Emma Goldman: An Exceedingly Dangerous Woman

In the beginning, the great Frith made the world

and he made the stars by scattering his droppings over the sky.

Now, El-Ahrairah was prince of the rabbits and he had so many wives and so many kits

that even Frith couldn't count them.

They ate all the grass and clover in the entire world.

Frith could have killed the prince rabbit there and then,

but he needed him for his hijinks and tricks.

So, instead, he determined there would be a meeting

of all the animals of the world, and upon each, he would bestow a gift.

Upon the homba, he gave great cunning.

Upon the hawk, sharp talons.

Upon the cat, silent feet.

Upon the weasel, great speed.

Upon the wolf, great teeth. All to hunt and slay the children of El-Ahrairah.

These animals became the elil, the thousand enemies of rabbits.

It was a few days later, when El-Ahrairah heard of all of this,

and went to see Frith.

You have condemned my people to lives of fear, Lord.

Do you not wish to see what blessing I have

for your people, Prince Rabbit?

To my bottom, give your blessings.

Very well.

Grow a tail to confuse those chasing you and legs to outrun them.

Grow ears to hear any of your thousand enemies from miles away.

All the world will be your enemy, prince of a thousand enemies.

And when they catch you, they will kill you.

But first... they must catch you.

Digger, listener, runner...

Prince with the swift warning, be cunning and full of tricks...

and your people will never be destroyed.

Fiver!

Fiver!

Fiver, where are you?

- - I'm going to get you!

Got you!

- Hello, little ones. - Hi, Hazel.

Do you think there'll be a lot of does out this evening?

Is that all you think about, Hawkbit?

No, actually, but do you think there'll be lots of does out this evening?

- Give it a rest. - I was just asking.

It's not all I think about, actually. There's lots of things I think about...

Fiver?

Fiver?

The duration of each season has to be calculated by light values.

- I've stopped listening. - I don't know why I bother.

Nope, but I did see...

Fiver?

Fiver?

Oh, no. No. No.

- - Fiver?

- -

- Wake up, Fiver. -

You're having another nightmare, brother.

Hazel, it was the strangest dream.

It's okay, Fiver. Let's go get something to eat.

I spotted some sow thistle down by the stream,

and I haven't eaten anything decent in days.

I... I dreamt something was coming to Sandleford.

I think it might mean we're in danger, Hazel.

Captain Holly was in it. There was a huge...

Captain Holly? Fiver, I think Captain Holly can take care of himself.

They usually do in the Owsla.

I know, and no one likes hearing about someone else's dreams, but...

Huh. Dewdrop.

- I dreamt something was coming. -

- My dream was about Captain Holly. - It's him again.

- Is he still looking? - Hazel.

- Don't look at him. - Do you like him?

Oh, look, Fiver, sow thistle! Finally, something good to eat.

Oi, you two. You know the rules.

Sow thistle is reserved for members of the Owsla, don't you know that?

- Move along. -

"You know the rules." I'm sick of the rules.

I wonder whether there's a place for us in this warren!

There's too many rabbits and too little food without the Owsla stealing from us...

This is where it comes from... the thing in my dream.

Look!

The fields are filled with blood.

It's only the light of sunset, Fiver.

Brother, I know everyone thinks I'm strange.

Even you sometimes, but you have to believe me.

Something will come to this place... something foul and fierce.

- We need to warn everyone. - But we're outskirters, Fiver.

People don't listen to us.

Well, we must make them listen.

How do you propose we do that?

Go away. He's busy.

We only need a few moments with the Threarah.

We wouldn't ask if it weren't important.

All right, go on.

But if I get my head bitten off, I'll come looking for you.

So, you were saying, your brother senses things.

Uh, yes. Sometimes images in his head.

And... I don't know how to say it, but he was right before.

- He knew the flood was coming last autumn. - Oh, I see.

And what has he, um, sensed this time?

I don't know what it is, but it's bad.

It's so bad. You have to get everyone to leave tonight, Threarah, please.

My goodness. Everyone? Tonight?

The entire warren, and you want me to tell them that we all have to go?

Well, I'll give that some very serious thought.

You're not listening. There is no time.

I can feel the danger like a wire around my neck!

Threarah, you have to act now...

Now!

Bigwig!

Hazel, I think your brother needs to rest for a while.

Take him out for some fresh air.

- No, but... - Shh. Yes, Threarah.

I told you I wanted to be left alone, fool!

And you let a bunch of outskirters...

Hazel... Hazel. That was our answer.

We have to go.

Are you really sure, Fiver?

I'm telling you now as your brother, as your friend...

this warren will soon be laid waste.

We can leave now, or we can be destroyed with it.

We need to spread the word to as many rabbits as possible, but be careful.

If the Owsla get wind of this, there will be trouble.

Bluebell, Blackberry, there's a danger coming.

Hey, listen. There's a danger coming to Sandleford. Hazel will lead us to safety.

Good heavens. I mean, good gracious. I mean, that is to say...

Hazel, if your brother has taken firm stock in such a portent...

What Blackberry's trying to say is, we're in!

Hey, there's a danger coming to Sandleford.

Hazel will lead us to safety.

What was all that about?

But I don't understand.

- Sandleford is our home, Hazel. - Look, there's a danger coming.

My brother sensed it. He's often right about these things.

What if it's more dangerous out there than here?

We're meeting at Fu Inle, by the cattle grid.

Come with us.

Come with me.

Let me think about it, okay?

Dewdrop? Dewdrop?

It's Blackberry and Bluebell, and we've brought Hawkbit and Dandelion, too.

- Get down here before you're seen! - Right you are.

Wait, wait, wait, this everyone?

Where are the does? I presumed there'd be does.

This can't be everyone. It can't be.

Maybe we should go back, convince the others.

- She's not coming, Hazel. -

There's been more and more of those strange things recently.

- They come from humans. - Fascinating.

All right. Let's go.

Not so fast!

Owsla.

You're all under arrest for spreading dissension and inciting to mutiny.

You more than anyone need to listen, Captain Holly.

Something is coming to this place, something foul and fierce.

Just let us go.

Even if you are bigger, there are more of us.

We fancy it'd be a good fight.

The Threarah nearly tore my ears off tonight after I'd let you in.

Told me I'm lucky I'm not kicked out of the Owsla!

Lucky to still have my privileges. Well...

- Well, I'm sick of being in the Owsla. - Thlayli!

I'm sick of being in this warren!

I'm sick of obeying your orders and towing the line!

Thlayli, be careful, now. Think about what you're doing.

Go now, Captain Holly, or we'll kill the lot of you.

Someone told them what you're up to.

We need to move before they come back with the entire Owsla.

Along the line of the stream and through the meadow, then into the woods. Come on!

Do you think this is where the black rabbit of Inle lives?

In a stone warren of dead rabbits, filled with disease and death?

Please stop talking.

With black eyes that burn like the fires of hell

and a cold, grey expression, with sorrow beyond imagining.

Bluebell, you're making everyone nervous.

Hazel, this was your plan. Where are we going?

We need to get clear of the old warren, then I guess we'll find somewhere to stay.

You guess? He guesses. Who's leader here, anyway?

No one by the looks of it.

- They're up ahead! -

- Owsla. - Everyone run!