The Bellmaker

28

Pearl Queen skimmed over the summer seas like a great bird, ever southward, cutting white-crested rollers, with webs of sunlit water patterns racing along her hull above the seashadows. Finnbarr and Joseph leaned over the stern rail, watching their vessels creamy wake trail out until it merged with the distant main. The sea otter squinted at the feathery clouds being chased across the sky by playful breezes.

“Were makin good headway, Joseph. Lets ope our luck stays with us, mate, he said.

The Bellmaker could not resist smiling at this remark. “Luck? Weve been holed by rocks, attacked by toads, fought off a shark, lost our rudder, had a mast snapped off like a twig, and been chased by a double-crewed shipload of searats, and thats besides losing the Roaringburn current that was supposed to take us to Southsward. What more luck do we need, you puddle-headed old seadog?

Finnbarr threw a tattooed paw about the Bellmakers shoulders, hugging him fondly.

“Yew mizzuble ole bellbonger, I never said twas goin t be easy, did I? We aint sittin on the bottom o the briny with a sunken ship, thats lucky. Mayaps those three liddle orphans we took aboard at the island are our lucky charms, eh?

Joseph turned and watched the three young ones. They were playing skip the rope on the hatch covers with Rufe, Durry, and Patch. “Poor little mites, they could do with a bit of luck themselves. Were the only ones theyve got left in this world now. Benjy will be useful to us; he knows Southsward.

“Wot about the other two young coves? Finnbarr nodded toward Wincey and Figgs.

“Fortunately they have no memory of Southsward, or if they do, its never mentioned. From what Benjy told me it was a terrible place to be once the creature called Foxwolf came there. He rules the land by terror; theres none to stand against him and his rat horde. The Urgan Nagru is his other name, and he has a mate called Sil-vamord. Benjys not sure whether theyre wolves or foxes. They murdered and tricked their way into powerhave you ever heard of them, Finn?

The sea otter touched his twin sword hilts ominously. “No, but when we meet Im sure the pleasure!! be all mine, matey. Ive alms been a freebeast, an I never could take to tyrants an conquerors, specially those whod make orphans of liddle uns. Bad fortune to em says I, an Im the beast wholl bring it to em!

Figgs was not built for rope skipping. She attached herself to Rosie, knowing that the hare was a good food provider.

“Figgs wants pudden, Rosie, more pudden!

Rosie Woodsorrel gave a gusty whoop. “Whoohaha-hooh! I say, what a good idea, Figgs. So do I. Come on, old scout, lets chuck those shrews out the galley and see what we can jolly well cook up between us, wot?

Foremole stumped about opening supply lockers and searching the galley cupboards gloomily. “Baint much vittles left, miz Rose; wem shouldve taked on more supplies at ee island. Burr, soon usns be a drinken ee sea an cooken ee sails furr zoop!

Rosie frowned as she turned a few withered apples out of a drawer. “Well lack a day, you mean theres no tucker left?

Log-a-Log crawled out of an empty locker saying, “Theres a bit, but not much. Ive just been sounding the water casks; were going to have to ration the drinking water from now on. If we dont sight land soon I think fish would be a good idea, eh, Foremole?

“Burr, nay zurr Log, wem ad one gurt fish aboard, that wurr enuff furr oi, thankee!

Figgs followed Rosie about, throwing her paws in the air and repeating over and over, “Lack a day, no tuckers left, lack a day!

A meeting of the crew was called. Joseph faced them across a small heap of supplies, all that was left aboard Pearl Queen. The Bellmakers face was grave as he addressed the assembly.

“This is the sum total of our food, and from now on the water is rationed. We must go carefully.

Rosie watched Figgs toddling about repeating her lament: “Lack a day, no tuckers left, no tucker, lack a day!

The kindly hare gathered the little otter to her. “Well, Im not really hungry, doncha know. Give my share to young Figgs here.

Finnbarr shook his head saying, “O no, marm, an all you others who volunteered tgive their vittles tthe young uns. No, it cant be done. Wed all starve an theyd be left alone agin. Everybeast must take their rations an eat em tkeep up strength. Thats an order!

Lookouts were posted in the rigging to watch out for land. Benjy sat up on the bowsprit with Durry, Rufe, and Patch. They scanned the horizon constantly with no success. Mid-noon became hot, and the breeze dropped until Pearl Queen was practically lying becalmed. Joseph filled a water dipper from a pail to give the sea otter his ration.

“Looks like that luck you were talking about has run out, he said.

Finnbarr sipped steadily, his single eye roving the sea. “Keep yer chin up, Bellmaker. Bit o a breeze is all we needs to shift us on tfresh fortune.

Benjy was the youngest of the four who sat on the bowsprit. He stared unhappily at the empty wastes of water stretching as far as his eye could see.

“Patch, whatll happen if we dont get food? he asked. The shrew was the eldest by a season. He winked at Durry, saying, “If we dont get food, well probly have to eat one o the crew. Thats what they do at sea, aint it, mates?

Durry and Rufe went along with the joke. “Aye, thats right. Wonder who Mr. Finnbarr will pick to cook for supper tonight?

Benjy stood up, paws clenched. “Hed better not choose Wincey or Figgs!

“Nah, theyre too liddle. Patch dismissed the idea airily. “Us young uns are safe; there aint enough on us tmake a decent pan o soup.

Benjy was completely taken in; wide-eyed, he asked, “Does that mean well have to eat one of the big uns? Hope its not Mr. Joseph; I like him!

Rufe thought for a moment. “Hmm, Foremole might taste all right, or maybe one of the shrewsLog-a-Log, hes plump enough.

“I couldnt eat them, theyre nice creatures! Benjy said, horrified.

Rosie and Figgs were parading round the deck. Rosie was so amused by the little ottermaid that she had joined her in the game. They both went about waving their paws, calling aloud together, “Lack a day, no tucker, tuckers gone, lack a day!

Passing by the four on the bowsprit, Rosie gave them a wave. “Toodle pip, chaps! Whew, this is hot work. Lack a day ...

Patch cast a sly glance at Rosie and rubbed his paws gleefully. “At least we wouldnt have to put up with Mrs. Woodsorrel laughin all the time, he said.

Rufe had not really taken part in the grisly joke, and now, unable to stand any more of it, he put a comforting paw around Benjy. “Dont worry, mate, therell be no-beast cooked aboard this ship. Huh, Id like to see anyone try to eat miz Rosie!

Figgs heard the remark and thought it was the signal for a new game. She grabbed the hares footpaw, crying, “Lack a day, eat miz Rosie, lack a day!

Rosie Woodsorrel was highly amused, at first. “Whoo-hoohahahooh! I say, thats a good un young Figgs, eat miz Rosie, wot? Yowch, ylittle villainshe bit me!

The four youngsters nearly fell off the bowsprit laughing. Benjy stood up and grasped a rope to steady himself. When the laughter subsided, he pointed west.

“Look, whats that? The waters all ripply out there.

In a trice Finnbarr was across the deck and up on the bowsprit alongside the squirrel. “Show me, Benjy, mate?

“There, see, Mr. Finnbarr, the sun glitters on it!

“Aye, I sees it, messmate. Joseph! Bring that tiller about; it could be a shoal of small fishes. You young uns, go an elp Log-a-Log rig up some nets. Mebbe our luck is back. Well done, Benjy!

Joseph and Log-a-Log watched the strange rippling water as Pearl Queen sailed toward it. The shrew Chieftain was plainly puzzled. “Never seen nothin like that before. Hope its not rocks under the surface or anythin dangerous. What dyou spose it is, Joseph?

“I dont know enough about the sea to say, friend. It certainly is odd, though. Our best bet is to follow orders and trust Finnbarr. Are the nets ready?

“Aye, Ive posted Patch an the rest at the stern. Well do a spot of trawling if it is small fish.

Figgs had given up trying to eat Rosie. Now she sat on the hares shoulders, gazing out over the flurrying, rippling strip of sea that came out of nowhere and vanished into the distance. It was about twenty boatlengths wide.

The nets were cast over as soon as Pearl Queen entered the disturbed patch of water. Finnbarr Galedeep hung over the stern peering into the meshes at the gray, wriggling swarms trapped in them. Pulling himself back on deck, he clapped Log-a-Logs back with a paw that was as hearty as it was heavy, and shouted, “Shrimp! We sailed into shoals of shrimp!

A cheer went up from the crew. Rosie and Figgs headed swiftly for the galley. “Whoohahahooh! Dyou hear that Figgs? Shrimp! Now, Im sure I spotted some mushrooms and spring onions. Aha, leeks! Its shrimp stew all round for tea, what dyou say, Figgs?

“Thrimps? Lack a day, tucker gone, Figgs want thrimps!

Finnbarr helped the crew pull in the nets that bulged with gray, wriggling shrimps. “Haharr, theyll soon be all pink an tender when they gits cooked, the sea otter chortled. “I wonder, is there any pepper about? Great seasons, theres a dish twarm the cockles of yer eart, shrimp stew with hotroot pepper aplenty. Ahoy there, Bandle, steer us out o this lot now, we got enough!

A panicked cry rang out from the shrew at the tiller. “I cant hold er, Finnbarr. Were bein pulled into the ripplin water. I cant get er out!

Finnbarr dropped the nets and dashed to the tiller. “Give it ere, mate. This ship aint goin nowhere I dont want it to. Come over, Pearll The sea otter fought with all his strength against the tiller, trying to get the vessel back into calm seas.

Joseph strolled up and stood grinning at him. Finnbarr Galedeeps face was a picture of disbelief. “Joseph, what ails yer, matey? Dont stan there grinnin like a witless woodypecker; lend a paw ere an quick!

The Bellmaker shook his grizzled head saying, “Seems like your luck is back, Finn, you old wavedog. Shrimp stew for supper, and youve found Roaringburn again.

The sea otters jaw dropped in amazement. “Roarin1-burn?

Joseph flung out a paw at the rippling waters. “Aye, Roaringbura. Look at the speed were traveling, and headed due south, too. What else could it be?

Finnbarr gave over trying to control the tiller; he put it on a rope holder, due south. “Well, swoggle me whiskers an rot me rudder, if I aint a bottle-nosed son of a barnacle. Roarinburn! Come ere, young Wincey, an give yer ole uncle Finn a great big kiss fer more luck!

Wincey obliged, then ran off scrubbing at her lips. “Phtooh! Sea otters whiskers, yukk, tough an salty!

As evening fell, Rosie wiped a paw across her brow, weary of serving up helpings of Figg n Rosie shrimp-stew. She filled Foremoles bowl saying, “Mercy me, Figgs, how many more to come?

The tiny ottermaid was seated on a stool, helping out. She glared at a shrew who was shuffling in in a guilty manner. “Lack a day, Figgs seen you afore, two timesno more fyou! Mercy me, lots more wants more, miz Rosie.

Figgs was a proper little tyrant. She rapped Finnbarr with a ladle as he held out his bowl. “None fyou til you singasong. Figgs wants a song!

The sea otter shook his ottercordion at her. “If you wasnt so lucky Id a cooked ye along with those shrimps, young Figgs.

Figgs narrowed her eyes and brandished the ladle. “I cook you if you dont singasong, young Finnbars!

Finnbarr Galedeep riffled off a jaunty chord. “Im too young t be cooked. Ill sing for ye, Figgs.

Pearl Queen sped south into the night with the merry strains of singing hovering in her wake. The small galley was packed with crew, firelight from the stove flickering on their faces as they ate supper and listened to Finnbarrs song.

“Well there aint a dish in all the world,

As good as ole shrimp stew,

An this is the best Ive ever ad,

An Ive ad quite a few,

You kin keep yore big sea biscuits,

That duff an* skilly too,

Ill scrape me bowl an lick me spoon,

An sing to you by the light o the moon,

Theres better days a comin soon,

But none quite like tonight!

It was still dark when Wincey shook Joseph. He sat up on the hatch covers rubbing sleep from his eyes. “Whats the matter, little one? he asked.

“The ships stopped, Joseph. The Bellmaker sat quite still, holding his head to one side as he listened for the familiar noise of rigging, sail, and wind. Taking Winceys paw he rose. “Youre right, the ship has stopped. I wonder why?

Together they made their way up to the prow. Joseph f lifted her onto the bowsprit as he peered over the forard end. The Pearl Queen lay in shallow water, nosed deep into a broad sandbank. To the west the Roaringburn current could be seen, running off into a distant arc. A movement close by caused Joseph to turnit was Finnbarr.

“Looks like the current dont want us no more, matey. Shes drifted us off on to this ere sandbank; weve run out oluck again.

Joseph lifted Wincey down. “Go and get Benjy, little maid, and bring him here, quickly. Hold hard a moment, Finn. I think our luck may still be running good.

Benjy came pattering along paw in paw with Wincey. Joseph boosted him up so he could see over the rail. “Tell me, Benjy, these sandbanks, those little islands yonder and that shoreline behind them, do you recognize them?

The young squirrel nodded vigorously and spoke only one wordSouthsward.

Joseph lowered him to the deck. “Thats what I thought. Ive seen this coast once before from the deck of a ship some seasons ago, though Ive never been ashore here. As soon as I saw it, I had a feeling inside that this was Southsward. We made it, Finnbarr!

The Bellmaker and the sea otter shook paws firmly.

Dawn came gently. A slight inshore mist lifting under the suns warmth revealed a verdant coast fringed with silver sand and backed by luxuriant woodland. As the last of the ships food and water was issued for breakfast, Log-a-Log joined Finnbarr and Joseph on the forecastle. Below on the hatch covers, Pearl Queens crew sat waiting for orders. Finnbarr gestured in the direction of land.

“Thats Southsward, mates, the place we set out tfind, he said. “It might look peaceable right now, but dont let that fool ye. First we got to git ole Pearl Queen on an even keel in a safe cove; we kin manage that with a bit o tuggin an shovin when yve finished yer vittles. Joseph.

The Bellmaker stood forward to speak his piece. “Then we choose our weapons and strike inland. No cooking fires, and sentries and lookouts at all times. Listen to me carefullyif you dont it may cost you your life. Benjy knows this country, and he will be our guide. Log-a-Log, have your Guosim protect our sides and rear wherever we go. Patch, Durry, Rufe, you will scout ahead with Benjy. Take care of him; only he knows the way.

“Rosie, you and Foremole will be in charge of the armorymake sure everybeast is kitted out with the weapons that suit them best. If what Benjy has told me is correct, we are up against a large horde, far larger than we could ever imagine facing. So we must act as a guerrilla unit, hit and run all the time, and weaken the enemy by chipping away at their numbers. Most of you know Mariel and Dandin. We are searching for them, so look before you loose arrows or slingstones. I have my own ideas where we will find my daughter and her friendright in the middle of any trouble we come across, so be prepared. Log-a-Log, have you anything to add?

The shrew Chieftain drew his short rapier and showed it, blade foremost, to his tribe. “Guosim, you know how to use these, swift and quiet. Protect our friends at all times and make them proud to fight by your side in battle.

It took half the morning to pry Pearl Queen off the sand-bank. The crew strove, waist deep in seawater, levering and using log rollers. Once the ship was back afloat she was towed on two stout ropes by the crew. Panting and struggling they pulled her through the shallows to a wooded cove. There she was made fast to three trees on slacked ropes that allowed room for the tides rise and fall.

The afternoon was taken up with the issue of weapons. Rosie Woodsorrel tested would-be archers before giving them bows and arrows. She had a good eye for slingers, javelin throwers, and spearbeasts, too. Besides their chosen weapon every crew member was given a knife or sword from the searats well-stocked armory. Wincey, Benjy, and Figgs, accompanied by Durry, Rufe, and Patch, collected buckets of hard, round, sea-washed pebbles from the tideline for slingstones.

Evening shades fell as the sun started to dip below the western sea. Joseph stood on the cove bank with his little army, watching Finnbarr say good-bye to his ship. The sea otter had personally checked that all the sails were reefed tightly under their mast spars; every piece of rigging he inspected, carefully coiling each rope and line. After battening down the hatches and securing galley and cabin doors, he leaped ashore.

“Take a good rest, Queen, he said. “Yve earned it. Well see yer when we gets back off this trip if our luck stays with us. All the crew raised their weapons in a salute to the good ship they had come to love so well.

Then they turned inland to whatever fate and fortune would bring them. Death or victory.