Chapter V: Preparing for the Inevitable

The next several days passed in relative peace. Pondering Chip's observation about the sword being for her confidence, Gadget decided to see just how well she could cope with her newfound role. She began to journey out among the abbeydwellers a bit, beginning to talk and laugh with them, making several new friends in the process. But much of this time, she spent with Chip. They walked through the Abbey orchards, shared lunch under the shade of the south parapet, and even searched Redwall's archives together, as she searched the structure's engineering history, deciding how best to defend it. Martin, she discovered, had been correct. Redwall didn't so much need a warrior of battle…it needed a warrior of the mind.

Which station suited her to a T.

On their third night at the Abbey, she and Chip were once again sitting in the great library, poring over old Abbess Germaine's original blueprints. Gadget had found several structural weaknesses that needed to be shored up, and crews of stout, powerfully built otters were already at work, carrying out her instructions. Tammy, much to her surprise, had not presented much of a distraction. She had kept her time occupied with the young squirrel fighter Reguba, and Gadget was happy for her. She considered the younger girl to be her best friend, but her attention to Chip had started to get a bit…annoying, as evidenced by the conversations on the flight over. Gadget shook off these thoughts with a slight chuckle, and got back to her work.

"Chip, I think it'd probably be a good idea to post an extra lookout here, maybe try and rig some sort of defense on this south battlement too. What do you think? Chip?"

She looked beside her, and sighed as she saw Chip, his head bowed onto his arms, fedora lying off to the side. She reached over and stroked the fur at the back of his neck fondly, causing him to murmur happily in his sleep.

"Did he fall asleep in your plans again?" a voice asked from the door. Rosa, the abbey's badger mother, as she was called, sidled in, sitting down quietly.

"Yeah," Gadget replied quietly. She smiled down at the sleeping form. "He's just a big kid at heart, you know, whether he admits it or not. He and Dale have a lot more in common than they realize."

"He is a handsome young rogue," Rosa observed. She cast a knowing glance at the mouse. "You love him, don't you."
"Yes," Gadget whispered. "I didn't realize it for a long time, but that was the feeling that I had for him almost from the day I met him. I was just so inexperienced, I didn't recognize it."

Rosa reached over and patted her shoulder, a comforting gesture like a mother would give her child.

"Ah me, young love. Oh, 'tis a grand thing." The badger gave her an appraising look. "And I would say that you're getting about the age that a young mouse girl should think of finding a good fellow to settle down with."
"I turn twenty-two next month," Gadget said. "I'd almost forgotten all about it."
"Ah yes, the life of an Abbey warrior does tend to turn one's schedule 'round a bit," Rose said with a smile. "Come, girl, let's get this one off to bed, before he drools all over these documents dreaming about you." The older creature scooped Chip gently up into her massive paws, as if he didn't weigh an ounce. She and Gadget walked quietly up the stairs to the dormitories, where the Rangers were quartered. Monterey Jack, Dale and Zipper were already out, some snoring louder than the other, and Tammy had not yet returned from an evening walk with Reguba. Rose laid the chipmunk into a vacant bed, and, winking at her companion, departed softly.

Gadget reached down and pulled the bed's comforter up over Chip, and tucked it in around him. The sight of him laying there, sleeping peacefully, and knowing she was the cause of the smile on his face, made her blue eyes sparkle with happiness. She hung his fedora on the bedpost, and leaning down, she lightly brushed her lips against his cheek.

"Sleep tight."

Elsewhere, nearby the Abbey, the scene was not nearly so touching. Bonfires burned brightly, providing illumination and heat for masses of rats, weasels, foxes, and other evil creatures that gathered around them. The corsair forces numbered in the hundreds, their camp stretching into the distance. But there was one among this horde that the Rangers and Redwallers would have more to be afraid of than from any other. Encamped in a dark but spacious tent, the leader of the vermin was interrogating a woodlander, an old, gray mouse.

"When were you last at the Abbey? I need to know the strength of it's defenses."
"I--I don't know anything, I was just there for supplies!"
Crack! She slapped him once, hard.

"Now, I'll ask again. Tell me about Redwall's defenses."
"I swear," the elder said, "I know nothing! Please!"
Crack! Went her gloved hand again. The old mouse slumped, unconscious. The enemy leader called for her captains.
"Take this useless lump out and soften him up a bit," she snapped. As they departed, she slipped the hood from her head, and shook out her honey-colored hair. She called out to the last of her departing officers.

"Gurfang! A moment, please."

The huge rat, still aching from the beating he had taken at Louie's station, shuffled back in. She looked him square in the eye.

"Are you sure that this Abbey Champion is who you said it was?"
"Aye, my lady. Her resemblance to you was striking. Very striking," he said, rubbing his bandaged arm ruefully.

"Good. Very good indeed. Revenge is twice as sweet, when it comes to you so unexpectedly."

As the enemy uttered these words, Gadget paused in the dormitory hallway, and shivered involuntarily. What was the old saying…someone walking over your grave? She dismissed the thought, and continued downstairs. And as she walked, the enemy began packing in their gear, and moving closer.

Early the next morning, just before dawn, the Abbey alarm was sounded. The trumpet blast had Gadget out of bed and running before she was even fully awake, a woolen cloak around her shoulders, and Martin's sword hanging over her back.

"What's goin' on, mates?" Monty asked with a yawn, as he stumbled out of the dormitory.

"The enemy's in sight, Mr. Jack, sir!" a young mouse shouted as he ran by. Galvanized into action, Monty came flying out, tugging on his coat.

"Gadget luv! Where are ya! We got trouble!"

"She's already at the walls," Chip said, running up alongside. His jacket was rumpled and his fedora was on crooked, indicating his hurry.

The Abbey was aflutter with activity, as moles hurried to shore up earthworks, and other abbeydwellers rushed to and fro with their various assignments.
When the other Rangers arrived, Gadget was already standing on the north wall, discussing a defense strategy with Skipper.

"If we turn the net-guns in toward the field here, and here, we should have them covered," she said. Skipper nodded thoughtfully.

"Net guns?" Chip asked, coming up beside her. She smiled.

"Just a little surprise I whipped up for the bad guys."

"We have a white flag! Parley requested!" a sentry called.

"Should we trust 'em, pallies?" Monterey asked. "After all, they sure haven't seemed very friendly so fah."

"I guess we should honor their request," Gadget replied. "We are supposed to be the higher defenders of morality in this area. I'll go out."

She trotted down from the walls, trying not to show the pain she was feeling. She was going to have to have Tammy or one of the Abbey physicians retape her ribs later on, the ache had become nearly unbearable over the past several days. But her work had kept her focused. She was unprepared, however, for the surprise awaiting her at the gate.
"I'm to take you out to treat with the enemy, my lady," a large, striped tabby said, bowing low.

"I, ah, t-thank you very much, Mr…"
"Just Gingivere will do, thank you." He went to all fours, and indicated his back with a paw.

"Hop up."

"I…can't."

He eyed her suspiciously.

"You're injured," he said with surprise, as he finally noticed the way she was cradling her ribcage.

"It's nothing," she said, clenching her teeth. "Just help me up, please."
Gingivere extended a paw, and lifted Gadget to his back. He sauntered through the great main gates as they rumbled open, and she tried her best to ride with a straight posture and a neutral expression.

"Just get me there and back, Gingivere. I'll worry about myself then."

They arrived at the rendezvous point shortly. The great rat Gurfang waited, a leer on his face.

"I thought you might come yerself. Proud slip of a thing, ain't ya?" She ignored him, and got right to the point.

"What did you want to talk about, sir?"

He laughed. "Sir is it? Well that's better treatment than you gave me back on the island. All right, here it is. Our leader is willing to let all o' these Abbey creatures go scot-free. None'll be harmed, you have her word. There's just two conditions."
"And those are?"
"You surrender the Abbey, and yourself."

Gadget was puzzled.

'Why would their leader want me? Because of my position…or who I really am?' she thought.

"We'll consider her terms," she replied. "The answer won't be favorable to you, I know, but we'll consider them."
"One more thing," the rat captain called as Gingivere began to turn. "She says that if you will meet with her this evening, alone, she might consider a more favorable arrangement than even the one she has just offered. Tell no one, and come to her tent unarmed at nine o'clock."

Gadget's mind screamed that it was a trap. Every nerve in her body declared it. But she had her friends, and her responsibility to think about.

"I'll be there."
His ugly features split in a jagged-toothed grin.

"Excellent."

As Gingivere traveled back to the Abbey, he made a comment to his rider about the situation that she had just entered.

"Do you think it wise, my lady?"

"I don't know, Gingivere. But golly, look at the size of that army! It may be the only chance my friends or Redwall have of getting out of this alive. Will you promise to keep this to yourself?"

"As long as my conscience will allow, I will not reveal it."
"Thank you."