The Wabbit and the Question of Peacock Island

The Wabbit had been sent on a matter of the utmost sensitivity. On his arrival in Potsdam, he was guided to a specially converted water taxi and ferried directly to Peacock Island. Turbina the Jet Car had been authorised to accompany the Wabbit on the island and even though her permission papers had described her as an "agricultural automotive necessity", she hadn't grumbled. The Wabbit waded ashore through the reeds and felt like a most intrepid explorer. The undergrowth presented no problems for a wabbit, so as he hopped, he mulled over the delicate matter in hand. "This," murmured the Wabbit, "has not always been Peacock Island" He knew that a long, long time ago, it had been known as Wabbit Island and in these days it was covered in forest and filled with wabbits of all shapes and sizes. The Wabbit's briefing papers indicated that the King, Frederick William II of Prussia, had appropriated the island and built a castle. Then he had filled the island with peacocks, because he liked their feathers - and he would sit in his castle and watch them for hours. The Wabbit read that, in consequence, wabbits increasingly suffered wabbit exclusion. "Such a nice place," thought the Wabbit and although he knew its current German name, Pfaueninsel, he adamantly refused to say that name out loud. He stood for a minute and looked all around. Then he exclaimed boldly and loudly and to no-one in particular except the Wabbit. "So this is Kaninchenwerder!"

The Wabbit, Turbina & Jazz Through the Night

"I want to go to the Jazz ReFound Festival in Vercelli," said Turbina the Jet Car, lengthily. "Oh, we can't. We're on mission," said the Wabbit. The Wabbit didn't like putting his paw down quite so hard, so he softened. "We could always listen to jazz then," he suggested kindly. Turbina switched on the Internet radio and searched. Mellow sounds drifted from the speakers and the Wabbit settled back. Abruptly, Turbina changed the station. "I was enjoying that," said the Wabbit. "Wait," said Turbina. Suddenly they were surrounded by the soft tones of Nigel Williams at Jazz FM. The Wabbit watched and then smiled as Turbina submitted an electronic request. They had only to wait a minute for Nigel's voice. "Hey, we've heard from the Wabbit, who's just hopped on board. He's on one of his adventures in that fabulous car of his. So here's something to speed them both on their way." Turbina and the Wabbit spoke at one and the same time and all that they could say was "Ooooooh!" Turbina turned down the interior light as the strains of Ella Fitzgerald filled the car. The Wabbit sang along. "And now when you turn the lamp down low, I'm beginning to see the light." And little flickers of sodium street light fell around them like notes, as they ate up the kilometers to Potsdam and Peacock Island.

Lovely Lapinette and the Secret Service

Lapinette and the Wabbit paused for a minute. The Wabbit knew Lapinette would get to the all important make-up case so he sipped his aperitivo and settled back to hear the rest of the story. "My security detail was duly assigned and he was a very tall man, handsome and strong. He sat me in his truck and took the piece of gravel out of my paw with a special piece of equipment." "He did, did he?" The Wabbit was paying special attention. "Yes, he did," said Lapinette. "Then he said he would like to give me something. So he reached in his own luggage and took out the make-up case." "Just like that," said the Wabbit. "Just like that," said Lapinette. "He told me he had it specially made for his girlfriend and that she had dumped him, so he would like me to have it." "That must have been a surprise," said the Wabbit. "It certainly was," said Lapinette, "and so I told him what a silly young woman that must have been and that he could do much, much better." The Wabbit buried his face in his paws for a second. Lapinette ignored him and continued. "Then I popped the make-up case in my bag and that is where it stays." "Might come in handy," said the Wabbit. "And I have his cell phone number," added Lapinette. "So might that," said the Wabbit. Lapinette's story was over, their aperitivi were both finished and so the Wabbit called for the bill. To his surprise the waiter came immediately. "Things are looking up," thought the Wabbit.

Lovely Lapinette gets an Important Lift

As Lapinette went on with her story, the Wabbit could barely contain himself. "Inside the car, there was a most important couple, the President and his Lady." Lapinette paused for effect and to see if the Wabbit was listening properly. The Wabbit drew in a breath and asked "What were they like?" "They were very courteous and asked me about many things," said Lapinette. "Did you ask about wabbit exclusion? Did you? Did you?" The Wabbit nearly fell off his seat with excitement. "Yes of course," said Lapinette. "They are both very well-versed in matters of civil rights. I was told that the matter would be given due priority." The Wabbit looked down at the cafe table and and thought of his own ever-growing list of unclassifiable tasks. Then he looked back up again. "Are you listening, Wabbit?" Lapinette flicked her ears around. "Yes, yes, you mentioned due priority," said the Wabbit. Lapinette continued. "He told me he was not just a president for people but for animals too." The Wabbit smiled broadly and warmly. "What happened then?" "Well, they said that they couldn't take me all the way so they insisted on dropping me off with a special security detail to see me to my destination." Lapinette seemed to be getting to the end of her story so the Wabbit threw in a quick reminder. "And the make-up case, remember?" "Patience is a virtue," said Lapinette.

Lovely Lapinette in the Midst of Things

The Wabbit was all ears as Lapinette told her story. "I was going to a very important meeting of the International Wabbit Council," said Lapinette. "And it was very hot and my fur was wilting. I took a short cut through a familiar neighbourhood, but I got a piece of gravel in my paw and I couldn't get rid of it, you know?" "Most unpleasant," said the Wabbit with feeling. "Well," continued Lapinette. "It must have been obvious that I was limping a bit, because I heard an officially official person talk into a radio. He said something about immediate assistance and then there was a lot of shouting and running around." "Oooh! What then, what then," said the Wabbit. "Patience, Wabbit," said Lapinette and continued. "The longest car that I have ever seen appeared from round the corner, and it stopped just beside me." "Longer then Turbina the Jet Car," asked the Wabbit. "Longer than this very café where I am telling this story," said Lapinette. The Wabbit's jaw dropped. Lapinette frowned. Then she leaned across and, with a practiced movement, tilted the Wabbit's jaw into a more respectable position. "I will continue," said Lapinette. "The front door of the long car opened and I was invited inside." "What next? What next?" The Wabbit was on the edge of his seat and bounced up and down. "I got in. My paw was hurting," replied Lapinette. Then the Wabbit remembered something. "What about the make-up case?" "All in due course," said Lapinette.

The Wabbit meets Lapinette for Lunch

Lovely Lapinette was contemplating a plate of artichoke tubers when she felt the Wabbit staring at her. "Whats that?" The Wabbit nodded to the corner of the table. "My make-up case," said Lapinette in a manner that indicated it could hardly be anything else. The Wabbit knew better than to say that it didn't look like a make-up case. "Why don't you order a couple of carrot-based aperitivi and I'll tell you how it came to be in my possession," said Lapinette. The Wabbit effected disinterest and tried to attract the attention of the waiter. He wiggled his ears and wriggled his nose and he even tried clicking his paws. All to no avail whatsoever. Lapinette feigned impatience and then made her left ear tremble imperceptibly. "Due aperitivi di carote fresche for the Marchesa and her companion. Subito!" The waiter had appeared like lightning and was gone just as quickly. The Wabbit bristled. But he tried hard not to take offence since drinks speedily arrived with two small plates of carrot flakes. The pair were contemplative as they sipped their drinks and nibbled their carrot flakes. The Wabbit could wait no longer. "You were going to tell me how you came to acquire such a make-up case," he said. "You won't believe it," said Lapinette. "I will, I will, I will," said the Wabbit with urgency. Now the Wabbit was desperate to hear the story. "Once upon a time, in a distant land," began Lapinette. "Ooooh," said the Wabbit.

The Wabbit sends off his Adversary

The following day, the Wabbit waited for the Carabinieri. They were transporting Skratch the Cat Burglar to a place of detention and had told him they would pass by. So the Wabbit met them on the corner as arranged. But he could barely conceal his dismay at the size of the transport vehicle. The Carabinieri assured the Wabbit that this was last available vehicle in the car pool. So he nodded his head and strode up to address Skratch. "Now look here," said the Wabbit. "I know you want something and I can assure you we haven't got it. And even if we did have it, we probably fell asleep and forgot where we put it. So we don't know what or where it is and even if we found it, we certainly wouldn't give it to you." Skratch's eyes went to pin pricks behind his mask. He couldn't cope speaking directly to the Wabbit because his brain started to whirl. So he said nothing. The Wabbit turned on his paw and advanced on the Carabinieri officer who was contemplating an ice cream. "This cat is a very dangerous character indeed. He is wanted in almost every state on various charges including fraud, extortion and grand theft auto." The Wabbit wasn't very sure about the last one, but he had seen a game in a shop window and thought it sounded good. He cast a disparaging glance as the Fiat pool car left with Skratch and the officers of the Carabinieri squeezed inside. "Sergio Marchionne shall hear of this," muttered the Wabbit.

The Wabbit has Visitors

The Wabbit had just settled down for the night when he was awakened by a terrible din. He shook himself and hopped to the window, closely followed by Lapinette. The Wabbit did not take kindly to being disturbed in the night and so he grumbled at length about the world and what it was coming to. But he knew it was no good complaining and sighed as he opened the window. At first he couldn't see what was happening. "Oh look," said Lapinette. "It's that old lady. The one you keep on and on about." "And there's her daughter," said the Wabbit. "I told you, I told you and - oh no, it's Skratch the Cat Burglar!" Lapinette smiled. "Oh yes. So it is. And he has a new outfit. Look!" The Wabbit stomped his back leg irritably. "I don't care about his coat. He's a menace. He steals things and makes eyes at you." "I know," said Lapinette. "Isn't he a silly sausage?" The Wabbit knew this conversation was going nowhere and he turned to the moonlit street. "The old lady has Skratch cornered," said the Wabbit, He could hear the sirens of the Carabinieri and he knew she must have called them. He turned to Lapinette. "Oh I do hope there's going to be no unpleasantness. We're supposed to be incognito." "Oh, really! Now thank your admirers," chided Lapinette. So the Wabbit raised a paw. He scrunched it tightly and his face broke into the most enormous 28-toothed grin. "Grazie! Do call round for biscottini," boomed the Wabbit. Skratch the Cat Burglar looked at Lapinette and shrugged. The old lady tidied her hair. Her daughter's bicycle bell made a loud ding. The Carabinieri arrived. And not one person in the neighbourhood saw a single thing.

The Wabbit attracts Attention

The Wabbit hopped back by a different route. He liked Torino's 18 kilometers of porticos and, if it rained, they kept his fur dry as he hopped. The truth to tell, he liked to go past Roma Gia' Talmone (or Talmone's place as he called it) and smell the ice cream. But now that the Wabbit had been alerted by the old lady's letter, he did feel a little uncomfortable. He knew that he was being followed and he tried to be extra alert. But it just made him hungry and so he found himself glancing at the Talmone's customers with envy. That was when he spotted the old lady with the umbrella. "Ah, there you are," said the Wabbit with relief. "I need to speak with you." The old lady put a finger to her lips and gestured to the portico ceiling. The Wabbit looked up. To his horror, he saw someone that he had taken the utmost care to avoid for some time. "Skratch the Cat Burglar, I thought you were still inside," breathed the Wabbit. And as he was thinking that thought, the old lady seized her umbrella and poked it high in the air to dislodge the Wabbit's adversary. "Take that for your trouble," she cried, poking Skratch fiercely. "And that. And that!" Skratch pulled himself further into the portico ceiling with ease. Then, with astonishing speed, he made off in the direction of a self-service restaurant called Brek, where there were rich pickings for a cat of his not inconsiderable talents. The Wabbit watched as the elderly lady sped after Skratch the Cat Burglar. For some time he could see a blue umbrella swinging above the crowds of strollers and he watched until her urgent cries of al ladro! were replaced by the shrill sirens of the Carabinieri. And then the Wabbit went home.

The Wabbit has Mail

The Wabbit and Monty went way back. They had history and there been issues. But the Wabbit thought that perhaps bygones should be bygones. "Monty, what news?" The Wabbit spoke pleasantly. "There was a curious occurrence," said Monty, nervously. "Two ladies approached the camp asking for the wabbit in charge. They asked many questions about you." A faint memory stirred for the Wabbit. "One woman and one old lady bearing an umbrella?" "Exactly", said Monty. "I told them nothing of any importance of course." The Wabbit wondered how much of importance there was to tell but, all the same, he was curious. "They thrust this letter into my paws and quickly ran off. Perhaps you should open it," suggested Monty in a helpful manner - but mostly because he was curious too. The Wabbit opened the letter with a flick of his paw and took out a single sheet of lavender perfumed paper inscribed in copperplate handwriting. He scanned the contents and turned to Monty with a frown. "It warns the Wabbit and his good lady of a scoundrel who has been watching the secret pied-à-terre." "Not very secret then," said Monty. The Wabbit glared furiously at Monty and continued. "The letter suggests this cad is up to no good and implores the Wabbit to take the utmost care." The Wabbit shook his head. "It is signed Your Most Ardent Admirers," he said, in a puzzled fashion. "I could find them." said Monty. "I don't think there's any need," said the Wabbit, "since they're already following us."

The Wabbit finds himself on Familiar Ground

The Wabbit was so pleased with his new coat that he decided to give it an outing. So in the afternoon, he left Turbina the jet car behind and hopped over the bridge and across the railway line to another neighbourhood. "There's something awfully familiar about this place," thought the Wabbit as he looked around. The market traders were clearing up and he saw one of them take lettuce and cabbage to a nearby piece of land enclosed by a fence. The Wabbit slapped a paw to his forehead. This was the Free Wabbits of Torino Base Camp. Just as soon as he had recognised where he was, he noticed wabbits gathering on the far side of the field and making their way over. And as he was watching them, he suddenly became aware of voice from just beside him. The voice addressed him in an impossibly cheerful tone. "We were expecting you. You're just in time for a salad sandwich, Mr Wabbit." The Wabbit wondered how he could possibly be expected - since to his certain knowledge, he had given no-one any indication of his visit. Yet everywhere he went, his arrival was ready known in advance. There seemed to be nothing the Wabbit could do about it so he looked down and said, "Thank you fellow wabbit. I would appreciate a bite to eat." The small wabbit nodded his head and added, "You have mail, Mr Wabbit." "Well, lets go and find out what it's all about," said the Wabbit. And off they hopped together, over the wall and through the fence.

The Wabbit needs Spare Parts

It had only been a small mattter of changing the oil and an interior switch and the Wabbit was wishing he hadn't bothered. Turbina put up the most terrible opposition to what she regarded as "tampering". The Wabbit shoved his paws deep in his fur and pretended it was nothing to to with him. It was a busy enough corner and he felt the whole neighbourhood was watching. As Turbina slammed her door on the mechanic and rattled the car ramp, the Wabbit wondered whether she would relax and allow the necessary maintenance. In his head he imagined a quiet well-mannered car. This made matters worse. Turbina's horn echoed from the walls and she belched flame from her exhaust. Then she made all her lights flash and sprayed the mechanic with water from her window washer. The Wabbit noticed Lapinette leaning from the balcony of her secret pied-à-terre and quickly turned to Turbina with a firm manner. "Visualise a long road lined with gas stations," he suggested soothingly. "And imagine they're all for you." Turbina went eerily quiet and the only sound that could be heard was the faint ticking of a fuel pump. Suddenly her door and hood flew open. The mechanic accomplished the work in record time and dived dramatically to the side. He had expected Turbina to take further revenge, but all was well. The Wabbit looked up at Lapinette with an innocent smile and waved an innocent paw. Lapinette tried to look disapproving, without success. And up on the corner, the old lady and her daughter who had seen them drive pass the park, threw their arms around each other and hugged. "Lets have an ice cream and talk about what we've seen," said the mother. And so they did.

The Wabbit arrives Early

The Wabbit and Lapinette reached Torino early and as they drove through familar streets, they heard Turbina's exhaust crackling in the morning air. Nearby, sitting on a park bench before breakfast, an elderly lady and her daughter watched the traffic pass, as they did every single day except Fridays. "Do you know," said the daughter, "that I just saw two wabbits drive by in a jet car?" The old lady spoke curtly. "I don't hold with wabbits driving jet cars and that's a fact." "Oh but they looked lovely," said her daughter. "She looked beautiful - la coniglia più bella che ho mai visto - and he was handsome and wore the most amazing glasses. Where do you think they're going?" "Somewhere very important by the sound of them, I'll be bound," her mother replied. "Perhaps they are having a before-breakfast meeting or whetever they call these things nowadays." "I don't think so," said the daughter shaking her head. "It's got to be a lot more more exciting than a meeting." "I think they went round there. Lets follow them and see where they go," replied her mother, nudging her daughter so forcibly from the seat, that she nearly fell on the grass. Inside the car, the Wabbit noticed the two get up from the bench and he mentally grumbled at Turbina's noisy exhaust. "Now look what you've done Turbina. You've frightened that old lady!" "Far from it," said Turbina.

The Wabbit gives Lapinette a Lift Home

After the Wabbit and Lapinette had enjoyed a fine meal, the Wabbit was on the way to Frankfurt Airport when Lapinette said suddenly, "Why don't you just keep going and give me a lift home?" The Wabbit thought, quite erroneously, that Torino was most awfully far and said, "Turbina is very thirsty on fuel." Lapinette rummaged deeply in her bag, brought out a concertina wallet of plastic cards and pretended to play it, whilst humming a pleasant tune. The Wabbit opened the throttle. Turbina lurched forward and, for a moment, flames spat from her jet exhaust. "Oh no," said the Wabbit. "We'll probably get arrested." Lapinette smiled. She searched more deeply in her bag and brought out a diplomatic passport - with which she proceeded to fan herself. The Wabbit nodded and his ears brushed along the roof of the car. Turbina took the next slip road on the Autobahn and headed South. Then the Wabbit's stomach rumbled without warning. It was a long, low and somewhat threatening rumble and the Wabbit looked dismayed. Lapinette searched briefly in her bag and produced a salad sandwich. "It's 500 kilometers to Torino," she said - and handed the salad sandwich to the Wabbit. The Wabbit shifted into a more comfortable driving position and adopted a theatrical tone. "We have a full tank of gas, a salad sandwich, it's dark and I'm wearing funny glasses." "Hit it," breathed Turbina. And instantly they were a mere pin prick of light in the distance.

The Wabbit watches the Kaninchenrettung Aid Lift begin

When the Wabbit looked up he saw something very familiar and he had been able to put two and two together. So when Lapinette came swooping down by parachute he could scarcely say he was surprised. Lapinette didn't take long to arrive with the first consignment of containers. She landed near the compound and as she folded up her her parachute, the wabbits of Kaninchenrettung descended on her with applause. They started to scurry around with containers, putting supplies away safely. Lapinette hopped towards the Wabbit and smiled. "I didn't know you worked for "Conigli Senza Frontiere," said the Wabbit "I don't really. I just pulled some strings," replied Lapinette. The Wabbit mused for a second. "Lapinette always manages to pull strings," thought the Wabbit. "And they stay pulled," he added to himself. "So! Ask the question, Wabbit," said Lapinette. The Wabbit was horror stricken. He couldn't think of the question. He thought and thought and thought and then he made it look as if he knew all along. "Ah yes, the question is, of course, what was that for a sort of adventure?" "It was wabbit magical realism," said Lapinette with a straight face. "It certainly was," said the Wabbit and chuckled. "What shall we do now?" "You could take me for lunch," said Lapinette. "Parachuting is very hungry work." "OK." said the Wabbit. "What about Adolf Wagner's in Frankfurt? I hear it is old fashioned and none the worse for it." "Go in Turbina the jet car?" Lapinette looked quizzical and the Wabbit put his paws on his hips. "Do you know, I'll swear that car knows what I'm thinking," "I do," said Turbina from right behind the Wabbit.