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

The shrikes feathers bristled dangerously as he glared Meldrum. “Donta call Glokkpod mattrissback! With a boom and a crack the battering ram struck the door, sending splinters flying. Mariel placed herself between Meldrum and Glokkpod. “Are you two going to stand here insulting each other, she said, her voice tight with anger, “or do you feel like helping out around here before were all killed?

The shrike made a circular movement with his beak, saying “Uppa thirr, leave thizz ta me!

The ram thudded against the door a second time. Meldrum took the now-useless bench and, laying it ladder-fashion against the wall, he scrambled ponderously up into the attic. Leaning out, Meldrum thrust both paws down to assist the other three. Helped by Dandin and Mariel, Gael climbed quickly into the small conical room.

The ram struck the door a third time, creating a gaping hole at its center. Backing out of spear-thrust range, the great red-backed shrike stood in full view of the rats outside. Glokkpods mad eyes shone with joy as he gave vent to his battle cry.

“Kachakachakiiirrrrr! Hirrs a butcha bird, ratzz!

There was an immediate scramble as the horderats retreated from the door at the sight of the Butcher Bird. Nagru was almost knocked flat. He pulled himself upright, raking wildly with his metal wolfclaws, and screaming, “Charge the door, or Ill flay you alive. Charge!

Urged on by the claws of Nagru, they rushed the door. Riveneye kicked aside the loose door timbers; swinging a sword, he rushed into the tower room. Death was on him in a blur of feathers, talons, and stabbing beak. Nagru pushed two more rats through immediatelythey were slain before they had time to draw breath. Glokkpods talons rattled against the floor as he spread his pinion feathers in a war dance. One wing had been badly torn by a rats spear, and several feathers were missing. Glo-kkpod was infuriated by this injury.

“Kirrchakkachirrr izza good day to fearrrrr me!

Silvamord pushed her way through the rats on the spiral staircase. She whirled on Nagru, berating him. “Fool! Cant you see that bird can hold the doorway as long as it likes while you send in hordebeasts a few at a time?

“Well, theres the Butcher Bird, my dear, said the Foxwolf, his voice dripping condescension. “Whats your bright idea?

Ignoring his patronizing tones, Silvamord gave her orders: “Back out of sight, all of you. Hooktail, pick out ten good archers, get on the third and fourth steps down, and keep firing heavy volleys until youve made a pincushion of that bird!

The friends in the attic had heard Silvamords commands. Mariel called out urgently to Glokkpod, “Quickly, fly up here before they start shooting!

But the shrike continued his dance, challenging the rats. “Kirrchakachirrr! Glokkpod fear no ratzz!

“Its no good talking to that one. Dandin sighed wearily. “Hes going to get himself killed. Save your breath.

Meldrum solved the problem with a few barbed insults. “I say there, ygreat flyin featherbed, dyou keep your brains in your beak or your bottom, nestnoddle!

With a lurch and a flapping leap the shrike was up in the attic with them, standing eye-to-eye with Meldrum. Quickly, Mariel and Dandin slammed the attic floorboards back in place. Not a second too soonthe planking quivered to the thud of arrows.

“Hullo, thats a bit much, Meldrum called out to them moodily, “leavin a chap in the dark with a bally Butcher Bird. Shed a bit o light on the subject, someone. jits pitch black in here!

Dandin had brought a spear up with him. Using the itt he knocked a few of the rooftiles aside, dodging as they fell in. Sunlight streamed in, flooding the attic. Mar-rfel looked around at their reftige. It was the inside of a conically tiled towertop and through the broken roof she could see a tiny flagpole flying a gaily colored pennant.

The commanding voice of a rat sounded from the room below. “My Lord and Master, Urgan Nagru, King of all Southsward, Foxwolf Supreme and his Queen Silvamord send this message to you! Be it known that if you surrender yourselves to his mercy, the Urgan Nagru will spare your lives, all save that of the Butcher Birdthe creature is too dangerous to live. Hear this and know these are the words of the Urgan Nagru, all powerful in battle and ruler of all he sees!

Hefting one of the red pottery rooftiles, Meldrum shifted aside a floorplank. He flung the tile accurately, laying the rat low.

“ All merciful* indeed. Poppycock! Did yhear that, Glokko?

The shrike bowed, deferentially. “Nize shot, Meld-erin!

“Oh I dunno, you couldve probly done as well yself, old lad. The hare shrugged modestly. “By the way, its Mel-drum, as in boom boom. Drum!

The shrike nodded understandingly. “Derrin, bum bum, like in drim!

Gael stared up at the cloudless patch of blue sky that could be seen through the hole in the roof. “Well, were free in a way I suppose, he said, “free to stay up here and starve until the Foxwolf and Silvamord find a way of winkling us out and killing us all.

Mariel removed a few more tiles until she could see farther outside. “If we could only find a way of getting down there, she mused.

Meldrum took a peek and covered his eyes. “Great seasons, it makes me go all of a dither just thinkin about it Now I know why birds always look dizzy!

“Birds, theres a bird here, he could do it! They all turned to look at the Squirrelking, pointing at Glokkpod as if seeing him for the first time. “Theres the bird! : Dandin shook his head, totally nonplussed. “But what use is Glokkpod to us?

V Gael was shaking with excitement, “Maybe he cant fly us down with that injured wing, but he can go and get help for us! He can find the otters; theyll be able to help us!

Silvamord had tired of watching Nagru commanding archers to shoot ceaseless arrows into the tower room ceiling. She wandered off to her chamber, which was on the floor as the banqueting room. There she sat discussing the situation with Sicant, a female horderat who doubled as the vixens maid. They took wine and a sted fish together, and Sicant was careful to agree with Silvamords views.

“Youre right, of course, my Lady. Sooner or later escaped prisoners will be starved down from there.

Silvamord tapped her chin knowingly. “Malebeasts, fre all the same, not happy unless theyre fighting, will keep those archers firing arrows into the ceiling, and for what? A waste of arrows, thats all. Now as me, I prefer to fight when the time is right. Its brains win in the end.

She smiled as a paw rapped gently on the door. “Watch Ill show you what I mean, Sicant. Come in!

A small, furtive-looking rat stole into the room and 1, saying, “Majesty, you were right. The Butcher

17

Bird flew off a short while ago. It headed north and east slightly. I watched until it was out of sight.

Pouring a beaker of wine, the vixen pushed it toward the rat. “You did well, Bluebane. Go now and say nothing of this to anybeast. Taking the beaker of wine with him, Bluebane slunk away.

The vixen turned to Sicant. “Your mate, Graywort, hes willing to serve me?

Sicant nodded eagerly. “To the death, my Lady. He is like me; he knows that you are the real power on the throne of Southsward.

Silvamord took a dainty sip of wine. “Good! Riveneye was slain today, and we need a new horde Captain. Ill see that Graywort is promoted. Now, tell him to post six lookouts around the castle and keep one full squad in readiness night and day. The Butcher Bird is bound to bring help for the prisoners in the tower attic. When the lookouts spot them coming, tell them to report to your Graywort. As soon as he hears that help is arriving he must come directly to me and no other. Is that understood?

Sicant knelt and kissed the vixens paw gratefully. “I understand, Majesty.