Epilogue

The Bellmakers tale took three days in the telling, three days in which the storm never once abated. Food and blankets were sent in to the gatehouse, and each night the two old friends and the Dibbuns slept there. On the fourth day they woke to find the sun beaming through the windows from a gentle blue sky. But the Dibbuns would not move until certain questions had been answered.

“Did our Abbey get another badger, sir?

The ancient squirrel smiled and shook his head. “Ah, thats a story for another day.

The little mouse Jerril climbed down from the arm of the chair. “What appened to Mariel an Dandin? he asked.

The old hedgehog answered from the depths of his armchair. “They stopped at Redwall for a season, then one mornin* Dandin, Mariel, an Bowly Pintips took the Peart Queen an* sailed out, to see what was over the horizon they said. I was goin to go with era, but in the end I stayed home with my old matey ere.

The bass-voiced molebabe wiped a tear from his eye. “Ee sea hotter, Finnenbarr Galeydeep, twere sad ee was slayed; oi wouldve loiked to ave met Mm.

The squirrel exchanged glances with the hedgehog. Rising slowly they went over to a cupboard. The squirrel talked as he rummaged among objects that he treasured. “Finnbarr Galedeep was a mighty warrior, maybe youd like to see his swords.

He drew the pair of matched curving blades from the cupboard, passing one to the hedgehog. A gasp of wonder arose from the Dibbuns as they stared openmouthed at the two shining weapons. The molebabe clambered into the armchair vacated by the hedgehog. “Whurr did ee get em frumm, zurr?

The ancient squirrel straightened his back proudly. “Joseph the Bellmaker presented them to us when we left Southsward, a token of our bravery as warriors in the battle, he said they were. Right, Durry?

Durry Quill whirled the blade he was holding above his head, and it glittered in the morning sunlight. “Aye, right Rufe, Ill never forget that day. I named this sword Finnbarr!

Rufe Brush blinked back a tear as he stared at the name engraved upon the blade of his sword. “And I named mine Fatch!

The Dibbuns poured out yelling into the spring morning. They roared and shouted as they fought again the Battle of Southsward. Rufe and Durry stood in the gatehouse doorway watching. The young mouse Jerril ran back to them for a final word.

“Did any of them ever come back to our Abbey?

Durry leaned on the doorframe and nodded. “Aye quite a few times, as I recall. Log-a-Log, Blaggut, even Joseph the Bellmaker and his three friends one summer Though Wincey, Benjy, an Figgs was so big I scarce recognized em. But yknow what we always say?

The molebabe came trundling past, stick in paw, serving as his sword as he fought off two small squirrels. “No, wot do ee allus say, zurr?

Rufe answered for Durry. “We always say that Redwall is here to welcome any with a good heart. Call in, our door is open to all friends.

The molebabe thought about this for a moment befbwfj replying, “Hurr, vurry good, zurrs, but ee know wot, allus say?

Rufe smiled at him. “No, tell me what you xxx.

The bass-voiced molebabe waved his stick in the and charged off shouting. “Redwaaaaaaaaallllll!