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

hundreds more gushed into the chamber. Above he could hear Jupiter returning. He had no hope of escape. Morgan’s hot, foul breath was on his neck.
    ‘Piccadilly! Don’t even try,’ he shouted. ‘Run as fast as you can.’ Albert twisted and tore at the mousebrass around his neck. ‘For Gwennie!’ he cried and threw the charm to the young mouse.
    ‘Don’t dither, lad!’ he yelled, then turned his attention to Morgan. ‘I bet you don’t know what His Nibs has got in store for you! You’re all going to catch it hot!’
    Piccadilly clung to the mousebrass, his heart pounding in his mouth and his feet like dead weights. The teeming force of rats rushed towards him, and Piccadilly ran.
    ‘Don’t look back, Dilly-O. Tell Gwennie I love her!’
    Jupiter’s voice suddenly boomed in the confusion. ‘Catch that mouse and bring him to me!’ Cries and whoops came from the rats enjoying the chase. ‘Now,’ Jupiter turned to Morgan, ‘deliver your spy – I shall peel him myself.’
    As Piccadilly ran blindly in the dark passage, over the tumult of the pursuing enemies, he heard Albert cry out then no more.
    Sobbing as he fled, Piccadilly clenched the brass tightly to his thumping breast.

2. Audrey
     
    Audrey ate a meagre breakfast; her appetite was small today. Idly she nibbled on a cracker, and thought about the day ahead. It was to be a busy day in the Skirtings. The preparations for the Great Spring Festival were already being made. With her head resting on one paw she sighed. Her brother, Arthur, had gulped down two helpings and hurried away to join in the making of the decorations. Audrey was not in the mood. Where was her father?
    It had been a whole day and night since Albert had disappeared – no one had seen him slip through the grating so nobody knew where to start looking.
    That morning, Gwen had woken the children as usual and tried to put a brave face on things. When Albert was mentioned she would pause and explain that he was probably on a foraging jaunt and would bring them a wonderful present each. But Audrey had heard her mother weeping in the night: her heavy sobs had kept her awake and now she was tired and miserable.
    ‘Come on Audrey,’ her mother said. ‘A big day for you, you must eat.’ Gwen Brown had a matronly figure that spoke of a comely beauty in her youth. Her fur was a rich chestnut and her hair a curly brown. Today, however, the usually bright hazel eyes seemed dim – her face looked worn and her shoulders seemed to droop.
    ‘I’m not hungry, Mother,’ Audrey said and pushed the food away. ‘When will Father come back?’
    Gwen sat down next to her daughter and cradled her head in her arms. ‘He’s never been away this long,’ she admitted. ‘Perhaps you and I ought to prepare ourselves for grim news – or none at all.’ She stroked Audrey’s hair and held her tightly.
    ‘Today I get my brass.’ Audrey looked into her mother’s eyes. ‘I’ll be a grown mouse.’ She paused and fingered the brass that hung around Gwen’s neck. It was the respectable sign of the house mouse – a picture of cheese formed in the yellow metal. ‘Mother, do you know what my sign will be?’
    ‘No my love, no one knows – not even the Mouse in the Green who gives it to you. It is your destiny. Whatever you receive, it will be right for you.’
    ‘Then I hope it isn’t like yours,’ Audrey remarked. ‘I don’t want to settle down and be a house mouse forever.’
    ‘Well, that’s just what you are, my love,’ said Gwen. ‘Now go and help Arthur and the others decorate the hall while I clear away.’
    Audrey left the table and wandered into her’ and Arthur’s room. Sitting on her bed, she took a pink ribbon from around one of the corner posts and tied it in her hair so that the top of her head looked as if it was sprouting.
    She had delicate features – almost elfin. If you could imagine a fairy mouse that would be Audrey, although she would not have thanked you for