Ratty and Mole sat on the dock with their sandwiches, tea and books. But Ratty no sooner began to read when he saw someone he wanted to introduce to Mole. Ratty wanted everyone to meet Mole who, by the hour, he became more and more endeared to.
And as the day went by and afternoon's light began to fade, Mole became anxious. "Ratty, I have had such a good time. This is all so wonderful and exciting to me. But it is getting late, and I must return to my hole while I can still see."
"Oh dear." Ratty said, suddenly realizing what time it was. "Why don't you spend the night here, there is plenty of room. I'll build a cozy fire and we'll retire early, seeing what a busy day it's been."
Mole thought for a minute, so enjoying his time with Ratty, he really didn't want it to end. "If it's not too much trouble then. I would love to stay, Ratty."
Ratty beamed, "It's settled then. Come inside and I'll show you around. I have quite a selection of books."
The two went inside with Ratty showing Mole where everything was and asked Mole's help to bring in a spare bed for Mole to sleep in. They had bean soup with toasted cheese sandwiches while Ratty talked of all the things they could do the next day before exhaustion caught up with them and they fell asleep in their beds.
Mole woke to the sight of the river going by outside the bedroom's window. Even with his near-sightedness, he was delighted, so different from his hole in the ground, it felt to him like he always belonged here.
Ratty had made porridge and tea. He wondered though if they should eat on the dock or at the kitchen nook when Mole came in and said good morning to him.
"Oh Ratty it's so wonderful here, I could stay forever."
"Well, it's settled then. Why don't you!" Ratty couldn't be happier with the news Mole gave him. "Shall we dine al fresco?"
"Wonderful," said Mole.
In a weeks time Mole moved in with Ratty. They boarded up Mole's hole in the ground, should he ever return, and made Ratty's place into Ratty and Mole's home. The two spent their days on the river, and everyone said how happy Ratty was, and what a fine fellow Mole was, and isn't it nice that they should find each other.
One day a fox came to the river. He set up a tent on the outskirts of town and posted messages about the village that he knew the Creator and that all the creatures should come and hear what the Creator wanted from them or suffer the wrath of the, All-Knowing. There was to be a meeting at noon and everyone was to bring someone with them. So all the town's people came, but many on the river didn't hear of the meeting, or didn't care what the fox had to say and stayed away.
As the animals gathered inside the tent, they faced a stage with a podium in its center and lit candles on each side. An organ played somber music while the crowd gathered and when the tent was near full, great bangs of thunder rolled from the stage. It made them nervous, for creatures naturally don't like thunder and lightening. When a hush fell on the crowd, the fox appeared wearing a black and red cape. He had on a large hat that looked quite regal, with a slick feather attached to the hat's band. The fox walked to the podium where he stood for several minutes staring out at the crowd. Sometimes he seemed to stare right through a creature that caught his attention.
When the crowd became absolutely still. He started to speak. "I know what is in your hearts, for the Creator has given me the power to know what you are thinking. You are afraid."
The crowd was afraid, from all the thunder and that the fox may know what they were thinking, so they nodded and muttered to each other that yes they were afraid.
Once the murmuring from the crowd quieted down the fox continued. "You have offended the Creator with your bad ways and he is very angry at you. He will destroy all of you if you don't do what he commands. But if you do what he ask then he will spare you and give you many blessings.
There was more talk among everyone about what would the creator want from them.
"Quiet! All you sniveling nonbelievers." The fox came down from his podium with a black box in his hands. "If you believe in the Creator, then give to him whatever gold you may have." He handed the box to the animal closest to him and told them to pass it around until it was full.
As the box was passed, the fox watched who put gold in and those that did not. "The Creator will show no mercy to those that are not generous. But to those that are, he will give them tenfold."
Once the box was passed, he took it back before going to those that didn't contribute shoving the box under their nose until they finally placed treasure in as well.
When the fox came back to the podium, he told the congregation that they were now true believers in the Creator. He then took from his pocket string bracelets and passed them among the crowd. "With this bracelet you are now under the protection of the Creator. And if you hear of anyone who does not believe--come to me." He then sent his congregation home with all of them showing off their string bracelets.
Soon suspicion grew among the river dwellers. The fox visited all those that did not believe, telling them of the danger they faced without protection from the creator's wrath. A few shut their door on the fox, forbidding him an audience.
The fox gathered all the believers once again and told them how vital it was for everyone's safety that all convert, or the Creator would bring destruction on them all. He also told them to bring any books they had, for the Creator forbids animals to read. There would be a book burning in the center square and it is now forbidden to talk to the book merchant.
The town's folk stopped talking to one another, for fear someone might think they did not believe in the Creator and report them. The fox had wrote down what offended the Creator and how much wealth everyone must contribute for the Creator's purpose to bring the word to all. He posted the laws all around town and at the tent where he held services. One rule that stood out among the rest was no one was allowed to have any books, for the Creator forbids that most of all.
The river flowed as it always did, bringing life to the river folk but few went out except to get food or some important item. The town's busy cobbled streets were left empty and the merchants went without customers. Especially the book merchant, who felt it was no longer safe to stay in town and left for the deep woods. They were afraid to buy books, or toys for their children, or dance and sing, for all those things were forbidden by the Creator who demanded more and more gold from everyone.
Late one night, Badger came from his home deep in the forest and knocked on Ratty and Mole's door. Ratty looked through the peephole to see who was there before opening the door. "So glad you got my message, Badger and you were able to come. Sit down by the fire and I'll fetch you a cuppa. There, sitting around the fireplace with cups of tea were Mole, Toady and the Weasels.
"I don't think anyone saw me, I took paths few know about." Badger said as he walked to an empty chair.
"There aren't many creatures out anymore, but still it's best to be careful. Is the book merchant safe?" asked Toady."
Ratty came back from the kitchen with a hot cuppa for Badger and handed it to him. "Did you find out anything about this fox?" He asked Badger.
Badger grunted before he took a sip of tea, "The book merchant is at my home where he is safe in in one of the vast chambers I've made through the years." He then fished in his coat pocket and pulled out a bulletin similar to what the fox placed about town, listing what everyone could and could not do. "This came from another town far up the river from us. I had a talk with some of the residents, and the fox was there." Badger looked in the face of everyone before he added, "He didn't leave until he had all the town's wealth, leaving them a very poor community with not one book."
"Poor buggers," Mrs. Weasel said with a kit tucked in her arms.
"It's their lack of education, that's what did them in." Mr. Weasel added.
"Well, some animals still don't believe in reading books. Imagine in this day and age. What's to become of them? As you can see, all you need is a few poor ignorant souls to fall victim to someone's cunning. In this case a fox saw an opportunity to get rich off a fellow's ignorance."
"What can we do to save our community?" Asked Mrs. Weasel.
Mole put down his cup and cleared his throat, "I have a plan."
To be continued...
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