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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?

“Within two marches of the great cliffs. I’ve told them to wait at the foothills until we arrive, Chief.”

“Good. It shouldn’t be too difficult to catch them up. What are you staring at, mouse?”

“You should have killed me back at the canyon.” Mattimeo’s voice was flat and contemptuous.

Slagar eyed the bold young mouse and shook his head. “I’ve killed your father. His sword is buried with him. That’s enough for one day’s work. You, I will let live to suffer.”

Mattimeo stopped marching. His friends stopped also. The young mouse’s eyes were hard with scorn.

“Then you’re not only a cowardly murdering scum, you’re a fool. Because from now on I live with one purpose only: to kill you.”

Slagar was taken aback by the determination and loathing that emanated from Mattimeo. He glared savagely at him, trying to frighten the young mouse into submission. Mattimeo glared back, completely unafraid. He was a different mouse altogether.

Snatching the willow cane from Skinpaw, the Cruel One struck out, lashing Mattimeo several times. The cane snapped. Slagar stood shaking, breathing hard through the silken mask.

Mattimeo curled his lip defiantly. He had not even felt the blows. “Get yourself another cane and try harder, half-face!”

“Skinpaw, Bageye! Keep this one marching up front with you. Move!”

Mattimeo was dragged off to the front of the column. Slagar marched behind, visibly shaken, glad that he could not feel the young mouse’s eyes boring into him from behind.

24

Though the missing young ones were uppermost in the minds of all the Redwallers, they tried to carry on with Abbey life in a normal fashion, keeping a brave face on things by going about their tasks in a cheerful manner.

Afternoon tea in Cavern Hole was served amid a great buzz of excitement. Copies of the twelve letters discovered by baby Rollo had been distributed, and there was a prize of a pink iced woodland plum and spice cake baked by the Abbot himself. John Churchmouse was strongly fancied to win it, though Abbot Mordalfus was having a serious try. Being the proud maker of such a cake, he wanted to keep it and admire it awhile. Baking was the Father Abbot’s latest accomplishment. Ever since the making of his Redcurrantwall Abbot Alf Cake, he had been longing to try his paw at cake-making again. The moles formed a joint crew, and they sat scratching their velvety heads as they gazed at the twelve letters.

BBOOCTAPWERY.

“Burr, all oopside backways, if’n you arsken oi.”

“Hurr, quit talken an’ get thinkin, Jarge, or you’ll never win yon pinkice cake.”