Fifteen views, to one review. And what a review! I am so happy, that I shall answer it immediately.

Lepidolite Mica: Thank you so much for your input! I went back, re-read my earlier chapters for the first time in a year, and decided to revise them. I fixed the part with Opt and Crakenough, as I saw from your review that it wasn't giving the impression I was looking for. Basically, the G.B. are pirate hunters, and all of them take a rather dark view of it. For a more detailed explanation, go back to the prologue, and read the new paragraphs at the end. And yes, I realize I am jumping back and forth somewhat, and apologize. Hopefully, it won't be for much longer.

For all other readers out there, I want to mention that I made two mistakes in the last chapter; one, I said in the disclaimer that the only characters which were not mine were the ones in the prologue. In doing so, I forgot Ashleg and Wulp. I apologize for this, and hope it didn't cause too much confusion. Secondly, the admiral was supposed to be in the tavern party, but I forgot to add him. It is rather important that he be there, so I went back and added him in. Sorry about that.

Anyway, on to the story! (If you want a disclaimer, a few previous chapters have them, so you can go back and look.)

8

Meanwhile, Thomas and Samuel were having a heated, though under-toned, debate.

"You can't be serious." quietly exclaimed Thomas.

"You got me. I'm not even Samuel." Samuel relied with a smirk.

"Samuel, I don't have time for this!" Thomas interjected angrily. "I wasn't even intending to be here! And now you've presented a new problem to me. How could this happen?"

"Raphael, I think. It didn't take much time. I took care of him, but I had a feeling you would want to know anyway, in case it was important."

"Oh, it's important, all right." Thomas replied moaned with frustration. "That family carried news from the north with them, news which hasn't been heard in Mechin, if you catch my meaning."

"I certainly do. I can see why that would be important." Samuel noted with calmness, chewing slowly on his salad.

Thomas watched him with impatience. "Well, you certainly don't look worried. What are we going to do?!"

"As you say, I am not worried," replied Samuel cryptically, "because I know exactly what we are going to do."

Thomas frowned with annoyance. "Okay, Sam, spit it out."

Samuel feigned surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean." Thomas insisted. "Your keeping something back. I can see that easily enough. What is it?"

Samuel smiled with enjoyment. He did so love to spring things on Thomas. "I've seen Trivia." he said slowly.

Thomas gave a start. "Trivia." he breathed with disbelief. Quickly recovering himself, he leaned forward with interest on his face. "So that's how you knew to be in the canyon."

"Give the man a silver dollar!" Samuel chuckled. "He said I might find a monster on the road to Mechin, and so it was."

"Did he say anything else?" Thomas inquired, leaning even farther over the table.

"He happened to mention that," Samuel said nonchalantly, "if you should have any trouble concerning our present issue, I might carry out a few instructions."

Thomas waited expectantly as Samuel continued eating. "Well?" he finally asked. Samuel finished the last bit of salad in his bowl, and gestured for Thomas to lend an ear.

Leaning forward, Samuel whispered as quietly as he could, "Wait here until your gestured over." With that, he leaped up, taking his bowl and sticks with him, and rushed toward the counter, leaving a rather miffed squirrel behind.

Legrand took up his mug, tipped it to his friends, and took a sip. He then placed it back on the counter, and sat contemplating the taste. After doing this for a few minutes, he took the mug up again, and repeated the process. This was his way. If, by the bottom of the mug, he decided he liked the brew, he would order a cask of it, and add it to the larders of the Recreation.

But today, he was not destined to ever decide. While he was taking his seventeenth sip, the whole group was startled by the appearance of the black hare, who suddenly plopped himself down beside Gibeon.

"Another melon, please!" Samuel called, tossing a coin onto the counter. With that, he turned and stared hard at Gibeon, as if he intended to burn a hole through the frog. Gibeon, in turn, stared back, with the unblinking stare a frog can have.

Richard arrived with the melon, and Samuel left off his stare to start eating his melon. Gibeon continued to stare, as did the other three G.B. members. Noticing this, Samuel smiled at them, swallowed, and said cheerfully, "So, what brings these unusual creatures to the obscure port city of Mechin? Where from do you come, and where do you go after?"

Gibeon continued to hold his stare. Legrand and Legrod, deciding that this conversation was going nowhere, went back to their drinking. Singer, finding that the hare was directing the questions to him, answered, "Well, we are members of the . . ."

"Yes, yes, I know." interrupted Samuel. "That doesn't answer either of my questions. That's okay, though. I suppose that, before I ask questions, I must answer some. My name is Samuel the Safariest, and I am here on business. I come from nowhere in particular, and intend to return there when I am done here. So, what are you up to?"

Needless to say, this only further confused Singer and Gibeon, and they could not come up with a good answer at first. Finally, Singer replied, "Well, if you know anything about us, then you know our mission."

"That is the correct answer!" exclaimed Samuel with excitement. "So, how do you intend to go about finding these Mosquitoes?"

"Well," Singer replied, still rather confused, "usually, we keep an eye on the regular trade routes. Since Leek is sure to strike at one time or another, it is the only time we can be positive of his presence."

"How has that been working out?" asked Samuel skeptically, continuing to eat his melon.

"Not very well, I'm afraid." admitted the admiral. "We haven't caught sight of him since the Battle of Rat Hill."

"Nor will you, either, as long as you continue with your current strategy." informed Samuel with confidence, turning once again toward Singer. "Leek doesn't fancy another round with you, so he's keeping a look out, and will only strike when he is absolutely sure that you are out of the area. The Eastern Sea is fearsomely large, and I don't think you'll have any chance of finishing this unless you devise something new." With that, he took an extra large chunk of melon, and began to chew on it.

Singer couldn't help feeling annoyed. "Do you happen to have any better ideas?"

Samuel swallowed abruptly. "As a matter of fact, I do!" he said excitedly, and again turned his attention to the sailbeasts. "If you want to kill a hornet, don't let him know it. If you want to kill a bee, don't let him see. There are two ways I can think of to catch him. The first is to hide somewhere on the Eastern Sea where he can't go, so as to come upon him when he least expects it."

Singer looked thoughtful. "That makes sense." he admitted hopefully. "But where is there such a place."

"Unfortunately, the only place on the Eastern Sea that I know of where Leek can't go, is under it." answered Samuel jovially. "And for you, that is impossible. The other way I can think of is to get help from the surrounding lands. Go to the villages and towns of the sea, the fisherbeasts and the island dwellers. Make them your spies, checking up on them regularly to find out where Leek was last, and when. Eventually, you will have him at his own game."

Singer was impressed. "I do believe you're right!" he exclaimed excitedly. "One thing, though. As you probably know, we are not very well known, except in Optinerph. Where could we get assistance such as you speak of?"

"Well, for starters, you could check the port city of Nother, up the river Paws. They do say that almost every beast in the southeast of Southward travels there at least once in his or her life. Because of this, loads of information end up there, and I hear that nothing happens in South Channel but that the city of Nother finds out about it.

"Another place you might like to check is the trading metropolis of Laco. This huge city is the home of the Laco-Kkarcia trading company, the second most prosperous trade group on the Mainland. Someone told me once that their library was so large, that its roof could be seen several miles out to sea.

"Then, of course, there is the Island of Dolorm, a nice cheery place, full of otters and squirrels. It was once on the main trade route of the Loamhedge-Molesmouth line, and became very rich and prosperous. Even now it is part of the famous Redwall-Peckrand supply route.

"There there's . . ." Samuel stopped suddenly in thought. "Oh, wait!" he suddenly exclaimed in realization. "Of course! Redwall! How could I forget!" he looked once more to Singer. "If anyone would have news of the Mosquito Corsairs, than the creatures of Redwall would. Almost everything happens at Redwall. In fact, if you could only go to one place, than I would say that that place would have to be . . ."

"Alright." interrupted Singer. "Redwall it is, then. How do we get there?"

"Don't know, myself." answered Samuel complacently, finishing the last of his melon. "I've never been to any of those places. Now the person you really want to talk to is Thomas. He's been to most of those cities, and I should think he would be more than glad to help you find your way. Why don't you gesture him over?"

So it was that Thomas was summoned. "Thomas," the admiral began, "your friend here says you could tell us the way to Redwall."

For a moment, Thomas stood there, speechless. Quickly, he spun around. "Samuel . . ." But there was no Samuel. The door of the tavern slammed shut at that very moment, and the Black Hungry Hare was soon safe at home . . . but not for long.

It may seem a little rushed, but that is Samuel's way. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, and I will look forward to any reviews that enter the review box! Thanks for reading! God bless, shalom, and good morning! 9/28/2014 TTT