The Pearls of Lutra

by Brian Jacques

  Abbot Durral acted then. Lifting Viola, he shuffled to the rail and threw her over the side, shouting, ‘Swim, little one, make for the shore!’

  A searat grabbed the Abbot; throwing a noosed rope over him he bound the old mouse’s paws to his side, then he dragged him to the mast where he made the rope fast.

  Romsca dashed to the rail, shouting, ‘Get the maid out o’ the water, look lively!’

  A searat ran halfheartedly to the rail with a rope; he screamed and fell wounded by a green-feathered arrow, yelling, ‘Longboat t’the port side ’eadin’ this way!’

  Grath Longfletch laid aside her weapon, racing towards the small figure floundering in the water as the outgoing tide carried it seaward. Gripping the little tiller tight the otter sent her craft skimming between the waves. Viola was pulled by the current; she swallowed seawater, scrabbling at Waveworm’s prow as she drifted in front of it, blinded by stinging salt water.

  Grath was close enough to see now. It was either a mouse or a vole – no searat this. Risking everything on a desperate gamble, the otter lashed the tiller to her stern seat with the aft line. She saw the enormous prow of Waveworm looming up, but regardless of danger she grabbed the volemaid’s apronback with both paws and pulled her clear of the advancing ship’s bow.

  Bump! Craaaack!

  Waveworm caught the longboat, ramming it amidships and turning the small craft momentarily over on its side. Grath was in the sea, with Viola clinging to her. Striking away from the ship, she shouted. ‘Take a good deep breath an’ hold on t’me!’

  Swimming as only a powerful grown otter can, Grath Longfletch dived and turned underwater, streaking away from Waveworm towards the shore. Viola bankvole closed both eyes and held her breath, dark water rushing past her as the otter sped them both out of danger. Then panic overtook Viola, the breath ran from her in a stream of bubbles and she began swallowing water.

  The next thing she knew a paw was patting her back as Clecky spoke to her in a reassuring voice. ‘Dearie me, missie, fancy tryin’ to swallow all the sea in one go! C’mon, give it back, cough it all up now, you’ll be fine!’

  Between coughs and spurts of seawater Viola could see her rescuer introducing herself to Martin.

  Waveworm was now well out of reach. Grath crouched in the lee of some rocks with Martin, Clecky and Viola.

  The Warriormouse watched the corsair vessel, saying, ‘Let’s hope she’s dropped anchor there, maybe tomorrow we’ll be able to do something about Abbot Durral.’

  Clecky left off patting Viola’s back. ‘I think we’re on a loser at the moment, old chap, they’re holdin’ all the acorns in this little game, wot! Now if we had a ship . . .’

  ‘Stay here, I’ll see what’s happened to my boat!’ Grath said, and she was off, running down the beach and disappearing into the sea.

  Clecky shrugged and raised an eyebrow at Martin. ‘Odd sort o’ gel that’n, fights like mad t’get ashore, then runs straight back into the bally water?’

  23

  AT THE EDGE of Redwall Abbey pond the punt had been hauled out of the water and dragged around to the sandy shallows. Glenner the otter explained her plan to the four friends.

  ‘Y’know wot they always say about the simplest plans, mates? They’re the best ’uns. We stand this punt up on its side first. Well, come on, lend a paw there. I can’t do it alone!’

  It was an old flat-bottomed craft and quite heavy. They stood paw deep, grunting and gasping as they tried to lift the punt clear of the water. Auma the badger Mother was out for a stroll around the grounds with three Dibbuns, Gurrbowl and Diggum the molebabes and the little squirrel Arven. They wandered across to the pond.

  Auma watched the curious proceedings, then enquired, ‘I don’t know what you’re up to, Rollo, but d’you need any help?’

  Placing both paws on his back, the old Recorder straightened up. ‘Ooh, my aching bones! We’d be extremely grateful if you’d help us to stand this punt on its side in the shallows.’

  Little Arven rolled his smock sleeves up briskly. ‘Stanna side, Rolly, we do it easy. Cummon, moles, we showem ’ow to lifta boat, us on’y likkle but we’s horful strongly!’

  As the three Dibbuns charged into the shallows, Auma scooped them neatly up in her huge paws and set them back on the bank. ‘Keep an eye on these rogues, Tansy. Everybeast stand clear now!’

  Then the big badger set the punt on its side with a single powerful heave. ‘There, is that what you wanted? What do you expect to do with the boat in this position?’

  Glenner picked up the long punting pole. ‘There’s one o’ them pink pearls somewhere on the pond bottom, marm, but there’s also a big ole female grayling. So I’m goin’ to dive down there an’ chase ’er into the shallows with this pole. The plan is to drop the punt upside down on ’er, so the fish’ll be trapped, then I can search for the pearl without that big ole grayling botherin’ me. You’ll all need t’stand on the boat; yore weight will stop the fish escapin’. It should work.’

  At the mention of a big fish, the Dibbuns became excited. They danced about on the bank squealing and shouting.

  ‘Hurrhurr, oi’ll swim down with ee an’ chase ee gurt fisherbeast!’

  ‘H’an’ I bite its tail off. Chomp! Like dat wi’ my big sharp teefs!’

  ‘Burr aye, an’ oi’ll sit unner ee boat an’ ’old ee gurt fishbeast ’ard an’ toight, so ee don’t ’urt you’m creeturs!’

  Auma shook a warning paw at them. ‘You’ll stay with me and keep tight hold of my paws or I’ll tan your tails and send you off to bed!’

  All the helpers were huddled behind the boat. Auma poked her head around the side and called to Glenner, who was wading through the reeds at the pond’s far edge, ‘We’re all ready here, down you go, Glenner. Be careful!’

  The otter submerged into the crystal-clear water, holding the pole like a lance in front of her. The female grayling lurked in the boulders at the deep centre of the pond, unwilling to move away from the skeletal remains of her long-dead mate. Glenner tapped her gently on the head with the pole, but she refused to budge. However, a second tap brought the big fish’s dorsal fin upright, and she became aggressive. Like a flash she charged, but the otter fended her off skilfully, tapping away sharply with the butt end of the pole, and bumping the grayling on her head, sides and tail until she ceased her attack and turned in retreat. Glenner was right after her, urging her along, shepherding her with the punting pole.

  Auma peered around the side of the punt. ‘Here she comes, get ready now, when I say push . . .’

  Tansy took a quick peek; the big female grayling made a brave sight. Wriggling backwards into the shallows the great purply-sheened body bucked and quivered as it snapped and fought the teasing pole. The high, long-based dorsal fin stood clear of the water like a spined streamer; iridescent scales flashed in the sunlight, splashing water left and right.

  ‘Now push!!!’ Auma shouted.

  The punt hit the water with a flat thwack, landing over the fish like a huge mouth closing. Caught up in the excitement of the moment, Rollo hitched up his habit and roared, ‘Jump on top! Jump on top! Quick, everybeast on top!’

  They scrambled on top of the upturned punt, their combined weight causing it to bed firmly into the sand of the shallows.

  Sudden imprisonment made the big female fish go berserk. It leaped and bucked, whacking the bottom and sides of the punt furiously, throwing itself wildly in all directions.

  Tansy clung to Rollo, Piknim clung to Craklyn, and all four then clung to the most solid beast around, Auma. The badger Mother had her paws full trying to keep hold of the Dibbuns, who chortled helplessly, wriggling and skipping across the bottom of the punt as if it were all a wonderful game. Under the grayling’s onslaught the punt shuddered and quivered.

  Tansy was amazed at the mad strength of a single fish. She stood swaying on the thrumming timbers, holding Arven’s paw tightly, and said, ‘If Glenner doesn’t hurry up, the grayling’s going to wreck this p
unt and send us all into the water!’

  Auma eyed the upturned punt bottom doubtfully. ‘It’s a big powerful fish, right enough. These old timbers aren’t going to last very long if it carries on the way it’s going.’

  ‘Ahoy, mates, let loose the ole fish!’

  Glenner stood in the reedy shallows at the far side waving to them. En masse they leapt off and hurried up onto the bank. Auma went wading back in and lifted the punt slightly. With a whooshing rush of water the grayling shot out and was lost in a sandy swirl. She made straight for the safety of the boulders at the pond bottom, reunited with the frame of her dead partner.

  Glittering wetly, the rose-coloured pearl caught the afternoon sunlight as Glenner tossed it high in the air, catching it deftly as it fell.

  ‘Don’t throw it about like that,’ Rollo called sternly. ‘It’s not a plaything, Glenner. Bring it here this instant and don’t drop it!’

  The otter popped the pearl into her mouth. ‘Wharr marr panna sowp?’ she said around it.

  Auma looked at Tansy and shrugged. ‘What’s the beast talking about?’

  Glenner dropped the pearl from her mouth into Tansy’s waiting paws. ‘I said, where’s my pan o’ soup?’

  Piknim pounded the otter’s back happily. ‘You’ll get your pan of soup, you old water-walloper, well done!’

  Arven picked up a small round pebble and gave it to Piknim. ‘Me ’ave soop too!’ he said.

  ‘Where exactly did you find the pearl, Glenner?’ asked Tansy.

  Glenner sat down on the mossy bank, shaking her head sadly. ‘You’ll never believe it, matey, but it was that pearl wot killed ole Grimjaw. It was stuck in the bones where ’is throat once was.’

  The hedgehog maid stared at the beautiful orb resting in her paw. ‘So that was it. Fermald must have tossed this pearl into the pond and Grimjaw thought it was food and tried to swallow it, but the pearl lodged in his throat and choked him. I don’t suppose that was what Fermald meant to do, but unwittingly she killed Grimjaw. Dearie me, she finally did defeat her old foe!’

  Rollo sat down beside Tansy. ‘Cheer up, missie, at least we’ve got the pearl. Don’t look so unhappy, the greedy old fish slew himself, really.’

  Tansy continued staring at the pearl, and said, ‘It’s not the fish I’m unhappy about, Rollo. I was just recalling the line of Fermald’s poem which says, patience pays but once this time. This pearl is the one payment; we’ve got no piece of paper with clues to lead us on to the fourth pearl. What do we do next?’

  Diggum the molebabe’s reasoning was simple. ‘Do now? Us’ns make ee gurt pot o’ soop furr ee otter, marm!’

  Rollo patted the little creature’s velvety head. ‘A capital idea, my friend; a good feed will help us all to think a little more clearly!’

  Tansy was not convinced, however. She wandered glumly back across the tranquil lawns towards the Abbey. However, the irrepressible Piknim and Craklyn could not endure their companion’s long face, and they danced around her, singing to lighten her mood.

  ‘Pick me flowers for Redwall,

  To grace the tables of Great Hall,

  Go out upon the grassy ground,

  Where flowers bloom all round.

  Periwinkle primrose pimpernel,

  Buttercup burnet and bluebell,

  Arrowhead anemone asphodel,

  Tansy’s a flower as well!

  Campion cowslip columbine,

  Speedwell spurge and snowdrop fine,

  Toadflax thrift and also thyme,

  But pretty Tansy’s mine!

  Foxglove figwort feverfew,

  Harebell hemlock hawkweed too,

  Forget-me-nots with petals blue,

  Sweet Tansy I’ll pick you!’

  Arven plucked a buttercup, and made Tansy bend so he could place it behind her ear. Then the little squirrel leapt onto her back and sang raucously the only part of the song he could remember: ‘Swee’ Tansy I pick yoooooooou!’

  The hedgehog maid could not stay gloomy in such company. She seized Arven and tickled him soundly. ‘You little maggot, roaring down my poor ear like that, you’ve deafened me!’

  Arven shrieked with helpless laughter, trying to wriggle free of the tickling paws. ‘Yeeheehee, lemme go, heeheeheehee. Tansy not tickle me yeeheehee!’

  Tansy continued tickling, pretending Arven really had deafened her. ‘Eh, what’s that? Speak up, sir, I can’t hear you?’

  Trooping into Cavern Hole, they made themselves comfortable. Friar Higgle strode in behind them, swinging a ladle, his face a picture of mock severity.

  ‘Somebeast needin’ a pot o’ watershrimp’n” otroot soup?’ he said.

  Glenner held up her paw hopefully. ‘Aye, me, sir, I was promised the soup by –’

  The good Friar cut her short. ‘Well, I don’t know nothin’ about any promises, streamdog!’

  Higgle watched Glenner’s face fall mournfully and smiled. A rap on the table from his ladle brought Teasel in. Pulling a serving trolley up to the table, she indicated the bubbling pot. ‘A little bird tol’ us you might be needin’ this.’

  The soup was so hot and spicy that only Glenner continued to refill her bowl; otters are known to be very partial to watershrimp and hotroot soup. The rest were well contented to cool their mouths with strawberry cordial and do full justice to a plum and apple crumble, supplemented by a large platter of redcurrant tarts which Teasel had baked for them.

  Tansy brought the scallop shell case out and placed the third pearl in it, alongside the other two that had been found. Auma held the open shell up so that it caught the candlelight, and admired the three rosy orbs.

  ‘The Tears of all Oceans,’ mused Rollo, ‘beautiful, are they not? But without the other three, they are quite useless. If we are to bargain for our Abbot and Viola all six are needed. Though I would give ten times that amount to have our friends back here safe.’

  Auma closed the shell and fastened its clasp firmly. ‘Aye, what price treasures when Redwallers are in danger? I dread to think of Martin and our friends out somewhere risking their lives against evil beasts. I wish there was something we could do to help them.’

  Tansy placed the shell in its bag and fastened the bag to her apron strings. ‘That’s what’s making me feel so bad, Auma. There are no more clues to the other three pearls. It would help them if we could find even the tiniest hint to set us on the trail again.’

  Rollo settled himself wearily upon a wall-ledge. ‘I think it’s time to stop talking and start thinking.’

  After the activity at the pond and the good food following, heads began to nod and eyelids started drooping in the warmth and quiet of Cavern Hole. First Rollo, followed by Auma and Glenner, then Tansy and the other two young maids Piknim and Craklyn. Little Arven would have drifted into sleep, but his head bumped the table as he leaned forward. Cramming tiny paws into his eyes he rubbed them until he was wide awake.

  The two molebabes Diggum and Gurrbowl were snuggled down on a rush mat. Arven woke them and, smiling mischievously, he pushed and pulled the dozy pair up the stairs into Great Hall. Tweaking the molebabes’ snouts none too gently, Arven roused them into full alertness. ‘Cummon!’ he whispered fiercely. ‘Alla big ’uns sleepydozin’, we got ‘portant work!’

  Gurrbowl blinked owlishly and sat on his fat little tail. ‘Nothin’ be as apportant as sleepen to a growen choild!’

  Diggum, who had entered heartily into the conspiracy, pulled Gurrbowl upright, wagging a small digging claw at him. ‘You’m nought but a gurt foozletop mole. Wot ee be wantin’ us’ns t’do, zurr h’Arven?’

  ‘We goin’ a find the uvver free pearls f’Tansy!’

  ‘Ho urr, gudd idea, whurr do ee think purrls be ’idden?’

  ‘Gah! You a maggit, Gurrb’l, ’ow I knows where pearls be?’

  ‘Burr, you’m doan’t knoaw? Then whurr do us’ns start lukkin’?’

  Arven thought about this for a moment, narrowing his eyes and whipping his bushy tail back and forth, the
n suddenly he brightened. ‘Uppa stairs, where nobeast find us, tha’s where!’

  Giggling and pulling at one another’s tunics, the three Dibbuns clambered up the dormitory steps, pushing and shoving to be first to the top. It was a good game, and what if a search did turn out to be a game? It was all good fun to the three Abbeybabes.

  Tansy turned over, pulling her cape around her. Through the foggy haze of sleep’s corridor, she recognized the heroic figure looming towards her. It could be none other than Martin the Warrior of ancient times. His smile radiated tranquillity; his voice was warm as a far-off bell on summer noontide.

  ‘You are troubled, little one?’

  The hedgehog maid sighed deeply in her sleep. ‘I must find the next clue if I am to continue my search for the pearls, but I don’t know where to begin looking.’

  Martin’s lips never appeared to move, though his voice echoed around Tansy’s mind. ‘Find the three babes and you will know . . .’ The vision faded and Tansy slept peacefully on.

  Craklyn was wakened by an odd sound.

  ‘Shhlpp, shhlpp, shhlpp!’

  The funny noise continued with monotonous regularity. Craklyn opened her eyes and sat up slowly.

  Glenner withdrew her head from the soup pot, licking her whiskers and chin. ‘Nought like ’otroot soup, matey, tastes just as good cold as it does warm. I’d eat it any time, night or day!’

  Gradually the rest of the company awoke. Auma stretched mightily. ‘Oooooh! What time is it? A fine bunch we are, lying about napping like a pile of Dibbuns!’

  The word set a train of thought going in Tansy’s mind. ‘Dibbuns! Where are Diggum, Gurrbowl and Arven?’

  She jumped up and began searching Cavern Hole.

  Glenner licked the last soup drops from her chin as she watched Tansy. ‘What’s the panic? Dibbuns can’t leave the Abbey, they’re prob’ly playin’ somewheres close by.’