Mossflower Part 45

Bella was cradling Martin's head, when suddenly she leaned closer to the warrior mouse's lips.

"He's alive! His mouth is moving!" she exclaimed joyfully.

T. B. began dabbing furiously at his friend's paws with the wet cloth. "He's alive! My friend is alive! Bella, is it true? Oh, please say yes!"

The badger's eyes were misted. "He's talking to Boar my 361.

m father at the gates of Dark Forest," she said in a strained voice.

"Don't let him go there, please. Do something to help him!" Timballis...o...b..gged, seizing Bella's paws.

Bella thought hard for a moment. "Wait, I have not got the knowledge as a healer for something as serious as this. But I know one who has-Abbess Germaine."

Gonff paced up and down, shaking his head. "But she's taken the little ones over to the east of Mossflower. It would be too late by the time we found her."

"Then send Chibb. He can fly there," T. B. said in a desperate voice.

Even in the urgency of the situation, Bella of Brockhall took command. Restoring order and good sense, she provided a solution.

"Friends, here is the only way we may save Martin. Listen carefully. Gonff, hurry back to our camp and send Chibb east. He must tell the Abbess to gather her medicines and herbs together. Meanwhile, you will get blankets and bring them back here. Do not move Martin, just keep him warm and dry. Abbess Germaine is old and cannot travel fast, but I will follow Chibb and bring her back from Gingivere's farm as speedily as I can."

Without another word, Bella dashed along the sh.o.r.e with a speed surprising for a badger. Cutting to the east, she crashed into Mossflower Woods like a juggernaut, disappearing in a welter of churned-up ground and flying foliage.

Night fell upon the lakeside. A fire burned bright as Goody Stickle tended Martin, tucking the blankets gently but firmly around his injured body. Ben Stickle hurried hither and thither gathering firewood.

T. B. stood by, feeling totally useless as he listened to the fevered voice of his friend.

"Carry on the sweep of the blade," Martin whispered. "Up and across, eh, Boar, you old battlebeast. Who will wield our swords for us now, warrior?"

T. B. was about to speak, when Goody held a paw to her lips. "Hush now, Mr. T. B. He's a-sleepin*. I'm doin' all I can to keep the life in the poor mouse until Abbess gets here."

362.

Trubbs and the hares built a bower of reeds and willow about Martin and Goody, speaking in whispers as they did so.

"Keep the old night breezes off, what!" "Rather. Can do without the bally wind, y'know." "Nothing worse than a chill on the paws when a chap's not on top form."

Pale moonlight glimmered off the surface of the lake as Martin lay still, scarcely breathing. The woodlanders sat waiting.

363.

49.

An hour before dawn, the occupants of the small farmhouse were up and about. Columbine checked the Abbess's satchel.

"Conifrey, elmbark, motherwort, verbena, rosehips. . . . I can't think of anything we've missed out, can you, Abbess?"

The old mouse stood facing the western woodlands. "No, child. I've got everything I need. Now stop upsetting yourself and prepare breakfast for the little ones."

Chibb perched on the farmhouse window sill, listening to Gingivere and Sandingomm.

"We must not let the little ones know," Gingivere was saying, "Let them play. Soon enough they'll grow up and have to face life's problems."

"You're right, Gingivere. Spike, Posy, would you set the bowls and spoons out, please."

"But Lady Sandingomm, you said it was Ferdy and Coggs's turn today. We did it at supper last night."

"You're right. It's not fair. Hey, you two, come on. Your turn for setting the breakfast things out."

Ferdy and Coggs came running from the woodland edge. "Hurray, it's Miz Bella. Look out or she'll knock us all over."

Bella came pounding out of the woods, lathered in foam and breathing heavily. Ferdy ran alongside of her.

364.

"Miz Bella, have you been running all night? Have we won the war?"

"Come away, little one. No time for games now."

Gingivere led Bella to the farmhouse, but she collapsed near the front doorstep, panting.

Sandingomm dashed indoors. "I'll get something to dry you down and you can have breakfast."

Bella shook her head as she caught her breath. "No time, friend. Some water to drink, then I'll be on my way. Abbess, are you ready?"

Germaine patted Bella's heaving flank. "Oh, I'm ready. But you're not, Bella. You need rest. You'd never make it back like that, so lie still awhile."

Still panting with exertion, the badger took a sparing drink of water and lay upon her side.

"Right. It won't take me long, Gingivere. Get some stout cords and be ready to bind the Abbess on my back. We don't want her being swept off in the woods."

Chibb decided to forego breakfast. "Er ahem. I'll fly back and tell them you're on the way."

Sandingomm turned to Columbine. "We'd best leave breakfast. Pack some food to eat on the way. I'll close up the farmhouse and we'll go back together."

Posy tugged Gingivere's tail. "Did you hear that, Uncle? We're going for a trip and taking a picnic with us."

"Of course we are, Posy." Gingivere smiled distractedly.

A short while later, the Abbess sat upon Bella's back, securely roped together with her satchel of herbs.

Bella took a deep breath. "Good, I've stopped blowing like an old frog now. My legs are feeling steady. Hold tight, Germaine. Here we go!"

Goody Stickle tried hard not to let her concern show. She had done all she could, even following her instincts and allowing the delirious warrior to clutch his sword as he lay raving. Timballisto stood by her, gnawing worriedly at his claws. "He's still trying to get past those gates into Dark Forest. Goody, what can we do?"

Wiping her paws on her old flowery ap.r.o.n, the hedgehog tried to look busy.

365.

"Well, for a start you can stop hangin' about an' botherin1 me, Mr. T. B. You go and gather some firewood with my Ben." She softened at the helpless look on Timballisto's face. "My dear, you can't do anythin' for your friend, nor can I, really, until proper help arrives. You go and help our Gonff on lookout. Go on, I'll call you if he wakes."

When he had gone, Goody wrung out more cloths to place on Martin's brow. He was feverish, shivering, sweating by turns, and constantly murmuring.

"Bring her head around," he muttered. "Sail for the sh.o.r.e. I'll rescue Boar from those sea rats. Give me my sword. Watch out for those seabirds and the crabs, Gonff. Leave the rest to me, matey."

Midmorning brought a shout from Gonff. "It's Bella! She's got the Abbess with her. Hey, Bella, over here!"

The badger came thundering across the lakesh.o.r.e. Stopping in a shower of earth, she parted the ropes with a slash of her big claws and a few snapping bites. The Abbess tumbled from the badger's back. Pausing only to grab her satchel, she ran to Martin's side.

"You did well, Goody Stickle, go and rest now," she said comfortingly. But Bella was shocked by Martin's appearance. "Abbess, he looks dreadful. Do you think he'll live?" she asked, looking over Germaine's shoulder.

Germaine was already ministering to Martin.

"Gonff, put some water to boil on the fire. Bella, open my satchel and give me some feverfew-yes, that one there. Now a touch of nightshade; not too much. Ben, can you gather some fresh dock leaves for me?"

As she tended the warrior mouse, the Abbess answered Bella. "Do not worry, old friend. This mouse will live, if I have anything to do with it, though it will take all my skills and a long, long time before he is completely out of danger. Columbine will be here soon. You go and rest; the race that you ran to save Martin's life would have killed a lesser creature. You must get some sleep."

The three female hares were not fond of the idea that prisoners should be fed and cared for. Prodding the defeated 366.

troops of Kotir with their pikes, they drove them ten at a time to the lake. Harebell, Honeydew and Willow thoroughly approved of cleanliness.

*'Come on, slimeface. Get in there-you won't drown "

"Use plenty of sand and scrub hard, you mucky lot."

"You there, fox, wash behind those grubby ears."

The fox turned away muttering insolently, "Huh why should I?"

Trubbs and company were practicing with slings. Ffring bounced a sharp pebble off the fox's bottom, causing him to jump.

"Because you won't get any tuck if you don't, you filthy rogue."

"Hear hear! Now get those ears washed-both of 'em, laddie."

"Then you can wiggle *em in the sun until they dry, what!"

Skipper inspected a rat. "Show me those paws. Turn 'em over. Right. Go and get fed. Hoi! Where d'you think you're sailing off to, scruffbag? Get back in and scrub those whiskers, or I'll come and do it for you with a cob of spruce bark."

He leaned on his pike, discussing the prisoners with Dinny and the hares.

"This miserable lot will eat us out of crop and woodland, the way they're scoffing," he objected.

"Burr, they'm gotten a dozen stummicks apiece, nasty vurrmen."

Log-a-Log pushed a half-washed weasel back in with his stave. "Not to worry. I heard Bella mention to Lady Amber that we're marching them out of Mossflower tomorrow."

"Urr, zooner th' better, sez oi."

"Any news of Martin yet?"

"Bella said he's still the same, no change, though the Abbess has decided to have him moved down here after this lot have been banished."

"I still find it hard to believe that he slew the big cat. That must have been a battle and a half, matey.''

"Urr, ee'm a wurrier, our Marthen, tho' the battle be furr 'ee loif of 'im now."

367.

It was noon of the following day. The sun beat down on the dusty path that separated Mossfiower Woods from the flat-lands rolling away to the west.

On the far side of the ditch stood the defeated army of Kotir, each one carrying two days' supply of food and water. On the woodland side of that same ditch stood the hordes of Mossflower: shrews, mice, squirrels, hares, otters, hedgehogs and moles, together with Gingivere, Sandingomm and Bella.

The badger stood (all. Pointing to the horizon, she addressed the freed prisoners.

"You must go now. Travel together or split into groups, as you will. If any of you are thinking of finding more weapons and coming back here, I would strongly advise you to listen to what these creatures have to say."

The six hares stood forward, brandishing their long pikes.

"h.e.l.lo, you rascals. We're the border patrol now, y'know."

"Yes, first regiment Fur and Foot Fighters at y'service."

"Woodlands are splendid, but the old flat country, this is the place to be, what!"

"So, you've got until sunset to vanish into the distance, savvy?"

"Actually, if we can still sight you then, there's going to be another jolly old battle."

"Rather. We hares and these woodland chappies will be only too happy to pursue you."

There was silence from the other side of the ditch. Some of the Kotir troops began shuffling nervously, unsure of what to do.

"Count of ten to be on your way," Skipper's gruff call rang out. "Them that stays here gets buried here. Right, mate vs. Altogether!"

Every woodland voice was raised in deadly unison.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three ..."

The leaderiess foxes, weasels, stoats, ferrets and rats ran. They ran as they had never run before, stumbling and pushing to get out in front. Not a word was spoken amongst them. All that could be heard was the harsh panting of breath as 368.

they sped away into the far sunlit distance, each one feverishly hoping that, regardless of the others, he would be out of sight by sunset, away from Mossflower and its grim horde of dangerous woodlanders.

Halfway through the long afternoon. Lady Amber and Skipper approached Bella.