Brian Jacques - Mossflower

out to them. "Tsarmina, that's who," he said grimly.

Dinny squinted at the claw. He cast about, sniffing and sifting with his paws,

finding many traces of blood on the ground. "They'm fought a gurt battlefoight

yurr. Lookit, cat-bludd on Marthen's sword, ground all a-ploughed up."

Gonff followed the tracks to the water's edge. "You're right, matey. The cat

went backward, into the lake. I think our warrior won the battle."

Once more the tears sprang to the little mousethief's eyes. "Martin, we went

through everything together. Why couldn't I have been here to help you,

matey?"

Bella was cradling Martin's head, when suddenly she leaned closer to the

warrior mouse's lips.

"He's alive! His mouth is moving!" she exclaimed joyfully.

T. B. began dabbing furiously at his friend's paws with the wet cloth. "He's

alive! My friend is alive! Bella, is it true? Oh, please say yes!"

The badger's eyes were misted. "He's talking to Boar my

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father at the gates of Dark Forest," she said in a strained voice.

"Don't let him go there, please. Do something to help him!" Timballisto

begged, seizing Bella's paws.

Bella thought hard for a moment. "Wait, I have not got the knowledge as a

healer for something as serious as this. But I know one who has—Abbess

Germaine."

Gonff paced up and down, shaking his head. "But she's taken the little ones

over to the east of Mossflower. It would be too late by the time we found

her."

"Then send Chibb. He can fly there," T. B. said in a desperate voice.

Even in the urgency of the situation, Bella of Brockhall took command.

Restoring order and good sense, she provided a solution.

"Friends, here is the only way we may save Martin. Listen carefully. Gonff,

hurry back to our camp and send Chibb east. He must tell the Abbess to gather

her medicines and herbs together. Meanwhile, you will get blankets and bring

them back here. Do not move Martin, just keep him warm and dry. Abbess

Germaine is old and cannot travel fast, but I will follow Chibb and bring her

back from Gingivere's farm as speedily as I can."

Without another word, Bella dashed along the shore with a speed surprising for

a badger. Cutting to the east, she crashed into Mossflower Woods like a

juggernaut, disappearing in a welter of churned-up ground and flying foliage.

Night fell upon the lakeside. A fire burned bright as Goody Stickle tended

Martin, tucking the blankets gently but firmly around his injured body. Ben

Stickle hurried hither and thither gathering firewood.

T. B. stood by, feeling totally useless as he listened to the fevered voice of

his friend.

"Carry on the sweep of the blade," Martin whispered. "Up and across, eh, Boar,

you old battlebeast. Who will wield our swords for us now, warrior?"

T. B. was about to speak, when Goody held a paw to her lips. "Hush now, Mr. T.

B. He's a-sleepin*. I'm doin' all I can to keep the life in the poor mouse

until Abbess gets here."

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Trubbs and the hares built a bower of reeds and willow

about Martin and Goody, speaking in whispers as they did

so.

"Keep the old night breezes off, what!" "Rather. Can do without the bally

wind, y'know." "Nothing worse than a chill on the paws when a chap's

not on top form."

Pale moonlight glimmered off the surface of the lake as

Martin lay still, scarcely breathing. The woodlanders sat

waiting.

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49

An hour before dawn, the occupants of the small farmhouse were up and about.

Columbine checked the Abbess's satchel.

"Conifrey, elmbark, motherwort, verbena, rosehips. . . . I can't think of

anything we've missed out, can you, Abbess?"

The old mouse stood facing the western woodlands. "No, child. I've got

everything I need. Now stop upsetting yourself and prepare breakfast for the

little ones."

Chibb perched on the farmhouse window sill, listening to Gingivere and

Sandingomm.

"We must not let the little ones know," Gingivere was saying, "Let them play.

Soon enough they'll grow up and have to face life's problems."

"You're right, Gingivere. Spike, Posy, would you set the bowls and spoons out,

please."

"But Lady Sandingomm, you said it was Ferdy and Coggs's turn today. We did it

at supper last night."

"You're right. It's not fair. Hey, you two, come on. Your turn for setting the

breakfast things out."

Ferdy and Coggs came running from the woodland edge. "Hurray, it's Miz Bella.

Look out or she'll knock us all over."

Bella came pounding out of the woods, lathered in foam and breathing heavily.

Ferdy ran alongside of her.

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"Miz Bella, have you been running all night? Have we won the war?"

"Come away, little one. No time for games now."

Gingivere led Bella to the farmhouse, but she collapsed near the front

doorstep, panting.

Sandingomm dashed indoors. "I'll get something to dry you down and you can

have breakfast."

Bella shook her head as she caught her breath. "No time, friend. Some water to

drink, then I'll be on my way. Abbess, are you ready?"

Germaine patted Bella's heaving flank. "Oh, I'm ready. But you're not, Bella.

You need rest. You'd never make it back like that, so lie still awhile."

Still panting with exertion, the badger took a sparing drink of water and lay

upon her side.

"Right. It won't take me long, Gingivere. Get some stout cords and be ready to

bind the Abbess on my back. We don't want her being swept off in the woods."

Chibb decided to forego breakfast. "Er ahem. I'll fly back and tell them

you're on the way."

Sandingomm turned to Columbine. "We'd best leave breakfast. Pack some food to

eat on the way. I'll close up the farmhouse and we'll go back together."

Posy tugged Gingivere's tail. "Did you hear that, Uncle? We're going for a

trip and taking a picnic with us."

"Of course we are, Posy." Gingivere smiled distractedly.

A short while later, the Abbess sat upon Bella's back, securely roped together

with her satchel of herbs.

Bella took a deep breath. "Good, I've stopped blowing like an old frog now. My

legs are feeling steady. Hold tight, Germaine. Here we go!"

Goody Stickle tried hard not to let her concern show. She had done all she

could, even following her instincts and allowing the delirious warrior to

clutch his sword as he lay raving. Timballisto stood by her, gnawing worriedly

at his claws. "He's still trying to get past those gates into Dark Forest.

Goody, what can we do?"

Wiping her paws on her old flowery apron, the hedgehog tried to look busy.

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"Well, for a start you can stop hangin' about an' botherin1 me, Mr. T. B. You

go and gather some firewood with my Ben." She softened at the helpless look on

Timballisto's face. "My dear, you can't do anythin' for your friend, nor can

I, really, until proper help arrives. You go and help our Gonff on lookout. Go

on, I'll call you if he wakes."

When he had gone, Goody wrung out more cloths to place on Martin's brow. He

was feverish, shivering, sweating by turns, and constantly murmuring.

"Bring her head around," he muttered. "Sail for the shore. I'll rescue Boar

from those sea rats. Give me my sword. Watch out for those seabirds and the

crabs, Gonff. Leave the rest to me, matey."

Midmorning brought a shout from Gonff. "It's Bella! She's got the Abbess with

her. Hey, Bella, over here!"

The badger came thundering across the lakeshore. Stopping in a shower of

earth, she parted the ropes with a slash of her big claws and a few snapping