Mattimeo Part 35

One wing tucked neatly across her back, the other hanging limply at her side, she made a flapping run and gained the air. The red bird flew with a painful rolling motion, the injured wing flopping lower than the good one. Flight was becoming too difficult to sustain, so she came to earth again, this time in a rolling heap of feathers as she struck the plain floor, scattering b.u.t.tercup petals in all directions.

The great bird rested momentarily, her huge curved beak gaping open, tongue hanging to one side. Doggedly struggling to her legs, she walked for a while, the injured wing trailing limply in the dust, her eyes fixed upon the building in the distance at the woodland edge. It was not so open there. Her beloved mountains were too far away, so she would try to make the building before sunset. There would be places where she could lie and rest, nooks and crannies where she could not be caught out. The open plains made her feel vulnerable; in flight she was a redoubtable hunter and fighter, but crippled like this she could only keep low and hope there were no flocks of other birds abroad that would relish the chance to attack an injured bird on the ground.

Flapping and hopping, scrambling and crawling, the great red bird made her way east towards the b.'Uding which offered refuge.

On the far flung south reaches of the plateau lands, dawn broke placidly over the copse. Matthias rose and picked up his sword.

"A good day to settle business, Orlando." The badger shouldered his axe. "We travelled a long way to see this dawn, my friend. A good day." All around, shrews were girding themselves up for war; bows, arrows, slings, lances, even dubs were got ready. As Basil lugged the five weasel prisoners along on a makeshift lead, they wailed pitifully: "No, no, please, don't make us go down there!"

"We'll be killed, we won't stand a chance!"

"We have no weapons, we'll be slain!"

Basil tugged the lead sharply. "C'mon, step lively there, you wingeing weasels. You've lived like cowards; try to die like heroes. Hmph! Fat chance o' that, eh, laddie buck? Stop snivellin' and wipe your nose, you villainous vermin."

They broke away from Basil's grasp and flung themselves in front of Matthias, grovelling shamelessly.

"Spare us please, sir, spare us!"

Sir Harry flapped down from an alder.

"There's nothing affects a craven Like the thought of sudden death. The idea he might not see the night Or draw another breath."

Orlando kicked a weasel in the rump as he stepped over the prostrate creatures.

"You know, Matthias, these sc.u.m aren't going to be a bit of good down there. They'll probably give the game away with all their sobbing and bawling. Shuttup, you snivelling snotnoses, or I'll finish you here and now!"

The weasels fell silent. Matthias leaned on his sword, stroking his whiskers.

"You've got a good point there, Orlando, but what do we do with them if we don't send them ahead of us on the stairs?"

Orlando hefted his battleaxe. "Let me finish 'em off now, and save a lot of trouble."

The weasels began moaning afresh. "Stop that crying. CXyou hear me, stoppit!" Matthias snorted impatiently. "Right, here's what we'll do, Orlando. I couldn't let you kill them in cold blood, that isn't our way. We'll set them going southward. Sir Harry, would you accompany them on their way to make sure they keep going? Sorry about this, but there probably won't be a lot of s.p.a.ce down there for you to fly about, and you'd get into trouble under the ground."

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Sir Harry shrugged.

"As you wish, as you wish, Matthias. We each have a role to be filled. I'll take these weasels south for a bit. But the first one to cry gets killed!"

The owl picked the lead rope up in his beak and flapped off, with the five weasels stumbling and hurrying behind him.

Basil watched them go. "Pity about old Harry. He looked a bit peeved to me. D'you think he's gone off in a huff, Matthias?"

The warrior mouse nodded. "I've no doubt he has. Don't worry, he'll be back. Meanwhile, I'd like a last word with everybeast. Gather round and listen to what I have to say to you."

The small army squatted in the copse, while Matthias stood on the top stair of old Loamhedge and addressed them.

"First, I want to thank you all for your help and for coming this far with me. You have left your homes and territories far behind. Orlando, -Jess, Jabez and myself have good reason to live or die today. You see, we have young ones to rescue. The rest of you, I cannot ask you to sacrifice your lives for our cause; they are not your young ones down there."

Basil Stag Hare stood up. "Beg pardon, old lad, but young Tim and Tess are down there. Whaf d my old chum John Churchmouse and his good lady wife say if I came back empty-pawed without their young uns? Coming with you? I'll say I am, bucko. You try and stop B. S. Hare esquire!"

Cheek stood by the hare. "I'm with Basil. He's a grumpy ol' frump and I like him, so there!"

Basil and Cheek went to stand with Matthias. Log-a-Log drew his short sword.

"Shrews and Guosim are friends of Redwall. I never started a job that I didn't finish. I go with you."

The whole of the Guosim moved as one with Log-a-Log to stand at Matthias's side.

Orlando raised his huge axe. His voice was tight with eagerness as he called: "Come on, Warrior, what are we waiting for?"

Mattimeo and the slaves had been taken from their darkened cell. Nadaz and several black-robed rats led them to the edge of the ledge where the statue stood. They were permitted to look over into the depths.

Through the greenish mist, Mattimeo could make out the thin bedraggled forms of scores of young creatures: squirrels, otters, hedgehogs, mice. They were hauling huge blocks of stone on towropes, and rats stood guard over them with whips and cudgels, urging them with heavy blows to greater efforts. Other young ones were lifting the stone blocks into position with pulleys and tackles, while yet other young woodlanders laid mortar and limestone cement in the gaps that were to receive the stones. Sometimes a young creature would cry out and fall over exhausted, only to be beaten by the rats until he or she got up, or lay permanently still.

Numbed by the horror of it, the new slaves were led before the statue and forced to bow their heads whilst Nadaz spoke to Malkariss.

"I am Nadaz, Voice of the Host. O Ruler of all below earth, these are your new servants. What do you require me to do with them?"

The hairs rose on Mattimeo's neck at the sound of the voice emanating from the crystal-toothed statue's mouth.

"They have looked upon my kingdom. Soon they will have the honour of building it for me," it proclaimed.

From his bowed position, Mattimeo glanced along the line. He saw Vitch chained and held by two rats. The young mouse nudged Tess.

"Look who's there, our little slave-driver being rewarded for his services. I hope they chain me next to him for a while down there."

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less stamped her paw hard against the ledge, her eyes blazing. "They can chain me next to who they like, but I'm not building any filthy underground kingdom for a talking statue!"

The young churchmouse's angry tones echoed around the rocky cavern. There was a brief silence, then Malkariss spoke again.

"Take them back and lock them away without light, food or water. They are not ready to serve me yet."

As they were led up the gloomy winding pa.s.sages, Tess began to weep. "Oh, I'm sorry I spoke out. I've caused you all to be locked in the dark and starved again."

"No, you haven't," Cynthia Bankvole said bravely. "I'd rather starve than be beaten to death like those poor creatures."

Auma seconded her, "Aye, don't worry, Tess. If you hadn't spoken out, I would have."

"Thafs it friends, we stick together. Redwallll!" Mattimeo's voice rang out like the Abbey bells.

He was knocked fiat with the b.u.t.t of a spear before they were flung back into their darkened prison.

45.

It was midafternoon, and Redwall lay quiet under the heat haze. Hardly a leaf stirred in the vasmess of Mossflower beyond the north and east walls, and the plains shimmered and danced, making the horizon indistinguishable.

Down below in Cavern Hole depression had set in. It had started when little Rollo and a baby fieldmouse wanted to go out to play. Naturally the Abbot had to forbid any such idea with the birds about, so Ambrose Spike took them to play down in his wine cellar. Cornflower fanned herself with a dockleaf. The heat seemed to have penetrated the stones, even down to Cavern Hole, where it was usually cool.

"Poor Rollo, he did so want to go out to play on the gra.s.s. I remember Mattimeo, Tim and Tess used to go out in the orchard. Sam Squirrel would teach them to climb the apple and pear trees, and that sweet chestnut over by the gooseberry patch."

Abbot Mordalfus mopped his brow with his habit sleeve. "Ah yes, he was a scamp, that Sam Squirrel. Mind you, so was I at their age. I used to get sent off to bed for dashing around the top of the outer wall when I was a young one. Ha ha, old Sister Fem used to say it gave her dizzy spells just watching me. Phew! I don't know about 358.

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Rollo, but I could certainly do with a stroll outside in the grounds. If s hot in here."

Mrs. Churdunouse dosed her eyes dreamily. "Mmmm, I'd love to be sitting dabbling my paws in the pond on an afternoon like this."

Foremole tugged his snout obligingly. "Burr, ifn you'm laydeez ud loik to wet you'm paws, oi'll take you'm thro' yon tunnel to pond."

Winifred the Otter sprang up. "What a good idea! Oh, would you please let us go. Father Abbot? We'll be careful, I promise we will. The first sign of a rook and we'll pop into that hole like moles, pardon the expression."

Abbot Mordalfus took his spectacles off. Smiling indulgently, he settled back in his chair.

"Well, if s pretty certain I won't get any rest with you chattering creatures about. Of course you may go, but don't stay out too long and be very careful. I'll stop here and take a nap."

Foremole was first into the tunnel. "Age afore booty. Foller me, gennelbeasts."

The Abbot settled back in his chair with a sigh. A ray of sunlight crossing Great Hall penetrated down the stairs across the barricade top and shone in his eyes. He watched the small golden dust flecks dancing in it, his eyes gradually dosing as he drifted into h;s noontide nap.

Cornflower came wriggling back down the tunnel, followed by her companions. She scurried from the entrance and, not bothering to dust herself down, began shaking the sleepy Abbot by the paw.

"Wake up, wake up, Father Abbot, quickly! They're attacking it, the poor thing. Oh, ifll be killed if we don't do something."

The Abbot blinked and jumped up. "Eh, what? Attacking what poor thing, where?"

Winifred grabbed his other paw. "A big rusty-colored *ft f bird, much bigger than Ironbeak's lot. If s over by the pond and the rooks are attacking it. Oh, I'm sure it isn't an invader. We've got to help it." The Abbot leapt into action.

"Find Constance quickly. Get any available moles and v bring them here."

;* A moment later, Constance rushed in from the I kitchens, covered in flour with a bunch of scallions in her f paw. She dimbed into the tunnel, shouting orders: '", "Everybeast stay here except the moles. Send them after me. I'll deal with this!"

V In front of the pond the great red bird lay. With one final * effort she had flown over the outer Abbey wall, landing I with a thud on the soft gatehouse garden soil. Seeing the ~ water glint in the afternoon sun, she hauled herself ;; painfully over to drink at the pond. The throat of the ^ great red bird was dry, her tongue parched, spots ; danced before her eyes. Crazily she staggered and I wobbled towards the water. Next instant she was harried by three rooks who descended upon her. They pecked and dragged at the great red bird, lashing out ' with their clawing talons. Half unconscious and defenceless, she lay at their mercy. ; Foremole was awaiting Constance's arrival up the tunnel.

r "O'er thurr, stroipmarm," he said, pointing to the 5 scene of the attack. "They'm akillen yon burd, they gurt bullies!"

Constance hurtled from the tunnel and was upon the ;, rooks before they knew what was happening.

' She bulled the first one straight into the pond and cuffed the next one high into the air with a quick hefty , paw. The third rook took oft, leaving most of his tailfeathers between the badger's teeth. The attackers flew squawking through the broken dormitory window, * terrified to look back lest the big badger was coming after ; them.

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Swiftly Constance began dragging the great red bird to the tunnel. It raised its head feebly and tried to attack the badger. Constance narrowly avoided the fierce curved beak but took several scratches from the powerful talons before she stunned the already half-unconscious bird with a smart tap of her paw between its eyes.

"Sorry, but if s for your own good, you silly great thing. Here, Foremole, which end do you want?"

Foremole scrambled from the tunnel, leaving three of his crew ready to receive the burden.

"You'm leave et f me, marm. Yurr, Jarge, oi'm asendin' burd in 'ead hirst, save reverse feather draggen. Chuck yon rope round they daws. Oi'll tie beak. Gaffer, be you'm ready wi' grease case'n et be too woid in beam."

Ironbeak and Mangiz flew through the dormitory window with several rooks. They landed where the attack had taken place. The General looked particularly bad-tempered after being disturbed at his noontide roost.

"Yakkah! First it is ghost mice, now we have a great disappearing red bird. Where is it, fools?

"It was right there. General. We pecked it and scratched it- "

"Yes, yes. And what happened then?"

"The big earthcrawler, the stripedog, it tried to slay us."

"So you turned tail and flew off," Ironbeak said scornfully.

"Chief, there was nothing else we could do. That stripedog is a wild beast!"

"How long ago did this take place?"

"Only a moment back, Ironbeak. We were at the dormitory window when we saw this big rusty-looking bird come over the wall. It must have been ill because it flapped and flopped about like a new eggchick."

"So you attacked it?"

"Oh yes. Chief. We gave it a good clawing and beaking-"

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"And you killed it!"

, "Yes, er, no. I mean, we were going to, when the earthcrawler came."

"Where did the stripedog come from?"

"Search me!"

Ironbeak buffeted the insolent rook flat. He ground his talons against its beak and pecked it hard upon its leg.

"Kaah! Out of my sight, nettlehead, I think the sun in this warm land has addled your brains. First you see a great bird, then you are attacked by the stripedog, and mat was only the flick of a feather ago. Now there is no sign of the earthcrawler and the big bird has vanished too. Maybe they are both hiding underwater in that pool. Shall I throw you in so that you can search them out?"

"The stripedog has already done that, by the look of Grubclaw," Mangiz interrupted.