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

The searat Captain saw Mellus watching them, so he pasted a smile on his face as he muttered threateningly, “Lissen, onionbonce, one more mention of seaweed grog an Ill rip yer nose off, see? Ifn they ears you blatherin on about seaweed grog, theyll know fer sure were sea-rats!

But Blaggut was enjoying himself. He bit deep into a plumcake, spraying crumbs across the table as he addressed Mellus, “Ahoy there, stripedog, wheres me two liddle mateys? You shoulda invited them to the party!

The old badger glared dangerously at him. “Theyre fast asleep in bed. And my name is not stripedog; its Mellus. Is that clear?

Blissfully unaware of the wrath he had nearly brought down on his own head, the searat answered, “Clear as a fat merchantship. Pleased tmeet yer, Mellers. My names Blaggut, but the Capn ere calls me fatead an lazypaws an baggybum an suchlike names. Hoho, es a one fer the names is the Capn! He was jolted by repeated kicks from Slipp beneath the table.

“Will you stow all that Capn, Capn! Yer an addle-nosed, bottlebrained, butterbellied barnacle!

Blaggut winced until the kicking stopped. “Aye aye, Capn! Ooh look, they got trifle, Capn!

The bad manners of the two searats were tolerated with great patience by most of the Redwallers, though Mellus and Sister Sage were forced to stifle stern comments when Abbot Saxtus looked reprovingly over his spectacle tops at them. Slipp and Blaggut continued grabbing and gorging, with scant regard to the other diners. After the meal most of the Abbey creatures took themselves off to the dormitories with sighs of relief. Brother Mallen was heard to murmur as he and Mellus helped to clear tables, “Huh, I suppose well have the pleasure of those two at breakfast tomorrow morning. If I had my way, Id sit them both outside the gate to share a trough!

The old badger nodded in agreement as she folded a cloth. “Theres no excuse for bad manners. I wish that Id had charge of those two rats when they were Dibbuns; Id have made them sit up straight and behave, indeed I would!

Moonlight beamed through the guest-room window, bathing the walls in a soft radiance. Warm summer night cast its drowsy spell over the Abbey, not a breeze stirred the leaves of the orchard, and peace lay over all. Slipp lay staring at the ceiling, listening to the silence and formulating plans in his mind. He was still fully dressed and in possession of a carving knife he had stolen from the table. In the next bed, Blaggut snuffled noisily, then turning onto his back he began to snore uproariously. Slipp flung a pillow which caught Blaggut in the face, enveloping his head. The former boatswain of Pearl Queen came awake, thrashing about as he was tangled by bedlinen.

“Whuhhh mainsails fallen, up the riggin, mates!

Rising hastily, Slipp tweaked his companions ear. “Stow that noise, ygreat oaf, youll wake everybeast!

Blaggut sat up scratching his head. “Wots up, Capn? You woke me out o the middle of a good oP sleep there.

Slipp looked contemptuously at his boatswains comical figure. “Get yerself out o that daft nightgown. Ylook like a jollyboat with a floppy sail. Do it quietly an keep yer voice down. Now listen tme, Ive got plans.

For the short time he had been acquainted with it, Blaggut liked his little truckle bed very much. As he dressed he sat on the edge of it, bouncing happily. Slipp, fast running out of patience, aimed a kick at Blaggut, hissing,

“Will you keep still, bucketbelly. Im talkin tyou!

Blaggut pulled a face and continued bouncing. “I kin ear you, Capn. Hoho, this is the life; bettern some ole ammock or deckplank this bed is. I never ad me own liddle bed. If were goin to steal things, Im gonna pinch this an take it wid me when we go ... His voice trailed off as Slipp drew the carving knife menacingly.

“Lets git somethin straight: I didnt pick you tcome with me, but yore ere whether I like it or not. Im still Capn, though, an if yore not still an quiet rightaway Ill see to it that yore silenced fer good!

Miserably Blaggut stopped bouncing and listened to his Captains scheme.

“All this fancy vittles, nice rooms, an whatnot, stands to reason a place o this size must ave a great store of treasure idden away somewheres. Right?

Blaggut nodded dumbly as Slipp continued. “So we looks fer it by night an keeps our noses clean durin the day. Come on, foller me.

“Where are we goin, Capn?

“Where dyou think, clothead, pickin daisies? Were start!n our treasure search. Now come on, an stop callin me Capn!

“Righto, Capn, but whatll I call yer?

“Call me Slipp, thats me name.

“Righto, Caper, Slipp. Sounds funny, me callin you Slipp. Nice name, though, Slipp. I likes it. Righto, lets go, Slippy!

The carving knife pricked Blaggut* s nose as the irate Captain snarled at him, “Ill Slippy yerIll slip this blade between yer ribs if yer calls me that once more, understand?*

The The searats found a candle and lit it from a walltorch in Great Hall. They crept about searching the alcoves and crannies. “Whatre we searchin for, Capn? Blaggut whispered as Slipp lifted the edge of the great tapestry.

The Captain rapped lightly on the wall. “Some idden door or secret panel. Thats where Id stow me loot ifn I owned a place like this.

Blaggut held the candle up to the tapestry, illuminating the figure of Martin the Warrior. “Lookit this feller, Capn. I wouldnt like to cross swords with that mouse, looks a right tough un!

“Its only a picture, stupid. Old that light down ere.

They continued searching Great Hall without success. From there the two searats progressed to Cavern Hole and, again, they found nothing. Blaggut smelled food.

“No treasure ere, Capn. Lets try that place where the nice smells are comin from.

“What, you mean the kitchens? Who ides treasure in kitchens?

Blaggut shrugged. “I dunno, who does?

Slipp stared strangely at him in the candlelight. “May *ap you got somethin there. A good place to ide loot would be a place nobeastd think of looking fer it. Come on!

The kitchens were in darkness save for a dim, red glow from the ovens, and the candle cast a dancing light laced with flickering shadows. Nervously Blaggut grabbed a warm loaf from a baking tray and began munching on it.

“Blisterin barnacles! Slipp cursed softly as he scorched his paw on an oven door. He plunged the limb into what he imagined was a jar of water, only to find it was warm honey. As was customary with the searat Captain, he began blaming his boatswain. “Now see wot youve made me do. Gimme that candle! Snatching at the candle he knocked it from Blagguts paw, and the light went out. Slipp was searching the floor with sticky paws when his companion began hugging him tightly.

“Were bein watched, Capn. Look!

In the red ovens glow a black-caped figure swept silently by them. Both rats gave a gasp of horror. The mysterious shape paused a moment in the doorway; it appeared to be looking in their direction. Slipp and Blag-gut crouched paralyzed by nameless terror, then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the black-caped form was gone!

Blaggut leaped up with a strangled yelp, knocking the honey jar from its perchit smashed on the floorstones. Slipp was already up and pushing the boatswain to one side. He dashed off, tripped, and crashed into a rack of pots and pans which clattered noisily to the floor. Both rats fled the kitchens, hearts pounding madly as they tore through Cavern Hole, across Great Hall, and up the stairs. They reached the guest bedroom not a second too soon. Sounds of Redwallers coming out of the dormitories to investigate the noises echoed along the corridors. Slipp closed the door as quietly as his shaking limbs would allow him to.

“Quick, get inter yer bed an snore! he croaked.