Thadius Roth was loathe to dismiss the arrow plans, but Raskol had not returned. As part of the test mission the stoat had been equipped with directions and enough provisions to take him back to the twin towers. Yet Raskol had not returned. The eventual target was not so far away that, even if the stoat had reached it, he wouldnÕt have taken so long to return. And Raskol had not returned. Thadius knew it was time to move to newer plans.
Thadius had long wondered about the properties of fire. What its state of matter was baffled him, not to mention why it took that particular form. There were other principles of flame, however, that the fox better understood. By chance heÕd once found that a strip of cloth hanging a foot or so above a candle flame was moved, slightly lifted by the fire. He wasnÕt sure exactly why, but the principle was what mattered.
The fox gathered varied scraps of material, holding each over a lit candle to determine which remained airborne for the longest time. He was experimenting with a swatch of waxed canvas when Nadal, as if from nowhere, appeared. ÒWhy are you playing, Roth?Ó
Thadius released the fabric, which remained afloat a moment longer before drifting to the side. ÒSir, I am not playing. I have taken notes on the properties of flame and levitation, andÑÓ
Nadal licked one finger and used it to extinguish the flame. ÒI have something more interesting for you.Ó
Ob Insame had already taken the liberty of bringing the injured Llewtcy out of the dungeon. He snapped his fingers and she timidly entered, too occupied by the pain in her wing and the fear in her heart to protest or run. The bat lowered her head and closed her eyes as the weasel gestured toward her. ÒAmazing construction, is it not?Ó
Nodding, Thadius approached Llewtcy, extending his paw toward the tear in her sail. Llew winced. Thadius backed up, rummaging through his workshop and emerging from the clutter with needle, thread, and chloroform. ÒThat is repairable.Ó
Thadius poured a small amount of chloroform onto a nearby rag, wafting it under LlewtcyÕs nose. As the bat grew groggy, the fox closed the wound with a neat row of tiny stitches.
Nadal looked approvingly on RothÕs work with a thin smile. ÒYes, I do suppose that flight would be hindered due to a hole,Ó he mused. ÒEasier to fix now than later?Ó
As he tied the final stitch, Thadius nodded to his commander. ÒThe same principle as the gliders we tried earlier. They catch the air and ride on it. Of course, with bats the wings serve as arms and are steered by finger motions.Ó He paused his explanation just long enough to run a finger along one bony spar in LlewtcyÕs wing. ÒThe control is more extreme, more versatile. Yes, that must be why you brought her here. If I can match the natural design of her body in some synthetic form, something a creature could maneuver with a similar proficiency to a batÕs...That, I think, would solve our landlock problem!Ó Thadius clapped his paws in a rare show of enthusiasm.
ÒRoth, you...think about that,Ó Nadal told Thadius, carefully lifting the slumbering Llewtcy and carrying her the full distance upstairs to his private chamber. With almost uncharacteristic delicateness, he laid the bat out on his personal table, eyes fixed on his wings. Although awkward at times, his stare did not divert even as he paced about the table, not unlike a soldier guarding a tomb.
As if heÕd caught something from Thadius Roth, Nadal ob Insame began to think aloud as he paced. ÒBat wings...a natural structure, time proven, does work. CanÕt improve upon nature. And nature has set up bats as goodbeasts, which is all the better, all the better indeed. Redwall would think nothing of a big group of bats flying in for a visit, and at night, why, they wouldnÕt see well enough to recognize the difference...Ó
Very pleased with himself, Nadal stopped in midstride, grasping the end of the table with a wild gleam in his eyes and a feral grin shaping his maw.

*****

Medical history retains all peculiar cases. Several such cases deal with the malfunction of anesthesia. The rare patient will report that certain nerves fail to be quieted. Some simply do not fall asleep, while others are completely conscious within an immoble body. The entire spectrum.
Llewtcy was among the latter group. She lay completely helpless on NadalÕs table, aural receptors catching the weaselÕs every word, pain receptors screaming to no avail at the probing in her wing joints.