"I paint my face or wear a mask,
For I'll be anybeast you ask,
As I wander on my way.
A skillful tumbler bounding high,
A pitiful mope who'll make you cry,
My actor's part I play.
And what care you if I am sad,
Or if ill fortune I have had,
'Tis just a clown, you say.
Aye, just a droll who plays a part,
Who travels in a painted cart,
From dawn to dusk each day.
An actor can be young or old,
Figure of fun or hero bold,
From tears to laughter without pause,
I strut the stage to your applause,
Then I look in my mirror and say, 'Hey,
What fool shall I play today?'"
Chapter 11
Mokkan glanced up at the waning moon settling itself behind a rambling cloudbank. Somewhere off in the woodland a lone nightjar warbled, while a warm breeze stirred sedge and rye grasses on the ditch top. It was a night perfect for ambush. The water rats and Marlfoxes crouched in the ditch bed, spears and blades blackened by firesmoke so they would not betray a glimmer. The vixen Predak moved silent as a night shadow down the ditch to where the main force waited with Mokkan. She gestured back toward the main Abbey gate. "Ascrod and Vannan are in place with their two rats."
Mokkan ventured a swift peek over the ditch top. "No sign of the Redwallers yet?"
Predak scratched her muzzle, betraying a slight nervousness. "Maybe 'tis a trick, perhaps they won't come?"
The Marlfox leader's teeth gleamed in the darkness. He kicked the bundle containing Dwopple, who had been fed a potion of herbs to keep him in a drugged sleep. "Oh, they'll come, take my word on it. Those Abbeybeasts are far too honest and dull to risk any tricks. This mousebabe is their main concern. Being the virtuous fools they are, they'll expect us to play by their rules and return the babe in exchange for a few trinkets. Oafs! They'll learn that dealing with Marlfoxes is like trying to hold a pawful of smoke."
Log a Log stood with his Guosim shrews, well hidden by the bushy southeast fringe of Mossflower. Dodging from fern clump to long grass, the scout Bargle arrived and nodded over toward the ditch. "Vermin are still there, Chief, they ain't made a move back or for'ard. Couldn't get close enough to 'ear wot they was sayin'."
The shrew Chieftain peered through the night toward the ditch. "It doesn't make any difference, mate. We never came to chat with 'em!"
Bargle pawed his rapier hilt thoughtfully. "Y'know, they don't know we're 'ere, but we know exac'ly where they are. May'ap 'twouldn't be a bad idea t'sneak up be'ind 'em an' pick off a few to thin their ranks, eh?"
Log a Log sighed regretfully. "I was thinkin' the same thing meself, matey, but we'd best stick t'the plan an' wait for the signal."
Bargle was weighing the land up. "That's a fair distance to charge, from 'ere across open ground to the sou'west wallcorner. We could become targets in plain view."
Log a Log ruffled his scout's ears fondly. "Then we'll just 'ave t'spread out an' duck'n'weave."
"Aye, an' get ourselves killed fer creatures who ain't even shrews!"
Log a Log turned to the speaker. "I knowed it wouldn't take long fer you to pipe up, Fenno. When all this is over me'n'you are goin' t'take a stroll in the forest, outside where we won't be abusin' Redwall's rules."
Fenno glared at the smaller and older figure. "I'll look forward to it. I'm sick o' you pushin' me around!"
Log a Log's paw shot out and dragged Fenno forward by his ear. "So be it, but until then y'can stay in front where I can see yer. I don't want you be'ind me when the action starts!"
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Dann, Song and Dippler watched as Sister Sloey and Brother Melilot guided elders and Dibbuns downstairs to the wine cellars. Melilot waved to them from the stairwell. "They're all accounted for, you can leave them to us now."
Song saluted him with her greenstone-tipped stick. "Thanks, Brother. We'll be up here if you need us."
Dippler crossed Great Hall to where the main party were assembled. Skipper hid a smile as the small chain-mail-laden figure trundled up. "Yer a fearsome sight, matey. Now don't forget an' bar the door soon as we leave, an' don't lift that bar to anybeast except us when we gets back. Clear?"
Dippler tried a fancy salute and almost tripped over the huge halberd he was toting. "Clear, Skip. I won't even let an ant pass!"
Cregga placed her paw on the wonderful tapestry, touching the spot where stood the likeness of Martin the Warrior. "Guide us to victory this night and let us bring the mousebabe back to Redwall unharmed. Rusvul, Janglur, lead on."
They passed through the main wallgate, treading carefully to stop the weapons clanking in their sacks. Friar Butty and Nutwing held the gates open, wishing the rescuers good luck as they went.
"Let's hope all goes well, Tragglo!"
"Oh, it'll be all right. Just make sure you stay awake, Nutwing."
"Hmm mm, stay awake yourself. You'll need your wits about you out there tonight."
"Aye, we will that. See you later, eh, Friar."
"I certainly hope so, my friend, with all my heart!"
Standing out on the path, the old squirrel Recorder and his owl companion watched the procession start south down the path. They did not even feel the draft from the swirling cloaks of Ascrod and Vannan as the two Marlfoxes, accompanied by the rats Dakkle and Beelu, slipped into Redwall like four dark wraiths. From the shadows of the wallsteps the vermin intruders watched while Butty and Nutwing secured the gates, chunnering away at each other as old friends always do.
"Come on, you ancient featherbag, lift your end of the bar!"
"Hmm mm, I am lifting. Phwaw! This bar gets heavier every day. Are you sure you're lifting your end, old bushtail?"
"Of course I am! Right, hup, two, three! There, that does it. What's the matter now? You've got a face on you like a squashed pie."
"Hmm mm, got something sticking in my leg."
"Let me see. Oh, 'tis only a splinter. Come in the gatehouse and I'll get it out. Stop hoppin' about like a one-legged duck!"
"Hmm. Only a splinter, he says. Feels more like a log to me!"
The trespassers waited until the gatehouse door closed before making their way across the silent lawns toward the Abbey.
Cregga was not too familiar with the outside path, and allowed Skipper to guide her toward the southwest corner where the rendezvous was to take place. "Are they there as they said they'd be, Skip?"
Rusvul's voice murmured low to one side of Cregga. "I see the scum. They're lyin' in the ditch, speartops pokin' up."
Janglur's eyes shifted under their heavy lids. "Right, mate, I sees them meself now. There's that Marlfox climbin' out, two rats be'ind him. They're carryin' somethin', looks like the mousebabe done up in a sack."
The Redwallers halted at the southwest corner. As Mokkan walked forward, the other three Marlfoxes led the water rats out of the ditch in a pincer movement to form a semicircle in front of the Redwallers, standing with their backs to the wall. Janglur nodded curtly to Mokkan. "Well, fox, got a liddle 'un with yer?"
At a signal from Mokkan two rats dumped the sack containing Dwopple in front of the Marlfox. He placed a footpaw on it. "He's right here. Brought the valuables with you?"
Janglur indicated the Redwallers bearing the curtain bags. "We've brought 'em, but y'don't get to see one trinket until you show us the mousebabe unharmed."
Mokkan smiled thinly and bowed slightly to his adversary. "My compliments, you show good sense. Show them the mousebabe."