The Three Lives of Thomasina Page #6

everybody else.

Now I knew

how a king feels in exile.

Hughie, Jamie, quick!

what is it?

Come and see quick.

A badger.

He's been in the trap

a long time,

And he's badly hurt.

What'll we do with him?

If we try and take the

trap off, he'll only bite.

We could wrap him up

in a sack, trap and all,

And take him to the village, to the vet.

To Mr. Macdhui?

We can't do that.

We're trying

to get rid of him.

What else, then?

Couldn't we take the badger

to the witch?

She's nearer.

Aye, that's true.

She couldn't cure a mess

like that with magic.

I bet she could.

Mr. Macdhui would

only kill it,

So let's wrap him up

and take him to the witch.

Jamie, get the things.

I'll get the sack.

Careful now.

You've got him?

Aye, got him.

Seeing and hearing these boys

gave me that

"I've been here before"

feeling.

You know what I mean?

I knew them,

and yet I didn't.

They made me feel

uneasy somehow,

So I kept an eye on them.

Well, who's gonna

take him to her, then?

You. You're the eldest,

you're always telling us.

Aye, but -

but it was Geordie's idea.

He's too big

for Geordie to carry,

But if you're afraid...

I'm not afraid of anything.

Well, go on, then.

Put him by the tree

and ring that bell.

Oh, poor thing.

Poor thing.

Oh, God, please, God,

help me.

Wait!

Don't touch it.

But it's hurt,

from that.

Cursed gin traps.

Look what it's done to...

Mind yourself.

Drop it. It'll tear

your throat out.

It'll not harm me. No creature

harms me. They're not afraid.

Put it down. You're mad. Aye, so I hear.

Get away from it.

Let me go. Let me go!

I'm sorry, but a wounded

badger could half kill you.

No creature ever harms

me. Don't touch him!

Leave him to me.

To you?

Why, who are you?

My name is Macdhui. I'm the

veterinary from Inveranoch.

You are?

Now I see.

What do you mean?

You have the skill

that I Haven't,

The skill that I prayed for

when I found the badger.

Don't you see? You're meant

to help him, and you must.

It's no use, I tell you.

It's too late.

Be kinder to put him

out of his pain.

And wonderful

to give him his life.

You have the skill for it.

Please, for pity's sake.

Don't go!

I've got to get my instruments.

They're in my car.

God, you sent him.

Please make him hurry back.

Well, that's it.

We'll have to see

how it takes.

Still, they're hardy creatures

with great vitality.

He has a chance.

Bless you and thank you

for giving it the hance.

He'll have to stay quiet

until the wounds heal.

Have you got a place

where you can keep him?

Yes.

All right.

Are all these wild things

in your care?

Yes, they come here

to me.

Some instinct or guardian

Angel brings them.

And what kind of treatment

do you give them?

Food, warmth,

comfort and love.

And let nature

take its course,

And that mends them.

And what about the other

beasts that are brought to you?

Farmer Birnie's cow,

for instance.

I know all about that.

What did you do for her?

I sent her back to him with a

message for him to be kinder to her.

Ha. Like to seen his face.

And this?

I found him one morning by

the tree outside in a box.

He had a broken leg,

but he's better now.

Well, I can describe

his guardian Angel to you.

He's about six years old, red hair,

and his name is Geordie Macnab.

Well, keep your eye

on the badger, Miss Macgregor,

And see that he doesn't

tear off the dressing.

Aye, I'll watch him.

You know, um,

in Inveranoch,

They, uh,

they call you "witch,"

And if you can get all these creatures

here to live together in peace,

Perhaps there's

some truth in it.

The truth is

that they have security

Because they've no fear.

Animals are not like people.

They only fight and kill

when they're hungry or afraid,

Not for gain or to prove

how strong they are.

You don't have to be a witch

to understand that.

What made you come here,

Mr. Macdhui?

Well, I-I thought that, uh...

It's no matter now.

I must go.

I've work to do.

Wait. I must pay you

for the work you've done.

Um, there's no need.

Will you take this,

then, from me?

I made it here.

Then I'm glad to have it.

Thank you.

I knew the man...

And yet I didn't know him.

He reminded me of someone,

Something that was missing

in my present life.

What do you think

he's done?

Killed it.

But the witch

wouldn't let him.

He wouldn't be likely to help

her with magic, now, would he?

Suppose we had a look

through the window.

It's our badger.

We're responsible for him.

Aye. Maybe if

we were careful...

Come on, Geordie.

If she catches us,

You can say you came to see

how your frog was getting on.

You want to know,

don't you?

Come on, then.

Psst!

the badger's in here.

I think he's dead.

I told you Mr. Macdhui

would kill him.

Here, Geordie,

you're the smallest.

Climb up

and have a look.

He's not dead.

I can see him breathing.

are you sure?

Look out!

ow!

Let me go!

Let me go!

Och! It's all right.

What's the matter?

What are you afraid of?

Let me go!

You're the one who

brought the frog to me.

He's better now.

His leg has mended.

Do you want him back?

Then come and see him.

He's not very strong

at hopping yet,

But he can swim

all right.

He's going in with her.

She must have put

a spell on him.

Here's your wee frog.

Look.

Oh, he's better.

Did you do it with magic?

With a powerful magic,

Geordie.

You know my name.

Cor!

Was it you who brought

the wounded badger, too?

Is he going to be

all right, please?

Did you do magic

with him?

No, that was Mr. Macdhui.

What he did was magic.

Mr. Macdhui -

does he do magic?

He has a wonderful skill

that's almost magic.

He saved the badger's life.

Can I go now?

Don't you want

to take your frog?

Thank you

for curing my frog.

I'm not afraid anymore.

Well, not much, that is,

But I have to go now.

are you all right?

Yes. Look,

she cured the frog.

But what about the

badger? She cured him, too.

She put a spell on Mr. Macdhui

and made him help her.

She's an awful good witch.

Hello, Mary.

Do you know

what I did today?

Went up to the Glen

to see your witch.

You know, she's not

a witch at all.

She, uh... Isn't even what Mrs.

Mack calls, uh, "something weird. "

She's a bit like yourself -

Wants to be left alone.

Except that she's, uh,

She's got all kinds of

creatures up there with her -

Squirrels and rabbits,

stray dogs, cats,

Uh, wild birds

And a -

And a badger.

If I go up there again,

Would you like to

come with me and see him?

Look, Mary,

I brought you a present.

look.

Something

of your very own.

Och, I couldn't get

nowhere with her.

She shows no signs of wearying of this

game she's playing, that I'm not there.

And how do you play it,

Andrew?

Talk to her, behave as if

everything was normal between us,

Read stories to her,

but she pays no heed.

And that wee dog

you got for her?

She'd have none of it.

I had to take it away again.

No, she won't forgive me,

because I failed her.

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