The Pearls of Lutra

by Brian Jacques

  The fox was a renowned blade thrower, having about him no fewer than ten daggers which he would use at the drop of a paw. None of the other vermin challenged his position.

  Rasconza crouched on a hilltop at the isle’s northwest tip. Behind him in a hollow the vermin crews lay about, eating fruit, roasting fish and dozing in the warm tropical noon. But the fox was alert, watching the sea before him.

  Barranca and the captains were sailing the Freebooter towards the inlet below, unaware that Sagitar with a full crew of Trident-rats was following in the Bloodkeel. Barranca had taken the open sea route, but Sagitar had followed at a distance, hugging the coast. Bloodkeel was now lying in wait around the high curving hills of the headland. Once Barranca sailed his ship into the inlet, Sagitar could slip around and block the exit with her vessel, trapping Freebooter and the captains. It would be the perfect ambush.

  Rasconza’s sharp brain and keen eyes took in the situation at a glance, and he laid his plans swiftly. Slipping away from the drowsing rebels was but the work of a moment. Once out of their sight the fox dashed headlong down the cliff towards the inlet and arrived in time to hail Barranca as Freebooter nosed into the shallows.

  ‘Cap’n, ’tis I, Rasconza. There’s a shipload of Tridentrats lying in wait for ye, they’ll round the point soon an’ trap yer!’

  Barranca glanced around the narrow inlet, realizing it was too late to back water and turn for an open run out to sea. ‘We’ll ’ave to stand an’ fight ’em! Are the crews close by, mate – we’re goin’ t’need ’elp!’

  Rasconza put on his steadfast and honest face and saluted Barranca. ‘Leave it t’me, Cap’n,’ he said, voice grim and determined, ‘I’ll muster ’em an’ get back ’ere in a flash! You ’old those Trident-rats off, I won’t be long!’

  Barranca returned the salute as Rasconza trotted off. ‘That’s the spirit, messmate – together we’ll give ’em a drubbin’ they won’t fergit!’

  Rasconza ran puffing and panting uphill until the ships below looked like toys. Slowing down, he crept into the hollow where the crews lay asleep around the ashes of their fires. The fox cocked up both ears and listened, satisfied that he could hear no noise from far below. Then, retrieving half a roast fish from the paws of a sleeping searat, he began eating slowly, mentally calculating the wait before putting the next stage of his plan into action.

  After what he deemed an appropriate interval, Rasconza stood up, kicking those about him into wakefulness. ‘Our cap’ns are bein’ massacred down there, look!’ he yelled.

  He dashed to the hilltop and pointed down to the inlet. Wave vermin rubbing sleep from their eyes joined him, yelling outrage at the scene below.

  ‘Trident-rats! They’ve got the cove blocked off!’

  ‘Scum, they’ve overrun the Freebooter!’

  ‘Let’s get down there an’ rip into ’em!’

  ‘Aye, we’ll make the waters run red t’save our cap’ns!’

  Rasconza strode to the fore, bellowing, ‘Too late to save those cap’ns now, mates. I got a plan, lissen! We split into three groups. Baltur, you take one lot down there to the left, bypass the Trident-rats an’ board the Bloodkeel from ’er stern! Gancho, you take another lot to the right an’ board ’er from the for’ard end, that way we’ve got ourselves a ship! I’ll take the rest straight down the centre an’ attack the Trident-rats – I’ll make ’em pay fer slaughterin’ our cap’ns!’

  A roar of approval went up from the crewbeasts.

  Sagitar had not thought it would be so hard to slay six captains and take one prisoner, but it had been a long and bitter fight. Once she had blocked the inlet by anchoring Bloodkeel across it she ordered her Trident-rats to attack. They went overboard and had to swim until the water was shallow enough for them to wade.

  The captains were waiting for them. Having armed themselves with pikes and boathooks, they dashed around Freebooter’s rails, hacking and stabbing at every head that appeared over the side. But numbers began to tell. Urged on by Sagitar, the Trident-rats fought their way aboard. Immediately Barranca and his companions abandoned ship and, wading ashore, they speared viciously at the foebeasts in the shallows. Then Flaney fell to a trident thrust, followed by Rippdog and Rocpaw. Back to back, Slashback, Bloodsnout and Bilgetail kept off the advancing Trident-rats. Barranca joined them, blood streaming from him as he slashed about with his sabre, shouting, ‘Where’s that fox got to with our crews?’

  There was nothing left but to turn and run. Bilgetail and Bloodsnout went down, pierced by tridents. Slashback staggered on uphill, mortally wounded, Barranca supporting him. Finally Slashback fell sideways, knocking Barranca over as he did.

  Surrounded by Trident-rats, Slashback breathed his last words into the corsair stoat’s face. ‘What ’appened . . . Where’s fox?’

  Barranca was dragged upright roughly. ‘So, corsair, Sagitar sneered at him. I told you that you’d have me to deal with, but you were too clever to heed my words. How d’you feel now, scum!’

  Barranca laughed harshly at his captor. ‘Yer lily-livered cur, you should’ve been within reach o’ my blade, instead of leadin’ yer army from be’ind!’

  Sagitar ignored the jibe. She turned to her Trident-rats and ordered, ‘Scuttle the Freebooter in the shallows, her sailing days are over. The rest of you get aboard Bloodkeel and prepare to get under way!’

  Scarcely had the Trident-rats opened Freebooter’s sea-cocks when a mighty yell arose from the rebel crews, who had succeeded in boarding the Bloodkeel. Sagitar wheeled in dismay to see Baltur and Gancho and hordes of wave vermin at the rails, yelling and roaring.

  ‘Come on, buckoes, make crabmeat of ’em!’

  ‘Haharr, give ’em steel an’ take no prisoners!’

  Stranded on the shore with a mere ten rats to guard herself and control the captured Barranca, Sagitar’s last shred of courage deserted her at the sound of more bloodcurdling yells from behind. She turned and saw Rasconza leading a pack of vermin downhill, straight at her. The Emperor’s Chief Trident-rat fled the scene, dashing off southward at a tangent, into the hills.

  Barranca whooped triumphantly and, breaking free of his guards, he ran with open paws towards Rasconza.

  ‘Ho, ho, yer a sight fer sore eyes, matey!’ he cried.

  As the corsairs threw themselves upon the ten Tridentrats, the fox grabbed Barranca in a tight embrace.

  ‘Aye, Cap’n, yer worries are over now!’ Rasconza said as, smiling slyly, he slew Barranca with a single knife thrust. Then, sheathing his blade quickly, he cried out, ‘They slew Cap’n Barranca, the scum! Finish ’em off, buckoes! I’ll get Sagitar if’n it takes me last breath!’

  He sped off after the Chief Trident-rat.

  Sagitar threw a fleeting glance over her shoulder. The fox was hot on her trail. Stumbling and panting, the Tridentrat gained the hill summit and staggered southward, hoping to reach safety at the palace of Ublaz. Rasconza pursued her relentlessly, grinning as he closed in on his quarry.

  Sagitar’s paws felt leaden. She blew for breath as she started downhill. Chancing another quick look behind, she tripped and went rolling head over tail down the grassy slope. Rasconza bounded lightly alongside the Trident-rat until she came to rest, half in and half out of a gurgling stream.

  Helpless and unarmed, Sagitar lay with the fox’s knife at her throat, expecting no pity from him.

  Rasconza flicked his bladepoint teasingly under her chin. ‘Well now, me beauty, what’s t’be done with you?’

  Sagitar broke into a sobbing whine. ‘Mercy, spare me!’

  Standing upright, the fox kicked the Trident-rat contemptuously. ‘Quit yer snivellin’, rat, I’d like nothin’ better than t’gut ye, but I’ve got plans fer you, so lissen good!’

  Wide-eyed with surprise, Sagitar lay staring upwards at Rasconza as the devious fox relayed his information to her.

  It was high noon of the following day. Ublaz sat atop the timber piled at the rear of his palace, and below him on the sunbaked
ground Sagitar crouched, not daring to raise her eyes as she related the fox’s message.

  ‘Mightiness, the fox is called Rasconza. He said to tell you that it was he who slew Barranca and now he alone rules the rebel crews. Even now he is on his way here in the Bloodkeel. He wants to meet you tomorrow morning on the heights above the north inlet. You may bring armed guards with you. He says he wants to talk peace.’

  The Emperor whittled pensively at a sliver of wood with his silver dagger. ‘Rasconza, eh?’ he said. ‘This fox sounds like one I could do business with. I think we’ll take him up on his offer. Pick fifty of your best Trident-rats and a score of Monitors to accompany me. Oh, and Sagitar, you know what will happen should you ever fail me again?’

  Avoiding the mad eyes, Sagitar stood trembling, head bowed. ‘Mightiness, I will never fail you again!’

  Ublaz smiled thinly; his voice was like oil flowing over ice. ‘I would hate to be in your skin if you did.’

  17

  LOG A LOG inspected Grath’s longboat.

  ‘You’ve got a couple o’ boards cracked ’ere, matey,’ he announced. ‘I’ll get some o’ my shrews to turn ’er over an’ we’ll patch ’er up again.’

  The longboat had shipped water, and now she was over a quarter full. Six Guosim shrews heaved and huffed as they tried to turn the vessel over in the shingled cove.

  Grath waved them aside. ‘Save yore strength, mates, I can do that.’

  She dismantled the mast and sail, placing them safe, then, digging her powerful paws under the shingle, she found a hold and lifted. In one move she turned the longboat upside down in a rush of water.

  The shrew named Dabby wrinkled his nose in admiration. ‘Now that’s wot I calls a strongbeast!’

  Pine resin was melted over an open fire. Skilfully the Guosim applied it, alternating layers with tough vegetable fibres, until a proper repair was effected on the cracked boatribs. Other shrews had sewn and patched the torn sail, double-strengthening it on all four corners.

  Finally, Grath set the longboat upright, and said, ‘Log a Log, I thank you and your Guosim for the help and kindness you’ve shown me. True friendship can’t be properly expressed by just words, but, matey, I’ll never ferget you!’

  The shrew Chieftain kicked awkwardly at the pebbled shingle. ‘Oh, ’twas nothin’, mate – wot use are friends if’n they can’t ’elp one another? You be on yore way now, afore this tide ebbs. Trimp, Dimple, load those vittles aboard fer our mate!’

  Two bags of provisions and a couple of canteens filled with drink were stowed under the stern seat. Aided by a gang of shrews, Grath pushed the longboat into the shallows and jumped aboard. Looking back at her new-found friends on the shore she sniffed, and rubbed a paw across her eyes as she began setting the sail to catch the fine spring breeze.

  Log a Log waded out and shook the lone otter’s paw firmly. ‘Ahoy, what’s all this? No time fer weepin’ now, missie, the tide’ll ebb away! Go on, off y’go, Grath, an’ may good luck an’ fair winds follow ye, matey!’

  Heading out to catch the south current, Grath leaned over the stern, waving to the Guosim as they sang her on her way from the shore. Deep gruff shrew voices rang out across the waves into the bright sunny morn.

  ‘Hey la ho, hey la ho,

  Our hearts go with you where you go,

  Hey la hey, hey la hey,

  Maybe we’ll meet again someday.

  Like a feather on the breeze,

  Blown to wander restlessly,

  Out upon the open seas,

  Travel speedily and free.

  But as the earth turns,

  And our fire burns,

  And the moss grows on the lee,

  When long day ends,

  Think of old friends,

  In whatever place you be.

  Hey la ho, hey la ho,

  Fortune follow you where e’er you go,

  Hey la hey, hey la hey,

  May sunlight warm your back upon the way.’

  Late afternoon sun cast lengthening shadows over Mossflower. A fire burned in a sheltered glade, and Lask Frildur sat warming his claws, watching his ten Monitors prowling restlessly around the two pitiful figures bound to the trunk of an elm. Long tongues snaking out, cold predatory eyes fixed on both mouse and bankvole, the lizards circled close.

  Abbot Durral felt a scaly claw caress his footpaw; closing his eyes tight, he shuddered. Viola, rigid with terror, huddled as close to Father Abbot as her bonds would allow. Durral spoke reassuringly to her.

  ‘Don’t be frightened, little one, had they been going to harm us they would have done so long before now. We’ll face them together and show them that Redwallers are brave creatures.’

  One of the Monitors brought his face close to Viola. She smelt the lizard’s rancid breath as it bared sharp teeth and hissed, and she shrieked in fear.

  The Monitor General far outstripped his lizards in size and strength. He bounded over and dealt the offending Monitor a savage blow with his tail that sent the reptile crashing into a nearby bush. Then turning to the others, Lask Frildur stood to his full height and snarled menacingly, ‘Eat birdz, eat fizhez, I zlay any who go near theze two!’

  Abbot Durral addressed Lask in a reasonable and friendly tone. ‘Who are you, sir? Why have you bound us up like villains? We are creatures of peace . . .’

  The Monitor General rounded on him contemptuously. ‘Keep your ztupid mouth dozed, mouze!’

  Viola plucked up her courage, shouting shrilly at Lask. ‘Don’t you dare talk to him like that, he is Abbot Durral, the Father Abbot of all Redwall Abbey!’

  A slow smile lit up the Monitor General’s cold features. ‘Good, good, thiz iz very uzeful to me!’

  Durral leaned back against the tree, sighing. ‘I wish you had not told him that, Viola. It has put both us and Redwall in a very dangerous position.’

  The volemaid wept bitterly at the realization of what she had done.

  Durral was immediately sorry he had chided her. ‘Hush now, little one, here, turn your head and wipe your eyes on my sleeve. It wasn’t your fault really, you are young and know nothing of situations like this. Hush now, don’t cry.’

  A short time later Romsca strode into the glade at the head of her crew. She pointed to the prisoners. ‘Aye aye, what’ve we got ’ere?’

  Lask ignored the question. He spoke without turning from his fire. ‘You have been gone long, corzair, why iz thiz?’

  Squatting by the flames, Romsca speared an apple on her sword and began roasting it. ‘I’ve got news for you, matey. Graylunk’s long dead. I found ’is bones, me’n’my crew, over in a pile o’rocks east of ’ere.’

  ‘What elze did you find, Romsca?’

  ‘Nothin’. Not a single thing, no sign of any pearls, jus’ ole Graylunk’s bones an’ the rags ’e wore.’

  ‘Did you talk with the creaturez at Redwall Abbey?’

  ‘Course I did, that’s how I knew where t’find what was left o’ Graylunk. But mark my words, Lask, those beasts at Redwall ain’t soft, they can fight, I know! If the pearls are anywheres you can lay a belayin’ pin to a bobbin they’re inside o’ that red-walled Abbey somewheres. So, matey, yore in charge o’ shore operations, what are y’goin’ to do about it?’

  The Monitor General did not attempt to hide a triumphant smirk. ‘I have two captivez. The old mouze iz Father Abbot of Redwall!’

  Romsca nibbled at the steaming apple. ‘Well, ain’t you the lucky lizard! But watch yore step, Lask, if those Redwallers find out you’ve got their Abbot, they’ll come searchin’ fer ’im in force an’ tear these woodlands apart! I tell yer true, they’ve got tough, full-growed otters an’ beasts who ain’t scared of battle. Conva reckoned he saw a great badger roamin’ the walltops last time we was ’ere. You might find ye’ve bitten off more’n y’can chew, takin’ an Abbot as ’ostage!’

  Lask Frildur stood up decisively. ‘I zerve my Emperor, Ublaz. I will do what I muzt! We will divide our forzez, half to take the pr
izonerz back to Waveworm, the other half to remain here under my command.’

  ‘Aye, that’s good thinkin’, matey,’ Romsca agreed, only too glad to be away from the hated Monitor General. ‘I’ll take the ’ostages an’ my crew back t’the ship . . .’

  Lask gripped Romsca’s paw so tight that she winced. ‘You take half your crew and five of my Monitorz, that way there will be no trickz played. I keep half your crew here with my other five Monitorz.’

  The corsair managed to pull herself from the lizard’s grip and stood fuming, paw on sword.

  ‘All right, so be it, you don’t trust me an’ I don’t trust you! Permission t’go, yer ’igh mightiness, or will there be anythin’ else whilst I’m ’ere t’do yer biddin’?’

  Smiling thinly, Lask produced a slim bone whistle and blew it. ‘Oh yezz, I had vizitorz while you were gone. They will accompany you back to your vezzel, juzt to keep an eye on thingzz!’

  Grail the great black-backed gull and his remaining two companions, looking much the worse for wear, came padding through the trees.

  As soon as Hogwife Teasel had told Martin about the corsair ferret and her questions about Graylunk and the pearls, he joined Skipper and his otters on the walltop, a look of concern clouding his face.

  Skipper seemed unconcerned, however. ‘Oh, it was a corsair, no doubt o’ that, an’ I wager there’s others waitin’ orders in the woodlands. But wot’s a crew o’ seascum an’ vermin to us, Martin? We’ll teach ’em a lesson they’ll never ferget if’n they comes too close t’Redwall!’

  Leaning over the parapet, Martin peered into the silent woodlands.

  ‘I wish it were that easy, Skip, but Tansy told me that the Abbot is out there with young Viola. They should have been back by now.’

  Dismay showed on Skipper’s tough face. ‘Wot d’you suggest we do, Martin?’

  ‘We’d best get the elders together and hold a quick council of war.’

  Tansy and Rollo caught up with Martin as he crossed the lawn with Auma the badger Mother and Foremole.