Brian Jacques - Mossflower

better look."

On all fours, they crept to the river's edge, concealing themselves in the

bushes as the ship hove into view. . "You there, come no further," Bella

called from her hide-•|wt, in the forbidding boom of a warlike badger. "If you

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mean harm to any creature in Mossflower, put back to sea— ordeal with me!"

There was silence from the black ship.

On board Wuddshipp, Martin and his friends lay on deck, hidden by the ship's

sides.

Dinny clapped a paw to his mouth, stifling a chuckle. "Hurrhurrhurr, oi know

oo that be a-shouten."

"Bella, good old Bella of Brockhall." There was a distant look in Martin's

eyes. "For a moment there she sounded like Boar. *'

Log-a-Log nodded toward the shore. "Well, we can't lie here all day. Who's

going to answer her?"

Young Dinny solved the problem by standing up and bellowing, "Yurr, thurr be a

beast aboard oo's a-perishen frum luv fer one called Combuliney.''

The creatures in the bushes dashed out in time to see the mole hit the water

with a splash as Gonff heaved him over the side.

"Oo arr, glub, 'elp! Oi baint much gudd at swimmen!"

"Hold fast there, Young Din!" Skipper called, and he was in the water like a

flash. He held Young Dinny up as eager paws hauled them on board.

"Skipper, you old waterwalloper!"

"Gonff, you young piebandit!"

"Hallo, Bella. Ahoy, it's me, Martin!"

"Martin the Warrior, welcome home. Look who's here!"

"Lady Amber, where's your ear?"

Log-a-Log's voice rang out, and suddenly Wuddshipp was swarming with shrews,

mice, hedgehogs, squirrels and hares.

"Bring her hard over. Steady to the bank. Mind those masts on the trees.

Steady that tiller. Watch her head in the shallows!"

Chibb flew to the ship and perched importantly upon the rail. "Ahem, I must

fly and conduct good tidings to those languishing in concealment."

As he flew off, Skipper chuckled. "Does that mean he's going to tell the

others? Strike me colors, but this is a fine 'andsome vessel. I never seen the

like of it afore on old River Moss. You didn't steal it, did you, Gonff? Is

that two sails I spy? Wonderful. Blow me, look at the size of that tiller!

This

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is a real seagoing craft, all right. What's that big skull on the for'ard tip?

A fish! I don't believe there's a fish that big in all the world."

As Wuddshipp berthed alongside the bank, Timballisto held up his paws laughing

heartily. "Hold steady, otter. You must be Skipper. I'm Martin's pal

Timballisto. We'll answer all your questions soon enough."

Bella and Lady Amber came aboard, gazing about in awe as they hugged Martin,

Gonff and Dinny.

Bella smiled fondly at the warrior mouse as she patted his back. "Martin,

you've grown. You really look like a full-blooded warrior now. What a

beautiful sword that is! Is my father here? Where's old Boar the Fighter?"

A silence fell over the ship's crew. Martin gently took Bella's paw.

"Come into the cabin with me, old friend. I have a long story to tell you."

There were many stories told that summer afternoon while Martin and Bella

remained in the cabin. Ferdy and Coggs, Spike and Posy sat among a group of

woodlanders on the deck. The little hedgehogs wore brass sea rat earrings and

carried a round shield each. Their eyes were wide and mouths agape as Gonff

related the events which had befallen the travelers since they left Mossflower

to go questing for Salaman-dastron. Ben Stickle, Goody and the Abbess were

equally impressed, smiling broadly when Gonff could not get his paw loose to

illustrate a point because Columbine was clasping it tight.

"Toads, mateys. You've never seen toads as wicked as this lot. But when that

eel came slithering out of the Scream-hole ..."

"Was the eel as big as a tree, Mr. Gonff?"

"Twice as big, Spike. He'd have eaten you without even opening his mouth."

Lady Amber chuckled drily. "Are you sure you saw mice with wings, Gonff?"

"Oh, I never saw them. But Martin and Dinny did. Isn't that right, Din."

"Burr aye. Gurt leathery burdmouses, a-flyen about inside 'ee mounten."

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"Was that Salamandastron mountain, Mr. Dinny?"

' 'Indeed it was not. Batchaps inside our mountain? Never!''

"Fat chance, young teller me hog, what!"

"Only fire, hares and badgers inside our mountain, old lad."

Gonff looked severely at Trubbs and Company. "Who's telling this story, me or

you?"

"Yes, please be quiet and let Mr. Gonff tell the story, Trubbs."

"Rather, he's a much better storyteller than you."

"Indeed, and isn't little Columbine pretty."

"Then there was this beach," Gonff continued enthusiastically. "Huge, big as

Mossflower, nothing but sand as far as you could see, besides the water and

the crabs."

"Ooh, what's a crab, Mr. Gonff?"

"Well, it's like a spider, only a hundred times bigger, with great nipping

claws and lots of hard armor."

"Did you and Martin slay the big crab, Mr. Gonff?"

"Er, well, no, Ferdy. Actually, I ended up dancing with it."

"Hanahahahaha!"

"Was it a pretty lady crab, Gonff?"

"No, I think it was a jolly sort of male crab, Columbine."

"Oh, then that's all right."

"Here, I nearly forgot, this is a necklace of shells I made for you. Put it

on."

"Oh, thank you, Gonff, it's beautiful. Are they crab shells?"

"No, missie, them's shell shells, c'llected 'em moiself, oi did."

"While Gonff was busy dancing with the crabs, I suppose. Thank you very much,

Dinny."

The mousethief chose to ignore the reference to his dancing talent and

continued the narrative.

He told of the sands, the movement of mighty sea tides, of the scavenging

seabirds and the dead rat whose provisions saved their own lives. He described

the meeting with Trubbs and company and how they led the travelers to the

mountain. Gonff went on to tell of die fabulous place called Salamandastron,

its halls, caves, stairs and passages. He related to his amazed audience the

saga of Boar the Fighter, of his

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roaring forge, gigantic battle sword and his colossal bravery in the war

against the sea rats. Gonff told of the struggle that ended with Boar and

Ripfang going together to the gates of Dark Forest, and finished with the

capture of the ship Blood-wake, now called Wuddshipp.

There was a moment's complete silence, then the wood-landers flocked about

him, babbling questions.

T. B. and some former oarslaves saved Gonff from further harassment by lugging

large copper tubs out from the galley.

"Right. Form a line here. It's skilly and duff time!"

The young ones sniffed the savory odors as he explained, "Seafood and potato

stew, that's skilly. It'll put hairs on your chest like a giant sea dog.

There's plenty of pepper and sea salt in it, too. Finish it all up and show me

a clean plate, then I'll dish you up some of my own warrior's recipe: plum and

chestnut duff in cream and beechnut sauce. Come on, there's plenty for

everyone."

Night fell as Wuddshipp rode at anchor, kedged safe in midstream. Martin

emerged from the cabin looking pale and sad after the news he had related to

Bella. He called the six hares to him.

"Go to the cabin, Bella wishes to talk with you," he told them. "Tell her all

you know of her father and the time you spent in his company on the mountain."

"Rely on us, old chap."

"Only the good times. Mum's the word, y'know." "That's the ticket. How strong

Boar was." "Like a father to us. A handsome badger, what!" "He taught us all