Mara plucked a sycamore leaf, peering hard into the woodland. "Trees, PikkleI've never seen so many trees. It's so silent and peaceful, too, not hot and bare and sandy like the shore by Salamandastron. I could grow to like these woods."
"I could grow t' like any place where there's a scrap of tucker about, old gel. It's bally ages since we had supper, I'm starvin'."
In the same hour of dawn that the cart left Redwall, the travelers emerged from the woods onto the path. Though the going was easier, there were many who were weary from marching all night. The irrepressible Pikkle kept everybeast going by improvising a silly ditty.
"I'd give my left ear an' raise a cheer For a plate of woodland pie, And as for a pudden, if it was a good un. I'd give my best right eye. I'd give a paw to get my jaw Around a fat fruitcake. For a dumplin' stew, my tail could go too. I mean, for goodness sake, If I saw a pastie, I wouldn't get nasty I'd trade it for my nose. And if I couldn't smell, I'd just say 'Well, I'd rather have one of those.'
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So take my heart and leave me that tart, But my mouth I won't take off, Because, I plead, it's a mouth I'll need To eat all that bally scoff!"
The burgeoning sunlight lifting flagging spirits, they stepped out with a will, the golden eagle flying low in front of them as they chanted aloud.
"Redwall! Log-a-log! RedwaH! Guosssom! Redwall! Log-a-log! Redwall! Guosssom!"
Abbess Vale rubbed her eyes and looked about suspiciously. It was midmorning and they were still bumping along the dusty brown path in the cart. She rapped on the side sharply.
"Thrugg, where are you taking us? I haven't been this far for seasons, but I recognize the country. We're well past Saint Ninian's!"
Thrugg muttered something unintelligible under his breath and quickened his pace. Faith Spinney awakened suddenly.
"Eh, what's that, m'dear? What's a Log-a-log?"
The jolting of the cart was not doing much for Vale's mood. "Log-a-log? I never said anything about a Log-a-log. What are you chunnering on about, Faith Spinney?"
Faith held up a paw. "Stop, please, Mr. Thrugg. Sssshh, listen!"
Thrugg halted the cart. All three creatures listened carefully. On the still morning air the sound drifted up to them from farther down beyond a bend in the path.
"Redwall! Log-a-log! Redwall! Guosssom!"
Slow to catch on, Faith Spinney shook her head. "What sort of beast d'you reckon a Gossen is, Vale? Who's making al! that noise, anyway?"
A large smile was spreading across the Abbess's face. She leaned over and patted Thrugg on the back. "It's Arula and Samkim, I know it is. Forward with all speed, Thrugg. Charge!"
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As they rounded the bend, Samkim saw the cloud of dust approaching and heard the rattle of the cart.
Ever vigilant, Log-a-log yelled out to his shrews, "Bows and slings ready, somebeast is coming this way fast!"
But Samkim and Arula had recognized Thrugg and the occupants of the cart, who were standing up, cloaks flying in the breeze. "It's the Abbess and Mrs. Spinney and Thrugg! Good old Thrugg! Come on Arula!"
They dashed off toward the oncoming cart, Faith Spinney could be heard crying shrilly, "Oh, my dears, it's Samkim an' Arula! Oh, my spikes! Oh, those young rascals! Oh, see them, Vaie, see them. An' young Master Samkim a-wavin' that great sword aloft! My life an' great acorns! Tis the sword of Martin! Look, he's brought it back to us!"
Everybeast cheered wildly and tears sprang unbidden to the eyes of Abbess Vale at the sight of the young squirrel, now a fully fledged warrior wielding the great blade in the sunlight.
Thrugg made the little cart bounce and leap from the path as he dashed at top speed, laughing wildly. "Haharr haharr, I knew it were you two young villains. Samkim! Aruia! It's me yer old matey Thruggo!"
Arula made the dust fairly fly as she pounded along the path. "Habbess, marm! Missus Spinnsey! 'Tis oi, 'Rula the moleymaid!"
Laughing, weeping, gasping for breath, they met in a rush.
For one so old and frail, the Abbess turned out to be a mighty hugger. She clutched Samkim, completely winding him as she yelled down his ear, "Samkim, Samkim. I knew you'd come back someday!"
Faith Spinney was kissing Arula and boxing her ears at the same time. "Oh, you liddle rip. Welcome back, m'dear! Now don't you ever stray from that Abbey again, d'you 'ear me!"
Thrugg wiped the dust from his face and patted their backs heftily. "Yore a sight fer otter's eyes, young uns! I'll wager you've some good ol* tales an' yarns to spin about adventures an' travels!"
The Abbess had managed to compose herself. She placed her paws around Samkim and Arula, protecting them from the
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curious Redwallers. "There will be ample time for the telling of tales later. Perhaps we'd better greet all these new guests they've brought to our Abbey."
Mara had purposefully fallen to the back of the crowd. Slightly embarrassed and unsure of herself, she listened to the Abbey ladies as they met the others.
"So good to meet you, Mr. Log-a-log, and you, Mr. Alfoh. Thank you for bringing our young ones safely back to us. Oh dear, there are such a lot of you and we haven't prepared anything, but you are welcome to come back to Redwall Abbey with us, all of you. Samkim, Arula, will you lead these good creatures to Redwall, please. I'm sure you'll excuse us. Mrs. Spinney and I have to get back before you and see what we can arrange in the way of lunch. Thrugg, turn this cart round and get us back to the Abbey with all speed! Faith, don't stand there fussing, get in the cartquickly!"
The shrews set up a mighty cheer as Thrugg galloped off up the path, towing the cart behind him.
Early noon saw the Guosssom outside the Abbey gate. They met with a very embarrassed Abbess and Faith, who were sitting resignedly in the cart. Abbess Vale threw up her paws in despair.
"We're locked out, Samkim. We've banged, yelled and shouted but nobeast answers. Thrugg has gone round to the back wall to see if he can climb over somehow."
Faith Spinney threw her apron over her face. "Oh, the shame of it, m'dears. Locked out of our own Abbey, and here you all are without a welcome, dusty an' hungered!"
"Excuse me, but may I be of help?"
Abbess Vale looked up into the deep brown eyes of a beautiful young badger maid. She was completely taken aback. "Oh, Samkim! Oh, why didn't you tell me?"
The badger maid patted the Abbess's paw lightly. "My name is Mara."
"Maraa good name for such a lovely creature." Vale clasped the badger maid's paw tightly. "Yes, I am sure you could be of help, Mara."
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Striding slowly over to the gateway door, Mara raised her paw and dealt it a flat blow. The sound boomed out as she called, "Open these gates in the name of your Abbess!"
Immediately the hinges creaked as the gateway door swung open.
It was a joyous shock. Every creature in the Abbey crowded on to the lawn in front of the main entrance, cheering them to the echo. Faith and Abbess Vale were bewildered until Thrugg stepped forward and bowed.
"Forgive our liddle surprise, ladies. They let me in by the north wallgate. King MacPhearsome has been watchin' Samkim's approach for the past three days. No need t' worry yore 'eads, just step this way, if y' please!"
Samkim and Arula were borne shoulder-high, and the young squirrel waving Martin's sword cheered as loudly as anybeast. Paw in paw, Mara and the Abbess headed the procession.