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

“Durry! Rosie! Theyve gone! Rufe Brush screamed. “They were up the mast!

Joseph had to grab Rufethe young squirrel was about to dive over the side and swim to find his friends. The Bellmaker held the kicking, struggling squirrel fast. “Rufe, Rufe, have ygone mad? Youd be drowned in a trice out therewe cant even see where the mast went!

But there was no reasoning with the squirrel. He fought Joseph wildly, striking him with all paws. “Let me go! Ive got to save Durry, hes all Ive got!

Joseph flinched as Rufes paws battered his face. He held on grimly until there was nothing else for it.

Whack!

The sturdy Bellmaker laid Rufe senseless with a single blow to the squirrels jaw, then he laid him down safe. “Poor Rufe, I wish you hadnt made me do that.

For what seemed endless hours the crew of the Pearl Queen battled with the elements, fighting to bring their vessel to the land, which now appeared temptingly close, but so difficult to reach. Windblown and soaked they moved with frozen paws and numbed minds, automatically forcing themselves to go about their tasks. Log-a-Log was standing far out on the prow, watching for hidden rock shoals, and he did not have time to brace himself when Pearl Queen shuddered and ground to a halt. The shrew Chieftain was thrown overboard. Fore-iinole saw him go; he ran to the bows yelling, “Shrew woverbooooooard! *

The crew dashed forard in Log-a-Logs wake, stop-sharply as they reached the bows.

“Hohohoho, lookit me! It was Log-a-Log, standing only waist deep in the water.

Finnbarr Galedeep drew both his swords, brandishing them at the storm and the heaving seas. “Haharr, we beat yer; you never got Galedeep an the Queen that time!

Carrying Rufe on his back, Joseph called everybeast to abandon ship and make their way to shore. Foremole moved with a speed not associated with his kindhe fairly scooted through the shallows to the dry land, where, lying flat on the beach, he kissed it fervently. “Oo urr, oi luvs ee gudd furm urth!

The remainder of the night the crew spent miserably, crouching behind a rocky outcrop, as the storm spent its fury over the heaving seas, driving Pearl Queen even farther up onto the tideline. Without food or drink they huddled together, utterly spent and fatigued. Through the gray dawn they slept, unaware that the storm had abated and the tide had slipped silently out leaving Pearl Queen high and dry, listed over at a crazy angle. High, rolling clouds drifted westward on a calming breeze while the skies turned deep blue.

The warm sun beating down on his back, mingled with the plaintive cry of seabirds, gradually brought Joseph awake. He sat up stiffly and looked around. They were on a wide sandy beach, backed by huge brown cliffs dotted with greenery. Pearl Queen had been washed up only paces away from where the BeUmaker sat. Sometime before dawn Rufe Brush had regained consciousness, only to cry himself back to sleep with the realization that Durry had been lost at sea. Joseph drew quietly away from his slumbering form, seeing Finnbarr up and about.

The sea otter had boarded his vessel and found food for breakfast, and now he was busy building a fire from dry driftwood he had gathered above the tideline. Smiling kindly, he greeted Joseph. “Mornin tye, BeUmaker. Lend a paw ere. Well get vittles goin fer the crew atween us.

They mixed oatmeal with dried fruit and a little fresh water to make flat moist cakes, which they laid on a metal shield from the ships armory and placed over the fire. Taking dried mint leaves and honey, Joseph put them in a pan Finnbarr had brought from the ship and soon had a fine brew of mint tea boiling.

“Mmm, is that mint tea an oat scones I smell? Log-a-Log came to squat by the fire, followed by the others as the rest of the crew came awake.

Breakfast was taken thankfully. They sat on the sun-warmed sands, glad to be alive after their ordeal on the deep. Finnbarr retrieved a batch of fresh-baked scones from the shield, nodding toward his ship. “Straight after brekkist, wed best take a look at the Queen, shes in need of a new foremast an a repair job to er hull fer starters. No tellin wot else needs doin.

Joseph sat with a comforting paw about Rufe. The young squirrel was eating: hunger and thirst had driven lum, with the BeUmakers urging, to take some breakfast. ;.,. Joseph indicated Rufe with a nod of his head. “Finn-, the first thing we must do is to remember our two lends who were lost in last nights storm.

“Aye, right you are mate, said the sea otter, putting his breakfast. “Lets do that here an now!

A small stone cairn was built on the shore above the tide-line soon afterward. With Josephs help, Rufe had taken a piece of flat timber and burned a message upon it with a heated knife. The crew of Pearl Queen stood around the neat heap of stones as Rufe fixed the wood securely between the top stones facing seaward. Log-a-Log read the simple message.

“To the memory of Rosie Woodsorrel, warrior and mother. Also Durry Quill, Cellarmaster. Two Redwall friends.

Still with his paw about Rufes shoulder, Joseph recited some words he had put together for the ceremony:

“Friend is a very small word, A little sound we make, For one who is true, one who will do, Great deeds for friendships sake. So while I grieve for you, my friends. Who gave all that you could give, Youll be my friends in memory, For all the days Ill live.

Tears ran openly down Foremoles honest face. “Oi doant be knowen wot zurr Tarquin an ee Hddle uns be a doin wiout miz Rose; theym be gurtly sad!

Log-a-Log patted the stones. “I know it sounds funny, but I miss that laugh of Rosies.

The shrew Patch took Rufe earnestly by his paw. “Lis-sen, young un, some good always comes out o misfortune. Ifn youd been up that mast, then youd have been lost with em. But you aint lost, an I aint neither, cos you risked your life an saved mine. Rufe, Im your friend for life now!

Though Finnbarr Galedeep was a tough-looking otter, he was deeply touched at the sight of Rufe and Patch shaking paws together over the cairn. The sea otter turned away, gazing at the high cliffs to forestall a tear dropping. But he soon forgot his sorrow.

“Stand by, crew, git yoreselves armed! Weve got visitors, an theyre a-comin fast!

Loud war whoops split the summer morning air as masses of creatures poured down from the cliffs, heading straight for the crew of Pearl Queen.

16

The two Dibbuns huddled together in terror as the ugly heads of Slipp and Blaggut poked into their makeshift tent. The searat Captain snarled at them. “Give us vittles, or well eat yer!

Blaggut was horrified by Slipps pronouncement. “O, Capn, you wouldnt eat two pretty liddle babbies like them, would yer?

Slipp bit Blagguts ear and punched his snout. “Will you shuttup an let me do the talkin, doodlenose!

Despite his smarting ear and throbbing nose, Blaggut winked chummily at the Dibbuns. “Never fear, me liddle chicks, ole Capn Slipp wont eat yer. Hes got an eart of gold!

Slipp yanked Blaggut out of the tent and began booting his rump soundly. “I told yer once already, scrummit-chops, keep yer stupid mouth shut until I tells yer to speak ....Yowch!

The mousebabe had regained his confidence and was jabbing his “sword stick in Slipps back. “You leava im alone, big bully! he squeaked.

“Ooh, me liver n kidneys!

Slipp sat down nursing his back. Blaggut was all concern. “Aye aye, liddle feller, that was a naughty thing ter do. Youve gone an urted the pore Capns livers n kidney. Ere, let me elp yer up, Capn. Are you shipshape?

Slipp drew his cutlass, raging, “Ill slice that cheeky snippet in arf afore Vs much older. Let me at the swab!

Blaggut placed himself between the mousebabe and Slipp. “You kin cut me in three arfs ifn yer like Capn, but dont yew lay a blade near that there hinfant!