The Deptford Mice 1: The Dark Portal (6 page)

‘Do not fear me!’ a loud thick voice called to her. Audrey jumped in surprise. ‘Come around, let me see you mouselet.’

‘Is that Madame Akkikuyu?’ Audrey stammered, standing quite still.

‘Ah, a girl mouseling! How daringly brave you are, how desperate your need must be!’

Audrey peered around the corner. Madame Akkikuyu stood behind the bubbling pot. The light of the fire flickered and danced over her and through the haze and smoke she seemed to shimmer. She looked like a being from another world.

‘I am Akkikuyu,’ she said: ‘You have journeyed here through peril to seek me.’

‘Why yes,’ said Audrey. ‘How did you know?’

‘I am Akkikuyu,’ the rat repeated. ‘I know many of the secrets the future withholds from others.’

‘I want to find my father. I don’t know where he is,’ Audrey ventured.

‘Not so fast Miss Mouselet! Akkikuyu needs payment to pierce the shadows.’ The rat scrutinized Audrey keenly.

‘I have nothing,’ the mouse replied.

Madame Akkikuyu came forward and touched the mousebrass. ‘Pretty dangler do nicely for Akkikuyu. Keep cats away, yes?’

Audrey stepped back. ‘I can’t give you that,’ she said. ‘I must wear it always, I’ve been told to.’

‘Ach!’ snorted the rat. ‘Must pay or Papa stay put.’ She reached into a bag and pulled out the kitten’s head. ‘Your dangler save you from this cat maybe?’ She waved the horror in Audrey’s face. ‘Oh poor kitty head – ward off many things, dark dreams and fear of water. Is pretty yes?’

Audrey shook her head. ‘It’s horrid, take it away.’

Madame Akkikuyu laid the grisly thing aside. ‘No like poor Tiddles. Ha, he keeps me company. Akkikuyu lucky to have him.’ She paused and sucked her teeth. ‘What else you have? Don’t want ribbon and frilly lace – no use.’

Audrey’s heart sank. This was her only hope and she could feel it slipping away. What could she give this rat? Madame Akkikuyu interrupted her thoughts.

‘What are these dingle-dangles?’ She pointed at the silver bells on Audrey’s tail. ‘Akkikuyu could find use for them.’

Slowly Audrey took them from her tail and sadly handed them over. Madame Akkikuyu greedily snatched the bells and quickly buried them in one of her bags. She turned back to Audrey.

‘Now come. Akkikuyu show mouseling many things.’

Audrey watched apprehensively as the rat sorted through her bags. She brought out a pack of yellowing cards and sat down. She laid the cards on the ground and fanned them out. ‘Sit down here mouselet.’ She tapped the floor next to her.

Audrey approached but sat opposite. Madame Akkikuyu stared at her through narrowed eyes. ‘So your father is lost. Itchy feet does he have?’

‘He just disappeared,’ said Audrey, obstinately returning the other’s stare.

The fortune-teller scanned the cards and waved her arms. ‘Dark things surround you my mouselet, if you continue your searches.’

She eyed Audrey’s lace and ribbons.

‘Your momma care for you?’

‘Yes she does.’

‘I don’t think she know you here. Right now, she worried ’long with your brothers and sisters.’

‘I have no sisters,’ Audrey said. She strained to see the crude drawings and mysterious symbols on the cards.

‘Hmmm,’ the rat resumed, ‘the cards tell me much.’

‘About my father?’

‘Patience mouselet, your papa long way off, needs time to find. Ahh, I see a boy for you.’

‘I only want my father!’

Akkikuyu coughed and picked up the cards. She had lost interest in this pestering mouse and decided it was time for some professional vagueness. She would tell her some story to get rid of her. ‘I get the crystal. Nothing is hidden from Akkikuyu when she crystal gazes.’ The rat searched in the largest bag and brought out a glass globe. ‘My crystal!’ she said reverently.

It was her most precious possession. Audrey looked on in admiration. The swirl of colours in the middle suggested all kinds of strange powers.

Madame Akkikuyu placed the crystal on a special plinth hauled from another bag and stroked the cold smooth surface with her claws. She was pleased: the mouse was awed and a little frightened. A bit of showmanship to accompany the story and she would soon get rid of her.

‘I look into the crystal,’ she said solemnly. ‘The clouds of the infinite are clearing. Reveal the secrets of unknown places to me, oh crystal!’

Madame Akkikuyu bent over the globe and looked into its depths. She threw a quick glance at Audrey, who was staring breathlessly into the crystal. Then she resumed her act. She blinked and was about to invent something when she gasped.

The colours in the glass were moving, dancing in rainbow flames. Flickering shapes darted around the globe until they formed strange patterns and then pictures.

There was the altar of Jupiter, the candles burning high and two fiery eyes blazing from the black portal. Before them a vast army of rats bowed down. Then Akkikuyu saw the army marching, for there was war and the globe was red with blood. The visions continued. The rat filled her view, fighting, murdering and plundering. Then, suddenly in the heart of the crystal, something shone – a bright clear light stabbing through the other, vile images. It was Audrey’s mousebrass and she was following it. The rats became obscured by her, trampled under her small pink feet.

The globe fell into darkness. But Akkikuyu could see that the visions had not finished. She saw night. Tall stalks of grain swayed under a full summer moon and in the sky a night bird swooped and wheeled. Unnatural things walked under the stars and spread fear over the earth. And suddenly, there was fire. Raging, all-consuming flames scorched inside the crystal and seemed to leap out at Akkikuyu, blinding her.

The rat staggered back as if hit by an unseen blow. Her face was drawn and haggard. Audrey gasped.

‘Did you see? Child, did you see?’ Akkikuyu asked frantically.

‘No, what happened? What did you see? Was it my father?’

Akkikuyu breathed thickly for a time. Never before had she experienced true clairvoyance.

‘Your father is dead,’ she croaked eventually.

Audrey shook her head defiantly. ‘It’s not true!’ she cried. ‘You’re lying. You can’t see the future. I have no sisters, and my father isn’t dead!’ Audrey beat, her fists against the black rat.

‘Leave me. Go!’ Akkikuyu snarled and threw the mouse from her. ‘Your papa is no more. Believe that!’

Audrey bit her lip to stop it trembling. She did not believe the fortune-teller. She turned and ran.

Madame Akkikuyu let her go. She was confused – the memory of her visions had startled her. What was she to do? She felt sure that they were all true. Was this to herald a new time for her? She turned back to the crystal and looked at it suspiciously. She poked it tentatively as if it were a sleeping snake. It did not move. She took it in her claws once more and gazed into it. All was dark. No matter how she tried no more visions came. Slowly the rat raised her eyes from the globe. Perhaps it had something to do with that mouse. Akkikuyu put the crystal into one of her bags and slung it over her shoulder. She set off to find Audrey.

* * *

Audrey had run a long way. Her heart thumping and her body racked with sobs, she had to stop. She leaned against the brick wall and tried to catch her breath. Why should she believe Akkikuyu? She was certain her father was alive – she had heard his voice. Why did everyone think he was dead?

Audrey had been breathing hard. She suddenly realised the noise she was making. Down in the sewers that was a big mistake. She covered her mouth with her paw to muffle the sound but it was too late. Someone or something was coming.

Audrey stood stock-still, too afraid to move, hardly daring to look. Whatever it was, it was getting nearer. Through her half-closed eyes she couldn’t see much. Perhaps it would pass by without seeing her. Lowering her eyes she saw that below the ledge on which she stood was another. Perhaps she could jump down on to that – it didn’t look too far. It seemed her only chance. Audrey dashed out of the shadows, pushed past the figure and jumped off the ledge.

Piccadilly let out a howl of fright. He had been walking with his head down, keeping a look-out for slippery patches, when without warning he received a sharp dig in the stomach from something rushing by him. He crumpled up as the wind was knocked out of him. Turning quickly, he was just in time to see Audrey disappearing below the ledge. Piccadilly dragged himself to the edge and called out. ‘Hey! What do you think you’re doing?’

Audrey stopped. The clear high voice belonged to no rat. Turning, she saw the young mouse leaning over the edge, looking down at her.

‘That hurt, you know,’ Piccadilly said.

Audrey sauntered back. ‘Serves you right for sneaking around.’

Piccadilly grinned. ‘Frighten you, did I?’

‘Certainly not! I did think you were a rat, but I wasn’t scared,’ she pouted.

Piccadilly sobered. He had managed to outrun the rats, but only just. They were not his favourite topic of conversation at the moment. He put out his paw to help Audrey back up.

‘Thanks,’ she said when she stood on the top ledge once again. ‘What are you doing down here anyway?’

‘Trying to get out,’ Piccadilly answered grimly. ‘And don’t talk so loudly!’

‘I haven’t seen any rats since I’ve been down here,’ she said, ‘apart from that fake fortune-teller.’

Piccadilly shook his head. ‘Well I have and believe me, they’re terrible.’

Audrey looked at this mouse. She had never seen a “grey” before. Yes, she liked him, apart from his silly fringe. ‘Where are you from?’ she asked.

‘The city. I’m Piccadilly by the way.’

‘Audrey Brown,’ she smiled.

Piccadilly’s face fell. The change was so dramatic that Audrey thought he had seen something dreadful behind her. She turned but there was nothing.

‘If you’re Audrey Brown then I suppose this belongs to you,’ he said slowly and took a mousebrass from his belt.

Puzzled, Audrey took it and gasped. ‘Where did you get this? It’s my father’s.’

‘Albert told me to give it to Gwennie, but . . .’ his voice trailed off sadly.

‘Why? When did you see him?’

Piccadilly looked away. ‘He didn’t know what to say.

Audrey was shaking. ‘Well?’

The young mouse looked directly into her eyes. ‘He gave it to me just before . . . before he was captured.’ There was a silence. ‘I’m so sorry Audrey, I think your father is—’

‘No he isn’t!’ Audrey wouldn’t let him finish. She didn’t want to hear that word again. ‘The rats took him and you ran away, didn’t you? You turned tail when he needed your help.’

‘That isn’t true – it’s not how it happened at all. He told me to go. There was no hope of saving him.’

Audrey glared at him. ‘I hate you! You’re a coward. You left my father with the rats. Well, he’s not dead. I heard him yesterday afternoon.’

‘Yesterday?’ Piccadilly tried to reckon the hours. ‘But that isn’t possible, Audrey. I was with him all yesterday.’

‘Look!’ Audrey snapped. ‘I don’t know why you’re saying these things but we’re going to get back to the Skirtings and we’ll see what my mother thinks of your lies.’ She set off along the ledge.

Piccadilly ran after her. ‘Why won’t you listen? Albert was taken because he overheard Jupiter’s plans – I only just got away.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

‘It’s true,’ protested Piccadilly. ‘He told me to trust in the Green Mouse and . . .’ He wiped his eyes as the memory brought back the fear and grief. ‘How could He have let that happen to Albert? I hate the Green Mouse!’ he cried. ‘He doesn’t exist.’

On the ledge below, Madame Akkikuyu listened with interest – especially to the part about Jupiter. She was sure the Lord of the Sewers would be grateful to know the whereabouts of this mouse. Madame Akkikuyu smiled widely and licked her long yellow teeth.

Deep in the sewers Madame Akkikuyu crept along a ledge towards the altar of Jupiter. Below her the dark swirling water was disturbed by the leaking of an ill-fitting sluice gate set into the wall and operated by heavy chains. The fortune-teller stepped around one of the candles and looked up into the deep dark portal. She was about to call to the god when Morgan sprang out behind her.

‘What do you want here, hag?’ he hissed.

Akkikuyu sniffed at him. ‘I come to speak with the great one, not you, Stumpo.’

Morgan grabbed at her. ‘No one talks to ’im ’cept me. Now go on, you old baggage.’

‘Oh you spotted stump,’ she laughed. ‘How long you remain chief lackey? I wonder.’ The fortune-teller narrowed her eyes. ‘I have news for the great one, news of your blunderings. Dare you stop me?’

Morgan snorted with contempt. ‘Where do you get your news, maggot-face?’

Akkikuyu lowered her voice and spoke with reverence. ‘It has been revealed to me in the crystal. Much have I seen.’

At this Morgan scoffed. ‘Don’t come the phoney here, ducks. It won’t wash. I knows what you were ’afore you got too old an’ ugly. Now ‘op it!’

A great rumbling interrupted them.

‘Now you’ve torn it, you old witch,’ whispered Morgan fiercely. ‘He’s coming!’

From the portal above, the rumour of Jupiter’s approach sounded loudly in their ears and two fiery points blazed out of the shadow.

The piebald rat fell on his face. ‘Oh Great Glory,’ he stammered.