Scenes that never made it to the Redwall books

By Joseph Dunlap

Lord Brocktree

In Lord Brocktree, during the part where Dotti is challenging Bucko Bigbones, there is a bankvole referee who presides over the three events. As a matter of fact, Brian Jacques liked this idea so much that he began writing an entire section on the spur of the moment:

After beating Bucko Bigbones in all three challenges, Dotti thought that the whole thing would be over. Much to her surprise, Bucko was back up on his feet in a matter of seconds.

"Ach, ye've won th' first three cha'nges, ah'll grant ye. But ah'll wager ye can ne'er outplay me in a gemm o' basketball!"

Dotti found herself being outfitted in a basketball uniform, with Bucko being dressed likewise. "A bit o' one on one, eh wot? I guess I can accept th' challenge, sah!" she said as the bankvole referee, clad in stripes, appeared with a regulation-sized game ball.

After the jump, which Bucko won, the game seemed to be going in his direction, as he was larger and came up with most of the rebounds. At halftime Dotti was behind by a good 20 points. As she made her way to the bench, Southpaw and Bobweave brought her a bottle of Gatorade and a white towel from the locker room.

"Here y'are, ol' gel, quench that parched throat o' yours with a nice swig o' this. 'Twill give you a bit o' pep, wot?"

"Wipe y'brow with this towel, Dotti ol' sport. I brought it just for you."

During the short break , she and the adoring twin boxing hares observed the strengths and weaknesses of Bucko Bigbones, who was already up and taking a few practice shots. He was tough, but he couldn't last much longer. His favorite shot was the lay-up, and he was good at it. Another thing they noticed was that his 3-point shots and free throws were inconsistent; it was mainly his size that gave him an adavantage.

The second half, Dotti stayed well away from Bucko when she had the ball, using her speed and footwork whenever possible and shooting a lot of 3-pointers, which she was famous for back home. When she did not have the ball, she forced Bucko into the corners where he would either have to get around her, which he only did two or three times, or shoot a long shot, which was his weakness. With just 15 seconds left, Dotti hooked another 3-point shot in her trademark manner, cutting the lead to three. As Bucko tried to come in for a lay-up, Dotti dodged in, grabbed the ball, and spun around Bucko at the 3-point mark. Instinctively she shot, and in the same moment was fouled by her opponent. All eyes were on the ball as it flew through the air. Amid deafening cheers, it sunk into the back of the net with the clock stopped at five seconds.

Dotti was in a daze as she caught the ball from the referee and squared up at the free throw line. She looked out at the cheering crowd, noticing familiar faces: Lord Brocktree, Southpaw, Bobweave, Fleetscut, Jukka; too bad her parents weren't there to see the game, or anybeast else from back home.

She then turned and looked at the basket, shutting out everything else and focusing on the shot she had to make. She tried to forget that this shot could win the game; she tried hard to remember those long hours she had spent with her father back home in the back yard on that old netless hoop.

For you, father, she thought. And taking a deep breath, she shot.

It was at this point that B.J. stopped writing and realized what he was doing. "This doesn't fit!" he said, and crumpled it up.