The Capture Read Free Page A

the ground like gnarled talons. He could now see Mrs. Plithiver, her small head with its glistening rosy scales hovering over the edge of the hollow. Where Mrs. Plithiver's eyes should have been there were two small indentations. "This is simply beyond me." She sighed. "Is Kludd awake? Maybe he could help me." There was a long pause before Mrs. Plithiver answered weakly, "Well, perhaps." She sounded hesitant. Soren could hear her now, nudging Kludd. "Don't be grumpy, Kludd. Your brother has ... has ... taken a tumble, as it were.

    Soren heard his brother yawn. "Oh, my." Kludd sighed and didn't sound especially upset, Soren thought.
    Soon the large head of his big brother peered over the edge of the hollow. His white heart-shaped face with the immense dark eyes peered down on Soren. "I say," Kludd drawled. "You've got yourself in a terrible fix."

    "I know, Kludd. Can't you help? You know more about flying than I do. Can't you teach me?"

    "Me teach you? I wouldn't know where to begin. Have you gone yoicks?" He laughed. "Stark-raving yoicks. Me teach you?" He laughed again. There was a sneer embedded deep within the laugh.

    "I'm not yoicks. But you're always telling me how
    much you know, Kludd." This was certainly the truth. Kludd had been bragging about his superiority ever since Soren had hatched out. He should get the favorite spot in the hollow because he was already losing his downy fluff in preparation for his flight feathers and therefore would be colder. He deserved the largest hunks of mouse meat because he, after all, was on the brink of flying. "You've already had your First Flight ceremony. Tell me how to fly, Kludd."

    "One cannot tell another how to fly. It's a feeling, and besides, it is really a job for Mum and Da. It would be very impertinent of me to usurp their position."

    Soren had no idea what "usurp" meant. Kludd often used big words to impress him.

    "What are you talking about? Usurp?" Sounded like "yarp" to Soren. But what would yarping have to do with teaching him to fly? Time was running out. The light was leaking out of the day's end and the evening shadows were falling. The raccoons would soon be out.

    "I can't do it, Soren," Kludd replied in a very serious voice. "It would be extremely improper for a young owlet like myself to assume this role in your life."

    "My life isn't going to be worth two pellets if you don't do something. Don't you think it is improper for you to let me die? What will Mum and Da say to that?"

    "I think they will understand completely."

    Great Glaux! Understand completely! He had to be yokks. Soren was simply too dumbfounded. He could not say another word.

    "I'm going to get help, Soren. I'll go to Hilda's," he heard Mrs. Rhiann. rasp. Hilda was another nest-maid snake for an owl family in a tree near the banks of the river.

    "I wouldn't if I were you, Rhiann." Kludd's voice was ominous. It made Soren's gizzard absolutely quiver.

    "Don't call me Rhiann. That's so rude."

    "That's the last thing you have to worry about Rhiann. -- me being rude."

    Soren blinked.

    "I'm going, Kludd. You can't stop me," Mrs. Plithiver said firmly.

    "Can't I?"

    Soren heard a rustling sound above. Good Glaux, what was happening?

    "Mrs. Plithiver?" Only silence now. "Mrs. Plithiver?" Soren called again. Maybe she had gone to Hilda's.
    He could only hope, and wait.

    It was nearly dark now and a chill wind rose up. There was no sign of Mrs. Plithiver returning. "First teeth" -- isn't that what Da always called these early cold winds? -- the first teeth of winter. The very words made poor Soren
    shudder. When his father had first used this expression, Soren had no idea what "teeth" even were. His father explained that they were something that owls didn't have, but most other animals did. They were for tearing and chewing food.

    "Does Mrs. Plithiver have them?" asked Soren. Mrs. Plithiver had gasped in disgust.

    His mother said, "Of course not, dear."

    "Well, what are they exactly?"