The Bellmaker

26

Rosy-hued dawn flooded through the guest room window at Redwall Abbey as Mellus and Tarquin stirred the snoring searat Captain from a tangle of sheets.

“Cmon, Slipp, rise and shine, old rat. Lets see if you were Muffin* when you said you could cook.

Slipp tried burrowing deeper into the bed linen, as Tarquin turned him none-too-gently onto the floor. “Go way, sonly just dawn, beat it! he grumbled.

The hefty paw of Mother Mellus scooped the searat up onto his paws. “Less of your insolence! You said you were a cook, so lets see you up and cooking!

Blaggut poked his head from beneath the pillow, giggling dozily as he watched the proceedings. “Show em what yore made of, Capn. Burn up a mess oskilly an duff; thatll warm the cockles of their earts, hahaharr!

The badger turned as she propelled Slipp through the doorway. “I wouldnt laugh too much if I were you, Blaggut; theres two friends outside want to see you. Go in and wake the nice rat up, my Dibbuns!

The mousebabe and the molemaid came dashing in and threw themselves upon Blaggut, buffeting him unmercifully with Slipps pillow. “Cummon, mista Blackguts, Ma Mellus said you was a carpenter, we wanna see you carp!

“Carp, ysay. Well, I dunno, said Blaggut as he sat up and scratched himself absently. “Lets see, mates, wot dyer want ole Blaggy ter carp for ye?

Furrtil the molemaid was in no doubt at all. “Ee lickle boat to sail on ee Abbey pond, zurr, sos usns can set in it. Can ee carp a boat, zurr Blackguts?

Blaggut sensed a chance to help Slipp achieve his desire. “Mebbe I kin, mebbe I caint. Boats dont git carped fer nothin, mates. Dyou know where the secret treasure of this ere Redwall hAbbey is idden?

The mousebabe looked furtively about, then drawing close he whispered in Blagguts ear, “A course we does!

The searat brightened up; his ruse was working. “Right then, you show me the treasure, an Ill make ee an and-some liddle boat tsail round the pond in, eh?

“No, Zurr, said the molemaid, stroking her digging claws solemnly. “Furst you carp ee boat fer usns, then we tell ee whurr secret treasure be idden, hurt!

Blaggut considered the offer, peering closely at the two well-scrubbed faces radiating honesty and trust at him. “Haharr, you drive an ard bargain, but its a deal, buckoes. One thing though: swear you wont tell anybeast about this?

The mousebabe shook his paw vigorously in Blagguts face. “We don swear. Snot nice tswear, yget sent t bed.

“Bless yer eart, messmate. The dullard searat grinned. “I dont mean swear n curse, I means we gotta take a vow tgetner, a solemn oath.

The three conspirators placed their paws together, and the Dibbuns repeated the words that Blaggut recited:

“I take this oath.

“We take an oaf.

“That me liver n lights be ripped out ifn any of us breathes a word of our secret to anybeast, so elp ee!

“Hurr e liver be gripped when ee lights be out an ee secret breathin of anybeasters to elp ee!

Blaggut scratched his head as both Dibbuns smiled at him.

“I never card it said like that afore, but I spose itll ave ter do, mates!

An air of gloom hung over the breakfast tables in Cavern Hole. Blind Simeon wrinkled his whiskers in disgust as he took his seat.

“Phew! Has somebeast moved the orchard compost heap into here, Father Abbot? he complained.

Saxtus prodded the mess on his plate glumly. “Evidently you havent heard of an old seagoing dish that Slipp our new cook has served up. Its called skilly an duff. Like to try some?

“Stick to plain honest bread, my friend, youll live longer, said Mother Mellus as she broke a fresh-baked farl and passed half to Simeon. “Dearie me, no wonder searats are so wicked and wild. Id be like that too if I had to live on a diet of the dreaded skilly an* duff!

Slipp forestalled further conversation by pushing in a trolley piled high with platters of his creation. The searat captain was quite proud of his newfound cooking skills. Clad in a clean white smock and a tall chefs hat several sizes too small for him, he swaggered up to a table. “Skilly an duff, thats the stuff tput a curl in yer whiskers, made by me own fair paws. Anybeast want some more?

Suddenly a lot of Redwallers left the tables, claiming that they felt the need for fresh fruit from the orchard. Ladle in paw, Slipp looked from the empty places to his few remaining victims left sitting at the main table.Fruit from the orchard? Thatll never put a back on ye like velvet an* a twinkle in yer eye. Skilly an duff, now thats a real brekkist for ye! Cmon, Father hAbbot, yew aint touched yores yet. Itll be gone cold. Ere, let ole Slipp freshen it up with some thats fresh cooked.

Saxtus averted his head from the foul-smelling mess that Slipp was piling onto the cold contents of his plate. “Youll excuse me asking, Slipp, but what do you put into this, er, skilly an duff? he asked. Slipp licked the ladle and winked. “Haharr, thats an ole seadogs secret; a bit o this an a touch o that, lashins of wild garlic, white dead nettle, some cleavers an just a smidgeon o dogwort.

Saxtus clapped a paw to his mouth and hurried from the table.

Slipp hooked a clawful of the steaming concoction from Saxtuss plate, straight into his mouth. “Wots wrong with im? Tastes fine fine.

Mellus s huge paw crashed down on the table. “Enough is enough! The only thing youve ever cooked up is roguish schemes. Clear this ... this ... garbage away, and bury it somewhere deep to let nature take care of it. Now!

Slipp drew himself up haughtily, about to protest when the badger seized him by one ear and shook him. “You are a cheat and a liar! Youve never cooked in your life! When youve cleared this lot up I want to see you out in the kitchens. Scrub all the pots and pans and spread rose-water round until every trace of skilly an* duff, sight or smell, is gone!

“Yowowow, lemme go, stripedog! Ooch ouch!

Brothers Fingle and Mallen took over cooking duties, and a satisfactory lunch of summer salad, cheeses, and apple pie with meadowcreain brought the Abbey back onto an even keel. The day wore on, warm, sunny and still; bees droned lazily from flower to flower. Redwallers went on with their daily chores, tending crop and orchard, harvesting honey, reading and studying, or helping with the upkeep of Abbey buildings. Tranquillity was the keynote, with the high green mantle of Mossflower shading the outer walls on three sides, leaving the west ramparts open to sunny flatlands where larks sang and grasshoppers chirruped.

Toward mid-noon Blaggut put the finishing touches to a pair of boats he had made by halving an old cider barrel lengthways. The searat was proud of a previously unknown skill he had discovered that dayboatbuilding. He had sawed the barrel neatly from top to bottom, making two butt-ended little vessels. A cask lid cut in half provided two keels for balance. Inside the boats he wedged short, flat planks for seats. Two big ash staves served as masts, with a third, cut in half, completing the cross spars, from which hung twin, much-patched sails. They had done sterling service as tablecloths and were donated by Sister Sage. The mousebabe and Furrtil the molemaid scurried round the searats footpaws, squeaking excitedly.

“Which uns mine, Blackguts, sir?

“Hurr, theym bootiful ships!

“Can us ave rowers to row with?

“Oim callen moi ship ee Daffydill

“Mine be called Watermouseyl

Blaggut sat dow.n on the pond edge sipping cider that he had drained from the barrel into a bowl before construction began. The searat was as happy as the two Dib-buns.

“Haharr, mates, Im a boatbuilder! All me life Ive been called stoopid an clumsy an thick as two short planks. But I aint, I got clever paws, I kin make boats, good uns!

“Write our ships names on em, Blackguts, sir. Oh, please!

Blaggut had hoped they would not ask him this. “Er, well, mebbe Sister Sage oughter do that, shipmates. I never learned no writin, bein a searaer, carpenter, there wasnt no need fer such things. Aye, well ask the Sister. Sides, she probly kin write proper fancy; I bet good ole mouseladies like er does writin a lot. But old ard, mateys. Wot about our bargainyou know, the secret treasure you was gonna show me?

The mousebabe planted his paws on tiny, fat hips. “Nono, first we wanna sail, see if these ships work right!

Blaggut finished his cider. “Yore an ard master, mousebabe. Come on then, lets launch em.

The boats were an instant success. They sailed wonderfully on the slightest breeze and in the absence of any wind could be rowed easily with the paddles Blaggut had made. All the Abbey Dibbuns gathered at the ponds edge, anxious to take their turn being ferried about on the Abbey pond. Both mousebabe and mole-maid were in their element, sailing, paddling, and roaring orders.

“Hurr, youm sit yurr an ee sit thurr. Old on naow!

“Two atta time, ony two atta time. Whos next?

“Oill take ee round yon bullyrushers!

“Watch out for big fishes an pirates!

Blaggut lounged on the bank, proudly watching his two new boats on their maiden voyages. After a while, Slipp came shuffling wearily along and slumped down beside his former boatswain. “Enjoyin* yerself are yer, avin a good time? he asked.

“Aye thankee, Capn. See the boats I made fer my Dibbuns!

Slipp cast a weary eye over the two sleek little craft. “So thats ow you been fritterin the day away. I mighta known, you great lazy loaf ead!

Blaggut had not expected Slipp to make any nice comments on his achievements. “Buildin boats aint fritterin time away, Capn. Wot ave you been up to all day?

Slipp waved airily as if it were no big thing. “Oh, they made me ead cook, Im in charge of all the kitchens. Did yer taste my skilly an* duff at brekkfist?

“Aye, Capn. It was orrible. Yew make a better Capn than a cook. The bread was nice, though. Did ymake that?

Slipp was no stranger to fibbing. “Baked the bread meself, he lied glibly. “It was those Abbey mice who made the skilly an duff; they ignored me instructions. Blaggut leaned close to SHpps ear and whispered, “Capn, we dont ave to go untin fer booty tonight, so dont you worry about that black shadder we saw.

SHpp felt the hairs on his nape rise with fear. “Shurrup, yfool. Shut yer mouth! I tol* you never to mention that black shadow again long as you live. It didnt appen, dye hear me? Theres no such thing as black shadows. Anyow, why dont we ave to go lookin fer booty tonight?

Blaggut told his Captain all, from the boatbuilding to the oath he had taken with the Dibbuns. He smiled slyly at Slipp and winked. Slipp cuffed him roughly on the nose. “Ymean to tell me that those two Dibthings know where theres secret treasure idden, an yore sittin ere like a loungin lobster watchin em sail round a pond? “Bargains a bargain, Capn, said Blaggut, rubbing his nose tenderly. “They gotta try out their new boats. Besides, I got to stay ere an keep an eye on the liddle rascals in case one falls in.

Tarquin L. Woodsorrel came strolling up and wagged an ear at Slipp curtly. “Cmon, Slippy ol rat, back to work, wot? Lots of sticky pots t be washed; theyve been making honey pudden an maple toffee apples. Sticks the pots n pans up frightfully, yknow. Mellus sent me, said if ydont come shell be down here an fetch you herself. Ydont want that, wot?

Blaggut stared nonplussed at his companion. “But, Capn, I thought you said you was the cook in charge?

Tarquin chuckled at the thought of Slipp ruling the kitchens. “Oh hes in charge all right, Lord of all the greasy dishwater. King of the pots n pans. Well, old thing, are you comin?

Slipp gnawed a sticky claw, his bravado shattered by the thought of the fearsome Mellus standing over him, inspecting each dish to see it was clean. He clung to Blaggut, whimpering, “Dont letim take me, mate. You wouldnt let them crooly use yer ole Capn as a galley slave, would yer?

“Leave the Capn ere, sir, Blaggut appealed to Tarquin. “Those young uns need watchin. Ive gotta take the molemaid an the mousebabe fer their afternoon stroll. Ahoy there, you two, come on now.

Tarquin winked at Slipp. “Righto, but dont forget those pots and pans or Mellus will remind you with a ladle, wot?

The two Dibbuns held Blagguts paws as they guided him around the back of the main Abbey building. As they went, he questioned them. “You shore that its the real secret idden treasure of Redwalls hAbbey?

The mousebabe gave an exasperated sigh at Blagguts ignorance. “Phwaw! Course we sure. Its the mos se-cretest treasure in alia world, innit Furrtil?

The molemaid smiled and tapped her nose knowingly. “Yurr, that et be, an oanly usns know whurr et be buried.

At the southeast gable of the Abbey the mousebabe planted his back firmly against the wall and began striding out in measured steps, counting. Blaggut and Furrtil followed.

“One, two, three, five, seven, six, twennyfour, elev-enteen ...

The molemaid nodded her head in admiration. “Burr, oi wished oi knowed ow to count in numbers loik ee mousebaby do, eem tumble clever!

Blaggut watched the little figure striding boldly out.

“Twennyfifty, sixfortyeight, two again, leventy-twelve ...

“Bless me, eddications a wunnerful thing; look at im go!

The mousebabe halted at the southeast corner of the outer wall, and he pointed down.

“There, you has to dig now!

Blaggut looked at the spot. “Who dug the ole in the first place?

Furrtil pointed a digging claw at herself. “Oi did, zurr. Ho twurr aid wurk, oi tell ee!

Blaggut leaned up against the wall. “Yore a mole. Why cant you dig the treasure up?

The mousebabe looked at him as if he had taken leave of his senses. “Cos she messed up er frock diggin it inna first place. Dyou want to get *er sended off t bed again, silly!

With a look of long suffering Blaggut knelt down to dig.

The black shadow fell over him.

Startled, he looked up in time to see the hooded figure on the walltop draw back out of sight. Grabbing the Dib-buns paws, die searat rushed them off across the Abbey grounds. Suddenly the quiet summer afternoon was laden with unspeakable dread for him.

The molemaid held on to her mobcap as he whisked them along. “Whurr be ee rushen usns off to, zurr?

“Save yer breath, little unkeep runnin!

“But wot about ee gurt secret treasure?

“Ferget it. Cmon, back to the pond.

The mousebabe broke away and sped off yelling, “Ahoy ahoy, back to our boats!

They made it back to the pond when the Joseph bell tolled out a single boom. Teatime. Trestles had been set up for a summer orchard tea. Strawberries and cream, toffee apples, yellow dandelion bread, and dark, fizzy elderberry cordial.

Tarquin placed a slab of white celery cheese on some dandelion bread, took a bite, chewed critically, ears flapping slowly, then washed it down with a beaker of the cordial. “First rate, top hole! All in order, compliments to the cook, couldnt ask for nicer, grade-one tuck!

“Keep talking. While youre spouting, you arent scoffing!

Tarquin wrinkled his nose at Sister Roses remark. “So beautiful, yet so cruel, marm. Pray be seated. Ill join you presently, if I may.

He turned and stalked to where Blaggut and Slipp were seated side by side, both scrubbed and wearing clean tunics. The hare wagged a warning paw at them. “Best behavior now, you chaps. Mind ymanners an dont go piggin everything in sight.

Me 1 his murmured quietly to Simeon, “Thats rich coming from Woodsorrel the walloper; dont go pigging everything in sight. Did you hear him?

“A case of glutton shall speak unto glutton, Id say! Simeon smiled as he nodded.

Saxtus rang his table bell and everybeast folded paws and lowered their eyes. Brother Mallen nudged the two searats to do likewise. Then Father Abbot of Redwall said grace.

“Thanks to seasons, praise the fates,

For this peace within our gates.

Welcome, friends, who gladly toil,

In our fertile Redwall soil.

May we never famine fear,

Mid the summers goodness here.

Mother Mellus inspected the mousebabes paws approvingly. “My, my, these are very clean indeed!

Mousebabe rolled his eyes skyward, impatient to be eating. “Hmm, should be clean paws; losed me paddle, an I been rowin my ship rounda pond wiv them.

Slipp kicked Blaggut under the table. “Well, wheres the treasure, did yer get it? he whispered.

Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Blaggut applied himself to the business of strawberries and cream. “Uh uh, Capn, sorry. You told me never tmention it as long as I lives.

“Never tmention wot? Tell me! said Slipp, and he bit a slice of cheese savagely.

Blaggut chose a strawberry, dipping it in the rich golden-tinged cream. It vanished into his mouth. “Mmmm, wunnerful! No, Capn, Im only obeyin orders. You told me never to mention that black shadder as long as I lives, so I cant tell yer.

Slipp felt the hair rise at the nape of his neck again. “Black shadow, was the black shadow there? he croaked.

Blaggut sorted through his bowl of strawberries until he found the biggest of all. “Cant tell yer, Capn. You said black shadders dont appen an I was to ferget it all, so Im fergettin it, Capn!

Slipp was trying hard to keep his claws away from Blagguts obstinate neck. He tried another ploy. “Yore right, mate. Dont mention that other shadow thing; just tell me about the treasure, or the place its buried in.

Blaggut piled cream onto his big strawberry until it was completely covered and held it near his mouth. “ Ang on a tick, Capn. Glopp! Mmmff, mmmff!

The infuriated Slipp had to sit waiting while his former boatswain munched away with a look of delight pasted on his oafish face. Blaggut finished and licked the cream from his lips. “Aaahhh, never ad more prime vittles in me life! Oh, now, where was I? The secret treasure of Redwall hAbbey, aye, thats where I was. Its buried at the corner of the southeast wall, eleventynine steps from thebuildin itself ...

“Eleventynine steps ysay? The Captain managed to keep a straight face.

“Aye, thats ow the mouseybabe measured it out, an that liddle cove knows ow to count, take my affydavit on it. I knows the hexact spot where it lies. Truth to tell, I was startin* to dig it up when ... Oho, but I promised I wouldnt mention that. Beggin yer pardon, Capn.

Slipp relaxed and began searching his own bowl for big strawberries to dip in the cream. “Ive got it now, he said. “Yore tellin me that you knows where the treasure is buried, the very spot. Now, you was just goin tdig it up when wot we vowed never to mention again came an scared you off, is that right?

Blaggut poured himself some cordial, watching it fizz.

“Eddications a great thing, Capn. Ow do they put the liddle bubbles in this grog? Yowch! I told you I knows where the treasure lies, Capn, no need ter keep kickin me!

Further conversation was halted by the tinkle of the Abbots bell. A smile hovered about the face of Saxtus as he made his announcement.

“Attention, friends, tonight at dusk we will gather by the pond for a concert. Everybeast is allowed to take part, but I beg you to keep any songs and dances brief, so that all may have a chance to perform. There will be a number of prizes, the main one being a silver cup donated by Mellus. Dibbuns can stay up late to take part. Thank you!

There was a rousing cheer from the Redwallers, then they left the tables to go about any remaining chores, discussing with one another what they would do at the concert.

Slipp murmured out of the corner of his mouth to Blag-gut, “Perfect! While theyre singin an jiggin, well be diggin the treasure up.

Blaggut was about to raise an objection when a large, black shadow fell over them both. He covered his face with both paws and tried to hide beneath the table, but it was only Mellus.

“Slipp, havent you got work to finish in the kitchens? she asked. “Blaggut, come from under that table; youll be needed to gather wood for the fire by the pond. Come on you two, look lively or you wont get a chance to do your bit at the concert this evening.

Blaggut and Slipp looked at each other nonplussed. “Do our bit? groaned Slipp.

The searat Captain snorted as he gathered up dishes. “Huh, the only bit well be doin is robbin the treasure from this place an makin a run fer it, an tis woe betide anybeast who gets in the way!