Brian Jacques - Rakkety Tam

Doogy Plum hauled him upright. “Och, ye saucy wee maggot, where did ye get yon flag, eh?”

The thief’s agile brain was racing as he quickly put two and two together. He replied glibly, “Ah, ’tis not some coloured scrap o’ cloth yore after. We’ll discuss that later on, me friend. I think that you fine buckoes are on the trail o’ the dreadful-lookin’ beast they calls Mighty Gulo. Sure that’s a fine hifalutin’ name for any ould murderer, isn’t it?”

Tam smiled at the thief’s audacity. “Aye, we’ll talk about the flag later. Now, what about this Gulo? Surely you’ve seen him.”

Disengaging himself deftly from Doogy’s grip, Yoofus answered, “Ah, ye’d be right there, sir. As true as me name’s Yoofus Lightpaw, I’ve sighted the villain—him an’ his whole army o’ boyos. An’ I’ll tell ye somethin’ else, too. They’ve got with ’em two prisoners, River Rats, an’ haven’t they just captured another two pore creatures, an otter an’ a squirrel like y’self, sir. Both maids, from the Abbey of Redwall!”

Ferdimond’s jaw tightened. “Two Redwall maids? The dirty scum! Which way’ve they gone, Mister Lightpaw?”

The water vole winked. “If ye come with me, sir, I’ll show ye, so I will!”

Before they could stop him, the little thief had bounded out of the ditch, across the path and up into the high branches of the crack willow. Drawing his sickle sword, he danced about on the tree limb, waving the flag and brandishing his blade.

“Put a paw near me, any of ye, an’ I’ll rip this flag to bits an’ carve cobs of anybeast who tries t’get up here! I’m a desperate character when me fur’s stroked up the wrong way, so keep yore distance!”

Tam signalled his friends to stay in the ditch. “Leave this to me, mates!”

Standing at the foot of the tree, he called up to Yoofus, “Listen, friend, we don’t mean ye any harm. I’d like to have that flag, but there’s something of greater importance. We must free the two maids from those vermin. They’re slayers, an’ they eat the flesh of other creatures. I’d be grateful for your help, Yoofus.”

The water vole sat down on the branch, shaking his head. “Flesh eatin’s a terrible wicked thing. I’m no murderer, just a thief. I’ll tell ye what, though. Fair exchange is no robbery. I’ll give ye back yore flag an’ help ye to get the maids free, but we’ll call it a trade, see?”

Tam nodded willingly. “That sounds fair enough, but what d’ye want us to trade with?”

Yoofus wrinkled his nose coyly. “Sure I’ll throw in this fine curvy sword, too. How’ll that suit ye?”

Tam shrugged. “Ye still haven’t told us what you want to trade from us. Tell us what it is.”

The water vole dropped to a lower branch. “That’s a grand ould sword yore carryin’, sir, a good big straight ’un, wid a fine fanciful hilt to it. . . .”

Doogy scrambled out of the ditch. “Ach, he wants yer sword, Tam. Ye cannae part wi’ that!”

Tergen hobbled onto the path. “Kreeeek! No give sword, Burl. I kill that beast!”

Ferdimond nibbled at his lip. “But what about the maids?”

Yoofus pointed at the hare. “Isn’t he the wise one now! Give me the sword, an’ ye’ll be gainin’ yore flag, the lives of the two prisoners an’ me sword into the bargain. Either that, or ye get no flag, an’ those cannybals will serve the maids up for supper. Now what’s it goin’ t’be? Make up yore mind!”

Tam tossed the sword up into the tree. “Here, catch!”

Yoofus caught it neatly by the basket hilt. Then he descended through the branches, grinning. “Ah, that’s the stuff! Goodbeast yerself, sir. So, here’s yore flag an’ this grand ould curved sword. I’ll lead ye to where the maids will prob’ly be.”

But Tam had other views on the subject. “No, Yoofus. I want ye to keep the flag an’ that curved blade, ’tis not to my liking. Here’s what ye must do. Go with my friends, Tergen an’ Ferdimond, to the Abbey of Redwall an’ wait there.”

The goshawk and the young hare protested.

“Yaagaaah, this bird stay with Burl. Kill lots of vermin!”

“I say, Tam old lad, can’t I come with you, rescuin’ maids an’ all that? Bet I’d be jolly good at it, wot!”

The border warrior would not hear of it. “No! Doogy an’ I stand a better chance doin’ this alone. We don’t need Yoofus, either. The tracks are clear enough. Our mission was to get through to Redwall and warn them of the vermin. I know the Brigadier would like to see us savin’ the two prisoners also. He put me in charge, so that’s my decision. Doogy an’ I go after the captives. You three get along to the Abbey. Now go!”

Surprisingly, the three went without further argument. Doogy patted his friend. “Och, yer a fine figure o’ command, Tam, but what ails ye? Partin’ with yore claymore like that, an’ allowin’ that scruffy wee robber tae toddle off with yer blade an’ flag. That’s no’ the Rakkety Tam ah’m used tae!”

The border warrior drew his dirk, testing its edge. “The banner an’ the blade are safe, mate. Yoofus has Ferdy an’ the goshawk to keep an eye on both my goods an’ him. Don’t fret, Doogy Plumm, ’twill all work out. Now rid yoreself o’ claymore’n’shield. Our smaller blades are more fitted to the job ahead. We’ll hit the vermin camp when ’tis still an’ dark tonight.”

Hiding his sword and shield in the shrubbery, the stout Highlander grinned with anticipation of the action to come. “Hoho, that’s more like the Rakkety Tam ah know!”

Clenching their small Sgian Dhus in their teeth and holding their dirks ready, both warriors set off into the silent woodlands.

19

Flames from the vermin campfire illuminated the face of Gulo the Savage, giving him a malevolent look. The wolverine’s eyes glittered like twin stars of evil omen in his brutish head as he sat upon the drum in the gathering twilight. Gulo’s mood had not improved: his scouts had once again lost the trail which, he was convinced, belonged to his brother. Foxes and ermine crowded about the far side of the blaze, anxious to maintain distance from their cruel chieftain. Laying huddled about midpoint between the vermin and Gulo were Runneye and Bluesnout. Gaunt, exhausted and terrified witless, the two River Rats had been roped tight by their necks to a stake.

An ermine guard approached Gulo cautiously. “Lord, Captain Shard has returned with his scouts. He brings captives.”

The white fox marched in at the head of his contingent. He was wearing Martin’s sword as Armel had worn it, down the back of his cloak, tied to his shoulders. Standing partially out of the firelight, Shard bowed stiffly to the wolverine.

“Mighty One, I have taken prisoners, two creatures from the Redwall place. Knowing thy wisdom, I brought them straight to thee. These two should have good knowledge of their fortress, its strengths and weaknesses.”

Had Gulo captured the Redwallers, he would have slain them first, leaving it too late for questions later. He knew Shard was merely flattering him, but the white fox was his best and most intelligent captain. “Ye did well, Shard. Where are these two?”

Armel and Brooky were thrust forward. Both caught their breath at the barbaric sight of the wolverine. Armel shuddered as the beast’s eyes roved over them both. Gulo’s paw banged down on the drum, startling them. It was hard not to show fear in the presence of such a monster.

The wolverine glared at them from beneath hooded eyelids before he began his interrogation. “My Captain tells me ye are both from Redwall. ’Tis true?”