Brian Jacques - Redwall #07 - Mariel of Redwall

"Hoho, not so fast, laddie buck. Take us to your hide-out first. We want to put the old nosebag on in comfort, y'know."

Pakatugg led them into the woodland to a small gurgling stream. Lilacs, wildrose, shrubs and trees overhung the spot, turning it into a shady green grotto, and the rocky outcrop which edged the stream was covered

in soft moss. Gratefully they sat down. The old squirrel went to fetch them water.

"Real son of the land, old Pakatugg," Colonel Clary whispered to Storm. "No harm in the blighter as long as you feed him and obey his silly little rules. The chap's an absolute fanatic on secrecy, passwords, blindfolds, secret signsthe bally lot. We'll see if he can get you to Red wall."

Storm echoed the strange word. "Redwall, what's that?"

"Oh, it's a jolly placeyou'd love it, all the best mice live there. Hush, here comes Pakatugg."

The odd squirrel set a steaming kettle and five beakers out.

"Rosebay willow'erb tea. Put the kettle on when I saw you comin' a while back. Now, out wi' the grub, landotters."

Digging in their packs, the trio turned out the promised repast, together with some extra delicacies they had brought along. Storm could not recall when she had tasted a meal so delicious. The hares sipped gratefully at the fragrant rosebay willowherb tea, nibbling at this and that. Pakatugg, however, launched himself upon the food, as did the hungry Storm. They practically ended up fighting over candied apple rings. The old squirrel glared at her.

"Yer a tough 'un, mouselet. By my brush y'are."

"Whoohawhawhawhah!" Hon Rosie gurgled as she poured more tea. "I'll say she is. We caught her tryin' to battle with a full toad army, single pawed. Storm Gullwhacker's not short of grit, by a long chalk. By the by, Storm old sport, where d'you come from?"

Storm stuffed the apple ring into her mouth. "Mmmmfff, that's good! Where'm I from? Don't know really, don't know where I was bound either before I met you. Can't remember my name. Called myself Storm 'cos I was thrown ashore by the storm. Came from the sea, I s'pose, me and Gullwhacker here."

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Pakatugg chewed on an oatscone and stared hard at the young mouse. "Y'mean you ain't got no name, no home, you can't remember nothin'?"

Clary coughed politely, struck by a sudden idea. "Ahem! Sad, isn't it? That's why we brought her here. We thought you might be able to take her to Redwall. They'd probably find out who she is jolly soongood at riddles an' mysteries, those Abbey thingummies."

Pakatugg stood up, dusting his paws off. "Whohoa! Don't get ahead of yer tail there, landotter. You ain't landin' me with no mousegel as can't remember which season it be."

Storm jumped up indignantly. "Who said I want to be left anywhere with anyone? I've got some say in this, you know. Besides, who needs a squirrel that can't make up his mind whether he's a beast or a tree ..."

Hon Rosie pulled Storm down beside her. "Steady on, old gel. We know you're the bravest of the brave, and all that rot, but you're in a strange land now, among strange creatures; this is dangerous territory. We're only trying to get you back to your own bally kind. I mean, what better for one than to be with one's own creatures, eh?"

Pakatugg gathered up the kettle and beakers. "Huh, y'can dress it up whichway you likes, I'm not bein' saddled with no mindless mouse, by the great 'ornbeam I'm not!"

For the first time, Storm felt alone and unwanted. She walked off out of the squirrel's bower into the surrounding trees, swinging her rope.

"Me and Gullwhacker don't need anybeast. We're all right."

Brigadier Thyme eyed the squirrel coldly. "Now see what you've done, bucko."

Pakatugg pulled his tail over his head and chewed the end. "Oh, all right, then. But mark, you landotters ain't havin' things all yer own way, by cracky yer not!" Cupping his paws he called to Storm: "Come on back

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'ere, mouse, afore you ferget who we are. I'll take you to Redwall Abbey, but only on certain conditions ..."

Storm had turned and was walking back. "Conditions, what conditions?"

Pakatugg turned to the hares. "Grub! I need food fer the journey, nice grub like you landotters carry, so I'll take her if you give me all the food out o' those havvysacks."

Clary twitched his whiskers. "I say, steady on. What'll we eat?"

"Oh, we can live off the jolly old land until we make it back to Salamandastron," Hon Rosie interrupted. "We've done it before."

Brigadier Thyme emptied his knapsack out. "So be it. What else, squirrel?"

"Hah well, I don't want everybeast in the world knowin' where my gaff is, see my home's me own secret. So I want the mouse blindfolded when I take 'er to Redwall, so's she can't find the way back to this place."

Hon Rosie looked at Storm. "You can use your Gullwhacker as a blindfold."

Storm nodded agreement. She was becoming curious about this place called Redwall Abbey. Pakatugg made his final demand.

"Lastly, I don't stir paw until tomorrow dawn crackstake it or leave it."

Clary waited for Storm's nod of assent before he spoke.

"Righto, you old vagabond, but you take jolly good care of this mousegel, d'you hear. She's got all the makin's of a top-flight warrior."

Within a very short time Pakatugg had settled down on the mossy bank and was snoring loudly. Clary shrugged as he, too, lay down.

"Cool and snug here. If old Pakatugg says it's a secret place, then y'can bet a bee to an ant it is. We might as well have a rousin' good snooze; tomorrow we travel

to Salamandastron. As for you, young Storm, you're bound for a new life at jolly old Redwall Abbey. What d'you think of that?"

But no answer came from the young mouse. She was curled up asleep on the moss in the green stillness, with Gullwhacker her rope weapon clutched tight in both paws.

8

Dandin was composing songs for the Abbot's feast. He sat in the shade of a great spreading oak, trilling on his flute, running through old songs, tunes and ditties. Saxtus sat with him, as did several of the moles and Redwall creatures. They joined in choruses of well-known songs and called for Dandin to sing some more. The moles would not be satisfied until Dandin rendered their particular favorite.

"Sing us 'ee song 'bout zur Gonffen an' 'ee gurt cake, Dandin."

Dandin nodded and picked up his flute. It was one of his own special ballads, telling of how his ancestor Gonff, Prince of Mousethieves, stole a cake baked by Abbess Germaine, first Mother of Redwall Abbey. He trilled an introduction on Gonff's own flute before launching into song.

"It happened in the springing time,

When all the leaves were green,

And once again Abbess Germaine,

A-baking cakes had been.

She stirred them good and mixed them fine,

With honey, nuts and flour,

Then put them out to cool awhile,

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Until the teatime hour.

But then along came bold Sir Gonff,

His eyes a-twinkling bright.

A cake he'd set his heart upon,

For suppertime that night.

He took the greatest cake of all, from off the window

ledge

And hid it in a secret place, close by the forest edge. The Abbess came to check her cakes, about the mid-noontide And found the mousethief with a bow, and arrows

at his side.

'Why stand you there, O Gonff/ said she, 'With bow and arrows armed?' 'My good Abbess/ the thief replied, 'You must not

be alarmed. I saw an eagle steal your cake, he swooped then

flew away. So I stand guard upon your cakes lest he returns

today.' The Abbess chose another cake, which to Sir Gonff

she gave,

'Take this reward, young mouse/ she said, 'because you were so brave. And when upon each baking day, my lovely cakes

I make, I'll save a special one for you, for your kind action's