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

Martin had noted a change in Viola. She seemed more sensible and confident since her captivity; several times that morning she had requested to sail with them. Now, as before, Martin gave her his answer.

"Sorry, little one, it would be far too dangerous for you. We'll bring the Abbot back, I promise you. Go back to Redwall now, there's a good creature. Log a Log and his shrews will see you get home safe."

Water splashed as Viola stamped her footpaw in the shallows. "Just because I'm not a grown-up you don't want me! It's not fair, I'm being treated like a silly little Dibbun!" She turned and flounced off across the shore towards the woodlands.

"Viola, we don't think you're a Dibbun," Martin called after her. "All of us know that you're a very brave young bankvole, but you're not old enough yet to find your way through the woods alone. Wait for Log a Log to take you home."

Paws akimbo, Viola turned and glared at Martin. "I know my own way back to the Abbey, thank you! I don't need a whole tribe of shrews to hold my paw. Good-bye!" With her apron strings streaming out in the breeze, she strode resolutely off.

Log a Log turned to Martin. "She's a bold creature sure enough. But yore right, Martin, she's far too young to be traveling on her own. Jesat and Teno, follow the little maid and see her safely back to Redwall. Talkin' of which, I'm not lettin' you go without extra help, matey. There's two 'ere who'd be proud to sail with ye. Plogg, Welko!" Two stout shrews leapt forward and joined the party in the shallows.

Grath Longfletch looked them over approvingly, saying, “Are you sure you can spare two strong beasts like these, Log a Log?"

Throwing a paw fondly about the shoulders of the two, Log a Log nodded at his otter friend. "These are my two sons. They can eat, fight, sail and sing like no other shrews I know of. They've pestered me 'alf the night to let 'em sail with ye. Haharr, anythin' to avoid the iron-pawed discipline of their father, ain't that right, buckoes?"

Plogg nudged his father's ribs playfully. "I'll bring ye back a nice walkin' stick, ole feller!"

He ducked a hefty swipe from his parent, who was grinning proudly. "Gerroutofit, you tadpole, bring me back any walkin' sticks an' I'll break 'em o'er yore tail. Take care of each other an' our friends, you two, an' always remember yore the sons of a Guosim Chieftain. Don't do nothin' I wouldn't do, ye blood puddens!"

Welko stamped back ashore, his face serious. "I ain't goin' on no ship that don't 'ave a name!"

Log a Log folded both paws across his fat stomach. "Yore right, Welko. Ahoy, Grath, that's why yore vessel's 'ad so much bad luck, mateyshe ain't got a name. Wot are ye goin' to call 'er? Dabby, bring some markin' dye to paint a name on."

The big otter scratched her scarred head. "Hmm, a name. I've never given it much thought..."

"Freebeast!"

They all turned to look at Martin. He pointed at the vessel and said, "We're all freebeasts and we're on a mission to free a good old beast, the Abbot of Redwall. So let her name be Freebeast!

As the tide began to swell a short ceremony was carried out in the mouth of the river. Every creature present was issued with a beaker of shrewbeer. Log a Log was lifted aboard the craft bearing two beakers, one in each paw. Standing in the prow he recited a Guosim boatnaming poem.

“ Whether she sails on river or sea,

May the wind be always behind 'er,

May she always be welcomed by friends like me,

May the foebeast never find 'er.

Let 'er crew hold the lives of each other dear,

And avoid every sharp rock or reef,

Good seasons and fates now listen and 'ear,

Keep this gallant Freebeastfrom all grief!"

Amid rousing cheers Log a Log poured one beaker over the prow and drank the other in a single swallow, along with everyone else. Martin and his friends tossed their weapons aboard and hauled themselves over the side. Grath took the tiller as Plogg and Welko hoisted the sail upon its new ashpole mast. Martin and Clecky stood for'ard, punting deep either side with the oars. Freebeastskimmed out of the river and into the open sea, her sail billowing bravely as she caught the wind and bucked head-on into the first rollers. Clecky shipped his oar as Martin did. Standing upright, the five crew members of Freebeastheld their weapons aloft and roared their warcries across the sunflecked waters to the Guosim on the shore.

"Redwaaaaall! Eulaliaaa! Holt Lutraaaa! Logalogalogalog!"

Seabirds wheeled overhead in the bright summer day. Framed against the cloudless blue above, the sun beat down on the strange three-hulled vessel as it ploughed the waves. On into the unknown deeps of the wild ocean, questing for Durral the Father Abbot of Redwall Abbey. The voyage had begun!

Chapter 30

Sitting on the south walltop alongside her friends, Tansy looked upward to the north. "Well, what do you see?" she said to Rollo.

Gazing in the same direction, the old Recorder answered, "I see the south face of the Abbey building, as you do. Anybeast see anything different?"

Piknim and Craklyn began giggling, a sure sign that they were onto something. Rollo glared sternly over the top of his glasses at the Abbeymaids.

"Well, I'm glad some creatures find the situation amusing. No doubt you are about to tell us something, when you are quite finished with your fit of the giggles."

Struggling to regain control of themselves, the pair responded, "Teeheehee! Er hrmph! Don't you think we should be paying more attention to the next words of the poem, sir?"

"Teehee! Craklyn says we look like four fledglings waiting to be fed. Heeheehee! Sitting on top of a wall with our heads up."

Tansy stifled a smile at the thought. Rollo unrolled the thin parchment rather huffily, spreading it on the walltop.

"Ahem! Just as I was about to do," he said. "Now let me see.

"Put a home with our Abbey Warrior,

North East South at the start,

Then to complete this riddle,

Add the last thing in 'my heart'."

Nodding to each other, Piknim and Craklyn gave the answer.

“ Another name for a home?''

"A house!"

"Who is our Abbey Warrior?"

"Martin!"

"Put them together and name me a little bird ..."

"House martin!"

Tansy was about to speak when Rollo jumped in ahead of her. "North, East, South begin with N, E, S. The last thing in my heart is the letter T. Put them together and we have nest! We're looking for a house martin's nest!"

Not to be outdone, Tansy swiftly added her contribution.

"Below the mouth of a mouse looking south,

All in a deserted dwelling.

So sit o'er the maidenhair, gaze up north,

And solve what my next words are telling.

"Look, a small attic window, and see carved in the stone above it; I'll wager that's the head of a mouse. See!"

Four pairs of eyes peered keenly up at the highest window on the north side of the Abbey. Sure enough, the arched apex of the stone was decorated with a carved head.

Rollo polished his spectacles hard, blinking, and said, "Yes, it is a creature of some sort, but it's too high up to tell what it is. The only way to be sure is to go up there ..."

Tansy tugged at the old Recorder's sleeve to gain his attention. She pointed to the spot where Piknim and Craklyn had been sitting a moment before. "They've already gone. Come on, old friend, let's follow."

She assisted the old bankvole down the wallsteps.

"I wonder what the last one up there is this time?" he muttered, shaking his head. "A tottering tadpole or a boggled beetle?"

The hedgehog maid smiled as they crossed the lawn. "I'd better not tell you, or you'd have Mother Auma send 'em to bed with no supper."