The Bellmaker Part 9

Strapp shook his head in mock despair. "You bin up there too long, Drangle. Come on down."

But the lookout persisted. "I never seen nothin' like it, Cap'n, off t'the sou'west. Can't you 'ear the noise it's makin'?"

Strapp could ignore the warning no longer, even though Shalloo was upwind of the maelstrom. At first he thought 135.

the roaring of the vortex was thunder, but there had been no lightning flashes. The Corsair Captain hauled himself high into the forepeak rigging to take a look. Most of the crew did, too, and the sight of the colossal whirlpool caused chaos.

"Drangle's right-'tis a pit in the waters!" "Put about or we're all deadbeasts!" "We'll be sucked down into it, mates!" "Bring 'er around, Cap'n, afore we peris.h.!.+" Strapp gritted his teeth-he was determined to have the Pearl Queen. Luck had been with him so far; he had rid himself of his brother and gained another crew. Now after chasing the prize halfway across the main he was not about to give up and turn tail. Booting the closest rats down to the deck, he railed at them.

"Down an' stand ready, every rat jack of ye! I ain't goin* back empty clawed! Are you searats or landswabs? Wherever Pearl Queen goes, we can follow. Anybeast not with me is agin me, an' it's over the side with the cowards! Now look lively an' jump to my biddin'!"

Spume and roaring water were everywhere, enveloping the crew of Pearl Queen. Log-a-Log and Finnbarr fought against the tiller as it bucked and yawed. The shrew Chieftain had to shout at the sea otter to be heard above the gale. "Are y'sure you know what you're doin', Gale-deep?"

Finnbarr laughed like a madbeast. "Yahaharr! I've wrung more salt water out o' me whiskers than that lot 'ave sailed on. Leave it t'me! Keep those starboard sails slack an' this rudder 'ard over. When I gives the word then pile the starboard sail back on an' slack off the lar- 136.

board sail, an' swing this tiller over for all yore worth, matey. Joseph, get our crew up in the riggin', tell 'em to stand by. Rosie, marm,'ow far off is Shalloo now?"

Hon Rosie sloshed her way up to the high stern. "Less than forty s.h.i.+plengths, bearing down fast, old thing!" Her voice was cut off as Durry and Rufe fell from the rigging and clung tight to her neck, wailing.

"We'll never see Red wall again!"

"We're goin' t'fall off the sea's edge into that pit!"

Foremole and Joseph untangled them, the mole unable to tear his eyes from the maelstrom, which was hardly more than six s.h.i.+plengths off now.

"Boi okey, ee must've be'd a gurt seabeast to dig an' 'ole loik that'n, whurr, lookit 'er!"

Pearl Queen seemed to be almost tottering on the brink of the whirling water tunnel now. The terrifying greeny-gray walls revolved at a breathtaking speed, a gaping hole reaching down, down, into mysterious darkness.

Joseph boosted Rufe and Durry aloft. "Come on, you two, I'll climb up there with you. Try not to look at the whirlpool and keep your ears pinned back for Galedeep's orders. Up you go!"

"Finnbarr, here she comes." Rosie's voice rose above the melee. "Shalloo's sailin' straight at us. She'll strike the center of our s.h.i.+p soon. Look out!" Expertly Rosie caught the first grappling hook that shot out from Shal-loo's bow and hurled it back, ducking a volley of arrows. Cap'n Strapp's jubilant roars rang above the thunder of the Green Maelstrom.

"Lay on, buckoes-she's ours, she's ours!"

Suddenly Finnbarr was swinging the tiller over, calling out his orders: "Lash those starboard sails tight; let the

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wind catch 'er. Rosie, lend a paw on this tiller with me'n Log-a-Log! You shrews up there, look smart; slack off the sails on the larboard side. Move yerselves!"

Durry labored furiously, trying to get his cold, spray-soaked paws to work on the ropes. Joseph toiled alongside him.

Rufe's footpaws left the yardarm momentarily as a sail caught the wind and billowed out. "What's the sea otter doin', Joseph sir?" he cried. "Larboard, starboard, slack off an' tighten up, pus.h.i.+n' that tiller thing here an* there; I don't unnerstand none of it."

's weatherbeaten face creased into a grim smile. "Nor do L young un. That's the thing about being crew, we're not here to understand, just to obey orders. Though I think Finnbarr has left it too late. Duck!" Arrows hissed viciously overhead as the three ducked.

The searats of the Shalloo were only a boatlength away. They crowded the bows of their s.h.i.+p, snarling as they fired arrows and whirled grappling hooks. Finnbarr held the tiller hard over as Rosie and Log-a-Log secured it in position with a rope halter. The larboard sails fluttered loose as Guosim shrews slacked them off. Shalloo's bowsprit was a fraction from striking the Pearl Queen amids.h.i.+ps when Finnbarr's sea skills paid off. The first six grappling hooks caught as it happened.

With a groaning of timber and creaking of rigging the Pearl Queen turned sideways! Finnbarr drew both the swords from their back scabbards, tossing one to Log-a-Log. Both creatures sprang to the rail, shearing the taut grappling lines with single strokes of the finely honed swords. Durry and Rufe stared wordlessly as Shalloo shot i38 .

by them, her decks crowded with silent searats, numbed with shock as their s.h.i.+p caught the spinning edge of the Green Maelstrom. Halfway around the whirlpool it spun, hanging a split second in midair with its entire keel visible, then it tipped headfirst into the dark abyss. The Shal-loo was gone into the depths, never to be seen again by living eyes.

A gasp of horror arose from the crew of the Pearl Queen. Then Finnbarr was in the midst of them shouting, "Save yer pity for the ones they murdered! They've gone where all searats should go, mates! Stand by, we ain't safe yet by a long chalk!"

Pearl Queen traveled sideways around the far outer rim of the whirlpool, seemingly helpless, until they jumped to obey Finnbarr's next commands.

"Pile on all sail agin, crew!"

Slas.h.i.+ng the rope that held the tiller, he centered it and held it level with Log-a-Log and Rosie's help. When she saw what was happening the Hon Rosie's natural exuberance returned in full force.

"Whoohahahooh! I say, chaps, the jolly old s.h.i.+p's sailin' straight again, an' goin' like the clappers. Whoo-hahahahoo!"

Joseph looked behind him. The Green Maelstrom was rapidly disappearing in the distance as Pearl Queen rushed due south like a great sea eagle. He scrambled down from the rigging and ran to Finnbarr. Grasping the sea otter's paw in both of his own, the Bellmaker shook it strongly.

"Roaringburn, you found it, we're sailing south!"

The whole crew gave a great cheer, and Finnbarr The Belknaker 139.

grinned crookedly as he turned to acknowledge the compliment.

Boom!

The sea otter was knocked flat on his tail as the vessel shuddered from stem to stern. He scrambled upright, shouting, "What is it? What's happenin'?"

The shrew Bandle leaned out over the starboard rail. "Look, we've just pa.s.sed a rock stickin' up out the water. We musta struck it!"

There was an instant flurry of activity; the crew scattered in all directions to inspect the vessel for damage. Finnbarr held the tiller, calling anxiously, "Is everythin' s.h.i.+pshape?"

There was a chorus of "ayes." Then Foremole's head appeared from the for'ard rope locker.

"Zurr, thurr'm a gurt 'ole in ee s.h.i.+pper 'ere. Hurr, ee waiter be a pouren in, oi'm afeared us'n's a sinken!"

BOOK TWO.

The Pearl Queen.

13.

It was still an hour before afternoon tea at Redwall Abbey. Sister Sage put the finis.h.i.+ng touches to a raspberry and apple pie and, wiping her paws on a flour-dusted ap.r.o.n, the old mouse stood back and watched Simeon, the blind Herbalist. He was lining hot vegetable pasties on the window ledge to cool, his experienced paws selecting the ones that were ready and replacing them with those fresh from the ovens. Sage poured out two beakers of the cold oatmeal and pennycloud water she had brewed early that morning.

"Come and have a break, Simeon. I've got something here for you."

The blind mouse felt his way over to the table. "Ah, oatmeal and pennycloud. How thoughtful of you, Sage."

They sat listing the fare they had made, sipping slowly. "Raspberry and apple pie, strawberry tarts, nutbread, vegetable pasties, and a mixed fruit cake. That should be enough, Simeon. Oh, my mint tea-where is it?" * The blind ancient restrained Sage from rising. "I took 143.

144.

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it off the stove while you were baking, it's cooling off in the big pottery jar."

Sage smiled, patting her friend's paw. "Simeon, I don't know what I'd do without you!"

Gesturing for silence, Simeon turned his ear toward the window ledge and, as if speaking to n.o.beast, he said, "If those paws touch a single pastie, they'll be was.h.i.+ng greasy pots for two seasons!"

There was a gasp of surprise from the other side of the window ledge, followed by a scurry of paws running off. Again Simeon restrained Sage from rising. "No problem; I heard those Dibbuns sneaking up on our pasties a while back, little rascals. Though my ears tell me we've got a bigger problem coming our way."

Sage was about to inquire what it was, when the kitchen door swung open and Tarquin L. Woodsorrel breezed in.

"Phew, it's a scorcher today! Afternoon, chaps. How're things comin' along on the jolly old caterin' front, wot?"

Sister Sage coughed politely. "Very well, thank you, Mr. Woodsorrel. Is anything the matter?"

Tarquin's smile would have melted b.u.t.ter. "Matter? Why, no, my charming Queen of the Kitchens. Matter o' fact, I'm just here in me official capacity as sampler."

Simeon nodded knowingly. "I thought you might be. There's a carrot and onion flan right behind you. Perhaps you'd like to sample that."

The hungry hare spun around and turned his attentions to an oversized golden pastried creation. He wolfed down a huge mouthful as he spoke. "Mmf snch! My very, very ; favorite. I say, are we havin* carrot V onion flan for tea, .-,; chaps?"

Simeon chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I made that .' specially for you, so you wouldn't sample the entire tea-time menu down to empty plates."

; Tarquin ignored the remark and continued bolting hast-_ ily. "Grranph! 'Scuse me. What a considerate cove you ; are, Simeon."

; Sage sniffed distantly as she watched Tarquin eating, then rose and went to the kitchen door. Striking a small ; triangle that hung over the doorway, she remarked pointedly, "I think we should get the servers in to take all this temptation out of your way, Mr. Woodsorrel. I'm training some of the Dibbuns to take up table serving, you know." At the sound of the triangle, several Dibbuns trooped io and stood waiting for the trolleys to be loaded. Tarquin , congratulated three of his own brood heartily. "Excellent!

* Learnin' a bit of waitin' on; your mater will be proud of you when she gets back, wot?"

Sage counted the number of Dibbun serving trainees. -' "Eight? There's two missing." :; "Right, paws up all those who aren't here!" Tarquin chortled.

&' Sister Sage turned on him severely. "Mr. Woodsorrel, fe's no joking matter! These young ones have got to learn **their responsibilities to others!"

y Tarquin swallowed the last of his flan apologetically. Oh, er, right you are, marm, buckle down, do a bit of thingeeyin', does 'em the world of good. Now then, you -sprogs, which two are absent? Speak up!"

A small squirrel held up his paw. "Fink it's the mouse-K$abe an' Furrtil the mole, sir," he said.

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The Betimaker The hare picked crumbs from his whiskers. "Mouse-babe an' Furrtil, eh. Where would they be at?"

"If we knew, then we could tell you, Daddy!" one of the little leverets replied.

Tarquin blinked and twitched his ears. "Hmm, quite. What d'you think, Simeon? You know as much about bally Dibbuns as the next chap."

Simeon put aside his beaker and stood up. "Come on, Tarquin, we'd best go and check all the gates. If they're locked then n.o.beast has been out today and they should be somewhere inside the Abbey walls."

"But apposin' a gate's unlockered, sir?" the small squirrel tugging Simeon's robe asked.

The ancient mouse patted the Dibbun's bushy tail. "If a gate's unlocked, that means a major search in Moss-flower after tea, my little friend."

Afternoon tea was taken in the orchard. Mother Mellus sat beneath a gnarled pear tree with Saxtus. The old badger was plainly worried; her pastie lay untouched as she confided to the Father Abbot.

"It's always that small wicker gate in the east wall, the one which leads straight into Mossflower Wood. I've often said that the lock should be placed higher, so that tiny paws can't reach it. Ooh! That mousebabe, he's the one who's led Furrtil astray. She's always been a splendid little mole maid, not a moment's trouble until the mouse-babe comes along with one of his wild ideas."

Saxtus took her paw and squeezed it rea.s.suringly. "Brother Fingle and some others are searching upstairs right now, so stop worrying, Mellus. Remember last week when the mousebabe and three others were found sleeping the Abbot's bed in the dormitories?" .$*-* Mellus took a halfhearted bite of her pastie. "I suppose ^you're right, friend. Let's wait and see. I wish we could *^contact Oak Tom and Treerose, but n.o.beast ever seems jf-to know what part of the woodlands they're living in. J&tliey have a spring house, a summer residence ..." ^' Saxtus squeezed her paw tighter. "They'll be found. :Now stop worrying and eat!"

P But the two Dibbuns were not found anywhere inside f, UK Abbey walls. Afternoon shadows were beginning to J lengthen, tea was long finished. Tarquin lined up a score 3-.qf Redwallers, then, pacing up and down in front of them, 'i, .lie gave his orders.

^ "Right, listen up in the ranks now! Proceed out of the r.ipast wallgate into the forest, spread out in line an' comb ^the area. Leave no stone unturned. No questions? Good, *if. let's make a start, then. By the left, quick march!"

;High sun lanced down through the leafy greenery of still depths, while somewhere in the distance a oo call echoed through glade and copse. River Moss many tributaries. One of them, a small, slow-flowing j*Team, had two small visitors on its bank that afternoon. A purloined dormitory sheet from Redwall Abbey was draped over a low willow bough to form a tent, and inside Sal the mousebabe and the little molemaid Furrtil, un-fpware of the upset they had caused, playing at Dibbun games. The mousebabe carried a stick, which he fondly -t J magined was the sword of Martin the Warrior, while Forrtil was armed with a knotted length of twine, obvi- Marie! 's Gullwhacker. She swiped at an inquisitive gnat with it. "Oi be gurtly i i48 .

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'ungered, Marthen. Us'n's missed tea."

Martin, alias the mousebabe, tied a thread to his stick. "Nev mind, Mariel. I catch us a big fish inna river."

"Hurr, whurr ee be getten fires to cook'n et?"

The mousebabe thought about this a moment, then tossing aside the thread he lay down. "We goin' asleep then. Warriors got to 'ave sleep!"

"Hurr, but oi doant bee toired."

" 'Course you're tired," the mousebabe snorted impatiently. "All a beasts gets tired!"

"Oi dearly loikes t'go back to ee Abbey furr supper, then oi be sleepen in moi own bed if'n oi toired."

The mousebabe sat up, throwing a comforting paw about Funtil's neck as they both watched the stream drifting by. "Mm, I wanna go back to the Abbey, too. We sit 'ere 'til they comes'n finds us, eh?"

Furrtil shook her head despairingly at this announcement. "O. gurt seasons! You'm gotten uz lost, b'aint you?"