The Bellmaker (Redwall) by Jacques Brian

Author:Jacques, Brian [Jacques, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 2012-07-31T04:00:00+00:00

The breakfast fire was reduced to a few smouldering twigs and ashes. Glogalog and the marshtoads formed a circle around it. Rosie instructed Durry as to what they should do, and the performance began. As the hare and the hedgehog went into a wild dance, jigging and prancing madly, the toad circle moved back to give them more space. At intervals Rosie and Durry would point to each other and shout out in deep impressive voices, ‘Bulgum hoolya hugg hugg Bulgum!’

Still cavorting crazily, they passed the jug of seaweed grog, each taking a quantity and holding it in their mouths. Rosie’s ears stood up stiff – that was the signal.

Ppphhhssssstt!

Durry and Rosie squirted the grog from their mouths over the smouldering ashes of the breakfast fire.

Whoof! Red and blue flames shot up high, as the embers ignited by the grog took fresh light. All the marshtoads, even Glogalog, fell flat on their faces in the sand, moaning, ‘Bulgum, Bulguuummmm!’

Pulling a wry face, Durry spat out, again. ‘Pthooey! ’orrible stuff, my ole nuncle Gabe would’ve had it all buried in a hole far out in the woodlands!’

Rosie pointed to the prostrate toad masses. ‘Whoohahahooh! ’twas worth it though, Durry, we’re a right old pair of Bulgums now and no mistake!’

With the threat of a marshtoad invasion now gone, the crew set about making a ceremonial lunch aboard the Pearl Queen, with Glogalog and several of his lieutenants as guests. Food was prepared and spread on the hatch covers. The Guosim cooks did it up proud: October Ale, heavy fruit cake, hot plum scones, mint tea and a superb apple and blackberry flan. Whilst Rosie held disjointed conversations with the marshtoad King, Durry related their strange story to the crew.

‘When the mast broke off in the storm, me and Rosie hung on to it like limpets, and we were swept off by the winds, high up in the sky. I was never more frightened in me life, but Rosie there, she laughed an’ laughed fit to bust. Up an’ up we went, whirlin’ an’ twirlin’, drenched through by the rain an’ clingin’ on for dear life. Next thing I knew the wind dropped an’ so did we, straight out the sky like an arrow, down! We landed on the far side of yonder cliffs in a great swamp, an’ guess what? That mast came down smack on the skull of a fearful great hissin’ adder, a serpent! It was just about to make supper of King Glogalog when me’n Mrs Rosie an’ the mast landed on its ’ead, whacko!’

Joseph selected a slab of heavy fruit cake. ‘So that’s how you became a Bulgum, eh Durry, by saving Glogalog’s life? But how did you figure out the language?’

‘I never, that was Rosie,’ shrugged Durry, sipping his October Ale. ‘It weren’t two ticks before ’er an’ the King was Bulgummin’ an’ Blogalogin’ an’ hoolyahoyin’ together. She picks things up very quick y’know – ain’t that right, Mrs Rosie?’

Hon Rosie Woodsorrel gave up ravaging the apple and blackberry flan momentarily.

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