CHAPTER SIX: AUGUST

By late August, things were looking up for the colony. Rains had come in time to save most of the harvest, and more crops were planted to replace those that had been lost. The ground animals were keeping to their agreement and stayed away from the fields, and the guards were having better luck than usual in keeping the scavenging birds out of the crops. The stream was back up to its normal level, and the waterwheel was once again giving its power to the colony.

There was one dark spot in those brightening days. With each day that passed, it became increasingly apparent that the new rat Ian was indeed growing older, and at an alarming rate. Most of the other rats had grown to like the newcomer, who had proven to be quite a good doctor, and were distressed by Ian's dilemma. His coat, which had only held a tinge of gray when Ian first came to Thorn Valley, had turned completely silver, and his shoulders were developing a stoop. It seemed that the scientists at NIMH had given him a treatment that greatly shortened his life, rather than prolonging it.

Everyone in the colony was aware that this meant Ian had only a few more months to live at most, and they grieved for him, but Ian himself kept quite busy. He refused special treatment, and continued to help the sick and injured as if nothing were the matter. Once he had finished reading all of the rats' history up to the day of his arrival, Ian spent his spare time down in the workshops with Hugo, working out an idea for an invention of his own.

One afternoon Ian and Hugo went up to the surface to test the finished product. Justin heard about it beforehand and came to watch, curious. Hugo so seldom left the underground part of the colony that only something special could get him to do so, and Justin wanted to see what it was.

Justin found them several yards from the colony's entrance, in a clear spot by the stream. Ian had strapped to his back a very large box, on the side of which was a spool of insulated electrical wire. He was holding a crossbow. The bolt in the weapon was made of metal and was attached to the end of the wire, which passed through a system of pulleys built onto the side of the crossbow.

Hugo was very excited. "I think we've got something here, Justin. If it works right and we can make more, the birds won't come near our plants."

"Great. Uh … what exactly is it?"

"Electric crossbow," Ian said.

"The backpack holds a powerful battery," Hugo explained. "The wire connects it to the bolt, and the pulleys are there so that the wire can unwind without getting caught on anything." Hugo stood back and motioned for Justin to do the same. "Okay, Ian … let her rip!"

Ian flipped a switch below the spool and aimed at a wood block some distance away. He pulled the trigger and the bolt shot toward the wood, the wire unreeling smoothly. The bolt entered the block with a thunk, and immediately the wood around it began to smoke. Within a minute the entire block was engulfed in flames.

Ian yanked at the wire, and the bolt came free. "Don't want this to get damaged."

"That's fantastic!" Justin murmured as he watched the burning piece of wood.

"And it worked perfectly," Hugo added.

"This is what I meant when I said that the idea of the lance could be improved upon," Ian told Justin. "You see, the lance can only be used at close quarters, but this weapon gives you the advantage of distance. Of course, it still needs work. For example, the spool should be mounted on the crossbow, not on the battery. I'd also like to insulate the bolts, except for the tips. That way, accidents would not be as … Justin, are you listening?"

Justin was staring absently into the flames. "Huh? Oh, yes … it's a good weapon, Ian. Can you make more?"

"We think so," Hugo said indignantly, not about to let Justin forget that it was his invention too.

"Very good. Let me know when you can have some ready for the guards." Justin turned and started back toward the colony. Ian watched him walk away, then took off the backpack.

"Hugo, can you take this back in? I want to talk to Justin."

"I suppose so."

"Thanks." Ian ran after Justin, leaving Hugo to take care of the weapon. Justin was walking slowly with his head down, so Ian was able to catch up with him before he reached the colony gate. "Justin, is anything the matter? You looked like you were in a fog back there."

Justin sighed. "It's nothing, really. Elizabeth hasn't felt very well the last couple of days, and she woke up this morning with a fever."

"Would you like me to look at her?"

Justin shook his head. "No, thank you, but Barnes is with her now. He said this morning that it probably isn't anything serious, but … well, I can't help but worry. I love her very much."

"Yes, I know." They entered the colony in silence. As they descended the stairs to the third level, Ian said softly, "If it's all the same, I'd like to have a look at her anyway."

"We'll see what Barnes says first." They reached the third level and went to Justin's chamber. Barnes was just leaving the room. "How is she?" Justin asked anxiously.

"She's asleep. Justin, I'd like to speak with you in my quarters." Justin motioned for Ian to follow them, but Barnes raised a forepaw. "I think we should be alone."

"If it's about Elizabeth," Justin said firmly, "I want Ian to be there."

Barnes shrugged. "As you wish. Come along, then, both of you." The three of them proceeded to the doctor's chamber. Once inside, Barnes said, "Sit down, Justin." The leader of the rats wordlessly settled himself in a chair. Ian stood beside him.

"I didn't want to say anything until I was sure," Barnes said in barely a whisper, "and now that I am sure, I don't know how to tell you. Justin … Elizabeth has Simmons' Disease."

Justin swallowed hard. "Can you do anything?"

"I can try to keep her comfortable. I don't know if I can save her life."

Ian laid a comforting paw on Justin's shoulder. Justin leaned forward, buried his face in his arms on Barnes' desk, and cried.