Ironbeak nodded to Mangiz, and the crow started the exchange.

"We release them at the same time, one for one. First the infant for Quickbill. Agreed?"

Constance untied the first magpie.

"Agreed!"

Rollo was aware of the gravity of the situation. He strode slowly across to Constance, crossing paths with Quickbill. On reaching his friends the little bankvole began singing: "Kick a magpie in the eye.

Shoot a crow wiv a great big bow. . . ."

276.

Winifred swept him up and hurried indoors.

"Now the one called Cornflower for Brightback."

"Agreed!"

The mouse and the magpie pa.s.sed each other in silence. Tension mounted in the air now that there were only two left. As Cornflower embraced Constance, the harsh voice of Mangiz sounded: "Last, the churchmouse for Diptail."

"Agreed!"

The exchange took place without a hitch.

Both sides stood watching each other.

At a wave from Ironbeak, the magpie brothers and Mangiz flew off, then the raven General fixed his eyes on Constance.

"I will continue to attack you. It is my destiny that I should rule in the great redstone house."

The badger gave him back stare for stare.

"Others have tried to conquer Redwall, warriors greater than you. We are still here. Right is on our side, Justice too. One day our warriors will return home, then you will be driven off or slain."

Ironbeak was unmoved. "HaJtJta/ We shall see. You are not as clever as you imagine, none of you. Did it not occur to you that my fighters were not with me to see the exchange take place?"

"Oh nuts'n'acorns," Ambrose groaned. "I knew the villain had somethin' hidden up 'is feathery sleeve."

"While I was drawing out this business for as long as possible," Ironbeak continued, "my birds were in your orchards loading up many supplies. I kept you talking long enough for them to make several trips. Your sentries who should have been guarding the windows feeing the orchard were watching me and Mangiz in case we tried something. Anyway, black birds cannot be seen flying by night. Also, I must tell you that we have moved down to your infirmary and dormitories. I am conquering this place from the top downwards. Now you are left only with the place called Cavern Hole. If you try 277.

to cross the floor of Great Hall after dawn tomorrow, we will be watching from the galleries, ready to attack you. We have all the supplies needed, and you will be held to a state of siege below the floor of this place. You and your friends might think yourselves clever, but you are not wise enough to outsmart General Ironbeak." The raven shot off into the night sky like a dark arrow.

Constance shook her head wearily. "He wouldn't have outsmarted Matthias."

Cornflower patted Constance. "You were wonderfully brave to get us free. We're not beaten yet, as long as we're alive and Redwall stands, there is hope," she said rea.s.suringly. "We must defend the Abbey and keep it safe, especially for the day when Matthias returns with Mattimeo. Strange, isn't it, I keep thinking of my little Matti, even at the oddest times."

Constance smiled fondly. "Thaf s because he's your son and you're his mother. Whenever I look at you, I can tell you are thinking of him. Any creature would be glad of a mum Hke you, Cornflower. Here, whaf s this, tears?"

Cornflower sniffed and wiped her eyes. "No. I'm just a little tired, I suppose. I hope Mattimeo is getting his proper sleep, wherever he is."

The trek across the great barren country started at daybreak. Canteens had been filled at the last woodland pool. Supplies were very low but the shrew cooks had done them proud. Log-a-Log and his scouts had foraged the woodland fringe, and fennel, cloudberry and dandelion, together with some hall-ripened hazelnuts, had been thrown into a large communal salad, with the addition of some dried fruit and the last of the cheese. Then a good meal had been eaten facing the flat expanse of sun-scorched earth.

Basil sniffed the dry air.

"Useless trying to scent anything around here. Still, die tracks are clear enough. I can see them from here.

runnin' off in a straight line. They're a day and a night ahead of us, I reckon."

' He stood, stretching his long limbs, gazing out at the already shimmering horizon as it wavered and rippled with the fierce heat.

"Right, lads, quick's the word an' sharp's the action, eh? Form up here and follow me. No lagging and sitting down on the bally old job. By the left... wait for it, Cheek . . . quick march!!"

The little column trekked off into the unknown expanses of the desert ahead of them, leaving behind the final fringes of Mossflower.

Slagar had driven both captives and slavers hard. Marching by night and resting by day, they had crossed the wasteland. Footsore and weary, Mattimeo and his companions helped each other along. Their mouths were dry and parched from lack of water, the manacles rubbed and chafed. Tess caught Cynthia Bankvole as she stumbled for the umpteenth time.

"Up now. Stay on your paws, Cynthia. If s daylight, so they'll let us rest soon."

The volemaid licked dusty lips with a dry tongue. "I hope so, Tess. I can't stand much more of it, though I don't know which I'd prefer right now, a drink or a sleep."

Auma lent her size and strength, supporting them both with a paw at their backs. "Keep going. I can see something ahead, though I don't exactly know what it is. Can you see it, Sam?" ( The young squirrel strained his eyes, "Looks like some sort of a black shadow with bushes and trees on the other side of it. Whatever it is, it has to be better than this wasteland. I think they're planning to let us rest when we reach there. Keep going, it shouldn't be too long now."

Distances in the drylands were deceptive. It was gone 279.

midmorning when the slave line halted at the place which Auma and Sam had sighted. Cynthia Bank vole drew in a sharp breath and clapped a paw over her eyes, then sat down, dizzy with fright.

They had arrived at the brink of an abyss!

A huge rift in the earth opened before them. It was as if the world were splitting through its middle. Impenetrably black and endlessly deep, it stretched away in either direction as far as the eye could see. Though they were standing at its narrowest point, the distance across yawned many times the length of a tall beech tree. The captives stood wide-eyed in astonished silence at the awesome sight.

Across the gorge a swaying construction of rope and wood stretched. It was secured at either side by thick stakes driven deep into the earth, but the center of the rough bridge dipped perilously into the chasm.

Jube buried his face against the dusty ground. "Ooooh! I'd as soon die as try to cross that!"

A moan arose from the slave lines. Others felt the same as Jube, and even the stoats, weasels and ferrets who had come this far with Slagar began muttering among themselves.

The masked fox stood leaning against the stakes, watching them. He had come across this problem before and was ready for it.

"Frightened, eh? Legs turned to jelly, have they?" he taunted them.

"We never bargained for anything like this, Chief!" Threedaws gulped.

Slagar strolled to where two weasels, Drynose and Damper, stood guard over the expedition's food and water. Pushing them to one side, he took the three large water canteens and carried them to the head of the bridge.

"What d'you mean 'bargained'? You're not here to bargain, you are here to obey orders. You, Skinpaw, show them how if s done. A weasel like you isn't afraid of crossing a bridge."

Skinpaw shook his head vigorously. "Ask me to do anything, Slagar, anything. March, fight, climb mountains, cross rivers . . . but not that!"

The silken masked fluttered. The Cruel One seemed to be smiling beneath it. He turned to his slavers one by one.

"You, Halftail, or you, Viteh? How about you. Scringe? Or Bageye there? No?"

They remained silent, while Slagar spoke as if he were cajoling nervous young ones.

"Oh, come on now, it's only a little bridge across a gorge. Besides, do you see the bushes and trees on the other side? There's a lovely little pool there, full of nice cold water. Just think, you can drink all you like."

Skinpaw eyed the canteens that Slagar held.

"We've got water, Chief," he pointed out.

The fox swung the canteens out wide, letting go of them. He leaned over, watching them disappear into the abyss.

"Where? I don't see any water. Now, you spineless toads, listen to me. You have a choice: either you cross this bridge and drink water, or you stay on this side and die of thirst!"

Threeclaws was the first to go. He stepped gingerly out onto the swaying bridge, gripping the rope sides tightly. Carefully he tested each wooden slat before putting his weight on it.

When he was a short way out Slagar called, "Fleaback, Scringe, pick that line up and start the prisoners going. Halftail, you go with them. The rest of you follow after they've crossed."

Encouraged by Threeclaws' slow but sure pa.s.sage, Fleaback and Scringe stepped onto the bridge, tugging the leadrope.

"Come on, you lot. Step lively, and no hanging back or stumbling," Scringe chivvied them.

Mattimeo could not shut his ears to the sobbing of 281.

Cynthia and Jube, who were in a state of frozen shock. He tore a strip from the hem of his habit and bit it into two pieces.

"Here, Tess, put these around their eyes. Cynthia, Jube, listen. Hold on to Tess and Auma, and keep going. You'll be all right."

The trick worked. Groping awkwardly, the blindfolded creatures held tight to Tess and Auma, who, though they were both frightened of the swaying, sagging bridge, found that a lot of the fear was taken out of the crossing by attending to Cynthia and Jube.

Only Sam Squirrel was totally fearless about the bridge. At one point Tim had to remonstrate him for making the structure wobble with his jaunty walk.

"Hey, go easy, Sam," he called nervously. "There's others on this bridge not as clever as you at crossing gorges."

"Oops! Sorry, Tim. Never mind, we're nearly over now."

Ma ttimeo tried not to glance down into the bottomless depths. He dearly wished he had his paws on firm ground again.

The crossing was made without incident. Safely on the other side, everybeast breathed a huge sigh of relief. Slagar led them a short way into the bushes.

"There's the pool. Drink as much as you like. Three-claws, see they're fed and watered, then secure the line. HalftaU, come with me."

Slagar walked back to the edge of the gorge. While HalftaU watched, he crossed back over the bridge. Then the masked fox got out flint and steel. It did not take long to get the dust-dry ropes burning. As soon as they were alight he bounded onto the bridge and crossed back with surprising speed and agility. Chuckling to himself, he watched the ropes burn through. The bridge swayed and collapsed with a clatter of wooden slats as it struck the wall of the chasm beneath them. Slagar took Halftail's dagger and sawed through the taut ropes which held the weight of the bridge. He leapt back as the whole structure slipped away with a creaking, groaning snap. They waited awhile, but there was complete silence from the depths of the abyss.

Slagar smiled. "See, completely bottomless. n.o.beast can follow us now!"

A full-scale council was in progress at Cavern Hole. Winifred the Otter winced as Sister May applied poultices and herbs to her deeply scratched back.

"Aaahh! Go easy. Sister, that's the only back I've got. Ouch!"

Sister May went about her task, ignoring the protests. "Hold still, you silly otter! You were told not to cross Great Hall, but you would not listen. Stop wriggling while I attend to this scratch on your ear."

"Ow! What are you trying to do, pull me lug off? That ear's got to last me the rest of my life, you know!"

Constance pointed to Winifred. "As you can all see, she was injured merely trying to cross Great Hall. You must stay down here. Ironbeak and his birds are waiting in the galleries, and if one of us so much as shows a whisker outside Cavern Hole he or she will be slain. Winifred was lucky, she was swift enough to get away. Under no circ.u.mstances must you try to leave here. Besides, where would you go?"

"Well, I for one would go to my little gatehouse cottage," Cornflower answered. "Or I might gather fresh fruit and vegetables and water. It seems to me we're letting this Ironbeak have it all his own way."

There were shouts of agreement.

The Abbot called for order. "Please! Our first concern is the safety of every creature here. We must stay where it is safe. There are plenty of stores. The cupboards and larders are well stocked, there is ample food in the kitchens and we have the entire stock of the wine cellar available. I have spoken to Brother Trugg and the only shortage will be fresh water. It must be used only for drinking. Bathing, washing and other uses are forbidden."

There was a l.u.s.ty cheer from Rollo and some other young ones camped beneath the table.

"I'm glad someone approves," Constance smiled. "Well, if that's all we'll just have to put up with the situation for a while."

"Put up with the situation indeed!" John Church-mouse snorted indignantly.

Cornflower laughed aloud. "Oh, John, you sounded just like my Matthias then."

At the mention of the Warrior's name a silence fell.

"I do hope our young ones are safe," Mrs. Church-mouse fretted. "When I think of my Tim and Tess and Sam Squirrel and Mattimeo and Cynthia, where they may be now, or what those villains may do to them. . . . Oh, I do hope Matthias brings them back safe to us."

She broke down in tears.

"There, there, m'dear," John said, patting her gently. "Don't you cry, they'll be all right."

Baby Rollo began patting her skirt from underneath the table, ducking in an imitation of John Churchmouse. "There, there, me dear. Don't oo cry, be all right."

Every creature laughed, and even Mrs. Churchmouse managed a smile through her tears.

Ambrose Spike lifted Rollo up onto the table. "Thaf s the stuff, old Rollo. You get all these wet blankets cheerful again. Right, whaf s next, you little ruffian, eh?"

The tiny bankvole wrinkled his nose, uttering a single word: "Plans!"

The hedgehog shook his head in admiration. "There y'are, out of the mouths of baby beasts an' innocent creatures. Flans! Thaf s what Matthias would have said if he were here, stiffen me spikes. He wouldn't want us mopin' an' cryin'."

Cornflower stamped her paw down hard. "You're right, Ambrose. Let's get our thinking caps on. Thaf s if we ever want to walk freely around our own Abbey and pick our own fruit from our own orchard, or even just sit on the walls in peace and watch the sunrise over Redwall. I say, lef s not be beaten by a flock of birds!"

Constance touched a paw to her snout. "Ssshh! Let's do it quietly. You never know who may be listening."

While the badger was speaking, Winifred the Otter crept to the foot of the stairs that separated Cavern Hole from Great Hall, picking up a small turnip that baby Rollo had been playing with. Tip-pawing halfway up the stairs, she paused a moment then flung the turnip as hard'as she could.

Bonk!

There was a hollow noise of turnip striking beak, followed by a loud squawking caw.