Chapter Five


Over the next two weeks I struggled to fit into the lifestyle that Josh had escaped from. I earned a job on the docks, loading boxes onto ships. It was tiring work, but most of Iggie's friends did it, and they had taken an almost immediate liking to me. It did not pay much, though, and I struggled to pay Iggie's rent charges each week.

I kept ungodly hours, accompanying Iggie and the other mice to a bar called The Red Dragon until morning. They always complained about it, talking about another saloon called The Rat Trap, which had served their taste better. I gathered from these conversations that the police had shut it down, because it had once been an entrance to Ratigan's lair.

Most of the thugs I hung out with worked for Ratigan. Many of them were searching for me (or, at least, Meg Sarentis), trying to bring me back to him. Most were mad at Josh for "abandoning" his true friends, so it wasn't hard to get many volunteers for that work. The mice tried to get me to join them in their work, but I always declined the offer, making up some excuse or other.

Basil visited me every other day on the docks, bringing letters from Josh. He would be disguised as an old crone. I would write out a reply, and Basil would send it back to Josh. He told me they burned the letters after he was done reading them.
One night I accompanied Iggie and his friends to The Red Dragon for a game of poker. Even though one of my childhood friends had once taught me to play, I didn't really know the game, and lost most of my day's wages whenever I tried to bluff my way through.

Tonight was no exception. I had just lost all my day's wages to another game of poker, and was examining my surroundings. The bar was dim, smoky lanterns making the only light. Cigarette smoke wafted through the air, making it unbearable to breathe. Several mice were accompanied by various ladies-of-the-evening, and many were already drunk. A young mouse dressed in a skimpy costume was dancing on the stage.

I could hear the mouse behind me laughing uproariously. I glanced behind me. Chuck C. He was one of the toughest mice on the streets, Iggie had told me. No one wanted to cross Chuck's path when he was in a foul temper.

Josh had written to me, telling me he was going to visit me at an old bridge by the railroad tracks on the outskirts of London. It would be the first time I saw him in two weeks. I had only an hour before I was to go meet him.

I stole another glance toward a reserved table on the balcony above me. Ratigan came here almost every evening. He was sitting there as usual, smoking a cigarette and watching the entertainment on the stage below. I looked away before he got suspicious. To my relief, I saw Ratigan leave The Red Dragon after the girl danced off stage.

Another very young mouse came and served us more drinks. She looked like she was only twelve years old. I took the cheap beer and pretended to drink out of the tumbler, laughing along with the rest of the mice. "Ah, this is the life, ain't it, Rattler!" Lenny smacked my back. I practically choked on some beer, still trying to laugh.

"Let me go, let me go!" We looked in the direction of the noise.

Chuck C. had grabbed the tail of our young barmaid, and was harassing her. "Aw, c'mon, honey!" He tried to drag her toward him. I was so mad to see a poor young girl taken advantage of by that moron. My blood boiled.

"Please, let me go!" she cried.

"Now c'mon here, I ain't gonna hurt-" I smashed my tumbler on his head. The girl scrambled away.

Chuck lost it. He knocked over his chair, his face going red. He grabbed my collar and lifted me off my feet. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, FLEABAG?" he roared, spitting on my face.

"You gonna pick on a little girl, now?" I asked, trying to sound tough.

"Chuck, the Rattler didn't mean it," Iggie said.

"Oh, yes I did!" I yelled in a high-pitched voice.

"Rattler, eh?" Chuck threw me to the ground. "Well, Rattler, let's see how well you do against Chuck C."

The mice in The Red Dragon made a circle around us. Chuck pulled out his switchblade. I followed suit with Josh's blade. He lunged at me. I used my blade like a sword, blocking his from cutting into me. He backed off and tried again several more times. I then kicked him in the shin. He thrust the blade at me; I dodged it. He grabbed my hand and bit me, causing me to drop the switchblade. I punched him in the eye. We wrestled on the ground. He grabbed my throat and began to squeeze.

Basil once told me, when I was still working for him as a housemaid, that my temper was going to be the death of me one day. I saw the truth in this statement as I fought for my life against this powerful mouse. I could not get him off of me.

I saw my switchblade only inches within my grasp. I used all my strength to turn and grab it; he reacted by pulling a razorblade out of his pocket and stabbed my left arm with it. I cried out in pain. He pulled it out to strike again; I drove Josh's blade into his thigh. I yanked it out and scrambled to my feet, my hat toppling off my head.

"Get him!" Chuck screeched.

I raced out of The Red Dragon. I ran for what felt like hours, trying to hide from Chuck. I finally made it to the bridge I was supposed to meet Josh. I took out a handkerchief and gingerly wrapped my arm, trying to stop the bleeding. It was in great amounts of pain. I wiped off Josh's switchblade on my trousers.

I was exhausted. Josh told me not to meddle in others' affairs. How could I be so stupid?

I suddenly realized the strands of hair flowing about my face. My hat was hanging on the back of my coat, caught by my thick hair. I quickly gathered it up again. Had anybody seen it?

I waited for Josh for a long time, still worrying over the thought. Suddenly a sack was thrown over me. "We gotcha, Rattler!"


JWJ: That was so-

Emma: WOULD YOU CAN IT FOR ONCE? We're all getting sick of your negative comments!

JWJ: Hey, I never make fun of you!