The Bellmaker

32

Morning sunlight flooded a copse in the still-green depths of northeast Mossflower. Dewdrops hung heavy and bright on leaf and petal, plentiful as the tears shed by the former boatswain of Pearl Queen, Blaggut. Exhausted after a nighttime flight through dense woodland, Slipp had dozed a scarce hour when he was awakened by the sobs of his companion. Red eyed and irate, the searat Captain picked up the stolen badger chalice and snarled, “Yew keep snottin an slobberin like that and yll rot yer eyes. Now stow that wingein, dye hear?

Blaggut did not even try; his whole body shook as more tears poured forth. “Wot did yer kill the ole badger for, Capn ? She never did us any real arm. You shouldnt ave stayed er!

Slipp trampled the grass in a circle around Blaggut, speaking through clenched teeth. “I killed er cos she was tryin to kill me. Cant you get that through yer thick ead? Anyow, she needed killin*, treatin me like some kinda wet-eared galley slave. Look, wotcher goin tdo, sit round ere cryin until they catches up with us? Come on, stupid, we got travelin tdo.

Slipp punctuated his words with the usual kicks at Blaggut. He sat unmoved, head in paws, still heaving with grief. “If I traveled for the rest ome days itll still be with me, Capn. That pore creature lyin stabbed to the eart, the liddle uns screamin*, an ole Blind Simeon a wonderin what was goin on. You go without me, Capn. Im no good to nobeast anymore!

Slipp seized Blaggut roughly and, pulling him upright, he began shaking him furiously. “Lissen, deadbrains, Im still the Capn round ere, an if I sez yore goin then go yer will!

No sooner had Slipp released him than Blaggut slumped down and continued weeping. The searat Captains rage knew no boundshe stormed about the copse, destroying flowers and tearing at the foliage as he gave vent to his anger.

Blaggut carried on as if unaware of it all. “Theyre good an decent creatures at the hAbbey, I could ave been one, too, in time. Though a searat cant change is colors they say, and mebbe thats true. If wed never stopped at Redwall, everybeastd still be livin there peaceful an appy; twas no place fer bad uns such as us.

Slipp could stand no more. Snatching up a thick branch of dead wood, he laid into Blaggut. “Up on yer paws, oaf. Leave the thinkin tme; Im the Capn an yore the fool! Come on, gerrup, you blitherin empty eaded, no account, washed-up gobbet o flotsam!

Blaggut got up.

He came at Slipp with a strange light in his tear-stained eyes, paws outstretched and teeth bared, regardless of the blows that were being rained upon him. Slipp began backing away. The branch broke as he slashed and struck at Blagguts head and body. Slipp tripped and fell and Blaggut was on him, his paws tight about the Captains neck. The broken branch fell from Slipps nerveless grasp as Blagguts viselike grip tightened. They lay face-to-face, the searat boatswains voice coming in gasps as he shook Slipp like a rag doll.

“ Fool! Aye, yer right, Capn, I was a fool, an oaf, an idiot, an ail those other names you called me. Thats cos I took up with you, Capn. Yore bad right through, youll never change, thats why I gotta do this. Sony, Capn!

It was well into noontide. The mourners stood around the flower-strewn heap of earth at the southeast corner of Redwall Abbeys ramparts. Red wallers and Dibbuns alike gazed sadly at Mother Melluss last resting place. Simeon leaned upon the paw of his Father Abbot, who had gathered strength as the day progressed. At the start of the day Saxtus had moved about like a creature in a trance, doing things automatically. Gradually the realization of his position as Abbot took over. Duty could not be ignored, so with a great effort Saxtus pulled himself together. He patted Simeons paw comfortingly before turning to address the Abbey dwellers.

“My good friends, the poems have been recited, the prayers all said. Mother Mellus has moved on to sunnier pastures, quieter noontides, and more peaceful woodlands, though she will always live in our hearts. But I can hear her speaking to me now, guiding me as ever she did from the time I was a Dibbun, right through until I was chosen as Abbot. I always heeded the wise words of Mellus, as I do now. She is telling me that Redwall life must continue.

Saxtus paused to smile and tweak a leverets ear.

“Mellus says that there is fruit to be picked in our orchard, boats to be sailed on the pond, work and play for all. As the summer fades to autumn we will have a great feast one day, to celebrate the memory of our dear friend. Go now, think about this as you work hard and rest well!

There was a flash of sunlight and something glimmered through the air in a bright arc, falling to rest quietly on the fresh-dug earth of Melluss grave, where it lay unharmed.

The mousebabe was quicker than anybeast. He scurried forward and picked up the object. “Funtil, lookit, our badger cup wot we winned!

“Take it an live long in peace!

Every eye turned upward to the east walltop. Blaggut stood there looking unhappily down at where the badger lay buried. Oak Toms paw flew to his dagger and he moved toward the wall. Saxtus called out to Tarquin, “Stop him, I will not have that creature slain!

Tarquin intercepted Oak Tomas he began climbing. “Steady on, old lad. I know how yfeel, but the Father Abbot must be obeyed, wot? Lets hear what he has to say.

Blaggut walked around the ramparts and descended by the south wall steps, stopping on the final stair. His voice was raw and husky with sorrowing.

“I killed me own Capn this morn. Yore badger was a good creature,e did wrong to slay er. I wouldve stopped *im, but it all appened so quick. Anyow, I brought back the cup fer the liddle uns an thats that; you kin kill me now.

Saxtus took the dagger from Oak Tom and stowed it in his wide habit sleeve, then he turned to the mousebabe, “You saw what happened. I leave it to you. Does he deserve to die, or would you let him live?

There was a moments silence. Every Red waller looked on anxiously as the mousebabe trundled over to the wall steps and took Blagguts paw in his.

“Mister Blackguts is good, norra killer; he makes boats.

Funtil joined him, latching herself on to the searats other paw trustingly. “Hurr, that be roight, eem a gen-oelbeast, oi loikes im.

Saxtus spread his paws wide. “There you have it friends, from the mouths of Dibbuns. A little un can sometimes see things in others that us older ones cannot because our judgment gets clouded.

Simeon retrieved the dagger from Saxtus and gave it back to Oak Tom. “Well, do you still wish to slay him, Tom?

The big squirrel sheathed his blade. “No, I acted in haste out of my grief for Mellus. This Blaggut is no killer; if he was, hed still be running. But he returned, after he slew the guilty one. I can see that he is still confused about it, arent you, Blaggut?

The searat sat down upon the steps, ruffling the Dibbuns heads absentmindedly. “We lied when we told you we was travelers. We was searats, always ave been. Tho I never card tell of a searat who killed his Capn. I did, but I was drove to it. Capn Slipp was a bad un; hed a killed more if he lived.

Oak Tom sat on the steps next to him. “You did right, Blaggut, it was only justice long overdue. Good will always defeat evil, and there is good in you.

Tarquin L. Woodsorrel had been waiting to speak up. “Hmm, youll scuse me askin, old chap, but whatll you do now, I mean wherell you go?

Fumil looked pleadingly at the Abbot. “Ho say eem can stay yurr, zurr; oill mind im.

Blaggut smiled for the first time since the previous night. “Bless yer eart, liddle matey, but youll ave enuff tdo mindin yerself an growin up pretty. Id like to stay at yore hAbbey, but I dont think I can after wot ap-pened. One things sure, I aint a searat no more. Theres a snug cove by the sea, close to where I come ashore. It was an andsome place as I recalls, fresh water, vittles a growin out o the floor, and the sea close by. Thats where ole Blagguts bound for; I could live there.

Saxtus respected the searats decision, though he felt bound to inquire, “What will you do mere?

Blaggut stood up, lifting his chin proudly. “Ill build boats, Father. Im good at boatbuildin, tho tis a skill I never knew I ad til I came ere. Im a good boatbuilder, aint I, messmates?

The mousebabe and Furrtil chorused together, “Black-guts makes the best boats!

By late afternoon Blaggut was ready to set out, laden with provisions and tools donated by kind Redwallers. Saxtus had detailed a small party, headed by Oak Tom and Tarquin, to go with him. They would help him to build a dwelling at his chosen place. The searat stood by Melluss grave and shuffled awkwardly.

“Gbye, marm. Sorry about yore trouble. Ill try to be as good an elpful to others as you was, I promises.

Furrtil and the mousebabe began weeping i neon sol ably at their friends departure. Blaggut pressed a pawful of candied chestnuts on them, saying, “Ho, stop blubberin, mates, youll ave me at it again. You can come an visit with me next summer if yer good an stop that cryin*. Lissen now, theres the Joseph Bell; its teatime. Urry along or yH be late!

He stood watching them until they disappeared into the Abbey. Wiping away a tear, the former boatswain of Pearl Queen hitched up the pack on his back and set off.

“Come on, Mr. Tarquin, I promise you I wont make no skilly an duff fer supper. Men you will build the fire, an mayap Mr. Tom11 do the cookin.

They set off up the path with Tarquin muttering darkly, “Oak Tom as cook, hmph! I should say not; the blighterd probly have us eatin treebark an drinkin water. Now Brother Mallen, theres a useful mouse, good cook too. Hi, Mallen old chum, cmere, I want a word with you!

The shadows lengthened as they left the dusty path and cut off into Mossflower Wood.