Part 18 (1/2)

With his paws pinioned to the sides of his head by the vine that encircled his neck, Martin struggled to get loose and reach his short sword, shouting to Rose and the others.

”Rose! Are you all... gaaaargh!”

The big red-frilled lizard pulled savagely on the vine, choking Martin into silence. The young mouse tugged either side of his neck, striving to loosen the vine so he could breathe properly. Then they were off at a headlong run, pulled along cruelly with countless lizards flanking them and shoving from behind. Splas.h.i.+ng through marshwater, cludging through mud, cras.h.i.+ng through nettles, they rushed through the night.

Rose sobbed for breath. Tripping on a root, she fell flat in some ferns. The speeding reptiles did not stop or even slow, they continued their mad stampede, dragging 180.

her along thumping and b.u.mping across the soggy earth. How she fought her way back upright Rose never knew, but she was certain she would have been dragged to her death had she not done so.

Grumm's short legs battered the earth as he was dragged and swept along in the midst of the lizard throng. Somewhere close he could hear Pallum's ragged gasps as his friend fought for air on the end of a strangling vine noose.

Battering through evil-smelling liquid and bubbling marsh gases, they pelted onward, mud flying everywhere as lizard tails waved and scaly legs leaped high in the reptile stampede. Martin lost all count of time or distance until, like his three friends, he pa.s.sed out from lack of air and was dragged along by the neck.

Morning in the marshes was overcast with wraithing grey mist tinged with yellow sulphurous wisps. The four bodies that lay tied to stakes were practically unrecognizable as a mole, a hedgehog and two mice. They were completely covered in thick caking mud and clay from the wild run.

Martin stirred and coughed. His throat hurt abominably.

”Martin, are you all right?”

It was Pallum. The hedgehog resembled a round ball of clay.

”Pallum. I'm alive at least. How are you?”

”Be much better when my old neck stops hurtin'. I've been awake an hour or more, but I lay still. Didn't want to attract attention from those creepy lizards-they're all round us.”

Martin strained his neck slightly. The vine was still looped around it, though now his paws were free. Lizards were everywhere, just sitting and staring at them. He noticed the large red-frilled leader had the short sword lying on the ground in front of him.

Martin crawled across to Rose. Loosening the vine on 181.

her neck, he patted her muddied cheeks, calling her name. ”Rose, Rose!”

A jumble of lizards dived on him, pulling the noose tight as they dragged him away from Rose. Martin fought back as best as he could, shouting through the scaly bodies that enveloped him, ”I was only trying to let her breathe, you scaly villains. Let me go. We weren't trying to escape!”

The big red-frilled lizard stalked slowly across. He kicked the others off Martin and dragged the young mouse back to his stake. Hissing softly, he gave the vine a final sharp tug, indicating that Martin should stay in that spot. Flicking his serpentine tongue, he turned and slid gracefully back to his former position.

Pallum looked across at Martin and shrugged. ”Don't say much, do they? We'd best sit tight and wait for Rose and Grumm to come around.”

Both Rose and her mole friend revived some short time later. They sat ma.s.saging sore necks, easing the tight vines off to enable easier breathing. The big red-frill gave the vines a tug when he thought they had messed enough with them. He hissed softly and sat watching the four captives.

After a while, they got to know the rules. They were allowed to talk, but only in quiet tones. If they talked loudly, or pulled at the nooses, the lizards would yank hard, tightening the vines, and hiss soft warnings at them.

Grumm picked burrs and mud from his face. ”They'm sloimy vurmints, aroight. Soilent, tho'. Nary a word do they'm lizzyards be a-speaken.”

”Hush now, Grumm,” Martin muttered quietly and urgently. ”They're coming over here!”

Silently a group of lizards came to each of the prisoners and deposited by them four large gourds of water. The reptiles retreated and sat watching.

Rose tilted one of the gourds and sipped, then she 182.

drank deep gratefully. ”It's water, good clean and fresh. I never knew it could taste so nice.”

They drank their fill, dashed some in their faces to wash away the dirt and grime, then sat waiting. Next to come was a great wooden pan fas.h.i.+oned from a section of lime trunk. The red-frilled leader indicated that it be placed in the centre of the area between the four stakes, where the captives could reach it. Again the reptiles retired to watch.

The vessel was filled with a warm cream-coloured mixture. Pallum ventured a dip into it with his paw. He licked at the stuff and shrugged.

”Food. Tastes like some kind of porridge. Not much flavor in it, though. Hmmm, yes. I think it tastes a bit like mushroom.”

They all tried some and agreed it was palatable enough, but had hardly any taste.

Grumm shovelled a pawful into his mouth. ”Hurr, tain't zoop or nothink noice, but et ain't bad, burr no.”

Rose had taken several mouthfuls. She splashed a little water on her paws to cleanse them. ”Huh, it's not very good either. I've had enough of that tasteless mush, thank you.”

The red-frill stalked sinuously over to her. He tugged the vine sharply, indicating that she should carry on eating.

Rose sighed and looked across at Martin. ”Old frilly neck won't be happy until we've eaten all our dinner up like good little creatures. I suppose I'd better try some more.”

Martin licked his paw and dug in again. ”Mushroom porridge. It's deadly boring.”

”Huh hu huh!” Pallum chuckled as he spoke through a mouthful. ”D'you think they're trying to fatten us up a bit?”

Suddenly they stopped eating. The horror of what the hedgehog had just said dawned on them.

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”What was it Mr. Mirdop said,” Rose whispered in a hushed voice. ”Cannibal lizards!”

Twice that day more bowls of porridge and gourds of water were brought to them. If they showed signs of refusing to eat, the big red-frill would tug on the vines until they began choking.

Grumm groaned as he noticed several of the reptiles sc.r.a.ping ashes from a long pit at the edge of the lizard settlement. Others began laying charcoal and dry wood in it.

Martin seethed silently. If only he could break away and reach his short sword, but it was impossible-they were watched by scores of gaping lizards who seemed to have little else to do but sit and look at them. The young mouse lay back, his mind racing furiously against the insurmountable problem.

A dipper appeared on a low branch nearby. The little bird nodded its head from side to side, ruffling its handsome browny red plumage and preening at its fawn-colored breast. It made a twittering noise and Rose looked at it strangely.

”Martin, that bird is talking to us.”

Noting that the lizards were still watching, Martin kept his voice to a quiet conversational level. ”Can you understand it, Rose?”

”I think so. It's said the same thing twice now. Ganna aitcha gannc aitcha. I'm pretty sure it's saying, Going to eat you, going to eat you, meaning the lizards are going to eat us.”

”You're right, Rose.” Martin trembled with excitement, trying hard to keep his voice under control. ”The lizards must not be able to understand it or they'd have chased it off by now. See if you can get it to carry a message to the Warden of Marshwood Hill.”

”Ganna alpiz, ganna alpiz?” Rose made a strange noise halfway between a whistle and a chatter.

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The little dipper nodded, pecking at the branch. ”Alpi-choo alpichoo!”

Pallum had been listening. ”What did it say?” ”I tried to ask it for help.” Rose explained. ”Ganna alpiz, sounds a bit like going to help us. It replied, Alpichoo, which sounds like help you”