The Crystal Prison by Robin Jarvis

Author:Robin Jarvis [Jarvis, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781908318794
Publisher: Acorn Digital Press
Published: 2012-05-01T23:00:00+00:00

8. The Voice

Arthur made it to the top of a stalk at last, to the cheers of Twit and Jenkin. He could barely see them as night was falling and already its shadows were gathering about Fennywolde.

Arthur gazed over the top of the field. The silver light of dusk played over the rippling corn ears so that it really did look like a shimmering sea and he, Arthur, was floating on it. It was a bizarre feeling. Now he began to understand the love that fieldmice have for climbing.

‘Come on Art,’ called up Twit. ‘I don’t want to stay down here all night – I wants me bed.’

Arthur tried to slide down as he had seen his friends do but he scraped his paws and bloodied his heels, then landed with an undignified ‘bump’ on the hard ground.

‘Did ’ee like it?’ inquired Jenkin.

‘It’s just wonderful up there,’ enthused Arthur, scrabbling off the ground. ‘Could I be a sentry do you think?’

‘Wait till tomorrow Arthur,’ yawned Twit.

‘I’d best be off now,’ said Jenkin. ‘I’d like to stay with Figgy and the others on sentry but my dad wouldn’t like that.’

‘Will those mice be on sentry all night?’ asked Arthur, surprised.

‘Course,’ replied Jenkin. ‘No good havin’ sentries if they go home at night.’

‘Well, shouldn’t we stay?’ Arthur addressed Twit.

‘Twit yawned again. ‘Oh come on Art,’ he said sleepily. ‘If I do sentry tonight like as not I’ll drop clear off and bash me head in – I was up all hours last night a-talkin’ to my folks. Let me have one good night’s sleep an’ we’ll do a ghoster tomorrow.’

‘Well,’ Jenkin began, ‘if I don’t go now I’ll be for it.

‘Night lads.’

‘Hope your dad’s calmed down now,’ Twit ventured.

Jenkin licked his sore lip and nodded. ‘So do I. Oh well, I’ll probably have a lot of praying to do when I get back, that’s all. See you tomorrow hopefully.’ He ran off out of the field.

Arthur watched him go until the night swallowed him. ‘Will he really be okay do you think?’

‘Should be,’ Twit answered. ‘It’s not him Isaac’s mad at. Now, we gonna get some shut-eye tonight?’

They made their way through the corridor to the great doors.

In the Hall of Corn all was calm. Nearly all the mice had gone to bed to try out their new nests and here and there orange lights showed through the openings as they settled down. Some fieldmice were talking, enjoying the refreshing change of a night spent under the sky without having to dread an owl attack. The hum of their chatter mingled with the quiet snores of sleepers which in turn blended with the rustle of the corn.

The summer stars shone down on to Audrey’s face. Her nest was snug and warm, and the moss which lined it was soft and scented. She nuzzled down into the cool fragrant feathering which smelt of the green earth and shady forests. It was at times like these, when the peace and beauty of Fennywolde were overpowering, that she thought it might not be so bad to spend the rest of her days there.

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