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Chapters (50)
  1. TRAPPED
  2. Title Page
  3. Map
  4. BOOK ONE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. BOOK TWO
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. BOOK THREE
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44

MacPhearsome plopped him neatly back into Thrugg’s outstretched paws, astonishment written on his savage features. “Och, Ah dinnae ken whit they feed ye on at Redwall, but it must be guid tae produce sich braw beasties. Ah’m thinkin’ Ah’d best gi’e ye the Icetor Flow’rs afore Ah’m slain by the pair of ye!”

The great golden eagle spread his pinions, beating wildly as snow flew up all around, laughing and screeching in high good humor at his own joke.

*   *   *

On the snowy crag below them the Laird Mactalon pressed a wing hard over his heart to stop its racing beat and sat down flat, glad to be off his trembling legs.

The High King’s strange mood had favored Thrugg and Dumble. Instead of MacPhearsome’s wrath they were receiving the Icetor Flowers. It was a huge relief for the falcon Chieftain.

30

“Ee. . . . Oo. . . . Lay. . . . Lee. . . . Aaaaaahhhhh!”

Again the loud haunting cry rang through the wooded heights of the lake island above their heads. Shrews sprang up wide-eyed and quivering with fright.

Mara detached Pikkle from her paws and grabbed a paddle. “Whatever that is, it had better keep clear of us because if it comes down on to this ledge I’ll brain it, ghost badger or not!”

Nordo piled more driftwood onto the fire. It burned bright, crackling sparks up into the still summer night. By its light Mara looked around at the ashen faces of the Guosssom shrews; even Log-a-log seemed shaken by the unearthly call. The badger maid knew they were close to panic, so she set about dispelling their fears.

“Hah! That’s an old trick to keep us awake. Lord Urthstripe used to do things like that at Salamandastron to keep his hares alert, didn’t he, Pikkle?” She nudged the young hare sharply. He jumped.

“Ow! Who? What? Oh er, rather, I’ll say! Old Thingummy was always runnin’ about in his nightshirt searin’ the tail off some chap or other, doncha know. Oh yes! Of course he couldn’t frighten me or ol’ Mara here, we just snoozed through it all.”

Mara backed him up, watching the Guosssom beginning to relax.

“Haha, yes. Remember he terrified Bart Thistledown and the poor fellow fell backward into a pot of hot vegetable soup? Hahaha!”

“Hohoho, will I ever forget it, chum?” Pikkle slapped his sides as he expanded on the tale. “There was ol’ Barty with the pan stuck to his bottom, chargin’ about yellin’ blue murder!”

The shrews began smiling and tittering. Soon they were rocking with laughter as Pikkle continued with the comical incident.