Brian Jacques - Redwall #07 - Mariel of Redwall

Armed with a searat cutlass and spear, the squirrel growled dangerously. "I'm stoppin' here, see. Don't like searatsdirty vermin beat me an' made sport o' me. Nobeast does that to Pakatugg. I'll teach 'em!"

Rosie flinched as a sword caught her high on the cheek. "Good for you, Paka, y'nasty old rogue, give 'em vinegar!"

Flinging their empty quivers and longbows into the faces of the rats, the long patrol brandished daggers and lances. Charging forward, they carried the battle straight into the ranks of the enemy, with Clary calling out aloud, "Nice day for it, wot!"

Thyme staggered forward. "Summer's my fav'rite season, old lad!"

Hon Rosie clapped Pakatugg on the back. "Let's give

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'em one last shout, for Salamandastron an' the jolly old Abbey."

"Eulaliaaaa! Redwaaaaaaall!"

Accompanied by an old squirrel, the long patrol threw themselves into the howling mob of searats.

oo

Not just Flagg, but every creature in Redwall Abbey stood out upon the north ramparts, scanning the path in the pale moonlight for signs of movement. Mellus and Flagg were armed with longbows; lanterns flickered all along the walltop in the hushed silence. Simeon the blind herbalist stood with the Abbot and the Dibbuns, their bedtime forgotten in the tense, waiting atmosphere. Simeon's voice was barely above a whisper, but it could be heard by many as he addressed the Abbot.

"What's happening out there, Bernard?" "Nothing, old friend. It's very quiet and still down there."

"Hurr, be they a-cummen yet, maister Simmen?" Simeon patted Grubb's velvety head. "Only if you're very good and stay quiet, little mole." "Oi be vurry soilint naow. Hussshhher!" "Whatever possessed them to go on such an insane venture?" Mellus murmured to Flagg. "Six of ours against all that rotten horde. And to think it was I who urged Colonel Clary to rescue the slaves in the first place."

Flagg shook his head. "No, marm, it weren't you. Clary had it in his mind to do the deed anyway. He left me a scroll tellin' all. I burned it in the kitchen stove as he wished me to. So don't blame yerself, marm. They were sworn to fight searats from birth; it was their destiny."

oo

Minutes stretched into hours as the Redwallers waited, straining their eyes along the north path, sometimes expectant at a sign of movement, only to have their

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hopes dashed by the realization that it was merely a shadow as clouds scudded across the moon, or the rustle of breeze-stirred foliage.

The Dibbuns had finally fallen asleep. Sister Sage covered them with blankets from the gatehouse as they lay huddled together in the northwest corner of the walltop.

Saxtus and Sister Serena carried a caldron of leek and celery broth from the kitchens, followed by Friar Alder and Cockleburr, laden with wheat farls.

Gabriel Quill stared toward the eastern horizon over the treetops of Mossflower. "Be dawn in two hour, I reckons."

Foremole was slurping soup rather noisily from a wooden bowl when Simeon placed a restraining paw on him. "Hush, I think I can sense something."

The Abbot held up his paws for silence all around. "What is it, Simeon?"

The blind mouse leaned out across the battlements, his whiskers quivering slightly. "Metal, I thought I could hear metal . . . Yes, there it is! Any signs on the path?"

"None whatsoever."

"Sssh, there it is again, over there on the woodland edgemetal. Wait . . . it's chains, I can hear chains!"

Saxtus sprang up between the battlements with a whoop. "Hurrah! It's them, I can see Rufe Brush leading the slaves out of Mossflower onto the path. Hi, Rufe!"

Flagg acted speedily. "Marm, put an arrow to your bow and stand beside me here. We'll keep them covered. Saxtus, Foremole, Gabe, you'll find spears down by the main gate. Take twenty with you and escort them back in. Keep your wits about you an' your eyes open. Hurry now, they may be followed by searats!"

oo

Without further event the last eleven slaves made it into the safety of Redwall Abbey. As the chains were

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being cut from their wasted limbs, the Abbot questioned the three squirrels who had taken part in the rescue. Treerose and Oak Tom were crying; even the normally tough Rufe Brush broke down and wept bitterly as they related what they had seen at the magnificent last stand of the long patrol.

"They didn't stand a chance, yet they came through the center of that searat camp laughing and joking. They were completely surrounded!"

Oak Tom was pale, his voice low and trembling. "I never thought that was what they meant to do, but it was the only thing they could have done to free the slaves. What makes it all so strange is that they knew what would happen, how it must end!"

Treerose accepted a spotted handkerchief from Fore-mole. "Oh, they were so brave! Rosie smiled at me and said she'd see me back here. Oh, Father Abbot, why did they do it?"

Abbot Bernard shook his head gently. "Who knows, child, who knows? Certainly none of us at Redwall. We are infants in the ways of war. Colonel Clary and his hares were complete warriors. Their seasons were numbered from birththey knew this was the day their fates were sealed."

Saxtus hung his head. "Yet they knew they were helping Redwall and bringing liberty to the slaves, so they went to meet their destinies smiling and joking. I was wrong about the hares and I'll always remember that when I make judgments about other creatures."

oo

Simeon and the Abbot went back to lock the main gates

before turning in. Dawnlight was beginning to flush

the skies.

"Triumph and tragedy in the one night, old friend." The Abbot kicked away a stone which was hindering

the closing gate. "Right, Simeon . . . Hey, you two,

come in here. Right now!" Bagg and Runn came strolling through the gateway

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in their nightshirts. Abbot Bernard wagged a stern paw at them.

"You two rascals should be fast asleep in bed. What are you doing out here on the path, may I ask?"

Bagg rubbed his eyes sleepily. "Wavin' g'bye to Flagg an' Mum Mell's."

Throwing the gate back open, the Abbot hurried out onto the path. "Flagg and Mother Mellus? I can't see them. Are you telling whoppers?"

Two heads shook vigorously.

"No, Father Habbit, sir. Honestly!"

"They went up that way an' into the woods." Runn pointed north.

"An' they was carryin' those big bows an' lots of arrers too!"

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Gabool unsheathed his sword and glared suspiciously at the three Captains who had stridden into Fort Blade-girt at the head of their crews.

"What are you three doin' here? What d'yer want?"

"You told us to come back here, Gabool."

"King Gabool. You call me King, d'ye hear. Anyway, what news?"

"No news. Graypatch an' that dratted Darkqueen have vanished from the seasno sign of 'em anywhere."

Gabool tugged absently at his matted beard. "That's no news. I've taken care of Graypatch an' Darkqueen long ago. Belay, have you three swabs been sinkin' ships in Terramort cove?"

"Ships, what ships?"

"Two of 'em, haharr, but never mind that. Have ye heard the bell? What about the great badger, did yer clap eyes on him?"

Riptung looked from Hookfin to Grimtooth. All three raised their eyebrows and shrugged. They watched as Gabool went across to the bell.

"See that! They don't hear ye, so why should I?"

"So it's right, he's mad as a gaffed fish," Riptung whispered to Grimtooth.

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Gabool spun round. "Avast, don't you three start plottin' behind me back!"

Riptung took a cask from one of his crew. He banged it down upon the table, stoving its head in with the hilt of his sword. "Nobeast's talkin' about yer, King Gabool. Come an' share a beaker o' this wine that I won!"

Grimtooth strode to the window. He stood drinking his wine and looking out to sea, then turned, laughing, to the others.