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

“Those scones will taste twice as good as they smell, said Saxtus, unfolding his table napkin.

The old badger smiled graciously. “How gallant. Thank you, Father Abbot!

“How is it that Im naught but a flattering fraud and Saxtus gets thanked for his gallantry? grumbled the Bellmaker, as he attacked a salad busily.

Mellus ladled fragrant dark gravy over a carrot and scallion pastie and placed it in front of Joseph. “Compliments are like clouds, my friend: very pretty, but if we had to dine on them wed starve. Eat and be thankful.

Looking rather guilty, Saxtus stayed the Bellmakers paw. “Oops. Forgot to say grace. Scuse me, please!

He rang a small bell, specially made for the table by Joseph. All chatter ceased; silence fell over Great Hall. The Father Abbot arose, solemn faced. He was about to speak when the newly washed orchard guard clattered in through the doorway. With a frown and a paw to her lips, Mellus beckoned them silently to her. They tip-pawed across, Saxtus holding his silence as the badger whispered, “Late for dinner, my little Dibbuns?

A mousebabe piped up indignantly. “Nona our fault; we was sended for a wash after us worked ard inna orchard all day long!

The Dibbuns nodded in unison, backing up their spokesmouse. Melluss huge paws scooped two of them onto her lap. “Now sit quietly the rest of you; not a word until Father Abbot has said grace.

She nodded to Saxtus, who coughed importantly and began:

“Fate and seasons smile on all,

From sunrise to the dark nightfall,

This bounty from both earth and tree,

Was made to share, twixt you and me.

To Mother Nature let us say,

Our thanks, for life and health this day.

There was a mighty Amen. The little bell sounded, and dinner commenced in earnest.

It was a joyous meal for honest creatures. Dishes were passed to be shared, both sweet and savory. October ale and strawberry cordial, tarts, pies, flans, and puddings, served out and replaced by fresh delights from Redwalls kitchens. Turnovers, trifles, breads, fondants, salads, pasties, and cheeses alternated with beakers of greensap milk, mint tea, rosehip cup and elderberry wine. Rufe Brush, the Abbey Bellringer, shared a heavy fruitcake with his friend Durry Quill, hedgehog Cellarkeeper and nephew of the late good old Gabe Quill, from whom he had inherited his duties.

The Abbot watched Joseph leaning back in his chair. “What is it, Bellmaker? he said. “Not hungry?

“Saxtus, when will my dreams be revealed?

“Eat first; talk later. It will happen in good time. Is that a hot scone I see lying on your plate?

Joseph turned too late; the scone was claimed by the mousebabe sitting on Melluss lap. Joseph blinked. “You little scallywag! I suppose youd like to guard the kitchen baking ovens tomorrow as a change from the strawberry patch.

The mousebabe shook his head and winked furtively. “No, but we guard the winowsill, where cakes an pies be, he said.

Mellus tickled his ribs until he giggled and squirmed. “Oh no you wont, bucko. My pies and cakes are quite safe cooling alone on the windowsills. Though I once recall a certain Abbot when he was a Dibbun, spent three days in sickbay after guarding those windowsills. The greedy little snipdo you remember him, Saxtus?

The Father Abbot of all Redwall applied himself to a plate of summercream pudding, pretending he had not heard.

The evening wore on until the Dibbuns began yawning, one or two coming perilously close to falling facedown upon their plates with drooping eyes. Saxtus stood and rang his little bell.

“Anybeast on dormitory duty, please take the Dibbuns up!

Wails of protest arose from the fretful babes. “Yaah, not fair, snot fair, us allus ave tgo tbed!

“I wish us big uns could go off to bed right now, said Oak Tom, pulling a long face of comic dismay. “We have to stay up and wash pots n pans V dishes clean for morning.

Tarquin L. Woodsorrel flapped his ears in agreement. “Indeed, scout, tis a rough old life bein a big un, wot? Praps the Dibbuns arent really sleepy; what say they stay up an help? Bet theyd make jolly good pot washers, eh?

There was a sudden clatter of chairs and benches as the panicked Dibbuns dashed for the stairs yelling, “Gu-night, Father Abbot, night night everybeast. We goin abed! They scampered up the stairs amid peals of laughter.

Flooding evening sunlight had now dimmed to a golden filter, illuminating the tapestry depicting Martin the Warnor which hung upon the wall of Great Hall. Saxtus felt himself arise unbidden from his Abbots chair. He went to stand behind the Bellmaker. A dreamy feeling he could not explain had cast its mantle over the Abbot; it was as if time and the earth were standing still. A great silence lay upon the big chamber: golden dust motes hung lazily on the still air, gleaming in the last faded yellow sunrays. Amid the tangible hush Red wallers sat immobile, each in their place, like figures captured in eternity upon some vast canvas. Across the peace that lay over all, Saxtus heard his own voice. It was low, yet the sound carried from floor to roofbeam, reaching every shadowed corner of Great Hall.

“My friends, I have something to say to you. Of late Joseph, our Bellmaker, has been thinking deeply about his daughter, Mariel, and her companion, Dandin. I know that all Redwallers remember both those mice with great fondness; I certainly do. Dandin and I were brought up together, like brothers, in tlus very Abbey. Scarcely a day passes when I will not see somewhere we played together, and then I think of him, off on adventures with Mariel the Warriormaid. Alas, there has been no news of them for more than four seasons now. Where are they? I think Joseph may provide us with some help. Last night he was visited in a dream by Martin the Warrior

To Joseph, the Abbots voice behind him sounded like a distant murmur. He had not heard a word that was said. Now that Saxtus had finished speaking, every eye was turned upon the Bellmaker. He sat upright, staring hard at the likeness of Martin upon the tapestry. Saxtus watched himJosephs lips were moving slowly as if he were holding a conversation with somebeast. The room became dark; Saxtus watched as dusk heralded nightfall. The suns final ray reflected through a high window, wreathing the form of Joseph in a fleeting nimbus of light. Saxtus recalled the lines of the rhyme: “At daylights last gleam youll remember.

Then the daylight was gone.

Candles and walltorches burned bright as Joseph stood and looked about him.

“Listen now, and I will speak as Martin the Warrior told me!

It was much cooler among the green hills of the scrubland. Mariel, Dandin, and Bowly took a leisurely lunch from the supplies they had commandeered from the two weasels. The travelers rested, half napping as they lay back on a mossy hillock, listening to the high trill of a skylark backed by the drone of bees and the dry chirrup of grasshoppers. Dandin was the first to hear other noises; shaking himself out of a semi-torpor, he cupped an ear to the light breeze.

“Listen. Can you hear it, Mariel? Sounds like some-beasts doing a bit of roaring and shouting somewhere.

Mariel prodded the sleeping Bowly firmly on his snout. “Stop snoring and do something useful; sit up and tell us what you can hearcome on, dozybones!

The young hedgehog sat up, snuffling and grumbling. “Call yselves friends? Huh, wont even let a young warrior ave is slumber. Youll stunt me growth wakin me like that. Bowly had very sharp hearing, and he assessed the situation in a trice.

“Sounds like some creatures tormentin a mole. See that big hill yonder, third one goin south to the right? I reckons its comin from ahind of there.

Moles were friendly. No one hesitated. Mariel readied her Gullwhacker, and Dandin drew his dagger. Bowly sighed aloud, picking up his two hard oatcakes as he followed them on their way to the big hill. “Time for trouble agin. Mercy me, somebeasts got no consideration at all. Coin gittin theirselves into distress jus when its warriors nappin time!