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

“You was right, mate. You aint been right many times in yer life, but you was this time. We got the treasure! Throwing open the box, he turned the contents out upon the ground. They both stood speechless a moment, looking. It was typical Dibbuns treasure: a pawful of moldy acorns, some fragments of colored glass, faded ribbons, two hawk feathers, and a spinning top made from stone. Just the sort of things a Dibbun would consider precious.

Blaggut scratched his head with a soil-grimed paw. “Boggle me braces, Capn. That aint no treasure; tis only liddle beasts playthings!

Slipp picked up the box and hurled it at the wall, smashing it to pieces in his rage. “Rubbish an pups trinkets! Secret idden treasure, eh? Ill secret idden treasure those two liddle scum when I get me claws on em!

Walking slightly ahead of Mellus and Simeon, the two Dibbuns materialized out of the night. Mousebabe pointed accusingly at Slipp, his voice shrill with anger. “Dirty ole searat, you breaked our treasure box t bits!

Slipp raised the long-bladed kitchen knife. “Yew snoutfaced liddle spawn, Ill carve ye to slices!

“No, Capn, dont arm the liddle uns! shouted Blag-gut, as he grabbed hold of Slipp.

The boatswain reeled back in agony as Slipp slashed the paw holding him from getting at the mousebabe. Slipp rushed at the Dibbun brandishing the knife and screaming, “Ill bury ye in yer own treasure ole!

He took a leap and was actually in midair when Mellus came bowling through like a furred thunderball. The two creatures collided with a roar and a scream, hitting the ground heavily. Simeon hurried forward, feeling the air about him as he called to the Dibbuns, “Mousebabe, Furrtil, stay out of the way, come to me!

Blaggut stood by helpless, his face a frozen mask of horror as Slipp rose from the ground. The great badger lay still, both paws clutching the knife handle as if trying to pull it free from her heart.

The screams of Mousebabe and Funtil cut the night like shards of broken glass. Simeons sightless eyes flickered this way and that as he pleaded, “What is it, Mellus? Are you all right?

Blaggut fell on all fours beside the stricken form. “Capn, youve slain the ole badger lady!

The searat Captain stood trembling. “The ole fool did it erself, he snarled, “jumpin on me like that! Got wot she deserved, orderin me round all the time!

Tears rolled down Blagguts face as he rocked back and forth. “You killed er, Capn! Oh, whatll we do now, Capn?

The Dibbuns were still screaming and clinging to Simeon. A brutal sneer lit Slipps face as he moved into action. Grabbing the badger chalice, which the little ones had dropped in their fright, he kicked Blaggut upright. “Well at least we aint leavin ere empty pawed. Come on, idiot, yore in this with me. Move yerself or stay ere an get torn t bits by the Redwallers. Im savin me own skin!

He slunk off, letting himself out by the small east wall-gate. Blaggut followed him into Mossflower, whimpering, “O, wotve we done, Capn? That was an appy place; I would ave lived there an been a searat no more. Now we got to run; we cant go back to the hAbbey, ever ... Slipp struck the weeping boatswain a heavy blow in his face. “Shut yer slobberin an git movin; theyll be comin after us soon, an I aint waitin for yew! Blaggut nodded dumbly and followed his Captain into the nighttime depths of the vast woodlands.

Father Abbot Saxtus sat on the ground, next to Melluss body, numb with shock. Oak Tom and Tarquin kept the Redwallers back, while Brother Mallen and Sister Sage took the Dibbuns and the very old back to the Abbey dormitories.

Tarquin L. Woodsorrel sniffed back his tears and kept a stiff upper lip. “Tom, as soon as its clear here Ill get my lance and you get your bow. Well track the murderers by night and have them slain by dawn!

The big squirrel grabbed Tarquins paw tightly. “No! First we must see Mother Mellus at rest; its the right thing to do. Those two searats will be lost by now; they dont know their way around Mossflower. I do! When Im ready, Ill track them down. No need for you to go; I travel best alone. Ill leave their carcasses for the ant folk to pick over!

30

Several hedgehogs stood atop a dune; shielding their eyes against the noonday sun, they squinted at the curious procession coming their way. A sturdy female relaxed her grip on a warclub and turned to her mate saying, * “They be not rats, Gawjun.

The male hedgehog, a huge, primitive-looking fellow, shook his warclub in a businesslike manner. “Mayhaps they be not rats, Deekeye, but who be a knowin? Strangebeasts could be troublesome. One of they bes a hog; Gawjun will speak unto him. You there, hog! Stand forward an cease thy drums a bangin!

Bowly Pintips halted his recruiting party and silenced the four leverets who were enthusiastically battering away at four small mole drums. He signaled Furpp, who was carrying a broom as a banner, to follow him. Both went forward, and Bowly called up to the hedgehog leader.

“My name dont be hog; I be Bowly Pintips the Warrior, an I would parley with you!

Gawjun and Deekeye met with Bowly and Furpp at a spot halfway between their respective bands. Gawjun glared suspiciously at Bowly, and the young warrior stared back nonchalantly, tossing his hardened oatcakes from paw to paw.

Gawjun nodded approvingly at the youngsters boldness. “Be you with Foxwolf? he asked.

“Nay, I be with Gael Squirrelking against Foxwolf. There be others like me. Our banner is a broomwe will sweep Nagru and his horde out of Southsward.

“Big words for a little warrior. What be you doin in these parts, Bowly Pintips?

“Recruitin an army to do battle with the Foxwolf. Deekeye began swinging her warclub. Bowly stood motionless as it whirled by his snout, trying hard not to show fear. The female hedgehog let out an unearthly roar:

“Spike n striiiike!

The warclub struck the ground a hairbreadth from Bowlys footpaw. Deekeye grinned ferociously. “Recruit-in army to do battle with Foxwolf, eh! Not before time, say I. What say you, Gawjun?

The big male bent his head, pressing his brow against that of Bowly until their spikes meshed in an antiquated hedgehog greeting. With his eyes practically touching Bowlys he gave a fleeting smile. “The tribe of Gawjun an Deekeye be with thee, Bowly!

Untangling his spikes with great dignity, Bowly tossed an oatcake high, caught it flat on his footpaw and flicked it up into his grasp. “Gather thy tribe an follow this mole to his dwellin; tis our meeting place. Come armed!

Bowly and his recruiting troop marched off, drums beating. The four leverets were all admiration for their companion.

“I say, well done, old lad!

“Spoke their lingo, too. Good show!

“Tough lookin crew, but you outtoughed em well!

“Yes, very basic beasts, hedgehogs, dont ythink?

Bowly glared at young Foghill. “Aye, but not as chat-tery as hares! Now, wheres those mice you told me about, Runtwold?

“Oh them. Bout two hours march west of here, old lad.

“Well, get those drums to bangin good n loud; were goin to recruit em. An Im not ole lad, Im Bowly Pintips, right!

Mariel had her paws full in the gatehouse. It was a constant strain trying to hold back Muta and Rab from breaking out to attack the rats on the stairway; both the badger and the otter were growing more impatient by the hour. They did not seem to realize that it was vital the gatehouse be held. Snorting their impatience they lumbered around, banging the door hard with their paws.

Then the mousemaid had an idea. She had been peeking out of the window, watching the arrows and sling-stones of her friends on the valley floor as diey shot upward to the plateau at the horde in the open drawbridge space. A sideways glance and she could see the horde firing back in retaliation. Trie Foxwolf and Silvamord could be heard as they yelled commands at their troops: