The Deptford Mice 2: The Crystal Prison Read Online Free

Triton,’ Audrey suggested. ‘Just look how he’s marching off.’
    ‘I’m thinkin’ old Thomas ain’t happy about meetin’ that there Starwife again.’
    ‘Well I don’t want to meet her a first time. She sounds like a right old battleaxe – I’m telling you Twit, no matter who she is I’m in no mood for a bad-tempered old squirrel.’
    ‘Oh I am,’ cried Twit. ‘Anything to be out of those dark rooms for a while.’
    They ran after Thomas, skirting round the tangled roots of the large trees. Gradually the three mice made their way up the hill.
    Thomas’ brows were knitted together in concentration. They avoided the paths and kept on the grass, obeying their instincts of survival – out of sight, out of danger.
    The further up the hill they went the more thoughtful and quiet Thomas became. By the time they were halfway up he was positively frowning and his tail switched to and fro irritably. Audrey caught his mood and stayed silent. Only Twit chirped up now and again, gasping at the view and remembering when the bats had flown him over this very hill.
    Presently the Observatory buildings drew near. How high they were with their onion-shaped domes and solid walls! They sat proudly on top of the hill, fringed by railings and thick rhododendron bushes.
    ‘Look,’ called Twit suddenly. ‘In those bushes there. No, it’s gone now.’
    ‘What was it?’ asked Audrey.
    ‘A squirrel,’ explained the fieldmouse. ‘It were watchin’ us – didn’t half give me a shock. There it was a-starin’ straight at me – grey as ash then poof! It darted away as speedy as anything.’
    ‘How long do you think it had been watching us?’ asked Audrey, slightly unnerved. She had never seen a squirrel before.
    Thomas glared into the bushes. ‘They’ve been keeping an eye on us ever since we stepped into the park. Thought they were being clever, but I spotted them a-spying and jumping from branch to branch over our heads. Let them scurry and keep her informed of our progress. Like a spider in a wide web she is, gathering news – you’d be surprised at what she hears,’ he added grimly.
    Audrey twisted the lace of her skirt between her fingers. ‘Mr Triton,’ she began nervously. ‘I don’t want to see her now. Please can we go back?’
    ‘No lass,’ Thomas sighed, shaking his head.
    ‘She has summoned you and you’ve come this far. Don’t let an old jaded rover like me frighten you now. Courtesy must be kept and you never know – maybe the old boot’s mellowed since last I saw her.’
    Twit giggled at Thomas’ description of the Starwife. ‘I can’t wait,’ he babbled excitedly.
    ‘Right ho matey,’ said Thomas, ‘let’s take the cat by the whiskers.’ The midshipmouse ducked under a railing and scampered up the bush-covered bank. Audrey and Twit followed.
    Thomas Triton stooped and sat down in the mossy shade of the dark-leaved rhododendrons.
    ‘What are you doing?’ asked Audrey in surprise. ‘I thought we were going to find the Starwife.’
    ‘We’ve come as far as we can on our own,’ said Thomas solemnly. ‘I’m waiting for our escort.’
    Twit blinked and peered around them. The shadows under the thick bushes were deep. ‘I don’t see no-ones,’ he whispered. ‘Where is this escort, Thomas?’
    ‘Oh they’re here,’ replied the midshipmouse dryly. ‘I’m just waiting for them to find their guts and show themselves.’
    Above their heads amongst the leathery leaves nervous coughs were stifled. Audrey glanced up. ‘What are they doing?’ she murmured fearfully.
    Thomas stretched and yawned, then he lay hack and rested his head on the spongy moss. ‘This is where we have to wait till one of them plucks up enough nerve to come down and lead us further. Could be hours.’
    ‘But we can’t wait too long, Thomas,’ urged Twit, thinking of Oswald.
    The midshipmouse eyed Twit for a moment. ‘You’re right matey. I’ll not be idle while the Chitter lad’s fadin’ fast.’