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

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14 Brian Jacques

in all the land, nor any tree that produced such wood. It was also a good
weapon, because besides being a lone wanderer, Russa Nodrey was also an expert
fighter and a very dangerous warrior, in her own quiet way.

Off again on her latest odyssey, Russa stopped to rest among the cliff ledges
not far from Camp Tussock. Happy with her own company, she sat by the stream's
edge, drank her fill of the sweet cold water, and settled down to enjoy the
late-afternoon sun in a nook protected from the wind. The sound of another
creature nearby did not bother Russa unduly; she knew it was a mole and
therefore friendly. With both eyes closed, as if napping, Russa waited until
the creature was right up close, then she spoke in perfect molespeech to it.

"Hurr, gudd day to ee, zurr, wot you'm be a doin' yurra-bouts?"
Roolee, the husband of Osmunda, was taken aback, though he did not show it. He
sat down next to Russa and raised a hefty digging claw in greeting. "Gudd day
to ee, marm, noice weather us'n's be 'avin', burr aye!"

Russa answered in normal speech, "Aye, a pity that some-beasts blunder along
to disturb a body's rest when all she craves is peace an' quiet."

"Yurr, so 'tis, marm, so 'tis." Roolee nodded agreement. * 'Tho' if ee be who
oi think ee be, marm Mem at Camp Tussock will be pleased to see ee. May'ap
you'm koindly drop boi furr vittles?''

Russa was up on her paws immediately. "Why didn't you just say that instead of
yappin' about the weather? I'd travel three rough leagues 'fore breakfast if I
knew me old friend Mem Divinia was still cookin' those pancakes an' hotpots of
hers!"

Roolee led the way, his velvety head nodding. "Burr aye, marm, ee Mem still be
ee gurtest cook yurrabouts, she'm doin' pannycakes, ottenpots, an' all manner
o' gudd vittles!"

Russa ran several steps ahead of Roolee coming into Camp Tussock. Lynum was
doing sentry duty at the stockade entrance. In the fading twilight he saw the
strange squirrel approaching and decided to exercise his authority.

Barring the way with a long oak quarterstaff, he called of-

The Long Patrol 15

ficiously, "Halt an' be recognized, who goes there, stranger at the gate!"

Russa was hungry, and she had little time for such foolishness. She gave the
husky hare a smart rap across his footpaw with her stick. "Hmm, you've grown