53

Vermin screamed and wailed as the blazing pine trunk cut a swathe through the Rapscallion ranks. It thundered off the hillside, over the valley, and disappeared with a crash of loose earth into the rift, where one side of the defile fell in on top of it.

This was followed by a frightening silence.

Galloper Riffle rubbed both his eyes, peering into the fallen night. “Whats happenin? Whys everythin so bally quietI cant see a flippin thing!

A shrew standing by Riffle blinked hard several times. “Neither cn I, matey, alls I see is colored lights, poppin all round. Twas that burnin tree wot did it.

Most of the Redwallers were grouped at the center of the ridge, in the place the otters had launched the trunk from. A shout from the far side of the ridgetop alerted them.

“Help! Theyre attackin this end!

With their sight growing clearer, the Redwallers rushed to defend mat end of the summit, only to be hailed by another distress cry. “Yurr, on ee tuther end, theym up ere too!

Damug had not been slow. Even as the burning trunk was launched from the crest of the ridge, he had issued orders for his army to split up again and attack the summit from both ends. Now the Redwall army was in deep trouble. Damugs plan had worked; he had gained the precious moments he needed to put his Rapscallions on the ridge summit.

Tammo fought back-to-back with Pasque, sling in one paw, dirk in the other. Vermin came at them in mobs. Lieutenant Mono was surrounded and alone; gallantly he battled away, hacking at the encroaching Rapscallions with a cracked pike. Tammo and Pasque began forcing their way through to Mo-rios aid, but too late. The brave Lieutenant went down, fighting to the last.

“Eulaliaaaa! S death on the wind! Eulaliaaaaa!

Captain Twayblade, too, was ringed by the enemy. Her long rapier darted and flickered as she wove it around cutlass and spear, slaying every vermin she touched. “Saha! Come an meet me, sir vermin, Ill have ye crowdin at Dark Forest gates this night!

Tammo glimpsed a fox working his way behind Twayblade, and as the fox raised his sword, Tammo let fly with the dirk.

“A hit! Twayblade laughed. “Over here, Tamm, come on, Pasque!

They were joined by Skipper, and between them they smashed free of the crowding foebeasts. The otter pushed them toward the standing rock. “Over there, matesget our backs agin somethin!

Perigord and Gurgan had been outnumbered and driven back along the ridge. Striving valiantly with what was left of their group, they too managed to reach the standing rock. The Majors saber decimated the ranks of vermin swarming to get at them. Blood ran from a cut above his eye as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Gurgan.

“Whew! I keep choppinem down, but theyre still comin!

The Waterhogs huge mallet hit the Rapmark Skaup, wiping him out. “Aye, theres nought left but to take as many as we can with us. Hearken though, Id like tget yon Damug atwixt my paws!

Log-a-Log gritted his teeth, bringing down a weasel with his heavy loaded sling. “Ywont get close to that scum, mate. Damugs the kind who leads his army from beind, like the true coward he is! Tamm, did they get ye, bucko?

Tammo almost collapsed as Pasque drew the pike from his leg. “Aaaagh! He got me, but I made sure I got him, the blackguard!

They ringed the pair, fighting off the attackers as Pasque stuffed herbs into the awful gash and bound it with the red silken ribbon. “There, thatll hold you, sir. Lean on me. I knew that ribbond come in useful. Good job you won it for me, wot!

Deodar and Algador slumped on the rift floor, gasping for breath after making their report.

Lady Cregga acted instantly. “Sergeant, take the right flank; Corporal, you take the left. Ill hold the center. Lets get out of this ditch and form up in a skirmish line, ten deep, fifty long. Double-quick speed, weapons out and ready. Well come at that ridge from the back. Rapscallions havent got the brains to think wed attack that way!

Still fighting for air, Algador and Deodar drew their blades. “Were comin too, Sergeant!

Trowbaggs nodded to Shangle Widepad. “Grab old Algy there, chum, well help him along. Fallow, Reeve, lend a paw to Deodar, theres good chaps!

The night air thrummed to the paws of five hundred Sala-mandastron hares. Silent and determined, they sped off into the darkness.

Damug Warfang was delighted beyond measure. He stood back from the fighting, leaning on his sword by a fire. The Rapscallions had suffered heavy losses, but nothing to what the creatures of Redwall had sustained. From his position he viewed what he considered to be the last stages of the battle. His enemy would soon be soundly defeated and the famous Abbey of Redwall his for the taking.

Rapscallions crowded in on every side around the standing rock, but there was a space at the center between them and their opponents. The Redwallers had fought more fiercely than anybeasts they had ever encountered, and now, at this final part of the battle, many vermin were growing cautious, not wanting to be on the lists of the slain while their comrades enjoyed the spoils of victory.

The stoat Captain, Bluggach, was a bigger and more reckless beast than his confederates. Pike in one paw and a wicked steel hook in the other, he swaggered into the open space between the armies and began taunting his beleaguered enemy.

“Haharr, so yore the bold crew who were gonna spank us an send us off in tears, eh? I wager the one who shouted that is idin somewheres at the back now, probly in tears hisself!

Mass laughter and cheering from the Rapscallion horde prompted Bluggach to become bolder. He leered at the Red-wallers, licking the tip of the hook he carried. “Cmon out an face me, tis my turn tdo the spankin!

Gurgan Spearback was already out as he spoke, wielding his tree-trunk-headed war mallet. “Stoats be windy braggarts. Come an spank me if thee thinks thou art warrior enough to do it!

Bluggach gave a wild yell and charged the big Waterhog. Gurgan sidestepped and swung the mallet once. Just once.

Bluggach slumped to the ground, never to rise again.

But Gurgans sidestep had carried him close to the Rapscallion mob. A crowd leapt upon him, overwhelming the Waterhog Chieftain.

The Redwallers could not leave their friend in enemy paws. They charged forward into the vermin pack, roaring, “Red-waaaaallll! Redwaaaaaallll!

They were hopelessly outnumbered, but prepared to sell their lives dearly. Strangely, though, it was Damug Warfang who saved them.

The unpredictable Warlord strode among his vermin, lashing out with the flat of his swordblade. “Halt! Enough, I say! We will take these creatures as prisoners. Nobeast must touch them. I will keep them as captives to serve me! The Greatrat halted in front of Perigord. “All except you, hare. Nobeast talks to me as you did and lives!

Held fast by four Rapscallions, the Major still struggled to break free and get at his enemy, even though he was twice wounded. “So be it, foulface. Give me back my saber an Ill fight you, blade-to-blade. Come on, vermin, lets have at it, wot!

Damug looked Perigord up and down. Dried blood was caked over the Majors brow, covering his right eye, while the Redwall tunic hung from him in shreds, revealing a ragged scar on one shoulder. The Greatrat sneered contemptuously. “Your fighting days are over, fool. Im going to make an example of you in front of your friends. Conquered beasts always leam to behave better when they see their leader executed. Get him down in front of me and bend his head!

A massive roar shook the night air, chilling the blood of every Rapscallion on the ridge.

“Eulaliaaaaaaa!

Thundering forward, fifty paces ahead of her command, Lady Cregga Rose Eyes hit the vermin ranks like a lightning storm.

Tammo saw vermin actually fly through the air as the huge badger, her eyes blazing red with Bloodwrath, swung her ax-pike into them. Then she was upon Damug Warfang. Casting her weapon away, she seized the Firstblade with both paws and teeth.

“Spawn of Gormad Tunn! Evil murderers kin! Come to me!

Hacking furiously at the Badger Warriors head with his sword, Damug gave an unearthly screech. Locked together, the pair hurtled into space from the ridgetop.

“Eulaliaaaa! S death on the wind! Eulaliaaaaaa!

Booting aside a rat, Major Perigord grabbed his saber. “Hares on the ridge, hundreds of em! Eulaliaaaaaa!

The army from Salamandastron charged into the Rapscallions midst to join the Redwallers. Galloper Riffle was down; a snarling weasel who was about to dispatch him with a dagger thrust fell forward, slain by a saber swing. Riffle felt himself pulled upright; he stopped a moment in the thick of battle, recognizing his rescuer. “Algador! My brother!

The young Runner blinked, smiling and crying at the same time. “Riffle, thank the seasons youre alive!

“Logalogalogalogalooooog!

The shrew Chieftain, at the head of his remaining Guosim, tore into a pack of vermin and chased them the length of the ridge.

“Redwaaaaaalll! No surrender, no quarter, me buckoes!

Skipper of Otters and his ragged band threw themselves headlong at another group of foebeasts, javelins forward.

Tammo had formed foursquare with Pasque, Midge, Tway-blade, and Fourdun, battling madly against the desperate Rapscallions. They pushed their way with blade, sling, and tooth to where Corporal Rubbadub lay stretched on the ground, limp and trampled. While the others fought, Pasque stooped to inspect the big lump and the awesome cut across the back of Rubbadubs head. She looked up sadly at her friends. “I think poor old Rubbadubs gone!

“Nonsense! Twayblade kicked Rubbadubs paw roughly.

Turning over, the drummer rubbed his head, grinning widely. “Dubadubadubb! Bboom!

Sergeant Torgoch found himself fighting alongside Drill Sergeant Clubrush. The pair fought like madbeasts but chatted like old pals.

“By the left, Sarnt, yore younguns are shapin up well!

“They certainly are, Sarntthey pulled yore chestnuts out o the fire!

Tare and Tuny had formed up with Trowbaggs and Furgale. They pressed forward in a straight line, driving Rapscallions off the edge of the ridge. Determined to distinguish himself in this his first action, Trowbaggs pulled away from the others and began taking on four vermin single-pawedly. “Have at ye, yscurvy rascals, Trowbaggs the Terribles here!

He managed to slay one before another got behind him and put him down with a dagger in his side. Corporal Ellbrig and Shangle Widepad rushed in to his aid, slaying two and sending the other one running.

Holding on to his side, Trowbaggs managed a weak smile. “Chap got behind me. Wasnt very sportin of him, was it, Corp?

Shangle provided cover while Ellbrig ministered to the recruit. “Trowbaggs, wot am I goin tdo with you, eh? War isnt no gamethere aint no such thing as a vermin bein sporty. Good job that dagger only took a bit o furnflesh. Youd be a goner now ifn that was an inward stab instead o a sideways one. Come on, up on yore hunkers, me beauty, stick wid menole Shang.

Furgale and Reeve Starbuck were in difficulties. Heavily outnumbered, they fought gallantly. Tammos party saw they were in a fix and dashed over to help, but too late. Both the recruits went under from vermin spear thrusts before they could be reached. Others came running to avenge their comrades, exacting a terrible retribution on the vermin spear-carriers with swords and javelins.

Clubrush saw Furgale twitch, and he knelt by him, supporting his head. “Ydid bravely, young sir. Be still now, well git you some elp.

Furgale tried to focus on Clubrush, his eyes fluttering weakly. “Get my old job back, servin you an Colonel Eye-bright in the mess ... wont shout too loud though, Colonel doesnt like that ...

The young recruits head lolled to one side, his eyes closed. Drill Sergeant Clubrush hugged him tightly, tears flowing openly down his grizzled face. “I ope youve gone to an appier place than this blood-strewn ridge,

The tide of battle was turned. What was left of the mighty Rapscallion army fled from the hill, pursued by the hares and the Redwallers. Major Perigord and Captain Twayblade limped their way down the hill and across the valley, with Tammo and Pasque following them. They found Lady Cregga in the rift, clutching the mangled remains and broken sword of Damug Warfang.

Pasque Valerian was the only one of the four who was still fit and active. She climbed down to the bottom of the rift. Perigord peered over the edge, watching her inspect the badger.

“I say, Pasque, get a chunk o that smoulderin wood tmake a torch.

The young hare snapped off a billet of pine from the charred trunk and blew gently upon it until the flame rekindled itself. She looked closely at the still form of Lady Cregga, checking her carefully.

“Good news, sah! Though you wouldnt think it to look at her. Lady Creggas alive, but Warfang must have slashed an battered at her with his sword somethin dreadful. Her face, head, an eyes suffered terrible injuries, but as I say, she lives!

The Major winced as he straightened up. “Well, theres a thing! Our Badger Lady must be jolly well made of iron. Tammo, see if ycan hunt up stuff tmake a stretcher and find some able-bodied beasts to carry it. Tamtn, are you all right, old lad?

Tammo sat at the edge of the rift, his head in both paws, shaking and weeping uncontrollably. “No, Im not all right, sah. Ive seen death! Ive been in a battle, Ive slain other creatures, seen friends cut down before my eyes, and all I can think of is, thank the fates Im not dead. Though the way I feel right now I dont know if I want to go on living!

The Major sat down beside him, “I know what ymean, young un, but think for a moment. Think of the babes at Redwall and the oldsters, think of all the families, like your own, who will never be frightened or harmed by the bad ones we fought against. Youve done nothin tbe ashamed of. The Colonel an your mother would be proud to know they had a son like you. What dyou say, Pasque? Tell this perilous feller.

Pasque Valerian paused from her salves and dressings, capturing Tammo with her soft voice and gentle smile. She pointed skyward. “I dont have to tell you anything, Tamm. Just look up.

Tammo felt the other three staring upward with him.

Fading from dark blue to light, dawn was breaking, with threads of crimson and gold radiating wide. Pale, cream-washed clouds lay in rolls to the east, their undersides glowing pink with the rising of tfte sun. Somewhere a lark was singing its ascension aria, backed by waking curlews on the moor, and wood pigeons in the copses.

The spell was broken abruptly as the little owl Taunoc swooped out of nowhere to land at the rift edge. “I see by your returning warriors and the vermin carcasses lying everywhere that you won the battle.

Perigord wiped his saber blade with a pawful of dewy grass. “Aye, we won!

Taunoc nodded sagely, preening his wings, ready for flight. “I will carry the good news back to Redwall Abbey. Is there anything else you wish me to add?

Tamello De Fformelo Tussock dried his eyes and smiled. “Tell them ... tell them were coming home!