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

The molebabe nodded emphatically. "Ho aye, zurr, ee'm buz-zybee gave et to h'Arven!"

Rollo, Craklyn and Brother Dormal were called from their search of the Abbey building, and everything was explained to them. Furlo, who was a great favorite with the Dibbuns, meanwhile continued the task of making Arven talk.

"Now then, me liddle mate, you kin take those paws out'n yore ears an' listen to wot I've got t'say."

The squirrelbabe kept his ears well plugged, but opened one eye. "A not lissenin' an' me not talkin', an' me can't see ya!"

The friendly cellar-keeper merely smiled. "Fair enough, ole pal, you stay like that, I'll jus' chat to Diggum an' Gurrbowl 'ere about the feast in my cellars. Right, you two liddle snips, this evenin' I'll let yer stay up late. We'll play 'ide'n'seek 'midst the barrels, I'll rig up a seesaw, an' I'll roll you round an' round in a big empty barrel. Whilst we're doin' that down in my wine-cellars, I've no doubt miss Tansy aner friends will make a fine feast an' bring it down to us. We'll 'ave a great party an' I'll supply the drinks, strawberry fizz, dandelion an' burdock an' gooseberry cup."

Arven unplugged his ears and opened both eyes straightaway. "Worra bout Arven, me come a party too?"

Rollo polished his glasses brusquely. "Certainly not! Any Dibbun who hides things from his friends and carries on in such a badly behaved manner deserves only one thing. Early bed and warm nettle soup!"

The squirrelbabe shot into the bushes and was out again in a flash. Dropping the pearl into Tansy's paws, he dashed about hugging and kissing everybeast.

"I norra bad Dibbun, see! Me a good frien', Arven like alla you!"

Chapter 51

Grath Longfletch tapped her tail impatiently on the ground as she scanned the cove at midday. "Great seasons o' slaughter, here we are all ready to go an' that long lollopin' hare's gone missin'. Where's 'e got to?"

"Ahoy there, you hearties, all aboard! I'm all kitted out an' ready to jolly well go an' do battle, wot!"

Viola had to sit down laughing at the sight of Clecky perched nobly on Waveworm's prow.

The hare had done a thorough search of the vessel to outfit and arm himself. He had rigged himself out in a pair of baggy red pantaloons and a tawdry cream tunic fringed with blue silk ruffles. Both his long ears flopped under the weight of massive brass rings.

He carried a long piked boathook and a javelin, and into a gaudy green waistsash he had thrust a short axe, three curved daggers and a fearsome scimitar.

"All aboard the good ship Wavethingy,me buckoes, come on! Time an' tide wait for nobeast, doncha know!"

Martin turned to Grath. "Have you got everything you need?" he asked.

The otter patted a pouch at her belt. "Tinder, flint, canvas, flask o' lamp oil. That's all I'll need beside my bow and arrows. Two hours before sunset, then!"

Martin and Inbar clasped her paws. "Good luck and good hunting, and fates go with you!"

Grath held tightly to Inbar's paw a moment longer. "Remember wot I told you, matey, show no quarter to 'em. If they ever found yore father's island they'd slay yore kin an' laugh while they were slaughterin'. Keep that in mind, Inbar Trueflight!" Then, releasing her friend's paw, Grath took off southwest at a fast trot.

Martin and his friends boarded and got Wavewormunder sail, skirting the coast northward to where the corsair ships lay.

The six wave vermin who had been left to guard the disabled fleet were ashore. Well supplied with grog and food, they lounged about on the sand near the shallows, gambling with shells for trinkets. They cheated and swilled grog, throwing the shells in the air, wagering on how many would land upside down.

"My dagger sez six on their backs, Crabsear!"

"Taken. I'll wager me bracelet agin yore blade, Kuja!"

The shells fell onto the sand; Crabsear the corsair stoat crowed triumphantly at the searat Kuja. "Only five upside down, gimme the dagger, I win!"

"No ye don't, 'tis six, the dagger's still mine, mate!"

"Five I say, you turned that'n upside down yerself, cheat!"

"Cheat is it, yer slime-tongued eel, I'll give ye the dagger all right, straight in yore stinkin' neck!"

They were about to leap on each other when Clecky appeared, wading through the shallows around the cove's edge.

"Ahoy there, you unspeakable rabble, surrender your ships or I'll frazzle y'gizzards with me frogslicer, or whatever it is you chaps say to each other, wot!"

Exchanging wicked smiles, the six guards rose slowly, drawing their blades as they advanced on the lone hare.

“ Well, stripe me, buckoes. Who in the name o' barnacles is this 'ere popinjay?"

Whipping out his scimitar, Clecky bounded forward to meet them, slaying the speaker with a single swipe of his enormous blade. "Stripe you? Certainly, sir, anything to oblige. Next?"

They rushed him, failing to see Martin bearing down the hill at their backs with his sword ready for action.

Around the other side of the cove, Inbar heard the cries and mounted the rail, reaching for his bow. Plogg put a restraining paw on the otter.

"Best stay 'ere, friend, Martin an' Clecky'll be back shortly. There ain't no warrior in all Mossflower like Martin."

Inbar allowed himself to be pulled down to the deck. "But what about Clecky?" he said. "There were six guards on those ships, I counted 'em myself!"

Plogg leaned back against the rail. "Only six? Clecky could 'ave taken them 'imself! Don't be fooled by that'n's silly talk an' comical manner. As my ole dad always sez, hares are dangerous an' perilous beasts."

The shrew's estimate was correct; it was but a short time until the two waded back around the cove, Clecky chatting animatedly.

"That vermin wascheatin', y'know, saw him m'self. He tipped a seashell wrong side up with his footpaw. What a rotter! I'd hate to have that'n sittin' alongside me at supper, he'd swipe all the salad whilst I had me back turned!"

Martin washed his swordblade in the water and wiped it dry on his sleeve before sheathing it. "Hah! When did you ever turn your back on a salad bowl? Any creature trying to steal food from you would starve to death."

When they had both climbed back aboard, Martin gave Welko and Viola their instructions.

"Throw all the canvas, spare wood and lamp oil into the hold of each shipthe grog too, that's pretty flammable stuff. You've got flints and tinder enough to do the job. Wait until you see the signal. We'll pick you up as soon as we can get back hereone of you watch for our ship from the covetop. Good luck!"

Wavewormsailed onward, still hugging the coastline. Welko and Viola stayed with the corsair vessels, waving to their friends until they were out of sight.

Grath Longfletch had gained the highest point overlooking the palace of Ublaz. Two Trident-rats lay limp close by; they had been standing sentry there when the vengeful otter visited them, silent as a leaf on the wind. Kindling a small smokeless fire in a hole she had dug, Grath sat binding oil-soaked canvas strips to four arrowheads. She had seen the exact targets where her shafts would do their work best.

Ublaz Mad Eyes peered over the wall at the Wave Brethren's encampment. He did not like what he saw.

"Zurgat," he rapped out, "get the fire bales ready for tonight. I have a strong feeling they'll mount a major attack on us once it's dark. Rasconza's vermin haven't bothered sending anybeast at us for hours. Look at themlounging about over there doing nothing."

Zurgat turned her slow reptilian gaze upon the far encampment. "You are right, Lord, they are zaving themzelvez for the battle tonight. Fire balez will burzt upon them in the darknezz."

Keeping his head low, the pine marten strode the length of the woodpile stacked against the wall, stopping at each of the four large firebales to inspect them. They were heaps of splintered dry wood and dead reeds, wound about with sailcloth and withered grass, liberally doused with vegetable oil.