Part 6 (1/2)
It was Basil Stag Hare. He was crouching on the wet ground, hugging something to him and sobbing brokenly.
Matthias felt a huge lump like a lead weight in his chest as he knelt beside the hare. Winifred turned away, unable to look. The fat little Redwall cook lay limp and dead, unaware of the rain that beat down upon the favourite dockleaf his tail still held in its curl. Tears coursed openly down Basil's cheeks as he hugged the still form.
”Hugo old lad, what did they do to you?”
Winifred knelt with her friends. Silently she began brus.h.i.+ng the loam and soil rrom the sodden habit and once spotless white ap.r.o.n of the beloved little Friar, then without warning she broke down and began weeping like a baby.
”He never did harm to a living creature. Why this. . . . Why?”
Basil stood slowly, his legs shaking as he held Hugo in his paws. ”Permission to carry my old friend back to his Abbey?”
Matthias remained kneeling on the ground, his fur saturated by the ceaseless rain.
”Permission granted, Basil. Winifred, will you tell them I'll be a little late back to Great Hall.” The Warrior's voice trembled as he spoke.
As Matthias watched his friends depart, he picked up the dockleaf that had fallen from Friar Hugo's lifeless tail and pressed it to his lips in silent remembrance of his friend.
Inside the Great Hall of the Abbey a large brazier had been set up and lit. Steam rose from the fur of all the creatures as they rubbed themselves off on rough towels. Sister May from the infirmary moved among them, giving out doses of herbal medicine. Many sat on the stone Boor, clutching their heads tightly to relieve splitting headaches. Matthias strode in, followed by Basil Stag Hare. He clattered his swordblade against a sandstone column to gain attention. ”Abbot, Constance, Winifred, Jess Squirrel, Warbeak 73.
Sparra, Foremole and you, Basil, follow me down to Cavern Hole. The rest of you, stay inside, keep diy and warm, and look after those who are not well.”
A semblance of order was restored in Great Hall. Hot soup was being made in the kitchen, warm blankets-were distributed by Brother Rufus and Sister Agnes, Sister May and Mrs. Churchmouse tended John Church-mouse in the infirmary, while Cornflower took charge of baby Rollo.
Down the steps in Cavern Hole, Matthias sat at the big table with the others. He looked around.
”Well, did any creature see what went on last night? Can anyone shed any light on this terrible thing? 1 want straight answers, no guesses, please.”
There was silence, then the Abbot said, ”We will have to wait until John Churchmouse is recovered sufficiently to talk. The only other two witnesses to what went on are no longer with us.”
There was a stunned silence as the enormity of events sat like a heavy stone upon the little group.
Jess Squirrel stood up slowly. ”I'll go to the infirmary and see how Mr. Churchmouse is faring.”
Basil livened up. 'Thaf s the ticket, Jess. Action, thafs what we need. Now, where do we start?”
The Abbot folded his paws into his wide sleeves. ”At the beginning, Basil. I think we all know who did this shocking thing.”
”Harr, boi 'okey we do, zurr,' Foremole growled. ” Twas they rascally durtbags, foxes an' the loik, they'm magicked us f sleepen.”
”Magicked my auntie's tail,” Winifred the Otter snorted. ”That was a powerful sleeping draught. We should've known not to trust a fox, should never have let 'em in.”
Matthias banged the tabletop hard. ”Enough! No accusations or blame-laying, please. Now, you say that we were drugged by a sleeping draught, well, that 74.
makes sense. I remember the fox asking us to drink a toast. He coutd have slipped herbs or powders into the drinks any time at all while we were watching the entertainment.”
Ambrose Spike had walked in. His stickles rose stiffly. ”Aye, that's what he did, the sc.u.mmy toad. Then he started twirlin' that cloak thing of his round and round. I couldn't keep me old eyes open.”
There were murmurs of agreement.
”Me too, if s the last thing I remember.”
”Aye, we were mesmerized, I tell you.”
”Lunar Stellaris my back paw, colossal cheek more like it, wot?”
Foremole's ground logic took over. ”Hurr, but wot worr ee arfter?”
”That's the question.” Matthias sighed heavily. ”We don't keep treasure or precious things that could be looted. There's only the sword and our great tapestry. I have the sword and I know our tapestry soil hangs in Great Hall, I've seen it with my own eyes this very morning. So what was he after?”
Warbeak the Sparra Queen shook a wing. ”They um worms, must come from the northlands. All bad in north. They go back that way, open little wormgate in north wall.”
Basil seconded Warbeak. ”V y1 know, I believe you're right, old thing. When the bally rain stops chuckin' down I'll try and track 'em. Huh, 'fraid there won't be much to track after this downpour, though.”
”I think the Brothers and Sisters should take stock of everything, just in case there is something missing,” the Abbot suggested. ”Foremole, would you get a burial detail of your moles to dig two graves next to each other? Basil, perhaps you could see what you can find around that small north wallgate. The rest of you, when the rain stops, please help to bring the tables and stuff back in. We'd best get the Abbey back to normal running as soon as possible.”
75.
Matthias stood up resolutely. ”Right, thaf s it then. I think I'll take a walk up to the infirmary and see how John is.”
Sister May and Mrs. Churchmouse cautioned Matthias to be silent as he entered the sick bay. John Church-mouse lay pale and still but breathing evenly.
”How is he?” Matthias whispered.
Mrs. Churchmouse smiled. ”Alive and recovering, thank you, Matthias.”
John opened his eyes slowly and looked around. Matthias pressed his head back to the pillow as he tried to rise. 'Take it easy, old friend, just lie there. But if you feel like talking, perhaps you could tell us what you remember of last night. n.o.body knows what went on at the feast”
Tears beaded in John's eyes. ”Friar Hugo and I had full cups already, so we didn't let them pour us more ale. Poor Mrs. Bankvole was too busy looking after her baby to join in the toast. Matthias, there's no doubt about it, you were all drugged, even then Hugo and I were half hypnotized by that fox with the cape. When we saw what was going on we ran after them and tried to stop it, all three of us, the Friar, Mrs. Bankvole and myself.”
”But what did go on, what were they after, John?” Matthias had an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach as he asked the question.
The Churchmouse broke down sobbing. ”Our young ones, Matthias. They took my Tim and Tess, Sam Squirrel, Cynthia Bankvole and your Mattimeo!”
An icy claw gripped Matthias's heart. The words echoed from the doorway where Cornflower stood with baby Rollo.
”Mattimeo gone, impossible! I'm sure I saw him with the others out there in the rain. Wasn't he with you. Matthias? Tim and Tess, he was with Tim and Tess, yes, thaf s it!”
”My Tim and Tess! Oh, you saw them!” Mrs. Church-76 mouse's voice was tinged with hope. Matthias slammed his paw against the wall, anger and frustration etched upon his face.
”We were still half drugged, the rain was sheeting down, you could not have seen them. You must believe what John says: he saw them being taken. What fools we were not to realize it before now!”
Cornflower was still shaking her head, refusing to accept the fact. ”Jess, they'll be with Jess downstairs, all wrapped in blankets and drinking hot soup, you'll see.”
”Cornflower, stop! They're gone, believe me. But by my sword Til bring them back, I swear it!”
Baby Rollo was hidden by the ap.r.o.ns of Cornflower and Mrs. Churchmouse as they hugged each other and wept. John raised his head.
”Little Cynthia Vole and Sam Squirrel too, they took them all,” he said sadly.
Sister May began bathing John's wound. She dabbed away the tears that fell upon his brow.