legs are feeling steady. Hold tight, Germaine. Here we go!"
Goody Stickle tried hard not to let her concern show. She had done all she
could, even following her instincts and allowing the delirious warrior to
clutch his sword as he lay raving. Timballisto stood by her, gnawing worriedly
at his claws. "He's still trying to get past those gates into Dark Forest.
Goody, what can we do?"
Wiping her paws on her old flowery apron, the hedgehog tried to look busy.
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"Well, for a start you can stop hangin' about an' botherin1 me, Mr. T. B. You
go and gather some firewood with my Ben." She softened at the helpless look on
Timballisto's face. "My dear, you can't do anythin' for your friend, nor can
I, really, until proper help arrives. You go and help our Gonff on lookout. Go
on, I'll call you if he wakes."
When he had gone, Goody wrung out more cloths to place on Martin's brow. He
was feverish, shivering, sweating by turns, and constantly murmuring.
"Bring her head around," he muttered. "Sail for the shore. I'll rescue Boar
from those sea rats. Give me my sword. Watch out for those seabirds and the
crabs, Gonff. Leave the rest to me, matey."
Midmorning brought a shout from Gonff. "It's Bella! She's got the Abbess with
her. Hey, Bella, over here!"
The badger came thundering across the lakeshore. Stopping in a shower of
earth, she parted the ropes with a slash of her big claws and a few snapping
bites. The Abbess tumbled from the badger's back. Pausing only to grab her
satchel, she ran to Martin's side.
"You did well, Goody Stickle, go and rest now," she said comfortingly. But
Bella was shocked by Martin's appearance. "Abbess, he looks dreadful. Do you
think he'll live?" she asked, looking over Germaine's shoulder.
Germaine was already ministering to Martin.
"Gonff, put some water to boil on the fire. Bella, open my satchel and give me
some feverfew—yes, that one there. Now a touch of nightshade; not too much.
Ben, can you gather some fresh dock leaves for me?"
As she tended the warrior mouse, the Abbess answered Bella. "Do not worry, old
friend. This mouse will live, if I have anything to do with it, though it will
take all my skills and a long, long time before he is completely out of
danger. Columbine will be here soon. You go and rest; the race that you ran to
save Martin's life would have killed a lesser creature. You must get some
sleep."
The three female hares were not fond of the idea that prisoners should be fed
and cared for. Prodding the defeated
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troops of Kotir with their pikes, they drove them ten at a time to the lake.
Harebell, Honeydew and Willow thoroughly approved of cleanliness.
*'Come on, slimeface. Get in there—you won't drown "
"Use plenty of sand and scrub hard, you mucky lot."
"You there, fox, wash behind those grubby ears."
The fox turned away muttering insolently, "Huh why should I?"
Trubbs and company were practicing with slings. Ffring bounced a sharp pebble
off the fox's bottom, causing him to jump.
"Because you won't get any tuck if you don't, you filthy rogue."
"Hear hear! Now get those ears washed—both of 'em, laddie."
"Then you can wiggle *em in the sun until they dry, what!"
Skipper inspected a rat. "Show me those paws. Turn 'em over. Right. Go and get
fed. Hoi! Where d'you think you're sailing off to, scruffbag? Get back in and
scrub those whiskers, or I'll come and do it for you with a cob of spruce
bark."
He leaned on his pike, discussing the prisoners with Dinny and the hares.
"This miserable lot will eat us out of crop and woodland, the way they're
scoffing," he objected.
"Burr, they'm gotten a dozen stummicks apiece, nasty vurrmen."
Log-a-Log pushed a half-washed weasel back in with his stave. "Not to worry. I
heard Bella mention to Lady Amber that we're marching them out of Mossflower
tomorrow."
"Urr, zooner th' better, sez oi."
"Any news of Martin yet?"
"Bella said he's still the same, no change, though the Abbess has decided to
have him moved down here after this lot have been banished."
"I still find it hard to believe that he slew the big cat. That must have been
a battle and a half, matey.''
"Urr, ee'm a wurrier, our Marthen, tho' the battle be furr 'ee loif of 'im
now."
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It was noon of the following day. The sun beat down on the dusty path that
separated Mossfiower Woods from the flat-lands rolling away to the west.
On the far side of the ditch stood the defeated army of Kotir, each one
carrying two days' supply of food and water. On the woodland side of that same
ditch stood the hordes of Mossflower: shrews, mice, squirrels, hares, otters,
hedgehogs and moles, together with Gingivere, Sandingomm and Bella.
The badger stood (all. Pointing to the horizon, she addressed the freed
prisoners.
"You must go now. Travel together or split into groups, as you will. If any of
you are thinking of finding more weapons and coming back here, I would
strongly advise you to listen to what these creatures have to say."
The six hares stood forward, brandishing their long pikes.
"Hello, you rascals. We're the border patrol now, y'know."
"Yes, first regiment Fur and Foot Fighters at y'service."
"Woodlands are splendid, but the old flat country, this is the place to be,
what!"
"So, you've got until sunset to vanish into the distance, savvy?"
"Actually, if we can still sight you then, there's going to be another jolly
old battle."
"Rather. We hares and these woodland chappies will be only too happy to pursue
you."
There was silence from the other side of the ditch. Some of the Kotir troops
began shuffling nervously, unsure of what to do.
"Count of ten to be on your way," Skipper's gruff call rang out. "Them that
stays here gets buried here. Right, mate vs. Altogether!"
Every woodland voice was raised in deadly unison.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three ..."
The leaderiess foxes, weasels, stoats, ferrets and rats ran. They ran as they
had never run before, stumbling and pushing to get out in front. Not a word
was spoken amongst them. All that could be heard was the harsh panting of
breath as
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they sped away into the far sunlit distance, each one feverishly hoping that,
regardless of the others, he would be out of sight by sunset, away from
Mossflower and its grim horde of dangerous woodlanders.
Halfway through the long afternoon. Lady Amber and Skipper approached Bella.
"Couldn't we just go after them one last time, Bella?" Skipper pleaded.
The badger shook her head at the Corim leaders. "No, friends. WeVe won,
Mossfiower is ours again."
"Hurr, let's go *ome!"
Foremole's words in his rough molespeech sounded like the sweetest music ever
heard.
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A score of days had gone since the banishment.
The lakeshore rang to the sounds of late evening merriment. Colored lanterns
were hanging from the trees, reflecting a mass of orange, pink, blue and gold
lights upon the calm waters. Stars twinkled above, woodlanders danced below,
garlands of flowers were Strewn everywhere and delicious smells came from the
great fires at the lake margin.
Martin awakened to the sounds of Gonff singing.
Let no foul beast give one command,
I'll say, "O no not me,
My back bends to no tyrant's rule.
Hey, friends, this mouse is free."
Free has a sound, it rings around,
A lovely way to be.