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

Blaggut needed no second bidding. He hurled himself into bed, swept the sheets over his head, and began snoring. Slipp followed suit. A moment later he heard the door open carefully and the voice of Abbot Saxtus.

“Well, whatever it was, it wasnt these two; theyre snoring like a pair of stuffed hogs.

His voice was followed by that of Brother Fingle.

“Aye, Father Abbot, hogs at the table and hogs in bed. Wed best go and check on the Dibbuns.

The door closed, and their pawsteps receded down the passage, Slipp sat up in bed, about to make some indignant comment on being called a hog when he remembered something odd. “Blaggut, he said, “when you jumped in bed just then, was yore bedlinen all upset, the way you left it?

“Upset? No, Capn, it was all tidy an shipshape. Slipp ran a trembling paw across the neat counterpane. While he and Blaggut had been downstairs, somebeast, or something, had visited their room and remade the beds!

22

Glokkpod took off from the valley floor again, flapping wearily upward into the rain-dashed night. Iris watched him go, shaking her head doubtfully.

“Thats the fourth try now. The rope is heavy, maybe too heavy. Each time the Butcher Bird gets more tired.1

Troutlad peered into the mist, watching for any sign of hordebeasts. “The birds their only hope up there; if he cant get the rope to em, theyre deadbeasts.

Mariel leaned out over the ruined attic beams. She watched the shrikes painful efforts, thumping her paws on the beams. “Come on! Oh, come on, Glokkpod, you can do it!

The Butcher Bird was almost halfway up to the tower top when he seemed to run short of energy. The wings flapped awkwardly, he hovered and dropped slightly, hampered by three ropes knotted into one coiled about his neck. Struggling gallantly the shrike sought to pick up his wing action.

Dandin bit his Up anxiously. “The ropes are too heavy, theyre pulling him down! he said.

Gael Squirrelking had given up hope. “Hes never going to do it. Its too high.

Heaving his ponderous stomach across a roofbeam, Me I drum the Magnificent watched Glokkpod. “Ive just had an idea, super wheeze really. You chaps keep silent now, no matter what I say.

Raising his voice, the old hare began insulting the shrike. “Call yself a bird? Youre a disgrace tthe species, sah! Ive seen worms do better at fly in than you! Hah! Butcher Bird, Ill bet yfather was a dead duck an your mother was a half-shot cuckoo! Go on, give it up, youll never make it, you useless lump of pillow stuffin, you great blatherin, bobblewinged, bandy-beaked blow-bag!

“Rakachakk! I kill yirr, Mildrin!

Pure murder shone from the eyes of the red-backed shrike as he began powering his wings upward. Meldrum twitched his rain-soaked mustachio cheekily and carried on. “Kill me? You must be jestin, featherface. You couldnt damage cream on top of a hot scone, let alone kill me. If I had wings Id fly circles round you, you eggwalloper!

“Kiiinrr! I do mirdir on yirr, you fat hirr! Regardless of rain, tired wings, and the weight of the rope, the Butcher Bird punished its body into mad upward flight, screaming challenges all the way.

“Mildrin, yirr a dead hirr! Kiiiirrrakachak!

In a wet flurry of wings Glokkpod landed among them.

Mariel, Dandin, and Gael had to throw themselves between Glokkpod and Meldrumthe Butcher Bird was intent on killing the hare. Meldrum kept his distance, trying to pacify the shrike.

“Calm down, old lad. I was only chivvyin you on a bit so youd get the rope up here. Didnt really mean it, wot?

But Glokkpod would not be satisfied. He strained toward Meldrum, stabbing with his fearsome beak. “Yirr deadnow, Mildrin longirzz, I killyirr!

Mariel did the only thing she could do under the circumstances. Pulling the rope from the shrikes neck, she shoved hard, overbalancing Glokkpod so that he fell from the tower. The Butcher Bird spread his wings and, soaring in an upward arc, he circled the towertop, screeching, “Yirr cowwid, longirzz, cowwid! Nofight, yirr all mouth!

Mariel swung the coiled rope, warning Glokkpod off. “Dont be a silly bird. Cant you see Meldrum was only doing it so you could fly up here? If he hadnt called you those names, youd never have made it!

But there was no reasoning with the maddened bird. “Kiiiirrr! Nobeast live after sultin thissbird! Glokkpod go now, I finished with yizz. Lissin, longirzz, we ever meet again, I kill yirr, friens not save yirr. Kiiirrrraka-chakiiiiirnr!

Glokkpod winged off into the rain-splashed darkness and was gone from sight.

Meldrum uncoiled the rope. “Strange feller, no sense of humor at all. Ah well, whos for a spot of jolly old escapin, wot?

The rope had to be doubled so it could be freed to get them down from the west-wall battlements. Dandin draped it over the stoutest of the roof support beams, checking to see both ends were level. Gael Squirrelking surprised them all by grasping the twin sides of the rope and lowering himself away. “Let me go first, weak as I am. If a squirrel cant do it, nobeast can!

Bluebane knocked timidly on the Foxwolfs bedchamber door. There was no answer, so he knocked louder, starting slightly as Nagru shouted, “Stop that knocking and get in here!

Bluebane scurried in and crouched by the mound of cushions that formed his masters resting place. Nagrus head appeared over the top of them, close to Bluebanes. “So, what is it this time, tittletattle?

“Lord, I stayed by the tower door listening carefully. The Butcher Bird brought them a rope. They plan on swinging across to the west-wing edge, where they can land on the battlements. From there theyll be able to get down to the moat. Gael is already on the rope. The Butcher Bird quarreled with the hare, and he has flown off. I dont think he will come back, Sire.

Nagru slid from the mound of cushions. “Tell the Lady Silvamord I wish to speak with her.

Gael had not climbed since his younger days. He was older and slower now, but his natural squirrel skills aided him in clambering down. Soon he was hanging from both ends of the doubled rope. He began swinging himself back and forth. To and fro he urged his body on the rope ends, each arc of his swing getting wider, until he saw the west wall through the mist and rain, its battlemented top getting closer with each fresh swing.

Down below, Iris was banking on the success of the plan. The escapers would need good backup and covering fire.

“Troutlad, take half the crew, get to the top of the plateau steps, and watch for the drawbridge being lowered. If any try to come out, stop them. Greenbeck, stay here and see they get down safe. Give any help you can. Ill go to the steps with Troutlad, thats where the main action should come if Nagru finds out theyre trying to escape.

Nagru told Silvamord of the escape, and she affected an air of disdain. “So, what do you want me to do? Youre the warlord.

The Foxwolfs tone was reasonable. “I thought we might work together for a change, stop fighting each other and fight the enemy.

The vixen too kept a level tone, though her quick mind was watching for double dealing. “Yes, that sounds sensible. As I said, what do you want me to do?

“I thought you might want to take a patrol down to the valley floor and catch them as they climb down the plateau.

Silvamords reply was definitely cool. “Thats more your style. I have a better idea. Why dont we take a good squad up to the west battlements and grab them one by one as they swing in?

“Good idea! the Foxwolf said, smiling thinly. “Though why you dont want to go down to the valley floor puzzles me. Have you had trouble out there already?

The vixen shot a sly glance at Bluebane, then turned to Nagru. “You should know, your eyes and ears are everywhere, Foxwolf.