"If I do this," he told Nicholas in little more than a whisper, "I want to be able to live here in the warren for the rest of my days. I want immunity."

Nicholas nodded. "Fair enough," he said.

"I don't want to be punished in any way," Travis continued. "If I'm going to name names, I want my part in their conspiracy to be forgotten. I didn't do anything wrong except go along with their plans."

"Okay," Nicholas snapped. "Tell us what you know."

Travis swallowed and licked his lips. He glanced quickly at Peter. He was shaking his head slowly. Travis could even hear Peter's voice inside his head. You don't have to do this, Travis. But it wasn't really Peter's voice. It was the voice of doubt. "I didn't actually see Peter kill the human either," Travis admitted.

Nicholas rolled his eyes and Hazel groaned.

"But," Travis continued. "That's the point."

Nicholas perked up again. "Oh? What is?"

"That I didn't see him do it," Travis went on. "That's the point. Nobody was supposed to. Like you said, sir, Peter might not have actually put the poisonous flower in the man's mouth, but that doesn't mean he isn't responsible for his death."

The crowd fell silent. Angus closed his eyes.

"So who actually did kill the human?" Nicholas asked.

"Oh, Sebastian did," Travis replied. "I'm pretty sure of it."

"Could you explain, then, why you think Peter's responsible?"

Travis cleared his throat. "Well, that's where I come to the secret meeting, sir," he began again. "Now, I can see dozens of rabbits who were there from where I'm standing. And they could all tell you a different version of what happened. And I just get the impression that was the whole point of the meeting."

"You're not making yourself very clear, Travis," Nicholas interrupted.

"I'm s-sorry," Travis spluttered. "It's just, the meeting seemed like a front."

"A front? What do you mean by that?"

Travis paused. "Well," he said, his voice growing shaky. "I don't think they were really deciding anything there at all. I think Peter had already decided what to do. The meeting was just so he could see how much support he'd have..."

"Well, you were right about one thing, Nicholas," Peter said quickly. "This truly is going to come down to my word against someone else's."

"Shut up!" Hazel barked.

"Carry on, Travis," Nicholas said.

Travis looked at Mark and Tom. Mark was still furious. He looked like he did that time he attacked Peter. But Tom looked saddened, disappointed, perhaps rejected. Travis sighed. "At the meeting, William and Elliot wanted to launch an attack straight away. But then Peter said-"

"Wait a second," Nicholas interjected. "William and Elliot?"

"Uh, yes," Travis said. "They're important figures in this conspiracy, too."

"Go find them," Nicholas said to Hazel. "Bring them here." William and Elliot weren't in the crowd. Hazel nodded and stormed off. Nicholas turned back to Travis, who'd been left hanging in mid-sentence. "Go on, Travis."

"They had an idea to kill the human as well," Travis went on. "And it was them who had gone around finding out how much support they would have. They'll claim they have a support from the majority."

"And do they?"

"Well," Travis said, smiling awkwardly. "Didn't Peter say the same?"

"Yes, and we proved him wrong. Go on."

Travis nodded. "But anyway, Peter told them to wait."

"Wait? Wait to do what?"

"Well, kill the human."

"For how long?"

"Oh, only until Sebastian left him alone."

Angus opened his eyes and frowned at this statement.

"Sebastian?" Nicholas said quizzically. "Who was doing what at this time?"

"Feeding the human," Travis said.

"But Sebastian killed the human in the end?"

"Yes, I think so," Travis said quickly. "I'm just getting to that part."

"Okay, go on. We're listening."

Travis swallowed again. His mouth was dry. He remembered something his father had told him before he was exiled the first time that a dry mouth is a sure sign of a liar. But Travis was just telling the truth, wasn't he? "There were like fifteen volunteers to kill the human," he said. "I can't remember most of them, but William and Elliot and my two brothers were amongst them."

Mark and Tom felt the crowd become their prison.

"Anyway, Peter told them to wait until Sebastian left the human alone," Travis continued. "Then he said he was going off to catch some sleep. But you were right the first time, sir, that really is a convenient alibi."

"Why do you say that, Travis?"

"Because it meant Peter could go and convince Sebastian to kill the human for him and nobody would ever know."

"Pure imaginative speculation!" Peter spat.

"Be quiet," Nicholas growled. "You've had your turn."

At this point, Genevieve stepped away from the other elders. She was quietly spoken and only those at the front of the proceedings could hear her. "So, Travis, in effect, what you're saying is that your brothers were right - this secret meeting really didn't have anything to do with it. It was all just Peter and Sebastian."

Travis paused. "Yes. I suppose so."

The crowd began to make the most noise now. At the front, glaring at Travis, Peter knew why. It's because his young brother-in-law had just absolved all those that had been at the secret meeting of any guilt or responsibility for what had happened. There was no way he would be able to galvanise the cause now. The cause was effectively dead. And the worst thing was that it hadn't been destroyed by malicious lies and betrayals, but by foolish misinterpretation from Travis.

Just then, there was a frantic squeaking from the back of the crowd. Several dozen heads turned to see who was coming. It was Hazel. And he had with him both William and Elliot, who looked dirty and bedraggled like they'd been hiding in a muddy hole they'd dug somewhere. They looked afraid as Hazel herded them to the front. He was twice the size of them. He nudged them forward with his nose.

"You might as well tell us everything," Nicholas told them.

"What? We haven't done anything!" William whimpered.

"Tell us about the secret meeting," Nicholas growled.

"What secret meeting?" Elliot said innocently.

"We don't know anything about a secret meeting!" William insisted.

Nicholas nodded at Hazel. The old bruiser's eyes lit up with the vibrancy of a young rabbit's eyes. "Seize them!" he barked. At that point the crowd gasped. A few parents ferried their small children away as William and Elliot were pinned down.

"Him first," Nicholas muttered, nodding at Elliot.

"No! Please! Not this!" Elliot pleaded.

"Turn him over," Hazel hissed. The rabbits pinning him down turned him onto his back. He had four holding him down, one on each leg. He kicked and struggled, but soon his belly was in the air. His heart was beating so hard and so fast all the rabbits nearby could see his chest bump with the heartbeats.

Nicholas came round to stand over Elliot's upturned head. He looked down into his wide, terrified eyes. "Just tell us how far you were involved," he said nicely. "Tell us how much you had to do with the human's death."

"I don't know anything!" Elliot cried.

"Fine," Nicholas snapped, then he nodded at Hazel.

Several of the rabbits averted their eyes, including Travis. Hazel climbed on top of Elliot, pinned his shoulder down with one paw, then dug around on his chest until a claw got purchase and Elliot flinched. Hazel smirked. Then he dug in until Elliot began to whimper more, then started to drag the claw down. Elliot cried out in pain. A long bloody line trailed down his chest behind Hazel's claw. When he reached Elliot's belly, the little rabbit screamed in agony.

"Stop this!" Peter shouted. "It was just a human being! Not worth this!"

Hazel didn't even hesitate to continue. Nicholas ignored Peter.

The screams were so loud, for William standing next to Elliot, they weren't so much sounds as physical sensations. He knew he was next. "Okay, okay, stop!" he cried. "I'll tell you everything! Just don't hurt him anymore!"

Nicholas smiled jubilantly. "Okay, Hazel, that's enough."

Hazel looked disappointed as he climbed off the trembling Elliot.

"Anyway, William, what was it you had to tell us?"

William gulped, glancing quickly at Peter for support. "About the secret meeting," he said meekly. "There was one. Okay? Yes, we both called it. But we didn't kill the human. We planned to, but we didn't get the chance."

"And why was that, William?"

"Because Sebastian got there first."

Nicholas nodded. He began to walk around the two conspirators slowly, inspecting the wounds of Elliot's torture and bearing down on William menacingly. "So Sebastian is the guilty one," he muttered to himself. "Anyway, William, we've already heard you wanted to kill the human straight after the meeting. Is that right?"

William bowed his head. "Yes," he murmured.

"And it was Peter who made you wait?"

William looked up again. "Yes," he said.

"Why do you think that was, William?"

"I don't know." William shrugged.

"But did that surprise you in any way?"

William glanced at Peter. "Well, yes," he admitted. "Yes, it did. I believed what he said, about waiting until Sebastian was out of the way. But now Sebastian was the one who actually killed the man in the end, I just can't understand it."

"What is it you can't understand?"

"If Sebastian was on our side, why didn't Peter just tell him to leave?"

Peter sighed. "Perhaps because I didn't know he was on our side!" he snapped.

Nicholas glared at him. "William, why do you think it was that Peter came to your secret meeting, agreed with everything you said, and then went completely behind your back?" He leaned in close.

"I'm not entirely sure, sir," William said, ducking back.

"But you have your suspicions?"

William gulped. "Yes, sir."

"So why do you think Peter did that?"

"Well, now he can claim he isn't to blame, can't he?"

"Exactly!" Nicholas spun round. This is exactly what he'd been waiting to hear. "Can you all see what Peter Rabbit was doing yet? He was manipulating you all. All of you who were at that meeting. You've been used."

Peter shook his head. "I went along with their plan!"

Nicholas ignored him. "He already had his own plans for killing the human, but then, all of a sudden, oh, what a stroke of luck, here come a bunch of innocent fools swayed by his rhetoric earlier in the day who he can implicate in his place!"

"Ha!" Peter laughed. "They're the ones implicating me!"

"Yes, Peter," Nicholas said calmly, finally acknowledging Peter was there after all. "That's because your magnificent plan backfired, didn't it?"

"Yes," Peter said quickly. "Sebastian got in the way of it."

"Personally," Nicholas continued unabated. "I think you knew deep down that you never had popular support. Yes, there were lots who responded to your fighting talk, but we've already seen none of them truly had the conviction to go through with it. That's why nobody stepped forward when you asked them to."

Peter spoke past Nicholas and addressed the crowd, feeling that his continued habitation within the warren slipping through his paws. "You can all see where this is heading now," he told them. "This is your last chance. Join me."

Nicholas yawned. "This has never been anything more than your own personal crusade, Peter," he said wearily. "I know you know this, Peter. Why else did you need to go behind the backs of everyone else at that secret meeting of yours?"

"Personal crusade?" Peter scoffed. "You keep on thinking that, Nicholas." He turned back to address the crowd again. "It doesn't have to be like this. You know you form a majority. I was at the same meeting as you. I know most of you agree with me. I didn't kill the human, but I'm gladly someone did."

"Give it up, Peter," Hazel rasped.

"Sebastian has shown us that we can have it our own way if we want it," Peter continued. "Now, before it's too late, I implore you, stand up and stand beside me. Show Nicholas just how powerless he really is..."

Nicholas didn't look too threatened. "Hazel," he said, but didn't take his eyes off of Peter. "Take William and Elliot to the forty-metre limit south of here." He paused for effect. "Then kick them over it."

The crowd gasped. William and Elliot cried out in protest.

Peter shot Nicholas a look. "Why are you exiling them?"

"Oh, and a new rule," Nicholas announced, ignoring Peter, but glancing at the elders to check he wasn't overstepping the mark. "From now on, anyone exiled from the colony who returns will return to a penalty of death." He looked at Hazel. "If they cross back over the limit again... Kill them."

"They didn't do anything!" Peter hissed.

"That's what you said, as well, Peter."

"Yeah, and I was telling the truth too, but at least you believed them."

"I believed they had nothing to do with killing the human, yes," Nicholas pointed out haughtily. "But conspiring against the patriarch and elders of the colony is still an offence, Peter. And that's exactly what you and your cronies have done by going behind my back in this manner."

"Oh, please," Peter snapped sarcastically.

"By rights," Nicholas snarled. "I could exile each and every rabbit who was at that meeting for the same reason." He raised his voice. "So if any of them do want to see just how powerless I am, let them speak now and try me out..."

Peter looked over the crowd. He didn't expect any of them to speak up.

"One day," he spat at Nicholas. "You'll see."

Nicholas sighed. "Peter, you've haven't given me a choice, have you?"

"And you haven't given me a chance," Peter spat.

"I gave you a chance to live under my rule..."

Peter laughed. "Your rule... oh, yes... let's see how long that lasts."

"Oh, Peter." Nicholas sighed. "This is exactly what I'm talking about."

"Go on, Nicholas," Peter goaded. "Just do it. Exile me."

"Why couldn't you just accept my role as patriarch of this colony?" Nicholas asked bitterly. "I mean, I hate humans too. It's not like this one was the first one you killed. But it's the principle of going against my leadership to do it."

Peter snorted. "It takes more than votes to make you a leader, Nicky."

"That kind of insubordination is something we can't have here."

"Spare me your justification and just do it, Nicholas."

Nicholas nodded. "All right, then," he said. "Peter Rabbit, you are now officially exiled from this warren and its environs." There were no gasps from the crowd. This wasn't a surprise, least of all to Peter. "Once you have passed the forty-metre limit, should you come back, you will have your throat slit."

"Oh, I like that new rule," Peter said. "I really do."

Nicholas ignored him. He nodded to Hazel. With William bawling in front of him and Elliot limping beside him, Hazel moved away. Nicholas watched for a moment, then he stopped in front of Mark and Tom, who both looked up at him. "Now," he said. "Do I really have to torture you two into confessing as well?"

Mark and Tom stared at him for a moment, then they both shook their heads. They could both see it was going to happen anyway, whether they told the truth and were then tortured, or were tortured and then told a lie.

"Good," Nicholas said wearily. "And I meant what I said, you three. If you ever come back to this warren again, I will have your throats slit." He glanced over to where Hazel had been standing. A couple of his old bruiser mates were there. "Take these three to Hazel. Make sure they don't come back."

"Yes, sir," the two bruisers said together.

"Goodbye, Peter," Nicholas said as he passed.

"Fuck you," Peter snarled back.

Nicholas shrugged. His orders given, he spun around and swept away like the pompous upstart little prick most of the warren thought he was at that moment. Most of the remaining elders trotted after him obsequiously, looking smug in their satisfaction that perhaps their votes hadn't been wasted on Nicholas after all.

The crowd was completely silent until after they were gone. Then several dozen voices broke out in pointless protest. Mark and Tom sidled towards Peter. Then the three of them heard the snort of the two old bruisers standing right behind them. Rabbits were rarely born their size these days. Peter pitied their poor mothers.

"Move it, you three," one of the bruisers growled.

Peter looked at Mark, looked at Tom. This was really happening. One of the old bruisers moved ahead of them, leading the way through the middle of the crowd, barking at the other rabbits, telling them to move and make way for the condemned. Slowly the crowd parted and a path through them was made.

Now that Nicholas was gone, most of the crowd allowed themselves to look apologetic. Some leant out as Peter passed and muttered that they still supported him. Others promised him they'd let him back in as soon as Nicholas was replaced as patriarch. But Peter didn't want to know anymore.

As they made their way through the crowd, Mark and Tom bowed their heads guiltily, but Peter kept his head up high. He wasn't ashamed. Part of him wished he really had killed the human. Then at least he could genuinely enjoy the equal measure of hatred and respect he was getting.

He spotted Angus. The old man had moved to the back of the crowd now. He was standing there shaking his head. He looked defeated, a broken man four times over. He didn't stay long. He couldn't watch this happen. As Angus turned round, Peter saw Travis trying to make a way through the crowd toward him. The crowd wasn't being too forgiving of the traitor in their midst. Peter shook his head and snorted quietly at their hypocrisy as he walked through them.

Much of the crowd followed Peter, Mark, Tom and the two old bruisers right up to the forty-metre line. All those that followed had been at the secret meeting, but Peter didn't feel any solidarity with them anymore. Beyond the perimeter, William and Elliot were waiting, not knowing what to do.

"Get out of here, the lot of you," Hazel barked.

Indeed, Peter only knew that he and his two brothers-in-laws had finally crossed the boundary line because Hazel was still sitting on it. Satisfied that justice was done, Hazel stood up, took a shit, then left his two henchmen to guard the perimeter until Peter and the other four had disappeared.

William and Elliot were both crying now. Both Mark and Tom were used to living outside the warren. But for Peter, it was strange standing here. Not because he felt the same twinge he had felt last time, but because he felt nothing at all.

NOTES:
Another very talky chapter. The last in a while, I expect. But the slate is now clean. I'm going to take my break now, but when I return, the story can go practically anywhere. Well, no, it's going to Roadkill Turnpike, but it may well take another 10,000 words to get there. This won't be the last we see or hear of the warren on the western side of the road, but the title of the story never was "The Rabbits Of The Warren On The Western Side Of The Road". This chapter ends on word 43,693, which is more than half a conventional length novel. Whilst 80,000 has always been my goal, if it goes over that when Roadkill Turnpike is finally reached, I'm not going to hold myself back. That was the whole point of this exercise, after all. I need a break to remind myself of that.