The Great Mouse Reporter ~ Chapter 35

A stone door slid open at the base of a statue in Central Park. Nellie Brie and Vartan stepped out into the morning light, both fatigued and squinting after coming out of the dark. It had taken a few hours to get down to the Lenape hideout, drop Fievel and Olivia off and come back up again.

"Ready for the next stage of our plan?" Nellie asked.

"As ready as I can be vith no sleep," Vartan replied.

"Get ready to swim again," Nellie said.

Vartan nodded, and they hopped in, swimming toward the other side. As they made it over the wall and jumped down, they saw two mice walking down the path some distance ahead.

"Vartan, hide!"

Vartan grabbed his sketch book, which he'd left on the ground in front of the fountain so it wouldn't get wet and covered up with his vest, and ran toward the nearest bush with Nellie. As the two mice got closer however, they began to look familiar.

"It's in the middle of a fountain?" Hiram asked angrily, "How do ye suppose we swim across without messin' up the map?"

"I…I don't know," Bernard said, "Surely zere must be some vay."

Nellie watched the duo in astonishment as they approached the fountain.

"Give me a boost up here, and I'll see if I can pull you up," said Hiram.

"Mr. Mousekewitz!" Nellie called out.

Bernard turned around, and Nellie stepped out into view, followed by Vartan.

"Nellie Brie? It's you!" Bernard exclaimed.

"And Vartan?" Hiram asked, straightening his spectacles.

"What are you doing here?" Nellie asked.

"Ve're here for our children," Bernard explained.

"Aye," said Hiram, looking to Vartan with suspicion, "Ye seen them, haven't you laddie? Ye both disappeared at the same time, and now I find you here."

"I did not help them sneak on train," he replied nervously, "I got on the train, and Fievel and Olivia were already there."

"He kept them out of trouble," said Nellie, "Or did his best to, anyway."

"Why did you leave Green River anyway?" Hiram asked.

"It…"Vartan gave a shy look to Bernard, "It vas Tanya."

"Hmm," Bernard nodded knowingly, "Did you get to speak to her?"

"Ayo, I did, Mr. Mousekewitz…ve like each other very much…"

"You're a better choice zen Ratbone," said Bernard.

"Son of Ratigan indeed," Hiram said, "All the more reason to get Olivia away from here as quickly as possible. Every time I think we've heard the last from that madman, I'm wrong."

"I don't blame you," said Nellie, "You're looking for the Lenape, yes? You'll find that Olivia is quite safe down there. We just came from dropping them off there for safety."

"I don't care how 'safe' they are, I'm getting my daughter away from this city, and away from that boy," Hiram said.

"Away from Fievel?" Nellie asked.

"This is all his fault, is it not?"

"Have you forgotten how much Fievel helped her when you were kidnapped?" Nellie asked, "You'll completely devastate her if you break them up. I don't know if she'd ever forgive you."

Hiram hesitated, but then frowned, "Leadin' me daughter to run away with him to New York with cats running wild and the son of Ratigan in charge is a little hard to forgive."

"I understand that," Nellie replied, "And you're right. That was not okay, and there ought to be consequences for such actions. I'm not here to tell you how to be a parent, but do think about your daughter's feelings. I've known Fievel since he came to this country and he is a good kid. But he's young, and he makes mistakes. He came here because his old friend was in trouble and he was worried about his sister, and Olivia went with him because she didn't want to be apart from him."

"That boy's a danger to himself and everyone around him. But…I'll think about what ye said. Now I'm going ta get me daughter."

"You'll need help navigating the tunnels." said Nellie.

"Ve have a map," said Bernard, "Zis morning I vent to see Tanya. Cholena vas zere too."

"And they drew you a map? Hm, well if you think you can make it on your own. Vartan and I have our own plans."

"But we have to get across the water without gettin' the map wet," said Hiram.

Vartan thought for a moment before making a suggestion, "Vhen I vas in orphanage, I learned a trick from other children. Bring the map here."

Hiram handed Vartan the map, and he began to fold it into a triangular shape. He was watched intently as he finished, and then aimed at the statue in the middle of the fountain.

"What are ye doin' lad?" Hiram asked, as Vartan threw the paper. It glided through the air, crashed into the statue and fell to the ledge around the statue.

"Now you can retrieve it after crossing vater." said Vartan.

"Clever trick," said Bernard.

"Thank you laddie, ye always were a great worker at me shop," said Hiram, "Do ya fancy comin' back with Olivia and I?"

"Sorry, Mr. Flaversham, but I am going to be remaining in New York."

"I understand," said Hiram, "Right, Bernard, let's go."

"Take care Nellie, and Vartan," said Bernard, "Fievel and I vill go back to Tanya's apartment after zis, if you need us."

They walked to the stone wall around the fountain, and Bernard helped Hiram climb the porous cement before climbing it himself.

But, they were being watched.

"What are those little rats doing at the fountain…" said Chula, sitting hidden in the branch of a tree with Fidget, Bill and Chester. They'd been patrolling the paths of the park when they noticed this little gathering.

"We got Nellie Brie right there," said Bill, "Shouldn't we go after her?"

"We'll split up. Look, those two are climbing the fountain, and going into the water…isn't that the fat Mousekewitz guy? I know you've seen him, Fidget."

"Yeah, and that looks like the toymaker," Fidget remarked, "Here for their brats?"

"I guess so, they're not part of Ratbone's plan."

They watched as Hiram picked up the piece of paper, and began feeling the walls around the base of the statue. Their eyes widened, when Hiram found and opened a hidden doorway.

"Alright you mugs," said Chula, "I can't fit through there, but you guys can. I'll send two of ya over there after 'em to see where they went, and I'll trail Nellie with the other guy."

Fidget cackled, "Somethin' tells me we're gonna find those Indians down there…"

"And we'll get the credit, hehehe! Madame Mousey's been hogging it too much lately."

"Maybe we'll even move up the ranks and be invited to Quinn's secret meetings," said Bill.

"And be given our own territory to rule," said Chula, rubbing his hands together.

"Bill, you're the lighter one," said Fidget, "I'll glide on over there with you."

The door closed behind the mice, and Nellie and Vartan moved on. Taking his cue Fidget glided toward the statue while Bill hung onto his legs. The load was still heavy for Fidget though, with his old wing injuries. Fidget landed close to the spot, but not without slamming into the wall and causing Bill to fall a short distance. They got to their feet.

"Wings ain't what they used to be, huh?" Bill asked.

"You try bein' chewed up by a cat sometime," Fidget grumbled, "Come on, feel around for that secret door."

The two of them pressed against the wall at the base of the statue and walked, until finally Fidget face-planted when the doorway opened.

"You did it," said Bill, peering inside as Fidget got to his feet.

They could hear the distant echoes of Bernard and Hiram's voices inside. Quietly, the two of them followed the voices in the darkness, and the door closed behind them, leaving them in total darkness.

"I can't see," Bill whispered.

"Follow me," said Fidget, "We bats got echo-location. I can find my way just fine."

As they traveled downhill, the tunnel eventually leveled off. Up ahead, Bernard and Hiram felt the walls as they went.

"I feel ze pipe ve're supposed to follow," he said, feeling the ceiling.

Hiram felt it too, "Keep goin' then."

The pipe took a turn for the right, and they followed, trailed quietly by Fidget and Bill. They followed the pipe straight for a long time. Both Bernard and Hiram kept one hand on the pipe as they walked, until it suddenly turned upward, and they couldn't feel the ceiling anymore. The tunnel had opened into a tall cavern, and they could hear running water in the distance. They of course remembered this on the map.

"We're lookin' for a glow," Hiram said.

As they advanced they could see a faint glow at the other end of the chamber. They followed it. The faint glow shone between the cracks in a rock. They'd need to squeeze through.

"Think ye can make it?" Hiram asked.

"I don't know…maybe if I suck in," said Bernard, lamenting his weight.

"Don't get stuck," said Hiram, as he slipped through the crack, walking sideways. Bernard tried the same. It was a tight squeeze, he had to force himself through with all of his might, the rock scraping against him. Hiram grabbed his arm, and helped pull him out. When he was through, he fell to his knees and panted.

"You alright?" Hiram asked.

"I'll…be okay," said Bernard, standing up again, being careful with his back.

They were now in an open area lit by torches on the walls. One wall had ornate paintings on it.

"We're where we want to be," said Hiram, taking the map out and reading it by torchlight which illuminated the room, "Now where's the red paw print?"

"Not so fast, mouseys," came the gruff voice of Fidget, "Heh heh heh…caught ya red pawed."

"Vhat? Fidget!?" Bernard exclaimed.

Fidget and Bill came through the entrance, "Thanks for leading us to the Indians, but now it's time for us to take over."

"That blasted bat again," Hiram scowled, "Heard ye got yerself a new boss."

"You heard right, toymaker. One who doesn't throw me out of blimps."

"I'm not lettin' ya take me away from me daughter again, bat. I've come too far."

"Lucky for you, you're not a part of the plan this time," said Fidget, "Unless you get in the way. Tell me how to get the rest of the way to them Indians and step aside, and maybe I'll forget I saw you here."

Bernard looked back at the main entrance. He knew it was booby trapped, but he couldn't let these fiends find out about the secret entrance. He thought back to what Fievel had told him about it. He knew what to expect.

"Come Hiram, run!"

Bernard darted for the entrance. Hiram, against his better judgment, followed after him.

"Are you mad. Mousekewitz?"

"If Tiger could make it through zis, so can ve!"

"Come on Bill they're getting away!" Fidget said, hobbling as fast as he could after them on his peg leg.

Bernard huffed as he ran as quickly as he could, feeling gears click beneath him as he and Hiram crossed a pressure plate at the entrance, but because he didn't stop, he and Hiram were a good distance away by the time Fidget and Bill walked onto it, and burning hot coal was dumped down from above. Fidget and Bill screamed, Fidget taking flight while Bill jumped back through the doorway screaming, rolling on the ground to put out the flames that were engulfing his clothing.

"Why didn't you take the bloody shortcut?" Hiram shouted as the two of them ran.

"Vhy didn't you?" Bernard shouted back.

They came to a fork in the tunnel, with two caves ahead of them. There might have been a third in the middle, but it was blocked by a fallen stone. Making a quick decision to stick together, the two of them chose the one on the left.

"Why you little flea-bitten rats," Fidget yelled, flapping over the fallen hot coals, "You went this way on purpose! You musta known another way!"

Bernard and Hiram entered another chamber, with a narrow walkway with a pit of spikes on both sides, and a row of wooden sledgehammers swinging back and forth over the walkway.
"Time your steps," said Bernard.

The two of them narrowly missed each hammer, one at a time. Fidget however was able to glide over the whole thing, and he landed in front of them.

"End of the line, mousies!"

Hiram landed a punch to Fidget's head, sending him sliding on the ground.

"Shoulda done that a long time ago," Hiram said, as he ran forward with Bernard.

Fidget got to his foot and peg again, holding the side of his head and cursing, taking flight after them again. The two mice next entered a hallway with a large column at the center, with slits along the sides.

"If vhat my son told me about zis room is true, ve best keep running," Bernard warned.

They heard the clicking sound of mechanisms in the walls. They ran faster.

Fidget flapped through the hallway after them, until realizing that there were bows loaded with arrows sticking out of the column in the center of the room.

"Waaaaa!" he screamed as the arrows took flight and ricocheted off the walls. One arrow pierced his wing, sending him crashing to the ground and crawling on his wings and knees.

Bernard and Hiram entered the next room, filled with sand. There was a door at the other end.

"Almost zhere," said Bernard.

"You better be right," said Hiram.

Three poles shot out of the sand, with mouse skulls on the tops. They began to rotate, revealing blades of obsidian on the sides, revolving like propellers. The two of them ran through the door, and slid down a long, winding slide, screaming. Fidget followed not far behind, staggering and bleeding, another arrow sticking out of his back.

"D-damn you…toymaker…" he said, as he approached the sand. The automated spinning blades shot back into the ground, no longer activated by the weight of the two mice. Fidget, fortunately for him, was too light to activate the pressure plate beneath the sand. He hobbled his way through the door, and down the slide.

Bernard and Hiram tumbled down the slide, screaming, until finally coming through a chute and landing in a net. Fidget followed soon after, landing atop Bernard, who threw the bat off his back.

Lenape soldiers soon surrounded the net holding spears. Chief Wulisso approached the net and the crowd parted.

"Upper-Worlders! What brings you to our village? Do you seek to conquer us? Tell that Quinn Ratbone our location?"

"No no, ve're friendly!" Bernard insisted, "Or…two of us are."

"Da…daddy?" Olivia said, pushing her way through the crowd with Fievel, "Daddy?!"

"Papa!" Fievel exclaimed in astonishment.

Wulisso looked back at the two children, and then up at the mice in the net, "Hmmm…cut them down, and bring them to my tent. We will sort this out there. But beware the bat. If my suspicions are correct, these two have done much to protect us from him."

Bernard breathed a sigh of relief as the net was lowered. But he knew now would be a time of reconciliation between Hiram and his daughter. He would need to be there if his son came away from this broken-hearted.