| Subject: *Scowls at the interruption* Chapter 6 |
Author:
Torleep
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Date Posted: 04:20:24 03/12/03 Wed
In reply to:
Torleep
's message, "Ok, i'm going to post this story again so anybeast who missed it can read it and then i'm going to post new parts and by crickey if no one replies i'll be fair peeved because i spent ages on this story for you chaps." on 20:46:23 02/20/03 Thu
Chapter Six.
The shrews tapped on the large wooden door for a few moments, until they heard a voice call from inside. ‘Who’s there, eh? Are ye frind or foe?’
Glippin answered. ‘We’re just some poor shrews ‘oove lost our way an’ need to stay ‘ere for a while.’ As Berry sniggered, the door opened and an elderly hedgehog looked out at them.
‘Weel, eet’s a groop o’ likkle shrews! Youse are meent to leeve near the water, eh? What youse doin’ in the desert, eh?’
‘Well, we’re here to meet a hare, name o’ Handilf.’ replied Ham. ‘Have you seen him?’
‘Handilf, yeh say? Ah’ve nae seen ‘im in nary a season, but a maght o’ missed ‘im, see’in as ah were nae on watch yeesterday.’ He opened the gate further and pointed to a door near the southern wall. ‘Eef ‘es anywheer, ‘eel be over theer in the pub, the Bustling Badger.’
‘Thanks’ said Brogo as he led his friends through the gate. As they headed towards the pub, they saw firelight coming through the window and they could hear many of the beasts inside singing, though rather off key. They strode through the firelight to the door and entered.
The singing inside was louder than they expected. Most everybeast in the room was singing one ditty or another. The most common tune was ‘Give me a pail of October Ale’ but nobeast was on the same line as another. The room stank of wines and ales and there were puddles of spilled beverages all over the place.
The quadet edged over to the counter. Berry banged his fists on the bench. ‘Barkeep!’ he yelled. ‘Service over here!’
‘What’s the magic word?’ asked the barkeep.
‘Something to the tune of ‘I’ll get you fired if you don’t serve me now!’’ yelled Berry.
The barkeep tore over to them and began serving drinks. ‘Sorry, sir. It’s not like much would change if I got fired, after all, I don’t get paid, but if you’re in that kind of mood, some drinks will calm you down. So, I haven’t seen you around here before. Why business do you come on?’
‘We’re searching for a hare’ stated Ham. ‘He’s known as Handilf. Have you seen him?’
‘Handilf? Nope, haven’t seen him in a long time. But if you’re searchin’ for him, then someone here is searchin’ for you. He’s over there.’ He pointed to a small alcove in the wall. ‘He’s the one with the hood and pipe. Ask for Walker.’ The barkeep ran off to serve other customers.
Once the shrews ad finished their drinks, they began pushing heir way towards the alcove. They had some trouble getting through the singers and dancers but they soon reached their destination. Brogo looked at the hedgehog sitting within. ‘Are you Walker?’
‘Who wants to know?’ asked the hedgehog.
‘My name is Brogo. I’m looking for Handilf.’
‘If you’re Brogo, you’ll have the special...ah...thing.’
‘Yeah.’ Brogo rummaged around in his bag until he found the thing, then he pulled it out and showed it to the hedgehog. ‘See?’
The hedgehog took it in his paw and looked it over, then handed it back to Brogo. ‘Yes, that is the thing. I am…’ Right at that moment, one of the dancers bumped into Brogo and knocked him over. As he fell backwards, he accidentally flung the thing into the air. He sat up immediately and moved his paw to catch the thing, but it seemed to change its path in midair as it fell and it slipped over his claw.
All action in the pub ceased as Brogo changed. Gasps filled the air as Brogo reached the size of the largest beast in the room and continued to grow. When he finished the transformation, he took up much of the room and his head was almost touching the roof. The hedgehog looked up in shock at the badger who was now taking up the space where Brogo had been sitting. Brogo looked around, said ‘Ah, sorry about that,’ with his voice booming around the room and took off the thing. He quickly shrank back to his normal size and form. The action within the pub continued as if nothing had happened.
‘Wow!’ exclaimed the hedgehog. ‘That thing really is special. Yes. I am Walker. Handilf sent me to inform you that he couldn’t make it and that I am to join you. He wants me to protect you and said that you are to go to Redwall. He will hopefully be there.’
‘OK, sure’ replied Brogo.
‘Barkeep!” yelled Walker, clicking his claws in the air. ‘Curi, we need a room for the night.’
Curi the barkeep walked over. ‘Eh? What’s that?’
‘We need a room’ repeated Walker.
‘Oh, of course. Right this way.’ They grabbed their packs and Curi led them around the other beasts to a staircase. He gave Walker a key. ‘Upstairs, third door on the left.’
‘Thankyou’ Walker said. As they were climbing the stairs, Brogo took the chance to get a better look at Walker than he had in the alcove. Walker was bigger than all of the shrews. He had a scar over his left eye and some of his headspikes were missing. However, he appeared rather strong and Brogo felt that if they had have met outside with nobeast around, Walker would easily have been able to overpower him and have nobeast notice. He had already developed a respect for him.
They entered their room and dropped their packs. Walker spoke to them. ‘Well, I expect you’ve had a long day. Go to bed now and we’ll start to Redwall in the morning.’ Walker pointed out the different rooms the shrews would be sleeping in. Once they were gone, he pulled out his pipe, lay back on his chair, smoked for a short while and fell asleep.
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