magnanimous mule deer.
Our committee meeting continued almost until noon. In the end we decided that the ungulates had no basis for their request for higher wages (more feed) for their summer work. We thought that they might indeed deserve higher wages in the winter. In winter the ground was covered with snow, and unlike many of us, they could not hibernate or sleep through much of the winter. Further, we recommended no change in the number of hours worked. Since no animals were allowed any except emergency vacations in the summer, we saw no reason why ungulates should have a summer vacation. However, since ungulates had to work for the winter tourists as well, we thought consideration should be given to a plan that would allow more vacation time in the spring or fall.
Once the meeting had ended Pabatackle was soon rollicking through the wet grass, the sharp prick of Morgorgor’s quills apparently forgotten. Brogoff frowned reprovingly at the silly otter as he shambled among the trees overturning logs and stones as he searched for nuts.
The fact that I had more minutes to prepare dominated my thinking. Oh, I shall be up all night and tomorrow my paws will be ever so sore. A secretary’s work is never done. Oh I have no desire for attention, I want no glory. I’m not the only one who has work to do. Yet if anyone needs a vacation, it’s me. I thought to myself as I neatly re-filed my papers and returned folders to my attaché case, one must be fastidious, ever fastidious or the whole district would descend into anarchy. Yes, everything must be put in its proper place, that’s what I say.
Dozema’s Funeral
Each species has its own funeral customs. Coyotes sing sorrowful laments at sunset, bison conduct ritual stampedes, and eagles circle high into the clouds above. Skunks are a somber lot, so they are not given to elaborate public demonstrations of grief. Dozema’s body had already been placed on a flat stone high above in Willow Meadow, just below Spiny Ridge, not more than a hundred yards from Stony Burrow. I for one was happy that the wind was coming from the south, so the odor of the deceased was blown away from the assembled crowd in Willow Meadow. Willow Meadow is not easy to get to, you seldom see people there since it is far from any trail or path. It is ideally suited for large gatherings because of its size and privacy. Hundred of animals had already arrived and more were emerging from the nearby forest. Tourists would complain today that wildlife was non-existent, but that was not true. Several squads of deer, ground squirrels, and others were at the most popular tourist sites.
Each species has its own way of showing respect for the dead. Zornova and the bison Tennial were caked with mud, for it was their custom to roll in a muddy bog in preparation for a funeral. Cawdor, along with the other ravens cried loudly from the tops of tall firs. Their dissonant laments cast a somber pall across the meadow and surrounding ridges. Wanda flitted about the meadow flowers until she was exhausted and landed on the uncomfortable thorns of a thistle pod, in the manner of grieving moths. As you may know raccoons, to honor the dead, sit still as though they were statues carved from stone. This is extremely difficult for raccoons. We always feel better when we are in motion; long periods of stillness lead to discomfort.
Skeezer, the oldest of the skunks, gave a shrill whistle; the ravens ceased their atonal dies ire, moths settled on thistle pods, and movement ceased; it was time for the ceremony. Soon stillness and quiet reigned in Willow Meadow and we were ready to begin.
For what seemed like hours, but was less than fifteen minutes, all of the animals assembled stopped moving and became respectfully quiet. Rutorina, Dozema’s daughter, began whistling an eerie and haunting dirge. Next, Zornova paced slowly up to a small hillock. She stared out over the crowd of animals filling the meadow, and she began her brief eulogy.
Dozema, the star dancer,
looks down upon us now
to give us the answer.
She knows now the life
after dark life, dark death
after duty and daily strife.
We too will also travel
to the life that follows
death upon the roadside gravel.
Dozema, the star dancer,
who saved the child
gives us the answer.
At the end of the eulogy all the birds flew up into the air. Each cried out creating a raucous cacophony of high-pitched sounds that enveloped us as it descended earthward. Small rodents, the ground squirrels, mice, and prairie dogs, skittered about in nervous and frenetic dances of jubilation until they fell exhausted upon the grassy field. The ungulates circled about the meadow five times then trailed out of Willow Meadow towards Shooting Star Meadow, where the celebration of joy would soon begin.
As the ungulates began to circle we noticed the smell of smoke. A few minutes later roiling, black, ash-laden smoke began to drift over the meadow. It was indeed a black day. As soon as Zornova stepped down from the hillock and the funeral was over Gondzor landed, for he had risen up with the other birds.
“Zornova!” cried Gondzor, “a vast fire is approaching. Right now it is coming slowly from the north, but as the wind picks up this afternoon it will gain speed. I have sent Quququic and the others to warn all those who live throughout the Geyser District. Jet has flown back to headquarters to inform Thimblewicket of the approaching danger. Thimblewicket has been instructed to find out as much as she can from other districts and Cruise will return soon with a long range scouting report.”
“Very good Gondzor,” replied Zornova. “Blinkers, stop wringing your paws. I need you to write messages to be sent to those in danger. Gondzor, I will head for the Geyser District Ranger Station; I want you to take charge in the outlying districts to the north since you can spread the word more quickly than I. Also, since the fire has already reached the northern part of the district you can take charge of the injured. Tennial can take charge of the east. Alexia, you can take charge of the west. Keeble, since you are also swift, you shall warn those who live in the path of the fire.”
Cruise, no longer molting, flew towards us just as Zornova completed her instructions. He reported that the fire extended over several thousand acres between the river and the highway. Zornova quickly dispatched her staff. Then, just as quickly, she dictated several messages for Menki, the eagle, to deliver to other district rangers. By the time Zornova had finished, the sky was almost completely black with smoke. It was time to leave.
Zornova stepped back up onto the hillock and bellowed for quiet, then she said “All of us must flee from this fire. All of you follow Keeble over Fir Cone ridge, and then keep going down the opposite slope towards the ranger station. Larger animals must give smaller and slower animals rides on their backs. Remain calm; there is plenty of time for all of us to escape to safety. We can stay ahead of the fire if we remain calm, if we don’t lose our heads.”
Zornova moved away from the hillock and began directing various animals to help each other. All who had come for Dozema’s funeral in Willow Meadow were soon moving towards Fir Cone Ridge in an orderly manner.
“Get up on my Back Blinkers, Zornova ordered, “we need to get to headquarters quickly.”
Soon I was bumping along while holding on to Zornova’s thick fur. I have never liked bison-back riding, but I’ve had to do it on several occasions when dire emergencies occurred. Three years ago, for instance, the bison Tennial fell into a mud hole and could not
