The Secret of the Ginger Mice Read Online Free Page A

and rely on you to keep what you are about to hear absolutely secret.”
    He picked up the steaming mug of tea Beezer had placed before him and, despite the heat of the sun streaming through the windows, held it between hishands as if for warmth.
    â€œWhat do you know about Gerander?” he asked.
    His nephew and niece looked at him in surprise.
    â€œGerander?” said Alice. “It’s part of Souris, isn’t it?”
    Ebenezer smiled sadly. “It’s as I thought,” he said. “Not that I’m surprised. Of course if Gerander is mentioned at all in schools these days, it’s probably only as a province of our larger neighbor to the north.”
    Alex nodded. “We’ve learned a lot about Souris at school—Queen Eugenia and all that.”
    â€œYou might also have learned that Souris is a very rich and powerful country,” he suggested, and the two younger mice nodded. “Well, many years ago, this rich and powerful country invaded—”
    Beezer made a sound as if she was about to say something, but Ebenezer put up his hand. “It’s true, Beezer,” he said, “and in the privacy of our own home I can speak the truth aloud . . . Yes, Souris invaded Gerander, a smaller, weaker neighbor, and now that once-proud country is independent no more. Her borders are closed and her citizens are virtually prisoners in their own land, close to starvation and forced to work for the prosperity of Souris. Why, the Gerandans are little better than slaves!”
    â€œUm, this is very interesting, Uncle,” said Alice politely, “but what does it have to do with Alistair?”
    Ebenezer raised an eyebrow. “What indeed?” he said. “Well, as you know, your father and I were born right here in Shetlock—but our father (that’s your grandfather, Raskus) was born in Gerander, and he left just before the borders were closed. And when he died, he begged your father and me to continue trying to free our homeland.”
    â€œBy yourselves?!” said Alice.
    Her uncle chuckled. “No, not by ourselves. You see, our father wasn’t the only Gerandan to flee to Shetlock, a neutral country. And many of those that did, and their descendants, like Rebus and me, and good-hearted Shetlockers like your aunt”—he smiled at his wife affectionately—“became part of an underground resistance movement started in Gerander. Its members are working toward a Free and Independent Gerander, or FIG for short. And your parents . . .” His voice cracked slightly, and he stopped speaking. After a few deep breaths, he went on. “Your parents were not going on a business trip. They were traveling secretly to Gerander on an important mission. But . . .” He shrugged his shoulders. “They never came back.”
    â€œSo the accident they were in, that was in Gerander?” exclaimed Alex. “Are you saying they—they were killed?”
    â€œYes,” said Ebenezer seriously. “I’m afraid so. We hada message from a local FIG contact. Rebus and Emmeline were intercepted shortly after crossing the border into Gerander and . . .” He raised his hands helplessly. “You lost your parents and I lost my brother.”
    The two younger mice fell silent, trying to absorb the enormity of what they had just learned.
    After a minute, Alice spoke up. “And Alistair?” she demanded. “What do you think has happened to him?”
    â€œWhat is unusual about your brother?” Beezer said.
    â€œHow about the fact that he’d rather read a book about an exciting adventure than actually have an exciting adventure in the landfill down the road?” said Alex, rolling his eyes in disbelief. “That’s pretty unusual. And I’d say wearing a scarf in the middle of summer was more than just unusual—it’s downright weird. Oh! And how about the fact that he actually volunteers to help