"Brian Jacques - Redwall 06 - Martin The Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jacques Brian)

There was little doubt the hedgehog was a mighty beast. Tossing the rope
across his shoulder, he trudged off through the snow, hauling the log and its
passengers behind with no trace of effort.

Redwall Abbey stood backed by the vastness of Mossflower Woods, its front
facing the path and open flatlands to the west. Capped with snow, the
beautiful building resembled a vast frosted cake, walls, battlements,
belltower and Abbey fringed with icicles hanging over its red sandstone towers
and turrets.
Abbot Saxtus folded his paws into wide habit sleeves, gazing up at the main
building. Beside him old Simeon

the blind herbalist leaned on a hawthorn stick, sniffing the cold air.

"Looks beautiful, doesn't it, Saxtus?"

Knowing his friend's uncanny knack of sensing every movement, the Abbot
nodded. "Remember what our old friend Abbot Bernard said before he passed on:
No matter what the season, Redwall always looks marvellous."

Simeon sniffed the air again and held up a paw. "Somebeast is coming this way.
One, maybe twoтАФit's hard to tell."

They stood out on the path by the open main gates. Saxtus watched until he saw
the party approaching.

"I might have known. It's Bagg, Runn and Grubb. They've brought company, two
travellers."

Simeon tapped his stick on the snow eagerly. "Oh good, we'll have some fresh
tales in Cavern Hole tonight!"

Old Friar Cockleburr hurried along with the preparations for a Midwinter
Mossflower Feast, helped by his assistant, Alder. Both mice worked furiously,
putting the finishing touches to dishes as they called out orders to the
Redwallers on kitchen duty.

"Brush more honey on that pie if you want a good shiny crust!"

"Pass those chopped nuts and greensap milk, please."

"Quick, pull those pasties from the oven before they're too brown!"

"Durry Quill, will you stop loading hotroot pepper into that soup!"

"Ohhh, leave me be, soup's gotter be 'ot t'be any good."

Paws on hips, Cockleburr glared at the hedgehog. "I wish you'd go back to your
cellars and see to the drinks with your Uncle Gabriel. Go on, be off with
you!"