The Deptford Mice 1: The Dark Portal Read Free Page A

and that bag of rancid bacon! It fair tore their hearts to part with it but they did. All for your love, Great One! For your greater, glory, oh Voice in the Deep.’
    Morgan wrung his hands together for the finishing touch and hung his head for extra emphasis.
    ‘Love!’ Jupiter spat with scorn. ‘They do these things from fear.’ The soft voice snapped, filling the large chamber. The eyes narrowed but lost none of their fire.
    ‘I am Jupiter! I am the dark thought in their waking hours, I invade their dreams and bring horror! I am the essence of night, the terror around the corner, the echo behind! They fear me!’
    Morgan threw himself on the floor. The candles flared and flames scorched the chamber roof.
    Piccadilly shrank against the tunnel wall. This was their chance to escape, but fascinated by the scene before them the two mice remained frozen.
    Jupiter continued. ‘You do well to prostrate yourself before me,’ he told Morgan. ‘Perhaps you forget my power and hope to blind me with the honeyed words that ooze from your deceitful tongue. Remember your place as my servant!’ The candle flames suddenly spluttered and turned an infernal red, so that Morgan appeared to be bathed in blood.
    ‘Oh Master spare me!’ he squealed and buried his snout in his grimy claws. ‘They conspire and grumble, and I am caught in between. What can I do?’
    The candle flames dwindled and returned to their normal colour.
    ‘Send two or three of the troublemakers to me. They shall serve me here in the void, on this side of the candles. Tell the other conspirators that I hear their grumblings – my mind stands beside each one of my subjects.’
    Morgan rose and waited for permission to leave.
    Jupiter spoke again.
    ‘Better still, bring them all before me. A demonstration of my unease should quell their mutinous hearts. I will give them the goal that they desire for their work. Leave me.’
    The rat bowed and scurried into one of the openings that led off from the altar chamber. The two eyes retreated into the black recess and disappeared. The voice, however, could still be heard faintly as Jupiter talked to himself and went over his plans.
    Piccadilly tugged Albert’s elbow. ‘Let’s go now,’ he hissed, ‘while we can.’ But Albert was still looking beyond the candles, trying to pierce the shadows.
    ‘What’s he up to?’ he asked softly.
    ‘I don’t care and you shouldn’t either,’ whispered Piccadilly. ‘It’s all rat stuff – nothing to do with us – some mucky scheme or other – sewer business.’
    ‘No lad,’ said Albert taking a step forward. ‘There’s some terrible evil here and it will affect us all – rats, mice and the world beyond.’ He looked at the young mouse yet did not see him, for his thoughts were far away. He felt an awful doom creeping up on him which he knew he would have to bear. He looked up quickly. ‘I must hear him. You stay here.’
    Piccadilly was horrified. The older mouse crept out into the altar chamber and passed the first candle until he was beneath the dark portal. His paw cupped his ear as he listened to the designs of Jupiter.
    Piccadilly paced around inside the passage. Was this mouse cracked? Any minute now a whole army of rats would come pouring into the chamber. He scratched his head and looked over to Albert. Albert could obviously hear the rat-god, and what he heard was clearly not good news.
    The look of disbelief on Albert’s face turned to one of complete shock. Piccadilly tried to warn him but only a strangled squeak came out. It was too late. Albert felt a terrible pain in his shoulders as they were gripped in sharp claws.
    Morgan had him and would not let go.
    ‘Ho, my Lord!’ cried the rat. ‘See what I, Morgan, have found – a spy!’
    Piccadilly saw Albert swinging by his shoulders where Morgan still held him tightly.
    ‘Alby!’ he shouted and ran from the tunnel.
    ‘Another spy!’ Morgan snarled.
    Albert wriggled in the rat’s clutches as