Brian Jacques - Redwall #16 - Triss

Mine ship, I haff seen mine ship, mitt two slaves in it, sailing by ...

out dere!

The Freebooter fox took a gulp of grog and belched. Well, ain’t that a turnip fer the ship’s log. Where’s ole pastyface Riftun, swimmin’

after it?

Kurda ignored the fox’s heavy-pawed sarcasm. Riftun is slayed by der lightnink, he vos stricken! Mine ship is getting avay, you vill catch her!

Plugg shrugged noncommittally. I never took to that Riftun, ‘e was a snootynosed rat. Don’t worry about yore pretty liddle ship. If’n she’s still afloat by mornin’, we’ll run ‘er down all right. Just one other thing, missy, if’n ye ain’t got double the value o’ that ship, well,

‘tis mine. Yore pa said I gets double the value of any booty we bring back. So if I sails back inter Riftgard with ‘er in tow, ye can kiss yore ship goodbye. She’ll be sailin’ under Plugg’s colours!

Kurda did not have her sabre to paw. She stood in front of the Freebooter, shaking with murderous rage. If I had not left my sabre in der cabin, you vould be a deadbeast now, seascum!

Plugg winked at Slitfang and smiled sweetly. Ain’t she the one, mate.

Pity ye didn’t bring yore sword out on deckÑthe lightnin’ would’ve struck you, me pretty one. That might’ve brightened yore night up, aharrharr!

The Princess stamped her paw as she poured forth venom. You stupid mudbrained slug, von day I vill haff your head on a spike, den ve see how you laugh, yarr! I vill tell mein father how I vas treated by you.

De only double revard he vill give is to haff you chopped in two halves!

Plugg tossed his empty grog flagon aside and got another. Teh tch, naughty naughty! A bargain’s a bargain when anybeast makes it wid Plugg Firetail, missie, ye’ll soon find that out. Well now, ye can stand stampin’ yer lid-die paw there as much as ye like. There ain’t a thing t’be done ‘til this storm blows over an’ we got daylight enough t’see wot we’re chasin’. So you toddle off now, to that there snug liddle cabin I let you ‘ave fer the night.

Kurda curled her lip and scowled at him. I go back to mine own cabin, but first I vill choose a Ratguard to attend me. I do not trust you, yarr!

Plugg turned to his messmates, speaking with mock sincerity. D’you lot

‘ear that? She don’t trust dear old Plugg! That’s ‘ow you never got t’be a princess, Grubbage, by puttin’ yore trust in me.

Grubbage nodded sagely. Aye, a rusty flea, Cap’n, that’s me. Shall I show the Princess back to ‘er cabin?

Kurda pushed Grubbage roughly aside. I find my own vay! She strode regally from the cabin, with the raucous laughter of Plugg and his cronies ringing in her ears.

21

Sometime just before dawn the storm abated. Thunder echoed dully, far off across pale, slate-streaked skies. Rain slacked to a drizzling curtain in wan daylight. The sea was still running high. Shogg and Triss were sleeping, sitting draped over the tiller, worn out and exhausted after their tempestuous ordeal. The otter slid forward bit by bit, until his nose bumped against the tiller arm. He sat up straight, blinking through salt-crusted eyes, immediately aware of the sound of waves pounding across reefs and breaking on the shore.

Triss, wake up, mate! Tis land, straight ahead. Land! The squirrelmaid woke, shivering, damp and cold. She stared at the approaching coastline, rocks and shingle broken by patches of sandy shore. It did not appear very welcoming, but it was a marvellous sight to a pair of escaped slaves.

Where are we, Shogg?

Her friend applied his attention to the tiller. I ain’t got a clue, but well be in big trouble if we runs afoul o’ those reefs, matey. Let’s try to slide in easy-like.

Recalling the previous night, Triss scanned the horizon. Where’s the big ship gone, d’you see it anywhere?

Shogg smiled grimly. T’the bottom o’ the sea, I’ope. I don’t see it about, but there ain’t any sense in takin’ chances. We won’t put up the sail in case it gives us awayÑa sail can be seen from a good distance off. You see if’n there’s any dry vittles left, an’ water, too. I’d give me rudder for a mouthful of fresh water right now. Attend to that an’ keep yore eyes peeled. I’ll try an’ get us to shore safely.

Viewing the strange new land, Shogg felt a thrill of anticipation as the shore loomed closer. He used all his skills to tack between the perilous rocks, some poking up out of the sea, others lying beneath the surface. Centering his attention at a sprawling stone outcrop on the tideline, Shogg sent the vessel toward it.

Triss found some apples that were undamaged. She uncorked a flagon of drinking water and tipped it to her mouth, washing out the heavy salt taste of the sea. It was sweet and refreshing. She passed it to Shogg, who wedged it against the tiller.

I’ll take a drop when I gets us past this tricky bit, mate. There!’Tis a straight run to land now. Let’s drink to our escape, Triss, we made it!

As the keel scraped upon sand, Shogg leaped over into the shallows and hauled on the headrope. Triss was about to join him when she spotted the double sails bellying out on the horizon.

It’s the big ship! Look!

The otter acted promptly as he sighted the Seascab. Quick, let’s pull’er in behind these rocks. I’ope they ain’t caught sight of us!

Between them they managed to push and shove the vessel to the lee side of the outcrop. Shogg began stripping the sail from the mast and rolling it up, whilst Triss salvaged what food she could from their spoiled stores.

Empty grog flagons rolled about on Plugg’s cabin floor as the ship swayed gently. He sat with his head on the table, snoring in his chair.

Laaaaaand hoooooooo!

A moment later the silver fox was stumbling out on deck. Land ye say, where away?

Tazzin, who was on duty as steersbeast, pointed. Straight on as she lies, Cap’n, dead ahead!

Kurda came bounding up from amidships. De land, mine new captain see it first, yarr. He say somet’ink move, over by der rocks. See!

Plugg was too preoccupied with their position to pay the Princess much heed. He scanned the coast up and down.

Kurda slapped her sabre blade against the rail. Vot you lookin’ for, vy you don’t listen to me?

Plugg spoke as he continued inspecting the shoreline. There should be a river runnin’ out across the beach. That’s where the chart says we make our landfall. I’m lis-senin’ to yer, missy. Now who saw wot, eh?

Kurda beckoned a tall, grave-faced Ratguard to her side. Diss von, he is Vorto, mine new captainÑTell him!

Vorto saluted with his spear before reporting to Plugg. I saw it, a liddle boat, runnin’ fer those rocks, showin’ no sail. May’ap ‘tis moored behind the rocks, Cap’n.

Plugg turned, bringing his face close to the new officer and squinting into his eyes. Vorto, eh, you got a fair ole pair o’ peepers on ye.

Oh well, I’ll ‘ave to take ‘er in an’ scout the coast ‘til I finds a landmark. Tazzin, you steer ‘er landwards, but stop before those big reefs. I’ll be in me cabin, a-studyin’ the chart. Shout out when yore droppin’ anchor.

Kurda blocked Plugg’s way, gesturing with her sabre. You t’row down de anchor by de reefs, how ve get ashore?

The Freebooter pushed past her, heading for his cabin. Yore free to wade or swim, but if’n you stops playin’ wid that toy sword, I’ll let ye ride in the ship’s boat wid me. Slitty, make ready the jollyboat fer when we anchors.

From their cover in the rocks, Shogg and Triss watched the Seascab heading in a direct line for the outcrop. The otter shouldered the rolled-up sail. Cut an’ run, Triss, ‘tis all that’s left to us. We ain’t stoppin’ round ‘ere fer Kurda to practise ‘er sabre on us.