The Pearls Of Lutra

PEARLS OF LUTRA

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O curse the name Mad Eyes,

Say woe to the day

When he tried to steal

Tears of all Oceans away.

All corsairs and searats

Whose messmates lie dead,

Saw blood and hot flame

Turn the seas flowing red.

Though northcoast lies far

And the ocean is wide,

Run from the green arrows

Of vengeance, and hide.

For the price of six tears

Through the dreams of us all,

Walks the fear of a Warrior

From the place called Redwall.

Now the life of our Brethren

Who followed the sea,

Will ne'er be the same

For such rovers as we.

'Twas the greed of a tyrant

That brought us to shame,

Six tears for a crown

Curse the Emperor's name!

Verses taken from an old corsair ballad.

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BOOK 1

SIX TEARS FOR AN ABBOT

Chapter 1

Though Tansy was still only a young hedgehog, she was known to be a veritable rock of good sense by the elders of Redwall Abbey. Because of this, she was one of the few youngsters allowed outside the Abbey walls, mainly to gather materials for Sister Cicely's remedies. Fine spring sunshine, tinged light green from the semitransparent new leaves, filtered down through the high canopy of Mossflower Wood, and somewhere off deeper in the woodlands a cuckoo sang its repetitive aria to the growing season. Tansy put her basket down upon a mossy knoll and began setting out food: a little chunk of yellow cheese, small farls of soft nutbread, a few candied chestnuts and a flagon of elderberry cordial. Fussily she dusted out the insides of two wooden beakers with her apron, then she peered about at the surrounding tree trunks.

"I know you're there, Arven, now come out this instant, or I'll eat all this lunch an' you won't get a crumb!" she called.

The tiny squirrel leapt from a nearby elm, landing neatly in a sitting position right next to her. Tansy stifled her surprise at his sudden appearance, and busied herself unfolding two clean serviettes as she lectured her charge severely.

"What've you been told about wandering off? D'you know I'm responsible for you? Just look at those mucky paws! Wipe them off on the moss before you touch a single thing, you maggot!"

Arven scrubbed his little paws on the clean linen smock he wore, leaving two muddy patches across it. He smiled winningly and grabbed a candied chestnut. "Am never wandled oft, no need t'be asponsible f'r Arven, not gett'n lost, ho no, too starven t'be losted!"

Tansy tried to hide a smile, but found herself unable to. Chuckling, she poured out a beaker of cordial for her friend. "You're a little maggot! What are you?"

"Me a lickle starven maggit, heeheehee! But Arven eat all lunch, then me be big maggit an' go hohoho!"

The little squirrel was never still. As he ate and drank he hopped around the knoll chanting, "Miggity Maggity hohoho! Tanzee panzee toogle doo!"

"I'll Tansy pansy you if you make yourself sick jumping round while you're eating," Tansy muttered, more to herself than Arven, as she checked over the plants she had collected. "Hmm, old hogweed stalks, young angelica shoots. Let's see, what else did Sister Cicely want. .. wintergreen, there may be some by the rocks."

She glanced up at the sky. It had been gradually clouding over as they ate, and now a few tell-tale drops on her face caused the young hedgehog to tut with annoyance. "Tch tch! Rain! There was no sign of it earlier, sky was clear as a bell. Come on, Arven, help me to pack this lot back into the basket. You can finish your lunch while I search among the rocks, there's good shelter there."

Swiftly the two friends repacked their basket and set off east, deeper into the woodlands. A chill wind sprang up, buffeting the treetops, whipping the increasing downpour until rain found its way through and began thrumming against the loamy earth. Tansy shielded Arven with her cape as he railed against the unpredictable mid-spring weather.

"Firsta sunny thena rainywet, it'sa maggit!"

The rocks were dark red sandstone ledges, tilted at a crazy angle in a small scrubby clearing. They pushed up out of the ground, piled against each other like a row of books gone askew on a bookshelf. Gaps caused by erosion formed many small, shallow caves, and Tansy and Arven huddled under the nearest one as the wind chased the rain.

Arven went into a little dance, shaking himself vigorously. Tansy shielded her face by holding up the basket.

"Be still, you rogue. I'm quite wet enough without you splashing rain all over me. Oh look, wintergreen!"

Reaching out into the rain, she plucked a tiny plant with pale green, spear-shaped leaves.

Arven was more interested in warmth. "Lighta fire, Tansy, make Arven dry'n'warm," he whimpered.

Tansy studied the strong-smelling seedling, which had been crushed underpaw by them as they entered the cave, explaining to the little squirrel as she did, "I don't have flints or tinder with me. Besides, old Rollo the Recorder says that only grown and experienced beasts are allowed to light fires in the woodlands. Fire is a very dangerous thing if it gets out of control."

Arven was not impressed by old Rollo's words. "Huh! Fire very dangerful, kuffwarh!" he said as he hopped out into the rain. "Any'ow, Arven wet now, can't get more wetted, me gonna play."

He bounded off out of view, with Tansy calling after him, "Stay close to the rocks, d'you hear me? Don't go wandering off, and keep that new smock in one piece, or Mother Auma will tan your tail good an' proper!"

When Arven was out of sight, Tansy sat miserably, watching the rain pattering off the rocks and staring at the ground in search of other wintergreen shoots. The day out that she had planned for herself and Arven in Mossflower woodlands had been ruined by the rain. It wasn't fair, especially after she had begged and pleaded with Auma to be allowed to take Arven with her. The morning had started off bright and sunny; she had made up the lunch and packed it herself, listened carefully to Sister Cicely's instructions, then set off holding Arven with one paw and the basket with the other, feeling very grown up and responsible. Wullger the otter was on gate duty, and he had winked and tipped his tail to Tansy as he let her out of the main wallgate.

She smiled to herself, remembering how Viola bankvole had been watching from the rampart steps. That snippy Viola! Mincing about and giving herself all kinds of airs and graces, always making smart remarks. But Viola was too fiibberty-gibbet to be allowed out alone. The young hedgehog had made a special point of waving at her and calling aloud, "Just popping out to Mossflower, see you later, Viola dear!"

The prissy bankvole had turned nearly purple with envy. Hah! That'd shown her!

"Tanzeeeeee!"

Arven's scream brought Tansy back to the present like lightning. Tossing aside the basket, she hitched up her smock and went dashing out into the rain, scrambling up the rocks as she charged forward to the sounds of the screeching babe.

"Tanzeeee! 'uneeeeee!"

Hurtling along the uneven top of the sloping sandstone mass, Tansy yelled into the wind and rain, "Arven, where are you? Keep shouting, keep shouting!"

"Fell downer 'ooooooole! 'elp, Tanzeeeeeee!"

Speeding to the spot where the sound came from, Tansy threw herself on all fours, reaching her paws down into a broad crack in the rocks. She felt Arven's tiny damp paws latch onto hers and breathed a swift sigh of relief.

"Hold tight, I'll have you out o' there in a tick!"

Before she could start lifting him, the nimble little fellow had scrambled up over her paws, stepped on her nose and onto the back of her neck, leaping clear and shouting, "Lookalooka! Down there! Eeeeeeee!"

Lying face down, Tansy gazed into the rift. With a gasp of horror she found herself staring into the eyeless sockets of a skull. Gap-toothed and grinning, with rain pattering on it to produce the most dreadful hollow sound, it stared back at her. Bleached bones and the ragged remnants of clothing clinging to them comprised the remainder of the skeleton, trapped in the jaws of the narrow rift. Thunder rumbled as a vivid flash of lightning lit up the stark scene. A scream of terror tore itself from the hedgehog maid's throat.

Forgetting plants, basket and picnic lunch, heedless of pelting rain and wind, Tansy grabbed Arven's tiny paw. Together they leapt from the sandstone rocks, rolling, stumbling and bounding down onto the wet grass. Both creatures sped off as if the skeleton had risen from the rift to pursue them. Blindly they rushed through the storm-lashed woodland, footpaws slapping the ground, hearts racing madly, as they sought the path back to the warmth, peace and safety of their home, Redwall Abbey.

Chapter 2

Far across the heaving deeps of restless ocean, some say even beyond the place where the sun sinks in the west, there lies the Isle of Sampetra. At first sight, it's a lush tropical jewel, set in turquoise waters where seasons never change from eternal summer. But a closer look reveals that Sampetra is rotten as a flyblown fish carcass. It is a crossroads of evil, haven to the flotsam of the high seas. Corsairs, searats and all manner of vermin wavescum make their berth at Sampetra, the domain of a pine marten, the mighty Emperor Ublaz!

He is also known as Mad Eyes, though none ever called him that to his face and lived. He dwells in a palace built on a flat-topped escarpment at the island's southwesterly tip. Any ship entering the harbor must pay tribute to Ublaz, and captains who do not choose to anchor at Sampetra are considered to be foes of the Emperor. It is his decree that their ships and even their lives are forfeit; they are fair game to his followers.

Mad Eyes is cunning, all-powerful. Like a spider at the center of a great web, he rules Sampetra. No trees grow upon the island, but Ublaz has a vast timber stock in his courtyard. Wood for ship repairs is given only to those who pay him heavy tribute. The island is a good place for vermin from the seas to rest and roister: there are taverns dotted about the harbor area. Ublaz is served by a regiment of rats who carry long tridents as a mark of their rank; his Trident-rats patrol the harbor night and day. However, the most fearsome of his creatures are great flesh-eating lizards known as the Monitors, who have inhabited Sampetra for as long as anybeast can remember. Only the mad-eyed Emperor can control the dreadful reptiles, with the power of his hypnotic stare.

Conva the corsair captain was not a happy stoat as he watched his steersrat bring their craft, the vessel Waveworm, into the bay of Sampetra after many long seasons at sea. On the jetty Conva could see lizards and Trident-rats waiting, and he knew what they were there forto take him before the Emperor. Had the corsair known any pleas or prayers to the fates, he would have said them right then, hoping that Mad Eyes might have forgotten the treasure called "Tears of all Oceans." But then he recalled his meeting with Ublaz before the voyage, and the eyes, the strange mad eyes that had compelled him to return.

Sounds of singing, fighting and feasting drifted up from the taverns by the jetty as Waveworm hove alongside. Conva was relieved of his curved scimitar and marched off between two Monitors and two Trident-rats. The remainder of the guards boarded the ship to make sure the crew stayed in their quarters until they received permission to come ashore.

As he was ushered into the throne room of the Emperor, Conva glanced around. It was the peak of barbaric splendor. There were silks, marble, rich velvet cushions and satin hangings, and the air was heavy with the scent of strange aromatic herbs smoldering in wall braziers. The Emperor was seated on a great carved cedar throne.

Though Conva feared Ublaz, he could not help but admire him. A big creature, this pine marten: strong, handsome and sleek, with fine brown fur from head to bushy tail, complemented by a creamy yellow throat and ears. He was clad in a green silk robe with a gold border; blue sapphires twinkled from the handle of a slim silver-bladed dagger, thrust into a belt of shark's skin. The face of Ublaz was immobile. Savage white teeth showed slightly through a thin, almost lipless mouth, and above the curled, perfumed whiskers and light brown nosetip, two jet-black almond-shaped eyes stared at the corsair captain.

All was quiet. Conva stood riveted by the eyes; they pierced him to the core. Silent and mysterious, Ublaz sat, transfixing the corsair with his gaze until words began flowing from the hypnotized captain.

"Mighty One who knows all, your commands were carried out. We raided the den of Lutra the otter on the far north shores. They were taken by ambush and slain, every one of them, and all that they possessed was loaded aboard my ship."

For the first time Ublaz spoke, his voice scarce above a whisper. "Tell me what you took, everything."

The corsair recited a list of spoils. "Beakers set with colored stones, platters also, carved bone tail- and pawrings, one gold neckband, a box of small purple pearls and another box made from a hinged scallop shell. This shell contained six large, rose-colored pearls."

The Emperor drew in his breath sharply. "The Tears of all Oceans, you have them!"

Conva began to shiver visibly. He collapsed to the marble floor, his voice trembling with fear. "Mighty One, they were stolen!"

Ublaz sighed deeply, slumping back on his throne as if the bad news came as no surprise to him. “Tell me how this thing happened."

Two Monitors entered the throne room bearing a litter containing the booty from Conva's ship, Waveworm. At a nod from Ublaz they set it down in front of him.

The corsair continued his narrative in broken tones. "Two moons after we slew the tribe of Lutra I charted a course following the coast south. I knew a stream of freshwater runs out across the beach near an area named Mossflower. We dropped anchor there and took on fresh water. When Waveworm was ready to get under sail again, two of my crew, both weasels, Flairnose and Graylunk, were discovered missing. So were the rose pearls and the scallop shellthey'd stolen them and jumped ship. I gave chase, tracked them, leaving behind only three to guard the ship. We found Flairnose wounded some three days later. They had quarreled over the pearls, and Graylunk had stabbed him. We searched Flairnosehe had no pearls, though before he died he told us that he'd given Graylunk a bad skull wound when they fought.

"Two days on, following Graylunk's trail, we came upon a big building called Redwall Abbey. I had my crew scout around it in a wide circle, but the only track of Graylunk we could find went straight to the main door. This Redwall is a large, well-fortified place, with many creatures living there. We did not let them see us; their numbers were tenscore more than ours.

“ Graylunk is inside Redwall with the pearls, or if he has died from his wound then the pearls are still within the walls of that Abbey. I could do no more, Mighty One, not with the numbers I had. I made it back to my ship with all speed and hastened here to bring you the news."

Ublaz moved smoothly around the booty on the litter, sifting through it with his silver-bladed dagger. “Dented beakers, bone tailrings, gold neckband, huh, more like brass," he said to himself. "Small purple pearls, worthless musselseeds. Except for the rose pearls, the tribe of Lutra had nothing of valuethey were poor as beggars!"

He ceased his examination and stood over the quaking corsair. "And you, bold Conva, what shall I do with you?" The Emperor's fearsome eyes bored into Conva's mind.

His spirit completely broken with terror, the corsair groveled shamelessly at the Emperor's footpaws. "Mighty One, Great Emperor, spare me. I will gather more crew and the help of other captains. Give me a chance and I will go to Redwall and bring back the Tears of all Oceans."

Ublaz stepped hard on the back of Conva's neck, trapping his head against the floor. "Scum of the sea, fool who cannot control his own crew!" the pine marten said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Do you think I would let an idiot like you travel halfway round the world to fight a war against Redwall Abbey? I have heard of that place. The bones of warlords moulder at its gates; more than one has tried to breach those red walls and died miserably. If I am to retrieve the Tears of all Oceans, it needs cunning strategy." Ublaz pointed his dagger at a Trident-rat guard. "You, go and fetch my Monitor General!"

Leaning down, the pine marten nicked Conva's ear with his dagger. "You I will let live, until I know the truth of your story. Take him away and billet him in the Monitor barracks."

Conva knew it was pointless to beg for mercy. He had escaped instant death, but how long would he survive unarmed in the barracks of the strange, flesh-eating lizards? He was led off, stunned, almost speechless with terror.

Lask Frildur the Monitor General stood before the Emperor, flat reptilian eyes unblinking, scales making a dry rustle as his heavy spiked tail swished lazily against the marble floor. Ublaz nodded approvingly. The Monitor General had never let him down; everybeast on Sampetra knew and feared the reputation of Lask Frildur.

"Does all go well with you, my strong right claw?" Ublaz said, as he poured wine for them both.

The Emperor turned his head from Lask's foul breath as the lizard answered, "Yarr, Mightinezz. Lazk Frildur awaitz your orderz!"

The mad-eyed marten took a sip of wine and wiped his mouth fastidiously on a silk kerchief. "Good! I want you to take the ship of Conva and carry out an important mission for me."

The Monitor General's eyes flickered momentarily. "I will go the endz of oceanz if Ublaz commandz!"

He accepted the goblet of wine that was pushed towards him, holding it at throat height. Lask never let his eyes stray from those of Ublaz; his head did not dip to the goblet, instead a long tongue snaked out and lapped at the wine as the Emperor gave his instructions.

"It is a long voyage to where the sun rises in the east, a place called the land of Mossflower. Take the Waveworm and her crew, with Romsca the ferret as captain, and a score of your Monitors. Here is what you must do . . ."

Outside, the surf boomed on the sunwarmed rocks of the escarpment, and ships bobbed at anchor in the harbor. Sampetra shimmered under the midday sun, a once beautiful jewel of the oceans, now tainted by the evil of its ruler.

Chapter 3

Sagitar Sawfang was bigger than most searats, lean and sinewy with a mean disposition. She was second only to Lask Frildur, the Monitor General. Sagitar had fought her way up through the ranks of the Emperor's Trident-rats, until she held the undisputed title of Chief Trident-rat. Whilst the rats under her command patrolled Sampetra's harbor and taverns, keeping order among the sea vermin, Sagitar leaned on a jetty stanchion, watching Waveworm grow small on the eastern horizon, bound for Mossflower. Grasping her trident haft resolutely, she allowed herself a grim smile of satisfaction. Now she alone was the strong right paw of Ublaz, solely responsible for discipline among the wavescum who anchored at Sampetra.

Fate, however, is a cruel trickster. Turning her face west, Sagitar saw her happiness would be short-lived. The Chief Trident-rat knew the identity of the barque sailing in from the western ocean. No other vessel flew streaming red pennants from three mastheadsit had to be the Freebooter. She rapped the three-pronged metal head of her trident against the jetty timbers until a Trident-rat came running to her summons.

"Tell the full squad to muster on this jetty immediately!"

Lifting his trident smartly in salute, the rat hurried off.

Few ships that sailed into Sampetra had a master with a reputation for danger like Barranca, captain of the Freebooter. Scorning pawholds, he balanced perfectly, high on the heaving prow, reckless and daring. Barranca was every inch a real swashbuckler, clad in flame-red silks, with a long sabre thrust into his broad, black, garnet-studded belt. Loose ends of the corsair stoat's headband fluttered in the breeze as he pointed shoreward, calling out to his steersrat, "Haharr, see, Guja, 'tis ole sourpuss Sagitar an' a welcomin' committee awaitin' us, let's not disappoint 'em!"

Swinging nimbly to the deck, Barranca whipped out his sabre and began roaring orders to Freebooter's crew. "All paws on deck, an' arm yerselves to the teeth, mates!"

The vessel's crew were a villainous and motley collection, mainly searats but with a scattering of ferrets, stoats and weasels. They fairly bristled with an array of cutlasses, daggers and axes.

"Barranca drew his weasel mate Blowfly to one side. Don't stand any ole nonsense off'n Mad Eyes' creatures, y'hear?"

Blowfly produced a broad curved knife. Showing his blackened teeth, he licked the blade meaningfully, and said, "Aye aye, Cap'n, we'll show 'em they cain't push Freebooter's buckoes round, just you give the word!"

"Dangerous, matey, we're dangerous!" The corsair tossed his sabre high in the air, catching it skillfully as the blade flashed downward. "Haharr, you watch me tweak Sagitar's tail. I've never liked the cut o' that pompous rat's jib an' she don't like me, so there ain't no love lost atwixt us!"

Twoscore Trident-rats stood to rigid attention on the jetty. Grim-faced, Sagitar watched Freebooter heave starboard side on to the pier and make fast to it. Barranca's loud insulting challenge hailed her.

"Ahoy, miseryguts, where's Frildur an' his lizards today?"

Sagitar pointed her trident menacingly at the grinning corsair. "Lask Frildur is the least of your worries. I'm the one who'll be dealing with you and your rabble if there's any trouble!"

Barranca leapt up, straddling the jetty and ship's rail. "Yer don't say? Where's our ole mate the Monitor General then? Done us all a favor an' died, I 'ope. Haharrharr!"

Sagitar allowed herself a thin malicious smile. "Not at all. Lask is still very much alive, sailing for the Mossflower coast on Waveworm at this very moment."

Barranca turned and winked at Blowfly. "Hoho, is he? I'll wager me brother Conva ain't too pleased about that, eh, mate, 'avin' that scaly ole reptile aboard as a passenger."

Sagitar did not attempt to conceal the pleasure in her voice. "Your brother Conva is no longer captain of the Waveworm. He is now a prisoner of Emperor Ublaz and is kept in the Monitor barracks. I'll give him your best regards when I see him. Right, let's see what you've got on board in the way of tribute."

Barranca blocked the Chief Trident-rat's path aboard, his eyes fierce with challenge. "Put one paw aboard o' my ship, rat, an' I'll gut ye! Crew, stand by to repel boarders!"

Freebooter's crew crowded the starboard rail, weapons ready for use against the Trident-rats. Barranca's gleaming sabretip hovered close to Sagitar's throat.

She gulped visibly. "I warn you, this is the command of Emperor Ublaz you are defying!"

The corsair did not back down a fraction. "No it ain't, this is one of yore fancy ideas. The tribute fer Ublaz will be unloaded onto this jetty by my crewyou can come back tomorrow an' collect it. Now shift yerself, rat!"

Sagitar knew she had lost the argument. Drawing back, she marshaled her command, calling aloud to Barranca as they marched off, "I'll report this to the Emperor. He will hear of your defiance!"

The derisive reply stung her as she left the jetty. "Report wot yer like, ratnose! Ublaz knows my ship always brings the best booty to 'im, an' he trusts me to unload it!"

Word of Barranca's arrival ran like wildfire around the harbor. He was popular and well liked by all the pirates on Sampetra. Grog was broken out for all searat and corsair captains, who met with Barranca aboard his ship.

Having heard from them of his brother's arrest and imprisonment, he addressed them fiercely. “Who does Mad Eyes think 'e is to lord it over us, mates? That pine marten was only a corsair like ourselves who chanced t' find this island first. Now 'e takes the best of our plunder, makes us live by some fancy set o' rules he invented, an' kills or imprisons who 'e likes. It ain't right, I tell yer!"

A grizzled searat captain called Slashback answered, "Aye, messmate, but Ublaz has Trident-rats an' Monitors to do 'is biddin'. They enforce the laws round 'ere."

Barranca whacked the flat of his sabre blade down on the table. "I remember when seabeasts were free an' the only rules we 'ad were our own. Now look at us! Wot 'ave we come to, mates?"

A tall, somber weasel captain called Bilgetail shrugged. “No one can stand against Mad Eyes an' his army."

Barranca looked around the assembly. "You, Slashback, an' you, Rocpaw, Bloodsnout, Rippdog, Flaney, yore all cap'ns, you command crews. By my reckonin' we must outnumber lizards an' Trident-rats two to one, think of that! Anere's another thing: Lask Frildur ain't 'ere no more. Who knows if'n 'e'll ever make it back? Aye, an' a score o' Monitors gone with 'im too! If ever there was a right time fer us to take over this island, it's now!"

There was a moment's silence, then Rippdog the weasel stood alongside Barranca and voiced her opinion. "I'm with you, mate! Our lives ain't our own since we been dockin' at Sampetra. That pine marten even 'as us attackin' each other if'n we don't drop anchor 'ere an' pay 'alf a cargo to 'im!"

Bloodsnout, another female corsair, joined her companion. "Rippdog an' Barranca are right, Ublaz is too greedy! He's got all the shipbuildin' an' repairin' wood piled up back of 'is palace. There ain't any good trees growin' on the island no more. Last trip my vessel run afoul 0' rocks, ripped part of the stern away. Sagitar an' Lask took all my cargo in payment fer timber to fix 'er up again. We should get wood free, whenever we needs it!"

Bilgetail nodded, moving decisively to Barranca's side. "I'll join ye. Mad Eyes is growin' too powerful, 'e executed two of my crew for arguin' with those Monitors over booty. Just 'ad 'em dragged off an' slainyou all remember it."

Heads nodded around the table. Barranca stove in the top of a cask with his sabre handle. "Dip yore beakers into this 'ere seaweed grog an' drink if yore with me, mates. Anybeast that don't dip a beaker is against us!"

The pact for rebellion was sealed as every beaker dipped into the cask.

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Ublaz stood watching the ship Freebooter from the high window slit of an antechamber. Sagitar waited apprehensively at the pine marten's side. After a while, the Emperor turned to his Chief Trident-rat.

"Slashback, Flaney, Rocpawall the captains are aboard Barranca's ship. What would you say they are doing, Sagitar?"

The Trident-rat chose her words carefully. “Mightiness, who knows what is in the minds of wave vermin?"

The silver dagger blade tapped gently against Sagitar's tunic. "I do. Ublaz knows all, that is why I am Emperor. They are plotting against me. They think I am weak without Lask Frildur. But we will show them, won't we, my strong right paw?"

The Trident-rat bobbed her head respectfully. "As you say, Excellency. I am yours to command!"

The pine marten tapped the dagger blade against his sharp white teeth a moment, before giving further orders. "Take all your Trident-rats fully armed, quickly now, and block off the end of the jetty. Do not attack, but don't let any of the captains pass. Keep them aboard the ship, and await my command."

Sagitar went swiftly off to carry out orders. Ublaz motioned to a Monitor guard. "Assemble all my Monitors in the courtyard and bring the prisoner Conva here to me."

Grath Longfletch, a daughter of Holt Lutra, should have been dead two seasons ago. She had been found three nights after Conva's attack on her family home, crawling through the mud of a half-dried stream with horrific injuries. Glinc the watervole and his wife, Sitch, dragged Grath between them to an overhang in a mossy bank, close to their den. As best they could, the voles tended the otter, but there was little the pair could do, save give her some hot soup and cover her with dry bracken.

Grath lay all season long at the very entrance to death's door, some hidden inner flame keeping her alivereliving in nightmares with loud cries the horrors she had survived. Gradually she recovered and spent her days eating and sleeping, growing slowly in strength and agility. At her request, Glinc brought a long sturdy yew branch to Grath. With a flint shard the otter scraped and fashioned it, wetting and steaming the wood over a fire. She strung it with flaxen threads, twined and greased by beeswax. Then one by one she made her arrows of ashwood, each as straight as a die, feathered with the green plumage of a lapwing Sitch had found dead upon the shore.

Then, early one spring morn, Grath rose wordlessly and strode off along the stream shallows. Glinc and Sitch followed the silent otter, watching her intently. Except for Grath's request for the yew branch, she had never spoken to them, nor them to her. Glinc and his wife seldom spoke to one another; some bank-voles are like that.

Near the northern shore both voles sat on a streambank, where it broadened to meet the estuary. On the opposite bank, Grath was a long time out of sight, inside the holt of her father, Lutra.

Emerging stone-faced and still silent, Grath set aside her weapons and went to work. Gathering twigs, root branches and stones, she piled them up over the holt entrance. She carried mud from the riverbank and plastered it over the doorway, mixing it with grass and leaves. It took her a full day and most of the night to seal up the humble cavern, making it a tomb for her massacred family.

Afterward, Grath washed herself in the stream. Silvery scar traces showed through her wet fur. Then, standing motionless in the water, she watched the gentle spring dawn spread its light across the skies, blinking as she shed tears for her kin.

Gathering her great bow and the quiverful of green-feathered shafts, Grath Longfletch waded to the far bank and took hold of the two bankvoles' paws.

"Friends, I know not yore names, but I thank ye both, for takin' care o' me an' savin' my life. I won't be back this way, so fortune care for y'both. Farewell!"

Grath shouldered her quiver and bow, then turning west she set off at an easy lope towards the dunes along the shore. Both watervoles stared at the back of the long figure until it was lost to view. Then Glinc spoke to his wife.

"I would not like to be one of the beasts that slew her kin. That creature carries death in her paws!"

Chapter 4

Extract from the journal of Rollo bankvole, Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower country.

Spring weather can change suddenly as the mind of an old mousewife choosing mushrooms. Dearie me, how it can make the most carefully laid plans go astray!

This very morning the weather was so soft and fair that Abbot Durral decided to hold our first spring season feast out of doors. Poor Durral, he spent most of the night in the kitchens, cooking and baking with his friend Higgle Stump. Strange, is it not: Higgle was one of the winecellar-keepers of the family Stump, yet he wound up as Redwall's Kitchen Friar, and Durral was once a lowly kitchenmouse, but now he is Father Abbot of all Redwall. He is such a humble old fellow, his love of the kitchens never left him.

Ah me! Seasons roll upon seasons and yet our Abbey remains the same, a loving old place, filled with happiness and peace, even though our old friends are but memories to us now. We who were once young are now grayed with age. Orlando the Axe, our great badger Lord, roamed off long ago, as male badgers will, to end his seasons at Salamandastron, mountain stronghold of great badger warriors. I do not know if he still lives. Auma, his daughter, is now the Abbey Mother; badgers are indeed noble creatures, with a lifespan which nobeast can equal.

So, that only leaves two, Auma and myself, Rollo bank-vole, who have lived and prospered in bygone seasons. The others have gone to their well-deserved rest, including Mattimeo and Tess Churchmouse whose son, Martin, is now our Abbey Warrior. Peacefully they went in the certainty that the wisdom and knowledge they gave to this great Abbey is still held strong in the stone of Redwall and in the minds of its creatures who carry on the wonderful tradition ... Great seasons! How I do wander off, I should have been called Rollo of the roving quill pen. Where was I? Oh yes, I was telling you of the outdoor feast our Abbot had planned. Well, needless to say, as soon as a few tables were carried out to the orchard and some benches to sit upon, swoosh, down came the rain! However, I must own up to the fact that I was not totally unhappy. The Great Hall inside our Abbey is a comfortable place for feasting, far better for my creaky bones than a drafty orchard in early spring.

Foremole, the leader of our Abbeymoles, has convinced the Abbot to commence festivities late this afternoon. This will give Foremole and his crew time to create a huge tur-nip'n'tater'n'beetroot pie, a most homely delicacy. Actually, I think my paw rheumatism is playing me up a bit, so here I'll end my daily recording and pop off over to the kitchens, where I can savor the sights and smells of the good food. Not that I'm a greedy creature, you understand, merely appreciative, and slightly peckish too. My warm old cloak will give me sound protection in this awful rainstorm, the walk from gatehouse to Abbey seems to get longer as I get older...

Rollo the Recorder donned his cloak and stirred the fat otter curled in slumber on the hearthmat by the gatehouse fire.

"Wullger, come on, matey, wakey wakey. Let's pay the kitchens a visit and see how the feast preparations are progressing."

Wullger yawned, stretched and blinked in one movement, then, scratching his rudderlike tail, he stood up. "Wakey wakey y'self, Rollo. I wasn't asleep, jus' closin' me eyes 'cos yore scratchy pen was annoyin' me. Hah! Look at y'self, you got more skins on than an onion!"

The bankvole sniffed airily. "Young snip! You'll learn as y'get older that comfort outweighs fashion. I need to wrap up warm until 'tis early summer!"

The two friends bent their heads against the wind and rain as they left the gatehouse, still keeping up a friendly banter.

"Lissen, you need all that wrappin', matey. Stops yer blowin' off like an ole autumn leaf!''

"Know your trouble, fatty tail? No respect for your elders. It makes me shiver just looking at you, trolling round wearing little else but belt and tunic."

"Gah! Fresh air an' a spot o' rain never 'urted anybeast. Come on, wrinklechops, step out smartlike!"

The kitchens were a bustle of steam, noise and merriment. Teasel, the hogwife of Higgle Stump, was crimping the edges of an apple and damson pie, prior to putting it in the oven. She was about to open the oven door when a little molemaid called Diggum bumped into the back of her with a flour trolley. Teasel fell backward with a whoop, holding the pie, and landed on top of the trolley. Diggum shot off regardless, head down, pushing the trolley at full speed. Foremole saw them coming, swiftly threw down a barrel wedge and flung wide the oven door where his deeper'n ever pie was cooking. The trolley stopped with a jerk, Foremole grabbed the back of Teasel's apron as she let go of the pie, and it shot from her paws to land neatly in the oven alongside Foremole's creation.

He grinned and nodded at her, rumbling in the curious molespeech, "Thurr yew go, marm. Bain't no sense a wasten oven space, hurr hurr!"

Diggum dusted flour from her smock and blinked. “Thankee, zurr. Can oi use ee uther oven furr moi chessberry flan?''

Foremole raised a cloud of flour as he patted her dusty head. "Whoi, surrpintly ee can, liddle missie, but wot be chessberries?"

Diggum twitched her button nose in despair at Foremole's ignorance. "Whoi, chessnutters an' blackb'rries, zurr, wot else?"

Teasel the hogwife hid a smile as she took Diggum's paw, saying, "Chestnuts an' blackberries, indeed. Come on, we'll make it t'gether, I'll roll the pastry."

Diggum curtsied prettily. "Thankee, marm, an oi'll eat any blackb'rries wot be a wrong size."

Friar Higgle Stump was topping off a multicolored woodland trifle with yellow meadowcream, roaring orders all about as he did.

"Hoi, Piknim, see that mushroom soup don't boil, keep stirrin' it."

"Stirrin' hard as I can, Friarshall I throw chopped carrot in?"

"Aye, do that, missie. Gurrbowl, be a good mole, nip down the cellars an' see if my brother Furlo 'as broached a new barrel of October ale. Tell 'im I could do wi' a beaker to liven up my dark fruit cake mixture."

"Roight ho, zurr, tho' you'm sure et ain't to loiven up yurrself?"

"Get goin', y'cheeky wretch! Craklyn, see if you can get some o' that dried mint down off the rafter 'ooks, I need t'make tea."

The squirrel Craklyn shot off like a rocket; she bounced from a stovetop to a high cupboard and leapt up to the rafter hooks, skillfully plucking a bundle of dried mint. Cutting a somersault, she landed next to Friar Higgle, dropped the mint in his paws, scooped a blob of meadowcream from the mixing bowl and vaulted off licking her paw.

Abbot Durral watched her admiringly as he carried a deep dish to place in front of Higgle. “What an acrobat our Craklyn is, eh, Friar? Taste that and tell me what you think, my old friend."

With a knifetip, Higgle sampled a morsel from the dish edge. "Mmmm! Now that is what I call a real honey rhubarb crumble!"

Durral shuffled his footpaws in embarrassment at the praise given to his simple offering. "Oh, it's just something I made up from an old recipe. Shall we have the tables laid for around twilight? I've lit a good log fire in Great Hall, that'll warm it through nicely."

Higgle, topping his trifle, nodded agreement. "Good idea, Father Abbot. Have you seen Martin about?"

Abbot Durral scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Can't say I have. Perhaps he's up in the infirmary with Sister Cicely. I'll go and take a look."

Wind and rain shook the treetops of Mossflower until they swayed and undulated madly; howling gales sang a wild dirge between the weighty treetrunks. Paw in paw, fighting for breath, Tansy and Arven staggered doggedly on towards the forest fringe. Both of them were weary and pawsore and, driven by fright, they had partially lost their way. Then Tansy spotted the tall spire of Redwall through a gap in the woodlands. Staggering, the pair ran, slopping through a narrow ditch, fighting against whippy spring brush and squelching through rain-drenched ferns. Heedless of young nettles lashing at their foot-paws they rounded a massive three-topped oak. Straight into the paws of a dark-cloaked form.

"Yeeeek!"

The baby squirrel and the young hedgehog maid squealed aloud in fright as they felt themselves held by strong paws.

"Whoa now, my little oneshere you are!"

The strong kindly face of Martin the Warrior of Redwall smiled reassuringly down at them. With a shriek of relief, Tansy and Arven buried their faces in Martin's cloak. Perching Arven on his shoulder and taking Tansy by the paw, Martin strode back toward the Abbey.

"Sister Cicely was getting quite worried about you two," Martin said gently. "You should have been back at the Abbey hours ago when the storm broke. Where in the name of seasons have you been, all muddy and scratched, with your clothes torn like that?"

Arven was not afraid of anything now that Martin had found them. He had perked up considerably. "Me found a skallingtung inna rocks!" he cried.

Martin chuckled. "A skallingtung?"

"In the sandstone rocks, sir," Tansy explained, "down a deep crack, there was a skeleton of somebeast. Ugh! All white an' bony an' raggy!"

Martin saw the young hogmaid was bone weary. He let her lean against him and shielded her with his cloak. "Well, you're safe now," he said. "You can tell the elders about it when we get back to the Abbey. Oh! I forgot to tell you, there's to be a surprise spring feast in Great Hall this evening. How d'you like that, eh, young 'uns?"

But they were both dozing, almost asleep with fatigue.

Sister Cicely put both Arven and Tansy straight to bed when Martin delivered them back to her at the sick bay. They had been sound asleep before Martin arrived at the Abbey gate. Spreading his cloak by the hearth to dry, Martin accompanied Cicely downstairs, explaining as he went. "Something frightened them in the woodland today. I'll tell you about it when we're with the elders."

Nobeast couldn't be quite sure what made the spring feast such a success, the food or the fun. Martin and Cicely sat at the table with the Abbot, Foremole, Higgle, Auma and some other elders. They watched in amusement as the younger ones sat with their food on a thick rush mat, eating and providing their own entertainment. The smallest Abbey babes, the Dibbuns, ate all in sight with growing appetites.

"Oi thurr, Garffy, pass oi yon fruitycake. Yurr, you'm c'n 'ave some o' this plum pudden, 'tis tumble tasty!"

"Well thankee, my ole moleymate, I didn't know it were you be'ind those cream whiskers. Father h'Abbot, sir, would you like some o' my strawberry rolypoly?''

Smiling, the Abbot shook his head. "No thank you, Durgel, I baked that specially for you and Garffy. Besides, I'm enjoying my salad. Nothing like fresh spring salad after the winterwhat d'you say, Auma?"

The badger Mother held up a piece of cheese in her huge paw. "Aye, Durral, and when there's soft white cheese and hot baked oatbread to go with it, well, I'm happy."

Martin looked up from a steaming mushroom and leek pastie. "I've never seen you sad when there's food about, Auma!"

Amid roars of laughter at her huge appetite the badger winked at Martin. "Well, sir, I'm only making up for all the food that you used to scoff from in front of me, when you sat on my knee as a Dibbun!"

Furlo Stump the cellar-keeper poured himself a beaker of October ale. "Be you not careful, marm, an' Martin'll sit on yore knee agin an' scoff all that bread'n'cheese, I'll wager!" he chortled.

Rollo put aside a platter which had contained chestnut and banged the tabletop with a soup ladle. “Come on, you younguns, how's about a bit of song and dance for your poor elders before we fall asleep from boredom!"

In a flash Piknim the mousemaid and Craklyn the squirrel-maid were up and bowing to each other as they warbled an old ballad.

"Oh, look out, it's the terrible two!" Sister Cicely murmured in Martin's ear.

Piknim and Craklyn sang alternate verses at each other.

"As I strode out gaily, one morning in spring,

I spied a fair mousemaid, who happily did sing,

She sang just as sweet as a lark's rising call,

For she wore a green habit, and she came from Redwall."

"I walked alongside her, and bade her good morn,

And her smile was as pretty as rosebuds at dawn,

She captured my heart, and she held it in thrall,

For she wore a green habit, and she came from Redwall."

"I said, 'Lovely mousemaid, where do you go to?

To Mossflower Wood, sir, for flowers of blue,

To decorate my bonnet, at the feast in Great Hall,'

For she wore a green habit, and she came from Redwall."

"To the woodlands we went, and 'twas there in a glade,

1 gathered wild bluebells for my young mousemaid,

Then I walked her back home, lest she stumble or fall,

For she wore a green habit, and she came from Redwall."

" 'Pray sir,' said the mousemaid, 'be my gallant guest.'

O how happy was I to take up her request,

For I never will leave that old Abbey at all,

Now we both wear green habits, and we live at Redwall!"

Piknim and Craklyn flounced about, grinning broadly and curtsying deeply at the cheers and applause they received.

Auma chuckled, watching mouse and squirrelmaid milking the ovation for all it was worth. "Those two, what a pair! Hi there, Gurrbowl, what about a reel?"

The little mole took up his drum and thrummed at it with his heavy digging claws, calling to Friar Higgle, "Coom on, zurr 'iggle, owt with ee 'ogtwanger!"

The Friar produced his hogtwanger, a curious three stringed instrument which had belonged to his father, Jubilation Stump. Holding it strings-down over his head, he began humming a tune and nodding oddly. As he did, his headspikes struck the strings in time to the nodding and humming. Hogtwangers can only be played by hedgehogs, and Friar Higgle Stump was an expert.

Recognizing the lively reel, Abbeybabes and Dibbuns sprang up and jigged about furiously, calling aloud, "Frogs inna gully! Frogs inna gully!"

Auma sat watching, great footpads tapping until she could restrain herself no longer. Then the big badger Mother of Redwall lumbered out to join the dance, clapping her paws and whooping, "Frogs in the gully! Frogs in the gully!"

Martin and the elders remained seated, helpless with laughter at the sight. Gurrbowl stepped up the drumbeat and Higgle kept pace on his hogtwanger; faster and faster they played. Hopping, skipping and leaping, the dancers whirled, hallooing loudly.

While Auma made her own hefty pace, exhausted Dibbuns perched on both her footpaws and were bumped up and down. Then, dropping to all fours, Auma let the tiny creatures climb onto her broad back. When she was fully loaded, the crafty badger danced off in the direction of the dormitories, followed by Higgle and Gurrbowl, still playing as they shepherded the other young ones up to bed.

Later, when she had rejoined the elders at table, Auma sat back and sighed wearily. "Phew! I'm getting too old to do that much longer!"

Martin patted her striped muzzle affectionately. "You're a sly old fraud, Auma, you enjoy it more than the Dibbuns."

He poured her a beaker of cold mint tea, his voice growing serious. “Little Arven and Tansy were in a dreadful state when I found them in Mossflower Wood today: dirty, ragged, weary and very frightened."

"Indeed they were," agreed Sister Cicely, "both so exhausted they couldn't speak. I popped up to see them in the sick bay not an hour backfast asleep, the pair of them. Strange though, Tansy is a proper little rock of good sense. Did she say what had frightened them, Martin?"

Martin looked around the expectant faces of the elders and said, "They found a dead creature in the woodlands ..."

"A dead creature in the woodlands?" Abbot Durral repeated in hushed tones.

Questions followed from around the table.

“ What sort of creature was it?''

"Where did they find this creature?"

"I wonder how it got there?"

The Warriormouse held up a paw for silence. “Please, let me explain. This was not a recently dead beast. Tansy said it was a skeleton, clad in rotten rags, so evidently it had been there for some time. They came upon it down a crack in the sandstone rocks of the woodlands. I know the place well, actually they weren't far from the rocks when I found them, so they must have been running in circles since they were caught in the thunderstorm. Poor Tansy, she was terrified, but doing her level best to protect little Arven and get him back to Redwall."

Foremole nodded from behind a large beaker of October ale. "Ho aye, she'm a liddle guddbeast awroight. May'ap you'm goin' thurr on the morrow to see furr eeself, zurr Marthen?"

Martin pushed back his chair and stood up decisively. “Why leave it until tomorrow, friends? The night is fine now, I'll go and be back before dawn. No need to upset our Abbey creatures by starting an expedition in full daylight. Besides, I can't sleep at all if there's anything bothering my mind, so it's best that I investigate it this very night."

"Aye, with me by yer side, mate, soon as I finds me ash stave!"

No sooner had Wullger the other gatekeeper spoken than the others were all including themselves.

"Hurr, oi too, ee may 'ave need o' a gudd digger, zurr!"

"I'll bring a long stout rope from the winecellar!"

"Right, an' I'll fetch lanterns, we'll be in need of light!"

Martin hesitated a moment, then nodded. "So be it. I'll get the sword. Meet back here as quickly as you can. Auma, will you stay behind and watch the main gate?"

"Gladly, friend. I don't feel much like charging around woodlands after our spring feast this evening."

Chapter 5

The Redwallers set off north up the path, Martin in the lead with the sword buckled about his middle. This was the fabulous blade that belonged long ago to Martin the first Warrior, he who had helped build Redwall Abbey and establish the order of Redwallers. The spirit of this brave mouse was said to help the Abbey creatures, appearing in dreams and offering wise counsel in troubled times. For countless generations the sword had been lost: it was Matthias, father of Mattimeo and grandsire of the present Martin, who had found the sword and restored it to Redwall Abbey.

Silent as shadows, the little party slipped into the night-darkened trees. They were skilled in the ways of woodlanders and knew that stealth and care combined with speed was the rule of safety, even in their own beloved Mossflower. There was no moon to light the way east, but Martin was an expert leader. Skirting thickets, bypassing brambles and staying close to the deep shadows, he led his companions to the clearing where the sandstone rift could be seen, poking up at an angle out of the ground.

Martin signaled quietly for Wullger and Foremole to accompany him, indicating that the rest should stay in the tree shelter at the clearing's edge, ready to come running should they be needed. Drawing his sword, the warrior edged forward; the mole and otter followed, carrying rope and lantern. The rain had stopped, though a sighing wind was still blowing up from the south. Mounting the rocks, Martin waited whilst Foremole put flint to tinder and lit his lantern. Shielding the light in the cowl of his cloak, Martin led his friends across the ridged surface. As they came upon each cleft, the lantern was lowered down on the rope to explore its darkness. They had nearly covered half the area when Foremole, shuffling backward away from a small fissure, disappeared with a gruff bass yelp.

"Whurrhumm!"

The lantern was swiftly lowered as Wullger called down to him. "You all right, matey, not 'urted are yer?"

Wiping his paw disgustedly upon his smock, the good mole wrinkled his snout. "Yurr ee is, zurr, oi foinded ee skallertung. Yurkk!"

Martin dropped swiftly into the crevice, landing lightly beside Foremole. He held the lantern close, illuminating the gleaming white bones that poked through rainsodden rags.

Wullger peered down at the skull, fixed in its death grin. "Poor wretch, fancy dyin' down there all alone." There was compassion in the otter's tone.

Martin knelt and retrieved something from the fleshless claw of what had once been the creature's right front paw. "Aye, poor beast, what was it that brought him here?"

A low whistle from the tree fringe caused Wullger to throw himself flat upon the rocks. "Hearken an' hide that lampglim, we've got visitors!"

Swiftly Martin pulled off his cloak and gave it to Foremole. "Stay down here, keep that light covered. Hang on to the rope, Wullger, I'm coming up!"

Sheathing his sword, the Warriormouse clambered paw over paw up the rope, with Wullger taking the strain. "Remain here with Foremole, stay low!" Martin whispered.

Wraithlike, Martin appeared beside Rollo among the trees. The Recorder squeaked with fright. "Oo! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

The Abbot pointed a paw north into the dark tree masses. "Over yonder, Martin, I thought I heard voices and saw two white shapes. See, there they go!"

They caught a fleeting glimpse of whitish forms moving among the trees.

Martin nudged Higgle Stump, saying, "Bring the ash stave and follow me, Friar."

Crouching low they threaded off, carefully avoiding dry twigs beneath the tree cover. Judging the path the intruders were taking, Martin halted between a beech and an elm, signaling his intentions to Higgle. Martin crouched behind the beech and grasped one end of the stave. The Friar stooped behind the elm and took the other end.

The Warriormouse whispered across to his companion, "They're coming this way; hold the stave low until I give the signal!"

As the shapes drew closer voices could be heard.

"There's nothin' dark as the dark, me ould mother used t'say."

"Really? Well, that was jolly observant of her, wot! I'll wager she used to go on about how flippin' light the day was. Owooop!"

Martin and Higgle had raised the stave a fraction so that the speaker tripped, sprawling flat in front of them.

Immediately, Martin saw that the other shape was some type of great bird. Snatching Higgle's cloak, he flung it over the creature, bringing it to the ground. The others dashed across and flung themselves upon the beast who had tripped, trying to pin it down as it yelled and kicked wildly.

"Ambush, chaps! Bring up the regiment, tell Mother I died fightin'!"

Martin bounced along the ground, towed by the cloaked bird. Then he banged into a tree and was forced to let go. Recognizing the other creature's voice, he dashed back to his companions, yelling, "It's all right, release him, it's a hare!"

The hare, whose long legs had kicked most of them flying, leapt up indignantly, dusting himself down and muttering, "Flamin' cheek! Of course I'm a hare, what'd you think I was, a long-legged tadpole out for a bloomin' walk?"

Brushing irately past Martin, he uncovered his traveling companion, a great barn owl, all ruffled and blinking furiously. The hare was half white: a mountain hare, patching into his brown spring coat. Striking a heroic fighting pose, he challenged them.

"Blackguards, ruffians! Attackin' poor wayfarers, eh! Well, let me tell you blather-pawed bandits, y've picked on the wrong pair this time. Right! Defend y'selves sharpish now! I'll teach you a thing or three about the jolly old noble art, wot! C'mon!"

Prancing about in the most ridiculous manner, he blew fiercely through his whiskers, wobbling, ducking and flicking his paw against the side of his nose in a businesslike manner.

"C'mon c'mon, shape up, you cowardly custards! Oi, mattressbottom, you take those six an' I'll deal with the other ten!"

The hare twirled and weaved comically, throwing punches in mid-air, until by accident his nose collided with an overhanging branch. Immediately he went into a mock state of collapse, staggering, throwing his paws wide as if appealing to a referee. "Did y'see that? Beastly foul play, sir! Low underpawed trickery! Sneakin' up on a chap like that! Highly unprincipled, deduct ten points, ten points I say, sir!"

He stopped and turned to the owl, who was unruffling his feathers and still blinking furiously. "Well, you're a great help, I must say, foozlin' great flock-filled featherbag! Don't stand there blinkin' like a toad with a toothache, assist me against these vile villains!"

Trying his level best not to burst out laughing, Martin held forth the paw of friendship. "I'm sorry. Please accept our apologies, sir, and your friend too. We thought you were the villains, but as it turns out neither of us is. However, I'm sure that you'll agree with me nobeast can be too careful abroad in woodlands on a moonless night."

Immediately the hare's attitude changed. He shook Martin's paw, chuckling as he bowed to the other Redwallers. "Friends, eh? Well, I knew that all along, just testin', wot! Allow me to introduce m'self, ahem! I'm Cleckstarr Lepus Montisle, of the far northern Montisles that is, known to all an' sundry as Clecky. My erstwhile companion of the road you may call Gerul, simple t'remember, y'see, Clecky an' Gerul. As you may've prob'ly observed, Gerul is an owl, though not of the wise old variety, more the silly young type I'd say, bit of a duffer, wot!"

Gerul blinked his great eyes at the assembly, saying, "Ah well, 'tis nice t'see ye, sirs, so 'tis, a rare ould pleasure!"

Clecky shook his head despairingly. “Would somebeast put the cloak back over his pudden head, we were gettin' more sense out o' the bird when he was silent. Oh say, look, there's a small fat mouse on fire!"

Foremole and Wullger had joined them, Foremole holding the lantern. He tugged his nose in greeting to the hare, saying, "Hurr hurr, you'm be a gurt joker, zurr, oi bain't no mouse afire, oi'm nought but a mole wi' a lantern!"

General good humor prevailed and, amid introductions all round, the two wayfarers were invited back to Redwall.

The little party proceeded to the Abbey with Foremole in the lead carrying his lantern; Martin and the Abbot brought up the rear.

Abbot Durral had retrieved Tansy's basket. He checked the contents, saying, “Old hogweed stalks, young angelica. See, she even managed to find some newgrown wintergreen. What a dutiful creature little Tansy is. A pity she was frightened by the sight of a deadbeast. Did you recognize anything about its remains, Martin?"

The Warriormouse drew his cloak close against the night wind. “Very little, apart from the fact that he was a weasel once, some kind of corsair too, if the rags he had on were anything to go by. Strange though, he was clasping this in his paw Fermald's spoon. That weasel must have been inside our Abbey!"

The spoon was old, beautifully carved from the wood of a buckthorn bush. Martin passed it to the Abbot, who also recognized it.

"You're right, this was the spoon Fermald the Ancient used to carry about with her. Aha! Now I know. The creature you found was Graylunk the weasel, he came to us two autumns ago!"

Martin rubbed his chin, obviously puzzled. "Two autumns back? Why didn't I see this Graylunk?"

The Father Abbot paused, then held up his paw. "Of course, you wouldn't know! That was the season you spent away from Redwall, helping the Guosim shrews against robber foxes."

Upon reaching the Abbey most of the elders sought their beds. Martin, Rollo and the Abbot busied themselves, adding logs to the fire in Great Hall and putting together a sizable repast from the remains of the spring feast for the owl and hare.

Clecky poured himself a beaker of strawberry cordial, heaped a platter high with deeper'n ever turnip'n'tater'n'beetroot pie, topped it off with two wedges of cheese and a massive portion of fresh spring salad, and wiped away a tear of joy with the corner of his white tunic.

"Oh corks! I say, you chaps, what a spiffin' spread! Tell me Im not dreamin', wot!"

Gerul the young barn owl speared a carrot and mushroom flan with his powerful talons. "Arrah, away with yeh, flopears, nobeast c'd imagine you a dreamin' with vittles in front of ye, y'great long-legged gutbag. Why, I've seen turnips uproot themselves an' run from yeh with me own two eyes, so I have!"

Seated by the fire with Rollo and the Abbot, Martin smiled as he watched the two ravenous newcomers. "Friar Higgle won't need any leftover recipes with those gluttons about. Right, tell me all you know about the weasel who visited here in my absence, Rollo."

Using his journal as a reminder, Rollo the Recorder created the incident.

“ A weasel called Graylunk came to our Abbey gates in mid-autumn. He was a villainous-looking vermin, but quite harmless due to a dreadful skull wound he had received, probably from one of his own kind. Graylunk was weak and ill, and not in his right mind. We took him in out of pity, gave him food, warmth and shelter, doing what we could for his injury. I recall that he seemed to be terrified of many things, from the merest shadow to the sight of a bird flying overhead. He would often be found crouched in a corner moaning things like, 'Mad Eyes will find me, his claws stretch beyond sea and land! Fools that we were to take the Tears of all Oceans, death follows wherever they go! Witless beast that I am, woe to me, 'tis useless to try to escape the vengeance of Mad Eyes!' "

Here, Martin interrupted. "Hmmm, very strange. It may be nonsense, but on the other hand it may not. Tears of all Oceans; Mad Eyes; claws stretching beyond sea and land? Sounds like a riddle to meas if this Mad Eyes is after those Tears, whatever they are. And why was Graylunk out there with Fermald's spoon?"

"I remember that dirge too," said the Abbot. "The weasel carried on moaning and whining in such a manner, until even the most patient Abbeybeast grew tired of his ceaseless dirge. There was only one who had any sympathy for Graylunk, and that was Fermald the Ancient."

Martin polished the buckthorn spoon fondly upon his sleeve. "Ah yes, poor old Fermald, may fates rest kindly upon her. What an odd little squirrel, always saying verse and talking in riddles. I've heard it said that overlong seasons may sometimes do that to a creature. Fermald retreated into the curious world her mind had created. Maybe it was a nice place for her to be, she was always smiling and contented. She lived alone in the attics above the dormitories; perhaps the answer to this mystery lies somewhere there. Oh, I'm sorry, Rollo, please carry on."

The Recorder put aside his journal, shrugging. "There's not much more to tell. Fermald took Graylunk up to her attic, they ate, talked and slept there. Hardly anybeast in Redwall recalled seeing the weasel for six or seven days. Then one morning Fermald came to the kitchens for food and took only sufficient for one."

Again the Abbot recalled the incident. "Ah yes, excuse me, Rollo, I was there that day helping Higgle to make an upside-down cake. So I asked Fermald why she was not taking food for her guest, and she replied just one word. Gone! Remembering the deep skull wound Graylunk had, I asked her if he were dead and gone. Her answer was very cryptic."

Martin leaned forward in his chair, saying, "Do you recall what she said, Father Abbot?"

Durral sat back, folding both paws into his wide sleeves and closing his eyes. "Indeed I do," he said. "Fermald spoke in rhyme. The lines stuck in my mind for no good reason.

“ Dead and gone, no, gone to be dead,

Following the crack that runs through his head.

From beyond the sunset, they will appear,

Tell them, the weasel was never here.

Remember my words and use them someday,

To keep the wrath of Mad Eyes away!"

In the silence that followed there was a noise from the far corner by the stairs. Swiftly Martin held a paw to his lips and moved quietly across Great Hall, followed by Rollo. They were almost halfway to the source of the noise when Clecky went dashing past them, paws slapping noisily on the stone-paved floor. Reaching the stair bottom, he held up two pieces of a pottery platter.

"Plate fell down the stairs, wot! That's all the noise was," he chortled. "Us hares don't miss a bally thing, even when we're scoffin'. I say, you chaps were a bit tardy there, tip-pawin' about like shrimps in a swamp, wot, wot?"

Martin went straight up the stairs at a run, while Rollo stood glaring frostily at the hare, explaining between gritted teeth, "Thank you very much, sir, for frightening away whoever was on those stairs listening to our conversation! Your great lolloping footpaws sent them off upstairs before we had a chance to see who it was!"

The mountain hare wiggled his long ears huffily. "Tut tut, sir! If you'd been a touch quicker, like I was, then you'd have the culprit by the jolly old heels!"

Rollo clenched his paws tightly in frustration.

"But you didn't get the culprit by the jolly old heels, did you? No, you ruined our chance to catch the eavesdropper quietly."

Clecky smiled disarmingly at the irate Recorder. "No cause to get upset, old feller, we all make mistakes. P'raps next time you'll take my advice an' nip along smartlike, eh!"

Then the outrageous hare went speedily back to the table, berating his dining partner. "I say there, shovelbeak, go easy on that woodland trifle! I've only had two portions yet. Think of others beside y'self, y'great feathered famine-fetcher!"

Martin came back down the stairs shaking his head at Rollo and the Abbot. "Couldn't see anybeast about up there. The young 'uns are all fast asleep and snoring. One of them may have left the plate on the stairs at bedtime; maybe it was balancing on a stair edge and it only took a slight draft to topple it."

Gerul the barn owl wiped meadowcream from his beak with a wingtip. "Arr, that's what meself thinks has happened, yer honor, sure a good puff of wind can blow even an owl tip o'er tail if the creature's not stood up properly, an' that's a fact, so 'tis!"

Abbot Durral put his paws about the shoulders of Martin and Rollo. "Perhaps friend Gerul is right. Now what we need is a nice gentle breeze to waft us upstairs; time for sleep, I think."

Martin fought back a yawn. "Good idea, Father Abbot," he agreed. "We'll talk more tomorrow over breakfast." He looked at the two visitors. "When you two have finished eating, perhaps you wouldn't mind sleeping on that rush mat by the fire for tonight. I'll have Brother Dormal fix proper accommodation for you tomorrow."

The owl waved a soup ladle at the retreating trio. "I thank ye kindly, sirs, the mat'll be fine fer the likes of us!"

Clecky put aside the trifle bowl he had been licking clean. "The likes of us indeed? Speak for y'self, cushionbottom, I'm puttin' me paws up in that big Abbot's chair yonder. Likes of us! Blinkin' drafty barn is all you're used to!"

"Aye, an' that's the truth, so 'tis. Me ould mother used to say better to be an owl in a barn than a prince in a palace, so she did."

"An' what, pray, did your old mother mean by that?"

"Sure how would I be knowin'? Sounds grand, though, doesn't it?"

"Oh, go an' boil your fat head. Goodnight!"

The Abbey was quiet and still as the fires burned low. Outside chill winds sighed and whined against Redwall's immovable stone. Though it was less than four hours to dawn, Martin lay awake, his mind picking over that evening's events. Graylunk's skeleton in the rocky fissure, Fermald's spoon, the Ancient's rhyme, an unknown creature called Mad Eyes and the mysterious eavesdropper who had listened to the conversation in Great Hall. What did it all mean?

Chapter 6

Conva the corsair had spent a perilous night in the Monitor barracks, huddled in a corner, shivering and hungry. The long-tongued lizards constantly watched him, their flat reptilian eyes appraising his trembling form. He did not know whether to feel fear or relief when two of them entered the barracks and hauled him off for an audience with the Emperor.

He was ushered into an upper room. The pine marten lounged on the sill of a broad window, open to the warm tropical noontide. Behind Ublaz, four great black-backed gulls perched on the window ledge. They were fearsome-looking birds, each with the characteristic red spot of their species adorning the tip of its heavy amber bill.

Mad Eyes' cruelty was legendary. Conva went rigid with terror, and his footpaws scrabbled against the floor as he resisted the Monitors dragging him into the room.

Ublaz was in no mood to be delayed. Fixing the corsair with a stare of icy contempt, he rapped harshly, "Cease struggling, idiot! If I wanted you dead you'd have been crabmeat yesterday. Sit at that table and do as I command!"

Quickly Conva seated himself. Ublaz leaned over, his silver dagger blade tapping a bark parchment and charcoal sticks, which lay on the table in front of the corsair. “You saw the six pearls, did you not, felt them, noted their shape, held the shell in which they were kept?" he snapped.

Conva nodded. "Aye, Mightiness."

The dagger blade tapped the corsair's paw lightly. "Good, then you can draw them for me, the pearls and the shell."

Conva picked up a charcoal stick hesitantly. "But I don't know if I'm any good at drawing, Sire ..."

Lifting Conva's chin with the blade, Ublaz said gently, warningly, "Perhaps you didn't hear me right, seascum. I said draw. If you wish to continue living ..."

Hastily Conva began sketching, answering the Emperor's questions as his paw guided the slim charcoal stick.

"None of the pearls was flawed or marked in any way?"

"No, Sire, all six were perfect, smooth and round."

"Were they of different sizes, some smaller than others?"

“ Each was exactly the same size, Sire, bigger than any pearls I have ever seen, something like this."

As Conva outlined the six orbs, Ublaz watched approvingly, saying, "See, you can sketch. Now, the color of these beauties?"

"Mightiness, they were a pale pink, not bright. In daylight they appeared soft and creamy, but by lantern light the pink showed warmer, like a budding rose."

"Very poetic, my friend. You are doing well. Tell me about the scallop shell they were kept in."

"It was a big deep-sea thing, Sire, both sides well ridged and whitish-yellow. Some skilled beast had given it hinges and a clasp carved from hardwood. Inside, the shell was lined with soft red cloth. There were six cuplike dents to hold the pearls as I recall, it looked like this."

When the corsair had finished sketching, Ublaz took the parchment. After inspecting the drawing he placed it in front of the four gulls on the window ledge. They gazed unblinkingly at the work.

Ublaz stared into the eyes of Grail, the leader of the black-backed gulls, concentrating all his mesmeric powers upon the huge bird. In a short time Grail was completely under the influence of the mad eyes and sinister voice.

“ Fly east to the shores of Mossflower land, and find the place called Redwall. Stay there and watch. Should you see the pearls or the case, seize them and bring them here to me! If you cannot do this then stop in the area, and wait until you sight Lask Frildur and those under his command. If they find the pearls give this token to him."

Ublaz took a pawring surmounted by a polished jetstone, and looped it on a thong around Grail's neck.

"My Monitor General will know this comes from me. Get the pearls from him and fly back here to Sampetra. Go now, ride the winds, make your wings fly faster than the waves of the sea. When you return I will reward you and your kin. Fly!"

''Kreeeehaaarkaa!''

With a long wailing cry the gulls took to the air, swooping off over the main, eastward.

The pine marten smoothed his creamy throat fur, gazing at his reflection in a burnished bronze wall mirror. He turned to Conva, who sat trembling at the table. "And you, my friend," he said, "what shall I do with you?"

The charcoal stick crumbled in the corsair's shaking paw as he tried to tear his gaze from the pine marten's frightening eyes. "Mighty One, let me live!" he whimpered.

Ublaz gripped Conva tight by his ears and stared down at him. "A simple request, but one I am unwilling to grant. You have seen and heard too much, Conva, far too much. Look into my eyes!"

Slashback the searat captain heard the clatter of paws and trident butts upon the jetty. He inched open the cabin door and peered out.

"Rats! Trident-rats!" he yelled. "The jetty's crowded with 'em! We're trapped aboard this boat, mates!"

Barranca grabbed his sword and made for the door, snarling, "We'll see 'ow they likes the taste of cold steel, eh, mates!"

Slashback slammed the door shut. "Stay yer paw or y'll get us all carved up. There's too many of 'em, we'd be fishbait afore we got 'alfway along the jetty!"

The stoat captain Rocpaw slumped down and refilled his beaker. "Hah! This is a great start to an uprisin', us trapped aboard ship, an' our crews all ashore separated from their cap'ns. Now's the time fer bright ideas, anybeast got one?"

Slashback had cracked open the door again to watch what was going on outside. "Well, they ain't made a move yet, just stannin' there, an' Sagitar lookin' well pleased with 'erself," he said. "Ahoy, 'ere comes ole Mad Eyes 'isself with a gang of 'is Monitors."

Barranca still had his sabre at the ready. "Let's sit tight 'ere anear wot Ublaz has t'say. I ain't goin' out there fer a starin' match with that one!"

There was a pause in the proceedings, then the sound of the Emperor's voice reached the rebels in the cabin. "Friends, brethren of the seas, have you got grievances? Come out here and tell them to me!"

Barranca half opened the cabin door and shouted back, "Ho, we got grievances all right, but we ain't stupid, we can state 'em comf'table from 'ere! We ain't takin' no more orders from you, Ublaz. Our crews outnumber you an' yer gang!"

"Be reasonable, friends, fighting will get us nowhere," Ublaz replied, signaling Sagitar to start the Trident-rats moving further up the jetty towards the ship. "Come up to my palace. I will lay on a feast while we talk things out..."

Suddenly Barranca burst out onto the deck waving his sabre and yelling, "Ahoy the taverns! Corsairs ahoy!"

The bold move was successful. In an instant, searats and corsairs began piling out of the waterfront dens adjacent to the jetty.

Ublaz turned, pointing his silver dagger at them. "Stay back, keep out of this! It concerns only me, Ublaz, and those aboard the Freebooter!"

Bilgetail the weasel captain came out on deck followed by the other captains. In a booming voice, the tall somber weasel called to the crews, "Stand by to rush 'em, buckoes! If they puts a single paw t'this deck, then charge!"

Barranca and Rocpaw had positioned themselves fore and aft; they stood by the head and stern mooring ropes, swords drawn. Barranca knew that Ublaz had lost the element of surprise, but he had also figured that if the vermin crews charged, they could be easily fended off by Trident-rats defending the narrow jetty. Moreover, if an attack were mounted, Ublaz and the front ranks of Monitors and Trident-rats would swarm aboard and slaughter the captains before the crews could get to them.

Barranca's brain was as nimble as his paws. Keeping his face averted from Ublaz, he called out his demands. "Order yore soldiers not to make any sudden moves an' we'll tell our crews t'do likewise. But we're finished payin' tribute to you, Ublaz. As for the timber stocks yore holdin'share 'em out atwixt the cap'ns. Oh, an' you kin release my brother Conva, now! Yore days of imprisonin' us is over!"

A cold fury gripped the Emperor. He pointed his dagger at Barranca, snarling, "This is my island. I alone rule here. I am Emperor Ublaz and none dare look at my eyes! Seascum do not dictate terms to me, Barranca. Ask your brotherhe is an even bigger fool than you!"

Ublaz signaled to his Monitors. Four of the lizards strode forward with a sailcloth-wrapped bundle, and slammed it down on the jetty. The bundle burst open, revealing the mangled carcass of Conva.

The mad-eyed Emperor laughed coldly, and said, "This one thought he was a bird. I merely looked at him and he tried to fly out of a high window!"

Barranca was still with horror for an instant, then he roared his hatred at the pine marten. "I'll live to close those evil eyes of yores fer good, Ublaz! This is war! Cut 'er loose, Rocpaw, 'tis waaaaaar!

Rocpaw slashed down twice on the stern rope as Barranca sliced through the headrope with a single blow of his sabre. The ship Freebooter drifted out from the jetty on the ebbing tide, sailing free as the captains loosed her sails. Bilgetail bellowed to the vermin crews milling about on the waterfront. "Retreat to the hills, arm yerselves an' wait 'till we give the word, cullies! We'll take Sampetra fer ourselves, mates'tis war!"

Whooping and screeching, the wave vermin dashed off behind the harbor into the high ground.

Ublaz placed a restraining paw on the shoulder of Sagitar. "Let them go, they are naught but a rabble without leaders. Take a crew of Trident-rats and commandeer Slashback's ship, the Bloodkeel. Hunt Barranca down, slay the other captains, but bring Barranca to me. I want him alive!"

Chapter 7

Grath Longfletch notched another shaft to her bowstring and waited for the next searat to emerge from behind the longboat hauled high above the tideline. From where she sat in the rocks the deadly otter commanded an uninterrupted view of the shore for miles around. She had slain five searats. Their bodies lay on the sands by the boat, each transfixed by a green-feathered arrow. Now only two more rats crouched behind the beached vessel.

Grath held the great bow firmly. Allowing its string to touch her cheek, she gazed down the arrow shaft, singing softly to herself as she waited for the quarry to materialize.

"Run from me, hide from me,

Still my shafts will find you.

All you vermin of the sea,

I must bring swift death to.

Lutra's Holt has not yet gone,

By my bow I swear it so,

I alone will carry on,

Wreaking vengeance where I go.

Run from me, hide from me,

Hear my longbow singing,

Grath of Lutra's family,

Sleep to you is bringing."

Sculrag the searat captain and his steersrat Karvil lay flat on the sand behind the stern of the single-sailed longboat that had once served as ship's dinghy for Sculrag's vessel, Spray raider.

Karvil whined continually. "Lookit, the tide's comin' in, an' we ain't got a crab's chance of gettin' off this shore. Why'd you tell 'em t'pull the boat up beyond the tideline? Why?"

Sculrag hurled a pawful of sand at the steersrat, but the breeze whipped it away before it found his face.

"Because the tide would've drifted it away while we was lookin' fer shellfish on those rocks, block'ead, that's why! Oh, an' while we're talkin' about rocks, who was the witless buffoon that ran me ship onto the rocks an' wrecked 'er. .. You!"

Sculrag kicked out viciously, catching Karvil painfully in his side, and raged on at the hapless steersrat. "A good ship an' two seasons' plunder lost! Huh, steersrat? I wouldn't let you steer a beaker round a bowl of grog! Twenty days in an open longboat, twenty days without vittles, livin' on barnacles an' rainwater! If I ever gets outta this mess I'm goin' to 'ang you upside down over the sea an' let the fishes nibble yore 'ead off, though they'll be out o' luck if they expects to find any brains in there!"

Quite unexpectedly Karvil kicked back, catching Sculrag square in his flabby stomach. The searat captain glared at his attacker as he fought for breath, and croaked, "Yer mutinous toad, 'tis the death penalty fer strikin' a ship's master!"

Sneering, Karvil avoided Sculrag's flailing paw and drew a dagger. The fact that he had hurt the searat made him bolder. "Yore no ship's master, slimeguts, you ain't got a ship no more! I'm sick of takin' orders from yer, see. Jus' try strikin' me once more an' you'll feel this 'ere blade!"

Sculrag kicked swiftly, sending the dagger spinning out onto the sand. Karvil kicked back, but Sculrag grabbed his footpaw and bit it hard. The steersrat screeched in agony as he pulled away, grabbing for the dagger. Breaking free, he scrambled out onto the sand and retrieved his blade.

Sssssthukk!

Karvil fell backward, the green-flighted shaft between his eyes.

Desperately Sculrag looked over his shoulder at the incoming tide. The longboat was fully twice its length away from the tideline. Reaching over the aft end, he groped madly about until his paw encountered the stern rope. It was made fast to the back seat. Sobbing with relief and panting, the searat captain began dragging the longboat backward, toward the sea and freedom. It was tough going. He dug his footpaws into the sand, and still lying flat, he tugged the longboat, inch by painful inch, its flat bottom scraping the shore. For interminable minutes he sweated, puffing, tugging and heaving, spitting sand from his mouth and wiping sweat from his eyes.

Sculrag was fat, but he was strong. Rewinding the rope around his shoulders, he dragged hard, digging his footpaws deep to gain purchase until he felt the waves lap at them. Sculrag smiled then, the wreck of his ship and the crew that was lost on the reef all forgotten. Whoever it was up in those rocks, they would not be adding him to the list of the slain. He, Sculrag, would escape, and once the longboat was in the sea and he could hoist the single sail to catch fair wind, he was certain nobeast alive would catch him. One more tug, just one more! His footpaws hit something solid and he glanced over his shoulder. Sculrag's blood ran cold as he stared into the vengeful eyes of Grath Longfletch.

Moonlight glimmered and danced across the restless waves as the longboat skimmed lightly south on the open seas. Grath was now captain of her own little vessel.

Every scrap of Waveworm' s canvas was stretched tight; she dipped her bows deep to the troughs of great waves. Spray hissed as she forged over the surface of endless steps, leaving behind a silvery wake, like the track of a giant snail.

Bladetail the steersrat wiped seawater from his eyes. He leaned hard on the long wooden tiller to keep the vessel on course, east, always east, to where the sun rose each dawn. Romsca the ferret stood at the helm, eyes on the horizon. She had been Conva's first mate; the Emperor Ublaz had promoted her to captain for this voyage. Romsca was as tough and fierce as any sea vermin, but she was under no illusions. She knew that she was dispensable. If Lask Frildur brought back the Tears of all Oceans, Ublaz would not bother what price had been paid to obtain them.

Romsca joined Bladetail at the tiller; glancing through the scupper slits, she watched the rate at which the waves passed by. "Well under way an' makin' good time, mate, like as if we're in an 'urry t'rush to our deaths, eh?"

The steersrat glanced nervously around. "Stow that gab, there might be Monitors cockin' a lug t'yer."

Romsca smiled thinly as she shook her head, saying, "Not today, messmate. I may be feared o' those lizards, an' that Lask Frildurevery time he looks at me my blood runs coldbut I ain't daft. We can gab away up 'ere an' they won't be bothered t'lissen in on us. Know why?"

Bladetail put a harness on the tiller to stop it wandering. "No, why?" he said.

Romsca tapped the side of her muzzle and winked. "Well, there's two reasons, see. I figgered it out fer meself when we first took those lizards aboard. One, they're lubbers, they been ashore all their lives an' this is their first voyage. Two, lizards like them are born in tropical parts, so it stands ter reason, they can't abide the cold. Now me'n'you an' all the crew, why, we love the feel of a rollin' deck 'neath our paws. An' as fer weather, we've been through it all, foul'n'fair as well as 'ot'n'cold!"

Bladetail looked at her blankly. "I don't see 'ow that 'elps us."

The ferret explained. "Good job y'got me t'look after yer. I put the Monitors in the best cabins, up for'ard, hahaha, where they gets the real buck an' pitch of the ship, up an' down, up an' down, night'n'day. If you wants ter see a sick green lizard, take a look in the for'ard accommodation. Lask Frildur an' his gang are all laid out there, moanin' an' groanin' like they wanna die.

"Now, as we sail further east the weather gets colder, it ain't tropical no more. Ole Mad Eyes never thought o' that, but I did. So, mate, we won't 'ave no lizards bossin' us about on this trip. No sir, lizards like them can't stand the cold, take my word fer it!"

Bladetail thought for a moment, then the logic of Romsca's words hit him, and the steersrat started to guffaw aloud. "Ahawhawhaw! Yer a canny one, Cap'n, hawhaw!"

Romsca kicked his footpaw suddenly, muttering low, “Stow that cackle, 'ere comes ole Lask 'isself!"

The Monitor General's skin, which was normally gray-blue, had a definite tinge of unhealthy green to it. Hauling himself painfully over the for'ard cabin coamings, he staggered, shivering and holding tight to the deckrails.

The big Monitor's dull muddy eyes stared accusingly at Romsca. "It'z not good on waterz," he said. "Me and my Monitorz much ill. How far to Mozzflower, tell me!"

Romsca paced the heaving deck nonchalantly, gazing up at the sky and testing the wind with a dampened paw. "Oh, I'd say quite a stretch o' time yet, though if'n we lose this fair wind or run into proper rough seas, then who c'd say?"

"Proper rough zeaz!" Lask Frildur's eyes glazed over, and his jaw sagged visibly. "You mean it can get rougher than thiz?"

Bladetail was enjoying himself. "Bless yer scales, Gen'ral, you ain't seen rough water yet?' he said jovially. "Why, the sea's as still as a millpond today, ain't that right, mate?"

Romsca agreed wholeheartedly. "Aye, 'tis so, but don't you worry, sir. The Emperor said to deliver you an' yore Monitors to Mossflower shores, an' I gave 'im me solemn oath that I would. The seas'll get big as mountains an' there'll be blizzards with ice thick on the riggin's, but don't you fret yer scaly 'ead, we'll get yer there one way or t'other. You take a seabeast's advice now, sir, go an' lay down in yer cabin. Let these gentle waves rock yer to sleep. I'll send Rubby the cook along later with yore dinner, some nice fish guts boiled in ole tallowfat..."

"Bloooaaargh!"

Lask Frildur clapped both paws to his mouth and staggered off miserably to his cabin, bowed and shivering.

Romsca and Bladetail leaned against the tiller, cackling helplessly.

"Wohawhawhaw! Fish guts boiled in tallowfat, that's a good 'un!"

"Haharrharrharr! Follered by a cold pan o' greasy killy, that should bring the roses back to 'is scaly ole cheeks. Haharr!"

Chapter 8

Bright spring dawn, with no traces of the night's gale, was scarce an hour old over Redwall when little Arven flung himself on Tansy's bed in the sick bay and began buffeting her with a pillow.

"Wakey up, Tanzee, sleepyspike, dozypaws!"

With a bound the young hedgehog maid was out of bed and attacking back with her pillow. "Dozypaws, eh, you little maggot! Take that, an' that!"

The pillowcase caught on a bedpost and ripped; downy feathers flew about like snowflakes in a breeze. They both fell back on the bed giggling helplessly amid the whirling cascade.

"So, this is how villains behave in my sick bay!" said Sister Cicely, standing in the open doorway, paws akimbo. "I was going to bring you both breakfast in bed. Silly me, to think that you were still sick and exhausted and needed rest."

Tansy was about to speak when a feather tickled her nose and she sneezed. "Ah, a, a, choooo!"

Arven smiled innocently at the indignant mouse Sister.

"I fink Tanzee gotta cold."

The good Sister's paw was wagging furiously at the miscreants. "That's enough of your impudence, Dibbun. No breakfast for either of you until this mess is cleared up! Arven, get a broom and sweep up those feathers. Tansy, get needle and thread, repair that pillow and stuff those feathers back into it, this instant!"

Cicely stood over them as they went to work, still scolding. "When you've done that, I want to see those beds made, properly! Oh yes, and while you're up here, you can shake out the rush mats at the window and dust the shelves and cupboard tops!"

She stormed out, slamming the door. Immediately Arven placed his paws on his sides and began imitating Sister Cicely. "Tanzee panzee brush uppa floor, worra mess I never see'd in my life! Dearie grayshuss, likkle villains!"

Tansy shook with laughter and sneezed until tears were running down her cheeks. Then a knock sounded upon the door.

"Can't come in 'less you a villain or a maggit!" Arven called cheerfully.

Teasel the hogwife popped her head around the doorjamb. "Great seasons, m'dears, what's bin goin' on up 'ere?"

Tansy stopped sneezing and regained control of herself. "Oh, nothing really, missus Stump, it was an accident, but Sister Cicely said we've got to clean the whole sick bay before we're allowed any breakfast. Come on, Arven, get sweeping."

Teasel chuckled as she watched the youngsters floundering about amidst the feathers. "You'll be 'ere this time tomorrer at that rate, young 'uns. Get you down to brekkist, I'll clean up 'ere. 'Twon't take long."

Arven and Tansy hugged the kindly hogwife gingerly, careful of her spikes. Teasel patted their heads, saying, "Go on with you, be off afore I changes me mind!"

The pair fled downstairs, yelling their thanks.

Tansy and Arven joined the serving line at the kitchen doorway. Clecky, who was before them, turned to Gerul and remarked, "D'you see what I mean? Strange creatures in this place, wot? Look here behind me, a little hedgehog bird, jolly odd, eh?"

Tansy, picking feathers out of her headspikes, said, "I'm a hedgehog, sir, my name's Tansy, and he's Arven, my friend."

The brown and white mottled hare made an elegant leg and bowed. “Pleased tmeet you, I'm sure. My name's Clecky and this chap is known as Gerul."

Tansy nodded. "I know."

Clecky wrinkled his nose inquisitively at her. "Oh? An' how pray did you know, missie?"

Tansy was taken by surprise. "Er, er, I think somebeast told me .. ." Thinking quickly, she took Clecky's mind off the enquiry by saying, "You're next, sir, you'd better jump to it if you want breakfast!"

The mention of food distracted the hare, who began jostling Gerul. "Not so fast, y'feathered frump, it's my turn t'get bally well served. Don't fret y'beak, there'll be plenty left for you!"

The owl lost out; he was forced to step aside as his companion loaded up an oversized platter. "Plenty left fer me, d'you say? Ah, I'm not so sure with you helpin' yerself to all an' sundry, sir." He turned and winked at Arven. "Sure he's a tumble creature at eatin' that one is, 'tis a fact."

Tansy steered Arven to a back bench, well out of the way of Sister Cicely. They sat between the molemaid Diggum and Viola bankvole. Tansy kept her head down, applying herself hungrily to hot oatcakes, honey and a beaker of greensap milk.

Viola sipped mint tea, not looking at Tansy but pointedly remarking aloud to others within hearing range, "I've heard that certain creatures won't be allowed to take Dibbuns out into Mossflower Wood again, 'cos they get into trouble and come back home very, very late, and filthy too, smocks torn, dirty paws'n'faces. Anyhow, that's what I've heard!"

Diggum looked up from a bowl of barleymeal. "Hoo urr, who'm tol' ee that, missie Voler?"

Viola pursed her lips prissily. "That's for me to know and you t'find out, so there!"

Arven gave a wink to Diggum; the mole twitched her nose knowingly in return and pointed across to another table further up. "Wurr et thatbeast oo tol' ee, that 'un thurr?"

Viola turned to look, craning her neck. "Where?"

As she turned away, Arven slid Diggum's bowl of warm barleymeal porridge to one side, pointing and saying, "There, tha' likklemouse, can't y'see 'im?"

Viola slid off the bench and stood on tip-paw. "Where, which creature do you mean, silly?"

Arven quietly placed the porridge bowl in the spot where Viola had been sitting, and said, "Too late, 'e finished an' gone now."

Viola heaved a sigh of exasperation and sat down with a flounce.

Splodge!

Martin, who was sitting at the top table with the elders and Redwall's two latest guests, heard the wail set up by Viola bank-vole.

"What's going on over there?" he said, starting to rise from his seat.

Auma pressed him back down with a firm paw. “Only Dibbuns and young 'uns fooling about, I'll attend to it."

Rollo peered over the top of his glasses. "It's Viola, I might have known, if she sits next to Tansy there's bound t'be trouble."

The hedgehog maid's name stirred Clecky's memory, and he leaned across to Martin. "A word in your shell-like ear, old chap," he said. "I was just thinkin', I introduced myself an' Gerul to that pretty hogmaid this mornin' in the breakfast line. Funny thing, when I told her our names she said she already knew them. Well, I jolly well asked her how, an' she muttered summat about already bein' told by some beast or other. Point is, all your young 'uns were abed by the time we reached the Abbey. How could she have known my name if she was fast asleep?''

Martin stroked his chin pensively as the answer became clear. "Hmmm, our little eavesdropper on the stairs last night."

Gerul gazed owlishly at a half-demolished cheese flan on his plate. "Hah! Yer right, sir, indeed y'are. Like me ould mother used t'say, a hog on the stairs is worth two hares in a hamper, an' that's a fact, so 'tis!"

Martin smiled at the irrepressible owl. "Your mother must have been a very wise bird, Gerul. Hush now, here's Auma bringing the culprits for sentence."

The badger Mother led Viola and Tansy up to the main table, halting them both in front of Abbot Durral. "Stand up straight now, both of you, don't slouch," she said sternly. "Tell the Father Abbot what you've been up to, the truth mind!"

Viola's voice was a tearful whimper. "She made me sit in a bowl of porridge, Father Abbot!"

Tansy's voice was indignant. "No I never! Even though you were teasing me!"

Hiding a smile. Abbot Durral stroked his whiskers slowly. "Fighting among yourselves, little maids, this is very serious! What d'you say, Martin?''

The Warriormouse kept his face straight. "Make them promise never to do it again. Kiss and make up, I say."

Tansy was just about to protest again when she happened to glance at the table where Arven was shifting from paw to paw looking decidedly uncomfortable.

"Well, all right," she said stiffly, giving Viola a swift peck, "I'm sorry I made you sit in the porridge. I'll never do it again. Sorry!"

Auma shook a huge paw at Viola. "Wipe that smile off your face, miss. Viola, apologize to Tansy."

The bankvole kept her lips pursed tight as they brushed her enemy's face. "Sorry for teasing you, never do it again!"

"There!" said Martin, sitting back, satisfied that justice had been done.

Auma gave him a look that would have curdled milk. "Is that all?" she demanded.

Glancing meaningfully at Martin, Rollo the Recorder interrupted. "We can't have young maids arguing and teasing and sitting in good porridge. I think they should be taught a lesson."

Then Arven and Diggum wandered up sheepishly paw in paw. They had decided to own up to their part in the trouble.

"Zurr h'Abbot, et wurr moi porridge as she sitted in."

"An' I'm a maggit, I maked 'er look away so she din't see."

Abbot Durral made a swift decision. "Right, I sentence you both to play in the orchard all day; and for arguing, Viola can clean the gatehouse from top to bottom and Tansy can sweep the dormitory stairs."

After breakfast Martin took a stroll in the Abbey grounds with Rollo, Clecky and Gerul. A high sun was warm on their backs as they enjoyed the fine spring morn.

Martin threw a paw across the old Recorder's shoulders. "I've been thinking. Tansy is alone near the dormitories. If she was the listener on the stairs, I'll wager she goes up to Fermald's attic."

The mountain hare winked at Martin. "Well, what d'ye think, Warrior, time we sneaked upstairs to see what young miss Tansy's about, eh?"

He strode off jauntily in the direction of the Abbey. As they followed, Rollo commented to Martin, "It's good to have a hare in our Abbey again. There's not been one since old Basil in the time of your father, remember him?"

Martin smiled at some half-forgotten recollection. "Aye, just about. I recall my father telling me that despite how they look, hares are dangerous and perilous beasts. Let's hope Clecky lives up to the reputation if trouble ever visits us."

Chapter 9

The spiral stone staircases from Cavern Hole and Great Hall up to the Abbey dormitories needed only the lightest skim with a broom; they were passably clean before Tansy began her chore. It was the stairs above, from dormitory to attics, which intrigued the young hedgehog maid. She swept her broom along the bedroom corridor, glancing nervously to where the upper stairs were situated at the end of the passage. Curving up into the darkness, they looked very forbidding and gloomy. Tansy brushed the first three steps, conscious of the echoing swish her straw broomhead made in the eerie silence. Finally curiosity overcame her fear and, abandoning her work, she gripped the broomhandle like a quarterstave and trod silently, keeping to the broad edge of the spiraling wedges of stone, upward into the dim, dusty attics.

Peering down a passage, Tansy saw a pale shaft of light and crept forward to investigate. She came to a long, low-ceilinged room with light filtering through a high cobwebbed window of chunked crystal. Picking her way through the jumble of musty furniture, Tansy knew she had found the dwelling of Fermald the Ancient. Locating lamp, flint and tinder, the hogmaid soon had better illumination for her exploration. It was a sad and lonely place, furnished by the old squirrel with forgotten odds and ends she had found in this and other attic chambers. Dust rose in a small cloud as Tansy plumped down into a battered armchair.

"Found anything interesting, missie?"

Unable to stifle a shriek, the hedgehog maid leapt up.

Martin and Rollo strode into the attic, followed by Clecky and Gerul. Tansy began stammering and sweeping, avoiding the eyes of the Warrior and the Recorder as she tried to make up excuses. "I was ... er, I just... atting the brushic . .. er, I mean brushing the attic ... !"

Rollo held a sleeve across his nose and mouth, saying, “Will you stop stirring the dust, missie! Put that broom down!"

Martin sat in the armchair, bringing his eyes level with Tansy's. "Why were you sneaking about on the stairs last night, listening in on our conversation?"

The hogmaid fumbled with the corner of her apron. "I wasn't sneaking, sir. I woke up in the sick bay, it was dark and I was hungry. Then I remembered, as you were taking me and Arven back home through the woodlands, you said something about a feast. So I came downstairs; it was very quiet and I heard voices. I peeped around the stairs and saw the feast was over. I couldn't help hearing what you were talking about and I didn't want to disturb you, but then I trod on a plate that some Dibbun had left on the stairs and it broke and clattered down. So I dashed straight back up to bed ..."

Rollo perched on the chair arm. "But you obviously heard all that we said about Graylunk and Fermald and the time they spent together up here."

Tansy stared miserably at the dusty floor. "Yes sir, I couldn't help but hear, it sounded so interesting and exciting, that poem the Abbot recited and all. I wanted to come up here and look for clues. I was only trying to help."

Martin felt sympathetic to the little maid. He patted her paw and said, "Yes, I'm sure you did, Tansy, but there's not much up here to see, is there? A few old sticks of furniture and lots of dust, and you shouldn't be up here really, should you? It was your job to sweep the dormitory stairs. Obedience is one of the first things young 'uns learn at Redwall."

A light of indignation arose in Tansy's eyes. “But I did sweep the dormitory stairs, both flights. You must have noticed that when you came sneaking up here after me. Sir!"

Clecky burst out laughing at the hogmaid's pert reply. "Ha-haharr! She's got y'there, Martin, those stairs looked clean enough t'me, wot! By the left, marm, you're a snippy little 'un an' no mistake!"

Rollo was smiling too. "She's right, Martin, we did come sneaking up here after her; and give Tansy her due, the stairs are well brushed. Righto, missie, your chores are done for the day. Away with you now and play out in the sunlight. Dirty old attics are no place for a pretty one like you on a bright spring day."

Martin took Tansy by the paw, as she seemed reluctant to leave the attic. "Come on, Tansy pansy, I've got another job for you. If I recall rightly this is Abbot Durral's seventh season as Father Abbot of Redwall. Here's a good idea: supposing you and our two guests here went to the kitchens and baked him a surprise cake!"

Clecky rubbed his paws with delight. "I say, what a spiffin' wheeze! I bet ole Abbot Thingummy'd be highly jollificated to get a surprise cake, what d'you think, Gerul?"

The owl blinked furiously. "Aye, that he would, sir. Me ould mother always said, there's nothin' like a surprise when yer not expectin' it, 'tis surprisin' how it can surprise yer!"

Clecky led the way downstairs enthusiastically. "Oh, tickety boo! I've never made a cake before, you'll have t'show me an' Gerul how it's done, young hog m'gel!"

Tansy found herself as excited by the prospect as her companions. "Well, the first thing you need is spotless clean paws, then we'll ask Friar Higgle to give us an oven to ourselves an' a big table. We'll need fruit an' nuts, cream too, lots of it, oh, honey as well, an' a beaker of October ale to go in the mix Father Abbot likes good dark cake, nice an' moist..."

Martin winked at Rollo as the happy voices receded downstairs. "Sounds like fun, shall we go down and watch?"

The Recorder slid from the chair arm into the seat vacated by his friend. "No, you go, Martin. I want to stay up here a bit and have a think and a glance around."

When the attic was quiet, Rollo sat alone in the armchair. He sighed and leaned back, then, closing his eyes, he let his paws stray down the sides of the seat cushion.

************************************

Tansy stood on a stool, checking the ingredients spread around the tabletop next to the oven.

"Hmm, I think that's everything. Gerul, would you tip the flour into the bowl, please? Mister Clecky sir, stop that!"

"Yowch! I say, that jolly well hurt!"

Tansy brandished the wooden mixing spoon under the hare's nose. "Then stop pinching the hazelnuts! They're supposed to go in the cake mix, not into your fat tummy! That's enough flour, Gerul; now you add the greensap milk slowly and Clecky can stir. I'll dribble the honey in bit by bit like this. Oh, and just let me catch you trying to lick that spoon, Clecky flopears!"

The hare stirred vigorously, muttering rebelliously to himself. "Humph! Lick the spoon indeed, bossy little spikebonce, what's the point of makin' a cake if a chap can't lick the bally old spoon once in a while, prickly little slavedriver!"

Hazelnuts, chestnuts, almonds and beechnuts were added to the mix under Tansy's watchful eye, though she missed Gerul taking a quick swig of October ale because she was busy checking on the hare pouring in a small noggin of dark elderberry wine. Friar Higgle chuckled as he watched Tansy's efforts to supervise the gluttonous pair whilst concentrating on her mixture.

"Tch, tch, Gerul, take those dried apple rings off that talon!"

"Mmm, I say, these little purply things are just the job!"

"You villain! Stay away from my dried plums. Mind out, let me get this crystallized fruit in the bowl before you two get your thieving paws into it!"

The cake mix was finally emptied into a circular oven dish that had been lined with thin maple bark soaked in vegetable oil to prevent the cake from sticking. Tansy allowed the hare and owl to place it in the oven whilst she got the covering ready.

Clecky's ears stood up and his nose twitched. "What ho, m'gel, is that cream an' marchpane I see, wot?"

Narrowing her eyes fiercely, Tansy shook the ladle at them both. “Yes it is. Keep your distancego and get more charcoal for the oven firesdo something useful!"

Clecky sniffed indignantly. "Tchah! Have a care, marm, we're chefs, not stokers. Here you, small molechap, more fuel for the oven fires, smartly now!"

The young mole whom Clecky addressed was quite taken aback. He saluted the hare and dashed off to get charcoal.

Gerul clacked his beak admiringly, remarking to Friar Higgle, "Isnt he the good one at the givin' of orders, sir? Why, if I wasn't so disobedient to him I'd obey him meself, so I would!"

Higgle stepped in and came to Tansy's rescue. "You carry on mixin' the cream, missie; I'll set these two to rollin' out marchpane."

The good Friar instructed them both in the use of the golden doughy mixture. "This 'ere's marchpane, see. 'Tis made from ground almonds, stiff comb honey an' sweetchestnut flour. Mister Clecky, you take this roller an' roll it out flat, so's it'll go over the cake afore Tansy tops it off with meadowcream. Now, Gerul sir, I wants you t'make seven lovely round balls with this lump o' marchpane. They'll go atop of the cake for Father Abbot's seven seasons. Look busy now, sirs, an' mind, no nibblin'. Martin, will you stand by with yore great sword an' keep an eye on 'em?"

The Warriormouse chuckled. "Oh, I won't need my sword, Higgle, this copper ladle should do!"

Chapter 10

Rollo knew from experience how many times he had lost things only to find them again down the sides of his armchair in the gatehouse. He smiled, producing a parchment scroll from a gap between cushion and chair. Fermald the Ancient had not been very different from him when she lived. Balancing his lantern on the chair arm and donning his spectacles, the old Recorder carefully unfastened the ribbon from the parchment and unrolled it. The writing was thin and spidery, but quite legible.

Unusual it is to call a vermin friend, but this weasel Graylunk, a poor lonely creature whose mind was sore troubled by his past, I call him friend. But why? Have not the vermin, more so those who come from the seas, always been the foebeast? I call Graylunk friend because he called me friend. Creatures below stairs did not understand him, they grew weary of his constant weeping. But I knew by the deep wound in his head that he could not help behaving in the way that he did. Ah, cruel wound! to cut short the seasons of one still young.

Death is no stranger to me, I could see its mark upon Graylunk and I did all in my power to make his last days comfortable. He told me of many things; together we sat in this dusty attic, I listened to his words and in my mind I was transported, far over the seas to where there is no winter. In my imagination I saw the surf booming against the warm coast of Sampetra and learned of the Emperor Mad Eyes. My friend had led a wicked life, but in his final days he repented of all evil. Though I tried to set his mind at ease, he was troubled, frightened of the vengeance that would stretch across the ocean to claim him. Graylunk told me a secret and begged me to speak of it to no living creature.

One morning I awoke and he was gone, fled from this Abbey to die alone someplace where he would not bring evil upon me, his friend. One day, if I still live, I will stand before those who follow him from afar and I will do as my friend told me, I will deny that ever I knew of him. I will say Graylunk was never within the walls of this Abbey. In this way I will try to keep Redwall safe, for it is my home.

As for the secret my friend imparted to me, I will keep my promise and never speak of it to any living creature. I will not speak, but I will write, lest the Tears of all Oceans remain forever lost. Someday they may be needed for a great purpose. Graylunk left the Tears with me, a final gift to his only friend. When I am gone the only one to possess them will be the creature with the wit and wisdom to find them. The Tears would only bring grief and death to a beast with little sense. I have spoken in my dreams to the spirit who long ago founded Redwall, Martin the Warrior of old, and I know what I do now is right.

To the goodbeast whose name I do not know, nor ever shall, I say this. Seek and find the Tears of all Oceans, be not blinded by their beauty, use them wisely.

Look not up, nor to the four main points,

But where our paws do tread, the dead oak joints.

There wrought by mother nature 'neath the main

Lies that which holds the beauty, or the bane.

Rollo folded the parchment carefully, concealing it within his wide habit sleeve. Then he took the lantern and made his way downstairs. The old Recorder's mind coiled with Fermald's testament, unanswered questions and the baffling rhyme. He joined Martin in the kitchens where, in low tones, a brief conversation was held.

"Martin, I found a strange parchment, written by the Ancient."

"I knew you'd find something, Rollo, that's why I left you up there on your own. Where was this parchment hidden?"

"Down the side cushions of Fermald's armchair, though I don't think the rest of this mystery is going to be so easily solved."

"Hmm, only what we'd expect, I suppose. Fermald was a quaint and devious creature. We must investigate it fully, but later, not now. Take a look at the antics of our cake-making crew; they've had these kitchens in uproar since they started."

All Redwall kitchen work had ceased; Friar Higgle and Teasel with the rest of their workers watched with much merriment as Tansy supervised her unruly helpers. The cake had baked perfectly, and now stood cooling on a stone ledge. Tansy had beaten the meadowcream until it was right for spreading.

Gerul helped her to lift the cake down onto the table, saying, "Great seasons, missie, sure an' I never smelt anythin' as wonderful as this cake in all me life! 'Tis a tribute to ye!"

Smiling, the hedgehog maid thanked the owl for his compliment, rounding on Clecky in the same breath.

"Why, thank you, Gerul. Mister Clecky! Put a paw near that bowl of cream and I'll chop it off!"

The rascally hare bowed low, the picture of nobility and injured innocence. “For shame, marm, how could you accuse me of such foul deeds? Why, I'd chop me own paw off before I'd use it to steal cream!"

Swiftly Tansy turned on Gerul, judging by the laughter behind her back that something was going on. "Gerul, take those talons out of that marchpane this instant!"

"Who, me, marm? I was only makin' pretty liddle patterns on it!"

Taking advantage of Tansy's back, Clecky scooped a glob of meadowcream with the tip of his ear, bending it skillfully into his mouth. The assembled Redwallers fell about laughing, but Tansy was not amused.

"I told you I'd chop those paws off if you put them near my cream," she snapped.

Clecky appealed to the onlookers. "I say, what a vile accusation! Did anybeast see me put a paw near that bally cream bowl? No! So, miss fussyapron, what proof have you that I've been anywhere near your blinkin' cream, eh?''

Tansy pursued him round the table with a ladle. "What proof? It's all over your whiskers, you fuzzy-faced fraud!"

Friar Higgle stepped in and restored order, then he helped them to drape the marchpane over their cake and trim it neatly. Teasel took a flat palette knife and spread the meadowcream expertly over the marchpane, then she wrapped the seven balls of marchpane in pink rose petals preserved in honey. There were gasps of admiration from the kitchen helpers at the finished confection. The cake was an absolute beauty, standing on a large tray surrounded by pale flaked almonds, candied angelica leaves and preserved damsons. Teasel had whirled the meadowcream artfully in waving patterns around the cake, leaving it flat and smooth on top. Everybeast watched breathlessly whilst Tansy gingerly placed the seven pink petal-wrapped marchpane balls around the top of Abbot Durral's cake.

"There, one for each of Father Abbot's seven seasons," she said. "Now, let's hide it over in the gatehouse until this evening."

Carrying the tray between them, Tansy and Higgle walked carefully out of the kitchens towards the Abbey door. Clecky and Gerul hovered about them, shouting needless orders.

"Steady there, chaps, hold your side level, missie!"

"Hey, you there, keep out of the way. Somebeast open the door!"

When they were outside on the Abbey lawns, Tansy finally lost her temper with Clecky and Genii's harassments.

"Look, go away, begone, the pair of you. We'll be bound to drop this cake if you keep hovering round and getting in the way!''

As they turned to go, Friar Higgle noticed the hare was eating something. His suspicions were confirmed as he took a swift count of the rose-petal-covered marchpane balls.

"I knew it, there's only six here! That rogue has stolen one an' scoffed it!" the Friar announced.

Tansy nearly dropped her end of the tray as she wailed aloud, "Oh, the beastly glutton, my surprise cake is ruined!"

"Well, at least we've got rid of those two now," the good Friar comforted her. "Don't worry, missie, there's enough marchpane an' petals left to make another. I'll do it as soon as we get back to the kitchens, don't fret."

Martin and Teasel remonstrated with the hare as he loped chuckling into the Abbey followed by Gerul.

"We saw you from the doorway, Clecky, that was a pretty swift trick!"

The hare swallowed the remains of his plunder guiltily. "Who, me? There's nothing in my mouth, take a look, old chap."

"Yore a villain an' a glutton, mister Clecky, an' I don't know which is the worse o' the two!" So saying, Teasel shook a pudding spoon angrily under the hare's nose, but before she could say more there was a shrill screaming, squawking and shouting from down by the gatehouse.

Martin leapt into action. "What'n the name of fur's going on out there?" he shouted, and dashed out, followed by Clecky and Gerul.

Tansy and Friar Higgle were only a short distance from the gatehouse when the attack took place. Four big black-backed gulls dropped out of the sky onto them, knocking the cake to the grass. Two gulls flew at Higgle and Tansy, beating with wings, webbed talons and huge beaks, while the other two pounced on the cake and began snatching the rose-colored orbs from it, their harsh cries of triumph ringing out.

"Kaareeeaaah! Kreeeghaaa!"

Suddenly Gerul was amongst them like a thunderbolt. At the sight of the hulking young barn owl the two gulls immediately left off despoiling the Abbot's cake and took wing. Gerul hurled himself upon the gull that had Tansy upon the ground, and locked talon and beak with the invader as it tried to fly off. Martin came speeding to the rescue of Higgle, closely followed by Clecky. Grabbing the elmboard cake tray, the Warriormouse broke it in half over the gull's back; Clecky swiftly gathered Tansy and Higgle to him and threw them down, shielding them with his body. Martin managed to get one more crack at his gull with half the cake tray before it hopped off and flopped awkwardly into the air.

The bird Gerul had taken on was not so lucky; the owl's powerful talons and savage hooked beak did their work with blurring speed, and the gull lay slain by the gatehouse door.

Redwallers poured out of the Abbey and across the lawns. Headed by Auma the badger Mother and Abbot Durral, a crowd arrived at the scene in front of the gatehouse. Everybeast was shouting at once.

"Oh woe, what's happened here?"

“ Was it eagles or hawks, did anybeast see?''

"Go 'way, silly, can't y' see that's a dead seagull!"

"Hurr, seagully burd, ee'm a gurt big 'un, boi ecky ee is!"

Between them, Auma, the Abbot and Foremole restored order.

"Stand back there, please, keep those Dibbuns away from that bird!"

"Yurr, coom out o' ee way. Froir 'iggle, missie, be you'm 'urted?"

Auma inspected Friar and hogmaid. "Yes, they're both a bit battered and scratched one way or another. Dormal, Wullger, you others, carry them both up to Sister Cicely on the sick bay. Martin, what is that creature?"

The Warriormouse was inspecting the bird's body. He shook his head and scanned the sky. "It's a gull, but I've never seen any this big come as far inland as Redwall. There were four of them altogetherno sign of the other three now, they got out of here fast. Friend Gerul put paid to this one, he's a fearsome fighter all right!"

The owl blinked several times. "Ah well, d'ye see, sir, as me ould mother used t'say, there's not a bit of use shakin' claws with the other feller. If yer goin' t'fight, then best get it done with proper so's yer foe don't come back fer more."

Clecky was eyeing the cake on the grass, inching towards it. "Well said, old pillowfeatures, your ma must've been quite a bird in her time, wot!"

Teasel nudged Clecky hard in his midriff. "Aye, an' you'll find me a bit of a pawful if y' don't keep away from yon cake, sir. There ain't too much damage done; I can dust it down an' fix it up good as new. Though we'll need a new tray, Martin."

Echoing around the woodlands into an unusually warm spring evening, the Abbey bells tolled supper. Redwallers gathered in Cavern Hole, which was smaller and less stately than Great Hall. The meal was a serve-yourself affair: cress and watershrimp soup, celery and leek turnovers, strong old chestnut cheese, bar-leybread, greengage flan, latticed redcurrant tart and October ale or maple cordial to drink. The Abbey creatures sat in Wall niches, sprawled on rush mats or just sat down wherever they pleased to chat and eat.

Abbot Durral sat with Martin and the elders on a dry, fern-strewn rock ledge which ran along one wall. When the Father Abbot stood up to speak there was complete silence; everybeast was curious as to what he was going to say.

"Friends, there is little use my reporting to you what happened today, as you already know. Why four gulls should attack two perfectly harmless creatures is a mystery, both to me and to your elders. However, our good friend from Mossflower, the Skipper of Otters, has volunteered to set up a patrol around the top of the outer wall. His otters will be armed with slings and stones, in the event of another unwarranted attack.

"But for the next few days 1 would ask you to stay indoors as much as possible; make sure that if you do go out of doors it is for a necessary chore and not just to stroll or play. Oh, and keep a keen eye on our Dibbunslittle ones do not know the danger, and it is our duty to protect them. One last thing: thanks to our friends Clecky and Gerul for their quick and brave action today, helping Martin out."

A round of applause was called for. Gerul modestly buried his beak in a wedge of old chestnut cheese, but Clecky bowed and strutted in an outrageous manner, acknowledging the plaudits.

"Forward the whites, wot, wot! Only doin' me duty, savin' hogmaids, slayin' seagulls an' whatnot, all in a day's work, chaps!"

Rollo, who was sitting next to Martin, turned his eyes upward at the hare's shameless display. "By the fur an' cringe, Martin, I can't take much more of that doodle-eared windbag. Let's get out of here. I know, we'll take a tray of supper up to Tansy and Friar Higgle, and see how they are."

"Right," the Warriormouse agreed, "but don't mention trays to me. The one I smashed over that seagull was Hogwife Teasel's best trayshe's not going to let me forget that for a while!"

Friar Higgle and Tansy were pretending to be asleep, but Sister Cicely still prattled on as she set a bowl apiece beside their beds.

"Warm nettle broth, best thing in the world for shock and minor injuries. I'm going down to supper now. Make sure you finish it up, every drop; I'll be checking those bowls later."

Rollo and Martin entered, bearing the tray of food. Cicely pursed her lips severely at them. "Hush now, you two," she said, dropping her voice to a whisper, "my patients are asleep. Er, I hope that food isn't for them, they're restricted to a diet of my nettle broth."

Martin smiled winningly at her, and whispered, "This food? Great seasons no, Sister, this is our supper. Rollo and I thought we'd just nip up here and sit awhile with Tansy and Higgle. If they wake we'll see that they take all their broth."

Sister Cicely smiled back and curtsied. "Thank you, Martin, I know they'll be safe in your sensible paws."

She slid silently out, closing the door softly after herself.

Higgle sat bolt upright, paws clenched and teeth grinding. "Grr, that ole Siss Cicely, I'd as like chuck meself in the Abbey pond wi' a boulder tied to me footpaw as lay up 'ere another day! Open that window, Rollo. 'Ere, sling this filthy nettle broth out afore it makes me any sicker!"

Tansy sat up and clapped her paws with joy. "Look, Friar, real food! Turnover an' cheese, redcurrant tart an' maple cordial! Thanks, pals, you've saved our lives!"

Martin could not help smiling at the irrepressible little hogmaid as she tucked into the supper. "So, how are you feeling now, Tansy?" he asked.

The answer came from around a mouthful of celery and leek turnover. "Hah! Fit as a firefly an' brisk as a bumblebee, sir. Heeheehee! I heard that Viola bankvole saw what happened as she was cleaning the inside of the gatehouse windows. Wullger said she went down in a swoon an' had to be revived by sniffing burnin' feathers, hahaha! I hope the smell made her dreadful sick!"

Friar Higgle munched thoughtfully on a wedge of cheese. "Silly really, isn't it, why should four great birds attack us?"

Rollo shrugged, saying, "From what I heard only two attacked you, the other two were after Abbot Durral's cake. Going for you and Tansy like that was merely a diversion, so they could steal the cake."

Martin waited until the hogmaid had taken a drink of cordial, then asked, "Hmm, what do you think, Tansy?"

The young hedgehog looked serious. "It sounds strange, I know, but they didn't really seem interested in the cake, or even us. The only other thing was the marchpane balls, but why?"

"Another mystery!" said Martin, turning to Rollo who was deep in thought.

Rollo shook his head worriedly. "Mysteries and riddles," he sighed. Then he jumped, startled. "Riddles! Goodness me, in all the excitement I'd quite forgotten!" From his sleeve he drew forth Fermald's parchment, saying, "Listen to this ..."

The Recorder of Redwall sat reading Fermald's note aloud in the sick bay whilst Friar Higgle Stump carried on eating his supper. Tansy had forgotten all about food. She and Martin hung on every word that was read out to them.

Chapter 11

Corsairs and searats roaming the hills of Sampetra did not bother Ublaz undulythey would be taken care of when he had dealt with their ringleaders, the captains. Slouching on his throne, sipping wine and nibbling on a roasted bird's wing, the Emperor turned over events in his mind. Barranca was the one who had started all this. Accordingly he was the one Ublaz intended to make an example of. The other captains were not so important. If Sagitar did not slay them, then he, the Emperor, would sooner or later. However, next time he would promote Trident-rats to be captains: good, loyal, Emperor-fearing Trident-rats. As for the vermin horde who had taken to the hills, well, they would soon jump back into line when they witnessed the punishment he intended meting out to Barranca. It was an old cure for rebellioncut off the snake's head and the rest ceased wriggling. The snake!

Ublaz tossed aside the meat and strode briskly from his throne room, towards the cellars carved in the rocks beneath the escarpment.

Two Monitors stood at attention in front of a heavily barred door in the cellars. Ublaz pointed with his silver dagger blade, ordering, "Open it!"

The lizards obeyed with alacrity, throwing the door wide. Pulling a torch from a wall bracket Ublaz swept inside, leaving the door ajar so the guards could watch him. The pine marten sighed aloud with pleasure as he went to a stone plinth and lovingly picked up the crown from it. Made to the Emperor's own design, the thick gold band fitted his head perfectly. Studded almost halfway round with purply red garnets, it was a crown fit for an Emperor. But with something missing. Six empty claw settings on the circlet's front lacked the six rose-colored pearls to fill them. When he possessed the Tears of all Oceans, his crown would be complete.

A damp rustling and a loud hiss caused the Monitor guards to shuffle fearfully away from the door. Fixing them with a glare of his strange eyes, Ublaz rasped, "Stand still! Watch and witness the power of your Emperor!"

Mutely they obeyed, reptilian eyes unblinking as they viewed the eerie scene beyond the doorway.

The entire chamber flickered with gold light, reflecting from the pine marten's torch and highlighted by his shining crown. A long shallow trough built into the floor was filled with water, casting shifting patterns of golden lights around the walls. Gliding sinuously out of the trough and across the floor, the snake came hissing toward Ublaz. It was a dull ivory color, but the water rippling on its scales caught the light, turning the serpent into a long moving stream of liquid gold.

Rearing up, the creature quivered and hissed menacingly as it faced the intruder. Few snakes in the world are more highly venomous and unpredictable than the coral water snake. As Ublaz concentrated all his powers upon the angry beaded eyes confronting him, the reptile arched, preparing to strike, mouth open wide, a crimson cavern with dark flickering tongue and poisonous fangs.

Ublaz began chanting in a high steady cadence.

"Golden guardian of my wealth,

Hear me now, be still,

Deathly fang and coiling stealth,

Bend unto my will."

Over and over the Emperor repeated his dirgelike chant, swaying from side to side in time with his adversary. Wide and unblinking, the mad eyes of Ublaz radiated all their power. He moved slowly forward as he chanted and swayed, until the snake's damp breath wreathed his nostrils. With his head a hairs-breadth from the serpent's, he strove to pierce it with his strange hypnotic stare. Side to side the two heads moved, challenging and seeking with the cadence.

The snake began to subside, its mouth closed. The stiffened head relaxed and sank slowly into the snake's bunched coils, both eyes filming over with a clouded membrane. Ublaz moved with it, down to floor level, still staring and chanting, until the venomous reptile lay still and subdued, conquered by his power. He stroked its head lightly then ceased chanting.

Ublaz stood upright, turned his back on the snake and faced the awed Monitor sentries. "Now you have seen the power of your Emperor!" he hissed.

Then he swept past them and strode upstairs, knowing that tales of the sight they had witnessed would spread and grow in the telling. Ublaz knew that mightiness brought dread, and total fear and respect were based upon a frightening reputation. Soon even the sea vermin ranging the hills would realize that resistance was futile against his power.

Ice hung from the rigging of Waveworm as she nosed into a thick fogbank. The crew had long oars to manipulate port and starboard; they rowed wearily. Romsca strode up and down the welldeck, swinging a knotted rope's end at anybeast she saw slacking.

"Bend yer backs, ya barnacle-pawed swabs! Come on now, pull! It's row or die in this weather, an' this ferret ain't goin' t'die! Put some backbone into it, ya spineless seaslugs. Row!"

Rubby the cook was up in the bowsprit, on the lookout for rocks or the great lumps of ice that sometimes cruised the seas in the cold latitudes. Cupping his paw, he called back to Blade-tail, "Clear ahead, mate, steady as she goes!"

The steersrat wiped frosty rime from his lips as he answered, "Aye aye, steady she is, dead ahead!"

Lask Frildur was wrapped in any available stitch of material he could lay claws on. The Monitor General sat dull-eyed and almost rigid in front of a miserable charcoal glow from a brazier in the for'ard cabin. As Romsca entered the foul-smelling accommodation, he winced, saying, "Cloze that door, I'm freezing to death, it'z cold, cold!"

Romsca slammed the door and stood grinning at the lizard. "What are you bellyachin' about now, scaleface? There ain't a wave out there t'day! It's smooth as a babe's fur!"

The Monitor's head shook spasmodically. He had to wait for his teeth to stop chattering so that he could talk. “L-l-look, half of my Monitorz dead, frozen, iz no warmth, iz only d-d-death for uz unlezz zun shinez again!"

Romsca waved a paw on high. "Oh, well, why didn't yer say, matey? I woulda tole the sun t'come out an' shine all day if yer'd mentioned it!"

The dark muddy eyes of Lask Frildur glared hatred at the corsair. "Emperor Ublaz will hear of thizz inzult, ferret!" he spat.

The corsair ferret captain laughed harshly. "Lissen, dead'ead, yer out at sea, in blue water! There ain't a thing you, me or the Emperor can do about the weather, get that inter yer thick skull, lizard! We're all in the paws o' fate, see, and luck'n'judgement is all I got. Right now I don't know if'n we be sailin' south, east or north. No stars, sun or wind, just fog everywhere, an' it ain't my fault!"

Lask buried his huge head in frost-numbed claws. "You loze the way, the ship iz lozt!"

Romsca's voice dripped sarcasm. "Clever ole reptile, the acorn's finally dropped, eh! Right, matey, 'tis about time yer realized, none of us might get out o' this liddle fix alive, an' I doubts if I could make it over t'this Mossflower shore an' then back to Sampetra, 'cos I ain't 'alf the cap'n that Conva was. Aye, Conva, now there was a stoat wot knew 'is way about the seas. But where is Conva now, eh? Prob'ly rottin' in some dungeon 'cos yer precious Emperor didn't like 'is face!"

"Land ho to starboard an' clearin' weatheeeeer!"

Rubby's shout from his position as lookout in the bows sent Romsca hurtling out on deck as Waveworm's vermin crew yelled in joy and relief.

"Land ho! We made it, mates, land ho!"

The shoreline could be seen through the thinning mists and pale watery sunlight. Romsca vaulted nimbly up to the bowsprit beside the jubilant Rubby.

"Haharrharr! We did it, Cap'n! Ain't it a pretty sight?" Rubby cried.

The ferret narrowed her eyes, peering hard at the rocky coast. "Aye, any land's a pretty sight, mate, even if it ain't Mossflower."

Rafglan, searat bosun of the Waveworm, scrambled up beside them. "If this ain't Mossflower, then where'n the name o' blood'n'fangs are we?"

As she stared at the approaching land, realization dawned on Romsca. "This is far north, where we slew the otters, all for those accursed Tears, on our last voyage. Hah! I know where Mossflower is from 'ere. Bladetail, bring'er 'alf round t'port! Ship those oars, mates! Rafglan, break out sails! Step lively now, buckoes, we'll beat down the coast south'ard to Mossflower an' the sun!"

By midday a stiff breeze had sprung up. Waveworm had left the foggy regions far in her wake. The sun was out, though the weather remained brisk and nippy. Romsca helped Bladetail at the tiller as the vessel chopped and crabbed against the white-crested coastal rollers. The corsair ferret watched the rocky coastline.

"Another few days an' we'll be keepin' our eyes peeled fer that freshwater stream runnin' out o'er the shores. That's 'ow I'll know MossflowerI remembers that stream well, mate."

The for'ard cabin door slammed open and Lask Frildur stumped heavily out, still swathed in wrappings, but with a glint of the old imperiousness back in his eye.

“ You, Romzca! Make arrangementz for my ten dead Monitorz!"

In a flash the corsair had drawn her curved sword. She let go of the tiller and approached the Monitor General, a tic in her left eye quivering with rage.

"It's Cap'n Romsca t'you, an' I've got a ship t'run on yore Emperor's orders! My crew's got other things t'do, so go an' give yore commands to yer own kind. You've got enough livin' lizards to shove ten o' their dead mates overboard. Don't try pushin' me round, Lask, I warn yer. I'm in command on this ship!"

Lask Frildur bared his lethal yellowed teeth at the corsair. “I hear you, Romzca. You are in command . .. until we reach the land of Mozzflower!"

The corsair roared at the Monitor as he strode away to his cabin. "Until we reach Mossflower, eh? The day ain't dawned yet when Romsca the corsair is afeared of a lizard! Just you give the word when yer ready, an' I'll show ye the color of yer insides!''

Ever since the lizards had begun to show their weakness at sea, the ferret had grown in confidence.

Bladetail nodded in admiration of his captain. "Haharr, that's the stuff, Cap'n. Let's 'ear yer brag, go on, like you do in the tavern at Sampetra."

Romsca felt her good humor return. Waving her curved blade she danced around the welldeck, throwing out the traditional corsair challenge while the crew cheered her on.

"I'm the babe of a bloodripper,

Born in the teeth of a gale,

I'm the one who wields the sword,

An' makes the foebeast wail.

I'm as sharp as the reef rock,

I carry death in me paw,

Go where I like, slay who I will,

That's the corsairs' law!

Blood's me favorite color,

I'm swifter'n lightnin' aye,

Stand out me way, stand out I say,

Step aside now, or die!

'Cos I'm the spawn o' nightstorm,

An' death sails in me wake,

I sheath me blade in innards,

An' what I want, I take!

Come one, come all, I'm waitin',

I'll flay yer carcass bare,

So everyplace I go they'll say,

'Ahoy, you bold corsaaaaaaiiiiiirrrrr!' "

Lask Frildur crouched over the charcoal embers in his cabin, listening to the roistering sea vermin applauding Romsca. The Monitor General also heard the dull booming splashes as his lizards jettisoned their companions' dead bodies astern into the restless sea. Lask gritted his teeth until they hurt, muttering, "Enjoy yourzelf, corzair! One day I will danze on your grave!"

Evening came with long rolling purple clouds tinged beneath with gold from the setting sun. Waveworm beat a course slowly south, following the darkened coastline which led to Mossflower country.

Chapter 12

Night brought with it the rain, drizzling at first, then a distant rumble of thunder and a faraway lightning flash that illuminated the dark horizon. Grath Longfletch shook water from her eyes as the rain increased. Her little longboat rode the rollers bravely, tacking south down the coast. The otter sat astern, guiding the small tiller lightly, watching the prow plunge up and down as it met each wave's onslaught. Easterly wind buffeted the boat's single square sail, pasting its middle to the slender rowan mast then pulling it away, allowing the canvas to flap wetly, driving the frail vessel towards the rocky shores.

Knowing it was dangerous to be caught out in a storm on a coastline peppered with reefs, Grath steered for the shore, silently hoping that her boat would not encounter any hidden rocks. She leaned on the tiller and let the sail blow full out. Sideskipping the eastering wind, her longboat skimmed the floam-flecked wavetops, running for shore like a swift to its nest. Thunder boomed and in the lightning flash that followed Grath saw the covesmall, shingled and dead ahead. Rain-battered but exhilarated, the soaked otter clung tight to the tiller, sending her craft straight as one of her arrows, prow on into the cove and safety from the storm.

Leaping into the shallows Grath grabbed the headrope and began pulling her boat up the tideline, when a cheery voice rang out above the gale.

"Lend a paw there, y'slab-sided shellackers, give the beast some 'elp t'beach that craft!"

A lantern glimmered high in the cliff surrounding the place, and ten or more small raggedy furred creatures and brightly colored headbands came dashing down and seized the headrope. With their aid Grath soon had the boat high and dry above the tideline. The small fat creature carrying the lantern approached her. He was obviously the leader; he carried a small rapier tucked in his waistband. He held out a paw to the otter.

"I'm Log a Log, Chieftain of the Guosim shrews!" he announced.

The paw was taken willingly. “Grath Longfletch, last of the Holt of Lutra!"

Log a Log set about gathering Grath's few possessions in the boat. "Hah! You would've been naught but a drowned otter if ye stayed out at sea in that little lot, matey. Dabby, Curio! Take this big bow atwixt ye afore it knocks me flat. Come on, Grath, 'tis no fit night for beast nor bird to be out in the open. Follow me."

Halfway up the cliffs, sheltered from the sea by a protruding rockrift, Grath sat snug in a cave with her new-found friends. She drank shrewbeer which had a red hot rapier thrust in to mull it, and the one called Dabby served her a bowl of seafood soup from a cauldron bubbling at the edge of a seacoal and brack-enwood fire. Grath ate with an appetite that amazed the shrews, tearing off hunks of flat barleybread to dip in her broth. As she satisfied her hunger, the otter related her tale.

When she had finished, Log a Log patted her broad, scarred back, smiling. "Well, at least you lived through it, Grath, an' you eat like you survived a seven-season famine, here. Lucky we found you. We're the Guosim shrewsstands for Guerilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower, though we're a long way from that place up 'ere. Guosim like to wander, y'see. Every spring we come up to the coast an' feed off its bounty. We fish a bit, gather seaweed an' collect shellfish. Guosim are river shrews; our boats are back inland a piece, moored in a creek. Nobeast knows the rivers'n'streams like we do, eh, mates!"

An old shrew began tootling on a flute. Log a Log nudged the young female called Curio. "C'mon, sleepychops, stop nod-din' off in front o' that fire an' sing a ditty fer our new pal Grath!"

Curio had a lively gruff voice, and she sang out with a will.

"Guosim! Guosim!

Sail 'im, dip 'im, douse 'im.

If'n you see a shrew in river or stream,

Who can jump like a trout an' swim like a bream,

Fight like a pike an' sing like a lark,

An' paddle a boat from dawn 'til dark ...

Yer lookin' at a Guosim!

O Guosim! Guosim!

Sail 'im, dip 'im, douse 'im.

If'n you see a shrew who c'n cook up a stew,

Brew dark beer an' bake bread too,

An' bend 'is back an' pull an oar,

Row all the day an' shout fer more ...

Yer lookin' at a Guosim!

O Guosim! Guosim!

Sail 'im, dip 'im, douse 'im.

Not an otter or a waterdog,

No nor a spiky ole 'edge'og,

Even a warty toad or frog,

So it's three cheers for our Log a Loooooooooog!

We're Guosim Guosim Guosim!"

The merry song was so catchy that Grath laughed aloud and asked Curio to sing it again, which she did whilst two old shrews leapt up and gave the lie to their long seasons by dancing a merry jig to the tune.

Log a Log refilled Grath's beaker, saying, "You've got a great laugh, friend. Y'should use it more often!"

The big otter stared into the fire. "There's not been much to laugh about the last few seasons, matey."

Curio tugged at Grath's big callused paw. "Will you sing a song fer us, marm?" she asked.

The otter shook her head at the disappointed shrewmaid. "I'm not a very good singer, but I'll do some magic for you."

"Magic, what sort of magic?"

"With my bow, I'll shoot a star for you!"

All eyes turned on Grath, who winked secretly at Log a Log.

The shrew Chieftain nodded sagely. "Aye, she looks like a magic otter t'me. Trimp, Dimple, fetch our friend 'er big bow an' quiver."

The shrews watched intently as Grath strung the great longbow and chose an arrow. Then she passed her paws over the bow, murmuring, "Magic arrow travel far, I will shoot a bright night star!"

Grath stepped outside onto the ledge in front of the cave, surrounded by curious shrews.

"Which star do you want me to shoot?" she asked Curio. "Point it out."

With a hearty gruff giggle, Curio pointed. "That'n up there!"

"Which one, that bright twinkly one?"

"Aye, that's the one, marm, but even a bigbeast like you with a great bow like that'n couldn't shoot so far!"

With a mock serious face, Log a Log shook a paw at her. "I see you don't believe friend Grath. Right, go on, mate, show 'er!"

Grath sighted on the star, and bent her bow full back, the arrow tight on the tautened string. Whipping the bow aloft, she loosed the green-feathered shaft, and in seconds it was speeding upward, lost in the vastness of the night sky.

"Quickly, everybeast inside!" Grath shouted.

The shrews dashed into the cave, with Grath behind them yelling, "Stand well back from the fire then look at it hard for a few seconds."

After a short interval the otter called to them, "Close your eyes tightly, keep them closed and come outside!"

Doing as they were bidden, the shrews filed outside, clasping each other's paws with their eyes screwed shut.

“ Now, turn your faces to the place where the star was in the sky," Grath announced in a loud, mysterious voice. "Open your eyes quickly and blink once!"

Roars of wonderment went up from the Guosim shrews.

"She did it! She did it!"

"The star burst in a great flash of light!"

"I can still see it bursting, there's lights everywhere!"

One tiny shrew ran round shrieking, "I saw the arrow hit the star, miss! Grath is magic!"

************************************

Later the wind abated, and the thunder and lightning ceased. Outside the rain continued, but not so hard as before. Grath and Log a Log sat with their backs against the cave wall, watching the flickering firelight cast patterns over sleeping Guosim shrews and listening to the steady patter of raindrops on the rocks outside.

The shrew Chieftain yawned. "That was a good trick, Grath. Have you got any more magic t'stop this lot snorin'?"

The otter chuckled. "You want to try living in an otter holt sometime. It makes shrew snores sound like gentle music. They don't bother me, friend."

Log a Log closed his eyes, paws folded on his fat stomach. "Good! Then y'won't mind me addin' my snores to 'em, mate. Peace be upon your rest, Grath Longfletch!"

“ Thanks for your hospitality, Log a Log. Peace be upon you also, and all of your Guosim this night!"

Grath closed her eyes and slept then. But peace would have been the last thing on her mind had she known that not half a league out to sea beyond the reefs, Waveworm, the corsair ship, was sailing parallel to the shrew's cave, bound south. It passed in the night, leaving only a broad wake which was soon swallowed up, lost in sweeping rain and the eternally flowing seas.

Chapter 13

Up in the sick bay, Rollo finished reading Fermald's cryptic message. Tansy narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, then slowly repeated the strange little rhyme, having heard it only once. The hogmaid spoke out firm and clear.

“ Look not up, nor to the four main points,

But where our paws do tread, the dead oak joints.

There wrought by mother nature 'neath the main,

Lies that which holds the beauty, or the bane."

Martin raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Well done, miss! What a curious tale Fermald the Ancient had to tell. Sampetra, where is it? Emperor Mad Eyes, what sort of creature is he? Graylunk's secret gift, the Tears of all Oceans, why are they so dangerous, what are they? I tell you, it's a riddle within a riddle!"

Rollo breathed hard on his spectacles and polished them with his sleeve, saying, "Aye, Martin, it has me baffled too."

Tansy tapped her paw on the unrolled parchment. "Oh, let's get on and follow the clues," she cried.

Rollo gave the hogmaid a severe glance over the top of his glasses. "But do you feel well enough yet, Tansy?" he asked.

Friar Higgle glanced up from a slice of pie and chuckled. "Hohoho! Well enough, did y'say? Just look at 'er. If'n I felt that well I'd be up an' cuttin' a jig. That one's as spry as a whippy willow in a breeze!"

Tansy leapt from the bed to prove her point. "See! Oh, come on, please, please, or I'll make myself ill lying in bed thinking about it all. What d'you say, Martin sir?"

The Warriormouse tapped a paw against his chin. "Mmm, maybe ... But what if Sister Cicely comes back and finds one of her patients gone, what then?"

Higgle licked redcurrant from his paws. "Then I'll sling 'er into bed an' feed 'er warm nettle broth, an' see as 'ow she likes it! Hohohoho!"

Amid the general laughter at Higgle's outrageous suggestion, Rollo and Tansy clasped paws with Martin, their eyes shining as he spoke the words they were waiting to hear.

"Right, let's go and solve this thing, friends!"

Three lanterns illuminated Fermald's chamber as the trio set about their search. Rollo sat in the armchair and read out the first two lines of the rhyme.

"Look not up, nor to the four main points,

But where our paws do tread, the dead oak joints."

A faint smile hovered on Martin's lips as he questioned Tansy. "Now, missie, tell me. Which are the four main points?"

"Easy: north, south, east and west."

"Good! So if we can't look north, south, east or west and we can't look up ... Where else can we look?"

"I'd say down, Martin."

"Well done! And where do our paws usually tread?"

"On the floor?"

"Indeed they do. So, when an oak is dead our carpenters cut it lengthwise into long planks and joint them together into floorboards. D'you think we should look into the walls?"

Tansy giggled. "You're being silly now, Martin, we should look under the floorboards, of course!"

Rollo spread wide his paws. "All very clever, but this is a big attic, so where under the floorboards do we start looking?''

It was decided that they start at the far wall and together, working slowly, cover every bit of the attic floor. On all fours they went, pushing their lanterns ahead as they searched.

About a third of the way down the attic Rollo got up with a sigh and went to sit in the armchair, saying, "I've had enough for one night, friends. My old back is killing me and these eyes of mine aren't what they used to be."

Both Tansy and Martin remonstrated with the Recorder.

"Oh, come on, Rollo, you're no fun at all, you old grouch!"

"Yes, please, mister Rollo, don't fall asleep in that armchair."

"Up on y'paws now, or we'll take you to the sick bay and let Sister Cicely feed you warm nettle soup!"

"I'd help us if I were you, Rollo; that warm nettle soup tastes awful, it's like trying to drink dirty ditchwater!"

But Rollo refused to be moved. "No, my mind's made up. You're strong, Martin, and Tansy's young. You carry on, I'm too old..."

Martin had been creeping up behind the armchair as Rollo spoke, and suddenly he gave it a mighty shove. Rollo squeaked out in surprise; so did the little caster wheels as they rumbled along the floor, stopping just short of the far wall. Martin wagged a warning paw. "Now will you get up and help us, you old fraud?"

"Look, see here!" Tansy was on all fours inspecting the floor where the armchair had formerly stood. Rollo leapt from the chair to join Martin and Tansy at the spot.

"Where, what is it? Hold the lantern closer!"

It was a crude black ink drawing, sketched at a joint lengthways where one floorboard ended and another began: a simple picture of a spoon.

Martin forestalled their enquiries. "Before you ask me... Yes, I have Fermald's spoon right here in my belt."

He produced the polished buckthorn spoon and inserted it into the crack between both floorboards, muttering, "What am I supposed to do with it now, lever the board up?"

"No, sir, the spoon is too fragile. It'd break."

"Hmm, you're right, Tansy. Any ideas?"

"Perhaps if you wiggled it from side to side," Rollo suggested.

Martin tried, but nothing happened. He sat pondering the problem until Tansy said, "Try pushing it down, sir."

The Warriormouse pushed the spoon firmly into the crack. "Good try, Tansy, but there's still nothing happening."

Rollo peered at the problem from all angles. "Maybe if we all moved off the floorboardcome this side of it, you two. Try-pushing the spoon in now, Martin."

Martin did. There was a click and the floorboard lifted slightly, just enough for the Warriormouse to get a grip with his paws. He lifted and the board came out easily. Tansy scooped a small linen flourbag out of the space beneath.

"Hahah! Got it, good old Rollo!"

The Recorder beamed with pleasure as he inspected the empty space. "Yes, 'twas rather clever of me, wasn't it? The floorboard would never have risen while we were all kneeling on it. See, it was just a simple lever, the spoon pushes one end and the other end further along rises up and moves the floorboard. Shall we adjourn downstairs where we can sit comfortably by the fire in Cavern Hole? Everybeast should be abed by now. We can look at what we've found in peace and comfort; it's a bit chilly up here."

They were halfway along the dormitory corridor when Viola bankvole came bursting out of the main bedrooms. She was quaking and sobbing. Martin and Rollo caught hold of her.

"Viola, what's wrong, miss? Why are you so upset?"

The bankvole snuffled tears onto her nightgown sleeve. “The big bird, it was horrible! It came right against the gatehouse window and nearly got me. It had a sharp beak and great eyes and it was screeching. Waaahaaah!"

Tansy led her to the sick bay, comforting her. "Hush now, Viola, there there. It was only a dream. You can sleep in my bed, it's nice and quiet in the sick bay. There's only Friar Higgle and he's fast asleep. Lie down now."

They left a lantern by the bed to reassure Viola.

Walking back out into the corridor, Rollo gave a start and leaned fearfully against Martin. A small white-clad figure had materialized out of the gloom.

"Toogle doo Tansy pansy, I'm a likkle maggit!"

It was Arven, in a long white nightshirt. Giggling, he tripped into Tansy's outstretched paws. The hedgehog maid chided him. "You should be fast asleep. What have you been up to, eh?"

Arven drew two big gull feathers from his nightshirt. "A been ticklen Vola bankee onna nose. Heeheeheehee!"

Martin took the two feathers from the tiny squirrel. "You dreadful creature, so it was you frightening poor Viola into having nightmares! What are we going to do with you?"

Arven shrugged nonchalantly. "Phwah! Can't do anyfink wiv Dibbuns, not choppa tail off wivva big sword, ho no, Arven on'y likkle!"

Rollo shook his head despairingly. "He's right, y'know, there's not a lot we can do to a naughty Dibbun. There's only the fun things, like letting Mother Auma give him a good bath. It's nice when the soapsuds go up your nose and down your mouth and your eyes smart and you have to be still while she scrubs your tail with that hard brush and ..."

The rest of Rollo's words were lost on Arven as he wriggled out of Tansy's grasp and fled back into the dormitory, muttering, "Nono, I be good, I be good now, not lerra m'Auma get me inna baff."

As they went through the kitchens, they found that Teasel the hogwife had left a big parsnip and mushroom pastie to cool for morning before she went to her bed. Safe inside Cavern Hole, Martin grinned as they divided a slice between them. "I haven't stolen a slice of pastie since I was a Dibbun, huh, us three are worse than little Arven!"

Tansy blew on a slice of pastie to cool it, licking the dark rich gravy from her paws. "Wrong, Martin, if there were ten of us we couldn't make more trouble than that maggot. He's the terror of all Dibbuns, take it from one who knows!"

Rollo burned his tongue on the hot pastry. "Whooh! Excuse me, but are we going to sit here discussing Abbeybabes or is somebeast going to open that bag tonight?"

Martin twirled his paw towards Tansy. "The honor is all yours, my friend!"

Inside the flourbag was the shell of a scallop, a huge one. Deep ridges on both sides met where the shell closed in a perfect watertight seal. At some time a clever and artful creature had created darkwood hinges to the shell's back flanges and a cunning clasplock on the front. As Tansy opened the shell, she recited the second half of the rhyme:

"There wrought by mother nature 'neath the main,

Lies that which holds the beauty, or the bane."

Both halves of the scallop shell fell open before their eager eyes. The interior of the shell was lined with soft red cloth. One perfectly round ball of thin fine parchment nestled in a holder; five more holding spaces were empty.

Rollo sighed with disappointment. "I told you, Martin, this is only the beginning of a wild goose chase. What a tricky and aggravating squirrel Fermald the Ancient wasthough fates preserve her memory."

Martin heard Rollo, but he was staring at Tansy. "What's on your mind, missie? You seem very pensive."

The hogmaid let her paw stray across the five vacant holders. "Sea shell, sea birds ... oh, I don't know. What is sure is that there are five empty spaces, which must mean that there are five missing balls of paper."

"Well, let's not waste any time," said Rollo. "Let's open the one we've got and see where fortune leads us."

Rollo's paws shook as he worked, carefully peeling the delicate tissue of the flimsy orb open. "Gently does it, I don't want to rip the paper. Ah, there!"

The three friends scanned Fermald's spidery writing.

For you my old friend Higgle,

I shed a single tear,

The kindnesses oft showed me,

Your food and smiling cheer.

Go, find my gift, good Friar,

This tear is given free,

Not hid away in secret,

But there for all to see!

Rollo stared into the fire, watching the intricate flamedances around log and charcoal. "Tears, tears, always tears," he said.

Tansy could not resist a little joke. “If tears are the answer you need, go no further than Viola bankvole; she's always weeping and whining about something or other. Let's try her!"

Martin gave the hedgehog maid a sideways glance. “Probably because she's easy to pick on. I'm surprised at you, Tansy, making fun of the misfortune of others."

The regret Tansy showed at her ill-chosen remark was sincere. "I'm sorry, sir, I'll try to be kinder to Viola in the future."

Rollo patted her paw cheerily. "Well spoken, young 'un, that's the true Redwall spirit. Here, finish this pastie off before it grows cold."

Tansy needed no second bidding; Teasel's pastie was delicious.

For a long while the three friends sat in silence, staring at the thin scrap of parchment and pondering its meaning. Cavern Hole was peaceful and warm, and soon Rollo's glasses started to slip further down his nose as his head began to slump forward. Martin winked at Tansy and nodded towards the drowsing old Recorder, then he blew gently on Rollo's eyelids.

The bankvole blinked several times and sat up straight, as if he had never dozed off, saying, "Ahem! Right, where are we, still studying this rhyme, eh?"

Martin kept a straight face as he replied, "Aye, still studying. Have you come up with any good ideas?"

Rollo's paw shot up decisively. "I've got it. Here's what we must do next!"

Martin and Tansy exclaimed together, "What?"

A twinkle shone in Rollo's tired old eyes. "Go straight to bed before we all fall asleep here and wake up with stiff necks and rickety backs. Now don't start pouting, miss, we've got to sleep sometime. Tell her, Martin."

The Warriormouse rose and stretched. "He's right, Tansy. You'll see, a clear morning after a sound night's sleep and a good breakfast always improves a creature's brainpower. You'd best sleep in the dormitory, Viola is in your infirmary bed. Come on now, up you go!"

Despite her protestations that she was not the least bit tired, Tansy found the dormitory bed soft and comfortable. Sleep stole up, gently closing her eyelids and leading her into the realm of odd dreams.

Martin appeared, but he was not quite like the Martin she knew so well, and he was wearing a magnificent suit of armor. Tansy realized that this was the other Martin, the Warrior Founder of Redwallthe same mouse whose likeness was woven into the tapestry which hung in Great Hall. He wore the same sword she had often seen the present Martin wearing.

Tansy felt happy in the presence of the Warrior. He radiated strength, safety and confidence, and his voice was soothing when he spoke.

"Maid of Redwall, search and never give up hope. You will find joy, frustration and sorrow in your quest. Never forget that friendship and loyalty are more precious than riches. Remember these words on the day you must return the Tears to their true owner. Happiness can be brief, but it knows no time in the land of dreams. Sleep on and I will show you."

The Warrior's image faded and Tansy went deep into the most pleasant dream. Like a leaf she was borne upward, and she wandered with the breeze through quiet summer woodlands, resting in sunlit coppices, drifting on margins of still-water meadows and dancing lightly over faraway flower-clad hills.

Chapter 14

Friar Higgle Stump was up and about early the next morning. He trundled down to his beloved kitchens, grumbling to himself.

"I wager breakfast ain't but 'alf started yet. Best be about my business, 'ungry mouths t'feed. That Sister Cicely, she'd 'ave a body lyin' abed all season for no good reason. Us Stumps're made of stern spike, 'tis plain no seagull can bother me!"

He strode boldly into the kitchens, only to be met by his wife Teasel's accusing eye.

"I knowed there weren't nothin' wrong wi' you, 'iggle, I 'spect it was you sneaked down last night late an' took a slice of that parsnip an' mushroom pastie I left out to cool afore I went abed!"

The good Friar brushed past her stiffly, saying, "Shame on you for even thinkin' such a thing about me, marm! When did I ever filch food from me own kitchens, eh?"

He set about measuring oatmeal and barley into a mixing bowl before livening up the oven fires with fresh charcoal. Teasel took a tray of nutbread rolls down from her cooling shelf, her muttering blending with that of Higgle. Both hedgehogs chunnered to themselves as they went about their cooking chores.

"A pastie that eats itself? Ain't naught but mysteries of late in this 'ere Abbey, mysteries an' mischief!"

"Huh! This honey's stiff as glue, I'd best leave it atop the oven t'warm through. Parsnips don't agree with me, why should I want to eat 'er pastie?"

"We're goin' t'need more white cheese afore the mornin's done, aye, an' this oven fire needs a good rakin' out..."

Abbot Durral had also risen early. He strode into the kitchens rubbing his paws in a lively fashion. "Good morrow to you both, can I lend a paw? Here, that fire needs raking out, Teasellet me do it!"

The three friends went about their work as the atmosphere lightened and mouth-watering aromas began pervading the air. Durral helped Higgle to carry a small churn of greensap milk from the cooling slab to the mixing bowl, explaining his day's plans as they measured it into the oatmeal and barley.

"I thought I'd take a stroll into Mossflower woodlands today, collect some coltsfoot and brooklime, maybe find a clearing where some red clover is showing. It's going to be a nice warm day, I feel we'll soon have a hint of summer."

Friar Higgle winked knowingly at his friend, and said, “Who knows, may'aps I'll be able to make you some pastilles if'n you collects enough o' those plants, Father Abbot."

Durral hid a smile, putting on a mock-defensive tone. "Coltsfoot pastilles are good for the young ones, keep them fit, good for coughs and any number of small ailments."

Teasel had been eavesdropping on the conversation, and now she tapped the Abbot's paw lightly with her ladle. "I don't suppose it'd 'ave anythin' t'do with a certain Abbot o' Redwall who likes to carry a liddle bag o' coltsfoot pastilles to suck. Some elders are worse'n Dibbuns, I say!"

Durral lifted the warmed honey from the oven top, protecting his paws with a cloth. "You would say right, Teasel. I've been dreaming lately of having a good pocketful of nice sweet coltsfoot pastilles."

During breakfast, the Abbot called Tansy to his side and whispered in the hogmaid's ear, "I'm off into Mossflower today, collecting plants. How'd you like to come with me? It will be mild and sunnywe could take lunch with us. What do you say?"

Much to his surprise, Tansy refused the offer. "Thank you very much, Father Abbot, but maybe you'd like to give someone else a chance. Take poor Viola bankvole with you."

The kindly old mouse was pleased, but perplexed. “Certainly, missie, but why Viola?"

"Because I feel sorry for her and I think we should be friends. Last night Viola had bad dreams, so I put her in my bed at the sick bay. I thought I was helping her, but Sister Cicely came in during the night and made her drink a big bowl of warm nettle broth. Poor Viola, she's sitting over there unable to touch any breakfast. See, she looks a funny color to me."

Abbot Durral looked up from his mint tea. "You're quite right, Tansy, a walk in the woodlands and a picnic lunch will do your friend a power of good, I think. But what will you do with yourself all day?"

Tansy's voice dropped to a secretive whisper. "I've got business with Martin and Rollo. We've a riddle to solve. Very important."

The glorious spring morning rolled on into early noontide, with Redwall Abbey abuzz as creatures went about their chores and young ones played across the lawns. Skipper of Otters and his stalwarts patrolled the ramparts, striding along the high battlemented outer wall, ever alert for the slightest sign of invading gulls.

At the woodland's edge on the north path, a mass of cow parsley with white flowering buds stirred, which was odd, because there was not the slightest breeze to move it. The corsair ferret Romsca popped her head up momentarily, before dropping back out of sight.

"Last time I saw that place I was with Cap'n Conva an' we was on the trail of ole Graylunk. That's Redwall Abbey right enough!"

Despite the warmth of spring sunshine, Lask Frildur was still shivering from a cold night spent wandering through the damp woodlands. He was not in the best of tempers.

“ Why not raize your voize a bit louder zo they can hear you properly, addlebrain!" he snarled, drawing a heavy cloak tight about his quaking body.

Romsca leaned towards him, her voice contemptuous. "Button yer lip, sloptongue. I'll talk when anow I like, see! Hah, it don't matter if they 'ears us, the moment those Abbeycreatures catches sight of you they'll be dumbstruck fer sure!"

Lask loosened the cloak and puffed out his throat airily. “You zpeak nonzenze, fool!"

Romsca snorted as if in despairing amusement. "Lissen to 'im, messmates; every time 'e opens that gob 'e treads on 'is tongue! Let me tell yer somethin', Monitor, a fact you'n'the Emperor overlooked. Them Abbeybeasts can't abide searats, corsairs an' suchlike, so imagine 'ow they'll take to the sight o' you an' ten other reptiles, great flesh-eatin' lizards from the tropics beyond the sunset. Haharr, never thought o' that, did yer? They ain't never seen the likes o' you before. Wot d'yer think they're goin' t'do, invite yer inside fer cakes'n'wine? Tchah! They'll slam the gates tight in yore face, give those Monitors a volley of spears, an' send the lot o' ye packin' up the road! Just like any right-minded creature would, I'll take me oath on that, matey!"

Deflated, the Monitor General drew away with his ten remaining Monitors, and went deeper into the woodland where they could hold a conference. Romsca had left a guard of six vermin aboard Waveworm, but her corsairs were still three times the number of Lask's force. They too drew back into the wood, but only to light a small fire on which they could cook their supplies, supplemented by whatever roots and fruits they had foraged from the countryside.

Rubby the cook held out a young turnip he had spitted and roasted on his cutlass blade. Romsca accepted it and lounged nonchalantly in the sunlight.

Rafglan the bosun joined her, munching a stalk of wild celery. "So, wot are y'goin' t'do now, Cap'n?" he said.

Romsca spat out a tough piece of turnip. "Do? I ain't doin' nothin', matey. Ole scaleguts is in charge o' the land party, let Lask do all the doin'."

Rafglan cast a glance through the bushes. "Ahoy, 'ere comes ole Lask 'imself, looks like 'e wants to talk."

The Monitor General dismissed Rafglan with a nod and seated himself next to Romsca, saying, "Perhapz what you zay iz right, my friend."

Romsca flung the half-eaten turnip away and wiped her mouth. "Oho, friend, is it? You've changed yer tune, lizard. So tell me, what's the plan?"

Abbot Durral sat on the bank of a small stream with Viola bankvole. They ate nutbread rolls and cheese, washed down with sips of old cider, for lunch. The Father Abbot kicked off his sandals and lowered his footpaws gingerly into the cold clear water with a long sigh. "Aaaaah, that is truly delightful. Nothing like streamwater for refreshing the footpaws. You should try it, Viola."

The bankvole maid stared doubtfully at the gurgling stream. "But I don't like getting my footpaws wet, Father, and besides, there's no towels to dry them."

Durral smiled benevolently at the prissy little creature. "Grass, soft moss or dead ferns are as good as any towel, Viola. Come on, you'll never know what it's like until you try it."

Slipping off her sandals, the volemaid lowered her footpaws into the water. She shuddered, then giggled. "Heeheehee! It tickles and it's cold, but you're right, Father, it does feel good. I think I'll stand up and have a paddle!"