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

“And a Pearl Queen Pudden, though you chaps best hurry or itll start stick!n to the stove!

The rudder workers joined the mast riggers, and with the added help of willing paws they had the foremast rigged as the sun dipped below the western horizon and night set in.

The Pearl Queen Pudden was voted a huge success by all the crew, who went back licking their spoons for second helpings. Rosie undid her apron with a flourish, winking at Foremole. “Yknow, it wouldnt hurt old Finnbarr to appoint me permanent cook aboard this vessel, jolly wise choice!

Foremole heaped two bowls with pudding for himself and Rosie. “lie must amember, miz Rose, that cookers be potwashers too, hurr.

Rosie threw the apron to a nearby shrew. “Hmph! Ive just resigned!

Sheltered by the high rocks, the cove was snug from wind and weather. With no anxiety and the prospect of sailing on the morrow, Pearl Queens crew lay about on the hatch covers, eating, drinking, and singing. Rosie was prevailed upon to perform her laughing song. With Finnbarr twiddling the keys of his ottercordion, she braced herself and launched into it.

The crew found themselves sorry they had asked her to start. Rosie stood demurely, paws clasped, eyelids aflutter, and began singing in a piercing soprano voice, outrageously twisting and elongating the words:

“There is nought on this earth to com-pa-a-a-a-are, With a comely young fee-hee-male ha-a-a-a-a-are, He-er beauty is winsome to see-e-ee-e-e-ee-ee, She will smile and shell larff pri-ti-lee-eeeeeeee! Whoohahahahooh haha, whoohahahahooh ha ha ha.

She smiled coyly at her stunned audience. “Tarquin wrote this for me, yknowtheres another six verses. Shall I sing them for you, chaps?

There followed a joint unplugging of paws from ears as the entire crew yelled in a single voice, “No thank you!

The Hon Rosie sniffed airily as she launched herself at a bowl of pudding. “Rotten lot. Somebeasts have no appreciation at all of lifes finer things, wot?

However, her indignation soon vanished as she clapped paws with the rest, in time to Josephs rendition of an old favorite. Finnbarr twiddled an accompaniment as the Bell-makers strong baritone voice echoed around the cove.

“O Willyum mole to his father said,

Why dont I hear daybreak?

And why cant I hear the nightfall?

No noise does either make.

O riddle me diddle me riddle me ree,

Silly old father tell to me,

Why doesnt a fish nest in a tree,

Or a bird fly under the sea?

O wise little son, said his father,

You never hear daybreak,

And youre never awake to hear nightfall,

Youre asleep for goodness sake!

So riddle you diddle you fiddle you do,

Your silly old father loves you true,

If youre good Ill tell you something more,

A beech is a tree and a beach is a shore,

And if sky is blue and wind blew too,

Your silly old father is wiser than you,

So weigh my words as you go on your way.

Tomorrows today when the night falls away! “

Amid the applause that followed Finnbarr slipped back into the darkness, fading away like a shadow. Log-a-Log followed him, rapier at the ready. Rufe noticed them going and said in a loud voice to Patch, “Where are those two going, mate?

“Keep yer voice down, Rufey, an act normal like, the Guosim shrew cautioned him.

There followed a squeal and a scuffle. Joseph reached for a boarding pike as he whispered, “Stay calm, every-beast, keep your weapons close to paw and wait until Finnbarr or Log-a-Log calls us. Theres been something or someone out there since dusk!

“Owow, lemme go! Get ypaws off me, searat!

Durry was startled by the shrill voice. He turned to see Finnbarr hauling a struggling young squirrel over the rail. “Be still, yer liddle rogue, or Ill tan yer ide. Ouch! E bit me!

Log-a-Log materialized out of the gloom, tugging a small, sobbing mousemaid behind him. “Heres another one; I reckon theres more out there!

The mousemaid broke free; throwing herself down in front of Joseph, she pleaded brokenly, “Oh, please dont slay us, sir. Please!

The young squirrel attempted to bite Finnbarr Galedeep again; he struggled and kicked viciously, shouting, “Save your breath Wincey. Theyre pirates, you wont get mercy from this scummy lot!

Rosie Woodsorrel confronted him. “Now see here, young thingummybob, mind your manners. Do we look like pirates?

Squirming hard to get free of the sea otters iron grip, the young squirrel bared his teeth. “If youre not pirates, then tell this big searat to let go of me! he snarled.

Joseph filled two platters with Pearl Queen Pudden, then, taking the mousemaids paw gently, he signaled Finnbarr to release the young squirrel. “Dont be frightened of Finnbarr, he said to them. “Hes just a great big old sea otter. Whats your name, young un?

“My names Benjy an Im not afraid of you or any-beast!

“Of course youre not. Come and have something to eat, Benjy. Joseph placed the plates of pudding in front of Benjy and Wincey, speaking softly to allay their fears. “Rosie, is there any raspberry cordial in the galley? Bring our guests a beaker each. Come on, young uns, eat up. You look as if a plate of pudding apiece would cheer you up. Oh come on now, were not going to hurt you.

They ate hungrily, grunting and snuffling in their haste to get the pudding down. Rosie brought their cordial.

“My word, has there been a seven-season famine around here? She laughed.

With his whiskers coated with fruit and pastry, Benjy shot her a quick glance. “You dont look like no searat, he said.

“I should hope not, and dont speak with ymouth full, Rosie said as she refilled the two plates. “Were honest voyagers from Redwall Abbey, and we dont go about slayin and whatnot. Just look at you two! A good bath, some more food, an clean clothes is what yneed.

Joseph took the little mousemaid on his lap. “I had a little one like you, though shes quite big now. Tell me, Wincey, how did you come to this place?

She took a great sucking gulp of raspberry cordial and shrugged. “Always been here, I think.

The squirrel called Benjy had moved closer until he was leaning against Joseph. “Aye, always, me an Wincey an Figgs.

“Figgs, whos that? said the Bellmaker, ruffling Ben-jys ears fondly.

Benjy smiled secretly as he licked his pudding plate. “Figgs is Figgs. Shes our sister. Want me to call her?

Before Joseph could reply, Benjy was crying out, “Figgs, Figgs, come out wherever yare! Hurry up. Theyve got nice pudden an drinks an* theyre not sea-rats!

A tiny ottermaid popped her head shyly over the rail. “Puddens nice, Figgs wants some! she squeaked.

Shaking with laughter, Foremole lifted her over the rail. “Ee liddle raggymuffin choild, youm can ave pudden til ee bursters. Youm a needen et t be growen gurt!

Figgs was so tiny that she had to pick up the wooden spoon in both paws, but there was nothing tiny about her appetite.

Finnbarr shook his head in wonderment at her. “She could go to sea in a clamshell with a sail! Ahoy there, Figgs matey, is that the full crew of ye, or is there any more giants out there idin silentlike?

Figgs paused a moment as if thinking hard. “No, only our father. Benjy knows where our father is.

The young squirrel took Joseph, Finnbarr, and Rosie on a short walk into the hinterland of the island. Holding torches, they followed him through thick undergrowth to a tattered sailcloth rigged askew of a fallen aspen. Benjy stopped short of it, pointing as if ashamed to go near. “Our fathers in there, he said.

Finnbarr strode forward and went into the tent. He came out swiftly, shaking his head at Rosie and Joseph. “You dont want ter go in there; faint a nice sight! Tears were rolling silently down Benjys face as the sea otter placed a tattooed paw about his shoulders. “Hush now, matey, yore a big feller now, dont weep. The young squirrel snuffled, wiping tear-stained eyes on his tail. For one so fierce and scarred, the sea otter spoke surprisingly softly.