Pearls of Lutra

by Brian Jacques

  The Emperor’s current Monitor General, Zurgat, entered the throne room.

  ‘Mightinezz, they are gathering for another attack on the wallz. Do we uze the balez of fire to throw down on them?’

  Ublaz paced up and down in front of the impassive lizard. ‘Attacking again, eh? No, don’t use the fire bales yet. Throw stones down on them, and tell your Monitors to use their long spears.’

  Zurgat flickered her long dark tongue in and out, her eyes straying to the shackled Abbot. ‘We cannot hold them off for ever with zpearz and ztonez, Lord, there are too many of them.’

  Ublaz grabbed the Abbot’s water bowl and flung it at Zurgat. ‘You’ll hold them off as long as I say you will!’ he shouted, his voice hoarse with rage. ‘Insolent reptile, without my palace walls to keep you and your lizards safe you would all be fishbait by now. Get out. Out!’

  Camped in the foothills at the edge of the sunny plain, Rasconza was completely at ease. A sail canvas afforded him shade, fruit abounded on the island, and fish, like the birds of the air, were plentiful. He sat with his captains, watching the latest assault on the palace rear walls.

  Deddgutt the ferret captain dipped his breaker in a cask of seaweed grog, which had been plundered from the deserted taverns lining the harbour. He filled a second beaker for Rasconza. ‘Wet yer whistle with that, matey, ’tis goin’ t’be a long ’ot day.’

  Sipping the grog, Rasconza winked roguishly at his captains. ‘Well, we got all the time we like, ain’t we, mates?’

  Buckla flung away a half-eaten fish, chuckling wickedly. ‘Aye, an’ we don’t ’ave nowheres special t’go, do we? Haharrharr!’

  Groojaw the stoat captain pointed a rusty cutlass at the high walls in front of them. ‘Noplace ’ceptin’ the palace. Wouldn’t ye think ole Mad Eyes’d come out an’ welcome us? ‘Tain’t good manners to h’ignore the guests when ye’ve got company. Hohoho!’

  Laughing heartily, the Wave Brethren commanders watched their fighters harassing the hard-pushed Monitors. Searats and corsairs would strike suddenly, raining arrows, spears and slingstones on the lizards. When the Monitors grouped at that point to retaliate, the wavescum would drop back, regroup and attack in a different place. Relying only on their long spears and rock rubble to tip down on the foebeast, the great lizards were hard pressed.

  Guja the steersrat and a score of others stayed in the middle distance, well out of rock and spear range, and constantly sniped with arrows at the frustrated Monitors. The traitor Sagitar and her Trident-rats kept watch from the low hills to the south side of the walls. They scouted the palace from a vantage point, reporting any undue movement or fresh tactic back to the captains.

  Rasconza was a good and wily leader; his strategy was working well. Idly he turned to Deddgutt. ‘They’ve ’ad enough fer now, mate,’ he said, indicating the group who were attacking the wall. ‘Call ’em off. I’ll send another gang at ’em tonight, that’ll keep those lizards up on their paws an’ stop ’em gettin’ any sleep. Once we’ve taken that back wall they’ll retreat inside the palace. That’s when the battle will get fierce an’ bloody, but they’ll be well worn down by then.’

  Deddgutt saluted and trotted off to carry out the instruction.

  Baltur and Gancho drew close to Rasconza’s side. ‘Can we ’ave first crack at the timber piled be’ind the wall, Cap’n? That wood is worth its weight in gold!’

  The fox threw his paws about their shoulders. ‘Harr, don’t you fret, messmates, there’ll be timber enough fer everybeast. Sagitar sez there’s enough wood piled back o’ that wall to build three ships.’

  Baltur’s eyes shone longingly. ‘Never mind buildin’ three ships, we’ll ’ave enough timber to repair our own vessels, then we’ll be a proper fleet agin. Corsairs an’ searats, with their own island an’ their own fleet!’

  Rasconza laughed, hugging both beasts tight. ‘Haharrharr! I tole yer t’stick with me, mates . . . Ahoy, wot’s that? Who’s messin’ about back there?’

  Clecky had stolen up on the camp from behind. Lying on the slope of a sandy dune, he had heard all that went on between the fox and his captains. But the loose sand had shifted and, unable to stop himself, the hare had rolled down the slope and landed against the back of the canvas awning with a bump.

  Immediately he heard Rasconza calling, Clecky decided it was not a good place to be. Thinking quickly, the long-legged hare lashed out several times with his strong footpaws, knocking the canvas sunshade down on top of the corsairs. Then he scrambled upright, dug in his paws and took off east, with shouts ringing in his ears as Rasconza and his captains threw aside the fallen awning.

  ‘Ahoy, mates, ’tis a big rabbit – get ’im!’

  Clecky paused indignantly on the hilltop for a fleeting moment. ‘Big rabbit? Cheeky blighter, must need his bally eyes seein’ to, big rabbit indeed. Hah! If you weren’t a fox I’d say y’were a frog’s uncle, sir, wot?’

  An arrow hissed into the sand close by. Clecky took off.

  Groojaw and six others gave chase, panting to each other as they toiled uphill.

  ‘I never knew there was rabbits ’ereabouts?’

  ‘Me neither, mate. Look at ’im go, ’e kin run all right!’

  ‘I ’opes that rabbit’s got plenty o’ family an’ friends, rabbits is good eatin’, I’m partial t’roasted rabbit!’

  Clecky was not especially bothered by the pursuers, who were slow and clumsy. He led them a merry dance over plain and hill, knowing that he was leading them away from Martin, Plogg and Welko, who had circled down to the harbour area.

  Puffing and panting, the exhausted Wave Brethren pressed on doggedly after the strange beast. Groojaw held his aching side. ‘Ahoy, mates, ’old up, where’s the lop-eared swab gone?’

  Completely out of breath, they halted, looking about them.

  Clecky popped up a short distance away. ‘I say, mind who you call a lop-eared swab, you carrot-nosed bilgeswiller. Come on, chaps, keep up, no laggin’ behind, wot!’

  A searat flung his sword, hoping to stick Clecky. It fell on empty ground, and the hare had vanished again. He emerged a moment later, off to the left of the hunting party.

  ‘You there, baggybelly, I’ll bet your dear old mum’n’dad wouldn’t be too proud of you, chuckin’ your sword about like that!’ He disappeared once more.

  Groojaw wiped his slavering mouth. ‘Where in the name o’ blood’n’plunder ’as that rabbit gone?’

  Clecky materialized, this time to their right, and pointed an ear sternly at Groojaw. ‘I say, watch your language, sir, there might be maidens or young ’uns of a tender disposition in the area. Too much grog an’ not enough healthy exercise an’ clean livin’, that’s your problem. Right, come on, chaps, off we jolly well go again!’

  Pawsore and panting, but thoroughly enraged, they chased after their elusive quarry. At one point Clecky appeared right in the middle of the group, running along with them. He tapped a searat on the back and issued instructions to him.

  ‘You’re running all wrong, old lad, more thrust on the backpaw and don’t flail the tail about so much, keep it well tucked in. That’s the style, well done, wot, two points to this feller!’

  Dropping to the back of the group, he clipped another searat smartly across both ears. ‘Come on, laddie buck, keep up, no slackin’ now. Hup two three, hup two three, hup, hup, hup, that’s the ticket!’

  Vanishing, appearing, dodging, ducking and weaving, Clecky peppered the fuming Wave Brethren with alternate insults and advice as he led them where he pleased.

  48

  HIGH NOON SUN beat down on the weathered planks of the jetty. The harbour of Sampetra lay silent and shimmering under a blue tropical sky. Flanked by Plogg and Welko with their shrew rapiers drawn, Martin unslung his sword and hurried across the strand to where the ship bobbed calmly on a lazily swelling tide. Checking left and right and turning often to stare back at the palace upon the escarpment, the three friends made their way into the shallows.

&nb
sp; ‘This is the ship,’ said the Warriormouse, keeping his voice low. ‘I remember its name, Waveworm. Either the Abbot is aboard here or somewhere on this island, probably in that big building up on the rock. Stay here and keep watch, I’m going aboard to take a look around.’

  Gripping the sword blade between his teeth, Martin began hauling himself paw over paw up a headrope hanging from the for’ard peak. Waist-deep in warm shallow seawater, the shrews waited. Plogg held up a paw to his ear, leaning inland.

  ‘Listen, can you hear anything?’

  Welko waded closer inshore, cocking his head. ‘Aye, sounds like shouting or fighting, I think maybe ’tis comin’ from somewheres round that big buildin’ up there.’

  Faintly the noise of warfare drifted on the still air. Plogg looked at Welko and shrugged. ‘Hmm, somebeast’s havin’ a tussle, that’s plain.’

  ‘Hi, you two, come aboard, the ship’s empty!’

  Martin threw an extra ropeline over the side so the brothers could board more quickly. Sheathing their rapiers, they clambered onto the Waveworm.

  Plogg pointed over to the palace. ‘Seems to be a bit o’ trouble over that way, Martin.’

  The Warriormouse studied the palace a moment, then leapt into sudden action. ‘Aye, and there’s a bit o’ trouble headed this way! Grab some of them long poles there, you two, we’re about to steal a ship and sail off. Hurry, there’s no time to lose!’

  Ublaz had watched Martin and the two shrews from his throne room window, puzzled by the appearance of strangebeasts upon his island, but not for long. When he saw them climb aboard Waveworm, the Emperor quickly summoned four Monitors. Ublaz had been keeping Waveworm as a standby, in the event that he had to leave the island in a hurry. Now, in danger of losing his vessel, he dashed down to the main door with the four lizards scurrying in his wake. They were just out of the door when the mouse who carried a great sword happened to look up and see them.

  With Martin punting his long pole hard on the for’ard starboard and the shrews doing the same on the portside at Waveworm’s after end, the ship began swinging round to face seaward. Martin joined his friends at the stern end, noting that the tiller was lashed, holding the vessel to head straight out. Between the three of them they poled furiously, watching the land slip away as she caught the gentle swell.

  ‘Well done, mates,’ Martin gasped. ‘See if you can loose some sail to catch the breeze further out. Good job I looked up and noticed those creatures, or they’d have boarded and taken us by surprise.’

  Ublaz dashed along the jetty. Shaking with rage he stood wordlessly, watching Waveworm coast by, safely out of his reach. At that moment the pine marten would have given anything for a bow and arrows. He glared at the mouse, a strange-looking creature, stern and solid, and obviously a warrior by the splendid blade he carried. Silently the mouse stared back at him, not the least bit afraid of the mad-eyed Emperor. The four Monitors stood watching dumbly as canvas billowed out and the sails caught the breeze.

  Then something happened to the pine marten which had never occurred in all his seasons. He found that his hypnotic power had no effect on the mouse. Piercingly, wildly, he glared at the stranger, but the warrior never budged a fraction, just remained leaning coolly over the rail, staring back, matching Ublaz eye to eye until his adversary was forced to look away. However, Martin kept watching the receding figure of his enemy, knowing that this was the beast he would have to reckon with.

  Evening shades were falling fast over the small cove on the east of Sampetra. Grath and Inbar were resting on the grassy slope when Viola came and shook them. ‘There’s a ship coming this way. Look!’

  Welko waved to them from the forepeak of Waveworm. ‘Ahoy, mateys, d’you like our new ship? No more logboats fer us!’

  Grath took the heaving line which Plogg threw to her and made it fast to a rock. Martin and the shrews waded ashore, Martin calling to Inbar, ‘Is Clecky back yet? We lost touch with him over the other side of the island – he probably found something to eat.’

  ‘Don’t you worry about mister Clecky,’ Viola giggled, ‘he can take care of himself.’

  There were still plenty of provisions left in the logboat, so as night fell Viola and the two shrews lit a fire whilst Martin and Inbar began preparing a meal. Immediately a vegetable stew began to simmer, a jovial voice hailed them from the darkness.

  ‘What ho, the jolly old camp! Rovin’ fighter returnin’ with tales of derring do, high adventure an’ all that nonsense, wot!’

  The friends burst out laughing, and Viola called back, ‘I had an idea you’d arrive as soon as supper was ready, you great furry foodbag. Where’ve you been?’

  Clecky ventured into the firelight, pulling behind him a searat tied up with his own belt. ‘Evenin’, chaps. I say, that smells rather nice. By the by, I don’t suppose you’ve met this vile felon, captive o’ mine, says his name’s Gowja. Say hello to the nice creatures, Gowja.’

  The searat, who sported an enormous lump on his head, stood glaring at them. Clecky pushed him so he fell into a sitting position.

  ‘Old Gowja’s the strong silent type, doncha know. Come on, you jolly old sulker, no hard feelin’s, wot? Say hello to the chaps, don’t sit there like a lovelorn limpet, speak up!’

  Martin ladled stew into a deep shell and passed it to Clecky. ‘Leave him for the moment. Let’s have supper in peace. Later on he can talk. There’s a lot of information we need about this island, the big building I saw today, and what both sides are fighting about. I’m sure Gowja can tell us that.’

  Baring his yellowed teeth, the searat spat on the ground. ‘I ain’t talkin’ to nobeast an’ you can’t make me!’

  With startling speed, Grath leapt over the fire, and landed in a crouch facing Gowja, and fixed him, eye to eye. Her voice was dangerous, like the growl of thunder on a far horizon.

  ‘Keep lookin’ at me, scum, an’ don’t dare blink! I am Grath Longfletch of Holt Lutra, the only one of my tribe left alive after yore kind visited my home. When I’ve eaten me vittles you’ll talk t’me, in fact I’ll wager you’ll make a babblin’ brook seem dumb by the time I’m finished with you!’

  Wide-eyed with fright, Gowja whined fearfully to Martin, ‘I’ll talk to yer, I’ll tell everythin’ you needs t’know, but keep this otter away from me, I beg yer, please!’

  The searat winced as Clecky patted the bump on his head. ‘That’s the ticket, me heartie, we’ll even let y’sing us an ’orrible pirate ditty if you behave nicely, wot!’

  While they ate supper, Inbar told Martin of what Grath, Viola and himself had discovered that day.

  ‘We ranged as far as the northwest coast an’ found a steep cove, much bigger’n this one. Six vessels were berthed there, big ships, each one about the size of the craft you captured, Martin. There were about five or six vermin guarding them – we figured that there must be lots more on this isle to crew the ships, though.’

  Clecky tore off a hunk of barleybread from a big flat loaf. ‘Oh, I found those blighters, there’s a great crowd of ’em, pastin’ the blue blazes out o’ a pack of those lizard types who seem t’be defendin’ the back walls of the palace. I overheard ’em sayin’ it belongs to a chap called Mad Eyes. Anyhow, the jolly old vermin want the palace, and the timber stacked behind the back wall, to repair their ships, but Mad Eyes isn’t too keen on lettin’ ’em have either – the blighter’s keepin’ tight hold o’ both, like a squirrelbabe holdin’ on to a candied chestnut.’

  Martin contributed his intelligence to the hare’s. ‘Aye, I’ve seen that palace from the front; there’s a harbour with a jetty there. Saw Mad Eyes too, in fact we saw each other. I’m pretty certain that he’s holding Abbot Durral prisoner in that palace. I’ll get all the information I can out of the searat and then we’ll have a better idea of a rescue plan.’

  Whilst Martin questioned the prisoner, his friends sat around the fire in the still tropic night. Viola lay on her back, gazing up at the velvety vault of dark skies, scattered wi
th countless stars and a half-moon. The volemaid marvelled at the sight of random comets, trailing fiery tails across the wide infinity in brief glory.

  Inbar and Grath moved away from the roisterous snores of Clecky and the two shrews. The son of Wallyum watched Waveworm tilt into a slight list as the ebbing tide allowed her keel to rest in the shallows, and said, ‘Never have I seen such hatred on any face as I saw when you faced that searat this evening, Grath.’

  The powerful otter glanced sideways at her friend. ‘And I never told you my story. When I was huntin’ alone I formed the whole of my tale into a poem, because I don’t ever want to forget, nor want the otter people to. Would you like to hear it?’

  Inbar nodded. ‘I’d be honoured if you’d say it for me.’

  Grath’s voice rose and fell, sometimes quivering, often ringing like a brazen bell, as she recited the verses. The words burned themselves into Inbar’s memory.

  ‘Sad winds sweep the shores,

  Near a place called Holt Lutra,

  Where first I saw daylight the day I was born,

  And the lone seabirds call,

  O’er the grave of them all,

  Whilst my tears mingle into the seas as I mourn.

  For those Tears of all Oceans,

  Six pearls like pink rosebuds,

  Once plucked from the waters beneath the deep main,

  Oh my father and mother,

  Dear sisters and brothers,

  In the grey light of dawn all my family were slain.

  They sailed in by nightdark,

  Those cold heartless vermin,

  Their pity as scant as the midwinter’s breath,

  Then laughing and jeering,

  As slashing and spearing,

  My kinfolk were slaughtered by wavescum to death.

  But their greatest mistake was,

  They left Lutra’s daughter,