Tales from the Hermitage:
As I descended the final rungs from the loft, a pungent musk enveloped me. In the dim twilight, I was hesitant to step into the fray, until I heard Zibby’s frustrated whinny grunts. Her unmistakable display of frustration, meant that she had lost the nocturnal hunter she was after. I had automatically checked the squirrel and knew it was safe, as I descended into the crashing and banging below me.
I wasn’t aware that a weasel or ferret could emit such a strong nasty sent, and then it hit me. The weasel must have been the culprit that had injured the flying squirrel the night before? I thought I had critter proofed the place, but the little sneak had gotten in somehow. Its needle like sharp teeth could explain the tiny puncture wounds I had found in the squirrel.
Later in the light of day I would find and plug its entrance, I wasn’t under any elusions that it may have had other escape routes hidden around. The smell drove me to open the cabin door, I had whiffed this strange aroma a number of times before in the cabin, but could never figure its origin. The night being the little squirrels domain found it wide awake. I could see that it was visibly upset by the sounds and smell of death still lingering in the room. But it was at least showing signs of life, which I took as an encouraging sign.
After lighting some candles and the lamps, I rewarded Zibby my heroin, with overtures of praise and chin rubs. That she took great delight in and milked it for all it was worth. Although I don’t see the ferret or weasel as evil or the bad guy, I wasn’t about to tell Zibby that. It was obviously Zibbys arch enemy and explained many past mysterious bumps in the night. It had evaded Zibby time and time again, which clearly showed the little devils intelligence, cunning and stealth.
As I stood leaning against the door jam, watching the day breaking over the lake, a light slap on the wall beside my head startled me. Turning, I saw another doe eyed flying squirrel, inches away staring me boldly in the face. Then with incredible speed and agility it was gone in a blurr. It had landed from somewhere high above, and struck lightly like Velcro. Turned upside-down on the smooth hewn timber wall, like it was weightless, then in a flick disappeared.
I wondered if it had come to visit Elvis? My new name for my little patient, recuperating in sick bay. They were certainly accustom to my face and presents, as I had spent hours watching them on the feeder. So it wasn’t inconceivable that they were losing their fear of me.
I decide to try an experiment, I extended my hand, with a palm full of grain and seeds. And within seconds, tap. tap, two were on the wall beside my head, sniffing with their huge whiskers. They had such darling trusting sweet faces.
Although at first they shied away from even the slightest of my movements, they would take my offerings left for them. And once when I was trying to balance a seed on the timber ledge, one delicately crawled over the back of my hand. I slowly turned my hand over but it moved away, then it jumped on and began stuffing seeds into its chipmunk looking face.
Then from nowhere out of the blackness came another, and even though they must be really moving in flight, their landing touch was soft and delicate on my wrist and hand. I was in seventh heaven as more and more wanted in on the action and play. I wondered how long they had been waiting for me to join in their games?
Then as if on some invisible signal they all disappeared. It wasn’t until then did I realize how the time had flown as it was now light. A little disappointed but happy for new friends, and now on their time I headed back to bed to catch a bit more sleep. I had forgotten all about Zibby and when I turned to see what she was up to, she simply looked up at me cocking her head from side to side, as if to say “What’s up?”
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