20: Chapter 22. The Story of the Trial of El-ahrairah After the incredible heaviness of the previous chapter, a chapter about El-ahrairah being put of trial for his life comes as a bit of light relief. It takes the theme of rabbits mentioning things one wonders how they would know about to the next extreme, with the story-teller displaying knowledge of the concept of a jury-trial. The opening quotation from Congreve refers to Tyburn, a part of London that I believe is now Hyde Park Corner, where hangings used to take place in the 18th Century. Adams opens with a section about the resilience of rabbits and how Holly and Bluebell are already nearly recovered from their ordeal. This is balanced with the extreme reactions of the group as they had listened to their account of Sandleford's destruction. This ritual over, the rabbits return to practical matters. Hazel inspects Holly's ripped ear and realises it is a lot worse than he had thought and he, then Silver, start licking the wounds. Silver asks Hazel about his ideas for helping other animals, such as the mouse they saved from a kestrel. Hazel explains that non-rabbits who are not Elil could be a source of help and information. Bluebell mentions that El-ahrairah once enlisted the help of other animals and Hazel asks to hear the story. One evening Prince Rainbow arrives with a rabbit El-ahrairah has never seen before, called Hufsa and El-ahrairah is told he must look after him. After a while El-ahrairah notices his plans are going wrong, as if someone is leaking information. The following evening, Prince Rainbow asks El-ahrairah to help him plant a large crop of carrots nearby. Prince Rainbow makes it clear that if anyone were for steal these carrots, there would be dire consequences. El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle have a secret meeting at which they decide they will not only steal the carrots but they will also get rid of Hufsa. El-ahrairah meets Yona the hedgehog and offers him a load of slugs to eat if he will do something for him involving singing. Meanwhile Rabscuttle meets Hawock the pheasant and offers him a load of corn if he will do something for him involving swimming. El-ahrairah goes to Hufsa and says he cannot resist stealing Prince Rainbow's carrots any longer. He asks Hufsa to help him alone. As they make their way to the field, they come across Yona the hedgehog, who is standing on a box with petals stuck all over his prickles, making strange noises. When Hufsa asks him what he is doing, he replies that he is singing to the moon to make the slugs come. Moving on, they come across Hawock the pheasant splashing about in a pond. When Hufsa asks him what he is doing, he replies that he is swimming in the full moonlight to make his tail grow long and his head stay colourful. Moving on they come across a strange looking creature. It is a rabbit with a red tail and green ears. In its mouth it has a cigarette butt. This is, of course, Rabscuttle in disguise. He says he is one of the messengers of Lord Frith, returning home to his golden palace, before disappearing as quickly as he came. Arriving at the field of carrots they strip it bare and hide the carrots. The next evening, Prince Rainbow arrives with two large dogs to arrest El-ahrairah. Prince Rainbow asks if El-ahrairah seriously wants a trial. He says he would. The jury will be made up of Elil, rather than rabbits. Predictably Hufsa is produced as the witness. El-ahrairah says he would like to question the witness. The reader can be forgiven for predicting what happens next. What follows is Hufsa claiming to have seen a singing hedgehog, a swimming pheasant and a messenger of Frith. He pulls his trump-card, which is obviously the stolen carrots, which Rabscuttle has moved from where they were hidden. And so the trial collapses. 20.3 Next episode Next time, there is a new arrival on the Down. And a bit of swearing.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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