Brian Jacques - Redwall #16 - Triss

rottin’ things, but sickly sweet.... Wicky hugged himself and shuddered.

Skipper prodded him, Go on, vermin, spit it out!

Burgogg blurted out as if he could not control himself. Wicky wuz goin’

ter give Kligger a cloak an’ a lanting. Then we’eard the pore beast screamin’. I’ve’eard lots o’ creatures scream afore, but none like that, sir. None! So we dashed round ter see wot trouble our mate was in. It was worse’n a nightmare, I tell ye! There was this big fat ole oak tree, see, wid a liddle door in it, an’ the door was open, an’, an’ ... ugghh, it was’orrible! Hugging himself, he closed his eyes and mouth tightly.

It was obvious that he would not talk further.

Log a Log gave Skipper a quick wink. Leaning across, he unwound the sling from Wicky’s throat and patted him sympathetically. Come on now, me old mate. We want to let you two go, but ye must tell us first. What did you see inside that tree door? Wot’appened to yore pore shipmate?

Wicky sat wide-eyed, staring straight ahead, as if he could see the sight clearly in front of him. It was a three-’eaded dragon, hissin’

an’ makin’ noises like it was fightin’ wid itself. The middle’ead’ad ahold of Kligger, an’ the two’eads either side was tuggin’ an’ rippin’

at’im! That smell, the screams, I’ll’ear them fer the rest o’ me days, sir!

Wicky broke down, sobbing and weeping. Skippergrabbed the stoat and shook him like a rag, roaring at him, A dragon, are ye mad? Wot did it look like?

The stoat managed to gasp out between clattering teeth, It wuz all coils’n’scales, with three ‘eads, sir. But the middle ‘ead was the worst.

Bigger’n the other two, with four eyes, two black an’ two green. It

‘ad big golden ‘orns on its ‘ead. I take me oath it did!

Burgogg wailed out in panic, Wicky’s right, sir, that’s just ‘ow it looked. Oh please let us go, sir, don’t ask us t’go back there an’ take ye to the spot!

Skipper stood up, winding the sling around his paw. Ye’ve no need to.

Come on, Log, I know where the place is!

Log a Log kicked the two stoats upright. Put that fire out an’ run for yore lives!

Wicky and Burgogg kicked earth over the smouldering fire.

Thankee, sir, we’re goin’, thankee kindly!

Aye, we don’t wanna see Mossflower agin, ever. Thankee!

Noon was running to long shadows as Skipper and Log a Log approached the glade where the cloaks and lanterns lay. Both drew their swords and crept silently forward. Suddenly the sunlit afternoon woodlands had become a place laden with menace.

Log a Log’s nose twitched, and the shrew blenched. Good grief, d’ye smell that?

Skipper did. Then he heard the grass rustling, slowly at first, then speeding up and becoming faster as it got closer to them.

Log a Log grabbed his friend’s paw and dashed off, away from the hidden terror, all his instincts telling him not to stop, but to run. Throwing caution to the winds, he shouted at Skipper, Quick, mate, or we’re deadbeasts! Run for it!

The otter ran then, but as he did he chanced a swift backward glance and saw what was hunting them. The sight lent wings to his flight. Seizing Log a Log, he bounded forward, pulling the shrew along so fast that at times his footpaws lost contact with the ground.

Long after the danger had passed and the hunter had quit pursuing them, they were still running, out onto the path and down toward the ancient Abbey reflecting the first evening light from its warm-hued sandstone bulk. Toward Redwall, home and safety to all who dwelt therein.

23

That night, after the Dibbuns had gone up to their beds, all able-bodied Redwallers gathered in Cavern Hole to hear Skipper speak. Grave-faced, the big otter faced his audience. He pointed a paw dramatically, Out there in Mossflower Woods is a great danger. Ye can believe me’cos I saw it for meself this very day. I know we smiled a bit when Hddle Ruggum said that’e saw a monster serpent an’ a white ghost, but I believes’e was tellin’ the truth, after wot I saw with me own two eyes.

As he paused, Memm called out, Then tell us, what did you jolly well see?

Urged on by Log a Log’s nod, Skipper told them. Three of the biggest adders I ever’opes t’see, but all twisted together like one beast. The biggest was the middle one, an’ I knows this is’ard to believe, but it was wearin’ a great golden crown with two big black jetstones set in the front. At first glance it looked like it had four eyes. Never seen anythin’ like it in me life, anope I never do again, mates.’Twas somethin’ you wouldn’t expect t’see, even in a bad dream!

In the shinned silence that followed Skipper’s words, Malbun held up the heavy gold pawring, with its two jetstones glimmering in the lantern lights.

Did the crown on the serpent’s head look anything like this?

The otter nodded. Aye, save that the crown was many times bigger, an’

the stones were, too. But it matches the crown, shore enough, marm.

The Abbot shook his head in awe. It sounds very scary!

Log a Log was glad that their incredulous story was getting home. He glanced around at the Redwallers’ fearful faces. Oh,’tis scary all right.

We know that it ate one o’ those stoats who attacked Malbun an’ ole Crikulus. The other two told me’n’Skipper that the vermin’s screams was like nothin’ they’d ever’card. I never ran from any-beast in me life, an’ neither’as Skipper, ye all know that. But this thing, the smell, the speed it came after us! Make no mistake,’tis a great an’

terrifyin’ evil!

Seeing that the Abbot wanted to take the floor, Log a Log and Skipper stood to one side. Apodemus raised a warning paw. Now you have all heard, so I am going to issue the strictest orders. Nobeast is to leave the Abbey!

He stared pointedly at Malbun and Crikulus before continuing. Skipper will organise a wallguard. You must all take your turn at watching from the battlements. But more important, keep a sharp eye on the grounds inside. I do not want to hear that Dibbuns have been trying to get out by the wallgates, or any other possible exit. Memm, will you and Sister Vernal take a headcount of the Abbeybabes twice daily?

The Harenurse saluted. Yes sah, double roll call, got it!

After the meeting dispersed, Abbot Apodemus took a stroll around the orchard, in company with Log a Log, Skipper, Crikulus and Malbun. The otter Chieftain felt it was his duty to voice an opinion.

Father Abbot, you gave good counsel back there. We’ll all be safe, long as we stays inside an’ keeps watch. But there is danger out there, sir, an’ we won’t make it go away by’idin’ from it. Somethin’ needs t’be done.

Apodemus spread his paws expressively, Aye, but what?

They stood in the evening scent of blossom and fruit, listening to a blackbird’s melodious warble, pondering the question. Log a Log was first to break the silence.

Is the old tawny owl still around?

Crikulus pulled a wry face. Aye, he’s taken to the beam below my gatehouse ceiling, Ovus isn’t much trouble, except that you can’t leave food lying about when he’s near.

Log a Log agreed. Worse’n a hare, some owls. Could you tell Ovus we want t’see him? I think an owl’s wisdom might ‘elp.

Looking a bit grumpy, the tawny owl waddled into the orchard behind Crikulus. He blinked several times and swivelled his head at them.

I missed supper, y’know. Not good for the digestion, missing supper.

Well, what is it?

Log a Log gallantly offered a paw for the owl to rest his wing upon.

Come on, mate, we’ll find ye somethin’ in the kitchens. But tell me first, d’you know any thin’ about gettin’ rid of adders?

The owl’s black eyes widened. Hmph! You don’t get rid of adders. What you do is stay away from them, make your home in another place. Leave adders alone, don’t mess with them!