Gabool the Wild was the king of the searats. No creature alive was a fiercer fighter than Gabool. In all the seas and oceans on Earth there had never been a rat like him.

Gabool lived on an island called Terramort, which meant "Land of Death." His castle, Fort Bladegirt stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. Evil pirate rats would come from far and wide to stay at Bladegirt after their long plundering voyages.

Now Gabool was walking through his banqueting hall. He was wearing a black leather vest, long black gloves, and high heeled shoes. A string of white pearls hung around his neck. Nobeast dared to make fun of him for the way he dressed, because if they did, he would kill them.

There were statues everywhere, of rats and mice and badgers and other creatures. Some of them had missing heads or arms. Gabool paused when he reached the great golden bell in the middle of the floor. Gabool loved beautiful things, and surely no Searat King had ever taken such a magnificent prize. He pinged the bell with his long curving claws, sounded it by banging his rings and bracelets upon its brazen surface, amazed by the clear musical noises it made, tingling, humming, and vibrating.

"What do you think?" he asked the other vermin in the hall.

"It's a credit to your genius, master," said a rat named Graypatch, who had a patch over one eye.

"A triumph of your will!" said a red rat named Fishgill. (By the way, Fishgill is a female rat in this version of the story.)

"It's okay," said Kita, the only ferret on the island.

Gabool glared at her. "Okay? I think we can do better than that! Anyway, I didn't make it for you."

"You didn't make it at all," Tyra pointed out. "You stole it."

On a sudden impulse Gabool dashed off. Slamming the door behind him, he took the downward stairs three at a time, deeper and deeper into the depths of his lair. Two guards were standing at the entrance to the prison cells. Gabool whirled upon them with a snarl.

"Get out of my sight and leave me alone here!"

As the guards fled, Gabool made his way to a cell that was little more than a cage. He lounged against the bars, grinning at the pitiful creature locked inside.

"Well, are you ready to work for me yet, Joseph the Bellmaker? Or should I say Joseph von Bellmaker?"

Joseph the Bellmaker was chained by his waist to the wall. The floor of the subterranean cell was awash with sea water which seeped through from outside. Joseph had once been a powerful, well-fleshed mouse, but now his cheeks were sunken and dark circles formed around his eyes. Starvation and ill treatment had taken their ruthless toll on the bellmaker, though as he raised his head, both eyes burned with remorseless hatred for his captor.

"I would sooner be eaten by the fishes of the sea than serve you, you stupid northern rat!"

Gabool continued as if he had not heard the prisoner. "You can do it, Joseph, I know you can. A bell tower strong enough to hold the great bell, right on top of my fort, where the whole world will… hear it! Hmm, mm, mm!"

Joseph pulled forward, straining at the chain in the enclosed space, his voice shaking with pent up rage. "What have you done with my daughter Mariel?"

Gabool chuckled. "Hmm, mm, mm! Nothing. Why, d'you think I should?"

"Let me see her!"

"Now matey, do you really want her to see you like this?"

Joseph continued tugging at the chain, trying to break free. "If you build my bell tower I will let you see her again, but not until you've… hmm, mm, mm, carried out the work," Gabool said.

Joseph bit his lip. "Gabool, listen. I would not put a single stone atop another for you. Why? Because it would mean death, torture, or slavery for countless other good creatures. Don't you understand, rat, my conscience would not let me, after what I saw they did to the crew of the Periwinkle. I must do the right thing for the sake of others."

Gabool summoned up all his cunning, his black soul driving him on to wickedness, belying the smile on his face as he put his paws on his hips. Raising one eyebrow, he said, "Hmm, mm, mm, very stubborn, Joseph. You're so… forceful. I like that in a beast. But hark, bellmaker, I'm sure you'd like to see your daughter again, wouldn't you, matey?"

Tears of gratitude beaded in the prisoner's eyes. "She means more to me than anything. Please let me see her!"

Gabool took the keys from a wallspike. "Hell's gates! I must be getting soft in me old age. Come on, then."

Gabool unlocked Joseph from his cage and led him into the banqueting hall. Joseph looked around. "Where is she?"

Gabool smiled, leading him to the open window. "Of course, matey, I can't show you the exact spot where she lies, but I can show you how to… find her!"

He pushed Joseph out the window. Joseph fell over the cliff and into the sea.

Fishgill and Kita were laughing like crazy. Graypatch came running back in. "Master, the Darkqueen's sails have been sighted. I saw them on the monitor."

"Where away?" said Gabool.

"To the north. She should drop anchor here this evening."

"Excellent. Did you set up the wall hanging trap like I told you?"

Graypatch rubbed his paws together. "Everything is in readiness, master. We merely await your word."

Gabool said, "I'm eternally grateful to you and Fishgill. You will be well rewarded for your loyalty to me."

"I ask for nothing, master."

"And you shall receive it… in abundance!" Gabool cackled. "By the way, where's the cook? That funny hare?"

"You sent him away on dat ship bound for da Pride Lands, don't ya remember?" said Kita. "Da one dat never came back?"

Gabool's good mood was abruptly gone. Angrily he dealt the bell a mighty whack, causing it to boom and bong out all around the hall. The noise echoed so much that the sound was still heard after a minute or so.

"Blast! Then I suppose Fishgill will have to be in charge of supper. Fishgill, I want you to prepare the… special meat… for our guests tonight. You know the one I mean. From the freezer."

He swaggered off, Kita following him.

"Who does that Gabool think he is?" Fishgill asked angrily.

"He's drunk on his own power. You saw what he did to Bludrigg. He's becoming a real danger to society." said Graypatch. "But I've been forming a few plans of my own. Between us we can outsmart him when the time comes."

Fishgill gasped. "Are you talkin' mutiny?"

Graypatch took out his trusty dagger and fingered it. "Not exactly. We can't overthrow him, but we can leave him and go someplace safe, where he can't find us. If we stay here much longer, we'll meet the same fate as Bludrigg, take my affidavit on it!"