Brian Jacques - Mossflower

bites. The Abbess tumbled from the badger's back. Pausing only to grab her

satchel, she ran to Martin's side.

"You did well, Goody Stickle, go and rest now," she said comfortingly. But

Bella was shocked by Martin's appearance. "Abbess, he looks dreadful. Do you

think he'll live?" she asked, looking over Germaine's shoulder.

Germaine was already ministering to Martin.

"Gonff, put some water to boil on the fire. Bella, open my satchel and give me

some feverfew—yes, that one there. Now a touch of nightshade; not too much.

Ben, can you gather some fresh dock leaves for me?"

As she tended the warrior mouse, the Abbess answered Bella. "Do not worry, old

friend. This mouse will live, if I have anything to do with it, though it will

take all my skills and a long, long time before he is completely out of

danger. Columbine will be here soon. You go and rest; the race that you ran to

save Martin's life would have killed a lesser creature. You must get some

sleep."

The three female hares were not fond of the idea that prisoners should be fed

and cared for. Prodding the defeated

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troops of Kotir with their pikes, they drove them ten at a time to the lake.

Harebell, Honeydew and Willow thoroughly approved of cleanliness.

*'Come on, slimeface. Get in there—you won't drown "

"Use plenty of sand and scrub hard, you mucky lot."

"You there, fox, wash behind those grubby ears."

The fox turned away muttering insolently, "Huh why should I?"

Trubbs and company were practicing with slings. Ffring bounced a sharp pebble

off the fox's bottom, causing him to jump.

"Because you won't get any tuck if you don't, you filthy rogue."

"Hear hear! Now get those ears washed—both of 'em, laddie."

"Then you can wiggle *em in the sun until they dry, what!"

Skipper inspected a rat. "Show me those paws. Turn 'em over. Right. Go and get

fed. Hoi! Where d'you think you're sailing off to, scruffbag? Get back in and

scrub those whiskers, or I'll come and do it for you with a cob of spruce

bark."

He leaned on his pike, discussing the prisoners with Dinny and the hares.

"This miserable lot will eat us out of crop and woodland, the way they're

scoffing," he objected.

"Burr, they'm gotten a dozen stummicks apiece, nasty vurrmen."

Log-a-Log pushed a half-washed weasel back in with his stave. "Not to worry. I

heard Bella mention to Lady Amber that we're marching them out of Mossflower

tomorrow."

"Urr, zooner th' better, sez oi."

"Any news of Martin yet?"

"Bella said he's still the same, no change, though the Abbess has decided to

have him moved down here after this lot have been banished."

"I still find it hard to believe that he slew the big cat. That must have been

a battle and a half, matey.''

"Urr, ee'm a wurrier, our Marthen, tho' the battle be furr 'ee loif of 'im

now."

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It was noon of the following day. The sun beat down on the dusty path that

separated Mossfiower Woods from the flat-lands rolling away to the west.

On the far side of the ditch stood the defeated army of Kotir, each one

carrying two days' supply of food and water. On the woodland side of that same

ditch stood the hordes of Mossflower: shrews, mice, squirrels, hares, otters,

hedgehogs and moles, together with Gingivere, Sandingomm and Bella.

The badger stood (all. Pointing to the horizon, she addressed the freed

prisoners.

"You must go now. Travel together or split into groups, as you will. If any of

you are thinking of finding more weapons and coming back here, I would

strongly advise you to listen to what these creatures have to say."

The six hares stood forward, brandishing their long pikes.

"Hello, you rascals. We're the border patrol now, y'know."

"Yes, first regiment Fur and Foot Fighters at y'service."

"Woodlands are splendid, but the old flat country, this is the place to be,

what!"

"So, you've got until sunset to vanish into the distance, savvy?"

"Actually, if we can still sight you then, there's going to be another jolly

old battle."

"Rather. We hares and these woodland chappies will be only too happy to pursue

you."

There was silence from the other side of the ditch. Some of the Kotir troops

began shuffling nervously, unsure of what to do.

"Count of ten to be on your way," Skipper's gruff call rang out. "Them that

stays here gets buried here. Right, mate vs. Altogether!"

Every woodland voice was raised in deadly unison.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three ..."

The leaderiess foxes, weasels, stoats, ferrets and rats ran. They ran as they

had never run before, stumbling and pushing to get out in front. Not a word

was spoken amongst them. All that could be heard was the harsh panting of

breath as

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they sped away into the far sunlit distance, each one feverishly hoping that,

regardless of the others, he would be out of sight by sunset, away from

Mossflower and its grim horde of dangerous woodlanders.

Halfway through the long afternoon. Lady Amber and Skipper approached Bella.

"Couldn't we just go after them one last time, Bella?" Skipper pleaded.

The badger shook her head at the Corim leaders. "No, friends. WeVe won,

Mossfiower is ours again."

"Hurr, let's go *ome!"

Foremole's words in his rough molespeech sounded like the sweetest music ever

heard.

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A score of days had gone since the banishment.

The lakeshore rang to the sounds of late evening merriment. Colored lanterns

were hanging from the trees, reflecting a mass of orange, pink, blue and gold

lights upon the calm waters. Stars twinkled above, woodlanders danced below,

garlands of flowers were Strewn everywhere and delicious smells came from the

great fires at the lake margin.

Martin awakened to the sounds of Gonff singing.

Let no foul beast give one command,

I'll say, "O no not me,

My back bends to no tyrant's rule.

Hey, friends, this mouse is free."

Free has a sound, it rings around,

A lovely way to be.

So dance or sing, do anything,

You're free free free free freeeeeeeeeee!

"Hurr, that's wot 'ee think, Gonffen. You tell 'im missus."

"Gonff, come and help me to get the stopper off this strawberry wine, right

away."

"Immediately, my Columbine, O nurse of warriors and charming mouselet. I'm

coming, my little candied chestnut."

There were roars of laughter.

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Timballisto flopped down on the edge of Martin's blanket.

"So, you're awake, mate. The Abbess said it'd be sometime today."

Martin smiled and grasped his friend's paw.

"Don't worry, I'm back now. How long have I lain here?"

Before Timballisto could answer, Ferdy and Coggs dashed up.

"Ha, so you're awake, sleepyhead," Ferdy teased.

"Yes, fancy dozing off when there's a party," Coggs added.

The Abbess and Bella came over, decked in flowers and carrying a bowl of

woodland vegetable soup, which the old mouse started feeding to Martin from a

ladle.

"Good evening, Martin. Don't answer, just keep eating; we want you up and

about as soon as possible."

The warrior mouse did as he was bidden. Soon all the woodlanders had gathered

around him.

"Look, Martin's awake now!"

"My, my, doesn't he look well!"

"Urr, loivly as pepper V strong as ale."

"Haha, ahoy there, shipmate."

"Well, how do you feel, Champion of Mossflower?" Bella chuckled happily.

Martin gazed about him at the friendly faces and smiled through the tears

falling from his eyes.