Brian Jacques - Redwall #16 - Triss

Vernal took Mokug’s paw. I’m sure we can. There’s a small room next to the Dibbuns’ dormitoryÑit has a nice bed.

Great tears popped from the hamster’s eyes. D’ye mean a room of me own, with a real bed in it?

The Abbot took his own kerchief and slipped it to Mokug. I’ll have the otters carry your belongings up. The room and the bed are yours from now on, friend.

Sister Vernal led Mokug inside to his new room. He kept the kerchief jammed to his eyes, stemming the tears. I’ll sweep it out every day an’ make the bed up meself. I never ‘ad me own quarters, ever. Thankee for yore kindness!

Friar Gooch was bringing biscuits from his kitchens for the Dibbuns.

He passed Vernal and Mokug at the main door. Dearie me, wot’s up with the old hamster? He’s cryin’ like a babe. Somethin’ upset the pore beast?

The Abbot took one end of the biscuit tray to assist the Friar on his way to the pond. Mokug isn’t upset, he’s happy. Funny how we at Redwall take things for granted, isn’t it, Friar? A bed and a room of your own: simple things. But if you were a slave who’d never had one, and if you’d lived in a hole in the ground for long seasons, it would be very different.

Properly cooked food, lots of new friends, so that you’re not alone anymore. Add to that a comfortable room and a clean bed. That’s why the poor fellow’s weepingÑhe’s overcome by it all.

Crikulus sat on an upturned wheelbarrow in the orchard. Pulling a lantern closer, he stared hard at Mokug’s parchment until his eyes began to water. He gnawed at his lip as he pored over the strange symbols.

Malbun ambled across to sit beside him. Waiting for the solution to jump out at you?

Putting aside the parchment, the ancient Gatekeeper rubbed his eyes wearily. Hmph! One would be waiting a long time for anything recognisable to jump out o’ that load of gobbledygook!

Skipper peered over Malbun’s shoulder at the puzzle. Don’t give up ‘ope, mates. It means somethin’Ñit must do, if’n somebeast took the trouble to write it all down there.

Malbun yawned and stretched. That’s correct, Skip, but I’m too tired to concentrate on anything. Come on, Crikulus, time for bed. I’ll walk you down to the gatehouse.

Malbun’s companion rose stiffly. Ooh, my back. I’ll take the bed tonightÑyour turn to sleep in the armchair.

Skipper gave them a lantern to light the way. A good night to ye both.

Don’t ferget that scroll, take it with ye. I’ll go an’ lend a paw to round up the Dibbuns down at the pond.

Paddling and eating biscuits was all the Abbeybabes were interested in. No sooner were they pulled from the shallows by Churk and Rumbol than they would escape from Memm and dash straight back into the water.

It was an endless task. The Harenurse rushed about, trying to be everywhere at once.

Turfee, stand still on that bank, sah, don’t move! I say, Churk, grab Roobil, he’s back in again!

Me wanna nudder bikkit. Ruggum splashed mine, it all wetted!

Ruggum grinned villainously, holding out a chubby paw. Give et yurr, oi loikes ee soggy bikkits!

Memm twitched her ears severely at the little mole. Out! Out of that blinkin’ pond this instant, sah. Out!

Don’t get yoreself in a tizzy, marm. Leave this t’me!

Memm smiled with relief as Skipper strode past her into the water, a long shrimp net draped across his shoulders. That’s the ticket, Skip, fish the blighters out and we’ll make soup of them!

Churk and Rumbol took the net ends, while Skipper held the centre. They captured the little ones neatly in a single sweep. Keeping them confined within the net, the three otters and Memm herded the protesting mass of Dibbuns back into the Abbey and straight up to the dormitory.

But they would not go to sleep without a song. Mokug came out of his room and obliged. The Dibbuns were delighted. This was a song they had never heard, sung by a funny old golden mouse. Mokug had a reed flute, too, which he played quite well. Even Memm and the otters lay down on the little truckle beds to listen.

O I caught a fish in the water,

I caught a crab an’ his daughter,

I caught a flounder an’ a sole,

An’ I caught an ole tadpole.

They all criiiiiied,

ÔMercy me, please let us free,

We’ll swim back to our mothers.

My very kind sir, now please be fair,

An’ go an’ catch some others!’

Well, I saw a cod in the water,

Shoved in me net an’ caught ‘er,

I saw a clam, an’ a fluke so fine,

So I caught ‘em on me line.

They all criiiiiied,

Mercy me, please let us free,

We’ll swim back to our mothers.

My very kind sir, now please be fair,

An’ go an’ catch some others!’

Farewell they swam off singin’,

‘Til both me ears was ringin’

‘Cos I fell in the sea so dark,

An’ got caught by a shark.

Then I criiiiiied,

ÔMercy me, please let me free,

I’ll swim back to me mother.

My very kind sir, now please be fair,

An’ go an’ catch some other!’

The Dibbuns learned the chorus and enjoyed it so much that they made Mokug sing it twice more. Obligingly, the golden hamster did this, and then sang a few more comic ditties. In the course of all the singing, Skipper closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. He looked so peaceful lying on the little truckle bed, none of the others had the heart to wake him, so they left the big otter snoring gently in the Dibbuns’

dormitory.

29

When pale dawn sunlight crept over the dormitory win-dowsills, Skipper sat up blinking. It took him a moment to recognise where he was. Then he remembered the dream. Silently he slipped off the bed. The Abbeybabes were still slumbering, some snoring, others whimpering and giggling in their sleep as they dreamt small dreams. Noiselessly the otter Chieftain padded out, closing the door gently behind him. Then he ran like the wind, down the stairs, taking two at a time and charged across Great Hall.

Furrel, the assistant cook, was coming in from the orchard, carrying a trug of fresh strawberries with morning dew still glistening on them.

As Skipper dashed out the door, the molemaid bobbed him a swift curtsey.

Gudd mawnin’, zurr, be ee not a stoppen furr brekkist?

However, breakfast was the last thing on Skipper’s mind.

Malbun Grimp was wakened by the knocking on the gatehouse door. She pulled herself out of the armchair, grumbling, All right, I’m coming, leave the door on its hinges, will you!

Framed by a flood of sunlight and dust motes, Skipper bounded in.

Crikulus scrambled from his bed, tousle-headed. Great seasons, are we being attacked by a vermin army?

The otter raised his rudder politely to them both.

G’mornin’, marm, mornin’, sir. I ‘ad a dream last night!

Scratching his head frowsily, Crikulus yawned. That must’ve been very nice for ye, but not uncommon. I had a dream, too, an’ so did Malbun, I’ll wager.

Skipper sat down on the bed. The urgent tone of his voice caught their attention. Aye, but not like this ‘un, mates. My dream was of Martin the WarriorÑhe spoke to me. Get that pawring we found in Mossflower, an’ the scroll, too! The wood mouse and the shrew were now wide awake and listening.

The scroll was still on the table. Malbun produced the heavy gold pawring from a wall cupboard. She struggled to keep the excitement from her voice. Here they are. Now take your time, don’t hurry, try to think clearly. What was your dream about?

The otter slowed himself visibly as he explained, Martin came into my mind when I lay sleepin’. He was holdin’ the scroll an’ wearin’ that pawring. Then ‘e pointed at the pawring an’ said, ÔThe leaf is three times five, you must remember. Tell Malbun an’ Crikulus that the leaf is three times five.’ Then Martin was gone. I dreamed no more, but I remembered wot ‘e said, word for word!