ribbed and scarred like a wet black patch of leather. What little fur there
was on the head was plastered flat. Water ran off it as the mouth opened wide.
Even Cludd felt his paws shaking as the Gloomer swam toward land. The
sightless eyes were fixed upon the weasel Captain as if they could actually
see him. The mouth worked hungrily open and shut, purple blubbery lips drawn
back to reveal curving greeny-yellow fangs spread this way and that, the very
oddness of them adding to their revolting appearance.
Cludd dropped the chain and picked up his spear, his voice snaking noticeably.
"Here, Brogg, Scratt, grab your spears and do as I do. Keep driving that thing
in a circle around the post."
64
Gloomer paused for a moment in the shallows, water dripping from its ugly
bulk, the hideous head moving to and fro as it scented the soldiers and
pinpointed them by their sound and movement. Then in a sudden rush Gloomer
charged with an awesome turn of speed.
- The trio were highly nervous but ready. Dodging and prodding Gloomer
with spearpoints, they kept the monster pursuing them clockwise around the
post, Cludd bawling instructions as he ran.
"Don't stop, whatever you do. Keep it moving!" Fortunata was impressed; the
plan was simple but effective.
The trio skipped, jumped and ran as Gloomer pursued them mindlessly. It was
not until the entire chain had been wound around the post that Gloomer was
forced to stop. The post shook with the beast's maddened efforts to push
forward. Brogg and Scratt kept their spearpoints at its back, so it conld not
unwind the chain by going in the reverse direction. Cludd leaned his weight
against the chain to keep it tight, and called to Fortunata, "Get the leads
attached to the collar, quickly!" With icy fear coursing through her veins and
an expression of extreme distaste on her face, Fortunata obeyed. Cludd
strained at the chain, watching Fortunata impatiently. "Stop dabbing and
primping, fox. Get those leads fastened, or I'll loosen this chain."
Fortunata secured the last of the three heavy greased leather
;; halters around the short, powerful neck, which already bore
''•-. a studded iron collar. Detaching the chain, she jumped back-
. ward and made for the stairs. "There. It's done! I know which
way to go. You three get hold of the leads and follow me."
V Cludd called out sternly, "Get back here, lily liver, I'm
':, Dot going anywhere. Captain of the Guard's my job. If the
•-[ Queen had wanted me, she would have said. Come on, take i one of these
leads."
£; Immediately Fortunata picked up the lead; Gloomer moved "•(toward her.
She hurried swiftly ahead to keep Gloomer from fier. Brogg and Scratt stood on
either side and slightly back, pulling their leads tight, straining to control
Gloomer. Cludd pwatched them go, glad he had completed his distasteful task.
Fortunata led the way. Having lived in Mossflower all her fe, she was familiar
with the area. She increased her pace
65
to keep the maximum distance between herself and the huge gray and black
beast. Gloomer snuffled and tugged, this way and that; Brogg and Scratt
strained on the leads to keep it going the right way. The moon over the
woodlands shone through the trees on the reluctant trio and their monstrous
charge as they blundered and crashed through Mossflower, disturbing the
peaceful night, tainting it with evil.
12
66
Martin was awake before dawn. He fed the fire and sat by .it. Skipper came and
sat with him. "Now then, messmate. YouVe got a face on you like a wet
water-beetle's grandad. Why so worried?"
Martin smiled half-heartedly. "Oh, it's listening to those stories that the
crew were telling about the Gloomer, I suppose. It's all my fault for coming
here and causing trouble for you, Skipper."
The big otter gave Martin a hearty clap on the back that nearly sent him head
over tail. "Ha harr. Bless your little *eart, me old warrior. You don't want
to listen to that scuttlebutt. Was that all you was afeared of? You come with
me .and I'll introduce you to our Stormfin." V "Stormfin?"
, "Aye, Stormfin, matey. Come 'ere to the back of the cave."
In the darkness of the cavern recess, Skipper showed Mar-- tin a sluicegate
the blocked the canal across its middle. There :swere narrow spaces in the
gate, allowing the water to flow '.through. At one side was a hollow log. :v£.
Skipper picked up a cudgel and passed it to Martin. "Us-S;ien, mate, that big
pussycat may 'ave a Gloomer, but us ot-iillws got a Stormfin. You start
thumpin' that there log and I'll )a|Baise the sluicegate. Stay clear of the
water's edge, though." Mystified, Martin began banging the log. The eerie
sounds
67
bounced off the cavern walls as Skipper raised the gate clear of the water.
The otter nodded sagely. "That'll warn anyone who's in the water to get out,
Stormfin's comin'. Watch the canal, now, and don't forget to stay clear."
Far back in the darkness something was beginning to come forward. A smooth
wave rose; it slopped over the sides as the water was pushed along by some
tremendous force. Martin was about to question Skipper when the otter lowered
the gate slightly, and the water began roiling and bubbling. A long shape,
like a section of tree trunk, smooth, with a many-spiked dorsal fin emerged.
Martin gasped and jumped back. "That's Stormfin?"
"Aye, this is Stormfin, matey. Me and my brother trapped him long ago."
Skipper leaned forward and patted the giant pike's fin, causing it to lash its
tail. The water boiled into a white foam as the otter leaped back laughing.
"Hohoho! Take a look, Martin. You wouldn't like to cross mat cove's path if
you was out a swimmin', now would you?"
Martin leaned forward. He saw the powerful bony head with its muddy eyes and
long hooking underjaw. The mouth opened slightly. He had never seen so many
teeth in one mouth; there were row upon row of jagged backward curving
rippers, needle-sharp and milky white. Stormfin seemed to be smiling in
anticipation. With a flick of his mighty silver-and-black-banded bulk he
butted his head against the lowered sluicegate, anxious to be freed into open
water.
Skipper stood with both paws on the gate lever. "Right then, you old
buccaneer. Don't eat him too quick, now; you'll make yourself sick."
Martin helped Skipper to weigh down upon the lever. The sluicegate lifted.
Stormfin rushed through, creating a miniature tidal wave as he traveled.
Skipper left the gate open.
"He'll be back in a few days. We coax him in with tidbits. Pity there ain't
more'n one Gloomer. That pike has a terrible appetite."
Panting and rasping, the Gloomer dragged on the leads. The trio looked toward
Tsarmina as they dug their paws into the turf and were dragged helplessly
toward the River Moss.
68
Fortunata began to panic. "Milady, quick, give the word, 0r it will have us in
the water!"
Tsarmina extended her paws and raised them as if starting 8 race. "Right, you
three, when I let my paws drop the—"
Too late. Gloomer snapped the lead Fortunata was holding «ad the two guards
were pulled over on their faces. Immediately they let their leads go; Gloomer
sploshed noisily into the water.
The monster water rat swam about in slow circles, scenting apd feeling
vibrations in the river current. Without warning it dived, heading in the
direction of Camp Willow.