On the other side of the wallgate the vixen Ziral had no need to press her ear against the wood. She turned to Mokkan. “You were right, the young ones are there. Allag, bring the others round here from the south and east wallgates.”

Gelltor winced as Mokkan patted his injured shoulder. “I told you, sooner or later they play by the gates or on the walltops. Now, we only need to snare one and we won’t have to worry about thieving. Those Redwallers will give us what we want when they hear what we could do to a little hostage.”

Gelltor moved out of range of Mokkan’s paw. “Well, let’s see you get one of ’em on this side of the wall.”

Mokkan loosed the drawstring on a bag he carried beneath his cloak. “Easy, just watch me!”

Dwopple and his friends eventually grew tired of marching and shouting. They were about to run off and see if there was any fun to be had around the gatehouse, when several loud knocks sounded on the wallgate door. The little ones went to the door, listening curiously as the knocking continued. Dwopple picked up a stick and knocked in reply. “Who’s derr? Wot you knock for?”

The answer came back in a soothing homely voice. “Who do you think I am, little friend?”

The mousebabe pondered a moment, then made up a fictitious name that he liked the sound of. “Stickabee!”

A slice of preserved apple, thick with crystallized honey, slid under the narrow gap at the bottom of the door. The voice chuckled. “How did you know my name is Stickabee? Well done!”

Dwopple stuffed the delicacy into his mouth. Wugger crouched down and called under the gap, “Summ furr Wugger. Oi wants some Stickybee, zurr!”

“Of course you do, Wugger, but you must open the door so that I can give you the whole bagful.”

Mokkan listened to the sound of tiny paws scraping on the door, followed by the voices of disappointed Dibbuns.

“Us can’t open d’locks, mista Stickabee, they’s too tight!”

Gelltor smiled mockingly at the Marlfox leader. “Oh dear, what are you goin’ t’do now, mister Stickabee?”

Mokkan’s paw strayed beneath his cloak. “One more word from you and I’ll introduce you to mister axhead!” He turned back to the door, his voice cajoling the Dibbuns. “Oh, come on now, I’m sure you can open one little lock?”

Dwopple sounded impatient at the Marlfox’s ignorance. “It not one liddle lock, there be’s two. One’s too stiff an’ the nuther one be too far up t’reach. Pusha more candyfruit unner d’door, Stickabee!”