"Brian Jacques - Redwall 10 - The Long Patrol" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jacques Brian)

me join the jolly oF

The Long Patrol 7

Long Patrol, then I wouldn't have t'get up to all sorts o' mischief,
'specially with your ax, sah."

The Colonel sighed and shook his head, the monocle falling to one side as he
settled back wearily into his armchair. "I've told you a hundred times,
m'laddo, you're far too young, too wild'n'wayward, not got the seasons under
y'belt yet. You speak to him, Mem, m'dear, the rogue's got me worn out. Join
the Long Patrol indeed. Hmph! No self-respectin' Badger Lord would tolerate a
green b'hind the ears little pestilence like you, laddie buck. Run along an'
play now, you've given me enough gray fur, go an' bother some otherbeast. Be
off, you're dismissed, sah. Matter closed!"

Tammo saluted smartly and hurried off, blinking back unshed tears at his
father's brusque command. Mem took the pace stick from her husband's lap and
slapped it down hard into his paw.

"Shame on you, Comspurrey," she cried, "you're nought but a heartless old
bodger. How could y'talk to your own son like that?"

The Colonel replaced his monocle and squinted challeng-ingly. "Bodger y'self,
marm! I'd give me permission for Lynum or Saithe t'join up with the Long
Patrol, they're both of a right age. Stap me, though, neither of 'em's
interested, both want t'be bally soil-pawed farmbeasts, I think." He smiled
slightly and stroked his curled mustache. "Young Tammo, now, there's a wild
'un, full of fire'n'vinegar like I was in me green seasons. Hah! He'll grow
t'be a dangerous an' perilous beast one day, mark m'words, Mem!"
Mem Divinia spoke up on Tammo's behalf: "Then why not let him join up? You
know 'tis all he's wanted since he was a babe listenin' to your tales around
the fire. Poor Tammo, he lives, eats, an' breathes Long Patrol. Let him go,
Corney, give him his chance."

But the Colonel was resolute; he never went back on a decision. "Tammo's far
too young by half. Said all I'm goin' t'say, m'dear. Matter closed!"

; Popping out his monocle with a wink, Comspurrey De Fformelo Tussock
settled back into the armchair and closed his good eye, indicating that this
was his prelunch naptime. Mem Divinia knew further talk was pointless. She
sighed wearily

8 Brian Jacques

and went back to her friend Osmunda the molewife, who was assisting with the
cooking.

Osmunda shook her head knowingly, muttering away in the curious molespeech,
"Burr aye, you'm roight, Mem, ee be nought but an ole bodger. Oi wuddent be