Imagine, for a moment, one hundred-thousand shrews atop the Empire State Building, half of them singing Eye of the Tiger in the bass keys of E minor, B Minor and G Minor, the other half singing I Swear in the treble keys of C Minor, F Minor, and #A Minor.
. . .
Welcome to the second part of Goodbeast: Book I – The GB Navy! Review answers and disclaimer will be at the bottom.
Book 2: Convergence
1
Extract from the writings of Martim, Recorder of Redwall Abbey and son of Timballisto:
There is much to be said on this happy occasion; it is the first day of the Autumn of the Abbey! A few weeks ago, we finally finished the gatehouse, which is where I am now. With its completion, Redwall Abbey is officially complete! Abbot Socrates has invited all manner of friends to celebrate this occasion, including the family of Gingivere Greeneyes, who have not been heard from for some seasons. There are doubts as to whether Queen Bullow will come, as the entire Nort are arranging a similar celebration in honor of the new prince. Old Trimp insisted on giving her the chance to come, though; as she comes along in seasons, I think she becomes more reminiscent of the past.
I can't say she's alone; since Gonff the Mousethief's death two seasons past, many other beasts have begun to wish for the times they knew best. Gonfflet, or Gonff as he's been called since his father's death, took it especially hard, what with his large family to take care of already without the additional tress of grief. Chugger was off with young Sumin at the time of passing, and probably still feels guilty about not being here. Bella Badgermum is the least effected; I suppose that, compared to all else she's been through, another friend gone was not much of an affliction.
Bother, I've gone back to being negative. I'm always being needled for that. Well, enough then, I'll put another positive something down. Barlis, my dearest wife, is expecting! Besides being wonderful news by default, this will provide Barlom with a playmate. Season's know he needs one; yesterday, he got into a fight with Gonfelino over the latter's nickname. Of course, Josef tried to defend his brother, and then Moss joined Barlom against her brothers, and before long Bella had to get help ending the Thirty-Eighth Dibbun War.
Ugh, now I'm griping. Maybe it would be better to leave the rest of this entry for later. I think I'll go down to the kitchen and see if I can assist Friar Bunfold in his preparations for the coming feast.
Friar Bunfold was more than glad for the recorder's assistance. Despite the Abbot's reassurances, Bunfold had decided that the occasion would not be properly represented if not accompanied by the largest feast the Abbey had ever seen. Nothing could dissuade him from his plans; he would make it happen, even if he had to do all of the work himself! Of course, the other abbey dwellers had no intentions of letting him work himself to death, and now it was only the oncoming night which had short-staffed the ambitious friar.
The fact that the feast was tomorrow was putting quite a bit of stress on Bunfold, as evidenced by his enthusiastic directing of the work: "Marla, can you get that deeper'n'ever pie out of the oven? No, Kuli, the leaves aren't edible, they're for decoration! Yes yes, I'll be right there, Uldrick, I just have to finish gathering these nuts, they're everywhere. Ah, Martim, perfect! Could you go over and help Uldrick with the redcurrent trifle? No, no, no, Kuli! Do pay attention to my instructions, won't you? You have to keep stirring the cream while it's on the heat, or it will . . . Great seasons, Hark Tan, what is that supposed to be!? Don't tell me that's the potato-and-trout salad I told you to toss! Ugh! Could you possibly embarrass me more!"
As if on cue, Chugger the Squirrel walked in, accompanied by none other than the estemed Abbot Socrates. The ancient mole, clad in a green habit, slowly hobbled over to the friar, and laid a digging claw upon his shoulder. "Urr, you'm be needen some ralaxen, Friar Bunfole. Et not somf'en you'm need wury o're; you'm alr'dy done e-nough tur make this'n thur best feasten oi've ever heered of."
Bunfold shook his head in objection. "I know exactly what I want from this, and by the fates I'm going to get it if I have to work all night!"
Crash!
Everybeast spun toward the corner of the room, where Hark Tan the squirrel was standing in the midst of broken crockery and spilled salad. After a moment of silence, those present witnessed a manifestation of pent up stress being unleashed in the form of a furious tirade from the cook. Hark fled the scene, with the fat mouse directly behind him. Snatches of the latter's exclamations of anger could be heard by all as they made their way through the abbey.
"Klutz . . . scoundrel . . . my best bowl . . . should be made to . . . imbecile . . . if you'd listened to me . . . when I catch you . . .!"
Socrates shook his head slowly. "Oi'm don't knows what oi'm ta do wif 'im, if ee'm keeps on stressen hisself, burr if oi do. Sumut seems to 'av gott'n intur 'im fur this feast."
Chugger placed his paw on the Abbot's shoulder. "He's just trying to make a good first impression; once he's settled into the position, he'll probably revert to his laid back, lazy self."
". . . I swear I'll never let you into my kitchen again!"
Marla shook her head woefully. "Let's hope so. Anyway, if Bunfold doesn't need me for the time being, I should go make sure my young ones aren't making it difficult for Hilda to put them to bed. Though, if I know Hilda, she's probably delaying their bedtimes with stories right now."
Sure enough, the ottermaid in question was already deep into the lore of the land when Marla entered the dormitory. Sitting on a bed in the far corner with dibbuns surrounding her, Hilda was in currently in the middle of the legend of Saint Ninians church. Marla decided to let her finish, and leaned against the door alongside Gonff and Josef, who were listening in.
". . . but through all those years of toil and work, not once did Ninian bother to assist his diligent wife. So upset was she at his laziness, that when their new home was completed the first thing she did was to hang a sign out front, proclaiming 'This Ain't Ninian's!'"
The dibbuns giggled uproariously at this; many had heard the tale before, and knew what was to follow.
"Over the years, long after Ninian and his family had gone, the building remained, with its sign still hung out front. But nothing stands against the Seasons, and as time went by the sign began to wear away, ever so slowly, until all that was left was, 'sAint Ninians.' And it has been called that ever since!"
A second round of giggles erupted at the closing of this story, but was interrupted by a single mouse, older than the others and only barely still a dibbun; "Is that really what happened, Miss Hilda?"
If Hilda noticed the saucy attitude the mouse had aimed toward her, she made no sign of it as she cheerfully replied. "Well, Gonfelino, I can't really say for sure. That's the thing about legends; you can't always be sure how true they are. But then again, that's half the fun of legends, don't you think?"
Gonfelino only rolled his eyes. "Huh," he remarked to the vole next to him, "I liked the one about the Doomwytes better."
"Alright, everyone," Marla called out, "it's time for bed!"
Instantly there went up a harmonious "Awwww!" from the collected dibbuns, before the younger ones began to present various excuses. But Marla was firm.
"No arguing tonight, young ones! You've stayed up later than is normal as is. Say goodnight to Miss Hilda and get into bed before I call Bella."
At the mention of the beloved badgermum, the dibbuns quieted down and began to arrange themselves for bed. They all deeply loved the elderly Bella, but they knew what it meant for her to be summoned when they were unruly. Soon, all of them had been put to bed, the lights were put out, and the adults filed into the hall.
"Well, that worked out well, Miss Marla!" Gonff complimented as they strolled back toward the Great Hall.
The hedgehogmaid only groaned. "It may have worked this time, Gonff, but that's one out of two dozen times that I've had to deal with in the past, with many more to probably come in the future. I'm just glad your Gonfelino is almost out of my spines. You'd think that at his age he'd have matured, but it seems he much rather be the ruffian his grandfather once was than the respectable elder he became."
Gonff sighed at the mention of his unruly son. "Yes, Young Gonff's antics have been weighing on me lately. He has become a nuisance to the entire Abbey, and nothing I've said seems to get through to him."
"Have patience, Gonfflet. Your father did not change his ways until the middle of his life. Give him time, and he may yet make us all proud."
The party turned to see the speaker, who had come up behind while they were walking. There stood Bella of Brockhall, the badgermum of Redwall and oldest living creature in Mossflower. Passing seasons had taken her sight, but her mind remained sharp, and her counsel was valued by all her fellow abbeybeasts.
"I can only hope you're right, Bella," Gonff replied.
"Well, just look at our good Josef; if ever there was a decedent of Gonff, it was he. Why, I remember how he used to steal chestnuts from my cupboards whenever he came to visit, even as I told him stories of our abbey's founding. But today, there is hardly a more diligent and hardworking mouse in all of Mossflower."
Gonff grinned proudly toward his on at this statement, but was surprised to find Josef grimacing. The others were quick to notice this as well.
"What's the matter, Josef? Don't you know that was a compliment?" Hilda joked.
Josef deliberated with himself a moment, then spoke, "I cannot but feel it is undeserved."
"What?" Gonff exclaimed. "How is that? Are you not diligent? Are you not hardworking?"
His son smiled briefly in a teasing manner. "Most certainly, Father; what peace would I have from Mother if I were not?" The party members chuckled at this, before Josef became more serious. "But to what purpose am I, Father? I feel lost; I work without knowing what I work for, except for the sake of the Abbey. Now even this is done, and I must need find my own place in life. But where? How? For this reason, dear Bella, I feel your praise for me is undeserved."
There was then silence while the various creatures present considered Josef's words. Finally, Bella requested that she be allowed to speak with Gonff and Josef alone.
Bella motioned for her visitors to sit once they had entered her private study. After taking a moment to become comfortable, she began. "Josef, for many seasons you had assumed you would join the order when you were of age. Am I to assume that this is no longer your intention?"
Josef bowed his head slightly at this question, turning down his eyes. "Over the past few months, I have come to realize how I depend on physical labor. Were I to join the order, my life would be devoted to peace and meditation. While this would be a most noble lifestyle, I feel within me that it is not what I am meant to do. Yet I also worry that this is my own selfishness that restrained my heart so . . ."
"Think on that no longer," Bella interrupted briskly. "I have long known you were not cut out for the order, and merely wished to know if you yourself had realized it."
This surprised Josef greatly. "You knew of my hesitation?"
"Perhaps before you did."
Here Gonff broke in; "Josef, anyone can see that you are a mouse of action, just as the great Martin once was. While I am sure you would not be discontented as a brother of Redwall, I and many others have long perceived that you were meant for something greater."
At first, Josef was not quite sure what to say. He had been fearing the moment when he would half to ask for advice as to his future, but it now seemed he was the only one who hadn't already come to terms with it. "What do you suggest I do then?"
Bella chucked lightly. "My dear Josef, the question of what you shall do is one which only you can answer. My advice is simply to be patient. Do not waste your time worrying about what you will do; spend your time doing what is before you, and eventually your path with become clear. Now, both of you, to bed! This wise old head needs some rest."
Back down in the Great Hall, Bunfold was putting the final touches to his breakfast setup. For the morning of the Autumn Festival, the tables were pre-laid, and everyone would get up early so as to begin the feast at sunrise. Alongside the common favorites of deeper'n'ever pie and hotroot soup were a seemingly endless variety of trifles, cheeses, and salads, which were to be washed down with drafts of chilled October ail and red currant wine, with mint tea for the dibbuns. But the centerpiece of it all was most certainly Bunfold's three-tier cake, decorated with candied chestnuts and mint leaves with a collection of blueberries clustered at the top.
"Urr, Oi've got ter hand et to yer, you've marnaged ta make yon feast looken as purty as tha Arbbey windows, oo burr."
"Thank you, Father Abbot; that means a great deal to me coming from you."
To say that Bunfold was proud of his work would have been a severe understatement; gazing at his work, the fat friar was brought almost to tears.
"Honestly, though, only such a feast would be worthy of such an occasion. Tomorrow, we celebrate the confirmation of Mossflower's enduring peace! From now on, there will be a place of refuge in Mossflower, a place safe from the dangers of the outside world, where all creatures can live in peace. How it makes me giddy to think of it!"
Socrates remained solemn at his friend's words, turning them over in his head. "Et burst not to be speaken to soon, moi furend. Vury often, thur peace is jest the calmen afore thur storm."
Disclaimer: I don't own RedwallC, or Redwall, or RedwallT, or a red wall, or . . . actually, that's all the puns I can think of! Although, I do own a copy of Redwall. Anyway . . .
Now, for those of you who, like me, feel disappointed that, after a [two?] year long wait, this is all I've brought you; please realize that the very fact that it is inadequate is the reason why it took so long. For the first nine chapters, we were dealing with characters I had full reign over and cared about. But here, we are dealing with characters that are only partially mine and are bound by continuity. While I do care for some of these characters, I do not care for all of them, and it is always difficult to write characters who you don't care about.
In addition, I'm heading off to college, and that whole process has taken up a lot of the time I used to write in.
I decided to title this chapter "1," in remembrance of the way Jacques chapter-titled his first book, Redwall; since this was my first story, I thought it would be appropriate. Also, the food listings in this chapter were laboriously put together by consultation of Outcast of Redwall and Taggerung, the two books in the Redwall series that associate most with this one. Also, I put the disclaimer and review answers at the end because, DIFFERENT! Oh, and 614 views!
Reviews:
Ledopthra Mica – I know I said "by the end of April," and I cannot tell you how sorry I am that I didn't meet that deadline! Unfortunately, school takes priority, and I've had a lot of it in preparing for college. Don't expect much from me in future; if the words aren't coming to me naturally, it will take four times as long for you to receive something decent. I agree the lines in the previous chapter are somewhat odd; I was trying to instill a sense of regularity in the function of the ship. BTW, I've been thinking more and more about what you said about the Camendments, and I want to thank you for your honesty; considering everything, I've decided to take them down.
Do not expect regular updates for this story; between school, family, and The Last Resort, I'm stretched pretty thin. Don't worry, though; I'll keep working, and we'll see when this gets finished (and if I can get out the other parts of the GoodbeastTetralogy). Review and favoritize! Shalom! And God bless you all! TTT 8/5/2016 12:16 AM (yea, I know; crazy, right?)
P.S. Please forgive me for the terrible molespeech.