Brian Jacques - Redwall #09 - Salamandastron

Thrugann put aside a napkin she was dipping in rosewater. "Leave that t' me, Sister. I'll take a trip into Mossflower Woods right now an' gather some. Anythin' else you need while I'm in the woodlands, Brother?"

Hollyberry scratched his chin. "Hmm, nightshade berries light red ones if you can, the dark red berries are far too squashy. Perhaps you can take a look around for Dumble while you're there, Thrugann."

"That liddle snippet." The otterlady shook her head and chuckled. "I told you once nor a dozen times he's gone off with that brother of mine. Dumble an' Thrugg are close as

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peas in a pod, you take my word for it."

"Oh, I do hope you're right." Abbess Vale left off laying out clean sheets and sat down on the side of a truckle bed.

A small mole named Droony took a large sucking swig of cold mint tea and half sat up.

"Oh, she'm be roight, marm, never'ee fear. Oi see'd Dum-ble meself, just afore 'ee went off, an' 'ee said as ee'd fetch me back Oicetor Flowern t' make oi better, so 'im did, hurr."

Sister Nasturtium ground the pestle hard into the bow!. "Droony, you naughty liddle creature, why did you not tell us this before now?"

The small mole let his head fall back on to the pillow. "Oi'm surry, Sister Aspersium, oi wurr sick as an owd frog."

Nasturtium hurried over and drew the blankets gently up to his chin. She wiped the furry little brow with a napkin. "Yes of course you were, Droony. I didn't mean to be sharp with you. Forgive me."

She sat down on the edge of the bed and mopped her own brow. "Whew! Is it hot in here, or is it just me?"

Faith Spinney felt her forehead. "Are you all right, m'dear? My, you do look frazzled."

Nasturtium stood up, swaying a little. "Silly me, complaining of the heat. Now all of a sudden I feel quite cold!"

Abbess Vale placed a paw about her shoulders. "Good job I've just made up this fresh bed, Sister. Time you had a rest you're a patient from now on."

Droony waved a limp paw at Nasturtium. "Plenty o' ro-seywater an' medsin furr 'ee, Sister. Naow you'm lie abed an1 go t' sleep. Do 'ee gudd!"

"Thank you, Doctor Droony." Hollyberry smiled as he mopped the little mole's brow. "Now how about taking a bit of your own advice and trying to get some sleep?' *

The Abbess and Faith Spinney folded a sheet together, worry and concern showing through the weariness on their faces.

"Oh, Faith, do you think Thrugg will get the Flowers of lector?"

"There there. Vale. I'm sure he will. Mr. Thrugg is a good otter. I 'ope he's takin' good care of Baby Dumble."

Thrugg and Baby Dumble were in fine form, composing songs as they marched northward on the old path.

"O give me a road to walk along,

An' a bite of food or two, I'll tramp an' eat the livelong day, My liddle friend, with you."

~ Dumble rummaged in the haversack and found a vegetable pastie. Passing it down to Thrugg, the infant dormouse threw $. back his head and sang uproariously loudly:

t

f "O, I'll sit on top'a Mista Thugg f An' give 'm food to scoff, 'V. 'Cos he's my great big matey an'

'E won't let me fall off!" .' 4; Thrugg munched the pastie as he thought of his next verse.

]*. "O, Dumble is a scallywag, v Fat as a liddle frog.

'&' p

He's eaten so much vittles, He's 'eavier than a hog!"

Dumble selected an apple and began polishing it on Thrugg's bead. As he did he chanced to look back down the road. ,Dumble's eyes widened, then he turned them ahead again, this time singing in a low urgent voice:

"O Mista Thugg, don't turn around,

And don't you cause a fuss. There's four oF foxes wiv big sticks i" I fink they're followin' us!"

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Keeping his paws in front, Thrugg fitted a stone to his sling. "Let's see what these coves want then, matey."

He halted and stood in the center of the path as the four foxes approached. They were roving beggars who haunted the path, waiting for helpless travelers or any easy prey that came their way. Two of them carried rusty swords, the other two were armed with cudgels.

"Good summer day to ye, mates!'1 the brawny otter greeted them.

The foxes exchanged knowing smiles. One stepped forward. "Top o' the summer to ye, yer 'onner. What's in the 'avvysack?"

Thrugg grinned cheerfully at the raggedy fox. "Four unconscious foxes with their tails chopped off who tried stealin' our vittles. Why do you ask?"

"Hee hee, we've got a funny un 'ere mates!" one of the foxes sniggered.

Another fox drew his sword, testing the edge with his paw.

"Yeh, wonder if 'e's tough as Vs funny?"

Thrugg twirled his sling ominously. "Why don't you come an' find out, mudface?"

The first fox saw that the big otter was no easy proposition, so he adopted a whining tone. "Now be reasonable, friend. We're not lookin' fer trouble. You wouldn't begrudge four starvin' creatures a bite, would yer?"

Thrugg took a step toward him. "Begrudge a starvin' creature a bite? Not me, matey. You come 'ere an' I'll bite you anytime. Now listen, you lot: be off with you. Go an' scare some crows."

The fourth fox pulled out his rusty sword and began swinging it. "Yah, we're four to one. Gerrim, lads!"

Baby Dumble let out a terrified squeak. Suddenly Thrugg realized that he could not fight and look after the infant; escape was the only solution.

"Hold tight, Dumble. 'Ere we go!" Bulling through the foxes, Thrugg bowled them aside as he rushed off the path into the woods. Dodging and ducking, he skirted tree and bush with the outraged cries of his pursuers ringing behind him.

An idea began to form in Thrugg's head. He put on an extra burst of speed to gain a little time.

The foxes stumbled and bumped into each other as they hurried into the woodlands. They ran a short distance and halted. Thrugg was lost to sight.

"The coward, 'e's 'idin' somewheres!"

"Yeh, spread out an' search. We'll find 'im."

"Hee hee, roasted dormouseages since I tasted that. Ringworm, you go with Splidge. Me an' Blitch'H fan out the other way."

They had not been searching long when the one called Ringworm spotted their quarry. He gave a low secret whistle to the others. When they came he cautioned silence, pointing forward as he whispered, "Ssshh! There they are, mates 'idin' be'ind that there bush. See the liddle brat settin' on top of the 'avvysack?"

Sure enough, the haversack and the back of Baby Dumble were visible above the spread of a thick clump of willowherb.

"Now let's do this quiet like. Sneak up an' jump 'em!"

"Yeh, good idea. Clubs 'n' swords ready. Let's go!"

Within feet of the vegetation they threw caution to the winds and leapt at the clump of willowherb, stabbing and striking.

Whack! Bonk! Thwack! Thud!

Four foxes lay senseless on the ground, half in and half out of the clump of rosebay willowherb.

Seated atop the haversack, which was strapped to a low sycamore branch that dipped into the willowherb, Baby Dumble looked as if he were still perched on his friend's shoulders. The trick had worked perfectly! The infant dormouse shouted excitedly: "Mista Thugg! Did ya biff th' foxes, Mista Thugg!"

Thrugg stood over the prostrate foxes, twirling his heavy stone-loaded sling. "Aye, matey, I raised lumps like duck eggs on the villains!"

The big otter disarmed the foxes, throwing their weapons off into the surrounding shrubbery. Breaking off a whippy

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willow switch, he revived them with a few smarting cuts. "Come on, hearties. Snooze time's over. Up on yer paws!"

Each contributing a shoulder, the four foxes were made to bear the haversack with Dumble sitting on it between them. Thrugg walked behind as they trekked along the north path, making sure they did not flag or lag with his willow switch. By nightfall the foxes were sore, hungry, weary and in tears. Thrugg had driven them a fair distance, even at double speed through a ford where pike lurked.