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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?

“Cornflower, stop! They’re gone, believe me. But by my sword I’ll bring them back, I swear it!”

Baby Rollo was hidden by the aprons of Cornflower and Mrs. Churchmouse as they hugged each other and wept. John raised his head.

“Little Cynthia Vole and Sam Squirrel too, they took them all,” he said sadly.

Sister May began bathing John’s wound. She dabbed away the tears that fell upon his brow.

“Poor Jess, whatever will we tell her? Dearie me, little Cynthia is an orphan. Bless the mite, what will become of her? What a cruel and heartless thing to do. Those wicked beasts, stealing our young ones away. What badness!”

Matthias put his paw about Cornflower’s shaking shoulders. He was numbed. Thoughts of his son raced through his mind; the stern lecture he had given him, the double tasks. Now he was gone. It was as if half of his heart had gone too. He loved Mattimeo, who would do little things that reminded him so much of himself and Cornflower. Poor Cornflower. Even now she was trying to be brave, comforting Mrs. Churchmouse.

Matthias held her tighter. “Don’t worry, Cornflower, I’ll bring our son back. I’ll bring them all back. Nothing can stop me doing that. He’ll be back in his own bed in the gatehouse cottage soon, you’ll see.”

Mrs. Churchmouse went to tend John and Sister May slipped off to break the sad news to Jess Squirrel. Cornflower took Rollo over to the infirmary window. She stared out at the rain.

“I won’t be going back to our gatehouse until Mattimeo is back,” she declared. “I’ll stay at the Abbey and mind Rollo.”

Matthias nodded silently as Cornflower dried her eyes and sighed, “Oh Mattimeo, I hope no harm comes to you, my son. Poor Mattimeo.”

Baby Rollo spread his paws wide, his face as sad as Cornflower’s. “Pore ’timeo gone’d. Aaaahhhhh!”

Matthias joined them at the window, staring out into the rain. Sorrow and pain mingled with the cold lights of rage and vengeance in his eyes.

12

Mattimeo did not know at first whether he was awake or dreaming. The tip of his ear itched irritatingly, but it was as if there were leaden weights on his limbs. He could only raise his paw halfway, then the other paw would start to come upward as if pulled like a puppet on a string. From far away he heard unpleasant sniggering and a loud swishing noise.

Crack!

The young mouse arched his back in agony as a searing pain lanced across him. His eyes opened with shock. He saw Vitch swinging a long thin willow cane. The second blow caught him low across the flanks. Stung by pain and rage, Mattimeo tried to leap up and teach the little rat a good lesson, but he stumbled, falling backwards with manacles clanking around him.

He was chained!