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

Finnbarr was wakened by Rufe shaking him. “Eh, wot time is it, mate? Musta been asleep alf o the day! Ru-feysomethin the matter, young un?

The squirrel tried to keep his voice calm. “Er, this morning, Mr. Finnbarr, you sang a song about cods an* lobsters being eaten up by a shark ...

The sea otter stretched luxuriously. “Aye, so I did Ru-fey. Dye want me to teach ye the words?

“No, sir. Id just like to know what a shark looks like. “Bless yer eart, matey, you dont sees much of em, an you dont wants to neither. Mainly all youll see is a great dark fin stickin up out o the water.

Rufe took the sea otters tattooed paw and led him to the rail. “Does it look like this one circling our ship, sir?

21

In the same noontide Tarquin L. Woodsorrel was beginning to get really worried. Since dawn he had headed a major search party in Mossflower Wood. Without stopping to rest or eat, they had combed copse and thicket alike with no successthe two Dibbuns were still missing. Brother Mallen poked fruitlessly at the undergrowth, his staff clacking against that of Sister Sage. He shook his head. “Im beginning to think this is a complete waste of time, Sage. Are there any deep swamps hereabouts?

The Sister dropped her staff. “Mallen, how could you even think that!

“Hearken, silence in the ranks there, somebeast comin! At Tarquins low warning the search party became still.

The pretty squirrel Treerose dropped from the boughs of an elm, directly in front of Tarquin. “Are you looking for two Dibbuns, a mouse and molemaid? she asked.

The hare perked up considerably. “Indeed we are, Treerose. Dyou know where the little blighters are at?

Treerose pointed east and slightly south. “Over that way. My Toms with them. Follow me.

Slipp and Blaggut did not like the look of Oak Tom. The big sturdy squirrel stood perched on a bough, an arrow notched meaningfully on his bowstring.

“Dibbuns, come over here to this tree, he ordered. “You rats, stay where you are or Ill let daylight into you. *

The pair did as they were told, though Slipp was figuring the odds of either seizing the Dibbuns as a shield, or attempting a rush attack on the stern squirrel. Blaggut heard the search party approaching and whispered, “Psst, Capn, theres more of em comin.

In a moment they were surrounded by Redwallers armed with stout ash staves. Slipp gave Blaggut a swift, vicious kick. “See wot youve got us into now? Leave the talkin tme.

Tarquin thought Slipp was talking to him and he leaned closer, asking, “Eh, whats that ysay?

The searat Captain put on his best oily smile. “Good noontide to ye sir. I ope yore not ere to rob onest travelers like us.

“Fiddlesticks, said the hare, waggling his ears indignantly. “The very idea of it ...Were Redwallers, sir. But more tthe point, where dyou think youre takin those two Dibbuns off to, eh?

The mousebabe avoided Sister Sages paws and piped up, “Wazzen taken us nowhere, huh! Me an* Furrtil was takin them to the hAbbey; theys losted, like us!

Sage was of the old-fashioned school. She caught the mousebabe by his ear, saying, “Whatve you been told? Dont interrupt your elders, even if they are searats!

Blaggut was unsure what the proper protocol was, so he held his coat edges and dropped an elaborate curtsey. “Dont be *ard on the liddle un, marm. Tis the truth es tellin yer. Bless their liddle paws, they was takin me an me mate ere back to Redwalls hAbbey. Were lost, yer see.

Sage was skeptical. “Lost? What are two searats doing this far inland?

Slipp adopted his look of injured dignity. “Beggin* yer pardon, marm, but were not searats. Ho no, my names Slipp an Im a cook. This “eres me mate Blaggut, an* es a, er, er, carpenter, aye, thats wot e is, a carpenter!

Tarquin took over from Sister Sage. “You still havent told us what youre doin round here.

Slipp wrung the tails of his coat in both claws, as if the tale was too harrowing for him to tell. “Well ysee, yer Lordship, were the only two beasts left alive from the wreck of the Muddy Duck, that was our ship. She was sunken by a storm an all our mates was drownded. Aint that right messmate? He gave Blaggut a sly kick.

“Oh, er, thats right, Capn, the searat stammered. “The ole Dirty Swan was lost at sea right enough. Theres ony me n the Capn left alive to tell the tale.

“Why does that one keep calling you Captain? said Brother Mallen, smartly relieving Slipp of his cutlass.

“Youll ave ter forgive ole Blaggy, sir. Es a bit slow in the ead. Capn is his nickname fer me. Slipp gave Blaggut a playful buffet, as hard as he could.

Mallen inspected the chipped cutlass blade. “One of you said your ship was the Muddy Duck, but the other said it was the Dirty Swan. Now which is it?

Both searats started contradicting each other. “The Muddy Swan, er, the Dirty Duck, er, the Mucky Dud, er, er, the Swanny Duck, the Dirty Mud ...

“You mean you cant remember the name of your own ship? Sage interrupted sharply.

Slipp collapsed to the ground, covering both eyes with his claws as he made weeping noises. “Its the shock an unger! O it was awful. Awful!

Blaggut produced a grubby kerchief and began comforting Slipp. “Dont go gittin upsetted now, Capn. Ere, blow yer snout an* youll feel better.

Blaggut performed a silent dance of agony as Slipp bit savagely on his paw. Tarquin separated them. “Steady on there, chaps, thats enough of that. Well, weve got our young uns back no worse for wear, an* I spose its you two weve got to thank. Spose youd better come back to the Abbey with us. Tom, Treerose, will you follow up the rear in case anybeast gets lost again? Tom, Treerose? But the two reclusive squirrels had vanished into the vast-nesses of Mossflower.

Supper that evening was served in Cavern Hole, a smaller, less-decorated venue than the Great Hall. Blind Simeon sat next to Mother Mellus. “So, Mellus, your two Dib-buns are back safe and sound, he said.

The badger nodded as she helped herself to blueberry tart and meadowcream. “Aye, a bowl of soup apiece, a sound scrubbing in the bath and sent off to bed straightaway, as an example to the others.

Simeon smiled as he poured her a beaker of maple cordial. “Little rascals. Dibbuns seem to live in a world of their own. I dont suppose they meant any real harm.

Saxtus peered over his spectacles across a summer salad. “I agree with Mellus: they must learn their lesson. Its lucky the two rats found them. What dyou make of those two?

Mellus stared hard at the pair who were bolting down everything in sight ravenously. “I dont like them or trust them. Cook and a carpenter indeedgot searat stamped all over their scurvy hides!

“Again I agree with you, my friend, said Saxtus as he broke a fresh oat farl to have with his salad, “but without them the little ones might have come to harm. They havent showed bad will to anybeast so far, and with that in mind we cannot refuse them the hospitality of Red-wall. They must be treated as harmless lost travelers.

Simeon smiled broadly at Melluss answer. “Harmless lost travelers, my left footpaw!

Blaggut dug his spoon into a bowl of mixed fruits with honey. “This is the life, eh, Capn? he said as he shoveled it down with gusto. “These is the fanciest vittles I ever et in me life. Pass me that fizzy strawbrry stuff.

Slipp was forging hastily through a wedge of yellow cheese studded with beechnuts, but he could not resist a sarcastic dig at the former boatswain of the Pearl Queen. “Fanciest vittles you ever et, eh? Didnt they ave stuff like this at Blaggut Mansions?

Blaggut grabbed two hot blackberry scones from a passing tray. “Blaggut Mansions, wheres that? Pity they aint got no seaweed grog. Yowch! He jumped sharply as Slipps claws nipped his stomach.