The cell door slammed shut with an earsplitting bang. Nagru shouted through the spyhole as he left, “Bravado wont feed you, and stupidity will kill you!
In the silence that followed, Mariel untied the rope that bound their footpaws together. Standing up carefully, she gave an agonized groan. “Ooahh! That villains right, you know. Were hardly in a fit state to stand on our own paws, let alone defy him.
Supporting one another, they staggered over to the window. It was not as high as it had first looked. They scrambled up onto the broad sill and Mariel pulled herself forward, craning her neck to peer between the bars.
“Oh, my giddy paws! It feels like sitting in the clouds looking down from here. Its a sheer drop down to the Valley. The trees look like tiny blobs of green moss!
Meldrum crawled over to join her. “Right, mdear. Were at the rear of Castle Floret, straight drop, no moat around this side, no need for one ysee. If Im not mistaken, were on the third floor, north wing. Nice view across the valley, wot? Pity we aint got nothin tdo but sit here an admire it.
Dandin took a look and then sat back, resting against sun-warmed stone. “Dont you wish you were a bird?
The garrulous old campaigner flexed a stiffened paw. “Wish I were any flippin thing but a three-quarters dead at the moment, young feller. Deed I do! Mariel felt her back, raw through the holes that had been made in her tunic with being dragged along. “Imprisoned, hungry, thirsty. Theres only one way us to go now, up!
“Were already up, old gel. How much further up would you like us tbe, eh? said Meldrum, probing gingerly at a loose tooth. “Listen to a veteran, you two. Best thing to do in a case like this is sleep. Calms the nerves, clears the brain, an helps nature heal the body, wot? Bit of shut-eye, thats the ticket!
He received no arguments on that score, and within moments the three of them were dozing on the broad win-dowsill in the noontide sun. Deep sleep overtook the trio of battered warriors immediately.
A search party scoured the collapsed sand dune, sifting through the sand. Furpp straightened up, unable to find anything. He shook his head at Bowly, saying, “Youm sure theym been round boi yurr, maister?
Iris waved a paw at the upset state of the wrecked sandhill. “They must have been. Look at all the activity thats taken place round hereprints, tracks, holes. Id say some sort of fight took place. Whoops, careful there! The female otter had been standing on one end of Meld-rums rod, and she toppled backward downhill as Coltvine unearthed the other end vigorously. He gave a whoop.
“What ho! Lookie here, Uncle Mels fishin weapon!
“Aha! The GullwhackerI was right! said Bowly as he tugged Mariels rope from the sand.
Greenbeck shook his head in admiration as he unearthed the paw of a dead horderat. Letting it go limp, he kicked sand back over it. “Sink me, wot a tussle they mustve put up!
“Aye, just like Muta an my Rab, brave creatures! Iris said as she blinked back a tear.
Furpp patted her with his huge digging claws. “Roight, marm. They uns gived us toim to rescue ee Queen an ee babby. Leastways theym safe naow.
Greenbeck sat down between them, keeping his voice low and out of earshot of Bowly and the leverets. “Furpp, get yore moles to dig round ere, he said. “If they aint buried under this lot then theyve been taken by the Fox-wolf an that orde.
“Fate and seasons have mercy on the poor brave beasts. Iris shuddered. “If theyre in the cells at Floret no creatures can help them, even supposing that they are still alive!
12
“Up in the riggin, out on those yardarms, crew!
Finnbarr Galedeep fought with the tiller to keep the Pearl Queen plowing southwest as he roared orders.
“Pile on every scrap o sail, buckoes! Log-a-Log, search the lockers, we need more canvas! Joseph, lash that boom on the same course were runnin, souwest an keel down! Ill show the scurvy flotsam, with me own paw on me own tiller theres not even the seagulls kin outsail the ole Pearl QueenV
Out on the yards, lashing down sheets like two old salts, Durry and Rufe roared into the blasting winds, while at the same time comforting a thoroughly seasick Fore-mole.
“Foremole, forget that your stomachs heavin. Just roar like we do. Youll feel better right away, promise!
The good mole tried, but he was not convinced, roaring fitfully as he glanced backward to the Shattoo. “Hooour-rrarrruurrg! Oi wishes oi wurr back ome, stead o bein chased by a gurt boatload o vurmints. Hooarrurg!
Strapp was perched high on the prow of Shalloo, clinging to the wet lines as the bow dipped and heaved. He howled encouragement at his double crew.
“Bend yer louse-ridden backs, cullies. I said wed be sailin south, didnt I? Keep yore glims on the prize ahead, the Pearl Queen, me new ship! If I cant catch er wid two crews to speed us on, nobeast can!
Rappsnout joined him, shouting to be heard above the shrieking gale and hissing spray. “Dont fret yer eart, Capn. They got a few lengths start on us, but well overhaul er soon!
“Yer right there, mate, Strapp said as he wiped bow-spray from his eyes. “Get some archers up ere, an some grapplin ooks. When we gets close enough then well clap grapplers an old er close, while the archers picks em off. Tell em tget that rogue Galedeep first!
Rappsnout cackled happily as he leaped down to obey Strapps orders. He spat on his paw and patted a bulkhead. “Haharr, thats fer luck, Shalloo, ole Rappsnoutll soon be yer new master. Ahoy, Snicker, get below an break out bows n arrers. Sharkoe, lay yer paws on some grapplin irons an lines. Jump to it, messmates. Were lucky rats this daya ship n crew an plunder too!
Finnbarr knew his old ship like the hairs on the back of his paw. He ordered triangle sails to be set between the bowsprit and the cable from the topmast, and two square sails sitting low amidships to port and starboard. It worked like a charm, lifting the forard end, and sending Pearl Queen skimming. Log-a-Log smiled at the sight of many searats crammed into the bows of Shalloo, sending her head deeper down and slowing her.
“Hoho, look at that, Finnbarr. Shalloos starting to wallow like an old leaky bucket!
Joseph came dashing up. “Finnbarr, whats that roaring noise I hear? he shouted.
The big sea otter grasped Josephs paw. “Come aloft with the Galedeep, Beilmaker, and Ill show ye!
Together they climbed into the rigging, and Finnbarr pointed directly on the course they were heading. “Theres a sight ye can tell yore grandmice about. Look at the hole in the sea, Joseph!
The sight took Josephs breath away. Less than a sea league southwest was a gigantic whirlpool, more than ten shiplengths wide, a complete circle, whirling around like a tornado, with a massive hole at its center. The roaring noise increased until it filled the air for miles around. Finnbarrs single eye watched it impassively.
“Few creatures ave ever seen it an lived. Tis called the Green Maelstrom. See there, it spins off south creatin the fastest part of the current they call Roaringburn!
Redoubtable as he was, Joseph found himself trembling with fear of the unknown hole in the deep. “But were heading straight for it, he said. “Well be sucked in!
Finnbarrs scarred face was grim as he grabbed Josephs paw. “Trust me. The Galedeep knows wot es about! Its not my ship thatll be pulled over the edge o the Green Maelstrom. No, thats where Shalloos bound for!
Joseph was horrorstruck. “Shalloo has two crews aboard her! he cried.
The sea otters face quivered with emotion. Joseph was not sure whether it was sea-spray or tears he saw running down from Finnbarrs single eye.
“Aye, two crews of murderin, torturin, fate-forsaken searats. I was the only one escaped when they captured Pearl Queenthey killed my ole crew, wife an two sons as well. Left me fer dead, but it takes moren searats to finish Finnbarr Galedeep. You can lay tthat! Now git below an foller me orders to the word, or well all find out what the earth below the igh seas looks like!