Russa shook her head vigorously. "None at all, matey. There's plenty o' deadwood an' dry bark about. I'll see t'the fire, you unpack the vittles."

Flint and steel from Russa's pouch soon had dry tinder alight. Clearing a fires.p.a.ce around it, she added fragrant dead pine twigs, old brown ferns, and some stout billets of beech. Tammo found a flagon of elderberry wine in the pack. He warmed pancakes before spreading them with honey, and set two moist-looking chunks of plum cake near the flames to heat through. They sat with their backs against the beech, pleasantly tired, eating, drinking, and chatting.

Russa picked up Tammo's dirk and inspected it closely. "This is a rare weapon, mate. Is it your father's?"

"No, it was my mother's. She was a Long Patrol fighter, y'know. She said a Badger Lord made it for her in the forge at Salamandastron, the great mountain fortress. Can you tell me anythin' of the mountain, Russa? I've never seen it."

Reflectively the squirrel balanced the blade in her paw, then she threw it skillfully. It whizzed across the clearing and thudded point first into a sycamore trunk.

"Sometimes a thrown blade can save your life," she said. "I'll teach you how to sling it properly before long."

Tammo had to tug hard to pull the dirk from the tree trunk. "I'd be rather obliged if y'did. Now what about Salamandastron?"

37 Russa took a sip of wine and settled back comfortably. ' 'Oh, that place, hmm, let me see. Welt, a mountain's a mountain, much like any other, but I can give you the chant I heard the Long Patrol hares sayin' last time I was over that way."

Tammo piled a bit more wood on the fire. "You know the Long Patrol hares? Tell me, what do they chant?"

The squirrel closed her eyes. "Far as I can recall it went somethin' like this: "O vermin if you dare, come and visit us someday, Bring all your friends and weapons with you too. You'll find a good warm welcome, let n.o.beast living say That cold steel was never good enough for you.

You won't find poor helpless beasts all undefended, Like the old ones, babes, and mothers that you've slain, And you'll find that when your pleasant visit's ended, You'll never ever leave our sh.o.r.es again.

All you cowards of the land and you flotsam of the sea, Who murder, pillage, loot whene'er you please, There's a Long Patrol a waitin', we'll greet you cheerfully, You'll hear us cry 'Eulalia' on the breeze.

"Tis a welcome to the bullies who slay without a care, All those good and peaceful creatures who can't fight, But perilous and dangerous the beast they call the hare, Who stands for nought but honor and the right.

Eulalia! Eulalia! Come bring your vermin horde, awaits you, led by a Badger Lord!"

Tammo shook his head in admiration. "By golly, that's some chant! Are they really that brave and fearless, these Long Patrol hares?"

Russa threw a burning log end back into the fire. "Ruthless, they can be, but they keep the sh.o.r.es defended and the land safe fer peaceful creatures t'live in. C'mon now, mate, y'need 38 yore sleep for tomorrow's trekkin'. Stow y'self over there in the dark, away from the flames."

Tammo pulled a wry face at this suggestion. "But I'm nice'n'warm here, why've I got to move?"

The squirrel's face grew stern. "Because I says so, now stop askin' silly questions an' shift!"

Tammo retreated into the surrounding bushes, muttering, "Nice warm fire an' I've got t'sleep back here, a chap could catch his death o' cold on a night like this, 'taint fair!"

Sometime during the night, Tammo was awakened by a bloodcurdling scream. He leapt up, grabbing for his dirk, which he had left within paw's reach. It was not there.

He stood in the firelight and looked around. His friend was missing too. Cupping paws around his mouth, the young hare yelled into the night-darkened woodlands, "Russa, where are you?"

With a bound the squirrel cleared the fallen beech trunk and was at his side, wiping the dirk blade on the gra.s.s. "I'm here. Keep y'voice down an' get back under cover!"

Together they crouched in the bushes. Tammo was bursting to question Russa, but he held his silence, watching the squirrel's eyes flick back and forth as she craned her head forward, listening.

From somewhere in the midst of the trees there came a shriek of rage. Russa stood erect and shouted in the direction whence it had come, "Yore mate's dead, ferret! Take warnin' an' clear off, 'cos I'm comin' after you next an' I don't take prisoners!"

Skulka's answering call came back, thick with rage: "It ain't over, old one, we'll get you an' yer liddle pal! Jus' wait'n'see!"

This was followed by the sound of Skulka crashing off through the ferns. Then there was silence. Russa gave Tammo back his dirk, saying, "It was those two ferrets we tangled with earlier today, mate. I knew they'd be back, 'specially after they saw you take our 'avvysack o' vittles out o' the bushes back there."

Tammo felt weak with shock. ' 'Russa, I'm sorry. If I hadn't 39 let them see the haversack they would've gone off none the wiser."

The wily squirrel shook her head. "Wrong, matey, they would've tried to get us whether or not. I knew they was followin' us all day. 'Twas logical they'd make their move tonight when they thought we'd be asleep. So I took off into the trees wid yore blade an' b.u.mped straight into the one called Gromal, armed wid a long sharpened stake, if y'please. So I had to finish it then an' there, 'twas him or me. But I'm a bit worried, Tamm."

Tammo was puzzled by this statement. "What's worryin' you, Russa?"

"Well, did y'hear the other ferret shoutin', she said we'll get you. We. It's like I thought, there must be a band of 'em somewheres about. I had a feeling I knowed them two from long ago, they always run with a robber band."

Tammo gripped his blade resolutely. "Right, mate, what's t'be done?"

Russa ruffled Tammo's ears rather fondly. "Sleep's to be done. Shouldn't think they'll be back tonight, but we'll take ;:; turns standin' guard. More likely they'll try an' ambush us out :$ in the open tomorrow, so get y'sleep-you'll need it." *If Night closed in on the little camp. The fire dimmed from burning flame to glowing embers, trees murmured and rustled, their foliage stirred by a westering wind. Tammo dreamed of his home, Camp Tussock. He saw the faces of his family, and Osmunda and Roolee, together with the young creatures with '**; whom he had played. Elusive aromas of Mem Divinia's cooking, mingled with songs and music around the fire of a winter's night, a.s.sailed his senses. A great sadness weighed upon him, as though he might never see or feel it all again.

Russa climbed into a tree and slept the way she had for many seasons, with one eye open.

9.

Extract from the writings of Craklyn squirrel, Recorder of Redwall Abbey in Mossflower Country.

Great Seasons! Now I know I am old. A beautiful spring afternoon, the sun smiling warmly over Mossflower Wood and our Abbey, and almost everybeast, from the smallest Dibbun baby to the Mother Abbess herself, is out in the grounds at play. While here am I, sitting by the kitchen ovens, a cloak about me, scratching away with this confounded quill pen. Ah well, somebeast has to do it, I suppose. Though I never thought that one day I would be old, but that is the way of the world, the young never do.

Let me see now, out of the Redwallers of my early seasons there are only a few left: Abbess Tansy, my dear friend, the first hedgehog ever to be Mother of Redwall; Viola Bankvole, our fussy Infirmary Sister; and who else? Oh, yes, Foremole Diggum and Gurrbowl the Cellar Keeper, two of the most loyal moles ever to inhabit Red-wall Abbey. Counting the squirrel Arven and myself, that is everybeast accounted for. Arven is our Abbey Warrior.

40.

41 Who would have thought that such a mischievous little rip would grow up to be so big and reliable, respected throughout Mossflower?

Alas, the seasons caught up with all the old crew who were our elders, and they have gone happily to the sunny meadows. Though they are always alive in our memories, those good creatures and the knowledge and joy they imparted to all. Sad, is it not, though, that our Abbey has lacked a badger and a hare for many a long season now? But I beg your indulgence, I am getting old and maudlin, I've become the same ancient fogey my friends and I would laugh at in our youth. Enough of all this! If I sit here much longer I'll be baked to a turn like the oatfarls in the oven. If my creaking joints will allow me, I'm going out to play with the others. After all, it is springtime, isn't it?

Abbess Tansy ducked as a ball made from soft moss and twine flew over her head. She wrinkled her nose at the tiny mouse who had thrown it. "Yah, missed me, Sloey bunglepaws!"

The mousebabe stamped her footpaw and grimaced fiercely. "A not 'uppose t'duck you 'ead, Muvver Tansy, you stannup straight!"

Behind Tansy a Dibbun mole picked up the ball and was about to throw it clumsily when Craklyn sneaked up. She took the ball from him and threw it hard, hitting Tansy on the back of her head.

With the soft ball sticking to her headspikes, the Abbess whirled around, a look of comic fury upon her face. "Who threw that ball? Come on, own up!"

Craklyn's expression was one of simple innocence. "It wasn't me, Mother Abbess!"

Tansy glared at the little ones playing the game. "Well, who was it, one of you rascals?"

The Dibbuns fell about laughing as a small mole named Gubbio pointed to Craklyn. ''Yurr, et wurr ee flung yon ball, marm!"

Craklyn looked horrified. She pointed to Gubbio, saying, "No, it wasn't! You were the one who threw the ball! We saw him, didn't we?"

This caused more hilarity among the babes. The sight of the 42 Recorder fibbing like a naughty Dibbun was too much for them. They skipped about giggling, pointing to Craklyn.

" 'Twas marm Craklyn, 'twas 'er!"

Abbess Tansy pulled the ball from her headspikes and pretended to lecture the Recorder severely: "You naughty creature, fancy throwing things at your Abbess! Right, no supper for you tonight. Straight up to bed, m'lady!"

It all proved too much for the Dibbuns, who threw themselves down on the gra.s.s, chuckling fit to burst.

Foremole Diggum in company with Arven the squirrel Warrior and several other moles pa.s.sed by, headed for the south wall. They had been talking earnestly together as they went, but on seeing Abbess Tansy they stopped conversing and nodded to her as they hurried on their way.

"Afternoon, marm, an' you too, marm!"

Craklyn exchanged glances with Tansy. "They're up to something. Hi, Arven! What's the rush, where are you all off to?"

"Nothin' for you t'be concerned with, marm," Arven called back to her. "Just out for a stroll."

Immediately, Tansy took Craklyn's paw and began to follow them. "You're right, they are up to something. Out for a stroll, eh? Well, come on, friend, let's join 'em! Carry on with the game, you little 'uns, and no cheating!"

Behind the shrubbery that bordered the outer wall of the ramparts on their south side, Diggum Foremole and the rest were questioning a mole called Drubb.

"Whurr do ee say 'twas, Drubb?"

He pointed with a heavy digging claw in several places as he brushed hazel and rhododendron shrubs aside. "Yurr see, an' yurr, yonder too, roight along ee wall if'n you'm look close. Hurr, see!"

Craklyn and Tansy arrived on the scene. Straight away the Abbess started to interrogate Arven: "What's going on? There's something you aren't telling me about. What is it, Arven-I demand to know!"

The squirrel had crouched low at the wallbase, probing the joints of ma.s.sive red sandstone blocks with a small quill knife. He looked up at Tansy, keeping his voice deceptively calm. "Oh, it's something and nothing, really. Drubb here says he 43 thinks the wall is sinking, but he may not be right. We didn't say anything to you, Tansy, because you've enough to do as Abbess ..."

He was cut short by Tansy's indignant outburst. "The south outer wall of my Abbey is sinking and you didn't consider it serious enough to let your Abbess know? Who in the name of stricken oaks do you think I am, sir-Mother Abbess of Red-wall, or a little fuzzbrained Dibbun playing ball?''

Diggum Foremole touched his brow respectfully. "You'm forgive oi fer sayin', marm, but ee lukked just loik a fuzzy-brain Dibbun a playin' ball when us'n's pa.s.sed ee but a moment back, hurr aye."

Tansy drew herself up grandly, spikes abristle and eyes alight. "Nonsense! Show me the wall this instant!"

The group wandered up and down the length of the high battlemented south wall for the remainder of the afternoon, talking and debating and pointing earnestly. The final conclusion was inescapable. The wall was sinking, bellying inward too. They probed the mortar between the stone joints, stood on top of the wall, and swung a weighted plumb line from top to bottom. Then, placing their faces flat to the wall surface and each one squinting with one eye, they gauged the extent of the stone warp. Whichever way they looked at it there was only one thing all were agreed upon. The south wall was crumbling!

Darkness was stealing over Redwall Abbey, and the lights of Great Hall shone through long, stained-gla.s.s windows, laying columns of rainbow colors across the lawn. b.u.t.tressed and arched, the ancient building towered against a backdrop of Mossflower woodlands. From bell tower to high roof ridge, it was the symbol of safety, comfort, and achievement to all the Redwallers who called it home.

Sister Viola Bankvole had never adopted the simple habit worn by most Abbey creatures. She favored flounces and ruffles, supported by more petticoats than enough. She made her way out of the Abbey's main door, holding up a lantern and tutting fussily as playful night breezes tugged at her cloak and bonnet. Brazen and slow, RedwalFs twin bells boomed out sonorously, calling everybeast to table for the evening meal.

Abbess Tansy and her party were at the north wall gable, completing an exhaustive inspection of the entire outer walls.

Foremole Diggum patted the stones fondly. "Burr! Thank ee, season'n'fates, thurr b'aint nuthen wrong with ee rest of'n our walls, marm, boi 'okey thurr b'aint!"

Arven held up his lantern, watching Abbess Tansy's face 44.

45 anxiously. "He's right, Tansy. The east, north, and west walls, including the gatehouse, stairs, ramparts, and main gates, are all sound as the day they were built!"

The Abbess rubbed a paw across her tired eyes. "So they are, but that's little comfort when the whole south wall could topple at a moment's notice."

Viola came bustling up, bonnet ribbons streaming out behind her. "Mother Abbess! There's a full evening meal waiting inside that cannot start without your presence! My word, just look at yourselves, dusty paws, thorns and teazels sticking to your clothing, what a sight! Craklyn, I thought you were supposed to be helping with the Dibbuns' bedtime. Goodness knows what time those babes will get up to the dormitory tonight when they haven't even been fed yet! Oh, and another thing..."

Arven's voice cut strongly across the bankvole's tirade: "Enough! That will do, Sister Viola!"

Tansy took advantage of Viola's huffy silence to say, "Thank you, Sister, we will be in to dine shortly. Meanwhile, would you be good enough to take my chair and order the meal to start in my absence? But do not send the Dibbuns to bed. I have something to say for all Redwallers to hear."

Viola seemed to swell up with die importance of her mission. Nothing she could think of pleased her more than taking the Abbess's place, albeit only for a short time. The bankvole swept off back to the Abbey, cloak aswirt with the wind.

Craklyn watched her go as they made their way toward the Abbey pond to wash. "Hmph! That bankvole, sometimes I think a swift kick in the bustle would do her the world of good."

Tansy stifled a smile as she reproved her friend. "Sister Viola is a good and dutiful creature, and she can't help being a bit overzealous at times. Mayhap we could all take a little lesson from her devotion to detail."

The bustle and chatter of good company was always a keynote to Redwall dining. Great Hall was packed with Redwallers, eating and conversing across well-laden tables. Golden and brown crusts of batch loaves, nut-bread, and oatfarl shone in the candlelight; tureens of steaming barley and beet soup, filled with corn dumplings, were placed at intervals, between 46 hot cheese and mushroom flans and fresh spring salads. Flagons of spiced fruit cordial and dandelion tea vied for place with pear and chestnut turnovers, apple and cream puddings, and two huge wild cherry and almond cakes. Many of the elders sat Dibbuns on their laps, sharing their plates with the Abbeybabes. The young ones were jubilant at the chance to stay up late.

Arven and the moles came to the table in Tansy's wake. The good Abbess signaled Viola to stay where she was, in the big chair at the head of the table. Shoving Sloey the mouse-babe and Gubbio the Dibbun mole playfully apart, Tansy placed herself between them on the low bench, saying, ' 'Move aside there, you two great fatties, let a poorbeast in!"

Sloey looked up from her soup as she moved to make room. "Big fatty y'self, marm. Wot you be late for?"

Gubbio spoke for his Abbess as he munched a large slice of cake. "Apportant bizness, oi surpose."

Tansy ladled soup for herself, winking at the molebabe. "Aye, mate, apportant bizness it was!"

The meal continued in no great hurry, a low buzz of conversation accompanying it. Time was never a factor when victuals were being taken at Redwall. When Tansy judged the moment was right, she stood up and nodded to Viola. The bankvole rang a small pawbell which was on the table near where she sat. Talk died away and Dibbuns were shushed as Tansy addressed her creatures.

"My friends, listen carefully. As your Mother Abbess I have something to tell you. Now there is no cause for alarm, but Foremole Diggum, Arven, Craklyn, some other good moles, and myself have inspected the structure of our Abbey's outer wall is today. For some reason as yet unknown to us, the south wall is in a dangerous state."

Shad, a big otter who occupied the gatehouse as Keeper, was immediately up on his paws. "What's t'be done, marm?"

Tansy gestured to Diggum, and the Foremole answered for her: "Hurr, furstly us'n's needs to foind out whoi ee be unsafe, on'y then'll us be able to fixen ee wall."

With Tansy's permission, Arven was next to speak. "There's no need for anybeast to worry, but we must set a few sensible rules for the safety of all. From tomorrow we will 47 fence off an area isolatin' the entire south wall. Please do not hang about near it. Carry on with your ch.o.r.es and pleasures as normal, and see that none of our little 'uns try to play in (he area, because it will be dangerous for a while. Lots of stone and rubble are bound to be lying about when the wall is demolished."

An incredulous murmur arose 'round Great Hall.

"They're going to knock down the south wall, demolish it!"

Shad the Gatekeeper thwacked the table with his thick tail, silencing the talkers. "Hearken t'me! Wot's all the bother about? Stands t'sense that a wobbly wall 'as t'be knocked down afore y'can build it back right. You 'card Abbess Tansy, there ain't no cause to worry!"

Pellit, a fat dormouse kitchen helper, shook his head knowingly. "Huh, just wait until the first vermin comin' up the path spots the wall knocked down. That'll be the time to start wor-ryin'!"

A loud hubbub broke out as a result of the dormouse's observation, and argument and dispute took over until Great Hall was in uproar. Many of the Abbeybabes, upset by the noise, began wailing with fright.

Without warning, Viola Bankvole leapt up onto the table. Seizing a big empty earthenware basin, she raised it high and sent it crashing to the floorstones. The noise of it smashing to fragments caused a momentary silence. That was enough for Viola; she was in, her voice ringing out sternly: "Silence! Be quiet, I say! Have you no manners at all? You there, Brother Sedum, and you, Pellit, take these babes off to bed right now! The rest of you, stop behaving like a pack of wild vermin. Shame on you! Arven, you are Abbey Warrior, tell these silly creatures of your plans!"

Arven had made no plans at all, but he took the center floor and made them up boldly as he went along, his voice ringing with confidence to rea.s.sure the listeners.

"My plans, yes-1 was just coming to that before all the shouting started. Foremole Diggum and his moles will take care of the demolition and rebuilding, together with any of you he chooses to a.s.sist him. The work will be carried out in shifts, so that the job will be completed as soon as possible.

48.

Meanwhile I'm sure our friend Shad will contact the Skipper of Otters and his crew, and together with our own stout creatures they will form a force to guard and patrol the immediate area. Really, friends, there is no cause to worry at all. Many seasons have pa.s.sed since any vermin bands were seen in this part of Mossflower Country."