The Outcast of Redwall

46

Abbess Meriam was quietly enjoying the change of season. Paws tucked into her wide sleeves, she glided through the early morning mist that wreathed the orchard as if a cloud had fallen upon it. The coming days would see the beginning of harvesttime, apples ranging from red to russet-brown contrasted with mellow golden pears. Damp and dawn-dewed, the berries trailing from vine and creeper shone like jewels.

Meriam paused to look up at the vast Abbey rising from die mist; its warm red sandstone appeared softer, more dusky, in the days first hours.

Without warning, the little molemaid Figgul came dashing through the misty ground swathe and collided with the Abbess. Meriam steadied herself against a chestnut tree. “Lack a day, little one, you nearly knocked the paws from under me. What is it?

Figgul held up a fallen elm leaf excitedly. “Hurr lookee, marm, ee leafs be turnen brown!

Abbess Meriam smiled down at the mole, stroking her head. “Its called autumn. The leaves become like this because trees do not need them in the winter season. Youll be able to help with the harvest, Figgul. I recall last autumn you were too small. Remember Sister Withe let you sleep most of the day in an apple basket? But now you are big enough to help fill the baskets. Come on, wed best go in to breakfast.

Abbess and molemaid were soon swallowed up by the mist as they crossed the lawn toward Redwalls main Abbey door.

“Hurr, can oi cloimb to ee top of arpel trees, marm?

“No, no, we dont climb the trees; if you shake the lower boughs the fruit that is ripe will fall.

“Burr aye, then oi be a bough shaker an oi shake em guddnard!

“Youll have to watch-you dont shake any down onto your head. I remember a little mole named Togget doing thathe was knocked senseless by a big green pie apple.

Hazy sunlight was dispelling the ground mist as Sumin the squirrel rapped his javelin on the threshold gate of Redwall. He had traveled through the night to reach the Abbey. He knocked once more. Barloms voice called to him as he paced the path impatiently.

“Who goes there? Is it you, Sumin?

“Of course it is, you know my knock! Open up, friend!

The Recorder mouse swung the gates wide enough to admit the sturdy squirrel. Barlom brushed his paw along Sumins tail. “Tut, tut! Look at you, drenched in dew. Come and dry off.

Sumin merely shook himself and strode purposefully off across the lawn toward the Abbey building. “No time for that, mategot news for the Abbess!

Breakfast dishes were still being cleared; the servers dawdled close to the Mother Abbesss chair, staring curiously at Sumin, to overhear the news. Meriam fixed them with a cool glance as she rose from the table, saying, “Busy paws are far more useful than busy ears.

Hurriedly they resumed their duties. Meriam indicated by a flick of her eyelids that she would see Sumin in her study. When Sumin and the Abbess vacated the dining place, speculation broke out among the Redwallers. “What dyou suppose it is?

“Hope its not vermin headed this way or anything nasty! “Ole Sumin looked as if hed been travelin hard, eh? Foremole spoke to them over the top of a tablecloth he was folding carefully into a neat oblong. “Burr, ee be gurt gossip-ers! Oi spect ee habbess will tell youm all when shem guddnready, hurr aye, so shem will.

For what seemed an age, the Abbess and Sumin remained closeted together while the squirrel related news of the victorious battle. More Redwallers left off their chores and found excuses to be inside Great Hall, where they all stood about, doing nothing, yet trying to look industrious.

Friar Bunfold and Myrtle the hogwife came from the kitchens, followed by a retinue of cooks and helpers. The Friar clapped flour from his paws and installed himself in the Abbesss chair. “Might as well wait in comfort, come on, sit down, you lot, no use pretendin yore busy when you aint. Im plain nosy, always have been, make no secret o the fact.

Bunfold had just finished speaking when Meriam and Sumin entered. The Friar leapt up as if he had been sitting on a tack; vacating the Abbesss chair, he began busily polishing an imaginary stain from the tabletop with a corner of his floury apron.

Abbess Meriam shook Sumins paw heartily, smiling one of her rare smiles.

“Thank you so much, my friend. Im sure there is lots of good hot food in the kitchens if you havent eaten today.

The stout squirrel needed no second invitation; he strode off eagerly. The Abbess flicked a little flour dust from her chair and sat, pausing to look around the waiting faces before she started speaking.

“By tomorrow noon I would like a feast set up. I know Redwall banquets have always been without equal, but let us try to make this particular one legendary!

Myrtle raised a paw, trying to tease more information out. “Er, ow many will we be cookin for, marm?

Meriams answer set them wondering. “Twice as many as usual should be adequate, Myrtle.

Heartwood, the old otter, banged his walking stick down. “Mother Abbess, will you please tell us what is going on here? Who are we expecting, why the legendary feast? Tell us!

A loud rumble of agreement echoed around Great Hall.

The Abbess held up her paws placatingly until silence fell. “Please, friends, I know it looks as though Im teasing you, but honestly, Im not. All I can say is this. We are going to be visited tomorrow by friends, some old and others new to us. The reason why I can tell you no more is simply because gossip travels, and I do not want the surprise spoiled for a very dear friend, who shall remain nameless for the moment. So I appeal to you as Redwallers, do your jobs well and silently, and I know you will be rewarded by a sight such as Redwall has never seen, the visitation of a great creature to our Abbey. Im sorry, but that is all I can say for the present.

Sister Withe banged the table so hard that everybeast jumped. “Well, that will do me fine! Your word is good enough for me, Mother Abbess, and Im sure I speak for all Redwallers!

Everybeast hurried to agree.

“Aye, my lips are sealed!

“Say no more, marm, nods as good as a wink tme! “Youm can trust usns, marm, ho urr! “Right! Lets get to it!

“Aye, whatre we all stannin about like apples in an oven for? Come on, Redwallers, stir yore stumps!

That day and the following night, Redwall became a hive of activity. Flower gardeners staggered in under masses of blooms and blossoms, delivering them to mouseand mole-maids appointed as table decorators. Otters performed acrobatic feats alongside squirrels, garlanding high walland windowledges with streamers, lanterns, flowers, and flags. Crisp white table linen was unfolded and aired, embroiderers working on linen serviettes and place mats. Fresh-dyed rush carpeting was spread on the twice-swept stone floors. Beeswax candles were trimmed and stuck in spiked sconces. Standing on a wide shelf in the kitchens, Friar Bunfold directed cooking operations, calling out in his high squeaky voice as he kept a professional eye on all.

“Bring more firewood, I need those ovens hotter than hot!

Cooks called aloud to him as they worked.

“Will this be enough wild cherries an almonds for the slices?

“No, bring two bowls more, nothin worse than skimped cherry and almond slices. You moles there! Make sure you lift that little un out of the deep bowl before you put in yore deepernever pie mixture, we dont want a small mole baked in a pie!

“Hurrhurr, oi doant moind, zurr, oid be warmed an fed at ee same toime, hurrhurr!

“Coom outn thurr, Puckle, an stop scoffin ee pastry!

“Big fruitcakes about ready for the oven, Friar!

“Righto, Myrtle, start mixin strawberries in with the mea-dowcream, not too many now, its got to be pink, not red!

“Watershrimps an fresh button mushrooms. Friar, otter-twins just brought em inwhere dyou want em?

“Oh, right! Take them to Heartwood and tell him not to let that hotroot pepper get near my hazelnut scones!

“I eard you, Bunfold, the otroots goin nowheres near yore scones; tell that squirrel to keep is oney away from my soup!

“Brushtip, did you hear Heartwood? Mind what yore doin with that honeyput plenty in the scone mixture. Oh, well done! Thats a nice lattice tart cover. Nothin prettier than a blackberry-an-pear tart with a good crisscross lattice of pastry on it. Open the top ovens, I can smell that bread, its ready!

“Friar, will you tell Brother Frimble that the cream is supposed to be piped onto woodland trifle in swirls, not blobs!

“Oh, stop fussin, do it in swirls with blobs in between. Dont slice those candied chestnuts so thin. I like to see a fruitcake with chestnuts in big lumps on top, holds the maple-syrup glaze better.

Casks trundled out of the wine cellars, a Redwaller pushing each one, swerving and chuckling as they dodged others rolling cheeses from the storerooms. Trestles were set up to take the barrels of October Ale from the previous autumn, and jugs-filled with cordials, fizzes and fruit cups were placed on serving trolleys. Windowledges were lined with breads, cakes and scones, set out in rows to cool. Dibbuns waited as pails of crystallized fruits and nuts were opened, dabbing their paws into any of the thick syrup that overflowed onto the tabletops. Redwallers shuffled by one another on the dormitory stairs, some going down to work, others coming off duty to rest a few hours. It was activity the whole night through to next morning, two hours after daybreak.

The raft lay moored at a place named Wuddshipp Creek. Its passengers were met by a deputation of otters and squirrels led by Skipperjo and the squirrel Redfarl. The warriors who had beaten Swam off the path to Redwall stood lined on the banks as an honor guard. Pennants of bright hues tied to their lance tips and bows, they stared in open admiration as Sunflash the Mace came ashore. He was clad in a red cloak and wearing a tunic of creamy white belted by a woven green sash. He looked every inch the Badger Lord, from the mighty gold-striped head, which towered over even the long ears of his two hares, to the fearsome mace dangling from his massive scarred paws. When everybeast was assembled on the bank, Redfarl winked at Skipperjo; he cocked an ear, listened awhile, then nodded to her. “Right yare, marm, you do the honors!

Redfarl bowed low to Sunflash. “Sire, I beg yer, wait a moment, there are creatures comin who have traveled far an long to be with ye. Will ye tarry a moment, theyll be with us soon.

The unmistakable voice of the squirrelhare, Jodd, sounded from beyond an ash thicket farther down the bank. “This way, chaps, easy as ygo, wot. Ah, there they are!

The lanky hare emerged, leading a small band of creatures. “What ho! Lord Sunflash, sah! An owl name o Wudbeak told these goodbeasts youd be comin this way, and they insisted on journeyin from their cave to be with you!

Sunflash cast aside his mace and dashed to them, shouting, “Tiny LingI! Bruff Dubbo and Elmjak! Oh, my good friends! Dearie! Lully! Look at how your little ones have grown! The two molemaids and the four young hedgehogs squealed with delight, threatening to topple the badger as they hugged his legs and footpaws.

Sunflash embraced the old moles. “Uncle Blunn and Aunt Ummer, you look brisk as bumblebees!