Brian Jacques - Redwall #20 - Eulalia!

"Hi hey Log a Log ho

Guosim lay the foebeast low,

Ho hey Log a Log hi

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vermin 'tis the day ye die!

Logga Logga Logloglog!

Oh my blade is thirsting hard

not for ale or water it will drink the vermin blood

brewed amid the slaughter!

Logga Logga Logloglog!

Ye who laid our chieftain low

Guosim wrath will feel, take this payment of our debt

given with cold steel!

Logga Logga Logloglog!

Hi hey Log a Log ho

vengeance is a blood-red tide

Ho hey Log a Log hi

throw the Hellgates open wide!

Logga Logga Logloglog!"

On top of the plateau, Gorath and his three compatriots had repelled the Brownrats who had come over the edge. Working together, they beat the vermin back, though it was the young badger, armed with Tung, his weapon, who was carrying the fight. He was indeed an awesome sight, roaring forth his battlecry, swinging the pitchfork like a mighty flail.

Maudie was in top form. Avoiding spears and crude blades, she was lashing out with all paws, sending foebeasts skittling over the rim, though several times the haremaid was almost struck by Gorath sweeping his weapon in wide arcs. Ducking Tung repeatedly, Maudie found herself appealing to Salixa, who was swinging a loaded sling further along. "Er, I hope you don't mind me sayin', old gel, but couldn't you have a blinkin' word with your chum? He'll sweep us all over the edge if he ain't careful. Oh, beg pardon a tick--" She broke off to deliver a walloping left to a Brownrat, sending him hurtling into space. Another came dashing up, wielding a spear. Before

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he could use it, the vermin was felled by one of Rangval's daggers. Maudie waggled her ears at the rogue squirrel. "Thanks terribly, I can't abide spear thrusters."

Rangval grinned as he bent to retrieve his blade. "Sure, think nothin' of it, miss--" As he stood upright the stock of Gorath's pitchfork swung too close, felling the squirrel.

Maudie wagged a paw at Salixa. "You see, I told you he was going to jolly well hurt one of us, swingin' that thing about!" Maudie helped Rangval up, rubbing the back of his head. "I say, old lad, are you alright? Still with us, wot?"

The rogue squirrel smiled crookedly. "Oh, I think I'll live, as long as the big feller doesn't give me another swipe!"

Salixa ducked and dodged until she was at Gorath's side. "You're not feeling an attack of Bloodwrath, are you?"

The young badger looked a bit pink about the eyes, but he stopped swinging briefly. "No, I've got it under control, Salixa, why, is anything wrong?"

She squeezed his paw reassuringly. "No, but watch out for your friends when you swing Tung around, you just hit poor Rangval."

Gorath was about to apologise to the squirrel, when a shout from the other side of the plateau alerted him. A gang of the Bludgullet'% crew Came stampeding over the far rim, yelling madly.

Maudie picked up a fallen vermin spear and followed both badgers to repel the invaders. Rangval joined her, twirling a dagger in either paw. "Ah, miss, if only me dear ould mother could see me now, I know just what she'd say."

Maudie singled out a ferret, muttering as she went for him, "What would your dear old mater say?"

The rogue squirrel shrugged as he imitated his mother. "Here we go again, me son, what've I told ye about all this fightin', ye rascal!"

There were far too many Brownrats for Osbil and his

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shrews to defeat, but they achieved a certain purpose with their fierce attack. One of the Guosim scouts, who had been ranging around the base of the plateau, reported back to his Log a Log. "Chief, there's a crew o' those seavermin at-tackin' the plateau from the rear!"

This was worrying information, requiring some quick thinking from the Guosim chieftain. Osbil cast a glance up at the rim, summing up his thoughts aloud. "Hmm, there's only the two badgers, Maudie an' Rangval defendin' up there, as far as I can see."

The scout interrupted. "There should be five, wot's happened to the young hog, Orkwil? There's no sign of him?"

Osbil shook his head. "Who knows, mate, he might be dead, or lyin' wounded somewhere. We can't stop every-thin' t'go searchin' for him. One thing's certain, we can't leave goodbeasts up there to perish. Gather the tribe, we'll make a charge, stampede through the middle of Kurdly's rats an' carry on until we reach the plateau. That way we can join our friends an' make a proper stand!"

The Brownrats had now recovered from the initial Guosim assault. Under Stringle's command they were beginning to turn the tide against the smaller shrew force. However, they were not prepared for what came next. The Guosim warriors grouped into a mass behind Osbil and charged headlong at the Brownrats, roaring, "Logalogalog-alooooog!"

They went like a gale through a wheatfield, whipping through the trees and shrubbery, with Brownrats being bulled and bowled in all directions. Straight through the centre, and onto the base sandstone ledges, Log a Log Osbil led his fighters, whooping and yelling like madbeasts.

Furious at being taken by surprise, Stringle, who had viewed the incident from safe cover, came dashing out to berate his Brownrats. "Why didn't ye stand firm, ye poltroons? We're bigger'n those liddle shrews, aye, an'

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we've got five times their number. Get after 'em, ye lily-livered layabouts. Form up an' charge, come on. Charge!"

"Why charge, my friend? Let dem carry on to der top, dey got noplace to go once dey're up dere, don't ya see!"

Stringle whirled around, coming face-to-face with Vizka Longtooth and half a score of the Bludgullet's crew.

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33

Gruntan Kurdly was in no hurry to join Stringle, the reason being that he was under the impression there was only one badger in the Mossflower region. Whilst passing around the back of Redwall Abbey on a northerly course, he sat back in his litter, gazing covetously at the east wall. The Brownrat warlord wondered if the time would ever arrive when he would be on the other side of that wall, master of all he surveyed. That was when he saw the badger.

The Tabura was being shown around Redwall, he strode the eastern rampart slowly, in company with Abbot Daucus and Foremole Burff, admiring the tranquil immensity of his surroundings. Stopping for a moment, the Tabura gazed out over the dense woodlands. He was about to turn away when a movement amid the trees caught his attention. The badger found himself looking straight into the eyes of a huge, overweight rat, being carried along, sprawled on a litter. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, then the rat was lost to view, being borne off midst the greenery.

Gruntan Kurdly furrowed his brutish brow, assessing the situation. Doubtless Stringle had been telling him a pack of lies. The minions of Kurdly often resorted to untruths, mostly to save themselves being exposed to his

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wrath, which often proved fatal. Every Brownrat knew what a dose of the Kurdlys meant. The Warlord dozed off, reflecting on how he would punish Stringle. The warm summer day, chirping insects, buzzing bees and silent butterflies winging their errant path amid the patches of shade and sunlight, lulled Kurdly into a comfortable doze for awhile.

He was rudely wakened by the cries of the young Brownrats, coming out of the woodlands. In a customary sour mood, which often followed his nap, Gruntan waved a grubby paw at the closest rat. "Gimme summat t'drink, me gob's like a sandpit!" He slopped grog down, casting a jaundiced eye over the young ones. "Wot d'yer mean, wakin' me with all yore shoutin', eh?"

A Brownrat maid came forward, holding out a nest for his inspection. "We found eggs for ye, Boss."

Poking about in the structure of woven vegetation, Gruntan pawed the two fawn-hued, brown-blotched eggs. "Moorhens, where'd ye get these?"