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

Funtil had regained her composure by now. She attached herself to Blagguts leg, chuckling, “Oi loik ee, zurr. Youm a funny vurmint!

“Dyer ear that, Capn? The liddle molemaid likes me! The searats face was a picture of delight.

Slipps voice dripped sarcasm that was lost on the unwitting Blaggut. “Ho, she likes yer, does she? Well, aint that nice. Why dont we all siddown an ave a picker-nick?

The big, slow searat patted his Captain affectionately, nearly knocking him flat. “Arr thats the spirit, Capn. 1 knew youd see tilings my way.

Slipps sea-booted footpaw began moving in the direction of Blagguts behind. Hie mousebabe brandished his stick, squeaking, “You kickim, an I stick your livers a kiddies ... !

Slipp stamped his foot down and glared at the mousebabe. “Dont yew ave no vittles at all?

The mousebabe thought about this for a moment, then replied, “Wots vikkles?

Blaggut sat down next to the Dibbun, chuckling. “Hoho, bless yer liddle eart, matey. Vittles is food!

“Hurr, food! Furrtil nodded understandingly. “Loik pudden an pie an cakes an soop?

“Yes, yes, thats the stuff, Slipp said, nodding eagerly. “Puddenpiecake an soup. Where is it? Ave you got any?

The mousebabe thought quite deeply about the question, then stated matter-of-factly, “No!

Blaggut laughed until tears rolled down his ugly face. “That babbie mouse is a cool un, Capn!

Funtil trundled off into the woodland. Slipp looked after the molemaid curiously. “Where does she think shes off to? he asked.

The mousebabe curled his lip scornfully at Slipps ignorance. “Vurmint your size shoulda know tha*. She gone to get food vikkles for ya, shoopid!

The searat Captain brought his face close to the Dibbun, sneering nastily. “Dont call me stupid, and Im a rat, not a vurmint!

The mousebabe sat himself on Blagguts lap in a businesslike manner and explained patiently to Slipp, “Rats is vurmints. Anybeast know tha, an1 if you not shoopid then don ask shoopid questions.

Slipp began drawing his cutlass, then thought better of it, blew a snort of exasperation, and glared at Blaggut.

“Why did yer ave tgo an find this wisemouth? Why didnt yer just bring back vittles like I told yer to? he growled.

Blaggut stroked his new friends head fondly. “E dont mean nothm, Capn. You leave the liddle tyke tme; I wager we kin chat like ole messmates. Avast,eres the molemaid back wid vittles.

Furrtil ambled up and emptied her apron. Two apples, some wild plums, and a small pile of blackberries tumbled out. The searats began wolfing down the fruit.

“Tsk tsk, youm maken eeselfs sick piggen et all daown, she chided them. “Chew ten toimes an swaller more slow. Ee Muther Mellus allus sayin that to Dibbuns.

Slipp spat out a plumstone. “Wots a Dibble? he asked.

“Hiur, usns Dibbuns, zurr, baint Diddles.

Blaggut polished an apple on his stomach, saying, “An where does Dibbuns live, in liddle tents like yonder one?

The mousebabe popped a blackberry into his friends mouth. “Norra tent, ony a blanket. We come from a habbey, name a Redwall, bigga place than this high. He held a tiny paw as far over his head as he could, to indicate the size of the Abbey.

Slipp whispered to Blaggut, “Find out where it is.

The mousebabe shook his head despairingly and pointed an accusing paw at Slipp. “No whisprin, sbad manners. We take you to Redwall inna morain, if we cn find it.

An hour later the two Dibbuns were sound asleep in their tent. Slipp scoffed at Blaggut, who sat at the entrance watching them. “Ahoy, nurseymaid, dyew reckon theyll want a drink o water in the night?

The searat took off his tattered jerkin and carefully covered the two small creatures. “Aye, well, if they do, Capn, Ill get it for em!

Slipp tossed an apple core at Blaggut. “Well lookit yew, the bold searat, yew butterbrained brute. Ave ygone soft all of a sudden?

“Dont cost nothin t be nice to babes. Blaggut shrugged. “Mayap if somebeastd been nice to me when I was a liddle shrimp I wouldnt ave growed up t be no searat, mightve been good an respectable. Who cn tell, Capn?

Slip leaped up and grabbed Blaggut by the throat. “You ave gone soft! he snarled. “Well lissen, softrat, when we gets ter this Redwall place there might be plunder an killin, so dont yew go soft on me then, or else yll feel my cutlass across yore gizzard. Do yhear?

Blaggut gulped and nodded. He knew only too well what his Captain was capable of. When there was loot to be had, murder and treachery became a mere formality to avaricious searats like Slipp. Blaggut took one last look at the two Dibbuns before settling himself down to sleep the tent entrance, hoping in his heart that the tiny pair so lost that they would not know the way back to Redwall Abbey on the morrow.

Sunrays filtered through the slitted windows of the tower room onto the besieged friends. Nagrus gray packed the narrow winding stairway outside, with the wolf exhorting them on to slaughter. “Come onenough of you! Hack that door to splinters and kill them off. Sourgall, you and Wetchops go and fetch a battering ram. Thatll speed things up!

The chamber was home to one piece of furniture, an old wooden bench. Meldrum and Dandin held it wedged against the door as a temporary measure. The old hare looked worried.

“Hear that? The blaggards have gone tget a batterin ram. Theyll smash this door tsmithereens! Look out!

Dandin hopped to one side at Meldrums warning, as a spear plowed through the damaged woodwork, protruding almost half its length. Nipping in smartly, Mariel grabbed the haft and tugged the weapon through, then began jabbing through the slits in the door at the enemy outside.

“If Ive got to go, Im taking a few with me! she shouted.

Gael Squirrelking stared despairingly round the small tower chamber. “Theres nowhere else for us to go. Once theyre through that door, were finished!

The red-backed shrike Glokkpod had been hopping about excitedly, waiting to give good account of himself when the rats came through the door. At Gaels announcement he ceased his dance, flicking hither and thither with his head as he searched for an avenue of escape. “Good littil nest uppa thirr! he croaked.

Gael followed the shrikes eyes upward. “Of course! he cried out. “This is a tower with a pointed top; theres a small cone-shaped attic up there!

Meldrum the Magnificent grabbed the crosshilts of a long pike that came thrusting through the door, wrenching it forcibly from its owner. “Any port in a storm, wot? Lets give it a try!

It was a simple cross-planked ceiling, resting on thick wooden beams. Using the butt of the pike, the hare soon knocked two of the center planks loose. “Cmon birdie, do your stuff; up there an push those planks tone side! he shouted.

There came a cry from Nagru out on the stairway. “Out the way, you four. Get on that battering ram with Sourgall an Wetchops! Give them space there!

Anxiously, Mariel watched Glokkpod flap awkwardly upward. “Hurry, birdtheres not a moment to lose. Theyre going to start battering the door!

The shrike shoved and pulled until he had moved one plank aside. Wedging himself in the narrow space he had created, Glokkpod used both talons and beak to shift the other ceiling plank. Suddenly it shot aside with a clatter, and he disappeared through the opening, cackling, “Kchakcha, eazy, wassa eazy, good nest uppa hirr!

Meldrum shot an irate glance at the attic. “Glad youve found yourself a good nest, old chap. Now dyou mind oppin down here an helpin out?

Surprisingly the shrike did hop down. Flashing his bright savage eyes at the hare, he demanded, “Wharra it, longirrz?

“I say, less of the longears. See if ycan help our ids up into the attic, mattressback!