“I think the Brothers and Sisters should take stock of everything, just in case there is something missing,” the Abbot suggested. “Foremole, would you get a burial detail of your moles to dig two graves next to each other? Basil, perhaps you could see what you can find around that small north wallgate. The rest of you, when the rain stops, please help to bring the tables and stuff back in. We’d best get the Abbey back to normal running as soon as possible.”

Matthias stood up resolutely. “Right, that’s it then. I think I’ll take a walk up to the infirmary and see how John is.”

*   *   *

Sister May and Mrs. Churchmouse cautioned Matthias to be silent as he entered the sick bay. John Churchmouse lay pale and still but breathing evenly.

“How is he?” Matthias whispered.

Mrs. Churchmouse smiled. “Alive and recovering, thank you, Matthias.”

John opened his eyes slowly and looked around. Matthias pressed his head back to the pillow as he tried to rise. “Take it easy, old friend, just lie there. But if you feel like talking, perhaps you could tell us what you remember of last night. Nobody knows what went on at the feast.”

Tears beaded in John’s eyes. “Friar Hugo and I had full cups already, so we didn’t let them pour us more ale. Poor Mrs. Bankvole was too busy looking after her baby to join in the toast. Matthias, there’s no doubt about it, you were all drugged, even then Hugo and I were half hypnotized by that fox with the cape. When we saw what was going on we ran after them and tried to stop it, all three of us, the Friar, Mrs. Bankvole and myself.”

“But what did go on, what were they after, John?” Matthias had an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach as he asked the question.

The churchmouse broke down sobbing. “Our young ones, Matthias. They took my Tim and Tess, Sam Squirrel, Cynthia Bankvole and your Mattimeo!”

An icy claw gripped Matthias’s heart. The words echoed from the doorway where Cornflower stood with baby Rollo.

“Mattimeo gone, impossible! I’m sure I saw him with the others out there in the rain. Wasn’t he with you, Matthias? Tim and Tess, he was with Tim and Tess, yes, that’s it!”

“My Tim and Tess! Oh, you saw them!” Mrs. Churchmouse’s voice was tinged with hope. Matthias slammed his paw against the wall, anger and frustration etched upon his face.

“We were still half drugged, the rain was sheeting down, you could not have seen them. You must believe what John says: he saw them being taken. What fools we were not to realize it before now!”

Cornflower was still shaking her head, refusing to accept the fact. “Jess, they’ll be with Jess downstairs, all wrapped in blankets and drinking hot soup, you’ll see.”