Nineteen

Plato had been in Penny Wood a few minutes and was looking forward to a peaceful nap on his tree top when he picked up the message from Swift summoning him to Blossom Valley and gathered that Swift must be bringing news from the wood flies. He ruffled his feathers, flapped his wings and took off. Thelma and George were waiting for him.

Before long Swift joined them, briefly nodded his head in greeting, and without much ado started to report all he had heard up in the old oak tree.

After Swift had finished, Plato, who’d been listening carefully, spoke in a plain voice. “It is clear the wood flies were angered by the grasshopper’s lie that Blossom Valley refuses to allow foul creatures such as them on their land. I believe the wood flies, could live with this, for they are not an easily offended sort of creatures nor are they vindictive enough to mount an invasion of Blossom Valley. But along comes Hugo, the young wood fly leader who gripped by enthusiasm and pride, visualises himself as a great military figure leading his men against Blossom Valley. He sees himself and his people settled in the magical gardens - as the grasshopper described them–and he, a celebrated hero flying amongst the graceful butterflies. To keep his dream alive he has to act fast, for fear the enthusiasm of his people might wear off, or us be alerted.”

Thelma jumped to her feet. “We must start preparing Blossom Valley for an imminent invasion, for this young Hugo is driven by passion and madness to get what he wants and could cause us unimaginable pain. The wood flies must, I repeat, must be prevented from getting inside the Valley.”

“Thelma is right,” Plato said to George. “We have no time to lose. I want you to be by my side at all times. Being a night bird, my vision is weak in the day, so you will be my second in command, as they say in the military world.” Then, turning to Swift, he said.

“Good work, Swift! Thank you. Before you’re off, find the blackbird, sparrow and crow flock leaders and tell them I’ll be meeting them on Thistle Hill by the black rock before sundown. If they want to know the reason, you’re free to tell them.

“I’ll do that, Plato,” said Swift, “but before I go, there’re things that took place outside Penny Clearing you need to hear.” He told them in detail about the brawl between Gaspar and Rosa, and her meeting with Hugo.

“Yesterday, quite by chance,” Swift carried on, “I spotted three grasshoppers pushing Rosa into a wire cage and Gaspar watching from close by. When Gaspar had left, Rosa managed to turn the three grasshoppers against their boss by saying, amongst other things, that his scheme with the wood flies would fail and their life would be as miserable as before. They believed her and set her free. Her words must have fuelled their anger and ignited some spark of freedom inside them, for when Gaspar came to check that the job had been done, they locked him in the cage and threw it in the river. I thought you needed to know,” he said then disappeared into the clouds.

“I’m glad the grasshopper is out of the way, but Rosa is alive,” Thelma said with a sigh.

“Hugo must have laughed at Rosa’s sleeping weed plan, Thelma,” Plato said with some amusement in his voice. “He wants invasion and conflict, to show off his leadership and heroism. Hugo is itching for glory. His egoism would never allow a meagre ladybird to win his battle and anyway, they’ d be needing tons of sleeping weed to put our birds and the entire valley to sleep, and they couldn’t get tons out of the small sleeping weed Rosa knows of. Now, Thelma, put Rosa out of your mind and turn your thoughts away from your fears. Put on a brave face and talk to the creatures inside the valley. Remember, creatures can pick up on your anxiety. Tell Tawny Owl to have her team on standby. The first aid tent must be sited by the gate. She’ll know the rest and, Thelma, it is going to be alright, trust me.”

Conti was the first to be told. “Oh my! Oh my! The wood flies are coming!” He burst into a wild croak and began diving in and out of the water like a demented frog.

“Stop it, Conti!” Thelma shouted. “There’s no need to be alarmed.”

“I’m not alarmed,” Conti spluttered, “I’m excited. Oh my! Oh my!”

The rest of the creatures were neither excited nor afraid. Only Speedo had something to say. “I’ll be alright myself cause I’ll scoot into my shell and stay there, but what’s going to happen to the ants, Thelma?”

“You don’t have to worry about them, Speedo. They’ll be safe in their underground chambers. Everything will be okay.”

***

Meanwhile, the bird leaders flew to Thistle Hill to find Plato waiting for them.

“Gentlemen,” he said with a solemn expression on his face, “I trust Swift has told you about the disturbing situation we might have to face. I presume you’ll want to refresh on air defence...”

“No need for that, Owl,” the blackbird leader replied with a touchy note in his voice. “We are well trained and always prepared to face a sky enemy, and that, as you may know, can happen quite often across the skies.”

“I didn’t mean you might lack skill. Please don’t take offence,” Plato said timidly.

“Being a night bird, I miss most activities that take place across the skies during the day.”

“You provide the brains, Owl. We will do the work. We’re here to listen to your plan,” said the sparrow leader, who had always been a bird of few words.

“As you wish, gentlemen,” said Plato. “You take your normal flight path to the fields. Before you reach the old oak tree, you dip a good deal. The wood flies will have their eyes pinned to the sky. They’ll see you and believe we’re unaware of their plans and the valley is left empty of birds. Before you get to the fields take a wide turn to the right, fly over Penny Marshes, straight into Blossom Valley and spread out on the elm trees. The crows will split into four units and camp on the north, south, east and western walls. Swift will tell us exactly when, which could be as early as tomorrow. Before I tell you the plan and the signal you’ll be responding to, I wish to stress this. The enemy - I hate to use this word - are the frivolous wood flies who have fallen for the grasshopper’s scam. So I urge you to show a little mercy.”

The blackbird leader spoke. “We appreciate your words, Plato. They’re good and wise but when there’s a fight or attack, or whatever you want to call it, it’s usually the weak and innocent that end up dead. The wood flies, though frivolous as you called them, are not weak, but ferocious, barbaric and very dangerous, for they attack in volume. Our loyalty, you’ll agree, lies with our flocks and I’m certain the other leaders will agree as well.”

“Fair enough, gentlemen,” said Plato. “I can’t argue with that. “Now, come in closer for the next bit of the plan is crucial and it must be said in a whisper.”

The bird leaders crowded close to Plato and with great attention listened to the plan he delivered.