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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

Samkim was the first to wake at dawn. His headache had cleared up and he felt much better. He lay still awhile, enjoying the light warmth of early sunlight. Alfoh, Arula and the rest were still snoring peacefully as Samkim sat up slowly and looked about. The wind had dropped and the clouds were gone. The lake was calm, mirrorlike and silent, and the three logboats lay side by side, becalmed on the tranquil surface of the great waters. Ripples spread as Samkim dipped his paws to drink the clear lakewater.

“I’d give a whole waspnest fer a drink o’ that. C’n yew get some across t’ me, young un?”

Spriggat’s head lolled against the boatside as he watched Samkim drinking. The young squirrel found a beaker and filled it. Treading carefully, he stepped over sleeping shrews, and the logboat wobbled slightly as he climbed across into the other craft. Cradling the old hedgehog’s head in his lap, Samkim held the beaker to his lips.

“Take it easy now, Sprig—just small sips, don’t try to gulp it. Well, how are you feeling today, you old flyscoffer?”

Water dribbled from Spriggat’s mouth as he smiled wearily. “Yore a good young un an’ I don’t want to upset ye.”

Samkim wiped his friend’s mouth. “Why, what’s the matter?”

“I’m right sorry I can’t stay much longer.” Spriggat held feebly on to Samkim’s paws as he spoke. “No, be still an’ listen t’ me! That there monster chewed me up like a fat juicy dragonfly. Don’t try to turn me over an’ look at me back, Samkim—I’m all broken up.” Spriggat moved slightly, screwing up his face in agony. “Uhhhhn! Wish I could’ve gone with me paws on good dry land. Taint too bad, though. It’s a fair morn an’ I’m in the arms of a friend.”

*   *   *

Arula and Alfoh were awakened by the sound of Samkim sobbing. With the three boatcrews, they watched in silence as the young squirrel sat rocking back and forth. Regardless of the hedgehog’s spines, Samkim held Spriggat’s limp body as though he were nursing an infant, and tears coursed openly down his face onto the wrinkled old paws.

“He said he was going to find a summer forest, full of wasps and flying insects. Then he just smiled at me and, and . . . Oh, my poor old friend!”

Arula and Alfoh climbed across. Together they held Samkim and Spriggat tightly, letting the support of their strength flow through their paws, united in their grief at the passing of a fatherly creature who had given his all for them.

35

Klitch and Ferahgo, backed by a hundred armed vermin, strode boldly across the sun-warmed sands toward Salamandastron. The golden badger medal bobbed on the Assassin’s chest as it reflected the hot summer morning.