The Bellmaker

13

It was still an hour before afternoon tea at Redwall Abbey. Sister Sage put the finishing touches to a raspberry and apple pie and, wiping her paws on a flour-dusted apron, the old mouse stood back and watched Simeon, the blind Herbalist. He was lining hot vegetable pasties on the window ledge to cool, his experienced paws selecting the ones that were ready and replacing them with those fresh from the ovens. Sage poured out two beakers of the cold oatmeal and pennycloud water she had brewed early that morning.

“Come and have a break, Simeon. Ive got something here for you.

The blind mouse felt his way over to the table. “Ah, oatmeal and pennycloud. How thoughtful of you, Sage.

They sat listing the fare they had made, sipping slowly. “Raspberry and apple pie, strawberry tarts, nutbread, vegetable pasties, and a mixed fruit cake. That should be enough, Simeon. Oh, my mint teawhere is it? The blind ancient restrained Sage from rising. “I took it off the stove while you were baking, its cooling off in the big pottery jar.

Sage smiled, patting her friends paw. “Simeon, I dont know what Id do without you!

Gesturing for silence, Simeon turned his ear toward the window ledge and, as if speaking to nobeast, he said, “If those paws touch a single pastie, theyll be washing greasy pots for two seasons!

There was a gasp of surprise from the other side of the window ledge, followed by a scurry of paws running off. Again Simeon restrained Sage from rising. “No problem; I heard those Dibbuns sneaking up on our pasties a while back, little rascals. Though my ears tell me weve got a bigger problem coming our way.

Sage was about to inquire what it was, when the kitchen door swung open and Tarquin L. Woodsorrel breezed in.

“Phew, its a scorcher today! Afternoon, chaps. Howre things comin along on the jolly old caterin front, wot?

Sister Sage coughed politely. “Very well, thank you, Mr. Woodsorrel. Is anything the matter?

Tarquins smile would have melted butter. “Matter? Why, no, my charming Queen of the Kitchens. Matter o fact, Im just here in me official capacity as sampler.

Simeon nodded knowingly. “I thought you might be. Theres a carrot and onion flan right behind you. Perhaps youd like to sample that.

The hungry hare spun around and turned his attentions to an oversized golden pastried creation. He wolfed down a huge mouthful as he spoke. “Mmf snch! My very, very favorite. I say, are we havin carrot onion flan for tea, chaps?

Simeon chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I made that specially for you, so you wouldnt sample the entire tea-time menu down to empty plates.

Tarquin ignored the remark and continued bolting hastily. “Grranph! Scuse me. What a considerate cove you are, Simeon.

Sage sniffed distantly as she watched Tarquin eating, then rose and went to the kitchen door. Striking a small riangle that hung over the doorway, she remarked pointedly, “I think we should get the servers in to take all this temptation out of your way, Mr. Woodsorrel. Im training some of the Dibbuns to take up table serving, you know. At the sound of the triangle, several Dibbuns trooped io and stood waiting for the trolleys to be loaded. Tarquin congratulated three of his own brood heartily. “Excellent!

Learnin a bit of waitin on; your mater will be proud of you when she gets back, wot?

Sage counted the number of Dibbun serving trainees. “Eight? Theres two missing.

“Right, paws up all those who arent here! Tarquin chortled.

Sister Sage turned on him severely. “Mr. Woodsorrel, fes no joking matter! These young ones have got to learn their responsibilities to others!

Tarquin swallowed the last of his flan apologetically. Oh, er, right you are, marm, buckle down, do a bit of thingeeyin, does em the world of good. Now then, yousprogs, which two are absent? Speak up!

A small squirrel held up his paw. “Fink its the mouse-K$abe an Furrtil the mole, sir, he said.

The hare picked crumbs from his whiskers. “Mouse-babe an Furrtil, eh. Where would they be at?

“If we knew, then we could tell you, Daddy! one of the little leverets replied.

Tarquin blinked and twitched his ears. “Hmm, quite. What dyou think, Simeon? You know as much about bally Dibbuns as the next chap.

Simeon put aside his beaker and stood up. “Come on, Tarquin, wed best go and check all the gates. If theyre locked then nobeast has been out today and they should be somewhere inside the Abbey walls.

“But apposin a gates unlockered, sir? the small squirrel tugging Simeons robe asked.

The ancient mouse patted the Dibbuns bushy tail. “If a gates unlocked, that means a major search in Moss-flower after tea, my little friend.

Afternoon tea was taken in the orchard. Mother Mellus sat beneath a gnarled pear tree with Saxtus. The old badger was plainly worried; her pastie lay untouched as she confided to the Father Abbot.

“Its always that small wicker gate in the east wall, the one which leads straight into Mossflower Wood. Ive often said that the lock should be placed higher, so that tiny paws cant reach it. Ooh! That mousebabe, hes the one whos led Furrtil astray. Shes always been a splendid little mole maid, not a moments trouble until the mouse-babe comes along with one of his wild ideas.

Saxtus took her paw and squeezed it reassuringly. “Brother Fingle and some others are searching upstairs right now, so stop worrying, Mellus. Remember last week when the mousebabe and three others were found sleeping the Abbots bed in the dormitories?

Mellus took a halfhearted bite of her pastie. “I suppose youre right, friend. Lets wait and see. I wish we could contact Oak Tom and Treerose, but no beast ever seems to know what part of the woodlands theyre living in. They have a spring house, a summer residence ...

Saxtus squeezed her paw tighter. “Theyll be found. Now stop worrying and eat!

But the two Dibbuns were not found anywhere inside f, UK Abbey walls. Afternoon shadows were beginning to J lengthen, tea was long finished. Tarquin lined up a score 3-.qf Redwallers, then, pacing up and down in front of them, i, .lie gave his orders.

“Right, listen up in the ranks now! Proceed out of the east wallgate into the forest, spread out in line an comb the area. Leave no stone unturned. No questions? Good, if. lets make a start, then. By the left, quick march!

High sun lanced down through the leafy greenery of still depths, while somewhere in the distance a oo call echoed through glade and copse. River Moss many tributaries. One of them, a small, slow-flowing stream, had two small visitors on its bank that afternoon. A purloined dormitory sheet from Redwall Abbey was draped over a low willow bough to form a tent, and inside Sal the mousebabe and the little molemaid Furrtil, un-fpware of the upset they had caused, playing at Dibbun games. The mousebabe carried a stick, which he fondly imagined was the sword of Martin the Warrior, while Forrtil was armed with a knotted length of twine, obvi

Marie! s Gullwhacker. She swiped at an inquisitive gnat with it. “Oi be gurtly ungered, Marthen. Usns missed tea.

Martin, alias the mousebabe, tied a thread to his stick. “Nev mind, Mariel. I catch us a big fish inna river.

“Hurr, whurr ee be getten fires to cookn et?

The mousebabe thought about this a moment, then tossing aside the thread he lay down. “We goin asleep then. Warriors got to ave sleep!

“Hurr, but oi doant bee toired.

“Course youre tired, the mousebabe snorted impatiently. “All a beasts gets tired!

“Oi dearly loikes tgo back to ee Abbey furr supper, then oi be sleepen in moi own bed ifn oi toired.

The mousebabe sat up, throwing a comforting paw about Funtils neck as they both watched the stream drifting by. “Mm, I wanna go back to the Abbey, too. We sit ere til they comesn finds us, eh?

Furrtil shook her head despairingly at this announcement. “O. gurt seasons! Youm gotten uz lost, baint you?

Her companion fidgeted moodily with a dandelion. “Not lost, just don know a way back, sall. They always come an find us, you see, always come an say, Likkle rogues, worry us a death, very naughty!

The molemaid giggled at the mousebabes imitation of Mother Mellus. “Hurr hurr, ee sounden same as owd badgermum.

Slipp and Blaggut were lost, too. They had strayed from the main course of River Moss in the shrewboat and now lay becalmed up a tributary. Slipp had decided the blame lay with Blaggut.

“Yew arf-baked barnacle, what did yer bring us up this ere backwater for?

The searat knew he dare not argue with his Captain, so he shrugged with an injured air. “Capn?

Slipp was working himself up into a fine temper, and drawing his cutlass slowly he imitated Blagguts voice.

“Capn, Capn, is that all ycan say, Capn, Capn? Ill Capn yer, you useless lump o seaslop. Now over the side with yer carcass an get pullin on that eadrope afore I carves yer into crabmeat!

Stifling a sigh of resignation, Blaggut heaved his bulk over the bows, drawing in a swift gasping breath at the streams chill. Shouldering the headrope he began towing the shrewboat behind him, but not without protest.

“Id be better off paddlin, Capn. Spose there was heels an those ungry pikefishes swimmin in these ere » waters. I could get meself et up, an youd ave tgo it alone ...

Slipp snorted at the idea. “Pikes V eels got more sense than to try an eat a big, fat, poison blubbergut like you. Just keep eavin on that rope til I tells yer tstop!

The searat heaved, but kept up his complaints. “The bottoms all muddy an squishy Capn, spose I sinks outer sight, sucked under like ...

Slipp lay back in the boat, letting sun patterns play over him as the trees went by. “No such luck, barrelbum. This streams got too much respect fer itself than to ave the likes of you layin in the mud like a dirty great porpoise. Pull, ye swab!

The sun was beginning to dip low as Tarquin halted his searchers. He squinted up at the sky before nodding decisively. “Thats as far as we go in this direction, chaps. The little uns like those couldnt have got further than this.

Brother Mallen, a young mouse, who himself had been a Dibbun until four seasons ago, held up his paw. “Mr. Tarquin, sir, youd be surprised at how far two Dibbuns can go in one afternoon. Maybe we should press on to the River Moss and search over that way.

“Youre barkin up the wrong tree, laddie, said the hare, staring down his nose for a moment at the Brother. “Take mword for it; I know about these things. When yve got a few seasons under ybelt, like me, youll know how to track an search expertly. Meanwhile, I suggest we spread out further apart an comb the bally old country tthe east, makin a sweep down south toward old Saint Ninians church. Righto, troop, as ywere, thrash the jolly bushes an shrubs with your staves, call out the names loud, Funthingee an wotsismouse, no slackin, be dark before yknow it!

The Redwallers moved off into the undergrowth, shaking bushes and calling aloud as they moved in a southeastward sweep. Off in the opposite direction to the lost Dibbuns.

Slipp yanked at the headrope impatiently, sending Blag-gut sprawling backward into the water. “Take me into the bank, over there by that big tree! he barked.

Coughing streamwater, Blaggut obediently pulled until the shrewboat was banked, then he looped the headrope round the three-topped oak his Captain had indicated.

“Capn?

The searat Captain ambled ashore and slumped against the oak as if wearied after a hard days toil. “Capn, apn, there you go again! Now lissen hard, cocklebrains, mark this tree, remember where it is, an dont get lost. Take yore moldy carcass off into these woods an get me some vittles.

Blaggut stared hopefully at Slipp. “Vittles, Capn? “Aye, vittles, Capn! You know wot vittles is, dont yer? Food to shove in yore face; berries, nuts, fruit, there must be stuff aplenty to eat in this jungle. Get goin!

Blagguts dull features brightened.

“Aye, aye, Capn, vittles! Ill bring yer all I kin lay claws on, an water to drink as well.

Slipp glared at the westering sun as if it were partly to blame, then he smiled disarmingly at his servant. “Weve been surrounded by fresh streamwater all day, nitbrains.

Wot would we need more for? Look, just go an get the vittles, will yer? An remember the way back.

Blaggut stumbled off into the woodland muttering to himself. “No water, jus vittles, an remember the way back, got it. No vittles jus remember an water if ycome back, or was it dont remember water an no vittles on the way back ...

Slipp covered his head with both paws and slept.

Mellus and Saxtus, with several of the old and Very young, stood on the path outside Redwall Abbeys &. west side. They held lanterns high, even though there was a full moon to give good light.

Blind Simeon turned his face south. “Is that the search coming from the direction of Saint Ninians? he

“It is indeed, said Sister Sage, peering down the path. Though I dont see the Dibbuns with them.

“Have they been eaten by wildbeasts, Mellus? one of the leverets piped up.

The old badger cuffed the young hares ears gently. “Of course not, and dont let me hear you spreading horrible stories around. By rights you should be in bed!

Weary and paw-sore, the search party halted in front of the main gate. Tarquin threw the reception committee a tired salute. “No sign of the little uns at all, Im afraid; we covered a wide area, north, east, and south, no joy whatsoever.

The Abbot studied his paws in the moonlight. “You did all you could. Come in now, weve held supper over for you. Tomorrow well start the search again at first light. Inside, you Dibbuns. Come on now, bedtime.

The Redwallers drifted into the Abbey grounds. Tarquin stayed back with Blind Simeon to secure the main gate for the night.

“Perhaps wed better post sentries on the wall, they might wander home during the night, said the blind sage as he felt about for the barlock. “Dearie me, I cant help wishing that Joseph were here, hed know what to do.

Blaggut made his way back to the oak on the streambank, more by luck than judgment. He shook the sleeping form of his Captain vigorously. “Capn, Capn, guess wot I found?

Slipp yawned and blinked in the darkness. “Dont tell me, a cask of seaweed grog and a roasted gull!

“O, thats a good un, yer a one you are, Capn! Blag-gut chuckled heartily.

Slipp grabbed hold of the slow-witted searat. “Im an ungry one right now, flopead. Wheres those vittles?

“O er, vittles, er, there wasnt none, Blagguts voice rattled on with excitement. “But I found two Hddle beasts asleep; theyre livin in a tent jus a stroll further up the bank, Capn!

“You didnt wake em, did yer?

“No, Capn. Bless their liddle earts, they looked so peaceful. I came right back ere t let you know.

Slipp released Blaggut and shook his paw. “Thats the first sensible thing youve done today, mate. Now you lead me to em, nice an quiet like!