下來！半路上我碰到一隻傻野兔，他說昨晚鼴鼠迷了路；‘他們’出來，滿樹林裡追趕他。我今早倒願意碰見‘他們’中的一個，然後告訴他我是怎麼想的。”

“難道你——一點也不害怕？”想起他嚇得半死，鼴鼠不禁問道。

“害怕？”水獺笑起來，露出他那堅硬的白齒，“我想他們中還沒誰敢和我作對吧。好了，鼴鼠，好夥計，給我煎些蛋。我餓得很，而我現在有許多話要和阿鼠說，幾個星期沒見他了。”

早餐幾乎結束了，獾才睡眼惺鬆地走了進來。“馬上該用午餐了，”他說道，“留下和我們一塊吃些吧，水獺。早上這麼冷你一定很餓吧。”

豪豬被送回家了，早餐的用品也被清理乾淨，不久這四隻動物又坐在一起吃午飯了。水鼠一直和水獺聊著河岸邊的事情，因此鼴鼠開始和獾交談。

“你這個房子真好，真舒服，”他說。“真的沒有比像地下這兒更好的地方了。你不想見它，就可以把世界關在你的上面；你願意，你只要走上去，就有一個世界等著你。”

獾對他溫和地微笑著。“這正是我的看法，”他回答道，“在地下，你是安全、乾燥、溫暖的。住在地面上的房子裡，你得擔心火、風和雨，還有房頂上的洞和破窗戶。是的，從某種意義上說，地上的房子是不錯，但‘家’應該在地下。”

鼴鼠非常同意獾的說法。他自己的小家就在地下，因此他覺得這兒舒服是很自然的。他和獾之間變得非常的默契，午餐後，獾帶他去參觀他的家，向下穿過了一個又一個通道，走過了一間又一間房子。鼴鼠對什麼都感興趣，認為這裡的一切都是那麼美妙。

當他們回到廚房，水鼠正在那兒來回踱步，一副很不安的樣子。不像鼴鼠，他在地下感到不太舒服，他想回到他自己的家，在那兒，從窗戶裡能看見潺潺河水，能聽到風過河岸樹時的輕輕低語。

“快點，鼴鼠，”他說。“趁天亮，我們得馬上走。我們不想在野樹林裡再迷失去路而浪費又一個晚上。”

“沒問題，”水獺說，“我和你們作伴，我熟悉所有的路。”

“你不必擔心，阿鼠，”獾平靜地補充道。“我的地道要比你們想的遠得多，在樹林的盡頭，我開了幾個後門——儘管我對大多數人都保守著這個祕密。”

因此回家就真的很容易了。當他們走出獾的祕密後門，他們就看見了穿過田野的小路，很快他們就看到了前面的河。鼴鼠回過頭看著野樹林，想了一會他在那兒的可怕經歷，然後急忙趕上他倆，慶幸自己又回到了廣闊的田野，並期待著爐火明亮的家。