"Brian Jacques - Redwall 02 - Mossflower" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jacques Brian)

name of spikes'll we find food to pay their tolls?"

Ben Stickle threw down the piece of firewood despairingly. ' 'Where can we run
in midwinter with four little 'uns? They'd perish long afore spring."

Urthclaw produced a narrow strip of silver birch bark and held a paw to his
mouth, indicating silence. Scratched on the

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bark in charcoal was a single word: Corim. Beneath it was a simple picture map
showing a route into Mossflower Woods, far from Kotir.

Ben studied the map, torn between the chance of escape and his family's
predicament. The frustration was clear on his face.

Bang! Bang!

"Open up in there! Come on, get this door open. This is an official Kotir
patrol."

Soldiers!

Ben took one last hasty glance at die strip of bark and threw it on the fire.
As Goody lifted the latch the door was thrust forcefully inward. She was swept
to one side as the soldiers packed into the room, out of the winter night
chill. They pushed and shoved at each other roughly. A ferret named Blacktooth
and a stoat called Splitnose seemed to be in charge of the patrol. Ben Stickle
signed with relief as they turned away from the burning strip of bark and
stood with their backs to the fire.

"Well now, dozyspikes, where are you hiding all the bread and cheese and
October ale?"

Ben could scarce keep the hatred from his voice as he answered the sneering
Blacktooth. "It's many a long season since I tasted cheese or October ale.
There's bread on the shelf, but only enough for my family."

Splitnose spat into the fire and reached for the bread. Ben Stickle was
blocked from stopping the stoat by a barrier of spear hafts as he tried to
push forward.

Goody placed a restraining paw on her husband's spikes. "Please, Ben, don't
fight 'em, the great bullies."

Urthclaw chimed in, "Yurr, baint much 'ee c'n do agin spears, Ben."

Blacktooth turned to the mole as if seeing him for the first time. "Huh,
what're you doing here, blinkeye?"