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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?

Framed by the broken pane, with cold moonlight surrounding it, was the head of the Warrior, the helmet with no face; pale grey mist hovered in place of the Warrior’s features. Ragwing and his companions were in a state of panic bordering on hysteria, and the words of the bodiless phantom were like some dread puzzle: “Leave our Abbey.” How could they leave the Abbey, knowing that the ghost had said “Death waits outside this room”? There was only the window, and the horrible head was floating about there. Even the bravest rook would not venture out that way. It was more than the terrified birds could stand, so they scrabbled underneath the beds, afraid to look or move.

*   *   *

As they stole back to Cavern Hole, Constance shook the window pole that had supported the ghostly head at Sister May.

“One more giggle out of you, Sister, and I’ll have you put on cooking duties with Ambrose Spike!” she said menacingly.

Cornflower held a kerchief to her face, pretending to blow her nose. She was, in fact, biting the material to stop herself roaring with laughter.

Constance waited until they were out of earshot in the tunnel, then she laughed.

“Heeheehee! I took a quick peek through the window, and the rooks were underneath the beds trying to make themselves invisible.”

Sister May shook her head in mock sympathy. “It’s no wonder. You didn’t give them much choice: leave the Abbey, but don’t leave the room. Really, Constance, what made you think that one up?”

“I don’t know. I suppose I just lost my head. Hahaha!”

Cornflower wiped tears from her eyes, realising that the fun had turned to sorrow and longing for her family.

“My Matthias and Mattimeo would have appreciated a joke like that. Dear me, I can’t get them out of my mind night or day. Oh Matthias will be able to take care of himself, no matter where he is, but what about my little Mattimeo, I wonder what he’s doing right now, I hope he’s safe and well fed. I’m sorry my friends, I’m an old wet rag these days, moping about like I don’t know what.”

Sister May began weeping herself. “There there, we understand, don’t you worry, your young one will be all right.”

Constance sniffed loudly.

“Of course he will.”

48

A silence had fallen upon the ledge. Friend and foe alike were hushed as Matthias and the Wearet circled about. The warrior mouse, straight backed, moved lightly on his paws, the great sword of Martin held double-pawed against his right cheek. The Wearet crouched low, spear held pointing at his opponent, the loaded net making swift dragging noises as he cast it in small circles continuously. The eyes of the two fighters were locked as each tried to read the other’s thoughts, hoping one false move of a paw would give him the advantage.