He flinched slightly as Klitch elbowed him sharply in the "If brains were acorns you'd be a dead oak!" There was ||fcsneer in the weasel's voice. "We've been inside the moun-we've seen for ourselves, mere's about forty fighting ;s and Urthstripe, and they're not there for nothing. I'll my tail they're guarding a treasure. Now I've given Fer-an extra move in the gameI'm providing him with a stage, Lord Urthstripe's own precious little Mara. We could «ve done without that hare Pikkle, but if she wants to bring
along, the more the merrier!"
PTne light of understanding dawned in Goffa's eyes. fou're right! By the claw, you're a clever one, Klitch!" .Without taking his eyes from the two approaching crea-
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tures, the young weasel muttered fiercely, "Right, Goffa, I am clever. I'm smarter than Farran, Dethbrush, Migroo or any of that deadheaded bunch. That's why Ferahgo allows me to spy for him. But what my father doesn't realize is that he's getting old and I'm still young. I'll show him who's the more cunning one day soon. Stow it now, here they are!"
As Mara and Pikkle breasted the hill, Klitch feigned surprise. He turned to them, his open blue eyes shining happily. "Mara, Pikkle! What are you two doing here?"
Pikkle let his ears flop forward comically. "What ho, you chaps. Two more recruits for your rovin' band!"
Mara nodded agreement, her face alight with the joy of freedom. "I've done it, left Salamandastron for good! As you can see, Pikkle came with me. He's my only friend."
Klitch grasped her paw warmly. "Well, you've got two more good pals nowme and Goffa. We'll stick by you like true companions. Isn't that right, Goffa?"
The ferret leaned on his spear, echoing the words. "True companions!"
Mara could still see Salamandastron rising tall and grim in the distance. She looked away, banishing thoughts of it from her mind. Taking in her immediate surroundings, the badger maid quivered with delight. They were in a small hollow amid the dunes, basking in the heat of a fresh summer day. Beyond the grass-tufted hilltops she could see a distant mountain range rearing up ahead of them. It was framed majestically against a cloudless sky of vivid blue. Her heart sang within at the prospect of boundless freedom.
"Oh, isn't it exciting, Klitch! From now on Pikkle and I are going to be just like you two, traveling where we want, sleeping beneath the stars, eating when we feel like, and no one to boss or push us around. We're free!"
Goffa pulled a face and grunted. "Where's yer food?"
Pikkle spread his paws, chuckling. "Ask Mara the gallopin' badger there. She was in such a bally rush that she dashed off without a jolly crumb. Had to follow her, of course, so I didn't wait to stock up with tucker. But here we are, hale an' hungry!"
"You never brought anything?" Klitch looked concerned.
Mara waggled her paws in a carefree manner. "No, not a single scone. Still, I suppose we'll find something."
Goffa hefted his spear meaningly. "You mean you didn't even bring a weapon between you?"
"No weapons, eh!" Klitch's look of concern deepened.
Pikkle sat and drew doodles in the sand. "Who needs moldy ol* weapons? I mean, I can't see enemies to fight with round here. Wot, wot?"
The blue-eyed young weasel sat down beside him. "I wouldn't take it so lightly if I were you, Pikkle. Alone out in this country and unarmed, you never know what might happen. Mara, haven't you got anything that could be used as a bribe, something to buy your way with, perhaps a piece of badger treasure?"
"Badger treasure, what d'you mean, Klitch?" Mara was puzzled by the odd question.
The weasel shrugged as if it were not really important. "Oh, you know, gold or silver trinkets, medallions maybe, or jewels and such. I thought all badgers had some sort of treasure stowed away."
Mara scratched her stripes thoughtfully. "Hmm, I can't recall ever seeing treasure at Salamandastron. Can you, Pikkle?"
"Me? No, not a bloomin' bauble, old gel!" - Klitch smiled shrewdly. "I'll bet old Urthstripe has loads of it hidden away somewhere, but he wouldn't tell you about it, Mara. Oh no, he'd be more at home ordering and shoving you about like a slave. I reckon that he thinks any treasure stowed away in the mountain is his and none of your business, because you're too young to know about such things. But forgive me, you must be hungry. We'll share our supplies with you. Let's have an early lunchyour first one as a free creature, Mara, and you, Pikkle."
They gratefully accepted the wheatcakes, cheese and apples from the packs that had been given to the weasel and the ferret.-
Pikkle fell upon the food with his usual good appetite.
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"That's what friends are for, wot! Jolly good chaps, these two. What d'you say, Mara m' gel?"
Mara lowered her voice as she munched an apple. "You're right, Pikkle. D'you know, I don't feel as much of a young one as I used to be. Perhaps it's because Klitch treats us as equals and not underlings. Some of the things he said have made me think. All that secrecy about not allowing other creatures inside the mountainmaybe Urthstripe does have something to hide. I'll bet he does have a hidden treasure. Not that I'm bothered about it; he can keep his moldy old treasure for all I care."
They missed the knowing wink that passed from Klitch to
Goffa.
The weasel tossed the haversack across to Mara. "Here, have some cheese. Help yourself, friend!"
The muted boom of the great Joseph Bell signaled the twilight hour over Redwall Abbey. Blackbirds, song thrushes and the last larks descending warbled their final melodies to the closing day. Abbess Vale was about to knock on the gatehouse door when Faith Spinney swung it silently open.
The hedgehog lady placed a paw to her mouth. "Hush, little Durable is sleeping here tonight. I've just put him down in the spare bed. Let's take a stroll round the orchard. We can talk in peace there."
Latching the door carefully, Faith sighed in relief. "My spikes! I don't know which is the worser, grown hedgehogs or baby dormice. My old Tudd an' Dumble been a-playing' togetheryou should've seen 'em both larkin' an' sportin' about. They're a right couple o' pawfuls an' no mistake! Played themselves to a stan'still they did. My Tudd fell fast asleep in the rockin' chair an' Dumble curled up on the floor. They's both sleepin* now, bless 'em!"
The grass beneath them was still warm from the summer sun as they strolled paw in paw toward the pond. The Abbess sniffed the air, peering at the sky.
' The weather should be fine tomorrow for our Nameday, Faith. How are the preparations going?"
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"Everythin' is done to a turn, Vale. Don't you fret yourself. My Tudd's been helpin' Burrley mole bring up the finest of drinks from the cellarsstrawberry cordial, new cider, dandelion an' burdock, damson wine an' the finest barrel of October ale tasted in ten seasons. Tudd V Burrley should know, they been a-tastin' it enough today. Now I don't mind sayin', young Samkim an' Arula have been a regular pair o' good-beasts, helpin' Friar Bellows out wi' the bakin' an' cookin' like they were bom in a kitchen."
The Abbess raised her eyebrows. "It's nice to hear a creature with a good word to say for those two. I take it you've forgiven them for the bow and arrow incident?"
"Bless their 'earts, yes." Faith chuckled. "Young uns are only young once, more's the pity. They're both nice liddle wags, so they are. They don't mean a body any real harm."