The Bellmaker - Jacques, Brian - Redwall 07 - The Bellmaker

Log-a-Log had jumped to land first. “Dont show yourselves. Stay here close by the boats until I return, he cautioned them. “Bandle, keep a lookout from the top of that dune. The rest of you keep your heads down. The seashore can be a dangerous place sometimes. With that he was gone.

Rosie shrugged and started unpacking breakfast. “Im bally well famished. What ho you lot, whos for nosebags? Whoo ...

Foremoles paw clamped across her mouth, cutting off the strident laugh. “Yurr naow, marm, ee doant wants tbe oopsettin everybeast do ee? Koindly keep from lar-fin thankee.

The shrews lit a smokeless little fire from tinder-dry grass and charcoal. It burned low and red. Breakfast was a simple affair of honey, hot shrewbread, and mint tea.

About halfway through the morning Bundle hopped down from his lookout perch high on the dune crying, “Log-a-Logs back, an hes brought company!

The Redwallers were quite taken aback by the appearance of the shrew Chieftains companion. Log-a-Log introduced the newcomer briefly.

“Meet Finnbarr Galedeep, the sea otter.

One time in the distant past the big malebeast might have been a handsome creature, but the long scars of old battles tracing a course over his muscular form, coupled with a mussel-shell eyepatch and a missing ear, gave him a fearsome look. A curved swordhilt protruded over each of his shoulders, carried in cross-belted sheaths strapped to his back. Grinning good-naturedly at his wide-eyed audience, Finnbarr thrust forth a heavily tattooed limb. “ Eres me flipperits as good as me true eart. The Gale-deeps at yservice!

Introductions were made all around, and food was brought for the guest. He seated himself on the landward side of the dune, enjoying the mid-morning sun. Winking roguishly at the assemblage, Finnbarr went through pasties, salad, and October ale as though he had survived a seven-season famine. Then, wiping foam and crumbs from his mouth, the sea otter got right down to business.

“Belay, mateys, as I sees it yore wantin tsail far south oer deep seas. Well fer that you needs a good stout ship. Ole Log-a-Logs canoes wouldnt take ye a rough sea league out there on the waves.

Joseph looked the sea otter directly in his good eye. “Are we to take it that you have such a ship, Finnbarr? he asked.

The big fellow laughed uproariously, as if at some private joke, clapping Joseph soundly on the back. “Ho-hoho! Bless yer cockles, mouse. I aint got so much as a waterlogged twig tme name!

Foremole wrinkled his nose in consternation. “Burr, baint no larfen matter, zurr. Ifn youm doant ave a gurt shipper, whurrll usns get one?

“We steals it, o course!

A loud cry rang out from both shrews and Redwallers. “Steal a ship?

“Quiet now and listen to Finnbarrs plan, Log-a-Log silenced them curtly.

The sea otter gestured over his shoulder. “Not arf a days march round yon eadland lays two big searat galleons. The Pearl Queen is the best of the twain; she was my craft once, but thats another story. Now she belongs to a scurvy-backed bilgerat called Capn Slipp. The other vessels the Shalloo; er masters Capn Strapp. Theyre brothers, Slipp n Strapp. Corsairs, dangerous an sly, both of em, always fightin among themselves.

Hon Rosie could contain herself no longer, and she blurted out, “Oh I say, pinchin a ship off some rotten ol? searats, what a super wheeze. Whoohahahahoo!

Finnbarr winced, waggling a paw in his good ear. “A hare, eh. I likes hares, mad an perilous beasts. Tho Id be beholden if yed stow the hootin marm, sound carries round thisaways. Lissen now, the plans simple. We sinks the Shalloo an steals the Pearl Queen an sails off in er. Wot dyer say, mates?

Log-a-Log spoke for them all. “It sounds like a desperate scheme, Finnbarr, but were with you all the way, every beast!

The sea otter showed glittering white teeth in a swift grin. Whipping out one of his swords, he began outlining a map of his plan in the damp sand of the streambank.

“Hearken now, cullies, eres where the two ships lie at anchor, in the shallows offshore. Both crews will be on the beach tonight, feastin around a fire, so there should be only a few aboard each vessel keepin watch. We wait til the swell of igh water when the tides aturn after midnight, then tis quick n silent. In these ere shrewboats you lot sail seaward, come in on a curve to board Pearl Queen an take er. Meself an Log-a-Logll swim oer tthe Shalloo to bore some oles in er side an scuttle er in the bay. Then its out onto the wide blue briny fer us all!

Joseph studied the plan, nodding solemnly. “I like it; simple and straightforward, thats the best way!

The remainder of that day they spent resting in the shelter of the dunes. Rufe Brush watched the lengthening shadows on the sand, confiding his worries to Durry in hushed whispers.

“Ive never stolen anything before. Well, I suppose I filched a few candied chestnuts when I was a Dibbun, but never something as big as a ship!

Durry Quill, an adventurer born, winked at Rufe. “Dont you fret yoreself, mate. Well stick tgether. Hah! Searats sat all great big cowards. Just show em a weapon an growl, like this: Grr! That settles em!

Rufe picked up the rapier given to him by one of the Guosim. Waving it halfheartedly, he tried a timid growl. “Grr. How does that sound, Durry?

“GarrooohaharroogumTr! The twin blades of Finnbarr Galedeeps curved swords flashed in front of Rufes startled eyes. Then, swiftly sheathing both blades, the big sea otter ruffled the young squirrels ears playfully.

“Do it like that, matey. Show em ymean business an dont be arf carted about it. Youll do all right.

Darkness fell as they made a final cold meal of oat scones, cheese, and ciderno fires were allowed to pinpoint their position in the dunes at the shore edge. Sentries were posted while the rest lay trying to steal a quick nap, each with their thoughts of what awaited them where the two ships lay at anchor around the headland. Would it be a swift victory and a good ship, or a wrong plan ending in capture and death, or slavery at the cruel claws of sea-rats? A three-quarter moon shimmered over the restless sea in the soft summerdark as the time drew closer to midnight.

Dawn had already broken over Southsward when Furpp called two of his grandchildren to assist him.

“Yurr, Burdill, you an Grumbee stir ee stumps. Usns must take ee brekkist to our friends.

Burdill shook his velvety head. “Hurr, granfer, theym aready be gonned. Miz Mariel, shem roused tothers long since. Me an Grumbee packed em a brekkist to eat on ee way.

Furpp inspected his digging claws closely, in the way that some older moles will do when deep in thought. He nodded decisively, then patted the two small moles. “Gudd gudd. Ee did woisely, both o youm hinfants. Hurr, tho oi wanders whurr they be agone to?

“Oi did ear ee gurt rabbet Meldn say as they wurr eckertoimerin, Grumbee piped up.

Furpp blinked down at the youngster. “Eckertoimerin? Hoo an, that sounds noice, tho oi be wunderin wot ee means, eckertoimerin.

Had the moles been able to pronounce the word properly they would have known that Mariel, Dandin, and Bowly had gone out on a reconnoitering trip with Meld-rum and his leveret squad. Meldrum the Magnificent was familiar with the terrain, he explained as they strode south over the hills.

“Best route to Florets this way. See a stream ahead soon, take that route, might meet some otters, wot? Useful coves, otters; may get some info from them about this confounded Foxwolf thingee. Reconnoiter an gather information, thats what I always say, eh?

Mariel, whose idea it had been in the first place, nodded agreement as they crested the brow of an immense sandhill. On an impulse she spread her paws, stopping them from continuing further. “Hold it. Did you feel the ground a bit shaky then? I did.