CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Ian and Justin emerged from the rabbits' warrens far enough away from the farm to be out of danger from Jenner. After thanking the rabbits for their help, they started off on the long journey to NIMH.

Justin agreed to let Ian lead the way, since Ian had made the trip only a few months earlier, whereas Justin's escape had taken place over ten years before, and he didn't remember the way completely. Ian decided upon a route that would keep them always close by human-developed areas. That way, they would be able to feed off the humans' food and never have to worry about going hungry.

They traveled for quite a few days, alongside roads and highways, through farms and campsites and the outskirts of several large towns. The constant walking was tiring, but they kept themselves well fed, and Justin's sack of spare food was always stuffed to the top. They slept with small wild animals when they could, but more often than not the strange travelers were refused shelters in the burrows, and Ian and Justin had to sleep on the ground in the open.

One night they settled down in the shadows of a highway. It was going to be another night of sleeping in the open, and much to their dismay rain seemed likely. They were both still sniffling from colds they had caught the last time they had to sleep in the rain, and the prospect of another wet night was bleak indeed. Ian gathered some twigs and dead leaves and built a small fire.

Justin had assumed the backpack to be one of Ian's electric crossbows, but in truth it was a flamethrower of sorts. Ian had brought it along for protection from larger animals, but thus far on their trip they had been unmolested, and the weapon came more in handy for starting fires than anything.

Once the fire was going strong, the two rats set aside their burdens and stretched out on the ground, soaking up the warmth of the flames. The days were growing noticeably shorter, and the nights were developing a chilly aspect.

Justin had been unusually quiet during the trip, mostly talking only when spoken to. Ian supposed it was because of Elizabeth, and left Justin alone. On this night, Justin broke his silence.

"Ian, I've been doing a lot of thinking these days. Everyone in the colony hated Jenner, but as long as he wore the stone, they obeyed him."

Ian lay on his back, looking up at the dark sky and hoping the rain would hold off. "So?"

"Well … I always thought I was a good leader. I mean, I seemed to be well liked, and everybody did as I said, but … well, I'm starting to wonder if it was just the power of the stone that made things that way. If I hadn't had the amulet, would the people of the colony still have obeyed me? Was I really a good leader, or just another tyrant?"

"Of course you were a good leader, Justin. How could you doubt it?"

Justin wasn't convinced. "But, since I wore the stone all the time, I could have been imposing my will upon them, and controlling their thoughts without even realizing it."

"Look here," Ian pointed out, "you're not wearing the pendant now, and you're certainly not controlling what I think and say. You were … you are … a good leader. The other rats followed you because of your abilities, not because of some piece of jewelry."

"How can I be sure of that?"

Ian looked hard at Justin. "Even after Jenner took the stone, the others stuck by you. Brutus was willing to be locked up before he would deny his loyalty to you. What more proof do you want?"

"I guess … "

Ian huddled into a sleeping position. "Take my advice, Justin, and kick those thoughts right out of your head. They're not worth losing sleep over."

"But I gave him the stone," Justin said. "I'm responsible for any harm that comes of all this."

"You are not! You didn't know it was him."

"I should have … "

"You gave the stone to who you thought was Nicodemus. That's because you're generous, considerate, and respectful toward your old leader. Those things are virtues, Justin, not weaknesses. Jenner simply exploited them for his own means." Ian closed his eyes. "I'm tired. If you want to discuss something serious, I'll lend an ear. Forget this nonsense and get to sleep."

Justin mulled this over for a few minutes. "Ian?" His only reply was a snore, so Justin banked some dirt around the dying fire and settled down to go to sleep himself.

He awoke sometime during the night. The rains had never come, and a not-quite-full moon occasionally peeked through the clouds. Justin lay motionless, holding his breath and staring into the cold embers of the extinguished fire. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. "Ian!" he whispered. "Ian, wake up!"

The other rat stirred, then sat up groggily. "You say something, Justin?"

"Shh! I think there's a very large animal nearby. A cat, I think. Better get that weapon of yours ready."

"Okay." Ian crawled toward the flamethrower. He was almost at it when a giant furry head parted the tall grasses at the edge of their tiny clearing. Both rats fixed their gazes on it. Ian automatically finished reaching for his protection. "You were right, Justin. It is a cat, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Well, it better keep its distance if it knows what's good for it."

The cat jumped for Ian. He aimed the nozzle of the flamethrower at its head and pulled the trigger to unleash a stream of fire into its face.

Nothing happened.

The next moment Ian found himself being smothered by paws, and felt sharp nails scraping none too gently at his flesh. He struggled to get free, without success.

Justin grabbed his sword and rushed at the cat. He had put three deep gashes in its side by the time it turned on him. He jumped back fast enough to avoid the first swipe of the paw, but the second one caught him broadside and knocked him about a foot. Justin landed on his stomach. His sword was no longer in his forepaw.

The instant that the cat turned its attention to Justin and released Ian, the old rat took up his crossbow, only inches away. He kept it loaded, so he was able to make immediate use of it. Sighting his target as best he could in the dark, he let the bolt fly.

The cat was poised to maul Justin when the bolt lodged itself in its cheek. This final attack was too much for it to bear. With a yelp of pain it spun round and disappeared into the night.

Ian flopped onto his back, laughing hysterically. "Oh, jeez! I thought I was a goner that time!"

Justin came over to him. His ribcage ached from the battering he had just endured, and he didn't see anything at all funny about the situation. "Ian! Stop that!"

"Yes, sir!" Ian, still giggling, picked up the flamethrower nozzle and inspected it. "How's that for superior human engineering? The firing mechanism gave out!"

Justin retrieved his sword. "Are you okay?"

"I think so," Ian replied. "A few scratches, nothing more. What about you?"

"Sore ribs. I'll be fine. So, do I still owe you?"

"Let's call it even." Ian reloaded the crossbow. "In case something else nasty pops up," he said. "We should try and sleep the rest of the night. We'll be moving on first thing in the morning."

Justin agreed, and they both settled down on the earth, but neither one slept another wink that night.