Brian Jacques - Mossflower

paw.

"Now to business. First let me say it has been a good day

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in many ways, mainly because Ferdy and Coggs are back safe with us. Also

because we have a new friend in our midst—-Gingivere. I am sure you will all

join me in saying that our home is his for as long as he chooses to stay

here."

"Thank you, Bella, and you too, my friends. But this cannot be," he said

sadly. "Tsarmina is a very dangerous creature; my presence here would only

endanger you all. I would never forgive myself if any of you suffered because

of me. Tonight I will stay with you, but tomorrow I will leave at first light

to go eastward through Mossflower, far away from Kotir and all it stands for.

I could not stay here, knowing that I would be adding to your problems. If

Tsarmina knew that I was here with you, she would go mad for revenge on us

all, and who knows what evils her dark mind could think up. Somewhere beyond

Mossflower I will make a fresh start. Thank you for all your help and

kindness. All my life, wherever I am, I will carry the memory of my woodland

friends deep in my heart. If the time should arrive when I can return the good

treatment you have shown me, then rest assured, you will not even have to ask.

I will help in any way possible, for I owe the woodlanders of Mossflower a

deep debt of gratitude."

The wildcat sat down amid silence, which suddenly gave way to loud applause

for his noble words.

Ben Stickle shook him firmly by the paw.

"Mr. Gingivere, sir, it'll break Ferdy an' Coggs' liddle 'earts to know you've

gone away. But one day I'll tell 'em when they're old enough to understand.

Thankee for looking after my liddle 'ogs, sir."

Bella banged upon the table.

"As you are aware," she continued, "our friends from Loamhedge and the

Foremole's crew risked life and limb to find out about Kotir. Old Dinny, I

believe you have something to tell us?''

The ancient mole tugged his snout to Bella, then spread a barkcloth scroll

across the table.

"Hurr, now this yurr's Koateer, see. We'm been a commen an' goen all the wrong

ways. See yurr, this'n's a map of b'low cells. They's a gurt cave an* lake

under Koateer, also a tunnel wot'll lead 'ee out into an 'ollow stump in

woods."

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There were murmurs of wonderment from the onlookers. Old Dinny rapped a

digging claw on the tabletop.

"Foremole an' oi bin a-plannen.'Ee'll tell about it; oi baint one furr

speechen."

Foremole threw up his paws and announced in a clear no-nonsense tone, "Fludd

'er out. Charmania woant stay in no floaten 'ouse."

Hubbub broke out. Columbine rushed to Foremole's side, waving the scroll

aloft.

"Please, listen to what I have to say," she shouted over the noise.

Abbess Germaine looked proudly at her ward as she began to speak.

"I was with Foremole and Old Dinny when we made the plan. Let me explain.

First, it relies on the fact that Kotir lies in a land depression. Mossflower

Woods itself is actually on much higher ground. The moles have studied the

landfall."

Columbine laid the scroll out, pointing at two areas of the table as if

referring to a larger map.

"Over here and over here, the River Moss runs on a northeast course through

the woods, then takes a sharp bend to the west. Sometime in the past there

must have been a large lake where Kotir now stands, but this dried up when the

river changed its course. We have since found the remains of that lake in the

cave beneath Kotir."

Lady Amber did not see the point. "But how does that help us, Columbine?"

"Let the maid tell it," Skipper whispered in her ear. "I think I've guessed

the plan, though."

"If the moles were to dig from where the river is closest to Kotir," Columbine

continued, "they could make flood tunnels from the banks of the River Moss

down to the lowland and straight into the cave beneath Kotir.''

Realization dawned upon Lady Amber. ' "Then the old lake bed would fill up

again!"

Excited shouts rang out.

"They'd be flooded!"

"Kotir would sink beneath the lake!"

"Good riddance too, I say!"

Skipper bounded up onto the table. "If we can make

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sluicegates, me and my crew will sink them on the riverbank to hold the water

back until the tunnels are complete,"

Lady Amber leaped up beside him. "Leave it to the squirrels, Skip. We'll build

your floodgates. You just see to it that they're sunk properly into the

banks."

Foremole was not the greatest of leapers, but he clambered up on the table

besides Amber and Skipper.

"Ho urr, an' us moles'll dig 'oles. We'll tunnel for 'ee, boi 'okey, us will!"

Columbine thought the cheering and paw-thumping would never stop. All around

her, woodlanders were dancing, hugging each other and whooping at the top of

their lungs.

Bella had to pound the table for a long time until order was restored.

"Congratulations, Corim. I think it is a good plan," she announced. "Best of

all, it will save open warfare and loss of life. Now, does every creature

present agree to the plan?"

There was a mass shout of approval. Every paw in the room shot up.

"Aye!" "Then we shall carry out this plan. We must, for I fear that Martin and

his friends are long overdue on their return. Having said that, I do not wish

any of you to feel downhearted, for who can calculate the journey to and from

Salamandastron? We must hope and keep the faith in our friends' promise to

carry out their mission. Maybe one day not too far from now I will see my

father, Boar the Fighter, come striding through Mossflower Woods—along with

Martin, Young Dinny, and Gonff—to lead us to victory. Wherever the questers

and my father are this day, let us wish them good fortune."

A rousing cheer rang through Brockhall as Bella sat down and crossed paws with

the Corim leaders.

Abbess Germaine had the final word at this meeting.

"Yes, friends, good fortune to those who traverse afar and good fortune to us

all. I think the plan is a good one," the frail old mouse told the assembly.

"Even I and my brothers and Loamhedge, unused to fighting and war, can see

that this will avoid unnecessary bloodshed on both sides, for friend and foe

alike. A death is always a death. Bloodshed is an awful thing. What we are

striving for is peace—keep this thought uppermost in your minds. If I had a

wish, it would

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be that we lived in harmony with those at Kotir. But this cannot be. So let me

say again, good fortune to the lovers of peace and right. Let liberty and

freedom be the legacy that we leave to those who follow us in the seasons to

come. May they find true peace in Mossflower."

There was a reverent silence for what was, indeed, a heartfelt prayer.

The four travelers were hungry.

They had risen before dawn and were on their way through the low sand dunes

where little else grew but tough sand grass. Belts were tightened after the

previous night's meager supper'of a few roots which Dinny had managed to

forage. The mole tried digging in the sand for edible material. He rubbed grit

from his eyes with weary paws.

"Gurr, baint no gudd diggen in this sloidy sarnd. Moight as well try diggen

'oles in a river.''

Gonff wiped a dry paw across his mouth. "I'm thirsty more than anything,

mateys. What I wouldn't give for a good old beaker of cold cider right now."

Martin trekked on doggedly. "Look, it's no good going on about what we haven't

got. We'll just have to keep our eyes peeled until food comes along. Here, let