The Forest and the Farm

by Vance Huxley

  For two and a half days the two of them struggled on, Billi lost in a mixture of memories and the sheer glory of the winter wood. Perhaps that explained why it took a moment for Billi to register the change in Rabbit’s song. A hopeful, hunting note but Billi wasn’t so sure, not in all this snow? Until now Rabbit had ignored all potential prey so Billi strung his bow, more or less as a reflex. Maybe Rabbit thought the Farm near enough, and the whatever small enough for Billi to stagger home with?

  The pair moved forward, not exactly stealthy but the snow muffled their clumsy progress. When he saw the deer Billi thought stealth made no difference. They were too far to risk only wounding as these were smaller and faster than the sort making troughs in the snow. There were seven deer, digging with their hooves where they had found some grass or hay that wasn’t buried too deep.

  Billi could hit one, but not to be sure of a killing hit. At this angle he couldn’t even be sure of hitting a lung to stop the prey from running far. If Billi wounded one they might end up taking a couple of days hunting it down, then a couple more days to get back this far, and Billi didn’t fancy that. Sure enough the deer scattered as soon as one saw him, bounding outwards from the patch of rough grass they’d scratched at. Big leaps, swift and agile on the thinner snow.

  Billi relaxed but the song spiked suddenly, and Rabbit’s attention fastened on the two deer that had faltered. Billi could see they’d gone through the crust into deep drifts and both were floundering, fighting to get enough purchase to scramble clear of snow deeper than they were. But Rabbit watched just one, and the song urged Billi on.

  The deer stood, or struggled, side-on. Rabbit bounded forward and scrabbled out through the drifts. The Hound wanted to get across the deer’s line of flight if it fought clear of the snow after being hit. Billi propped his crutch up against his side and pulled the bow, swiftly and smoothly. It dropped onto the target and he loosed the shaft. Billi fitted another shaft but then removed it as Rabbit bayed triumphantly.

  The Hound bounced through a shallower patch to plunge into the snowdrift directly ahead of the deer then the Hound waited, poised to seize the throat if it tried to turn or get past him. A reddening of the snow close to the thrashing deer confirmed Rabbit’s assessment, the shaft had gone true. Billi stumped forward as fast as possible, then swung off the pack to get at his spear. There were no horns but that head or those sharp hooves could still do serious damage.

  Once Billi arrived Rabbit hesitated, chose the right moment and fastened onto the deer’s muzzle, the spear went in hard and fast and they had a meal. Several meals, the meat would still be plump and juicy and Billi worked quickly while Rabbit stood guard. He threw a few chunks to Rabbit and popped a slice of fresh liver into his own mouth, still warm, then rolled the meat up in the skin and tied it into a bundle on top of his pack. That sorted out a good part of the pay for hut guarding very nicely.

  The deer made the pack heavy but Billi had carried heavier, and it wouldn’t be for long. On an impulse Billi took the two sharp teeth that jutted from the vegetarian’s mouth, for Rubyn. The males used them to fight but they looked incongruous on a non-predator and were sometimes used on necklaces because of that. Then he waved to the gathering crows and ravens and called Rabbit to finish his meal. They set off at as good a pace as Billi could manage, to let the smaller scavengers get a meal before their larger cousins moved in.

  In this sort of weather everyone needed a bit of help. Though if it lasted there would be plenty to scavenge as animals caught in drifts weakened and died, or were found and finished by predators. Billi thought of what the bard said. ‘Buzzard and Raven, Fox and the Crow, waited, impatient for death in the snow’ or something close. The man had got that right. The bards often did although they didn’t actually hunt.

  When the caravans with bards had gone, the villagers sometimes wondered about that. About if a bard had to go out and try lots of different ways of making a living first, because they were so good at catching the heart of it. The bards always had a new one to go with the old favourites as well. The alehouse customers wondered did they make them up or did someone sit in a hut somewhere doing nothing else? Billi wondered what a bard would make of the woods right now? It was a shame that none of them would ever see it.

  * * *

  Sure enough, whether it was just that Billi pushed hard or the way became a little easier nearer home, before dusk Billi came out of the Forest and onto the barren fields. At this time of year there were no guards as every animal and crop had been tucked up safely for the winter, in barn or storehouse. Even the stockyards were empty and deserted and Billi wondered briefly where Edan and his animals were. Maybe a friend had given them shelter. Edan’s four big dogs would be costing him a fortune to feed in this weather, especially with the early snow. That cost might be the ruin of Edan’s schemes.

  Two straight lines of smoke climbed into the dull grey sky as pink began to tinge the clouds, a sure sign of Ellibeth. Billi felt a little lift at the thought of fresh bread, though she may not have baked as she wouldn’t know he’d be home. Billi heard Spots and as he came through the gate his door opened and Ellibeth looked out and smiled. She looked relieved and Billi wondered who she might be expecting? He must be very late so maybe there’d been bother from Edan.

  Then Billi remembered that all the Edan nonsense was over, so perhaps she’d been worried about him. Then he wondered why would Ellibeth worry about him? There again she was a friend. Billi still wasn’t used to the idea of friends and the thought left a little warm spot inside. Billi swung off his pack and banged off the snow so he didn’t trek it in since he knew the hut would be spick and span again inside. He didn’t want Ellibeth to think he didn’t appreciate her work. Billi couldn’t stamp his boot but he banged the crutch a couple of times and came in. He dumped the pack on the floor and took a deep appreciative breath of fresh bread. As Billi opened his mouth to say something about it, he saw his chair.

  The Dancer’s breast cloth hung over the back and looked as if someone had cleaned and ironed it. Worse still that meant Ellibeth since the youths might have looked at it but they wouldn’t have done that! Billi felt the heat in his cheeks and he stood here with his mouth open. Sure enough as the door thunked behind him Ellibeth looked at him, then the chair, and back. A tiny smile, maybe, showed at the corner of her mouth, possibly because of how Billi looked so he shut his mouth.

  “I didn’t know what you wanted to do with it, big bearr?” The definite amusement in Ellibeth’s voice blended with the beginnings of a smile and genuine curiosity as well.

  “I’ve no idea!” That maybe came out as a bit of a complaint, but Billi really didn’t know.

  “You could nail it up above your bed?”

  Billi wondered, was Ellibeth teasing him? “No, why would I? And she’s not been in the bed!” Well not this one Billi mentally added, while his sense of humour pointed out she wasn’t wearing a breast cloth either but he’d best not mention that. “Though the Tinkerer maid told me to keep it as a trophy.” Billi’s sense of humour prodded. “Maybe I should put it in the alehouse with the boar’s head?”

  Ellibeth laughed, so she obviously had the same sense of humour. “That would be popular with the youths! Mind, it would be fair warning to the maids because what did that Dancer say, the maids should beware those ssrrong arrms? Though the maids have been warned now since a lot of youths have mentioned that part, among the rest.”

  The two accented words brought back some interesting memories, and actually sounded rather nice from Ellibeth and Billi flushed at the thought. He chose the safe route and kept his thoughts firmly off how Ellibeth sounded. “I’m not going to catch many like this.” Billi gestured at his leg. “The Dancer gave her warning while stood safely clear of me.” He shrugged.

  Ellibeth stepped forward and her hand came up, then a finger tapped his chest. “It isn’t how fast the man chases, it’s how fast the maid runs away.” She turned away and he heard the humour as she continued, “and
what if the maid does the chasing? Silly Billi.” Billi stared after her, was Ellibeth teasing? He hadn’t heard silly Billi since he’d finished school. Ellibeth would be the right age to have heard him called that though he doubted she’d have been one of the taunting voices. So that might even be flirting given the light tone and the words seemed different like that, from an adult voice.

  Should Billi tease back, or chase her? He’d been very careful not to let such thoughts about any maid take root as that might lead to him doing something foolish. Did Billi want to chase Ellibeth? He had to admit the thought of chasing Ellibeth appealed but if she was joking he’d ruin any friendship. Billi would have to do or say something because the silence went on too long and then a ferocious growl came from Ellibeth’s room!

  Well ferocious for a very young bear in a very big skin. Rubyn had the floor fur with the bear’s head over him and wore bear feet. On him they were oversized boots with claws! Viktor had given Billi the feet back and now Billi wasn’t even sure where he’d put them, but Rubyn had found them.

  Billi burst out laughing and a moment later Ellibeth must have looked because she started laughing too, and a delighted young face popped out of the fur. “I’ve just the thing here. A big bear like that should have big teeth.” Billi ignored the snort from behind at the big bear and dug in his pocket for the little package, then threw it to the bear in the doorway. A bit of intense unfastening later and Rubyn brandished the deer fangs, then looked at his Ma.

  “Ma? Can I? Please?” He held them up in front of the defanged bear’s head. “Please?”

  “Yes, but after they’ve been properly cleaned. You’ll be having a fine collection if Billi keeps this up.” For some reason Ellibeth found that funny. As Billi shrugged off his coat and jacket she looked at the breast cloth again and Ellibeth smiled properly this time. “So what will you do with this if it’s not going on the wall or in the alehouse?”

  “Well it’s really thin?” Billi ignored the snort and continued. “So I thought, maybe it could be used for cheese making, to drain the curds and I was...” Billi managed to stop because his brain had caught up with his mouth and remembered that he didn’t make his cheese now, Ellibeth did. Billi felt stone certain that on the list of significant gifts a breast cloth went above claws, teeth, fancy furs and probably that big sparkul on a chain!

  Though his humour did point out she wouldn’t flaunt it. Billi’s sense of humour was getting a good workout today. Inspiration struck, helped by the bear in the doorway. “I was going to give it to Rubyn so you could teach him how to make cheese.” Billi had to smile at the giggle when the laughter that had been building in Ellibeth’s eyes broke free. It was fairly obvious he’d been going to say something else.

  “So you are giving your trophy.” Ellibeth giggled again. “An exotic dancer’s finest quality breast cloth, to a lad of nine summers to make cheese?” Her eyes were dancing and Billi could only hope Ellibeth limited who she told about this. “Are you trying to corrupt my boy?” Billi opened his mouth to protest and her laughter came properly. “Oh Billi, if you could only see your own face!” Ellibeth got herself under control and sort of straightened her face. “Rubyn, would you like to learn to make cheese?” The glee still showed in her eyes and some was in her voice.

  “Oh yes, can I? Please? Goat’s cheese?” The fur dropped, because this was important. Real work but even better, new work.

  “Yes, because Billi’s found you a suitable bit of cloth.” Her voice wavered a bit over ‘suitable’ and then carried on. “It’s on the back of the chair, so fold it up and look after it.”

  “Thanks, Billi.” A furless and barefoot bear gave Billi a quick hug and scooped the cloth up. Rubyn folded it neatly and tucked it in his belt before looking up with his eyes shining. “I’ll make you some really special cheese.”

  Billi daren’t look at Ellibeth. He knew she’d be a glance away from laughing or another comment and then her voice came, definitely humorous, “I’m sure Billi will love it. Now pick up your clutter and put everything back where it belongs, though I’ve no idea where the feet go.”

  “Stick them under your bed, Rubyn, for if you want something to keep your feet warm.” Another bright smile and Rubyn dashed off.

  “Well, you’d better sit down, since you must be tired. I’ll pack the meat away. There’s fresh bread here and a bit of butter in the cold house. Rubyn will get that.” Ellibeth kept smiling but seemed back on balance, her fit of giggles stifled. Billi wondered who might to be asking him about special goat’s cheese in the future because there was no chance she wouldn’t share it. He would if it had been someone else. Billi sat and stretched his leg gratefully then he suddenly realised.

  “I’ll get the butter later. It’s dusk now so I’d better get you home.”

  “When you’ve eaten and had some rest. You’ve been pushing to get home I’d wager, so now you bide a while. Did you want a bit of cider warmed?” Billi opened his mouth to point out Ellibeth would be here after dark but it wasn’t bothering her so why mention it? Ellibeth continued, so she must have been thinking of the same thing. “I’ll be safe enough going home in the dark, with a Hound and a ssrrong bearr to watch over me.” A growl answered from the doorway but the gleam in her eye wasn’t aimed at Rubyn. Billi remembered what he’d meant to ask when he came in and quickly steered the conversation to normal matters.

  “How did you know I’d be home tonight, or was the fresh bread just a bit of good luck for me?”

  “Ah, well, I make a bit any night you might be home. Rubyn and I eat it if you don’t come so there’s no waste.” Ellibeth had stopped laughing all right. Her reply sounded shy if anything and she had two spots of colour on her cheeks.

  Billi wondered if Ellibeth worried about the flour and such being used? “Oh. Well thank you. ‘Tis something I miss out in the green. Don’t worry if there’s a bit wasted. The chickens will eat it and it’s worth it for the welcome.”

  “Then I’ll make sure there’s always a welcome waiting.” Her voice sounded better now, and happy again. “Why do you call it the green? Everyone else says Forest. Even the Hunters are wary when they talk about it but you can’t wait to be out there, which is a puzzle with all the danger.”

  “I love the beauty. It’s lovely out there, so beautiful and alive and the danger just makes you more alive and it all seem more beautiful.” For the first time, as he ate and drank his bit of warm cider, Billi told someone of his love of the green. “There’s nothing like the dappled green light as a sunbeam strikes through the leaves, then bursts into colour as it strikes a blossom or a bird. A turn in the track, or coming round a bush, will suddenly reveal a wall of bright forest blooms. When I brush against them, the scent follows and lingers. There are hidden clearings where the short grass is starred with tiny flowers, where the chattering streams wind through the bushes and trees to the sound of the birds. And there’s the birds, so many birds, chattering and cheeping and singing and scolding, or flitting from tree to tree shining like sparkuls, or hopping brown and shy under the bushes.”

  Ellibeth nodded, and frowned just a little. “But that is summer, and the leaves and flowers are all gone now.”

  Billi sighed. “But it isn’t just colour and sounds. The whole forest is silent right now. The snow has blown and frozen between the trees into big curves and swirls, caves and spires. Some trees have snow built up the sides to coat them, where others stand out stark and clear. Branches are heavy with snow, groaning and creaking with any breath of wind. Some have even snapped off under the weight, or bent down to where the ends are now frozen to the ground. Others are glittering as if dusted with tiny sparkuls, all afire in the sun. The ice on the streams lines the banks, and goes right across in places. Then I can watch the water racing by, out of reach even if I can see it. There are even fish in there, silver streaks that are safe from any fisher, Man or Wild.”

  “Where the water can be reached, the marks of the animals and even birds are clear when they
come to drink. Tiny feet, mice, and the small furred hunters like those pelts in my pack. Then hooves and pads and eventually, sometimes, a big cat, a true hunter. They are why even in the beauty and the quiet, the Wild is watching.” Billi smiled at Rubyn. “No bears in winter because they all go away someplace, but even the danger is beautiful, look at these.”

  Billi stood up and pulled two of his treasures off the shelf above his bed. He unrolled the two spotted furs from the first Winter Hunt. “These are so beautiful that I can’t bear to trade them yet, but these cats would catch me in an instant if Rabbit and I let our guard down. That is a part of what I love, the sheer beauty mixed with the danger. That is why I go back,” Billi looked at Rabbit, “we go back, again and again because Rabbit loves the green as well. It’s in his song.” Ellibeth seemed to understand, sitting smiling as Billi talked and talked. Rubyn sat entranced and Billi had to warn him, it was only beautiful if the Hunter had a Hound to watch and listen. Rabbit’s tail thumped agreement from where he lay next to the littlun with Spots on Rubyn’s other side.

  “Your clearing, your place with fish, must be very beautiful from the amount of time you spend there? Is it dangerous as well?” Ellibeth had no idea what sort of danger or beauty!

  “Yes, very dangerous but also very beautiful and very peaceful.”

  “Some of the Hunters were talking, wondering if it is worth a trip since ‘tis Forest, not claimed.” Ellibeth saw Billi’s bolt of alarm. “Why haven’t you claimed it? Is it too much part of the Wild?”

  Billi sighed. “Not now. I’ve been cropping to make the valley into Farm but didn’t expect anyone else to bother.”

  “When you keep turning up with such beautiful, plush pelts?” Ellibeth stroked the thick white bundles that had been strapped to the back of his pack. “Somebody is bound to go and look, and they’ve been looking out for reed beds as well, and pools with fish. Oh, Fellip is waiting for you to come back and so are Perry and Timath because ‘tis reed time. I think Perry is hoping to manage a bit of chasing with a feather pillow if he can persuade either Sis to sew it.”