Part 37 (1/2)

Nadaz was now pointing his sceptre at the causeway. The rats on the steps made way, and they seemed to shrink back against the rock walls in fear. Matthias gripped his sword hilt tighter and his breath caught in his chest.

It was a huge rodent, somewhere between a ferret and a stoat. The beast looked like a primeval throwback; it had no ears and practically no neck. The hulking head perched squat upon its heavy shoulders leered evilly through curved and stained teeth. Sinew and muscle stood out like great cords all over its body, and heavy spiked iron bands ringed its paws and waist. It carried a stabbing spear of fearsome size and a weighted net.

Nadaz made an evil, sn.i.g.g.e.ring noise.

”Matthias of Redwall who fears n.o.beast, this is your challenger. Wearet, the slavemaster!”

374.

47.

Sister May and Cornflower had tried to feed Stryk with Abbey fare, but the red kite was no vegetarian, so they finally compromised by giving the great hunting bird a net of watershrimp. Stryk had taken to the comer of the wine cellar, and she settled down to sleep on a pile of moss and sacking.

”Stay out of Mr. Spike's wine cellar, little one,” Sister May warned baby Rollo. ”Never go down there alone. We can't take chances with a bird like that one.”

”Huh, hope it doesn't get a taste for October ale or elderberry wine, great hulkin' thing like that'd empty my cellar,” Ambrose Spike grumbled into an apple and blackberry pie wedge.

The Abbot looked over the top of his spectacles. ”No quicker than the average cellar-keeper could empty a larder. You're right, Sister May, Stryk is a fine big bird, but she is not used to our ways. Pity about her wing. She's very proud. Did you see the way she got huffy when I remarked that it was broken? I'd like to take a look at it sometime.”

Cornflower stopped Rollo roaming in the direction of the wine cellar and sat the mischievous infant on her lap.

”Poor thing,” Sister May said sympathetically. ”Apparently she buUt her nest on a piece of branch sticking out 375.

from the mountain. Then one night the branch rotted and the nest fell. She struck her wing awkwardly on a jagged rock and broke it. Stryk said that she lay in the ruined nest for many days, unable to move. She had no mate to defend her and she was attacked by other birds. Finally she forced herself to fly. Bit by bit she made her way across the western plain, looking for somewhere to shelter, and that was when she saw our Abbey.”

Constance came in mopping her brow. ”Still hot out there. Where's the big bird? Asleep? What a sizr! I'll bet she could almost lift me. D*you think she'll ever fly again, Abbot?”

”I don't know, Constance. Maybe if we could look at her wing we'd be able to tell. However, big red kites aren't our present worry, it's ravens, crows and rooks I'm concerned with. Cornflower, you must stop this masquerade as Martin the Warrior. I know it annoys Ironbeak, but it isn't getting us anywhere. There's another reason also. That raven is no fool, and sooner or later he'll be a bit quicker than us and he'll catch you. There's too much risk involved, you'll have to give it up.”

Cornflower became indignant. ”But Father Abbot, when I get dressed up as the ghost I know it upsets Ironbeak, and thaf s why I must continue. It has also started to demoralize his rooks. They're scared, and the crow - wotsisname, Mangiz - he's frightened of me too, I can tell. That crow is a very superst.i.tious bird and the others take notice of him. Let me do it just one more time tonight. Please!”

Mordalfus polished his gla.s.ses. ”Cornflower, you're a bigger mischief-maker than your son and a fighter as brave as your husband. Make tonight the last time that you haunt our Abbey.”

Baby Rollo had dozed off, and Cornflower placed the sleeping infant in the Abbot's lap.

”I will, thank you. Father Abbot. Sister May, come on, we have work to do if the ghost is to walk again tonight. Come on, Constance, we need you for the voice of Martin.”

376.

The Abbot stroked Rollo's head. ”And I'm left holding the baby, as usual!”

Ironbeak sat at the broken dormitory window and related his troubles to Mangiz.

”Warrior mouse ghosts, big red birds; what next, my seer? The earthcrawlers are down in that Cavern place where we cannot get at them. I have conquered nearly all this great redstone house from the roof down and I cannot let it slip away from me. If I were forced to leave here, we would have to go back to the northlands. They are cold and hard, Mangiz, and it is all fight and no food. We are getting older and could not face many more winters in the north. Tell me, Mangiz, have your visions come back? Are you seeing anything in the eye of your mind again?”

”My General, you were right,” Mangiz said readih/, glad that he was back in favor. ”I see the ghost mouse was only a trick of the earthcrawlers to frighten us from here. As for the great rustybird, kachah! It was only the imagination of scared rooks. The heatwaves s.h.i.+mmer and dance in this country, and you could see more strange things than on a dark night in the northlands.”

Ironbeak was heartened. ”Well spoken, Mangiz, my strong right wing. What else do you see? Are the omens good for your General?”

”The omens are good. It all becomes clear as water now. Ironbeak, you and I will live a good and easy life in this redstone house, the food will be plenty and the seasons good, winter's cold will not harm us in this place surrounded by tall woodland. When the earthcrawlers get tired of playing their silly little games, we will catch them all out in the open, and that day they will be slain. Then there will be none left to oppose us. This I see truly, my General.”

Ironbeak stood and stretched his wings, and Mangiz ducked to avoid being knocked out of the window.

”Kachakka! This is good, Mangiz. I feel good in my 377.

feathers too. I think I will fly up and perch awhile on the roof of my big redstone house. Tell the rooks to rest well, and sleep yourself. You look tired and hot.”

Ironbeak launched himself from the sill and spiralled up to the Abbey roof.

Mangiz blew a great sigh of relief and settled down to nap in the hot sun. It was the first time he had lied to Ironbeak about his visions. They were still clouded by the warrior mouse, but the crow was not going to tell Ironbeak that. What the General did not knew for the moment would not harm him, and compliments were better received than kicks.

When night fell over Redwall and the Mossflower country. Cornflower began buckling on her armour. However, Sister May had a better idea, so Cornflower unbuckled it and listened. Constance covered her mouth and shook with suppressed laughter when the ruse was outlined to her.

”Oh yes, lefs do it. I wouldn't miss this for a midsummer feast!”

The rooks perched in the dormitory, half dozing, half awake, none fully asleep since the General had issued the order for them to have the rest of the day off. Most of them had slept all afternoon, and they found it difficult trying to sleep in the night also. It was hot and airless for birds who had lived their lives in the cold northlands. A full moon beamed down through the dormitory window, bathing the entire room in pale bluish white light.

”Leeeeave ooooour Abbeeeeeeeeey!”

”Yaak! What was thatr ”Death is neeeeear!”

The rooks froze on their perches.

”Death waits outside this rooooooom!”

A black shadow cast itself across the beds and the floor. There was something at the window.

378.

The rook Ragwing turned his head slowly and fearfully until he could see the window.

Framed by the broken pane, with cold moonlight surrounding it, was the head of the Warrior, the helmet with no face; pale grey mist hovered in place of the Warrior's features. Ragwing and his companions were in a state of panic bordering on hysteria, and the words of the bodiless phantom were like some dread puzzle: ”Leave our Abbey.” How could they leave the Abbey, knowing that the ghost had said ”Death waits outside this room”! There was only the window, and the horrible head was floating about there. Even the bravest rook would not venture out that way. It was more than the terrified birds could stand, so they scrabbled underneath the beds, afraid to look or move.

As they stole back to Cavern Hole, Constance shook the window pole that had supported the ghostly head at Sister May.

”One more giggle out of you, Sister, and I'll have you put on cooking duties with Ambrose Spike!” she said menacingly.

Cornflower held a kerchief to her face, pretending to blow her nose. She was, in fact, biting the material to stop herself roaring with laughter.

Constance waited until they were out of earshot in the tunnel, then she laughed.

”Heeheehee! I took a quick peek through the window, and the rooks were underneath the beds trying to make themselves invisible.”

Sister May shook her head in mock sympathy. ”If s no wonder. You didn't give them much choice: leave the Abbey, but don't leave the room. Really, Constance, what made you think that one up?”

”I don't know. I suppose I just lost my head. Hahaha!”

Cornflower wiped tears from her eyes, realising that the fun had turned to sorrow and longing for her family.

”My Matthias and Mattimeo would have appreciated a 379.