03-01-06-风语河岸柳 [1]
But first the Rat went into his hole, and after a while came out carrying a very large and heavy lunch basket. This went in to the boat, under the Mole's feet, and then the Rat began to row down river. The two friends talked from time to time, but mostly the Mole just watched the river dreamily, enjoying the sounds and the smells and the sunlight. At last they turned off the big river into a little side river that came down to join it. The Rat stopped the boat and they got out on to a bank of soft green grass under tall willow trees. It was very quiet and very peaceful.
The Mole sat down and looked around him. 'What a beautiful place! 'he said happily.
'Time for lunch, 'said the Rat, opening the basket. 'Come on, Mole! Let's get to work. '
The Mole was happy to obey, because he was very hungry indeed after all his cleaning earlier in the day. And what a lunch it was! There were cold meats and egg sandwiches, cooked chicken and tomatoes, apples and bananas and a large cake.
When at last they could eat no more, the Mole lay back and watched the river lazily. After a while he sat up.
'I can see a long line of bubbles in the water, 'he said. 'I wonder what it is. '
'Bubbles
Oho! 'said the Rat, and he called out across the river in a friendly kind of way.
The bubbles stopped and turned. Soon a wet whiskery nose appeared above the edge of the bank, and the Otter pulled him self out and shook the water from his coat.
'A lunch party! 'he said, going straight towards the food. 'Why didn't you invite me, Ratty
'
'We didn't plan it, 'explained the Rat. 'We only decided to come this morning. Oh, and this is my friend, Mr Mole. '
'Happy to meet you, 'said the Otter, and the two animals were friends at once.
'All the world seems to be out on the river today, 'said the Otter while he ate. 'I came up this side river to try and get a moment's peace, and then I find you fellows having a lunch party! '
Suddenly there was a noise in the thick bushes behind them, and a big black and white head looked out at them.
'Come on, old Badger! 'shouted the Rat.
The Badger came forward a few steps, then stopped. 'Hmm! A crowd! 'he said crossly, and turned his back and disappeared again into the bushes.
'What a pity! 'said the Rat. 'Dear old Badger! He's a good fellow, but he does hate a crowd. We won't see him again today. But tell us, who's out on the river
'
'Toad's out, for one, 'replied the Otter. 'In his shiny new boat. He's got new boating clothes, and everything! '
The Rat and the Otter looked at each other and laughed.
'Toad's always trying something new, 'the Rat explained to the Mole. 'But he always gets bored so quickly. Last year it was a house-boat, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life living on the river. This year it's rowing-boats. '
'He's a nice fellow, of course, 'said the Otter. 'But he never learns from his mistakes! '
From where they sat they could see a bit of the big river. And just then they saw a rowing-boat going past, and in it a short fat animal, rowing very hard and very badly.
'There's Toad going past now, 'said the Rat. 'Look at him! He'll turn that boat over in a minute. '
'Of course he will, 'laughed the Otter. Toad had now disappeared up river, and the Otter went on, 'Did I ever tell you that story about Toad and the…'
There was a sudden movement in the water near the bank. Something silvery shone for a second, then it was gone. And so was the Otter. The Mole looked down. The Otter's voice was still in his ears, but the Otter had disappeared.
There was just a long line of bubbles in the river.
The Rat sang a little song to himself, and the Mole remembered that it was not at all polite, in the animal world, to say anything if your friends disappeared at any moment, for any reason.
'Well, well, 'said the Rat. 'I suppose we should think about getting home. '
The Mole packed the things away in the lunch basket, and soon the Rat began to row gently homewards while the after noon sun went down behind the trees. The Rat was dreaming quietly to himself, but the Mole was very full of lunch and the excitements of the day. He began to think that he knew every thing about boats now.