"Your master Slagar could not kill my father, neither will Stonefleck and his vermin. The Warrior of Redwall has proved himself before now against rat armies, and he will live to free us. When that day comes, you and I have a score to settle. I'll be looking for you, Vitch."

As they were herded away through the trees, Mattimeo allowed himself one last backward glance at the far sh.o.r.e beyond the river shimmering in the morning sunlight. Though he could not see his father, he murmured under his breath, "Martin keep him safe!"

The sounds of axe and sword had been ringing through tile pine fringe since dawn. Many of the trees at the edge had not been able to take proper root in the loose sandy soil of the banks, and some were only half grown. Orlando swung his mighty axe with long, powerful strokes, often felling a tree so that it took one of its weaker neighbors down with it. Matthias had cast his habit aside. He slashed and hacked at the branches of each felled tree, tr.i.m.m.i.n.g it so that Cheek, Basil, Jess and Jabez could roll it down to where Log-a-Log was in charge of raft construction.

"Flugg, bring those ropes over here/' Log-a-Log ordered. "Gurn, soak that moss well and mix it with soil; 241.

I want good caulking that won't leak. Garr, I need that trunk over here. You others, help him."

There was little the Guosim leader did not know about watercraft. Log-a-Log was a ferry shrew, the son of ferry shrews. He watched the flow of the river, pointing out his course to Basil.

"We'll take a wide sweep upriver, then I'll bring about in midwater and land us on the other sh.o.r.e somewhere about there, see? That way we'll be going due south again."

Basil dipped one ear. "Aye, aye, Cap'n, as you say. Bear in mind, old feller, that I wasn't cut out for a nautical career. I'll have to have a substantial meal first. No use bein' watersick on an empty tummy, wot?"

It was early noontide before the raft lay completed in the shallows. Log-a-Log folded his paws 'and shook his head.

"Bit rough, Matthias. Best I could do at short notice."

Matthias pa.s.sed him apples and shrewcake. "She's a stout raft, Log-a-Log. I couldn't ask for better. I know you'll use all your skills to get us safely across. What are you so worried about, young Cheek?"

The otter stroked his dry nose. "If s er, well, er, d'you see. . . . Well, if s the water, Matthias. I've always been a bit frightened of it. Oh, the odd stream and woodland pool aren't too bad, but look at the size of that old river. I never saw anything so big and fast-flowing in Moss-flower."

Basil flung an apple core into the river. "Haw haw! Well I've heard everythin' now, a bally otter who's frightened of rivers. Curl my whiskers, thaf s a good un."

"Now, now, Basil," Jess chided the scoffing hare, "you're not too fond of the water yourself. If s bad form to make fun of another creature who feels the same."

Basil relented and flung a paw around Cheek. "Righto, point taken, Jess. Here, young otter m'lad, what say you and I stay together in the middle of the raft? We can hang 242.

on to each other and get into a fine old blue funk together, eh?"

Jabez Stump trundled aboard the raft. "Ah well, we can't hang about here all day. There's a river to cross. You comin' aboard. Warrior?"

Matthias sheathed his sword and leapt onto the floating logs. "Keep your heads down when we reach the other side. No telling whaf s waiting over there," he warned.

Log-a-Log grasped the forked branch which served as a tiller. "All aboard! Cast off on sh.o.r.e, poles ready riverward, bring her round. Steady as she goes, we're under way!"

The raft bobbed and swayed out into the current. Blue waters reflecting the skies above rushed and danced to white foamy peaks spraying into the breeze.

The eyes of Stonefleck's rat army watched eagerly from the far bank as the little craft started its journey towards them.

General Ironbeak landed skilfully on the path in front of the main Abbey door. He tucked his wings away neatly, parading up and down with a swaggering gait.

The door swung open, and Constance and the Abbot stepped outside, followed by John Churchmouse. The Abbot nodded civilly.

"Good afternoon. Do you wish to go inside?"

Ironbeak c.o.c.ked his head on one side, eyeing them boldly. "Yflggar.' What I have to say can be said out here, earthcrawlers. I hold the upper claw today. Maybe if you had killed my fighters and me on the stairs yesterday, instead of playing your silly little games, you would have been the victors. It is too late now; we meet on my terms."

Mordalfus tucked his paws into the wide habit sleeves. "Then speak. What is it you want of us?"

"Complete surrender, old mouse!"

"I am sorry, but that is impossible," the Abbot replied.

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"Nothing is impossible if you hold dear the lives of your creatures."

"We have lost Brothers and Sisters before now."

"Aye, but that would have been without choice," the General pointed out. "Step forward a bit and look up to the rooftop of this redstone house."

The three friends walked out onto the path. Shading their eyes, they looked up.

Ironbeak gave a harsh cry and waved one wing.

The three captives were forced to the roof e4ge, where they could be seen. John Churchmouse groaned aloud. Constance stood dose to him and whispered, "Courage, John. We'll get them back for you. Trust your Abbot, let him do the talking."

The tiny figures high above swayed in the breeze, skirts billowing out as they kept hold of baby Rollo, who was waving cheerily.

"Karra! High, isn't it." General Ironbeak preened his wing feathers as he spoke. "Oh, not to a bird, but to an earthcrawler it is as if your head were b.u.mping the clouds. If s a long way down too, if you don't hit the sides or bounce off a few gutters. Who knows, you might even smash through one of those low roofs. Imagine all that happening to a baby mouse. There wouldn't be much left to tell the tale when he hit the ground."

John Churchmouse bit his lip until the blood trickled to his chin.

The Abbot disguised his true feelings and shrugged carelessly. "Then as far as I am concerned you have our surrender, but not completely. Unfortunately, I am only the voice of one, and this Abbey belongs to us all, not just me. We must have a little time to consider your offer, then a vote will have to be taken."

Ironbeak raked the path fiercely with his talons. "I will have your complete surrender. Now!"

The Abbot sat upon the path. Plucking a blade of gra.s.s, he sucked it, shaking his head.

"I am very sorry, but it is not my decision. Throw the 244.

captives from the roof if you must. All our creatures are not present, and it is not possible to give you a firm decision right now. We need time to discuss this and take a ballot."

Ironbeak kicked gravel left and right, realizing that if the captives were slain his bargaining power was lost.

"You say you need time. How much time, earth-crawler?" he demanded.

"Oh, at least three sunsets."

"That is too long. How do I know you are not planning something?"

The Abbot looked old and frail, and he smiled dis-armingly. "General, you give us too much credit. What could we do against you in the s.p.a.ce of three sunsets? We are not warriors, we cannot fly like you birds, we are only earthcrawlers. Besides, you hold the captives. What better insurance of our good behaviour?"

The raven signalled Mangiz to have the captives taken into the roofs.p.a.ces.

"Two sunsets, not three." He clacked his beak decisively. 'Two sunsets and no longer!"

Mordalfus stood up and bowed gravely. "Thank you, Ironbeak. You shall have our answer two sunsets from now."

245.

The raft was proving successful. Though the water hammered it hard in midcurrent, it held together admirably. Log-a-Log was in his element, manoeuvring the tiller as he shouted out orders above the rush of the waters. The long poles they had used for punting were now useless as a means of propelling the craft, and they relied upon the steering skills of the shrew leader.

Matthias stood at the forward end scanning the other sh.o.r.e, Basil and Cheek hung on to each other for dear life, with Jess, Jabez and Orlando near to paw, surrounded by shrews who packed the floating deck to its edges. They were past the midriver point when Matthias made his way across to Log-a-Log.

"How is she handling?"

"Oh, fine, Matthias, fine," Log-a-Log said airily. "As you can see, we've sprung a small leak or two, but nothing to worry about. I'll make for that spot over there. If s a curving inlet and the water looks almost still, so it must be by-pa.s.sed by the main center current. Are you all right, not worried about anything?"

"Not exactly worried, just keeping my eyes, ears and wits about me," Matthias admitted. "That sh.o.r.e looks a bit too peaceful for my liking."

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"Ha, anything that looks peaceful is exactly to my liking."

Stonefleck stood with his back to a rock on the open bank, completely disguised by his strange coat. In his paws he held a bow with an arrow notched on its string. Coolly he watched the raft looming larger, knowing that his formidable army was waiting, bows at the ready for its leader to fire the first arrow.

Basil relaxed his grip on Cheek. "Ha, we're not bad sailors after all, young Cheek. Can't you feel the water gettin' smoother, not so much of that infernal bobbin' up and down like a duck's bottom?"

"That's as may be Basil, but I won't feel easy until me young paws are on dry land again," the otter said nervously. "Lookit that Log-a-Log shrew, he's enjoyin' it all. I bet he'll be sorry to leave this raft."

"Stand ready with those poles," Log-a-Log called to the shrews seated at the outboard edges. "We'll be into still waters soon."

A hissing volley of arrows speeding like flighted death cut down the six shrews who stood grasping the poles. They toppled lifeless into the water.

Immediately, the sh.o.r.e was alive with innumerable rats unleashing arrows one after another into the unprotected creatures on the fiat raft deck.

Taken completely by surprise, there was only one course of action open to Matthias. Ducking and dodging flying shafts, he yelled, "Overboard! Everybeast overboard. Stay on the river side of the raft. Keep low!"

There was a ma.s.s scramble, making the raft tilt perilously. Matthias, Log-a-Log and Jess unfastened their slings. All around them the shrews leapt into the water, dinging to the side of the raft furthest from the sh.o.r.e. The three friends launched slingstones at the attackers, but they did little good. Arrows still poured back at them like spring rain.

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"Log-a-Log, Jess, get off the raft, hurry!" Matthias shouted urgently.

The squirrel and the shrew did not stop to argue, they abandoned the heeling raft and took to the water. Matthias went last.

Stonefleck looked at the sky. Twilight was arriving. He signalled a cease-fire.

"Wait, they're in the water now. Lefs watch the sport before we open up again. But pick off any loose ones that you sight."

The rat army packed to the water's edge, gazing at the bobbing raft an arrow's-length away.

Basil spat out a mouthful of river water as he clung to the side of the raft.

"Ambushed!" he said disgustedly. "Where in the name of fur and claw did that mob spring from? They're no slouches with those bows, Orlando."

"If I could reach them with my battleaxe, I'd show them I'm no slouch, the filthy a.s.sa.s.sins. Ouch, what was that?"

There were shouts and screams from the shrews.

"Ow! I've been bitten!"

"Ouch, ow! Me too!"

"Owooh! I'm bleeding!"

Matthias gritted his teeth. "Silence. Be still. It's probably just a shoal of small fish."

Jess changed places until she was by Matthias. "Owen! It's like sitting on a beehive," she complained. "Cheek's got more sense. Look, he's still on the raft."

A shrew who had been bitten tried hauling himself out of the water; he took an arrow between the eyes. Another shrew tried swimming away from the raft; two arrows sank him. The rats were sniping from the bank at anything that popped up or moved.

Cheek lay sprawled flat in the center of the raft, ignoring Matthias.

248.

"Come off that raft. Cheek, You'll be shot," Matthias said sharply.

"No fear. Lie low and ding tight, that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going into that river."

Basil sucked up water and spat it at the young otter.

"You t.i.ttle nuisance, come off that raft, sir. Off, I say!" he ordered.

Matthias felt tiny teeth bite his tail. He kicked out and was bitten again.

"Leave him, Basil. Lefs think of some way out of this. The raft is drifting towards those rats. Duck! They're firing again."

More volleys of arrows followed.

For the first time in a long while, Stonefleck allowed himself a tight smile of satisfaction. "We've got them. They're sailing towards us. Keep up the arrows! Those who aren't eaten will be shot. I want no captives. We're not slavers; leave that to Slagar."

Jabez Stump was being bitten on his unprotected paws.

"I can't stand much more of this," the hedgehog winced. "What's to be done?"

"Hold the raft tight," Log-a-Log called out. "Try backing water. We might just tow it off into the main current again and get washed away from this lot."

They tried as hard as they could, and the raft backed off slightly.

"If s heavy going. Cheek, will you get off that raft. We're towing your weight down here," Matthias said crossly.

Cheek lay flat, dinging tighter to the deck as arrows whizzed over him in flights.

"No! Go 'way, leave me alone."