Rudi

@rudi · 01 Feb 2023

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Unrest about Donkerplas: Chapter 17

#summerwritingchallenge2022

https://yoo.rs/onrust-over-donkerplas-hoofdstuk-1?Ysid=22086






After Schub and Kroes, representatives of the carp family, had delivered their message, Schelle Pee floated the river mussel to the surface. Master Boehoe was not crazy about water. He didn't need that much water and really didn't like it. Master Boehoe got most of the moisture from the meat he ate; that was enough for him. Once upon a time, he nearly drowned as a young owl, and water has been a natural enemy for him ever since.

With his mouth half underwater, he felt vulnerable. A bird of prey didn't like to lose track and when you hang with your head down. He watched jealously the mirror image of the sky. If there was an attack, he would fly quickly into the tree belt around Donkerplas.

Gurgling and splashing in the water, he tried to get his message across to Schelle Pee. “I've heard that you speak the language of sponges in Donkerplas, Schelle Pee. Would you like to ask the Spons family if they know about a large cave under Donkerplas? Perhaps they themselves know if there is some kind of entrance to that cave, it would help us a lot if they could answer that?”

After a few failed attempts and linguistic and watery misunderstandings, Schelle Pee understood and went back into hiding to fulfill his assignment. It took a long time before they saw the river mussel's air bubbles rising again.

It was difficult for Master Boehoe to understand Schelle Pee. He had to dip his ear under water to understand any of his babbling. The water was still running out of his ear when, after Schelle Pee's answer, he retreated to dry land.

Rolf, who had accompanied Master Boehoe as protection and military counsel, watched with obvious amusement as the owl tried to shake the water out of his ear. He had never known the leader of Woudheuvel so agile.

“What did Schelle Pee say, Master. Did you find out anything?” Rolf was curious and fired one question after another at the owl. Boehoe, as always, had more patience and tried to get below the tree line first. There, they would be better protected from any spying eyes out of the sky. Not that he expected the dragon to fly around by now, but a cautious owl is worth at least three, as the saying goes.

“Maybe, Rolf,” he finally began, “Sponge and his family knew about a large space that extends under Donkerplas. There are many entrances to the cave system, but they are many day trips from here and perhaps less accessible, I hear. However, there is one access here in the area of Woudheuvel. That place is in the environment where the people are at work or were at work after our sabotage mission.”

“I'm volunteering, Master Boehoe. I'm sure that me and Yuki”

“Yuki?“Master Boehoe scratched, “who is Yuki, that's not a resident of Forest Hill. I would have to be very old and worn out before I forget any of our names.” Master Boehoe saw that Rolf was very nervous about his feet. He saw that his breathing accelerated and heard with his fine feather ears that his heart beat faster. All without Rolf getting really anxious.

“Uhum Rolf, tell me. Is Yuki that was her name, right? Is she your new girlfriend?”


© Rudi J P. Lejaeghere


https://yoo.rs/onrust-over-donkerplas-hoofdstuk-16?Ysid=22086