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Back Mattimeo Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. CAPTURED!
  2. Other Books
  3. Title Page
  4. Map
  5. Introduction
  6. BOOK ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. BOOK TWO
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. BOOK THREE
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. 49
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. 52
  61. 53
  62. 54
  63. 55
  64. What’s next onyour reading list?

“Look who’s there, our little slave-driver being rewarded for his services. I hope they chain me next to him for a while down there.”

Tess stamped her paw hard against the ledge, her eyes blazing. “They can chain me next to who they like, but I’m not building any filthy underground kingdom for a talking statue!”

The young churchmouse’s angry tones echoed around the rocky cavern. There was a brief silence, then Malkariss spoke again.

“Take them back and lock them away without light, food or water. They are not ready to serve me yet.”

As they were led up the gloomy winding passages, Tess began to weep. “Oh, I’m sorry I spoke out. I’ve caused you all to be locked in the dark and starved again.”

“No, you haven’t,” Cynthia Bankvole said bravely. “I’d rather starve than be beaten to death like those poor creatures.”

Auma seconded her. “Aye, don’t worry, Tess. If you hadn’t spoken out, I would have.”

“That’s it friends, we stick together. Redwallll!” Mattimeo’s voice rang out like the Abbey bells.

He was knocked flat with the butt of a spear before they were flung back into their darkened prison.

45

It was midafternoon, and Redwall lay quiet under the heat haze. Hardly a leaf stirred in the vastness of Mossflower beyond the north and east walls, and the plains shimmered and danced, making the horizon indistinguishable.

Down below in Cavern Hole depression had set in. It had started when little Rollo and a baby fieldmouse wanted to go out to play. Naturally the Abbot had to forbid any such idea with the birds about, so Ambrose Spike took them to play down in his wine cellar. Cornflower fanned herself with a dockleaf. The heat seemed to have penetrated the stones, even down to Cavern Hole, where it was usually cool.

“Poor Rollo, he did so want to go out to play on the grass. I remember Mattimeo, Tim and Tess used to go out in the orchard. Sam Squirrel would teach them to climb the apple and pear trees, and that sweet chestnut over by the gooseberry patch.”

Abbot Mordalfus mopped his brow with his habit sleeve. “Ah yes, he was a scamp, that Sam Squirrel. Mind you, so was I at their age. I used to get sent off to bed for dashing around the top of the outer wall when I was a young one. Haha, old Sister Fern used to say it gave her dizzy spells just watching me. Phew! I don’t know about Rollo, but I could certainly do with a stroll outside in the grounds. It’s hot in here.”

Mrs. Churchmouse closed her eyes dreamily. “Mmmm, I’d love to be sitting dabbling my paws in the pond on an afternoon like this.”