Redwall 02 - Mossflower 1 by Brian Jacques

Author:Brian Jacques
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-12-18T19:34:02+00:00

Chapter 28

Time stood still. Martin imagined he was back under the river in Mossflower being towed along by an otter. Everything was pitch-black and ice-cold. A million thoughts rushed through his brain, bringing memories flooding back: his father leaving to fight the sea rats Tsarmina snarling at him the kind face of Bella at Brockhall Dinny chuckling as he wrestled with Gonff Everything whirled together into one great maelstrom of crashing water, then there was silence.

Martin felt mossy ground against his wet back.

“Not dead, bring medicine, medicine, a sibilant voice was saying somewhere close.

The warrior mouse felt some vile-tasting liquid being poured between his lips. He opened his eyes.

He was lying on a broad ledge, which was covered in velvety moss. Soft light cast flickering luminous water patterns around the rock face. A mouse was standing over him, another crouched nearby. Martin took a second look. Surely these creatures could not be mice? They had very little fur, black leathery skin and, oddest of all, wings!

The one nearest pushed the bowl toward Martin with a black claw.

Martin smelt the putrid medicine and pushed it away. “No more, thank you. Im all right now. Where am I? Who are you?

“Lie still, lie still. We are the tribe of Lord Cayvear who is ruler of Bat Mountpit. You will not be harmed, not be harmed, the creature assured him.

Martin sat up, he felt wet but unhurt. “My name is Martin the Warrior. There were three others with mea shrew, a mouse and a mole. Where are they? Have they been rescued from the water?

The other bat shuffled over. “I am Rockhanger. This is Wingfold. We have found the angry one and the strong tunneller, but no other creature, no other creature.

Martin stood and leaned against the rocks. His head was aching and he felt a large bump between his ears.

“The other mouse is called Gonff. Youll know him easily. Hes a cheeky little thief who loves to sing. Hes my friend, and we must find him, he said anxiously.

Rockhanger felt with the edge of his wing across Martins face and body. Martin recoiled and then stood still. Rockhanger was blind.

The bat chuckled; it came out like a dry hiss.

“No creature is blind who sees by touch. If I tried hard enough I would see you with my eyes, but the tribe of Bat Mountpit gave up the use of eyesight long ago. We can feel in the dark, feel in the dark.

The bats led Martin away from the ledge with its constant sound of falling water. They made their way along a network of caves connected by a series of passages. In the first cave they entered Martin found Log-a-Log and Young Dinny.

“Yurr, Marthen. Woip wet offnee. The mole tossed him a heap of soft dried moss.

The warrior mouse dried himself vigorously, bringing the warmth back to his body.

“Has there been any news of Gonff? he asked his friends.

Log-a-Log squinted in the pale light that diffused throughout the regions of Bat Mountpit.

“None at all, he said sadly.

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