SH Fanfic: Noddy Boffin, Private Ear. 4/6

[goldvermilion87]

Chapter 4

  "Well if it isn't the famous Mr. Sherlock," the fox purred. "Good job, Max. I believe that you deserve a promotion."

Max grinned. "Oh great! Do I get a new name?"

"Shut up, or you won't get one!" snapped Keane.

Max backed up. "Sorry," he muttered.

Noddy had finally gotten over the shock of seeing the terror before him and mustered his courage. "Excuse me sir! I believe that you are in charge of this nefarious club?"

"Yes, I am," Keane leered.

"Well, I am afraid that I shall have to report you to the office. I accuse you of abuse and cold blooded murder of children. If you refuse to come now, I will be back with reinforcements."

"But you'll never get back to the office. I need not fear one rabbit, however brave he may be."

Noddy knew that. But of course Jack knew about where he was. Perhaps he would bring a small force with him when Noddy didn't show up the next morning. He decided that the best course for him to take would be a beeline for the door. He was no match for a fox and a gang of ruffians.

The fox was watching him intently. At the first sign of movement he sprang toward the door. "Oh, no, Mr. Sherlock. You won't leave that way. You couldn't be so cruel as to deprive me of your company this evening."

"No, of course not," Noddy replied, quite shaken by the agility of the fox. He knew he was doomed.

"Well boys," Keane turned toward the gang, "I'm sorry that we lost the mice for today. Would rabbit be as good?"

A cheer rose from every throat. Noddy looked at the hungry eyes. He wouldn't die without a fight.

"Well, who's first?" he shouted.

At his voice the cheers stopped. The animals suddenly held back.

"Who's first?" echoed the fox. "No one? Then you all are the cowards I think you are?"

At that Max charged toward the stalwart rabbit. Noddy gave a hard kick, and Max fell to the floor, all the wind knocked out of him. The smaller animals fell back.

"Go on, go on!" Keane screamed.

Clyde and two other rats ran towards Noddy. The two were kicked away, but Clyde bit deep into his neck. Noddy began shaking the rat off, but at that small sign of vulnerability the others attacked. Ten animals jumped on the rabbit at once. The rats and raccoons bit and scratched. Ray, the hare gave Noddy a kick that sent him reeling. He collapsed near the wall. Then he heard a noise.

"Mr. Sherlock, I brought the boys back and…Mr. Sherlock?"

There was Jack at the doorway openmouthed at the sight of his hero bleeding on the floor.

"Go away!" Noddy groaned.

"No!" And with that Jack ran at the fox. The fox lifted one paw, and scratched a line down the little rabbit's face. Blood began dripping on the floor.

Noddy forced himself up. He could not let Jack kill himself. "Go away Jack, go away!" he yelled. He shoved the little creature toward the door, kicking at the fox. Once again Keane moved into the way.

"I think he will stay here too," he sneered. "He seems to want to stay, and I am so soft-hearted." The fox yawned. "After that excitement we couldn't possibly eat. I want some sleep. Take them away."

Max and another raccoon stepped forward. They shoved the two battered rabbits toward a dark tunnel. They were pushed in, and a large root was placed at the entrance, leaving Noddy and Jack trapped in the dark.

Noddy went over to the little heap of fur on the floor. "Jack, Jack," he murmured. He licked the wound, cleaning the blood off the tiny face. Jack stirred.

"Hi, Mr. Sherlock," he whispered. "Is this a great adventure or what?"

"Jack, it isn't funny! Why did you come?"

"I didn't realize that it was so bad. And when I saw you, I couldn't just let them kill you. You're my hero!"

"Jack, I don't want you to get hurt. Promise me you'll do what I tell you, and try not to get hurt."

"So long as you don't get hurt either."

"I'm fine, I can take care of myself. You need to take care of yourself, or no one else will."

"I know you will. You just took care of me when that fox hurt me. You wouldn't let him kill me." Jack smiled at Noddy.

"Of course I wouldn't, but you have to do what I tell you to. Don't go doing anything foolish to try to save me okay?"

"I won't be foolish."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Now, young man, I want you to try to get some sleep." Noddy felt over Jack's face again. "Does it feel any better?"

"Yes, it's fine."

"Okay, well, you lie close. We'll stay as far to the back of this tunnel as possible—so we will have at least a few seconds to collect ourselves if someone comes. Go on toward the back of the tunnel."

Jack dragged himself over and laid himself down. He yawned sleepily. Noddy lay right beside Jack, between the little rabbit and the doorway, protecting him from ruffians.

Jack snuggled close to the big warm rabbit. "Mr. Sherlock," he asked sleepily, "What does your name mean? It is such a wonderful name! It must have a story behind it."

"My name is a great secret," whispered Noddy. "I will tell you about it if you promise not to tell anyone.

"I promise!" said the awestruck Jack.

"Well, I named myself that because the name my owner Kaitlyn gave me was very degrading. She meant it kindly of course, everything she does means well, but it is a cute fuzzy name, and, as you know full well, I am not a cute loveable rabbit."

"I love you Mr. Sherlock," said Jack snuggling closer.

"Well, um…" Noddy cleared his throat. "Anyway, I won't tell you the name right now, but I'll tell you about the name I chose for my self—Sherlock.

"Of all the faults she has—babying me and all that—Kaitlyn does have one redeeming quality. She talks to me rather intelligently about books she reads, and even would read them aloud when she had me in her lap. Thus, I learned to read—a feat that no other rabbit has ever accomplished in our oral history. It is part of what makes me a good detective."

"Could you teach me, Mr. Sherlock?" asked Jack.

"Maybe…but let me finish. Kaitlyn really enjoyed reading a story—she told me it was an extremely famous story—called Sherlock Holmes. It is about a brilliant detective. Nothing in even our legends comes anywhere near the feats accomplished by this man. Someday perhaps, I can tell you the stories I read, but that is where I got my name. Remember—you promised not to tell."

"Oh, no Mr. Sherlock." Jack's eyes shone. "I'm so glad you told me. I'm so glad we are such great friends. Thank you for saving me from the fox. I love you. Goodnight." And the little rabbit snuggled deeper into Noddy's fur, and fell fast asleep.

Noddy felt a little uncomfortable, but he liked to feel the little rabbit close to him. "I love you" Jack had said. The words rang in his ears. He wanted to be respected—like Sherlock Holmes, but not loved. He was calm and collected. If he allowed himself to love someone, he would become vulnerable. He would never be able to think rationally. And he had to be rational. He had to think of a way to save the brave little rabbit that had run into the middle of the gang to save him.

Noddy knew that he could not really save himself or Jack. Their only hope was in Bob, Dan and Joe. If the three mice reported to Mercury there was a chance that he would send a force to save them. He was a wily rabbit. He would figure out that there was a problem when the two rabbits did not report back in the morning. Noddy would keep the gang off of Jack as long as possible—until a rescue was attempted.

Well, he had to rest now. He would be useless the next morning if he were exhausted. He lay back against the hard dirt floor. It was not as comfortable as his cage, but it was not bad. He was glad that Jack was able to be comfortable. Before going to sleep he inspected the little rabbit again. He searched all over for any hidden wounds. Then he touched the tiny nose. Jack smiled in his sleep. He was all right. Then Noddy himself fell asleep.