what happened next

The afternoon was brutal.

My attempts at rescue were pathetic.  Worse than pathetic, they were positively detrimental, sending brickdust and little concrete rocks showering down on the cubs below.  The neighbours, meanwhile, worked hard to chop their pretty shrub down ("it was too prickly, anyway", they sweetly dismissed - they're not nearly as black as I paint, you know ;) and others from the street wondered over to reflect on matters and throw their tuppence worth in.

The clock ticked.

For the kits (and Agatha, who prowled the wall nervously for five minutes or so before deciding she was outnumbered and better sit it out under cover nearby) this all caused a great deal of noise and commotion.  We weren't sure how long they'd been there or how awkwardly they'd fallen (had they even fallen? Or was this just their most recently-found hiding place from which they had a secret way out? I don't think anyone was sure, but neither was it up for debate).  It was frequently observed that the young ones were becoming less responsive, contorted, even.  Stray shrub cuttings flew onto their unflinching bodies, metal broom handles were unceremoniously thrust down - rough, unfinished end first on occasion - onto apparently lifeless bodies, and the worst was suspected. I'd lie down next to the wall and blow down the crack to check they still reacted and then gratefully proclaim that they were still breathing, which more often than not was met with "but for how much longer?" Heart-wrenching stuff.

Having the longest arms, I was encouraged to reach in once the bush was out of the way.  Disappointingly, even with the wall pushing deep into my armpit, at a desperate full stretch (and with grazed arm - the opening really was narrow) I was still only just about able to touch the tips of Ginger's fur.

The hoe that had seen to the plant was being tested against the lower, inner wall. "We could knock it down" "But then it'll fall right on top of them!" "Not if we do it right and clear the earth away a bit first". I was far from convinced, so when an onlooker suggested calling the firebrigade, I frantically jumped at the suggestion. The hoe was thankfully set aside while the call was made and we waited what seemed like an eternity (but was probably only about 15 minutes) for them to show.