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

Rasconza's eyes lit up. "You mean that? Fair enough, Ublaz, I'll pick me crew an' bring back plunder t'this isle that'll make yer eyes pop out!"

The Emperor grinned wryly. "Oh, I don't think I'd like that to happen, but I'm glad you see things my way. You are a worthy partner, Rasconza. I like having cleverbeasts around me, there are too many fools in this world."

When Ublaz had departed, Rasconza called the crews together and gave them a highly falsified version of what had taken place between himself and the Emperor, giving them the impression that he had outsmarted Mad Eyes. The wave vermin cheered wildly, and began to break open kegs of grog. Then the fox banged his sword hilt on the jetty for silence, and continued his narrative.

"So I sez to ole Mad Eyes, get those rats o' yourn off our ships. I won't 'ave nobeast commandin' these vessels but our own. So, Baltur, Gancho, an' you Groojaw the stoat, an' you, Deddgutt the ferret, an' you Buckla the searatyore my five new cap'ns now! Stan' up lively, the rest o' yer, I'm takin' my ship Bloodkeelon a plunderin' trip, an' I wants none but the best alongside o' me!"

Amid scenes of wild revelling on the sunlit jetty, Rasconza chose his crew for the voyage. They leapt aboard Bloodkeelyelling and roaring in anticipation of plunder and slaughter.

Guja, the former steersrat of Barranca's ship Freebooter,was made steersrat of Bloodkeelbecause there was none better for the job. The vermin laughed and cheered as he twiddled a tune on his melodeon, singing in a cracked baritone,

“ Would yer plunder from yer mother?

Yes I would, yes I would,

For me mother always said I was no good.

I'm a searat bred an' born,

An' I'm sailin' in the morn,

Stan' aside, me lucky buckoes, let me go!

Cut me teeth upon a cutlass Yes I did, yes I did,

An' me pore ole daddy ran away an' hid,

Sayin', 'That's no child o' mine,

Let 'im sail across the brine,

Stan' aside now for the vermin, let 'im go!'

If there's plunder in the offin'

That's fer me, that's fer me,

An' I never charge, I'll kill you all fer free.

Give me lots o' lovely loot,

An' a cask o' grog ter boot,

Up the anchor, loose the sails an' let me go!"

Sinking majestically into the western horizon the sun burned skies of blue and gold to a crimson hue. Ublaz and Sagitar watched from an upper window as the hot day drew to a close. Bloodkeelwas a mere speck far out to the southeast.

The Emperor poured two goblets of rich dark wine, and pushed one in the direction of his chief Trident-rat.

"Now you may ask me," he said.

"'Ask you what, Sire?" replied Sagitar apprehensively.

The pine marten sipped his wine, still watching Bloodkeeldiminishing into the hazy distance of the ocean. "What is on your mind," he said. "Why did I repair the fox's ship, why did I let him sail off with a crew of his own choosing, why did I not crush the wave vermin this morning when I had the chance? These are the questions on your mind, am I correct?"

Nervously, Sagitar swallowed the wine in one gulp. "Mightiness, you have read my mind!"

Ublaz refilled the goblets, narrowing his eyes to keep Bloodkeelin his vision. "You are only thinking what every otherbeast on Sampetra is thinking at this moment, so I will tell you. Rasconza is a born troublemaker, ambitious and deceitful. Like Barranca, he is popular with the corsair crews. This would make him dangerous in the long run, so I decided to dispense with him. First I let him choose a crew, knowing he would choose his closest allies. You see, there may be those among them who would also be future trouble to me, so I dispense with them also. But I do not want the other crews to know I am responsible for the slaying of Rasconza and his friends. I want them to think that their Emperor is benevolent to themif they consider me their friend I will have their loyalty. So, there you have your answer."

Sagitar paused, the goblet half lifted to her lips. "But Sire, you have not slain Rasconza and his crew. They have sailed away alive, free to return to Sampetra when they will."

Ublaz smiled, shaking his head at the Trident-rat's simplicity. "Look out to sea, Sagitar. If you can still see Rasconza's ship, then take a last look at it. Bloodkeelhas only one place to go, straight down! When my workers fitted the new tiller and rudder this morning they were carrying out my instructions. Below the waterline, they hewed the stern until the wood was thin, then they fitted the rudder. It has a special metal spike protruding from the back of it. Every time the steersrat moves the tiller, that spike gouges into the thinned stern below the waterline. By morning Bloodkeelwill be where I have sent her with all aboard, deep down on the ocean bed!"

The goblet smashed upon the floor as it fell from Sagitar's nerveless paws. She stared with speechless horror at the smiling pine marten. Ublaz spread his paws wide.

“ Now I have no enemies and I own the corsair fleet. Nobeast in all the seas and oceans is more powerful and wise than I!"

The mad-eyed Emperor had emerged as victor in his murderous game against the wave vermin. However, he had reckoned without the chain of events he had set off by slaying Lutra and his kin for six rose-tinted pearls.

Chapter 29

On Mossflower shore, dawn arrived, bright and warm. Log a Log and his Guosim shrews had been busy most of the night, working on Grath's longboat to make it seaworthy again. The big otter viewed their work admiringly, pacing up and down as she inspected her new craft.

The shrew Chieftain pointed out the features his workers had accomplished. “We used eight long willow boughs, still green. See, we've made a double outrigger of yore liddle boat by fittin' a shrew logboat to each side of 'er. My shrews put a longer keel on yore boat, too; you'll need it on the high seas. She's a good 'un now, matey!"

Grath had to agree; the new craft was ideal for seafaring. It rode in the stream, with a logboat fixed to either side by the willow boughs, leaving enough space between the outriggers to enable it to be paddled by oars. Shrews were wading into the stream, stocking the logboats with provisions, which left more passenger space on the main vessel. Clecky joined them, a bowl of soup in one paw, a slice of oatcake in the other, and a large seaweed poultice bound to the bump he had received between his ears.

"Spiffin' idea, wot! I've always fancied m'self as a jolly old nautical type, y'know. I say, d'you think we'll have enough grub along for the voyage? A chap could starve out there without plenty of fodder. I'll be captain, of course, natural air of command an' all that, born to lead my old pater always used t'say, wot?"

Martin placed a bowl of soup in front of the captive searat and sat down next to him. "Here, that'll take the edge off your hunger," he said. "Nowwhat's your name?"

The rat grabbed the bowl gratefully. "They calls me Blade-ribb, sir."

The Warriormouse tore off a hunk of shrewbread and gave it to the rat. "No need to sir me, Bladeribb. Where d'you think the ship has gone?"

Lifting his lips from the bowl, Bladeribb nodded seaward.

"Due west fer Sampetra, I'd take me oath on it."

Martin stared levelly at him. “Then your oath better be good, because you're coming with us. How far away is this place you call Sampetra?"

"Some say 'tis beyond where the sun sinks in the west, too far for yore liddle boat t'sail, I'd say."

Martin eyed the distant horizon as he strapped the sword to his back. "You let me worry about that. Now, tell me all you know about Sampetra."

By late morning they were ready to sail. Log a Log and the Guosim crowded around the bank as Martin, Grath and Clecky waded into the shallows, leading Bladeribb by a rope tied about his middle. Viola bankvole followed them, crying, "I'm going with you to help free Abbot Durral!"