The young squirrel nodded vigorously and spoke only one wordSouthsward.
Joseph lowered him to the deck. “Thats what I thought. Ive seen this coast once before from the deck of a ship some seasons ago, though Ive never been ashore here. As soon as I saw it, I had a feeling inside that this was Southsward. We made it, Finnbarr!
The Bellmaker and the sea otter shook paws firmly.
Dawn came gently. A slight inshore mist lifting under the suns warmth revealed a verdant coast fringed with silver sand and backed by luxuriant woodland. As the last of the ships food and water was issued for breakfast, Log-a-Log joined Finnbarr and Joseph on the forecastle. Below on the hatch covers, Pearl Queens crew sat waiting for orders. Finnbarr gestured in the direction of land.
“Thats Southsward, mates, the place we set out tfind, he said. “It might look peaceable right now, but dont let that fool ye. First we got to git ole Pearl Queen on an even keel in a safe cove; we kin manage that with a bit o tuggin an shovin when yve finished yer vittles. Joseph.
The Bellmaker stood forward to speak his piece. “Then we choose our weapons and strike inland. No cooking fires, and sentries and lookouts at all times. Listen to me carefullyif you dont it may cost you your life. Benjy knows this country, and he will be our guide. Log-a-Log, have your Guosim protect our sides and rear wherever we go. Patch, Durry, Rufe, you will scout ahead with Benjy. Take care of him; only he knows the way.
“Rosie, you and Foremole will be in charge of the armorymake sure everybeast is kitted out with the weapons that suit them best. If what Benjy has told me is correct, we are up against a large horde, far larger than we could ever imagine facing. So we must act as a guerrilla unit, hit and run all the time, and weaken the enemy by chipping away at their numbers. Most of you know Mariel and Dandin. We are searching for them, so look before you loose arrows or slingstones. I have my own ideas where we will find my daughter and her friendright in the middle of any trouble we come across, so be prepared. Log-a-Log, have you anything to add?
The shrew Chieftain drew his short rapier and showed it, blade foremost, to his tribe. “Guosim, you know how to use these, swift and quiet. Protect our friends at all times and make them proud to fight by your side in battle.
It took half the morning to pry Pearl Queen off the sand-bank. The crew strove, waist deep in seawater, levering and using log rollers. Once the ship was back afloat she was towed on two stout ropes by the crew. Panting and struggling they pulled her through the shallows to a wooded cove. There she was made fast to three trees on slacked ropes that allowed room for the tides rise and fall.
The afternoon was taken up with the issue of weapons. Rosie Woodsorrel tested would-be archers before giving them bows and arrows. She had a good eye for slingers, javelin throwers, and spearbeasts, too. Besides their chosen weapon every crew member was given a knife or sword from the searats well-stocked armory. Wincey, Benjy, and Figgs, accompanied by Durry, Rufe, and Patch, collected buckets of hard, round, sea-washed pebbles from the tideline for slingstones.
Evening shades fell as the sun started to dip below the western sea. Joseph stood on the cove bank with his little army, watching Finnbarr say good-bye to his ship. The sea otter had personally checked that all the sails were reefed tightly under their mast spars; every piece of rigging he inspected, carefully coiling each rope and line. After battening down the hatches and securing galley and cabin doors, he leaped ashore.
“Take a good rest, Queen, he said. “Yve earned it. Well see yer when we gets back off this trip if our luck stays with us. All the crew raised their weapons in a salute to the good ship they had come to love so well.
Then they turned inland to whatever fate and fortune would bring them. Death or victory.
29
Warm dusk stole through the twilight at the ponds edge in Redwall Abbeys grounds; moths fluttered softly over shimmering firelight reflections upon the still waters. Scarlet and gold flames flickered upward from the fire, their light forming a cave in the encroaching dark of night Oak Tom and his pretty wife, Treerose, had temporarily deserted their Mossflower seclusion to be at the festivities. Tom tended the fire while Treerose supervised the roasting of wheat ears.
Tarquin L. Woodsorrel was in fine form. He had taken command of his leveret family, who were laying out the food. “You there, thingummy, stop paddlin in the water an give y* sister some assistance to fill up the platesand wipe ypaws.
“Got it, pater, assist the sister, whats to be done?
Tarquin sent young hares scurrying as he explained,
“Simple, really, one small fruit pie to each plate, four candied chestnuts, three honeyed plums, and a good ladle of meadowcream to dip em in, per plate, per creature.
“But what about this scrummy cheese n celery dip, Papa?
“Oh, er, nip back tthe kitchens, you three, an get the small wooden bowls to put it in. You there, sir, whats yname? Dont put the cheese n celery stuff on the plates with the fruit pies. Not done, yknow.
“Papa, shall I slice these oat fails an put em round the salad in a nice pattern?
“What? Er, yes, theres a good little hare maidNo! Give me that knife, Ill do the slicin. You, whatsaname, will ycome out the water, please. Oh hares n horrors! Rosie, where are you? I cant control this bally brood of yours, mine, I mean ours. Stop scoffin those honeyplums, you rip!
Simeon and Mellus sat with their footpaws in the shallows, oblivious to the bustle around them.
“Ah, this is the life, Simeon. I havent done this since I was a Dibbun. Nothing like it for cooling the paws after a hot day.
“Indeed, it certainly is refreshing. The old Abbey pond, there was nothing like it when we were Dibbuns. Fished it in spring, swam around it in summer, sailed and skimmed pebbles over it in autumn, and skated on it in winter. What a useful thing it is to be sure, Mellus. Listen, I can hear Oak Tom planning other uses for our pond.
The sturdy squirrel had Blaggut and Slipp by their ears, shaking them sternly as he lectured on manners. “Its share an share alike at Redwall. If I catch either of you grabbing roasted wheat ears before the others Ill duck some courtesy into you in yonder pond, understand?
The two searats were dancing a little jig of agony as Tom tugged their ears, when the mousebabe intervened.
“They ad enuff now, Tom. Cmon, Blackguts an Slick, men Funtil wants you to put lanterns in our boats.
Oak Tom released the searats and watched them follow the mousebabe off to the boats, rubbing their ears and grumbling. The squirrel dusted his paws off reflectively. “I dont like those two; theyre trouble, you mark my words!
Treerose pulled roasted wheat ears from the embers at the fires edge and stacked them with others, ready to be dipped into the bowls of celery and cheese. “Oh, give mem a chance, Tom, she said. “Theyre not used to Abbey life like Redwallers are. Now, how many more wheat ears do I need?
Benches and logs had been placed in a circle not far from the fire. Everybeast found a seat, and the food was served. As Abbot Saxtus shared a bowl of dip andwheat ears with Brother Fingle, he looked around at the happy faces in the firelight, Dibbuns and old alike, enjoying themselves hugely.
Fingle watched his Abbot. “An acorn for your thoughts, Father, he said.
Saxtus licked dip from his whiskers pensively. “My moughts, Brother? You may have them for free. I was wishing that Joseph and his party were with us here to enjoy this evening, Mariel and Dandin too. May the fates be kind to them wherever they are. You know, Fingle, nothing gives me more pleasure than to see my Redwallers happy and well fed. Contentment, it is a thing I love dearly. I was never one for dashing off on quests and adventures. The Abbey and its life is sufficient for an old stay-at-home like me. Im glad I thought of this concert. Look at themdid you ever see a merrier, more peaceful bunch? Thats my adventure, the quest for contentment and happiness for all in my Redwall.