The Bellmaker

25

Joseph roused Durry, Rufe, and Patch for the dogwatch in the two hours before dawn. Rufe yawned and stretched mightily saying, “Looks like weve been bobbing upn down in the same place all night to me.

Patch cast a weighted line over the side, noting its progress. “No, mate, weve been movin all right, only slow, but steady.

Durry sniffed the still air appreciatively. “Wood bum-in in the galley, soon be breakfast time. Im fair starved, an thats a fact!

They had not long to wait. Finnbarr appeared with a tray. “Some early vittles fer me gallant watchbeasts. Come on, mates, theres a bowl of ot veggible soup apiece an some fresh baked bread. Tuck in!

While they ate, Finnbarrs keen eyes spotted the telltale signs to the east in the early dawn light. “There tis, land ho, buckoes!

Durry ran to the rail, bowl in paw. “Landwhere? I cant see anything.

The sea otter chided him merrily. “Thats cos yer a cellar og from an Abbey, but well make a sailor of yer yet, young Quill. Ahoy, Patch, yore a waterbeast, show Durry the landfall.

The Guosim shrew pointed with a fresh bread crust. “East. See that bundle of gray cloud, matey? Well, it aint cloud; thats land, though it dont look like much.

Finnbarr climbed into the rigging for a better view. “Aye, yer right, all rock an cliff, but any ole portll do fer rudderless ducks like us. Rufey, rouse all paws, well set sail fer any breeze tcarry us to it.

Under Finnbarr Galedeeps skillful navigation Pearl Queen hove alongside the high, grim rocks in bright morning sunlight. Log-a-Log stared up at the gray forbidding cliffs saying, “No place we can berth her around here, Finn!

The sea otter took up a boarding pike. “Thats a fact. Come on, crew, git pikes iT spars. Well push er round these rocks until we finds a landing!

Striving and sweating under the eye of the hot morning sun, the crew pushed at the rock face with pikes and spars. It was high noon when they found a landfall on the island. A rocky cove opening out into a forest-fringed beach, the high cliffs rearing either side of the entrance, it gave Pearl Queen scant leeway. Finnbarr winced as the vessel scraped through the opening with barely a splinter to spare; he called out orders to guide them through.

“Joseph, Durry, Rosie, git rope fenders oer the sides to protect er. You aloft, turn those mast spars sideways or theyll be smashed. Fatch, sound the depth with a lead!

Rufe had the best view of the incoming shore from his perch in the bows, and he could not believe his eyes. “Ships! Look, theres ships in here, Finnbarr!

And ships there were, but none of them in any fit state to sail on the sea. They were all wrecks. Finnbarr cast an experienced eye over the hulks that littered the shoreline where beach met cliff on both sides. “Harr, thats a sad sight, messmates! Thatn there is a merchant ship, tother side of it looks like a searat galley, an lookit that, an ole otter fishin smack. Tis long seasons since I clapped eyes on one o* those!

Joseph came up to stand beside Finnbarr. “But theyre all wrecked beyond repair. What dyou suppose happened here, Finn? he asked.

“Happened? Nothin, mate. Theyve all been thrown up ere by the sea, blown toward this island durin storms an forced through that gap in the rocks on floodtides. Ah well, mates, one beasts ill wind is anothers good fortune. Well soon find us a spankin good rudder in this cove!

Joseph scouted out a good axe, Log-a-Log took a broken and chipped sword to serve as a saw, and Finnbarr found his heavy mallet. Pearl Queen nosed into the soft sands of the shallows, and the trio of rudder finders prepared to wade ashore. Rosie pouted a little. “Bit of a bore, wot, all of us cooped up here on board; we could be off into those woods lookin for fresh water and provisions.

The Bellmaker wagged a warning paw at her. “Stay where you are, Rosie Woodsorrel, and pay attention to Finnbarr. We dont want the crew wandering loose about this island, you never know what beasts may be lurking inland.

A rudder was found sticking from the stern of a highbeached wreck. They got to work immediately, and, using the mallet and the axe, Log-a-Log and Joseph unpinned it from its moorings. Finnbarr stood on the deck of the wreck. “Thisns been a fast Corsair craft in er day, single masted an* flat bottomed for coastal raidin. Aye aye, why dont we use er mainmast to replace our broken one?

Rufe and his two friends attached themselves to a party of shrews who came aboard to remove the mast. It was hard and heavy work under the hot noonday sun. Rosie had given up sulking and appointed herself cook. She and Foremole were in the galley inventing a huge mixed-fruit and honey pudding for the evening meal.

“Wheres the candied chestnuts got to? Foremole, you villain, stop nibblin them an pass them here!

The mole relinquished the nuts with a guilty smile. “Burr, theym good uns, me an ee Abbot picked em last autumn; theym been soakin in ee cask of hunny ever since. Ho urr, oi dearly do luv a good candy chesknutter, hoo aye!

Rosie stuffed several in her mouth and spoke around them. “So do I. Dyou think its worth savin* any for the crew?

Pearl Queens crew worked late into the evening on Finnbarrs urging. “Fix er tday, sail away tomorrer, mates, thats the ticket! Besides, I dont like angin around on this island. I got a funny feelin* in me stum-mick about the place, tis too nice.

Joseph wielded the mallet, hammering home the last copper spikes that held the rudder brackets in place. He tested the tiller and found it swung well. “There, a good job well done! Hows the mast coming along, Log-a-Log, nearly there?

“Aye, almost ready, the shrew Chieftain called up from the forard hold. “Im seatin* it in pitch an caul kin it tight with oakum so itll be waterproof and stand firm.

Foremole and Rosie poked their heads from the galley. “Wem gotten noice cool tober ale yurr for ee!

“And a Pearl Queen Pudden, though you chaps best hurry or itll start stick!n to the stove!

The rudder workers joined the mast riggers, and with the added help of willing paws they had the foremast rigged as the sun dipped below the western horizon and night set in.

The Pearl Queen Pudden was voted a huge success by all the crew, who went back licking their spoons for second helpings. Rosie undid her apron with a flourish, winking at Foremole. “Yknow, it wouldnt hurt old Finnbarr to appoint me permanent cook aboard this vessel, jolly wise choice!

Foremole heaped two bowls with pudding for himself and Rosie. “lie must amember, miz Rose, that cookers be potwashers too, hurr.

Rosie threw the apron to a nearby shrew. “Hmph! Ive just resigned!

Sheltered by the high rocks, the cove was snug from wind and weather. With no anxiety and the prospect of sailing on the morrow, Pearl Queens crew lay about on the hatch covers, eating, drinking, and singing. Rosie was prevailed upon to perform her laughing song. With Finnbarr twiddling the keys of his ottercordion, she braced herself and launched into it.

The crew found themselves sorry they had asked her to start. Rosie stood demurely, paws clasped, eyelids aflutter, and began singing in a piercing soprano voice, outrageously twisting and elongating the words:

“There is nought on this earth to com-pa-a-a-a-are, With a comely young fee-hee-male ha-a-a-a-a-are, He-er beauty is winsome to see-e-ee-e-e-ee-ee, She will smile and shell larff pri-ti-lee-eeeeeeee! Whoohahahahooh haha, whoohahahahooh ha ha ha.

She smiled coyly at her stunned audience. “Tarquin wrote this for me, yknowtheres another six verses. Shall I sing them for you, chaps?

There followed a joint unplugging of paws from ears as the entire crew yelled in a single voice, “No thank you!

The Hon Rosie sniffed airily as she launched herself at a bowl of pudding. “Rotten lot. Somebeasts have no appreciation at all of lifes finer things, wot?

However, her indignation soon vanished as she clapped paws with the rest, in time to Josephs rendition of an old favorite. Finnbarr twiddled an accompaniment as the Bell-makers strong baritone voice echoed around the cove.

“O Willyum mole to his father said,

Why dont I hear daybreak?

And why cant I hear the nightfall?

No noise does either make.

O riddle me diddle me riddle me ree,

Silly old father tell to me,

Why doesnt a fish nest in a tree,

Or a bird fly under the sea?

O wise little son, said his father,

You never hear daybreak,

And youre never awake to hear nightfall,

Youre asleep for goodness sake!

So riddle you diddle you fiddle you do,

Your silly old father loves you true,

If youre good Ill tell you something more,

A beech is a tree and a beach is a shore,

And if sky is blue and wind blew too,

Your silly old father is wiser than you,

So weigh my words as you go on your way.

Tomorrows today when the night falls away! “

Amid the applause that followed Finnbarr slipped back into the darkness, fading away like a shadow. Log-a-Log followed him, rapier at the ready. Rufe noticed them going and said in a loud voice to Patch, “Where are those two going, mate?

“Keep yer voice down, Rufey, an act normal like, the Guosim shrew cautioned him.

There followed a squeal and a scuffle. Joseph reached for a boarding pike as he whispered, “Stay calm, every-beast, keep your weapons close to paw and wait until Finnbarr or Log-a-Log calls us. Theres been something or someone out there since dusk!

“Owow, lemme go! Get ypaws off me, searat!

Durry was startled by the shrill voice. He turned to see Finnbarr hauling a struggling young squirrel over the rail. “Be still, yer liddle rogue, or Ill tan yer ide. Ouch! E bit me!

Log-a-Log materialized out of the gloom, tugging a small, sobbing mousemaid behind him. “Heres another one; I reckon theres more out there!

The mousemaid broke free; throwing herself down in front of Joseph, she pleaded brokenly, “Oh, please dont slay us, sir. Please!

The young squirrel attempted to bite Finnbarr Galedeep again; he struggled and kicked viciously, shouting, “Save your breath Wincey. Theyre pirates, you wont get mercy from this scummy lot!

Rosie Woodsorrel confronted him. “Now see here, young thingummybob, mind your manners. Do we look like pirates?

Squirming hard to get free of the sea otters iron grip, the young squirrel bared his teeth. “If youre not pirates, then tell this big searat to let go of me! he snarled.

Joseph filled two platters with Pearl Queen Pudden, then, taking the mousemaids paw gently, he signaled Finnbarr to release the young squirrel. “Dont be frightened of Finnbarr, he said to them. “Hes just a great big old sea otter. Whats your name, young un?

“My names Benjy an Im not afraid of you or any-beast!

“Of course youre not. Come and have something to eat, Benjy. Joseph placed the plates of pudding in front of Benjy and Wincey, speaking softly to allay their fears. “Rosie, is there any raspberry cordial in the galley? Bring our guests a beaker each. Come on, young uns, eat up. You look as if a plate of pudding apiece would cheer you up. Oh come on now, were not going to hurt you.

They ate hungrily, grunting and snuffling in their haste to get the pudding down. Rosie brought their cordial.

“My word, has there been a seven-season famine around here? She laughed.

With his whiskers coated with fruit and pastry, Benjy shot her a quick glance. “You dont look like no searat, he said.

“I should hope not, and dont speak with ymouth full, Rosie said as she refilled the two plates. “Were honest voyagers from Redwall Abbey, and we dont go about slayin and whatnot. Just look at you two! A good bath, some more food, an clean clothes is what yneed.

Joseph took the little mousemaid on his lap. “I had a little one like you, though shes quite big now. Tell me, Wincey, how did you come to this place?

She took a great sucking gulp of raspberry cordial and shrugged. “Always been here, I think.

The squirrel called Benjy had moved closer until he was leaning against Joseph. “Aye, always, me an Wincey an Figgs.

“Figgs, whos that? said the Bellmaker, ruffling Ben-jys ears fondly.

Benjy smiled secretly as he licked his pudding plate. “Figgs is Figgs. Shes our sister. Want me to call her?

Before Joseph could reply, Benjy was crying out, “Figgs, Figgs, come out wherever yare! Hurry up. Theyve got nice pudden an drinks an* theyre not sea-rats!

A tiny ottermaid popped her head shyly over the rail. “Puddens nice, Figgs wants some! she squeaked.

Shaking with laughter, Foremole lifted her over the rail. “Ee liddle raggymuffin choild, youm can ave pudden til ee bursters. Youm a needen et t be growen gurt!

Figgs was so tiny that she had to pick up the wooden spoon in both paws, but there was nothing tiny about her appetite.

Finnbarr shook his head in wonderment at her. “She could go to sea in a clamshell with a sail! Ahoy there, Figgs matey, is that the full crew of ye, or is there any more giants out there idin silentlike?

Figgs paused a moment as if thinking hard. “No, only our father. Benjy knows where our father is.

The young squirrel took Joseph, Finnbarr, and Rosie on a short walk into the hinterland of the island. Holding torches, they followed him through thick undergrowth to a tattered sailcloth rigged askew of a fallen aspen. Benjy stopped short of it, pointing as if ashamed to go near. “Our fathers in there, he said.

Finnbarr strode forward and went into the tent. He came out swiftly, shaking his head at Rosie and Joseph. “You dont want ter go in there; faint a nice sight! Tears were rolling silently down Benjys face as the sea otter placed a tattooed paw about his shoulders. “Hush now, matey, yore a big feller now, dont weep. The young squirrel snuffled, wiping tear-stained eyes on his tail. For one so fierce and scarred, the sea otter spoke surprisingly softly.

“Who was that edgeog in there, he asked, “and ow did you all come tthis isle? Tell me, young un.

Benjy sniffed several times before explaining. “Ship was wrecked tpieces out on the sea at the start of summer. Burrom the hedgehog was hurled bad by a falling mast, but she clung to it an pulled us aboard with her. Figgs too, though she was just born; dont know what happened to Figgss mother. We got washed through the rocks into the cove; been living here all through summer. Poor Burrom never really got over that mast falling on her. She was mixed up all the time, talking strange. Benjy shuddered hugely, as if fighting back more tears. Finnbarr kept him talking as a distraction.

“How longs she been like that ... I mean ...

The young squirrel pulled himself together gallantly. “You mean dead? Since last full moon, though I couldnt tell Wincey and Figgs. They kept wanting to see her, but I told them she was sleeping.

“But you said father, Joseph interrupted. “Burrom was a female?

The young squirrel smiled through his tears. “That was Winceys idea. She never knew her father, so she thought it would be nice to call Burrom father. I told Figgs we were her family, brothers and sisters. Shes too small to know any different.

To cheer him up Rosie chuckled, “Well Im a mother and you can count on me, though youll have lots of fathers aboard Pearl Queen, brothers too. Hmm, shouldve brought more sisters along with us!

When they got back to the ship, Foremole had made beds up for Wincey and Figgs in the crews accommodation. Joseph settled down on the hatch covers with Benjy close by, and they lay watching the stars, like silver pins, holding up the dark, velvet canopy of the night sky. Joseph outlined his plans for them. “Were sailing in the morning, right after breakfast. I think you and your sisters would be better off coming along with us, Benjy. What dyou think?

“I think thats the best thing too, sir. Ill have to tell Wincey and Figgs that Burrom wont be coming along. Itll be difficult, specially for little Figgs.

The Bellmaker nodded understandingly. “Youre growing up well, Benjy. You stay aboard with the others, and Finnbarr and I will go ashore early and give Burrom a decent burial.

The young squirrel sat upright. “No, please, leave our father in the tent. I couldnt bear thinking about Burrom buried there all alone. Besides, she might get better and wake up someday ...

“So be it, Benjy, said Joseph, smiling sadly, “but dont grieve. Burrom will be glad that you three are safe and with friends now. Goodnight.

“Goodnight, sir. Oh, may I ask where were going on your ship?

“Its not my ship. Pearl Queen belongs to Finnbarr. Were bound for Southsward to search for my daughter, Mariel, and her friend Dandin. Its a long story.

Benjys eyes shone bright in the darkness. “Southsward, thats my home!

Now it was Josephs turn to sit up. “You come from Southsward?

“Yes, sir, every creature on the ship did. We were driven out of there by Urgan Nagru the Foxwolfhis rats killed both my parents. I want to go back to Southsward!

“Ill bet you do, Benjy! said Joseph, looking steadily at the youngster. “Come to the galley with me; theres food and drink there. We have a lot to discuss.