24

The remainder of the night passed uneventfully, though Peri-gords troop knew they were being watched from the treetops by the Painted Ones. Pairing off, the hares took turns to guard the camp and keep an eye on the still-unconscious prisoner.

Tammo and Pasque were on second watch. They sat together, keeping the fire fed with twigs and dried moss.

Tammo eyed the captives slumped figure uneasily. “I say, dyou think the rascal will come round before momin? He looks pretty much of a heap, maybe the fall finished him off?

Pasque felt the pulse on the rats neck and checked his breathing by holding a thin blade of grass close to his mouth and nostrils. “Not tworry, hell live, though whether or not hell ever be the same after you an Russa landin atop of him remains tbe seen. NowId best take a look at that footpaw youve been hobblin about on.

Tammo dismissed the idea airily. “Oh, that? Hah! Twas nothin really, Im fine, thanks!

Pasque Valerian began pulling herbs and dressing from her bag. “Sorry, but Ive got to fix it up, Majors orders. If you have to travel on that paw all day tomorrow itd become worse an youd slow us all up. So hold still.

Pasque damped warm water on dock leaves and crushed gentian stems, binding the poultice to Tammos right footpaw with a thin brown cloth strip. When she was done, Tammo was pleased with the result. The bandage was firm but not tight, and he could use the footpaw quite freely without twingeing pains.

“Golly, that feels like a new paw now. My thanks to you, marm!

Pasque fluttered her long lashes comically. “Why, thank ye, young sir, though if you had any of your mothers pancakes left Id charge you two of em for my services!

The leader of the Painted Ones stirred. “Whuuchakka huunhh! Whuuurrg! Shavvakamalla hurtened much lotsa!

Pasque reopened her medicine bag, showing open disdain for the creature as she treated him. “Hmph! Hurtened much lotsa, is it? Ywicked little runt, Id have hurted you much lotsa more if I couldve got a clear shot at you. Here, sit upndrink this!

Averting his head, the rat tried to push away Pasques med-icine. Tammo came to her aid. Grabbing the protesting vermins jaws he forced them open, pushing the rats head back. “Carry on, chum, pour it down the filthy ol throat, an I hope it tastes jolly awful. Give the bounder a bigger dose if he tries spittin it out!

Between them they fixed up the rats injuries. Tammo, working under Pasques directions, proved capable with bandage and splint, though whenever his friend was not watching, he would give the bindings an extra sharp tug, causing the rat to groan. Pasque took the groans as a sign that more medicine was needed, and she dosed him well.

“Oh, do stop moanin an whinin, you cowardly little bully. Thank the fates youre still alive an bein treated by civilized hares!

Morning dawned warm, with the promise of a hot sunny day. Steam rose in drifting tendrils from the mossy riverbank as Corporal Rubbadub marched about, sounding reveille.

“Rubbadubdub, dubbadubbity dub, baboom baboom ba-boom!

The Painted Ones leader clapped both bandaged paws to his aching head and glared pleadingly at Rubbadub, who merely smiled and leaned close to the rats ear, to give him the full benefit of his skills.

“Boompity boompity boom!

Major Perigord stretched languidly, issuing morning orders as he did, “Risenshine, troop. Fraid we cant take the chance of breakin our fast hereabouts, what with the flippin forces o darkness up there in the arboreal verdance, waitin to take a crack at us an rescue oP Shavvaka wotsisface. Well cross the river lower down an don the nosebag when were well away from here. Those painted chaps can have their boss wallah back once weve crossed the river. Break camp, Sergeant.

Torgoch, looking fresh as a daisy, saluted stiffly. “Right yare, sah! Midge, Riffle, move yselves. TarenTurry, make sure that fires well doused before yleave. Rockjaw, sling that hinjured vermin over yshoulder. Officers lead off, other ranks bringin1 up the rear!

Rockjaw threw the rat over one shoulder, chatting to Lieutenant Mono as he did.

“Wot does the Major mean by arboreal verdance, sah?

“Hmm, arboreal verdance, lemme see, I rather think it means treetops, leafy green ones.

“Oh! Then why didnt e say treetops?

“Why should he when he knows how tsay words like arboreal verdance?

Rockjaw cuffed the moaning rat lightly. “Hush thy noise, or Ill give thee summat to moan about an ywont see your arboreal verdance again!

They crossed the river at the ford, which was littered with huge rocks, providing good stepping-stones. Behind them the foliage rustled and trembled as the Painted Ones followed, anxious as to the fate of their Chieftain. Perigord soon dispelled their fears by frog-hopping the hobbled rat back to the last stepping-stone, where he left him to be rescued by his own kind. But not without a severe warning.

Fearlessly the Major drew his saber and pointed it at the swaying tree cover. “Listen up now, every slackjawed one o ye! My name is Major Perigord Habile Sinistra, but dont for a moment think that cos Im left-pawed I cant use this blade! If ydont improve your ways Ill return here, me an my warriors, an well chop yall up an eatcha, got that! We didnt eat your leader simply because hes a coward an a bully an thatd make him taste bad. If I were you chaps Id set about findin a new commander today! Now if youve understood all that, an you probably havent if youre as dense as oP Shavvachops here, then take heed because Im perilous an dont make idle threats. I bid ye good morn!

Throwing up an elegant front salute with his saber, Perigord wheeled on one paw and marched back to his patrol.

Torgoch nodded admiringly. “Does yore eart good tsee a hofficer with steel in is backbone layin down the law to vermin, dont it, Rock!

The giant hare dusted off his shoulder as if he had been carrying some unspeakable bundle of garbage there. “Aye, by ecky thump! But ifn Id a been him Id ave told em Id chop off their arboreal verdancy. Sithee, thatd make yon vermin sit up straight!

Breakfast time slipped by unnoticed. Having picked up the vermin trail, the patrol marched swiftly onward over the grasslands in the fine spring morning. Between them, the twins Tare and Turry struck up a lively marching chant.

“As I marched out one sunny day,

O lairo lairo lay!

I met a hare upon the way,

O lairo lairo lay dee!

With ears like silk, and eyes so brown,

And fur as soft as thistledown,

She smiled at me an that was that,

My poor young heart went pitter pat!

O pitter pat an eyes of brown,

She looked me up an looked me down,

I ask you now, what could I do,

I said, Please, may I walk with you?

We walked together all that day, O lairo lairo lay!

As laughingly I heard her say,

O lairo lairo laydee!

Pray tell to me, O brave young sir,

Are you a wild an perilous hare

Who thinks of nought from morn til night

But march an sing an charge an fight?

O march an sing, O perilous hare,

So I said to this creature fair,

To march an fight is my intent,

The Long Patrols my regiment!

And then upon that sunny day,

O lairo lairo lay!

She turned from me an skipped away,

O lairo lairo laydee!

She said, I fear that we must part,

Sir, I would not give you my heart,

That Long Patrol, alas alack,

Those hares march off an neer come back!

O neer,come back an Long Patrol, While rivers flow an hills do roll, Ill march along my merry way, An look for pretty hares each day!

Two hours into noon, woodlands were sighted. However, this was no copse but vast expanses of mighty trees.

Russa picked up the pace, smiling fondly. “Yonder lies Mossflower, an the Abbey of Redwall within a few days. What dyer think o that, young Tamm?

Before Tammo could answer, Perigord interrupted sharply: “Only a few days to the Abbey, you say? By the left! Wed best put on a stride an catch up with those vermin!

Doubling the pace to a swift lope, they headed toward the shady green vastness of the sprawling woodlands. The first thing Tammo noticed on entering Mossflower was the silence. It was complete and absolute. The sudden call of a cuckoo nearby made him start momentarily. Overawed by the ancient wide-girthed splendor of oak, beech, elm, sycamore, and other towering giants, the young hare found himself whispering to Russa, “Why is it so bally quiet in here?

The squirrel shrugged. “Dunno, Ive never given it a thought. Mayaps because out in the open ycan hear the wind, an distant sounds travel on the breeze, but in ere, well, tis sort o closed in like.

Stirring the moist carpet of dead vegetation with his saber-tip, the Major commented, “Capn Twayblade, let em rest their paws awhile here and scrape up a quick snackno cookin fire. Russa, you come with me and well track ahead. Theyve left plenty o trail in this loam.

When the pair had left, Tammo sat with his friends in dappled sunlit shadows. They munched dried apples, nuts, and oatcake, washed down with beakers of water.

“Ive never been to Redwall Abbey, whats it like? he whispered to Pasque.

“Cant help you there, chum. I havent either. Neither has Riffle, TarenTurry, or any of us younger ones. Capn Twayblade has.

The Captain put aside her beaker. “Well, Ill tell you, chaps, I dont wish to appear disloyal to Salamandastron, but Redwall Abbey, by mlife, theres a place an a half! I was only there once, with Torgoch an Rockjaw, we were carryin dispatches from Lady Cregga to the of Mother Abbess, con-gratulatin her on a onescore season Jubilee, as I recall. Anyhow, we arrived at Redwall in time for the feast. Remember feat, eh, Rock?

The burly Rockjaw Grang grinned and nodded, speaking in his odd way. “Bah gum, that were a do Ill not forget! Sithee, Ive neer clapped eyes on so much luvly grub in one place: puddensnpies, cakes, turnovers, pasties, tarts, you name it an it were there. Trifles, cream, cheeses, soups, an more .kinds o fresh-baked breads than ycould twitch an ear at! But by ecky thump, Ive tasted nought like that October Ale they brew at yon Abbey ....

He sat with a dreamy look on his craggy face as the Sergeant contributed his reminiscences. “Ho yerss, they ad all manner o fizzy cordials an berry wines too. We sang an danced an feasted for moren three days. I declare, you aint never met such obligin creatures as those Redwallers, omely an friendly as the seasons long, they was. Ifn Im still around when I gets too old to patrol, Id like nothin better than to retire meself to Redwall Abbey, tis the appiest place Ive ever seen in all me seasons!

Riffle could not resist rubbing his paws together gleefully. “Good egg! An were going to be there in a few days, wot!

Faint but urgent a faraway cry echoed through the woodlands.

“Eulaliaaa! Rally the troops! Death on the wind! Eulal-iaaaaa!

Food and talk were instantly forgotten; weapons appeared as the Patrol leapt to the alert.

“Rally the troops! Eulaliaaaaaa!

Captain Twayblades long rapier thrust toward the cries. “Over that way, I reckon! Eulaliaaaaaa! Chaaaaaaarge!

They took off like a sheet of lightning, blades and slings whirling, roaring aloud the war cry to let Perigord know help was on its way.

“Eulaliaaa! S death on the wind! Eulaliaaaaa!

Despite his bandaged paw, Tammo was up with the front-runners, Twayblade, Riffle, and Midge. Straight on they raced, through bush and shrub, loam flying, leaves swirling, twigs cracking, and startled birds whirring off through the trees. Pawsounds thrummed fast against the earth like frenzied, muted drumbeats. Sunlight and shadow wove together as they hurtled onward, bellowing and baying like wolves to the hunt.