Trying not to grimace with distaste, she shook them off. “Here, Samkim and Arula, I’ve a job for you. These two creatures are your responsibility while they are with us. If you need any help, ask Thrugg or Foremole. Dear me, how I wish Redwall had a badger Mother again. Right, back to work, Redwallers. There is much to be done if we want a good Nameday tomorrow!”

*   *   *

The Abbeydwellers were dispersing as the squirrel and the mole introduced themselves.

“I’m Samkim and this is Arula.”

“Pleased ter make yer acquaintance, young’n’s. I’m Dingeye, this is me mucker Thura. Righto, where do we eat an’ sleep?”

The odor of unwashed stoats made Arula wrinkle her nose. “Nay nay, zurrs. ’Ee’ll be worken awhoil afore it be toim to eat an’ sleepen. Us’ns be agoin’ to ’elp in ’ee kitchens, a-cooken an’ a-baken.”

Thura brightened at the mention of food. “Cookin ’n’ bakin’, that sounds all right ter me, mucker!”

Samkim blanched. He, too, had caught the unsavory whiff from the ragged pair. He grabbed both by their paws. “Not so fast, friends. First you must take a bath and get clean smocks!”

Dingeye and Thura recoiled in horror.

“Bath? Not me, mucker. It ain’t ’ealthy!”

“Dingeye’s right, young un, bathin’d be the death of us!”

Samkim gave a broad wink to Thrugg and Foremole. “Perhaps you would like to take our friends for a stroll by the Abbey pond? It’s lovely in the summer.”

*   *   *

A short time later two clean smocks lay on the grass at the pond’s edge. Foremole stood menacing the stoats with a long window pole, Thrugg was in the water with a block of soap and a scrubbing brush. Dingeye and Thura clung to each other in panic as Foremole prodded them pondward with the pole.

“Coom on, durtybeasts. Washen woant kill ’ee, hurr hurr.”

“Mercy, yer Honor. That stuff’s water—it’s all wet!”

“Aye, an’ there’s a fish monster in there. I can see it!”

Playfully Thrugg splashed water at them. “Bless yer filthy ’earts, mateys, he don’t mind if you don’t. Get yer paws wet now. Come on, this is the best lilac an’ heather soap. Sink me if you don’t come out smellin’ like two pretty flowers!”

There was a final shriek of terror as Foremole pushed them in with the window pole, and stood menacing them with it. “Naow do ’ee be still whoil Maister Thrugg scrubbs you’m mucky ol’ necks.”

The otter went to it with a will, ducking and scouring.

“Owoch oo oo! Soap’s in me eye, sir. I’m blinded. ’Elp, ’elp!”

“Waaa! Water’s gone up me nose. Please, sir, no m—Glubbublub!”

5

Friar Bellows was as wide as he was high. The tubby mouse looked up from trimming pie crust and winked at Samkim and Arula. “Hoho, what can I do for you two liddle rips today?”