The Samurai of Redwall
Chapter 5: The Dream
Collin was standing in a dark corridor. He walked forward until he came to a stair case. On the third step of the stair case, Collin noticed another staircase going down. He continued on as if under a spell. He then reached double doors with many iron spikes. He carefully counted the one that was thirteenth from the top and thirteenth from the left. As he pushed a spike, a stone wall to his right opened. He turned and walked through the dark threshold. In the center of the room, there stood a glass case. Within the case stood a mighty weapon. It was a katana blade, a Japanese sword he had seen a lot in martial arts movies. Behind the case stood a mouse. He was a strong mouse clad in armor and wielding the same sword as Matthias.
"Use it well, stranger." said the warrior mouse. "Use it well."
Collin instantly awoke from the strange dream. He checked his wristwatch, even though he was not sure it was accurate. It was eight o'clock. Good. Collin did not want to wake anyone up too early. Collin got dressed and made his way to Matthias's room.
After Collin found out that Matthias was not there, he made his way to the cavern hole. Collin figured that Matthias was probably eating breakfast. Collin's sense of direction had greatly improved.
Collin quickly found Matthias in the middle of eating his breakfast.
"Matthias! Quick! I have to tell you something!" said Collin
"Can't it wait, I just started eating breakfast." Matthias pleaded.
"Ok. I guess I could tell you while you eat." replied Collin. "I just had this strange dream. There was this staircase, see. And when I went down it, I saw a mouse warrior, carrying the same sword as you and..."
Collin's statement was cut short as Matthias interrupted him.
"Martin the Warrior was in this dream? Why didn't you tell me? Show me where this staircase is." said Matthias.
Collin led him to the staircase in his vision. The two of them walked down the stairway and to the door.
"Oh. This is the room where the tomb of Martin the Warrior is. If I remember correctly, if you push the center spike, these doors open." said Matthias.
"But in my dream, I pushed this spike open." Collin argued.
Collin pressed the spike indicated in his dream. The stone wall on the right of them slid open to reveal the same room in Collin's vision. The two friends ventured to the center of the room, where the glass case that held the sword stood.
"Wait!" Collin exclaimed. "There's writing on this stone."
Collin read the writing out loud.
This is the sword for the warrior
That only one can claim
The one who is not from here
The stranger is his name
It is said that he will fight a great battle
And victory shall be his
He will use this mighty sword
His destiny this is
But if this person should fail
Evil will prevail
All good from the world will be purged
If the stranger does not succeed in his task
Of stopping the scourge
So take this mighty weapon
Use it to fight your enemy from hell
Take the sword mighty one
Stranger use it well.
"Quite a strange poem." said Collin.
"I wonder who it refers to when it says 'the scourge'?" questioned Matthias.
Matthias reached for the sword, but then noticed that there was no opening in the glass.
"Let me try." said Collin.
Just then, the most peculiar thing happened. Probably the most peculiar thing Matthias had ever seen. Collin reached through the glass as if nothing was there.
After the weapon was retrieved, Collin began to question Matthias.
"So, who is this Martin fellow anyway?"
Matthias smiled and began to tell Collin what he knew about the legendary mouse warrior.
