can't climb trees and swim rivers. They'd be caught by Tsarmina and her army
sooner or later."
"Aye, marm, good idea." Skipper agreed. "They can't be found out here; the cat
knows nothing of Brockhall. But that doesn't mean my crew and Lady Amber's
band. We don't strike our colors and run at the first sign of trouble."
"Nobody doubts your courage, Skipper," Abbess Germaine interrupted. "But maybe
we're jumping ahead a bit. With all the woodlanders hiding out here, the cat
will have little to do except sit on her tail. Why not form a good spy network
and see what she is up to? Maybe then we can form a plan of action. What do
you think, Martin? You're a seasoned warrior?"
Martin had been listening. He cleared his mouth. "I think all your ideas are
good and sensible. Let's try them. But peace is not found like a pawful of
nuts or an apple. The wildcat is here, and Kotir won't go away if we close our
eyes. Sooner or later we will have to fight to rid the land of them. Only then
can we talk of building and peace."
Skipper and Amber both clapped him on the back.
"Let us attend to one thing at a time," Bella advised. "First, we need a good
spy to keep us informed. If we know , our enemies, we will know their
weaknesses."
Ferdy and Coggs marched up, trying to look warlike yet ^secretive at the same
time. "We've heard you're looking for >two good spies, Miss Bella."
I-
77
Before any laughter could start, Skipper was up and marching around inspecting
them. They stood stiffly to attention, knowing a good officer when they saw
ohe. Skipper eyed them up and down.
' 'Ho yes, I remember you coves—two of the fiercest fellers as ever stood
guard at the Stickle place. I heard weasels and ferrets was a-shakin' in their
skins at the thought you might attack Kotir. Shall we let 'em be spies, Lady
Amber?"
The squirrel looked serious, shaking her head. "Spying is too tame for these
old wardogs. I think that with the good job they did at Stickle's we should
promote them to Captains of the Home Guard at Brockhall."
The two little hedgehogs nearly burst with pride. They set off to make
themselves badges of office.
Gonff threw in a suggestion. "The best spy I know is Chibb."
Objections flooded in.
" Chibb's not one of us."
"He's a bird."
"He'll want payment."
"I wouldn't trust a robin."
"Why not one of our own?"
Bella pounded her chair until a heavy dust cloud arose and silence was
restored.
"Gonff is right. No one could get closer to Kotir than Chibb. If he wants
payment, then so be it, we'll pay him. I think it's a good idea."
"Hurr, a burd 'tis, we'ns say let Chebb be a spoiy. Save us'ns doin' the job.
Asoides, we doant 'ave wingers to floiy wiV
The Foremole's logic was irrefutable. Unanimous agreement was given by a show
of paws.
Chibb it was to be.
Ben Stickle had the final word. Being one of the last to leave the shadow of
Kotir, he received a sympathetic hearing.
"I don't know much about fightirT and spyin' but I still think it's a good
idea. One thing I do know, me an my missus an our liddle family won't be goin'
back to slave for no cat and her soldiers. We'd be as well off dead as havin'
to do that again. But we'd all best listen to the good Abbess here. Let's not
jump too hasty; war means creatures gettin' theyselves
78
killed. If it must come to that, then so be it, but meanwhiles let's keep
level heads about us, concentrate on safety for now. Aye, that an keepin'
ourselves an' our families safe. I want to see my little ones grow to farm
their own food and not have soldiers comin' around to tell us that our land is
theirs an' takin' toll and tax of over half the vittles we have. That ain't
fair nor right. Mind, though, weVe got time on our side. I know that Kotir
larders must be run down considerable since we all left. Huh, the cat and her
soldiers can march about all season, but there's no one left to order about
and they ain't no farmers, that's sure. They'll starve without others to do
their labor."
79
The sun beat down on the soldiers of Kotir as they stood in serried ranks upon
the parade ground. Each creature stood stiff as a ramrod, and all wore every
available piece of equipment, including heavy spears, shields and full packs
stuffed with rocks strapped to their backs.
Black tooth licked a drop of sweat that rolled past his lip. He muttered to
Splitnose, "Huh, what's all this about? It was the Gloomer lost the battle,
not us. As far as I can see, we didn't do too badly against those river
wallopers and tree jumpers."
Splitnose twitched his eyelid against an inquisitive fly. "You're right there,
Blackie. Sometimes I think I'd like to pack in all this soldierin' lark at
Kotir."
Behind them in the next rank, Brogg could not resist a titter. "Heehee, just
you try it, stoat. Where would you go on your own, eh? Nan, she'd have you
dragged back and made an example of.' *
Scratt in the rank behind Brogg agreed. "Aye, you're right there, Brogg, but
there's not many would pass up a chance of sliding off from here and starting
up somewhere else. Perhaps we might form a little group sometime and try it."
Blacktooth was skeptical. "Oh yes? Let me tell you something, Scratt. That'd
be worse than going off on your own, it'd be mutiny or mass desertion—and you
know how Tsar-mina'd punish that little lot."
80
Scratt knew only too well. "Death!"
Blacktooth chuckled humorlessly. "Right. Deader than a fallen log. Huh, you'd
be glad to be so when she finished with you, bucko."
Cludd's heavy voice bellowed out across the parade ground, "Silence in the
ranks! No talking back mere!"
Scratt muttered under his breath, "Oh dry up, slobber-chops. You weren't even
out in the forest when we had to fight."
"No, he was back here with his nightie on, snoring like a dead dog," Splitnose
sniggered.
"I won't tell you again. I said, silence in the ranks!"
From the rear of the army a complaining voice called out, **I reckon we've
been stood here nearly two hours now. What for?"
Other voices began complaining before Cludd could silence them.
"Aye and why the full uniform and rock packs? Are we supposed to roast alive?"
"Pretty daft, if you ask me. I'm only a storeroom guard."
Tsarmina prowled silently out of the main door onto the sunlit parade ground.
An immediate deafening silence fell overall.
She signaled to Cludd.
The Captain of the Guard bellowed to the sweating troops, "Tribute to the
Queen followed by twelve circuits of the square at the double. Begin!"
With a loud shout, ferrets, stoats and weasels roared in unison.
"Tsarmina, Queen of Mossflower!"
* 'Slayer of enemies!''
"Lady of the Thousand Eyes!"
"Conqueror of all creatures!"
"Ruler of Kotir!"
"Daughter of Lord Greeneyes!"
Breaking off, they commenced running in a swift trot around the parade
grounds, paws punished by the harsh gravel, muscles aching with the strain of
the heavy packs and cumbersome weapons.
Tsarmina watched impassively, remarking to Ashleg,
81
"Daughter of Lord Greeneyes. Who said that was to be kept among my list of
titles?"
Behind her back, Ashleg looked at Fortunata and shrugged.
The wildcat Queen stared fixedly ahead as her troops lumbered by on their
second circuit. "Well, I'm still waiting for an answer. Who said that my
troops should be shouting about my dead father instead of me? Am I not capable