The Golden Flight by Michael Tod Page B

Marguerite.
     
    She found Oak and Burdock at their dreys and asked about the ‘story.’ Oak told her what Chip had told them about the Bark-rush.
    ‘Did he say that the island would sink under the weight of all the squirrels?’
    Oak was silent and Burdock said, ‘Well, not exactly, but that made a good story.’
    ‘That’s downright irresponsible,’ said Marguerite. ‘You two, of all squirrels, ought to know better.’
    ‘Why us? asked Burdock.
    ‘You’re my family.’
    ‘So what – does that make us different?’ Burdock snapped back.
    Oak put a restraining paw on his sister’s shoulder but she shook it off. ‘I’m fed up with always being your daughter and other squirrels expecting us to behave better than they have to. We – I at least – am a News-squirrel and I shall say whatever I like about whoever I want to.’
    She ran along a branch and leapt into the next tree.
    Oak called after her but Burdock snarled over her shoulder, ‘You can go and get lost for all I care!’
    Marguerite sighed and looked upset.
    Oak went to her and said, ‘Marguerite-Ma, I’m sorry that Burdock spoke to you that way, but it’s true. It is hard being your family and trying to live up to what you, and other squirrels, expect of us. Especially now.’
    ‘Why especially now?’
    ‘Things are not right here on Ourland – I’m sure you can see that. There’s no danger to keep us alert and wary, as squirrels should be. No excitement. There’s masses of food everywhere, our Mainland ideas are not fully accepted by the island squirrels, and the old Royal ways and disciplines you’ve told us about, don’t apply any more. Squirrels just don’t know where they are.’
    Marguerite looked at her son proudly. He had summed up exactly what she had been feeling. She let him carry on.
    ‘By all accounts, Just Poplar made a good leader when you were not here on Ourland. He always tries to be fair and live up to the ‘Just’ tag, but he feels over-awed by you.’
    ‘Me? ’ said Marguerite incredulously. ‘Me? ’
    ‘Yes, you, Marguerite-Ma. Every squirrel can see that you are far cleverer than he is. He’s afraid that you will disagree with his decisions.’
    ‘I would never dream of interfering.’ Marguerite felt herself to be on the defensive. ‘I never would.’
    ‘I know that, but it makes him uneasy and indecisive. Remember he is used to one strong squirrel being in charge. A King in fact.’
    ‘That’s all over and done with,’ said Marguerite. ‘It was Just Poplar himself that gave up being King.’
    ‘I know, but there are a few squirrels – more than a few – who would like you to be Queen.’
    ‘Me?’ Queen of Ourland? Out of the question! I thought they all called me Miss Hoity-Toity.’
    ‘Only a few of the younger ones. Don’t take any notice of them – they speak from under their tails.’
    ‘What do you think?’ Marguerite sat back, tail low, awaiting her son’s verdict.
    Oak thought for a moment, then replied, ‘It’s difficult for me. If you were Queen then I would be Next-King and I’m not sure if I want that. There is no doubt that you are the cleverest squirrel on the island, bar none.’
    Marguerite’s tail rose a little.
    ‘Squirrels say Chip is clever, and he is, but he hasn’t got your experience, nor wisdom, nor your ability to find the truth buried beneath the facts.’
    Marguerite’s tail rose higher.
    ‘I think you would make a good Queen, or Leader, call it what you will, and I think all the squirrels would accept you, though some of the ex-zervantz might not be too keen on the idea of being zervantz again.’
    ‘They needn’t be. Just because there was a Queen, or a King, there needn’t be zervantz!’
    ‘True, but it would take some time to convince them. Nothing should be done hastily,’ said Oak the Wary.  ‘Now, what is the truth in what Chip told Burdock and me about Ourland being overrun with squirrels?’
     
     

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
     
    Lord Malachite