"Brian Jacques - Redwall 07 - The Bellmaker" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jacques Brian)

The squirrel's eyes shone as he gazed into the fire.

The BellmoJcer 3

"Aye, that's right. Memories. Long seasons gone an' high old summers that
never fade from our minds."

The bass-voiced molebabe looked up from his second helping. "Do that mean ee
goin' to tell us'n's a tale, zurr?" he asked.
"Well, there's nothing else t'do in weather like this," said the ancient
squirrel, as he put aside his bowl and spoon. "Aye, I'll tell you a story, but
my mate will have to help me out in parts, because it's a very long tale."

Jerril was licking his bowl, but he popped his head out to say, "Did yer make
it up, sir?"

The squirrel shook his grizzled head vigorously. "Make it up? Indeed not. No,
young feller, this story is true. 'Tis not just my story; it belongs to many
creatures. 1 gathered their own bits from each one of 'em."

The hedgehog in the armchair opposite nodded. "Aye, though it would've never
happened but for one, a mouse called Joseph the Bellmaker, for the dream was
his."

Outside, the rain flattened young grass and the wind rattled leafless branches
that were trying hard to put out small buds. A delicately thin icicle tinkled
from the gatehouse roof, like the last tear of winter. Inside, the ruddy
firelight gleamed on the young faces, each one watching the ancient squirrel
as he leaned forward and began the story.

BOOK ONE

The Dream

It is said that in the hungry land of ice and snow from whence he came the
beast was known and feared by the names he had taken. Fox wolf! The Urgan
Nagru!

He and his mate, Silvamord, commanded a vast horde of savage gray rats. They
ravaged the northlands unopposedтАФtundra, forest, and mountain lay under the
claws of Nagru and his vixen. But the Foxwolf knew there was one enemy he
could never defeat, one foe more ruthless than any living thing. Winter!

Snow, ice, howling blizzards, and famine were the real rulers of the country
he had despoiled, a bone-chilling starkness that conquered all. Nagru and
Silvamord were forced to yield, realizing that starvation and death stalked
the country they had stripped bare. So it was that Nagru took Silvamord and
all the horde in three great ships to search for the sun.

Those were the dangerous seasons. Battered across dark, roaring seas they