Part 11 (1/2)
”She's pretty all right, pretty short-sighted. Hahaha!”
At that Trimp lost her patience. ”Very funny, I'm sure. Now would one of you stilt-legged, clay-faced buffoons show me this roundhouse?”
Murfo stepped forward to the side of the biggest dune and slid aside a screen of brushwood and dead gra.s.s, revealing an opening. Bowing low to Trimp, he bade her enter. ”How d'you like it, me beauty? This whole big dune is our roundhouse, an' none can find it except the Dunehogs.”
It was an ingenious structure, built from stones, timber, clay and wattle, completely disguised as one ma.s.sive sand dune. Inside, it was lit by lanterns and a fire glowing beneath a stone oven, with secret air vents to the outside. Everybeast sat upon woven rush mats, and a silence fell as Dunespike entered and threw up his paws. ”Do we know who we are?”
Every hedgehog held up their paws and answered, ”Sons o' the sand an' daughters o' the dunes!”
The Chieftain looked around until he had selected a very young beast, who was still learning the tribe's rules. A question-and-answer session started between master and novice. Older Dunehogs watched, nodding sagely.
”Do we fight our enemies?”
”Dunehogs would rather use fright than fight!”
”How tall is a Dunehog?”
”As tall as his stilts!”
”Where do Dunehogs live?”
”In a roundhouse where n.o.beast knows!”
”Why don't they know?”
” 'Cos we cover our tracks!”
”An' when is it your turn to cover tracks?”
”Dawn 'til night, first quarter o' the moon!”
”Right. You did grand, young 'un, just grand!”
”I thankee, Chief Dunespike!”
Food was served amid a babble of chatter. Dunespike plumped his huge bulk down between Martin and Trimp, knocking Murfo out of the way. ”Ah, that's better now. My turn t'sit next t'the pretty maid.” He tweaked Trimp's headspikes before turning to Martin. ”These young 'uns must learn the rules, y'know. Sit ye an' welcome to our ould home. Eat hearty now.”
The crew of the Honeysuckle Honeysuckle soon got into the habit of eating like Dunehogs. There was a board, piled high with wafer-thin ryeflour pancakes, and between each four creatures two earthenware pots were placed, steam arising from both. One of the pots contained a thick stew, consisting of overboiled potato, finely chopped cabbage, wild onions and various types of sh.e.l.lfish. This was spooned onto a pancake and rolled up carefully. One end was twisted a couple of times to stop the contents spilling out. soon got into the habit of eating like Dunehogs. There was a board, piled high with wafer-thin ryeflour pancakes, and between each four creatures two earthenware pots were placed, steam arising from both. One of the pots contained a thick stew, consisting of overboiled potato, finely chopped cabbage, wild onions and various types of sh.e.l.lfish. This was spooned onto a pancake and rolled up carefully. One end was twisted a couple of times to stop the contents spilling out.
Gonff was an expert within seconds. He nudged a nearby Dunehog. ”Good idea, this, mate. Saves a lot o' plate was.h.i.+n'.”
”Oh, that it does, sir. 'Tis a grand ould idea!”
Gonff, the perfect mimic, answered him in Dunehog idiom. ”Ah sure 'tis. Grand, grand!”
Everybeast within hearing chuckled appreciatively.
When the first pot was finished, there was still about half the amount of pancakes left. These they used in like manner with the contents of the second pot: a sweet hot ma.s.s of pulped berries and honey, with some strange tangy spice mixed in.
Dunespike chomped away blissfully. ”Ah, thank ye, m.u.t.h.e.r Nature, for the good ould sweet stuff. 'Twas meself was thinkin' I might never taste it again until yourself magicked me rotten tooth away, Martin!”
For entertainment the Dunehogs laid on an exhibition of Spinetussling. A circle was cleared and two contestants tied on pairs of half-size learning stilts. They stood balancing at the ring's inner edge. Then a few oldsters, acting as referees and judges, shouted, ”Hold y'circle, no paw touchin' now. Get set. Tussle!” The pair stumped adroitly out, charging one another. They were two fully grown males and had lots of supporters.
”Ah, g'wan there, Doggie, make him eat sand!”
”Get into the great lump, Paykel. Throw him spike o'er stilts an' let's see the soles of his footpaws!”
”Watch the divvil now, Doggie. Look out fer those sweeps with his stilts!”
”Go on, Tussle will ye, Tussle!”
Both hedgehogs circled awhile then met in the middle with a resounding b.u.mp of heads. They locked head-spikes and began trying to throw each other over. Not being allowed to touch one another with their paws made it very hard. Sweating and grunting, they pushed back and forth, every now and again trying a side hop to unbalance the unwary one.
”Now, Doggie, now, give him the ould sidehead twist!”
”Use the one two forward b.u.t.t, Paykel, an' you'll Tussle him!”
In the end Doggie triumphed. He took the advice, using a combination of the sidehead twist and a left stilt-sweep. With a roar of surprise, Paykel spun once in the air, stilts flying high, to land flat on his back. Cheers rang out from Doggie's supporters as he leaned down and rapped on his opponent's stilts thrice, which is considered a very sporting gesture in Spinetussling circles.
Now the Dunehogs were calling for the Chief to enter the ring, but he shook his head, smiling.
Murfo yelled across at him. ”G'wan, da, show 'em how a real champion Tussles, or is yer belly gettin' too grand?”
This aroused jeers and laughter. Still smiling, Dunespike plodded down to the ring's edge. ”Are you fit to be thrown, Doggie?”
Doggie performed an agile dance on his stilts. ”Aye, Chief, I am that. Though I'm thinkin' 'twill take somehog younger an' faster than yerself to throw me, ye fat ould omadorm.”
Dunespike raised one eyebrow. There was menace behind his smile as he tied on one stilt. ”Ah sure mebbe I am gettin' on in seasons, but let's see if we can't make ye kiss the sand wid yer backspikes!”
A gasp arose from the audience as Dunespike stood erect.
”Will ye look at that, he's goin' to Tussle wid only one stilt. I )oggle will make crab bait of the ould fool!”
One of the judges pointed at Dunespike. ”D'ye not know ver wearin' only one stilt, Chief?”
”I do!”
”An' y'wisli to Tussle like that tonight?”
”I do!”
The judge shook his head in resignation. ”Right. Hold y'circle now, no paw touchin', get set. Tussle.”
The agility and skill of one so old and heavy shook Martin. Dunespike bounded across the ring on his one stilt, meeting Doggie, who was yet not halfway across. Down went the Chief's huge head, spikes bristling, and he caught his opponent a mighty b.u.t.t, locking spikes and twisting powerfully. Doggie went sailing through the air sideways, to land amid the spectators. Roaring with laughter, Dunespike hopped over to knock his opponent's stilts thrice amid wild applause. Then he looked at Martin. ”Would ye like to tie the ould stilts on an' Tussle wid me, Martin of Redwall?”
Shaking his head, Martin held up both paws, laughing. ”I'd sooner tangle teeth with a shark than Tussle with you, sir. You're a warrior born!”