"Whhauhau! Us'n's be gurtly drownded, zurrs!"
Tragglo untied his stout canvas apron and placed it over the Dibbuns, then between them he and Dannflor picked them up and started down the east wallsteps, watching carefully where they trod as the steps were awash. Reaching the lawn, they skirted the rear of the Abbey, almost blown around the corner of the belltower by the increasing wind. Wugger and Blinny held tight to the canvas apron covering them as it ballooned and flapped. More thunder banged sharply overhead and lightning sheeted the scene, illuminating it momentarily in an eerie white flash.
Cregga and Sloey were waiting at the door, holding it open against the weather's onslaught, when the four of them rushed inside, breathless and bedraggled.
Sister Sloey gave Dannflor and Tragglo a towel apiece. "You found them! Thank goodness. Where were they?"
The hedgehog rubbed vigorously at his face. "Just where you'd expect the rogues t'be, Sister, top o' the bloomin' wall at the northeast corner, wetter'n water-weed an' yellin' to be saved from a drownin'. Anyways, they're safe now."
As the little group passed through the Great Hall more lightning flashed outside, throwing cascades of bright pattern from the colored stained glass onto the worn stone floor. A fire was burning in the Cavern Hole where all the Redwallers were gathered, towels flapping wetly about and steam rising from damp fur. Sister Sloey and Gurrbowl Cellarmole dried the two Dibbuns off, none too gently. Wugger's head shook from side to side as the Sister rubbed at it, scolding, "Time and time again you've been told not to go up on that walltop to play. So what were you both doing up there, eh? Speak up!"
"Hurr, us'n's was on'y talkin' to they funnybeasts in ee woods, marm."
"Funnybeasts? What funnybeasts?"
"Thurr wurr two of 'em, marm. They was whoit'n'blarck'n'blue, a-wurrin' gurt cloakers!"
Dannflor had trouble keeping a straight face. Wugger was obviously making up some kind of story to justify his visit to the walltop. "Two funny creatures, all white and black and blue, wearing great cloaks? What did you say to them?"
"Us'n's din't say nowt. They'm arsked if oi'd cumm down an' open ee likkle wallgate furr 'em."
"And what did you say?"
"Hurr, us'n's was a-goin' to, when ee rain cummed, then us'n's was too affrighted t'move."
"So, what happened to the two funnybeasts?"
Wugger spread both paws and blinked. "They'm gonned! Jus' vanished loik that, zurr!"
Dannflor smiled and winked at Tragglo, who nodded understandingly at the molebabe as if it all made sense.
" Ho, right you be, Wugger. The two funnybeasts just vanished, y'say?"
Wugger nodded, his little face completely serious. "Aye, zurr, that's roight!"
Sister Sloey wagged a severe paw under his nose. "You've eaten too many strawberries and made yourself ill. Straight up to bed for you, young moleyou too, blinny. Both of you have had quite enough for one day, pinching strawberries, playing on the wall in that thunderstorm and telling a pack of fibs. Now not another peep out of either of you. Straight upstairs this instant!"
Looking the picture of dejection, the two tiny moles, fur still standing up from their toweling, were led off to the dormitories by Sister Sloey.
Friar Butty smiled at Nutwing. "Black, white an' blue creatures with great cloaks that vanish into thin air. What'll they think of next?"
The owl dried his spectacles off on a towel corner. "Hmm, mm. I blame their elders, telling tales of strawberry thieves who just went bang and were never seen again save for a red patch on the stairs. Little wonder that Dibbuns grow up telling fibs after hearing stories like that!"
Outside, the midafternoon resembled night as the storm roared around Redwall Abbey, lashing its ancient stones and causing the Mossflower treetops to sway wildly in its grip. Snug inside their comfortable Abbey, the creatures of Redwall, now warm and dry, took their ease in safety and calm.
Chapter 4
Janglur Swifteye unfastened the tent canvas from his hack and tossed it expertly across two rocks that stood a small distance apart on a knoll overlooking a storm-swollen stream. Rimrose and Song weighted the canvas down with flat slabs of sandstone placed on its edges where they lapped the ground, working quickly, their heads bowed against the pelting rain. Grandma Ellayo hurried into the covered space between the rocks and swept out the wet leaves, creating a dry floor inside the makeshift shelter. Janglur dropped the last large slab on the rear of the canvas, making sure it was stretched taut so that it would not fill up and belly inward upon them. Straightening up, he blew rainwater from the tip of his nose, blinking hard against the scything curtains of wind-driven wetness. Rimrose and Song were already inside under cover, and Ellayo called out urgently to her son. "Git you in 'ere fast, afore that thunder bangs agin!"
Dropping on all fours, the big squirrel scrambled into the confined shelter space, the others moving aside to make room for him. Ellayo jumped instinctively as a thunderclap sounded overhead. Janglur put a paw about her comfortingly. "There now, Mum, no need to be jumpin' about like a toad on a cinder. Thunder won't harm ye."
But Grandma Ellayo was not to be placated. "Mebbe thunder won't, but lightnin' will. Take that knife o' yourn an' bury it, son. Lightnin' has a way of findin' knives!"
Janglur knew there was a lot of truth in old wives' tales. Drawing the long blade he carried sheathed sideways across the back of his wide belt, he scratched a shallow trough, placed the knife inside and covered it. Lying flat on his stomach, he rested his chin on both paws, watching the stream being peppered with torrential rain as it pounded furiously on its course. Song joined him, while Rimrose and Ellayo snuggled down at the back of the shelter. Janglur nodded in their direction. "Take a tip from them, Song, an' rest while y'can. Nought else t'do but sleep this storm out."
The young squirrel watched the rain glumly. "When's it going to stop so we can get to Redwall Abbey?"
Her father shrugged. "It'll stop when 'tis ready to. Must be gettin' towards eventide now. If it ceases later on we may be able to travel by night. You have a good nap; I'll wake ye if it clears up."
Song tried to sleep, but the longer the bad weather continued, the less she felt like sleeping. Twilight lent a strange aspect to woodland and stream, and a weird gray-yellow nimbus hovered over the banksides, cast through with a dull lilac glow. Gradually she began to drift toward slumber, lulled by the sound of rainfall and swishing treetops, but then a sharp movement from her father brought her back to instant alertness.
"Be silent, Song, an' don't move. Look at the stream!"
A long logboat thundered by on the roiling current. Seated in the prow were two Marlfoxes, identical to the two they had encountered, and large scrawny water rats, some brown, others black or gray, packed the boat from stem to stern. The majority of the rats were paddling oars, skimming and sculling to keep the craft upright and on course, while the rest were kept busy bailing out stream-and rainwater with any implements they could lay claw to.
Janglur muttered to Song out of the side of his mouth, "lust as well they can't hear yore grandma snorin' in this liddle lot. Be still now, here comes another!"
A second logboat forged along in the wake of the first, langlur moved forward, poking his head out into the rain, peering upstream.
"There's more of 'em, another four if'n I ain't mistaken. Never seen aught like this afore. I'm goin' to take a look. You stay put, Song. Y'know where my dagger is if y'need 11. Don't wake your mum or grandma, what they don't know can't 'urt 'em. Be back soon!"
Not far from the knoll where they had camped a big gnarled crack willow overhung part of the stream, langlur Swifteye climbed it with surprising speed and grace for a squirrel of his size and weight. Skipping nimbly out along one of the main limbs that bent over the water, he tested it for firmness. Two more logboats had passed beneath the willow, their occupants unaware of the presence of a squirrel overhead. Janglur looped his tail and footpaws firmly around the sturdy bough, hanging downward almost as if he were part of the tree. Another logboat bobbed past on the turbulent waters. He let it sail by beneath him, noting that all the vessels were parked with water rats, but the only Marlfoxes were the two in the lead boat. Unwinding the sling from his waist, langlur readied himself as the final craft shot toward the willow, a foaming bow wave curling either side as it plied the water. Three rats in the stern were bailing busily. As the logboat sped past beneath the watching Janglur, the hindmost rat bent to scoop up a bowlful of water. Suddenly, a noose settled around his neck and a paw clamped round his mouth like a vise. The rat's footpaws were hauled swiftly clear of the scuppers and the logboat shot on without him, his companions not even noticing his departure.