A party headed by Thrugg strode round to the orchard. He wagged a paw at Arula and Samkim. "Shirkin' yore duty, mateys? Abbess said you was responsible fer those two rascals. Not ter worry, though. Me an' Thrugann will scupper 'em!"
Dingeye and Thura were moaning pitifully, while still pushing food down their overgorged mouths.
"Aaaaoooow! Reach that cheese fer me, mucker!"
"Phwaaaw! It's agony tryin' ter finish all this pie an' cus-tid!"
With a sweep of his paw, Thrugg cleared the remaining food out of their reach, and Thrugann grabbed them by the ears as they strove to climb onto the table.
Bremmun closed his eyes in disgust at the sight of the two bloated stoats. "You stupid greedy beasts, have you not got a grain of sense between you? Remove them to the Infirmary, please."
"Bless yer, kind sir, it's poverty's done this fer us. Aaaaah,
me stummick! Don't carry me like that, marm, I beg yer!"
Thrugann slung Dingeye across her shoulders. Thura belched and pleaded with Thrugg as he was treated likewise.
"Don't take us to the 'Firmary, sir. Be a good riverdog an' leave us 'ere ter die peaceful like. Owooo me achin' guts!"
Brother Hollyberry patted them sympathetically. "There there, you can both have a nice lie-down on two soft beds after I've physicked you, of course."
Two dismayed stoat faces spoke as one. "Fizzicked?"
"Aye, physicked." Hollyberry grinned mischievously. "I've got a compound there made from wild garlic, slippery elm bark, bitter aloe root and squashed dockleaf mixed with nettlejuice and blackweed compound. Two large ladlefuls each and you'll be right as rain!"
"Yaghabarragaroo,'elp! Oh mercy, sir!"
Sister Nasturtium winked at Samkim. "Oh, I don't know if two large ladlefuls will be enough by the condition of these poor creatures I'd say three!"
Thrugg kicked open the Infirmary door. ' 'Three it is, then,
marm. You knows best. Tudd, Bremmun, you sit on their back
:., paws, me an' Thrugann'll hold the front paws. Samkim,
Arula, pinch their noses tight so they opens their mouths
. proper."
"Yowhooo! Murderers! 'Ave pity, kind Redhallers. 'Elp!" .; Hollyberry topped up a ladle with the foul -smell ing medi-;;\cine. "Hush now, my little gluttons. One more shout out of t either of you and I'll double the dose!"
J
games commenced just before twilight. Samkim and ;; Arula started off the proceedings by winning the three-pawed K race in fine style. There was much laughter and merriment at y*9ame of the elder Brothers and Sisters pillowfighting while M perched upon a greased pole. The Abbess and Bremmun, who Jlfcad always excelled at quoits, were amazed at the skill of jpfBaby Dumble he could throw a quoit more accurately than |$"ffliy grown Abbeydweller and amassed several prizes. Tudd ^.Spinney carried off the honors on the croquet lawn, using his stick in place of a mallet. Turzel and Blossom, the
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two small mousemaids, teamed up with Thrugann to win the relay race around the Abbey grounds, while Friar Bellows and Brother Hal beat all comers at the acorn and stick high-batting contest.
The games were going full swing when Foremole held up a paw, sniffing the air. "Yurr, et smells loik thunner an' loit-enen be due!"
Bremmun shook his head. "No, it's only nighttime arriving."
"Nay, nay, lissen 'ee Maister Bremm'n!"
The distant rumble of thunder proved Foremole's instinct correct. On the still-warm evening air a heaviness began to settle, and over to the east the sky lit up in a flash across the treetops of Mossflower. The little ones threw up their paws and began crying, but Sister Nasturtium cheered them up with the suggestion of indoor games in Great Hall.
Faith Spinney seconded the idea. "Come on now, Red-wallers. Gather all this sporty gear up and take it to Great Hall. I'll see if I can manage to prepare some liddle goodies for supperhot honey 'n' nutdip an' cold strawb'rry cordial from the cellars. 'Ow's that?"
The young ones raised a cheer and began collecting the equipment. Samkim and Arula were about to carry in the bows and arrows from an archery butt that had been set up when Bremmun gave them both a stern glance.
"Remember what I said about bows and arrows, you two? Best leave them to me and keep temptation away from your paws. Get that big tug of war rope insidethat'll be a help."
Thunder boomed overhead and lightning cut the sky as drops of rain big as chestnuts began spattering down.
The equipment was all indoors, and Sister Nasturtium and Abbess Vale were going about toweling small wet heads. Tudd Spinny felt in his waistcoat pockets and checked his front headspikes. "Oh, wildflowers 'n' weeds!" He tutted in annoyance. "I gone an' left my glasses on the west wallsteps. I'll get soaked goin' over there for 'em!"
Samkim stepped forward helpfully. "I'll get your glasses,
Mr, Spinney. I'm already wet through from carrying sports gear in. Come on, Arula!"
The rain was warm and heavy, pouring straight down without wind or breeze to drift it. Samkim and Arula skipped across to the west wallsteps, splashing their paws in the puddles that were beginning to build up. They found the spectacles where Tudd had said they would be. Both young ones were enjoying the heavy rain, walking slowly back to the Abbey. Unafraid of thunder or lightning, they held their heads back and caught the raindrops in their open mouths. Suddenly there was a massive bang of thunder overhead, a long bright bolt of lightning struck the weathervane on the Abbey roof, and the entire scene lit up with an eerie light. Samkim and Arula stared up at the high roof in awe as they walked toward the Abbey.
"Gosh! Did you see that, Arula?"
"Boi ecky oi did. 'Twere a big un aroight, Sankin!"
There followed a whirring noise overhead. Fearing*it was more lightning, Arula threw herself flat, paws covering her head. Samkim shut his eyes tight as something zipped by him.
Sssshhfifttt!
Close by his side a sword had buried itself half its blade-length in the wet lawn. He gasped with shock.
Arula risked a glimpse through her digging claws. "Wot whurr et, more Hghtenen?"
Samkim tugged the blade free. "It was this. Look, Arula!"
From the red pommel stone to the tight black leather-bound handle and stout silver crosstree hilt, the rain ran down the razor-sharp edges, through the runneled blood channel to a pointed tip keen as a midwinter blizzard. They stared at the 'sword in awe. It glittered and shone in the downpour, reflect-ing a lightning bolt over the threshold in a shimmering gleam of whitefire. Samkim held it flat across both his paws.
"The sword of Martin the Warrior!"
Mara and Pikkle heard the thunder rolling in the east as they ran staggering and panting into the twilit dunes. The troops irf Ferahgo were still after them. They had spent a long and
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