Undergardeners Read Online Free

Snock each tugged one of Alkus’s shoe buckles, and as she bent down they whispered to her, one into each ear. Stereo, thought Mouse, having a vision of Snick-and-Snock headphones. Alkus nodded, then called the others into a huddle. Scraps of their conversation drifted toward Mouse.
    â€œWhat if…I don’t know whether…We’ve never had…Suppose he…”
    From time to time one or another of them looked in his direction. At one point Digger gazed at him through three different pairs of spectacles in rapid succession. Finally Alkus turned round and said, “We’ve never taken an Uptopper below before, but you did come to Qwolsh’s rescue, so you are welcome to visit.” She sized him up with expert eyes. “If we stick to the main tunnels you should be able to fit without too much crouching.” Then she said sternly, “But you must never tell another Uptopper about us. Promise?”
    â€œPromise,” vowed Mouse. “I’ll never tell another Uptopper about any of the Undergardeners.”
    â€œIs that what you want to call us?” asked Alkus.
    â€œWell, you do live under my garden,” said Mouse.
    Alkus laughed. “We live under many gardens. It’s not what we call ourselves, but Undergardener has a nice ring to it.”
    â€œWell, come on then, let’s get down there before the night is gone,” said Glump impatiently, heading for the rock that had caused Mouse and his father so much grief. Mouse looked at the large pile of earth they had shifted in their futile attempt to move the rock. No wonder I’m stiff, he thought. Look at all that dirt.
    One by one the Undergardeners stepped in. Mouse hesitated. The hole looked dark and uninviting. “Move along. We can’t wait all night,” Glump wheezed as he bumped into him from behind. Mouse looked around the familiar garden and then, taking a deep breath, he stepped gingerly into the hole. The Undergardeners hummed and the stone above Mouse’s head began to lower itself into place, closing off the sky. The moon shrank to a half, to a quarter, to a sliver—then it was gone. With a firm clunk , the stone settled, plunging them all into total darkness.

Chapter 4
    The steps were cold on Mouse’s bare feet, and the air smelt musty. If this is a dream, he thought, it’s a very realistic one. On the other hand, if it’s not a dream, what am I doing here? Mind you, if it’s not a dream, it’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me. Wait till I tell… What am I saying? I promised not to tell anyone. His mood swung between cowardice and courage, dread and delight, as his thoughts chased each other frantically. If it’s a dream I’m going to enjoy it. If it’s not a dream…He took a deep decisive breath. I’m going to enjoy it even more. He swung his arm in a defiant gesture and struck something fleshy.
    â€œOuch!” The voice sounded like Qwolsh’s. “Careful, or you’ll put someone’s eye out.”
    â€œSorry,” Mouse apologized, stepped back and heard the deer mice scurry out of the way.
    â€œAnd watch…
    â€¦where you’re putting…
    â€¦your feet.”
    â€œStand still,” ordered Alkus, “till the lights come on.”
    The Undergardeners hummed and the darkness lessened slightly. Mouse began to make out their silhouettes. The place grew brighter and brighter. He could now make out the underside of the stone entrance and the stone steps that headed down into darkness.
    â€œYou did that with the humming?” asked an amazed Mouse.
    â€œDid what?” said Alkus.
    â€œThe lights, the lights,” answered Mouse.
    â€œYou sound like…
    â€¦the fireflies,” chortled Snick and Snock. “De-lights!…
    â€¦De-lights!” They imitated the fluttery, high-pitched voices.
    â€œIf we was to leave it to the youngsters of today, we