Ragweed by Avi

Author:Avi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-11-24T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

Trapped in the Garbage Pile

RAGWEED SLIPPED BACK to the middle of the pile where Blinker was waiting nervously. “Is she gone?” the white mouse asked.

“No way.”

“What is she doing?”

“Waiting for us, dude. Worse, she has her friend, Graybar, with her.”

“I never heard of a Graybar,” Blinker whispered.

“Like, I don’t think you want to, dude,” Ragweed warned. “Ragged ears, scars, limps like a fighter. Know what I’m saying? Bad to the bone.”

“I can imagine,” a dejected Blinker replied.

Ragweed, unsure of what to do, looked around. On the one paw, garbage surrounded them. The stench was awful. On the other paw, it was full of edible food, which meant they could—if they had to—stay. But only for a while. At some point they’d have to get out.

Ragweed knew where he wanted to go—Clutch’s car. It wasn’t far. If they managed to get there, they would be safe. The question was, how could they get from the garbage pile to the Ford without being caught? One cat was bad enough. Two made escape almost impossible.

Ragweed wished Clutch were with them. He was sure she had a lot more experience in these things than he did. It made him think about how much he admired her.

“I am terribly sorry to have put you into such a predicament,” Blinker offered. “And here you were about to go away.”

“Maybe,” Ragweed said, “but it was my choice to help you, dude, so we don’t have to talk about that anymore, okay? There’s always the chance we could outrun them. Like, how fast can you go?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” Blinker said.

Ragweed pondered. Then he said, “Chill. I’m going to take another look out.”

Once more Ragweed climbed to the top of the garbage pile. This time when he came up it was by a large, mostly empty plastic bottle—curiously labeled “Dr. Pepper”—balanced precariously near the top. Careful not to nudge it lest he dislodge it and send it clattering down the pile, Ragweed surveyed the scene.

Silversides was where she’d been before, her eyes glued to the garbage pile. But she was alone again.

Ragweed was not ready to celebrate. Instead, he turned and confirmed his own worst fears. Not only was Graybar on the other side, he was sitting between the garbage pile and Clutch’s Ford. What’s more, he was waiting just as patiently as Silversides.

Ragweed returned to Blinker. “Silversides is still there,” he informed the white mouse. “And so is her friend Graybar. We’re surrounded.”

“Oh, my,” Blinker sighed, wiping away a tear. “It was an awful mistake to leave the safety of my room. I should have been satisfied with what I had. What have I achieved?”

“Listen, dude, you did the best you could. Know what I’m saying? Check it out. You can either sit here and moan or figure out how to get to the next step.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Blinker said, cringing. “It’s just that I don’t know what to do. I’m all bottled up.”

Ragweed sat up. “Hey! Maybe that’s the way to get out of this mess.

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