27: Chapter 29. Return and Departure and Review of Part 2. 

 

27.1 Burrowkeeping 

 

One bit of burrowkeeping: I have added the musical interludes to episodes 1 to 7, as I didn't start using them until episode 8.  

 

27.2 Chapter 29. Return and Departure 

 

The opening quotation is among the more obvious in the book, as Shakespeare's Henry the Fifth guilt-trips his troops into fighting alongside him. 

 

The chapter opens with the eagerly anticipated return of Hazel to the Down. Just after sunrise Fiver arrives on the Down, followed by a limping Hazel. He is greeted back at the Warren with play fighting. He then has a conversation with Boxwood about how he is settling in. Hazel also talks to Strawberry, who has been very badly affected by his experiences in Efrafa.  

 

Hazel, like a true leader, make sure he talks to all the rabbits before going underground. 

 

Later Hazel calls a meeting in the Honeycomb, where he makes clear his intention to get more does from Efrafa. This is greeted with astonishment. When Bluebell asks how they're going to do this Hazel explains that he and Blackberry have a plan but they're not going to explain it in case anyone is caught and taken to Efrafa. 

 

Although Hazel hopes to avoid fighting he is going to take enough rabbits to deal with any wide-patrols they may meet He confirms that they will not be going into Efrafa. 

 

Holly interrupts and gives a comprehensive speech criticising Hazel's plan based on his experiences of Efrafa. This causes a buzz of conversation in the honeycomb and Hazel wait patiently for this to stop. 

 

He then reminds them of the reality that they do not have enough does and they have this chance to put that right for good. Someone asks what Fiver thinks. He says that he is going and that Hazel is right. But if he gets any feelings that things aren't right he will speak up. Hazel promises that he will not ignore such warnings. Bigwig then speaks, saying that he is going and they will have Kehaar with them. 

 

Hazel says that the hutch rabbits, and anyone who went to before, is not expected to come, though Silver says he will. 

 

Little Pipkin in a confused speech confirms he is going. So now the strongest and the weakest have confirmed they are going. No one else has any excuse. Henry the Fifth indeed. 

 

Blackberry, who Hazel thought was already in the meeting, then arrives to say that he has been talking to Kehaar, who has improved the plan considerably. Bluebell pipes up with his with his usual joking turn of phrase. But his reference to Bigwig being involved in the plan seems to annoy Hazel, who tells him to shut up. As we learn later, Bluebell has indeed accidentally guessed part of the plan which must have alarmed Hazel. 

 

Hazel then goes to speak with Kehaar. He says he will help them to get the 'mudders' out of Efrafa, but he will then want to leave them to return to thec sea, though he will return in the autumn or winter. 

 

Bigwig appears and Hazel confirms that they will set off at daybreak. Holly will be chief rabbit until they return and the farm rabbits, as well as Buckthorn and Strawberry, will remain with him on Watership Down. Anyone else who wants to can also stay. 

 

27.3 Review of Part Two: On Watership Down 

 

So ends Part Two of Watership Down, which began with the rabbits arrival at the foot of the down, and ends with most of them leaving a well-established warren on an expedition to ensure it has a future. 

 

Three more rabbits, two of them does, have joined them from Nuthanger Farm. But this has nearly resulted in the chief rabbit losng his life. 

 

We are well past the halfway point of the story, the rest of which is very much focused on Efrafa.  

 

Some frightening times lie ahead. 

 

27.4 Next Episode 

 

As ever, thank you to John Ruths for his notes. 

 

At the end of Part One of the book, I paused going through it for a couple of episodes and I now plan to do so again.