The Rogue Crew (4 page)

“That ole wind's a touch nippy t'night, marm. Do I smell mulled nettle ale with a touch o' spice 'ereabouts?”

His visitor, a strikingly regal-looking young badgermaid, placed the steaming tankard close to the sergeant's paw. “My father used to say there was nought like mulled nettle ale to warm a beast on bleak nights. When I was young, I often stole a sip when he wasn't looking.”

The sergeant's craggy features softened. “I recalls h'it well, Milady. But yore pa knew you was suppin' his h'ale, so 'e looked t'other way an' let ye. Steal his h'ale. Hah, you was a real liddle scamp back then, but look at ye now. Lady Violet Wildstripe, ruler o' Salamandastron an' commander of all the Western Shores!”

With her jagged cream muzzlestripe and clouded violet eyes, she looked every inch the noble Badger Lady. Violet smiled. “Happy times, those young seasons. But what of the present, Sergeant—anything to report?”

The tough old veteran paused, as if loath to speak. Then he pointed down to a patch of fireglow on the south shore. “Er . . . beggin' y'pardon, marm, but those four young uns on Seawatch—they should be carryin' out their duties from h'up 'ere, h'inside the fortress, h'instead o' sittin' round a fire down there, toastin' chestnuts h'an singin'. Who gave'em permission t'do that, I asks meself?”

A note of concern crept into Violet's voice. “It was me, Sergeant. Forgive me—did I do something wrong?”

The colour sergeant took a sip of his mulled ale. “Well, now, h'if 'twas yore order, Milady, then that's that. Beggin' yore pardon, there h'ain't n'more t'be said.”

Violet had always held Miggory in the highest regard. Disconcerted, she placed a paw on his shoulder. “My thanks to you for pointing out my error, friend. There are so many rules and traditions for me to learn.”

The kindly sergeant patted the paw on his shoulder. “Ho, t'aint nothin', really, Milady. You'll soon learn. Them four rascals sittin' down there took advantage of ye. They're only second-season cadets. Salamandastron standin' h'orders states they've got t'serve four seasons afore they're qualified for nighttime Seawatch h'outdoors.”

Violet nodded. “Thank you, Sergeant. Rest assured I'll consult you on all such matters in future.”

The old hare shrugged. “No 'arm done, marm. Mebbe'twill teach those young buckoes h'a lesson. Mark my words, by the time their relief watch arrives at dawn light, those cadets will be sittin' round h'a pile of ashes, chilled t'the scuts an' snifflin' away t'beat the band. That'll teach 'em not to trick ye h'into lettin' 'em disobey h'orders!”

Lady Violet chuckled. “Right you are, Sergeant. Well, I'm off to my nice, warm bed in the forge chamber. What about you?”

Miggory swilled down the last of his mulled nettle ale. “Barrack room dorm for me, marm. Long Patrol snores don't bother me on cold nights like these. Thankee for the ale, an' good night to ye, Milady.”

Down on the shores, the four cadets—two bucks and two maids—drew closer to the fire. Trying to ignore the keen, cold breeze on their backs, they put a bold face on things by singing raucously.

Contending with the boom and hiss of breaking waves, the four young hares sang out lustily, full of the joys of life as only young ones can be. Unaware that they were being watched by evil murderous eyes.

Most creatures agree that whenever it is a cold, rainswept day, the best place to be is indoors. One of the Redwallers' favourite retreats is the Abbey cellars, where Jum Gurdy is Head Cellardog. The big, jovial otter never fails to make everybeast welcome. His forge constantly glows, radiating warmth from a fire of old barrel staves and charcoal lumps. Jum's two companions, Roogo Foremole and the Redwall Bellmaster, a squirrel known as Ding Toller, usually preside over the food and fun for all. An old iron battle shield is placed on the fire whilst chestnuts are piled on it to roast. Young and old are given sharpened sticks to retrieve the nuts when they are ready. Once peeled, they are dipped in a basin of cornflower honey. Jum has a fine collection of large clamshells, sent to him by his sea otter cousins. He sits by a barrel of Baggaloob, dispensing shells brimming with the delicious brew (made from a recipe known only to Jum himself).

Many a pleasant day is passed in Jum Gurdy's cellars by the Abbey community playing instruments, singing songs, solving riddles and listening to poems and stories whilst feasting on delicacies and drinking the good Baggaloob. The Foremole plays his melodeon whilst Ding Toller sings out his challenge, to begin the proceedings, thus . . .

There was a hushed silence (apart from a few giggles) as Ding's paw circled the audience, suddenly stopping to point at his choice as he called out the name.

“Friar Wopple!”

The furry watervole, who was Redwall's Chief Cook, stood up amidst resounding applause, shuffling her footpaws shyly. “Dearie me, I ain't much of a singer at all, friends.”

Everybeast knew Wopple was a fine singer, who always had to be coaxed. The Dibbuns were the most vocal in their pleas. “Ho goo on, Friar marm, sing us da one 'bout Dibbun Pie!”

Wopple smiled furtively whilst fidgeting with her apron tassels. Then she nodded at Foremole, who played the opening bars as she started singing.

The Dibbuns sang the chorus lustily and cheered the Friar loudly, giggling and chortling at the idea of a Dibbun Pie.

Foremole Roogo shook his head with mock severity. “Burr, you'm likkle villyuns, Oi wuddent larf so loud if'n Oi wurr ee, or Froir Wopple'll make ee into pies!”

Brinky the vole Dibbun scoffed at the idea. “Hah! No likkle Dibbuns never got maked into pie!”

Old Fottlink, the ancient mouse who was Recorder to Redwall, interrupted. “That's all you know, young Brinky. I knew a very cheeky Dibbun who was once baked into a Dibbun Pie, so there!”

The little volemaid stared wide-eyed at Fottlink. “Who was it? Was 'e very naughty?”

The Recorder nodded. “Very, very naughty—it was me!”

Brinky mulled over this revelation for a moment, then said, “But if you got eated for bein' naughty, why are you still 'ere?”

Fottlink whispered knowingly, “Because I was very young.”

Brinky went into some more deep thought before speaking. “Very, very young an' only a tiny likkle beast?”

The Recorder nodded solemnly. “That's right!”

Murty the molebabe enquired hopefully, “But you'm wasn't naughty again, was you'm, zurr?”

Jum Gurdy chuckled. “Oh, no. Ole Fottlink was a goodbeast from that day on. I know, 'cos 'tis true!”

The two Dibbuns stared open-mouthed at the big otter. If Jum said it was true, then it had to be so.

Dorka Gurdy, Jum's sister, entered the cellars. She looked cold and distracted.

“Jum, I've got to talk with ye!”

Jum rose, waving his sister, whom he was tremendously fond of, over to the forge fire. “Dorka, me ole tatercake, come an' sit 'ere. Ding, fetch 'er some 'ot chestnuts an' a drink o' Baggaloob.” Taking off his sister's wet cloak, Jum placed a warm blanket around her shoulders. “Now, wot is it, me ole heart, is ought troublin' ye?”

Dorka leaned close, dropping her voice. “I don't wants t'say it aloud. 'Twould upset these good creatures. Could I speak with ye in private, Jum?”

The big otter gestured to a stack of empty barrels. “Right ye are, sister dear. Come over 'ere.”

Once seated behind the barrels, Dorka clasped her brother's huge paw. “D'ye recall young Uggo Wiltud? Stole a hefty fruitcake an' ate the whole thing by hisself?”

Jum managed to hide a smile. “Aye, I think that ole cake must've been nearly as big as liddle Uggo. I know he's a scamp, but I can't 'elp likin' 'is boldness.”

Dorka shook her head. “Well, he's sufferin' for it now, but that's not wot I wanted t'talk to ye about. It was Uggo's dream. He told Abbot Thibb that he saw a ship comin' to attack Redwall, a big green craft. Later I 'eard 'im say somethin' about a design on the ship's sail.”

Jum chuckled. “A ship attackin' our Abbey? I think it was really a big cake attackin' Uggo. But why all the fuss, me ole darlin'? 'Twas only a greedy liddle 'og's dream.”

Dorka gripped her brother's paw tighter. “Well may ye say, Jum Gurdy, but let me tell ye the design Uggo saw on the ship's sail. 'Twas the prongs of a trident with a pair of evil eyes starin' from the spaces atwixt 'em. You know wot that means. 'Tis the sign o' the Wearat!”

Without either of them knowing, little Brinky had been eavesdropping on the conversation. She skipped to the forge, calling out in a singsong baby chant, “A Wearat, a Wearat, Uggo see'd a Wearat!”

Every Redwaller knew what a Wearat was, though none had ever seen one.
Wearat
was a forbidden word in the Abbey. It was an unmentionable horror, a thing of nightmare. There was a moment's silence, then frightened shouts rang out from everybeast.

“A Wearat? Uggo Wiltud saw a Wearat?”

“Where did he see it—is it in our Abbey?”

“Oh, no, we'll all be murdered in our beds!”

“Lock the gates, bar the doors, it's a Wearat!”

Abbot Thibb came hurrying in to see what the alarm was about. “What Wearat? Where?”

Little Brinky was sobbing with fright. Jum came from behind the barrels and swept her up in his paws. “There now, liddle un. There's nought to fret about.” Raising his voice, he silenced the panicked cries. “Calm ye down now, goodbeasts. There ain't no Wearat at all, so stop all this noise or ye'll disturb my barrels of October Ale. Nothin' worse than unseemly shoutin' for October Ale!”

Abbot Thibb confronted the Cellardog. “Then perhaps you'd best keep your voice down, sir. Mayhaps you might explain this upset to me.”

Dorka curtsied respectfully to Thibb. “'Twas my fault, Father Abbot, but I didn't know the Dibbun maid was lissenin'. I was tellin' Jum that after you left my gate'ouse, Uggo was talkin' in his sleep again, describin' the marks on the sail of the green ship 'e saw in 'is dreams. 'Twas the sign o' the Wearat, weren't it, Jum?”

The big Cellardog caught the warning look in Thibb's eye, so he chose his words carefully.

“Well, that's wot Uggo said it was, but who can tell wot an overstuffed liddle 'og sees in a bad dream, eh?”

Dorka's observation slipped out before she could think. “But 'e did describe the sign right, I'm sure of it!”

Jum saw the look of dismay on his sister's face. Making light of the situation, he smiled, patting her back. “Now you lissen t'me, ole gel—an' you Redwallers, too. There ain't no Wearat within twenny sea leagues of 'ere, nor is there likely t'be. There was only one such beast I ever 'eard of. Razzid Wearat, the corsair cap'n. I know wot 'appened to that un, 'cos when I went t'the coast I saw my ole uncle Wullow, the sea otter. 'Twas Wullow that gave me a gift o' those fine clamshells wot yore usin' t'drink from. Any'ow, some seasons ago, Wullow got news from 'is kinbeast, Skor Axehound, chieftain o' the High North Coast. It seems that Razzid Wearat an' 'is corsair crew came a-raidin'.” Jum paused to give a wry chuckle.