Widdershins by Alexander Alex

Author:Alexander, Alex
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-05T16:00:00+00:00

Rats are known to live in darkness. Yet here, under the city streets, beneath even the sewers, their halls were lit with oil lanterns. Niclas had been watching them leap along the ropes above like acrobats. When a lantern would go out, a rat would soon be there to refill it with an oil jug no bigger than a gravy boat. As he looked closely, he was sure the lantern rats were wearing little brown belts with matches tucked in like swords.

Perhaps, thought Niclas, everyone was wrong about rats. Perhaps the darkness scared them as much as it did people.

The Witchhunter wasn’t concerned with the fears or smarts of rats. He stared up the steps to where Balthazar had gone. The cat was taking his time, and the man didn’t like it one bit.

There was a scuffling at the top of the stone steps, and the sea of rats parted for Balthazar’s return.

‘What’s goin’ on, sir?’ said Niclas.

Balthazar sighed, dramatically.

‘What is it, cat?’ said the Witchhunter.

‘I’m afraid they haven’t taken too well to your being here.’

‘My list?’

‘Yes… we’ll come to that.’

‘This is trickery,’ cried the Witchhunter, reaching for his pistol.

As he did the circle of rats pulsed, closing on them by half a metre; a ring of gnashing rodent teeth.

The Witchhunter lifted his hand away from his belt and the rats eased back.

‘We have,’ continued Balthazar, ‘somewhat of a dilemma.’

‘Die wot?’ asked Niclas.

‘It’s nothing to worry about. Really. It’s just, only one of you will be allowed to leave this place.’

Niclas knitted his brows and scratched his head. That sure sounded like something to worry about.

‘Nonsense,’ said the Witchhunter.

‘I’m afraid not. They’ve been talking and they’ve come to the conclusion that you must duel one another.’

‘Ah-aha!’ Niclas wasn’t sure why he found it funny, but he soon didn’t find it funny. ‘You’re joking, sir? Right? Sir?’

‘No.’

Two large rats appeared at either side of Balthazar.

‘They want your guns. Both of them.’

‘Do you take me for a fool?’ said the Witchhunter.

‘No. But, you can either play this out how they want it, or…’

‘Or?’ said Niclas.

‘Or, they’ll kill us all. It’s not nice getting killed by rats. It’s ghastly. They’ll eat the flesh from your bones, the eyeballs from your face, the tongue from your mouth, everything, and you’ll be alive for most of it.’

The Witchhunter looked over the shifting horizon of hungry rats. Niclas stared, mouth open at Balthazar.

‘Can’t you do anyfing, sir?’

‘Believe me, I’ve tried. If it was up to them, they’d eat both of you.’

‘This is your doing, cat. You brought us down here,’ said the Witchhunter.

‘Funny that. I didn’t think you’d let me come alone. And you were the one who insisted that both you, and the boy came.’

The Withchunter daggered his eyes.

‘If this is a game you will lose. Do not think I’m afraid to kill this boy.’

‘Wot?’ said Niclas. The ground didn’t quite break away beneath his feet and swallow him, but his bowels moved up and down ever so slightly, and he did, nearly, soil himself. ‘B…but, I don’t knows ’ow to duel.

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