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Back Mattimeo
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?

A muffled noise came to them through the rain. The otter pointed. “Over there. Quick!”

They crashed though the undergrowth to the place where the sound came from.

*   *   *

It was Basil Stag Hare. He was crouching on the wet ground, hugging something to him and sobbing brokenly.

Matthias felt a huge lump like a lead weight in his chest as he knelt beside the hare. Winifred turned away, unable to look. The fat little Redwall cook lay limp and dead, unaware of the rain that beat down upon the favourite dockleaf his tail still held in its curl. Tears coursed openly down Basil’s cheeks as he hugged the still form.

“Hugo old lad, what did they do to you?”

Winifred knelt with her friends. Silently she began brushing the loam and soil from the sodden habit and once spotless white apron of the beloved little Friar, then without warning she broke down and began weeping like a baby.

“He never did harm to a living creature. Why this. . . . Why?”

Basil stood slowly, his legs shaking as he held Hugo in his paws. “Permission to carry my old friend back to his Abbey?”

Matthias remained kneeling on the ground, his fur saturated by the ceaseless rain.

“Permission granted, Basil. Winifred, will you tell them I’ll be a little late back to Great Hall.” The Warrior’s voice trembled as he spoke.

As Matthias watched his friends depart, he picked up the dockleaf that had fallen from Friar Hugo’s lifeless tail and pressed it to his lips in silent remembrance of his friend.

*   *   *

Inside the Great Hall of the Abbey a large brazier had been set up and lit. Steam rose from the fur of all the creatures as they rubbed themselves off on rough towels. Sister May from the infirmary moved among them, giving out doses of herbal medicine. Many sat on the stone floor, clutching their heads tightly to relieve splitting headaches. Matthias strode in, followed by Basil Stag Hare. He clattered his swordblade against a sandstone column to gain attention.

“Abbot, Constance, Winifred, Jess Squirrel, Warbeak Sparra, Foremole and you, Basil, follow me down to Cavern Hole. The rest of you, stay inside, keep dry and warm, and look after those who are not well.”

A semblance of order was restored in Great Hall. Hot soup was being made in the kitchen, warm blankets were distributed by Brother Rufus and Sister Agnes, Sister May and Mrs. Churchmouse tended John Churchmouse in the infirmary, while Cornflower took charge of baby Rollo.

*   *   *

Down the steps in Cavern Hole, Matthias sat at the big table with the others. He looked around.

“Well, did any creature see what went on last night? Can anyone shed any light on this terrible thing? I want straight answers, no guesses, please.”