02 Flyte by Sage Angie

Author:Sage, Angie [Angie, Sage,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T22:25:16.417000+00:00

Stanleywas keeping what he called a low profile. He was not a happy rat that morning, for he had just recognized the turn-off to Mad Jack's hovel where, the previous year, he had spent the six most miserable weeks of his life being imprisoned in a rat cage; he had only managed to escape after starving himself until he was thin enough to squeeze through the bars.

It was midmorning by the timeStanley saw that the reed beds were growing sparser and he smelled the dank smell of the Marram Marshes drifting in, and he at last relaxednow that they were well away from Mad Jack. Soon the Causeway petered out into a boggy track and the group came to a halt.

Jenna shielded her eyes against the glare of the sun and squinted into the Marsh. Her heart sankshe had no idea where the track to Aunt Zelda's cottage was. The last time she had been here with Nicko it had been covered in ice and snow during the Big Freeze and had looked nothing like it did now.

Septimus stood next to her. "I thought the Boggart would be waiting for us," he said, puzzled. "I'm sure Aunt Zelda must know we're here."

"Um, no, I don't think she does, Sep," said Jenna. "Her hearing's not so good now and she finds it hard toListen . I'm going to sendStanley out to tell her where we are."

"Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly?" the rat asked incredulously.

"Yes,Stanley , you did hear me correctly," replied Jenna. "I want you to go to Keeper's Cottage and tell Aunt Zelda we're here."

"Sorry,Your Maj, but as I said earlier, I don't do marshes"

"If I ask you to do marshes,Stanley , youdo them. Understand?"

"Er..."Stanley looked somewhat taken aback.

"And if you don't do what I ask, I'll have you dismissed from the Secret Rat Service."

"But"

"Is that clear?"

Stanleycould not believe his ears. Neither could Septimus or Nicko; they had never heard Jenna sound so determined.

"Is that clear,Stanley ?"

"As crystal.Absolutely."Stanleylooked miserably toward the Marram Marshes. Jenna was, he thought with grudging admiration, going to be a much tougher cookie as Queen than her mother had been.

"Well off you go then," said Jenna. "Make sure you tell Aunt Zelda to send the Boggart out to the Port side with the canoe. And be as quick as you can. Simon put aTag on me, remember?"

They all watched the rat as he ran off along the boggy track, took a flying leap into the rough sedge grass that grew on the outer marshes and disappeared from view.

"I hope he'll be all right," said Jenna, shading her eyes and gazing in the directionStanley had gone. She had not liked threateningStanley but she had felt there was no other choice. Since Sleuth hadTagged her she knew it was only a matter of time before Simon found herand she longed to get to the safety of Keeper's Cottage.

"He's a good rat," said Septimus. "He'll be back with the Boggart soon, just you see."

They sat down on the side of the Causeway.

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