Chapter 10
The Great Owl
The old and wise rat was watching Christopher and Mrs. Brisby talk to each other through his crystal-ball like machine once again with green light and energy crackling along the surface. They were currently talking about the Great Owl and Mrs. Brisby looked frightened of even mentioning the Great Owl while Chris was thinking about what she said. It was easy enough to tell that Chris was thinking about actually seeing the Great Owl.
"Are you considering seeing him?" Chris asked the field mouse.
Mrs. Brisby's eyes widened at what Chris said as if he told her that a predator was nearby. "I… I don't know Chris… Owls eat small animals like me... What if he tries to eat me?" At that, her hands started to shake.
"Hey, don't worry. I'll come with you to see him, so you won't be doing this on your own."
"What if he tries to eat you as well?"
When Mrs. Brisby said what she said, Chris went silent. He looked like he was thinking again and he was doing it very carefully. After a lot he has seen, Nicodemus could see that Chris was not only a good man but he was also brave and smart. He could've hurt Mrs. Brisby and her family but he didn't. He was different from a lot of humans. He had the heart of a lion.
After some time of thinking, Chris looked back at Mrs. Brisby. "We can go see him and show him that we don't want any trouble and hopefully he'll listen. But if he tries to attack us we'll need to make a run for it and somehow try to defend ourselves if he tries to grab us. This pendant might be able to help us even. It's done it before and probably might even do it again."
"But Chris, what if it doesn't work as it has been?" Mrs. Brisby said more worried. "What would my children think if we're not back from the Great Owl?"
As the old wise rat watched the two discuss the Great Owl he sighed heavily. Timmy's life was indeed in danger and in five days the farmer would have his plow running again and it would be no good for Mrs. Brisby and her children staying in their winter home near the farm and if they did not only would Timmy's life be in danger but the whole family's lives would be in danger as well. It would probably kill all of them if they stayed and it was pure luck that Christopher and Mrs. Brisby managed to stop the plow in time before it could even crush the Brisby home and little Timmy inside it.
The mysterious rat prophet's eyes were closed as he was thinking but when he reopened them it had a deep green to them but after a couple of seconds, they then glowed to a radiant golden yellow as if his eyes held within something much more mysterious that no one could even imagine. These eyes were unlike any eyes anyone's ever seen before but his eyes held within not only wisdom but kindness as well. The rats here were used to their leader's eyes but anyone outside of where the rats lived would've looked at the old rat's eyes with wonder. It would be no surprise to Nicodemus though if anyone looked into his eyes with wonder and did he care? Not at all as the wise rat once had many wonders about many things like many others did
"Jonathon, your wife, I fear, is in desperate trouble and Christopher Fitzgibbons is doing everything he can to help her," the old rat slowly said. "A visit to the Great Owl may indeed be profitable." Then, the crystal-ball like machine started to crackle more with greens and purples changing in the sphere of the machine and in the sphere of it electricity could be seen like it was powered by some mad scientist and as the crystal-ball like machine was doing its magic its strong power made a wind blow, making Nicodemus's hair and clothes flow with it as he then raised his hands in the air. "Go to the Owl then, Mrs. Brisby and Christopher Fitzgibbons. Go there!"
It was a blood-red sky and flying through the evening air was Jeremy with Chris and Mrs. Brisby on his back. The three of them were on their way to see the Great Owl and Chris didn't think that Mrs. Brisby would go for it. She was indeed worried for the children but with enough courage, she decided that she would go with Chris to see the Great Owl. Chris and Mrs. Brisby both realized that they would need to get to the Great Owl quickly and as soon as possible and so they both decided to go seek Jeremy.
Finding the clumsy crow wasn't hard at all as they came across him admiring some tin foil and of course it was no surprise at all that Jeremy would be admiring something shiny such as tin foil as crows are known for having an eye for shiny objects. Jeremy was delighted to see the mouse and tiny human again and of course, he couldn't stop staring at Chris's pendent. Chris could've even sworn that Jeremy's eyes looked hypnotized as he stared at the magnificent blue color of the pendant. Chris and even Mrs. Brisby had to snap Jeremy out of the hypnotized state he was in a few times so they could talk to him and ask him if he'd be willing to help them get to the Great Owl and they told the crow everything they could tell him. Even though Chris didn't find the idea of finding Jeremy to be the best one it was either that or trying to make a big-sized model paper airplane so they could launch themselves to where the Great Owl lived. Chris already knew which one would've been the big flopper. The crow was indeed surprised by what the two told him and it also surprised him that Chris and Mrs. Brisby asked him to take them to see the Great Owl but he was happy to help out the ones that helped him get out of the strings he was stuck in, even though he wouldn't admit it and he told the two to hop on his back and he would take them to the Great Owl.
The flight was pretty fun for Chris as far as it went and even though he wasn't the best sometimes with handling heights he found this to be in his okay standards as he was holding onto the string that was around Jeremy's neck like he was a horse. Jeremy looked like he was having the best time of his life as he was flying the two to their destination and even went as far as to look like he was walking while flying and he did so extravagantly and recklessly. Mrs. Brisby on the other hand looked really scared as she was holding onto Chris tightly like they were on a rollercoaster. Even though Chris was enjoying the flight he made sure that Mrs. Brisby was doing alright at some points as she did say that she was afraid of heights. The young man didn't mind that Mrs. Brisby was holding onto him tightly and even though he could feel her shaking against him he made sure that she was safe. The last thing he wanted was for Mrs. Brisby to get hurt on the journey.
As Jeremy was flying Chris and Mrs. Brisby to the Great Owl's home he started to laugh with glee. "Nice evening, huh? I told you two that you'd love flying."
Chris couldn't stop the smile that had formed on him some time ago and even though he knew he should be serious on this journey he couldn't help but admire the amazing view he was witnessing. It was like seeing something from a photograph of his and if he had his camera with him all in great condition he would've been taking some glorious photos for his career. "This is incredible! I think I might have to fly more often."
Mrs. Brisby kept holding onto Chris tightly with the same fear in her eyes. "I don't know how I let you two talk me into this!"
Chris honestly wasn't sure either how he and Jeremy managed to convince Mrs. Brisby to fly on Jeremy's back. It did take a lot of convincing though for sure. Plus if they even set out of foot it would've taken longer.
"Aw, don't thank me, Mrs. Briz," Jeremy said as he was then flying straight up and as he did it looked like he was doing some ballet dance and as he was, Mrs. Brisby buried her face in Chris's jean jacket.
The three of them were going pretty high up in altitude and as they were they then burst through a puff of clouds. Chris could then get an easy enough look at the sun that was sinking on the horizon ever so slowly and even as it was he could still feel the radiant warmth on his body, bringing a strong sensation to the mouse-sized human himself. Chris then looked at Mrs. Brisby and she still hadn't looked up but Chris wanted Mrs. Brisby to at least try to take her mind off the Great Owl for a little bit and look at the beautiful sunset before them. "Hey, Elizabeth, check out the sunrise from where we are."
Slowly and cautiously, Mrs. Brisby lifted her head from Chris's jean jacket and opened her eyes slowly. She then looked to where the sunset was and when she did she was then looking at it with awe in her eyes like she was seeing the sun for the first time in her life. Chris couldn't help but have a weak smile form on his face as he watched Mrs. Brisby looking at the sunset. The way the sun's rays were on Mrs. Brisby was like she had a spotlight on her and Chris just couldn't stop staring at her for some reason. He didn't even blink an eye as he watched the widow admire the sunset before her. Chris especially couldn't stop looking at Mrs. Brisby's blue eyes… he never knew how beautiful they looked until now. Mrs. Brisby really had some lovely.
"The sunset really is gorgeous," Jeremy said, breaking Chris out of the trance he was in, "and when we get to the Great Owl, he'll know just what to do about everything!"
Mrs. Brisby looked worried once more as she then looked at Jeremy and it actually annoyed Chris that Jeremy had to get her worried once more, however, he knew that she would've gone back to her worried state, even when they arrived at the Great Owl's home. "Owls eat mice!"
"Umm… only after dark…" Jeremy said reassuringly. However, Chris saw that Jeremy looked as much worried as Mrs. Brisby was, even when he had that reassuring smile on his beak.
If Chris was being honest he too was feeling a little nervous to see the Great Owl. He wasn't sure if that owl would even listen to them or if he would just eat them on the spot, which he hoped wouldn't be the case. The young man then looked down at his pendent and prayed that if it came down to it that the pendent would help him and Mrs. Brisby. It's been helping a lot recently so why wouldn't it continue to help?
Then, Jeremy started to go down from the high sky and he started to dive towards a stand of trees. They were all bunched together and even as they were, Jeremy managed to fly in all of them in those very woods at a high speed. They were no longer in the heavenly like open area of a forest; they were now in a dark and creepy forest that barely seemed to have any life living in it at all. Chris had heard stories of some people getting lost in forests like these and never returning to the day of light again and Chris tried not to worry too much about it for if he did it might've made things worse. He had to stay alive so he could help Mrs. Brisby and so he could return home somehow at his normal height. He didn't want to die young in a forest like this.
After some more time of flying, Jeremy then lighted down on a tree branch and as he was, Chris and Mrs. Brisby cautiously slide down with Mrs. Brisby holding onto one leg while Chris had the other leg like they were babies hanging onto their Mother. The crow then took a couple of steps on the branch they were all on and started to look around and as he was, Chris took the time to look around him himself. This was definitely not a place that Chris would like to live in or even camp in for that matter as he could feel that anything in this forest could pounce on him and eat him alive like it was nothing. Chris didn't want to stay in this forest for long and he could tell that Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy didn't want to stay here long either. All they had to do was speak to the Great Owl about Mrs. Brisby's situation and then they would be out of here… at least that was what Chris was hoping for.
At the sound of a wolf howling, Jeremy jumped a little but he was then looking at something and whatever it was, Chris didn't hesitate to look and Mrs. Brisby too looked and they all stared at a very old, mysterious, and eerie-looking tree that looked like it was ready to plummet to the ground at any time now. Around the upper part of a tree, Chris could see a big looking hollow that looked big enough for any bird to live in, even an owl for that matter. Just staring at that hollow kind of made Chris nervous but he tried not to show it in the slightest but deep down the nervousness was slowly increasing. He could even feel his hands start to sweat a bit.
"That must be the owl's tree over there," Jeremy whispered to Chris and Mrs. Brisby and he didn't even need to say it twice.
The crow then took off from the branch they were on and as he did, Chris and Mrs. Brisby cupped in Jeremy's feet. They all then landed on the tree branch that leads inside the very dark looking hollow. Chris and Mrs. Brisby got off of Jeremy and when they did they started to ever so slowly approach the hollow of the very tree the Great Owl lived in. Cobwebs were hanging from everywhere and it was pretty hard to distinguish anything for that matter no matter how hard Chris tried to squint. At first, when Chris tried to look inside he thought the wind sounded strange, it was like someone was breathing. However, the more closely he listened he started to now think that maybe it was breathing he was hearing… or was it his imagination?
Looking at the path in the hollow was like this very tree was waiting for its next victim so it could have it for dinner. A tree coming to life though was plain nonsense but if there was some sort of magic maybe a tree then could talk and move as any animal being would. Neither of them moved another inch as they looked inside the hollow, they didn't even try to make a single sound. They eventually would have to do something and not just stand around and look inside the hollow.
Chris still could not see anything and decided to risk it and get his flashlight out. He started to dig through his pocket to get his flashlight out and as he was, Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy were looking at him confused. "Chris, what are you doing?" Mrs. Brisby asked.
Then, Chris got his flashlight out and when he did he tested it a few times to see if it would go on and off, and to his luck, it was still working. He then pointed the flashlight with the light on towards the hollow entrance looking at it closely and as he was, Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy were looking at it with interest. "What's that?" Jeremy asked.
"It's a flashlight," Chris said as he continued to look inside the hollow. "We humans use it to try and see in the dark." With enough courage, Chris then cupped the side of his mouth with his free hand. "Hello? Anyone home?"
The three of them waited for an answer but no one made a reply of any sort to Chris's voice. Jeremy then looked down at Chris and Mrs. Brisby. "Well, the place looks deserted. I guess we'd better get outta here."
Before any of them could even do anything else a loud hooting could be heard from the same very hollow, making Chris's heartbeats increase. He's heard owls hoot before but not up this close and this hoot gave Chris goosebumps. Like Chris, Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy's eyes were widened as they did not expect that sort of reply. Then, a dusty gust of wind came rolling out of the hole towards the trio, as if something was flapping very large wings. The dusty wind made the trio get blown by it backward and it even made Chris drop his flashlight. They all plopped to the ground and when they did, Jeremy covered the small human and field mouse by his black wings as if they were this close to falling off the tree branch. A few of Jeremy's black feathers started to gracefully fall in the air from the dusty wind but neither of them took a look at them as all their focus was on the very hollow before them.
"Step inside my house…" Came an echoing voice from within the hollow.
The heart beats increased more from the voice Chris heard and he slowly looked at Mrs. Brisby with his eyes widened to see that she too was looking at him with her eyes widened. However, they all quietly got up but as they were Chris saw Jeremy's knees were knocking together as he stared at the hollow entrance. The small human silently took a deep breath then started to slowly advance towards the hollow entrance and as he was he picked up his flashlight he dropped and looked inside the hollow with his flashlight once again lighting up the inside of it. At this point, Chris wasn't even sure himself now if he even wanted to enter that hollow now. What if this was some sort of trick? As if reading his mind he saw that Mrs. Brisby wasn't too sure herself of entering the hollow either, however, Jeremy then had the feathers to push Mrs. Brisby towards the entrance so she and Chris could talk to the Great Owl. Chris could've suggested that they left but after coming a long way to get here the small human didn't want to leave just like that without trying. They needed the owl's guidance so they could find a way to save Timmy.
Slowly but carefully, Chris started to make his way inside the hollow but before he advanced any further he looked back to see if Mrs. Brisby was following or not and he saw that she hadn't even moved inside the hollow. Chris could see in the field mouse's blue eyes that she was none too inclined to go inside. Chris wouldn't leave without his friend and he knew that she was scared and quite frankly he was too but he had to stay strong for her and show that he was there to protect her. As long as they stuck together they were more than likely to be okay.
The young man then walked back towards the field mouse and when he got to her he then extended his hand out towards her. "Come on, I'll be by your side. Do it for Timothy."
Mrs. Brisby looked surprised when Chris extended his hand towards her but she also looked like she was considering his words carefully, however, before she could say anything the same voice echoed again inside the hollow making her, Chris, and Jeremy flinch. "Come inside, or go away."
Chris and Mrs. Brisby then saw Jeremy using his head to indicate to them to hurry up and Chris couldn't blame him for him wanting them to hurry up. He then looked at Mrs. Brisny and saw that she was getting inside and as she was she then sighed as she pulled her red cape around herself and gathered her nerve. "Timothy… remember Timothy."
With that, the field mouse then took Chris's hand that was still extended towards her, and together she and Chris started to make their way more inside the daunting hollow. They stayed close together, never letting go of each other's hands, and looked everywhere around them. Cobwebs still hung around everywhere and the more they walked Chris started to pick up on a pretty wretched scent. The young man wasn't sure how to describe it but it was pretty powerful. Chris dared not to say anything about it to Mrs. Brisby as he didn't want to get her anymore scared than she already was but since she was a mouse it was likely she already picked up on it.
Without the two realizing it there were bones seen lying on the floor of the hollow and Mrs. Brisby stumbled over a pile of them knocking them down into the inner recesses of the tree. She was close to falling into the inner recesses of the tree as well but luckily Chris held onto her hand tightly enough and quickly pulled her back having her warm, furry body collide with his chest. Chris promised himself that he wouldn't look down but he couldn't help it and looked down and so did Mrs. Brisby. What they saw was the scariest thing anyone could ever see as they gasped. The light from Chris's flashlight made out many bones and pellets on a ledge with most of them being from mice. The bones that Mrs. Brisby stumbled over collided with the other bones on the ledge and most of them then fell down to the very depths of the old tree. It was like looking into a graveyard.
Then, a moth came fluttering out from the pile of bones and pellets and then ended up fluttering in Chris and Mrs. Brisby's faces. They used their hands to try and block the moth and Chris even tried to use his flashlight to knock away the moth from them. The moth then fluttered out of the hollow leaving Chris and Mrs. Brisby alone once more in search of the Great Owl.
Before they went any further on the path they were taking Chris looked at Mrs. Brisby concerned. "You alright?"
Mrs. Brisby nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
They then held each other's hands once more and continued to find the Great Owl. As they were walking Chris couldn't help but feel how warm Mrs. Brisby's hand felt. It was not every day that he held someone's hand, not even a mouse's for that matter, and feeling her hand felt strange and even as it may be Chris didn't stop holding her hand. Mrs. Brisby's hand was shaking a little though but with his hand holding hers it seemed that she was starting to calm down a little. As long as she stayed calm some then things would be okay.
Unbeknownst to Chris and Mrs. Brisby a huge, hairy-looking spider with three red glowing eyes started to descend from its web and when it got to the ground it started to stalk the two ever so quietly. Chris and Mrs. Brisby were so focused on their surroundings that they didn't see the spider was coming towards them, ready to pounce on one of them for a delicious meal. As the two of them were walking, Chris had the strangest feeling that they were being watched by someone but so far he saw no animal insight. The vibe he was getting though was making the hairs on his neck stand up. Chris kept saying in his head though to stay strong for Mrs. Brisby and protect her no matter how scary this all looked.
The same spider kept on stalking the two as they were now getting on top of a little stump and kept on looking around. They still saw no signs of the Great Owl or anyone else and the spider was now close to pouncing on them as it had a hungry look in its eyes and saliva came drooling down its fangs. They were the perfect target for the spider and now they were in the perfect spot for it to try and attack one of them. However, before the spider could even pounce at one of them… Splat!
Chris and Mrs. Brisby jumped at the noise and their eyes were widened when their eyes laid on where they heard the noise. They were now shaking as they were looking and the light from Chris's flashlight made it out to them both very easily. They saw a deceased spider with hemolymph coming out of it and on top of all that was a foot with talons on it. The talons were huge and they had warts on them. Slowly but in fear, Chris raised the flashlight as he and Mrs. Brisby were looking up and as they did they saw a feathered body covered in cobwebs and what came next had the both of them shaking more in fear. The creature opened its eyes and when it did bright yellow illuminated the two. Cracking could then be heard as the head of this creature started to turn and as it was Chris and Mrs. Brisby stumbled to the ground while still shaking and Chris's flashlight dropped out from his hand but he paid no attention to it as his green eyes were transfixed on the creature's glowing yellow eyes.
Mrs. Brisby buried her face in fear in Chris's purple shirt and as she was Chris held her against him tightly. Chris wanted to get his pocket knife out but he couldn't bring himself to do it as he stared at this strange creature before him. It was unlike anything he's ever seen before, even when he took pictures for his career. As Chris continued to stare at the creature he noticed something: talons, feathers, wings, a beak… Chris then realized that what he was staring at wasn't just any creature. It was an owl, or rather the Great Owl himself.
Chris gasped and as he did he got up and helped Mrs. Brisby up and he got her behind him just in case this owl that was a great horned tried to attack them. It was so big it was practically towering over them and he looked very old. He had dark and light brown feathers on him, with bushy eyebrows, and a white, long mustache that curled. Even though Chris was scared he was astonished at the same time as he stared at this owl before him. The eyes were really what caught Chris's attention as he's never seen an owl with yellow eyes that glowed so brightly and he didn't even see any pupils in those very eyes. This owl was indeed very strange looking but in a way, it got Chris both intrigued but still frightened at the same time.
The old-looking owl then advanced towards them with his wings extended out and when he got close enough to them he lowered his wings against his body and cobwebs still covered the old owl himself. He got a good look at the two and with two small animals like them having the courage to enter his hollow it might've looked like the worst decision anyone could've ever made but what these two did that a lot couldn't was pretty brave. Chris noticed the old owl's eyes locked onto his mostly and it looked like the old owl looked surprised but the small human couldn't tell if he actually was or not. It would be no surprise though if this owl was not expecting a tiny human to enter his home as seeing a tiny human was very much so impossible. As the owl observed Chris and Mrs. Brisby the two stayed silent and waited for the old owl to do something.
After some time of observing the owl then spoke with his voice echoing throughout his home once more. "Why have you come?"
Chris and Mrs. Brisby looked at each other. The owl had not attacked them which was a good sign and if the owl would listen to them then they would make it out of here alive. Mrs. Brisby then spoke to the Great Owl himself. "Please… f… forgive us for disturbing you… but my son's life is in great danger."
A moth then came out of nowhere and started to flutter too close to the owl's face and when it did the Great Owl snapped it in his beak and gulped it down and as he did, Mrs. Brisby and Chris averted their eyes. Eating a moth was something that Chris would never have enjoyed and even thinking about the taste of one almost made him gag. What human being would even want to eat a moth or any other types of insects for that matter? Perhaps if the insects were cooked though maybe then Chris would've considered it.
The two then looked back up at the owl after he finished down the moth. "The plow has come early this year…" Mrs. Brisby continued.
The Great Owl looked down at Mrs. Brisby and Chris closely. "Move your family."
The owl emphasized his words with the flapping of his huge wings to get the cobwebs off him and as he did a strong gust of wind was made like the one Chris, Mrs. Brisby, and Jeremy felt before. As the wind was made bones and pellets dislodged from the ceiling, clattering all around the tiny human and field mouse, and as they were, Mrs. Brisby once more covered her face in Chris's shirt. Chris wasn't sure how this owl could live like this but yet again it was the wildlife and Chris couldn't judge that. The young man wasn't sure what to say to this owl as nothing was coming to his mind and so he decided to let Mrs. Brisby talk to the Great Owl until he felt like he should talk to him. He would stay by Mrs. Brisby's side no matter what.
Mrs. Brisby then finally looked back up at the old owl and continued to talk to him. "Yes… I would move, but Timothy has pneumonia. He can't even get out of bed."
Chris watched as the Great Owl considered Mrs. Brisby's words, waiting for him to answer. "You must move your place where it will be safe from the plow."
"Please… there must be another way."
"There is no other way."
Chris couldn't believe what he was hearing… There really was no other way? He watched as Mrs. Brisby looked down sadly and who could blame her? She was fighting for Timmy's life and so far it all seemed to be at loss here. However, Chris didn't want to lose hope and he didn't want Mrs. Brisby to lose hope either. He then wrapped his arm around the widow and looked back up at the Great Owl.
"How can there not be another way?" Chris asked. "There must be another way."
"As I said: there is no other way." The old owl then turned and started to make his way out of his home. "I must bid you good evening, Mr. and Mrs.…?"
"Mr. Fitzgibbons." Chris said with some disappointment in his voice.
"And Mrs. Brisby." Mrs. Brisby said as she continued to look down sadly.
The old owl stopped in its tracks when he heard the names the two gave him and he turned his head back towards them. "Fitzgibbons? Brisby?" He then peered down closer at the two and as he did, Chris and Mrs. Brisby held onto each other tightly and pulled back as far as they could from the old owl. Their reflections could easily enough be seen in the owl's bright yellow eyes as he peered closely at them. The owl looked at Mrs. Brisby first. "Mrs. Jonathon Brisby?"
Mrs. Brisby looked at the owl surprised and so did Chris. The young man didn't know Mrs. Brisby's husband but how did this owl know about him? Were they friends or something? It was hard to tell as Chris continued to look into the owl's mysterious glowing eyes.
"Why yes," Mrs. Brisby said. "He was my husband! But… how do you know about him?"
The Great Owl pulled his head back. "That is not important. I will say this… his name is not unknown in these woods." He then looked at Chris. "Young man, is your first name Christopher?"
Chris gasped at the owl like he was a psychic and how the owl knew his name was beyond him. "It… it is! But… how do you know my name?"
"All I can say is like Jonathon Brisby in a way your name isn't unknown as well."
The small human considered this long and carefully. How was his name known to some? Could it be because of his family living on a farm or something more? It was all a big mystery to him how his name could be known to some that weren't humans.
"Please, sir…" Mrs. Brisby then spoke after some shocking words from the Great Owl. "I'll do anything to save Timmy. Anything." After she spoke her eyes could then be seen glistening.
Even as what the Great Owl said was shocking, Chris felt Mrs. Brisby's pain for her son. The sick boy needed help and Chris couldn't just stand by while poor Timmy was suffering from pneumonia. Chris did feel like it was his fault that his Uncle almost killed Timmy but even as he was he still wanted to help Mrs. Brisby. It was the least he could do for her. "Sir, her son needs help, and if there really is another way we can help Timmy please tell us. Imagine if you were Mrs. Brisby, would you have done the same thing for Timmy?"
The old owl looked from Chris and Mrs. Brisby a few times considering their words in deep thought. Chris was almost certain that the Great Owl would give them the same advice again but what came next had Chris surprised once more but also confused at the same time. "There is a way. Go to the rats."
Wait, what? Chris thought. Why would they need to go to some rats? What could they possibly do? This was the next best advice he could give them? What was next, him telling them that pigs could fly? "But we don't know any rats!"
"In the rosebush."
Chris's eyes widened when the Great Owl mentioned the rose bush. It wasn't long ago that he saw rats dragging cable to his Aunt's favorite rosebush and hearing that owl mention the same rosebush now really did have him thinking. "My Aunt's favorite rosebush…"
"Go there. Ask for Nicodemus."
"Nicodemus?" Mrs. Brisby said with confusion. "But how can they help?"
"They must move your house to the lee of the stone."
Chris crossed his arms with his brow furrowed as he couldn't understand how some rats that were causing problems to his Aunt and Uncle's farm could be of help. "How could some rat move her house? It's-"
Before Chris could say anything further, the Great Owl peered down at him very closely, close enough that their faces almost touched, making Chris stumble a bit with his eyes widened. "They have ways!"
At that, Chris kept his mouth shut as he thought for sure that he was going to get eaten alive. It seemed though that the owl was serious about his words and if they were indeed serious, Chris had to trust the old owl's words-even if those very words sounded insane. He looked at Mrs. Brisby to see what she thought of this and she was deep in thought about it. It looked like she was considering it very carefully the longer she thought about it.
Mrs. Brisby then looked back up at the Great Owl. "We don't understand… but we will do as you say."
"It is night." The Great Owl then started to move towards the exit. "I must go." As the Old owl was making his way out, Chris and Mrs. Brisby quickly moved out of his way so they didn't get crushed by his sharp-looking talons and end up with the same fate that the spider had. As they watched the owl walk out they started to follow behind so they too could leave but before Chris did that he quickly went to grab his flashlight, turned it off, and placed it back in his pocket.
As the owl made his way out he said his final words to them. "Remember… the lee of the stone." With that, the Great Owl made his way to the edge of the tree branch that was connected to his home and when he did he spread opened his huge wings and took off into the night.
Chris and Mrs. Brisby watched him leave and the old owl was right: it was indeed nighttime already and they needed to get back to Mrs. Brisby's home soon. It was a magnificent night though with a full moon shining in the distance. As they were watching the old owl leave, Jeremy got out of his hiding spot he cowered in and he too watched the owl fly off into the night. "Wh-What did he say?" Jeremy asked as he then looked at Chris and Mrs. Brisby.
Neither Chris nor Mrs. Brisby stopped staring at the Great Owl as he started to disappear into the night. "He said to go to the rats," Chris answered Jeremy.
"Rats." Jeremy then looked at them confused. "What rats?"
Chris didn't answer Jeremy but he looked at Mrs. Brisby to see that she was in deep thought once more. She didn't say anything to the boys but rather she spoke thoughtfully to herself. "The lee of the stone…."
A/N- After all these months I finally finished this chapter. I'm so happy to have finally worked on this and I'm really sorry for the long wait on this but I hope to get more chapters out soon for this.