Brian Jacques - Redwall #16 - Triss

No sound issued from their fear-clamped mouths. Eyes bulging with terror, both stoats stood petrified for a moment. Then the overpowering stench of the thing hit both stoats like a solid wall moving forward. They took to theirpaws and fled, running twice as fast as Malbun and Criku-lus had run.

A short while thereafter, the sounds of Wicky and Bur-gogg had receded into the distance as they tore through the woodlands running due north.

Around the area of the spreading oak, all was silent in the sunlit summer noon. Two cloaks and two lanterns lay forgotten on the ground amid the musty, bittersweet odour.

18

At first the water coming in through the Stopdog’s prow was no more than a healthy trickle. But the flow increased as she sat lower in the sea. Kroova, Scarum and Sagax bailed until they were weary. Then they saw the wind had changed and was blowing away from the shore, which was still a good distance off. Little time was left for tacking, so they furled the sails. Kroova took the bowrope around his shoulders and dived into the waves, towing the Stopdog toward land as his two shipmates, backsore and paw weary, continued bailing.

Scarum’s voice was shaky. I say, hope we make it to dry land, wot. Not too good at the old swimmin’ lark, y’know. The jolly old parents raised a hare, not a flippin’ fish, wot!

Sagax watched Kroova regretfully. There’s the only proper swimmer amongst us, mate. Oh, I can manage what they call a doggie paddle, but I’d hate to have to swim any distance. Land still looks pretty far off.

What in the name of fur’n’feathers are you doing, eating at a time like this?

Despite his woeful demeanour, Scarum was packing down food as though he were facing a famine. Mmff, gr-rmmfff! Eatin’ me fill before all this scoff gets ruined by bally seawater, old lad. Grrrmmmffchomp! No use leavin’ it for the fishesÑwaste not want not, y’know. Scrmmff!

Sagax sent a chunk of laverbread spinning from the hare’s paw. If you can’t swim and you stuff yourself, you’ll go right to the bottom with that weight of food in your stomach. Now, leave that food alone and bail!

Scarum stared guiltily at his midriff. You’re right, of course, never thought of that. Oh, what a confounded, absolutely rotten predicament: not bein’ able to swim on an empty tummy or drownin’ on a full one.

Oh, rats’n’fid-dlesticks an’ beastly bad luck, wot!

Kroova could really feel the drag nowÑthey actually were sinking. But the worthy sea otter laboured on until he heard Sagax calling, Kroova, we’re nearly under, we’d best abandon ship!

Judging the distance and trusting to his knowledge, Kroova shouted back to his distressed friends, Just a bit more. Sling the water out, keep’er head up. I ain’t goin’ to lose me dear old Stopdog just’cos of a leak.

Get t’work, mates, I’ll tell ye when to jump for it!

Water was pouring in as fast as Sagax and Scarum were bailing it out.

From a distance the scene would have looked like a badger and a hare standing on the surface of the sea, throwing water about. Sagax could see Scarum beginning to flag badly The hare had started bailing like a madbeast, but the gruelling toll was wearing him down.

Then the waves splashed in over the rails, swamping the ketch completely as the Stopdog sank.

Away, crew! Abandon ship, me’earties!

At the sound of Kroova’s call they both leaped into the sea. Scarum let out an almighty spluttering yell. Floundering wildly, he grabbed at Sagax. The young badger was about to shout for Kroova to come and help them when his footpaws touched bottom.

The sea otter floated on his back, still holding the rope and laughing at them. Sucking up a mouthful of seawater, he squirted it at his bewildered friends. Haharrharr! We made it, mateys, we made it!

Sagax and Scarum were standing with the water at chest height in the shallow seas offshore. Forgetting his former panic, Scarum waded toward Kroova, berating him.

You! Y’great barnacle-ruddered, slipskinned, splay-pawed bounder!

Allowin’ a chap t’think he was drownin’. Not very funny, I’d say, wot.

No sah, not the least bit droll!

Sagax splashed water in the hare’s face and chuckled. He saved us, didn’t he? What more d’you want? Ahoy, mate, why did you wait so long before you told us to abandon ship? You had me a bit worried there!

Kroova explained the reason for his strange behaviour. See those rocks stickin’ up out of the sea yonder? Well, I tell ye, 1 was worried too, until I spotted’em. Then I knew: This is a great big reef! Look be’ind you, see where the water goes from light to dark blue? That’s the edge.

I fig-gered if’n we could sail’er out o’ the deep an’ onto this ledge, we could not only wade ashore, but I could save ole Stopdog by runniner onto the reef. If the tide takes a good long ebb around’ere, there’s a chance we can tow’er ashore an’ beach’er for repairs. Come on, mateys,’tis only a brisk wade to dry land!

Making the headrope fast to a small rock poking out of the water, Kroova ensured that their boat would not be swept away. Side by side, they waded wearily forward. The beach looked to be sandy, though strewn with outcrops of rock. The water was now about waist height.

Scarum’s mood had changed, and he was feeling happy One thing about bein’ a jolly old shipwrecked seabeast, it works up a good appetite, wot. Right chaps, when we get ashore I’m in charge of the foragin’ party.

Though I warn you, I’m a pretty stern commandin’ type, so you’d best find loads of scoff, or you’ll have me to deal with!

Sagax glanced back over his shoulder. The Stopdog’smasts could be seen sticking up at a tilt out of the waves. Suddenly a sinister triangular fin appeared, passing the sunken craft, heading their way.

Shark! Quick, charge for the shore, shark!

However, charging through waist-deep seas would be slow and difficult.

Kroova slapped their backs.

Get ahead, mates, move yoreselves! It’s comin’ after us! Turning away from them, the sea otter plunged into the waves and swam straight for the big fish.

Without looking back, Sagax and Scarum plunged ahead, the going getting better as the water ran shallower. With tiny ripplets splashing round their paws, the pair made it onto the firm wet sands.

Scarum sat down, badly frightened and shaking. Sagax threw himself next to him, panting heavily as he stared around. Where’s Kroo... Oh, great blood’n’vinegar, look out there!

Kroova was at waist depth, with the shark circling him. The sea otter had hold of something. He tugged it this way and that, sometimes tugging it sharply, which seemed to send the great seabeast in another direction.

Seawater, pounded creamy white by the struggle, leaped high about Kroova and the shark.

Scarum gnawed at his whiskers in anguish at the dangerous spectacle.

Oh my fat aunt, it’s followin’ him in!

Then Sagax saw what Kroova had hold of. No, he’s towing it! That’s a ropeÑit’s stuck to the shark somehow. He’s playing it as if he were fishing!

They both jumped up, yelling and bawling.

Don’t let it get you, mate, stay clear!

Watch the blighter, old lad, he’s got better teeth than me!

Rolling and thrashing, the shark showed its huge pale underbelly. They saw its wicked round eye and rows of curved, razorlike teeth. It made a dive at Kroova. The sea otter leaped the opposite way and hauled the rope hard, forcing his adversary to flounder off in another direction.

All the time the two were getting closer to the shore.

Now the shark’s body was sticking up out of the water. It would not give up, though it was beginning to roll and flop slightly. Suddenly Kroova whipped the rope deftly round a nub of rock and raced to the safety of dry land.