35: Chapter 35. Groping 

Scripted by John Ruths and Newell Fisher. 

The pre-chapter quote is interesting and taken from a much longer Samuel Johnson quote that is really a prayer. Later on, Bigwig does hear from a supernatural voice that is either El-ahrairah or, possibly, Frith. This chapter opens with Bigwig and some on-the-job training being administered by Chervil and Avens. Even burying hraka is mandatory. Hraka is typically buried by rabbits being punished. You can always find those and this comment by Chervil gives you an idea of just what this place is like. From Avens he also hears an account, from an Efrafan point of view, of the escape of a group of "hlessil". We know these rabbits to have been Holly and his fellow emissaries. Avens also lets Bigwig know that the General is likely to want to take him out on Wide Patrol in person before too long. And good luck to him. He soon encounters Blackavar for the first time and we also see the word "Owslafa", a word meaning an elite section of an Owsla. Bigwig's logic tells him that this must be some scarred veteran which has earned him an escort. How wrong he is. The escort is simply because poor Blackavar is basically just a prisoner and no more. Blackberry had advised Bigwig to be on the lookout for any signs of disaffection and soon he encounters some of the insurgency, or discontented does, in this mark. We learn that Owsla members can have does whenever they like. It seems that issues of consent do not matter when it comes to the Owsla. Bigwig decides that if he escapes, Blackavar will come along. He notices that among a group of does, one of them has the attention of the others. She is reciting a very depressing poem about never being to be go outside, choosing a mate, or feeling the wind blow again. We are introduced to Hyzenthlay at last. The doe who explained Efrafa to Holly before he escaped. We learn, from Marjoram, what happened with Blackavar that got his ears all torn up as they are. Marjoram doesn't even seem to realise that Bigwig is a newcomer. This could work to his advantage. He also learns, from Captain Campion, that the Efrafans, indeed, do not like to go beyond the Iron Road and that he will be going on Wide Patrol as soon as his Mark are off Dawn and Evening silflay. Bigwig feigns enthusiasm. Soon Bigwig thinks about sharing some information with Hyzelthlay. He has her summoned to his burrow, on a pretext of wanting to mate with her. She's naturally hesitant to trust Bigwig. We soon learn that she has visions like Fiver's. It is because of this ability that she soon knows to trust Bigwig. Soon we learn that the violent escape attempt that earned Blackavar his punishment ties right in with Hyzenthlay and their recent attempts to leave Efrafa. The does who asked to leave Efrafa were split up between marks. But Hyzenthlay and Thethutinnang, the two main ringleaders, were kept together, which made little sense. But in Efrafa that doesn't matter, as long as the order was fulfilled. Bigwig and Hyzenthlay begin to plan their future escape. Hyzenthlay and Thethuthinnang will select the does who will escape, while Bigwig will focus on the actual mechanics of that escape. Bigwig explains that the best time for the escape to happen would be at sunset and that this should happen as soon as possible. He also tells Hyzenthlay about Kehaar. Their Mark is due to lose evening silflay in a couple of days time. This gives the plan far more urgency. Bigwig decides that they must therefore escape on the following evening. And that Blackavar will be coming with them. It's clear that Bigwig has serendipitously happened upon someone he can work with. Once Hyzenthlay departs, Bigwig manages to doze and has some menacing dreams before drifting off into a deep sleep. Vocab: Owslafa: An elite section of an Owsla, as opposed to simply the Captain, or captains. A term we only encounter in Efrafa. Thethuthinnang: Movement-of-leaves. A name for a doe.