42: Chapter 40. The Way Back Scripted by John Ruths and Newell Fisher A late promotion to the podcast's Owsla. Welcome to the Owsla Nati Plavin. Please consider yourself very much a part of the inaugural membership. Chapter 40. The Way Back The pre-chapter quote is from English poet Walter de la Mare. Most of Adams' selected quotes have an element of foreshadowing and this one certainly has.  It's all about a grinning wolf being outside of the door of Dame Hickory. This Chapter open with the sad news that the Efrafan doe Thrayonlosa, has died in the night. She's the rabbit who, beside Speedwell, was wounded when the boat hit the first of the two bridges in Chapter 39.  As is the case with many animals, Thrayonlosa went to be by herself as she died. In his notes on this chapter, John Ruths told me about a cat he once lived with who did this, having first been very affectionate. It is such a poignant behaviour among animals. Hazel consults with Blackberry and determines that it is time to continue to head towards WD, as the other does are getting preoccupied with the body of Thrayonlossa.  This is also the moment when Kehaar announces that he will soon depart for the "Peeg Vater." When Kehaar flies away, it's very nice that he makes it a point to swoop down over the rabbits. Then Hazel and Bigwig see a man in his garden looking at them.  Knowing that it'll be tough keeping their rabbits away from it, they decide to leave. Adams uses this chapter to tell us more about Blackavar. who is proving himself to Hazel and the group.  He's a Wide Patrol veteran and seems quite comfortable out in the wilderness.  They are now close to a copse near Caesar's Belt, west of where they crosses it on the way to Efrafa. Blackavar and our trusty Dandelion come back from a sort of mini patrol.  Blackavar argues against the idea of stopping here, stating that this area is fox country. Bigwig and Blackavar argue but Blackavar is on the defensive.  Bigwig is being a bit petty towards him.   And then, just as Hazel and Bigwig are talking about how well things are going, a fox appears out of nowhere and quickly swoops off with a doe.  When I recorded Episode 29, on death in WD, I completely missed the death of this doe, even though the place where it happens is the last location marked on the map at the front of the book. So the revised book death-toll, including Woundwort, is 12, with 2 being killed by a fox rather than one. So Blackavar's warning was not heeded and a doe paid with her life.  Hazel suggests that the matter of the loss of the doe is closed and accepts equal responsibility as Bigwig. However, this is soon interrupted by other visitors: Four large rabbits and we already know that they're Efrafans. Campion, probably General Woundwort's most capable and trusted subordinate, has managed to catch up with and intercept the group.  Hazel points out that Campion really has no chance of success and is badly outnumbered. Campion himself seems to realize that he's acted rashly. Campion's common sense wins out and the small Efrafan group departs.  The movement of the group continues and soon they know they're close to WD.  Buckthorn is the first WD rabbit to see members of the group and happily greets Hazel-rah and Dandelion.  We also learn that Clover will "kindle" meaning that she's pregnant.  It is Strawberry who delivers this news so this may mean that he is the father.  We learn that a total of 20 rabbits have returned from this expedition, those being all 11 WD bucks who set off, the 8 surviving Efrafan does and the Efrafan buck Blackavar. The chapter closes with an account of Campion and his wide-patrol.  Yes, they departed when Hazel told them to, but they also shadowed the large group heading toward WD. They'll return to Efrafa with this knowledge and the pre-chapter quote now takes on a deeper and more foreboding meaning.