Free Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques Page A

beast who was like me—when did he pass by here?”
    Driftail was not stupid; he knew he had to say something to keep himself alive, so he resorted to a lie. “Aaaaargh! T’ree, no, four night ago, diss beast pass ’ere, goin’ to d’east!”
    Gulo tightened his cruel grip. “The stone he carried with him . . . of what size was it?”
    Driftail quickly reckoned to himself that, if anybeast were to carry a stone on a long journey, it could not be too huge. He babbled on, hoping to buy himself some time. “Not bigga stone, only der size of, er, er, apple!”
    Gulo’s voice dropped to a whisper. It sounded like a blade scraping across glass. “Those who lie are bound to die!”
    Runneye and the other rats, having heard the screams, huddled together in alarm. The same white fox, Zerig,came with the four guards. He pointed to Runneye. “Bring this one next!”
    Lifted clear off the ground, Runneye was borne away, whimpering, “I never did no’tink! Driftail be’s Chief!”
    The River Rat was flung roughly to the ground, landing facedown, not daring to look up. However, he was compelled to obey the voice of his captor.
    â€œLook at me, rat, I am Gulo the Savage!”
    One terrified glance from Runneye told him all. The rat was staring into the face of a living nightmare. An image flashed through Runneye’s mind of an unfledged sparrow facing a serpent. Gulo’s sadistic nature revelled in tormenting those he held helpless. “What name be ye called, rat?”
    Gulo watched, amused by his victim’s stammering. “R . . . R . . . Runneye.”
    The wolverine spat out fragments of scorched feather. “Tell me, what do ye eat?”
    It was a strange question. Runneye tried to compose himself and answer as best he could. “Fishes, bird egg, mebbe bird if’n we catch ’im. Most time jus’ der roots’n’berries.”
    Gulo leaned forward. The smile that crept over his evil face was not a pleasant sight. Runneye caught a whiff of his fetid breath as the savage whispered, “Do ye know what is the best of food? Can ye tell me what Gulo and his warriors like to eat, can ye guess?”
    Puzzled, the River Rat shook his head. “No.”
    The wolverine bared his awesome fangs. “We eat anybeast that moves. Birds, fish, snakes . . . rats.”
    Runneye’s good eye widened as he mouthed the word “R . . . rats!”
    Gulo nodded, his savage eyes glittering insanely. Runneye gave a strangled moan and fainted with fright.
    The wolverine kicked the senseless rat. “Take this weak fool and feed him to my warriors. Bring the next one here!”
    The handsome white fox, Shard, who was Gulo’s leading captain, was standing behind the drum. He leaned overand spoke respectfully into his master’s ear. “Methinks we will learn nought from these creatures, Lord. Thy power over them is so terrible that they cannot talk. Soon ye will have slain them all.”
    Gulo growled impatiently, but he heeded Shard’s counsel. “So, what would thy method be, Shard?”
    The white fox had his answer ready. “Let me question the rats, Lord. ’Tis clear they have not seen thy brother, nor do they know what the Walking Stone is. Mayhap I will get some information from this one when he revives. Then thou can do what thou wilt with the rest. Just allow me to try, O Savage One.”
    Gulo picked a fragment of feather from between his fangs. “If they know nought of Askor, or my Walking Stone, how can the brainless idiots tell thee anything?”
    Shard spoke soothingly to placate his ferocious master. “One may catch more birds with honey than with stones, Lord. I have my ways. Oftimes creatures will tell me things they thought they did not know. Mayhap the rats know not thy brother or the Stone, but methinks they would know where a beast