Part 11 (1/2)

Several Squidjees started draping wet seaweed on the mole's head.

Martin looked about for Dinjer. Rose spotted him.

”There he is, the little blaggard. Look, climbing!”

Dinjer had strayed from the rest and taken a notion to scale the cliff face. The section he chose was slippery and steep, with sharp crags sticking out above it. Martin's patience snapped. He leaped up, pointing at the miscreant.

”Get down from there, you stupid little beast, or you'll fall!”

The Queen heard him. Angrily she threw a rock, catching Martin sharply on his unprotected back.

”Biggamouse biggamouth! Notalk Ballamum son like-that, badtalk. Ballamum killslay biggamouse!”

Martin was about to make some reply when there was a loud screech. ”Yeeeaaakkk!”

A great gannet had swooped down and s.n.a.t.c.hed Dinjer from the rocks. The infant pigmy shrew was carried high into the air, held by his tail and the hem of his loose robe in the lethal amber beak of the predator. He wriggled and squealed like a midget piglet. Immediately all activity on the sh.o.r.e ceased as Amballa's wails rent the air.

”Waaah waaah! Dinjergone himdead likefather, like- father!”

”I remember that when I was younger/' Pallum whispered to Rose. ”Dinjer's father was taken by a big gannet like that one. Poor little mite, he's as good as dead now.”

Amballa had slid down from her seat on the rocks. She covered her eyes and wept inconsolably. ”Nomore Dinjerbabe! Himgone, deadnow!”

Martin grabbed her by the paws, pulling her upright. ”Notdead, Ballamum, Dinjer notdead. Biggamouse savehim!”

Seizing the Queen's sword, which was no more than a dagger in his paw, Martin bowled the nearest two pigmy shrews over and s.n.a.t.c.hed their fis.h.i.+ng net. Das.h.i.+ng off along the sh.o.r.e after the gannet, he called back to his friends. ”Get more nets and follow me. Hurry!”

The gannet soared upwards, wheeled, and dropped down on to a high ledge in an isolated part of the cliffs. Dinjer was stunned by the landing. The infant lay limp between the big bird's well-clawed and webbed feet. There was a large untidy nest on the ledge, with two scrawny half-feathered gannet chicks in it. On seeing their mother they set up a cackle.

As he ran, Martin watched the bird descend and alight on the high ledge. Without pausing, he ran to the cliff face directly below it. Pausing only to grip the sword-blade in his teeth, he hurled the fis.h.i.+ng net upwards. The meshes caught on the rocks. Giving a quick tug to 112.

check its firmness, Martin began climbing, pulling himself up paw over paw on the tough kelp net. When he reached where the net had caught, he disentangled it, whirling it around his head he hurled it aloft, catching another rocky crag. Again he began hauling himself up over the meshes.

Below on the beach, the whole of the Highbeast pigmy shrew tribe had gathered. They watched as Martin continued his ascent. Rose began spreading the other nets on the sand, las.h.i.+ng four of them together. The pigmy shrews were getting in her way, ignoring her as they trampled the nets and gazed up. Rose, Pallum and Grumm bulled into them, pus.h.i.+ng them backwards.

”Get out of the way. Can't you see we're trying to help him?”

One of the Highbeasts kicked out at Rose. ”Cheeka-mouse! Notalka me likethat.”

Amballa bit him savagely on the neck and knocked him down. ”Gettaway quicknow like mousesay, allayou!”

A piercing cry came from Dinjer as he woke and saw his predicament. ”Eeeee! Helpme helpmeeeeee!”

Martin heard the cry and redoubled his efforts, throwing the net upwards and scrambling over it. He chanced a quick look up-only about three more lengths to go.

Dinjer's tear-stained face appeared over the rim of the ledge. ”Eeeeeee helpadinjer eeeeeee!”

He was dragged back by the formidable beak of the gannet. The huge bird tossed him against the side of the nest. Dinjer curled up tight as the two hungry chicks tried to crane their floppy necks over the edge of the nest to get at him.

Below on the sh.o.r.e, Amballa hid her face in horror of what might happen to her little son. Rose put a comforting paw around the Queen's shoulders.

113.

”Nocry, Ballamum. Biggamouse Martin is mighty warrior. He will get your Dinjer back, yousee, yousee!”

Amballa seemed to understand Rose. She clung to the mousemaid as she anxiously watched the high ledge.

Breathing raggedly with exertion, Martin pulled himself up on to the ledge, hauling the net up after him.

Dinjer saw him and jumped up, yelling. ”Biggamouse Martinmouse, savemeeeee!”

The gannet turned its bright dangerous eyes on Martin as he took the sword from his mouth.

”Dinjer, nomake nonoise, bestill, still!”

The gannet took a stalking stride towards Martin, lowering its lethal yellow beak. The young mouse swung with the little sword. It clacked harmlessly off the great bird's beak, but caused the gannet to stop where it was. Now Martin shook the net out and swished it at the bird's feet. It took a step back. Behind him he could hear Dinjer sobbing with terror. Working his way across the ledge, jabbing with the sword and sweeping with the net, Martin gradually got himself into a position where he was between the gannet and its nest.

Sensing danger to its chicks, the gannet began spreading its wings, lowering its neck and opening its beak wide as it hissed at the intruder. Martin knew there was not much time, it was getting ready to attack. He would have to act quickly. Throwing back his head, he shouted aloud into the gannet's face, hoping that he could be heard below on the beach.

”Stretch the nets! Hold them up, lots of you. Be ready!”

Rose heard him. She had thought of giving her eagle call, but if Martin or Dinjer were in the nest they would be crushed under the gannet, which would naturally sit on its nest to defend the chicks against anything. Grasping a corner of the net, Rose held it high, yelling aloud, ”Holdup net. Stretch it tight. Now!”

114.

The Highbeast tribe stood uncertainly for a moment, until a harsh order from Amballa their Queen sent them scurrying to the edges of the net, with Rose, Pallum, Grumm and Amballa at each corner.

The Queen snapped out directions. ”Holda netup, upup! Stretcher tightnow!”

The net was ready, up and tightly stretched.

Martin reached back with his footpaw, keeping a wary eye on the gannet as he kicked Dinjer lightly.

”Movenow, Dinjer. Get over to the edge ...”

Dinjer began crawling on all fours. The gannet, sensing it was being robbed of its prey, tried to pa.s.s Martin to get at Dinjer. Martin jabbed with the sword. This time he nipped the bird in its open mouth. It retaliated with lightning swiftness, pecking him sharply in the side. Martin drew his breath in short at the pain. He clamped his paw over the spot, feeling warm damp blood.

Dinjer was now at the edge of the cliff, peering over at the dizzy drop down to the sh.o.r.e.

”Jump, Dinjer, jump!” Martin hissed at him.

”Eeee nojump nojump, Dinjer 'fraid!”

There was nothing else for it. Martin turned swiftly and gave the baby pigmy shrew a hefty kick on the bottom that sent him flying outwards over the edge.

”Yeeeeeeeeeeehhhkkkk!”

Whumpl Dinjer bounced up and down in the center of the net. Saved!

The gannet gave a shrill squawk and attacked Martin. Leaping to one side, he whirled the net and threw it straight over the bird's head. The kelp fis.h.i.+ng net enveloped the gannet's head and one wing, and draped on the ground, trapping one of its webbed feet. Martin fell to one side, dragging at the net. The bird's head came awkwardly askew and it tried to pull its leg free. Martin 115.