The Lutra - Jacques, Brian - Redwall 09 - The Pearls Of Lutra

Chapter 22

Twilight was falling over the sea, and red sunrays cast a fiery path across the ebbing tide off the coast of Mossflower country. Aboard Wavewormthe ferret Romsca leaned over the stern, scanning the darkening shore in company with her steersrat Bladetail.

"Where in the name o' gutrubbin's 'ave those seagulls got to?" she grumbled. "I only told 'em to fly back an' see if Lask was on 'is way."

Bladetail spat reflectively into the water. "May'ap ole Lask kept them with 'im for some purpose."

He turned and cast a glance towards the two prisoners huddled together on a heap of sailsheet amidships. "Those Monitors are pesterin' yer liddle vole agin, Cap'n."

Viola hid her face against the Abbot's robe, shaking with fear as a Monitor poked his evil head close to her, grinning and grinding his teeth, enjoying the volemaid's distress. "Tazty vole, you will tazte nizzzze!"

Against her instincts, Romsca had found herself feeling protective towards Viola and the Abbot. She had spent the whole day keeping the lizards from tormenting the captives, and suddenly her temper rose. Whipping out her sword, she strode up on the unsuspecting Monitor and kicked him sprawling. Belaboring the reptile with the flat of her blade, Romsca snarled, "Keep yer foul-smellin' snout away from the maid, scale-scum!"

The Monitor scrambled upright, teeth bared, claws raised defiantly. "I do az I pleaze, ferret. Lazk Frildur givez me my orderz!" He made as if to push Romsca out of the way, but the corsair moved with lightning speed, bulling the Monitor backward to the rail.

"Well, 'ere's an order from me, scalebrain," she snarled. "Die!" With a swift thrust she ran him through and tipped him overboard. Then she whirled on the other Monitors, pointing her sword. "That goes fer the rest of you thick'eaded lizards! Stay away from the maid or y'll join yer mate there!"

Abbot Durral whispered softly to Viola, "Romsca is not totally against us. We may have a friend."

For a moment it looked as if the remaining Monitors were about to rush Romsca, but a sharp whistle from Bladetail brought the rest of the vermin crew on deck, fully armed. The corsair captain grinned invitingly at the lizards.

"Come on, yer beauties, want to try yer luck with us, do yer?" she baited them. "I'll have yer guts fer garters an' yer tripes fer supper!"

"Ahoy, Waveworm,throw us a line! We're comin' aboard!"

Bladetail saw the group standing in the shallows. "It's Lask Frildur an' the others at last!"

Shivering from the water, Lask pulled himself on board Waveworm.He glared at Romsca, demanding, "Whatz going on, why is a Monitor dead in the waterz?"

The ferret turned her bladepoint towards the Monitor General. "I slew 'im fer interferin' with the prisoners. I'm cap'n aboard this ship. You took yer time gettinerewot kept yer?"

Lask pointed back to the shore. "Creaturez from Redwall are after uz. I left five and the three gullz to hold them off. I do not know how many they are!"

Romsca snapped orders to her crew. "Up anchor an' let 'er drift further offshore fer safety. See, Lask, I told yer those Redwallers were fighters."

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Grath Longfletch crouched low in her longboat, watching Wavewormfrom a distance. It was drifting from its original mooring, further out to sea. A long shout like a warcry rang out from the shore.

"Eulaliaaaaaa!"

In the falling light, Grath saw the steersrat Bladetail topple over the stern, pierced by an arrow from the shore. A stoat leapt up on the stern, whirling a slingshot to retaliate. Grath decided to help out. Grabbing her bow, she placed a shaft on the string and whipped it back.

Lask watched in surprise as an arrow seemed to grow out of the stoat's skull. Pandemonium broke out aboard Wavewormas the vermin staggered backward and fell to the deck. Lask Frildur dashed into his cabin and slammed the door, and the other Monitors ran for cover.

Slashing the air with her blade, Romsca roared out orders. "Take 'er out deeper where arrers can't reach! Make some sail that'll move us along faster! Break out some boat'ooks an' long-pikes in case they tries t'board us! Stir yer stumps!"

Abbot Durral acted then. Lifting Viola, he shuffled to the rail and threw her over the side, shouting, "Swim, little one, make for the shore!"

A searat grabbed the Abbot; throwing a noosed rope over him, he bound the old mouse's paws to his side, then he dragged him to the mast where he made the rope fast.

Romsca dashed to the rail, shouting, "Get the maid out o' the water, look lively!"

A searat ran halfheartedly to the rail with a rope; he screamed and fell wounded by a green-feathered arrow, yelling, "Longboat t'the port side 'eadin' this way!"

Grath Longfletch laid aside her weapon, racing toward the small figure floundering in the water as the outgoing tide carried it seaward. Gripping the little tiller tight the otter sent her craft skimming between the waves. Viola was pulled by the current; she swallowed seawater, scrabbling at Waveworm'sprow as she drifted in front of it, blinded by stinging salt water.

Grath was close enough to see now. It was either a mouse or a voleno searat this. Risking everything on a desperate gamble, the otter lashed the tiller to her stern seat with the aft line. She saw the enormous prow of Wavewormlooming up, but regardless of danger she grabbed the volemaid's apronback with both paws and pulled her clear of the advancing ship's bow.

Bump! Craaaack!

Wavewormcaught the longboat, ramming it amidships and turning the small craft momentarily over on its side. Grath was in the sea, with Viola clinging to her. Striking away from the ship, she shouted, "Take a good deep breath an' hold on t'me!"

Swimming as only a powerful grown otter can, Grath Longfletch dived and turned underwater, streaking away from Wavewormtowards the shore. Viola bankvole closed both eyes and held her breath, dark water rushing past her as the otter sped them both out of danger. Then panic overtook Viola, the breath ran from her in a stream of bubbles and she began swallowing water.

The next thing she knew a paw was patting her back as Clecky spoke to her in a reassuring voice. "Dearie me, missie, fancy tryin' to swallow all the sea in one go! C'mon, give it back, cough it all up now, you'll be fine!"

Between coughs and spurts of seawater Viola could see her rescuer introducing herself to Martin.

Wavewormwas now well out of reach. Grath crouched in the lee of some rocks with Martin, Clecky and Viola.

The Warriormouse watched the corsair vessel, saying, "Let's hope she's dropped anchor there, maybe tomorrow we'll be able to do something about Abbot Durral."

Clecky left off patting Viola's back. "I think we're on a loser at the moment, old chap, they're holdin' all the acorns in this little game, wot! Now if we had a ship ..."

"Stay here, I'll see what's happened to my boat!" Grath said, and she was off, running down the beach and disappearing into the sea.

Clecky shrugged and raised an eyebrow at Martin. "Odd sort o' gel that'n, fights like mad t'get ashore, then runs straight back into the bally water?"

Chapter 23

At the edge of Redwall Abbey pond the punt had been hauled out of the water and dragged around to the sandy shallows. Glenner the otter explained her plan to the four friends.

"Y'know wot they always say about the simplest plans, mates? They're the best 'uns. We stand this punt up on its side first. Well, come on, lend a paw there. I can't do it alone!"

It was an old flat-bottomed craft and quite heavy. They stood paw deep, grunting and gasping as they tried to lift the punt clear of the water. Auma the badger Mother was out for a stroll around the grounds with three Dibbuns, the molebabes Gurrbowl and Diggum and the little squirrel Arven. They wandered across to the pond.