CHAPTER THIRTEEN - ESCAPE!
Ian walked up to the guards at the gate. "Well? What are you waiting for? Open up so I can go out."
"Sir?" The guards looked Ian up and down, and nearly laughed out loud. The old rat was so laden with arms and baggage that he could hardly move. A massive pack was strapped to his back, and a sword was hooked to his belt, as was a crossbow with a supply of bolts. In one forepaw he carried a sort of hollow spear, attached to the backpack by a long thin hose, and in the other an enormous cloth sack, the contents of which could only be guessed at. The whole arrangement was so awkward as to be comical.
"Let me out," Ian repeated with authority.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we can't do that. Nobody leaves without Jenner's permission. Those are our orders."
"I've got his permission." Ian thumbed at the box on his back. "This is a new weapon Jenner wants tested, so if you don't mind … "
The talkative guard scratched his head. "I wasn't told about this."
"I'm telling you, you dolt!" Ian tapped his foot impatiently. "Jenner's a very busy rat. You don't expect him to see to every minor detail personally, now, do you?"
"Uh, I guess not, sir, but … well, don't you even have a note? I should see some kind of written authorization."
"I can go get it if you insist … but Jenner won't be very happy about this stupid delay."
"Uh … well … "
"In fact," Ian said sharply, "I am certain that he will be most unhappy … so much so that he might look for some more cooperative guards."
"In that case, sir." Both guards hurried to raise the gate for Ian.
"That's more like it!" Ian dragged himself and his load across the threshold. "I'll be back in an hour or so. I trust I'll have an easier time getting back in."
"Yes, sir."
"For your sakes, I hope so." Ian started off toward the stream as the guards closed the gate.
Once he was sure he was out of their sight, Ian changed his course and headed up out of the valley. He also quickened his pace; although his load was quite heavy, it was not so heavy as he had made the guards think. The weather that morning was perfect for walking, and in no time at all Ian was out of the valley and on his way into the forest that lay beyond.
His plan was simple: find Justin, and then travel to NIMH. Ian had a hunch that Justin would return to the site of the old colony on the Fitzgibbons farm, so that's where Ian set out for. If he couldn't find Justin there, then he would go on to NIMH alone. But he deeply hoped he would have a companion for the long journey.
Ian's going was slow, and he was still in the depths of the forest when night fell. He was very tired and didn't want to be out after sundown, so he found a little nook formed by a bush growing at the base of a tree and stretched out on the cool, moist earth. Drawing several leaves about him for cover, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
He awoke long before dawn, but stayed in his nook until it was quite light and all of the night predators were certain to be home for the day. Ian stood, and wished he hadn't; every muscle in his body ached from the long march of the day before. He winced as he strapped on the belt and backpack and picked up the sack. Forcing his pained legs to obey, he continued on his way to the farm.
Ian reached his destination around midday. The Fitzgibbons farm was a big place, and he wasn't about to search the whole place himself looking for Justin, so Ian approached the first animal he came to, a chipmunk on the outskirts of the corn field. "Pardon me," he asked it, "but I'm trying to find a rat named Justin. Brown fur, about so high. Have you seen him by any chance?"
The chipmunk looked at the strangely adorned rat and shook its head. "No," it said, and scurried away.
Ian shrugged and tried again with a squirrel, and got the same response. He started asking every animal he encountered that didn't appear dangerous, but none of them wanted anything to do with him. Finally, to get rid of him, an impatient shrew told him, "There's a new rat who just moved in under the mill. He might be the one you're looking for."
"Thank you." Ian nodded and made for the old mill by the stream. It was falling apart, and Ian was easily able to enter through a hole in the wood wallboards. Inside it was dark, so Ian found a stick, set fire to it, and used it as a torch to light his way.
"Justin!" Ian's call sounded throughout the mill's basement, but there was no reply. Ian called several more times, then slowly proceeded on, farther into the mill. He had almost gotten to the far wall when the floor gave way beneath his feet.
Ian fell onto another floor beneath that of the mill's basement. He picked himself up and gathered his torch, which hadn't gone out from the fall, and made sure he hadn't broken any bones. He seemed intact, although the fall hadn't done his sore muscles any good, and so walked on, examining the space around him.
He was in a low-ceilinged corridor that looked as if it had been very carefully sculpted and possibly may have been furnished at one time. Ian guessed he had stumbled upon the remains of the old colony of the rats from NIMH.
As he moved deeper into the ground, Ian thought he saw a light up ahead of him. He put his torch out, and sure enough there was a glow from farther up the tunnel. Ian lumbered toward it.
The corridor opened into a huge underground chamber where several levels of the colony above seemed to have collapsed. The space was illuminated by several tiny burning lightbulbs. A lone figure sat atop a heap of the rubble, head bowed and eyes closed.
"Justin! I've been looking all over for you!"
The figure looked up. "Ian! What are you doing here?"
"Trying to find you." Ian took off his backpack and belt and put down his sack. "And you didn't make it any easier. Why are you hiding down here?"
"I felt like being alone." Justin slid off the heap and hopped down to greet Ian. "How are things at the colony?"
"Jenner's come down hard," Ian said. "It's practically martial law. Most of the guards obey him without question, which makes it even harder for those who would oppose him. Brutus resisted, so Jenner had him arrested and appointed a new Captain of the Guard. Nobody can leave the colony without Jenner's permission. I had to lie my way past the guards at the gate to get out."
Justin took the news with a long face. "What … did they do with Elizabeth's body?"
"There was going to be a funeral yesterday," Ian replied, "something very ornate from what I heard. I got away before it was held. I know it's crazy, but I think Jenner actually loved her in his own perverted way." Ian stopped, noticing a tear in the corner of Justin's eye. "I'm sorry. I know that's not what you need to hear right now."
"It's all right," Justin murmured, then threw up his arms. "It's just that … I feel so lost, Ian. I don't know what to do next, but I have to do something!"
"Justin, I came here to ask you to come with me to NIMH. I know you've suffered a great loss, and I understand if you'd rather not go, but I sure would appreciate your company."
Justin shook his head. "I don't know … "
"Look, you can't do anything more here," Ian pleaded. "Jenner's too strong. Our only chance is to get to NIMH and warn them before he does something rash."
"Tell NIMH? About us? We can't! They would destroy us!"
"The way I see it," Ian said, "they'll find out about us soon enough if Jenner starts this damn fool war of his. Then we'll be destroyed for sure. If we can tell my friends at NIMH that we're peaceful and we don't want war, then we might have a chance."
"I suppose … " Justin sighed. "Yes, I'll come with you. That's really my only choice."
"Here," Ian dug into his sack. "I brought you some clothes. Nothing fancy, but I thought you'd appreciate it. I also have your sword."
"Thanks." Justin took the shirt from him and put it on. "Did you bring any food?"
"No. I figured we can always find food scraps along the way. And there are a lot of berry bushes between here and NIMH."
"I can get us some really good food. This is a farm, after all." Justin started off. "We can leave as soon as I get back."
"I'm afraid not." Ian sat down. "I ache all over. I need a good night's rest before we start."
"All right. Tomorrow, then. But I still want to get some food for the trip. I'll be back later." Justin ducked out of the chamber, leaving Ian alone with his sore muscles.