‘Looking for me?'

Justin turned around as fast as he
could. His heart missed a beat when he gazed into his opponent's eyes.

‘Philip, I'll give you one chance
to tell me what the Hell is going on here.' Justin asked as casually as he
possibly could.

‘Your wife tried to kill me,
that's what is wrong here! No, no... Don't worry! I won't tell anyone. She's
probably just freaking out because of the pregnancy and the wedding-stuff... I
don't blame her, I really don't.'

‘Philip, do you have connections
with Jenner?'

‘What?'

‘Do you have connections with
Jenner?' Justin asked again, this time a little louder.

‘Justin... my friend! How could you
even suggest that...'

‘Oh you have connections with
Jenner alright.'

Justin turned around and saw
Brutus. He was out of bed, still wearing is operation shirt.

‘Brutus! Get back to bed.' Justin
yelled, afraid that the friendly giant would collapse.

‘Philip, tell our Leader the
truth.' Brutus continued.

‘I....' Philip stumbled.

‘Philip?' Justin asked while he
gazed into Philip's eyes.

‘Justin... I'm sorry....' Philip said,
he pulled his sword out of his holder and pushed the blade into his stomach.

‘Philip NO!' Justin screamed and
he ran in Philip's direction. But it was already too late. Philip was already
dead. 

 

Mr. Ages had just paid a visit to
the Brisby family. They were still in the Valley, for Justin wanted to make
sure they were safe. There was always a possibility that there were still some
barn-rats at the Fitzgibbon Farm. He didn't want to take the risk. When he
entered the infirmary he gasped for air. ‘Justin! Brutus! What in the world has
happened here?'

‘Philip has committed suicide.'
Justin said, while he got up from the floor.

‘Why on earth did he do that?'
Ages wondered, still in a state of shock.

‘He was the one who attacked
Brutus. He was a follower of Jenner. Something tells me that there are more
followers in this colony.' Justin spoke clearly and rationally, as if nothing
serious had happened. Ages knew his casual attitude was caused by shock. Mr.
Ages walked in Brutus' direction and ordered him back into bed. Gabriel, the
recently-graduated-rat-doctor, came in. Justin already warned him. Together
with Justin, he lifted Philip up onto a riding bed. As Gabriel took Philip with
him, Justin took a deep breath. He wanted Wendy so badly that he didn't
want  to waste any more time in the
infirmary.

 

He found her at Nanny's room.
Arthur, Nanny, the Brisby family and Justin's beautiful wife were sitting in a
circle playing cards. Justin smiled when he saw them, trying to make the best
of things in these terrible times. ‘Can I join you?' He asked.

Everyone looked up and smiled.
Wendy stumbled to get up; her stomach was getting more and more in the way. She
embraced Justin firmly when she finally managed to get up.

‘I missed you so much.' Wendy
whispered in Justin's ear. 

Justin smiled at her and kissed
her. He needed her so much. She was the one that made his life worth living
for. She and their unborn baby.

‘Well, did you find Philip?'
Arthur asked while he got up from the floor as well.

‘Yes, I did...' Justin softly said,
trying to hide his emotions.

‘Well, did he admit that he was
Brutus' attacker?' Arthur wondered.

‘He didn't admit it out loud... but
he did commit suicide when we asked if he did. That sure says enough, now
doesn't it?' Justin sighed.

‘Oh, Justin... I'm so sorry... Are you
okay?' Wendy whispered.

‘I'm not okay, but mainly because
I don't know who to trust anymore. How on earth am I going to figure out who's
to be trusted and who isn't? Anyone could be a villain, anyone...'

‘Hey, at least you know WE are the
good guys here. And so is Brutus, otherwise he wouldn't have been attacked.'

‘Yes, it's good to know you are to
be trusted. But there are some measures we have to take to make sure the good
girls and guys are safe. Do you suppose we could use the Maze underneath ‘the
Castle'?' Justin asked.

‘The Maze?' Wendy asked. ‘What is
the Maze?'

‘It's an escape route, actually. I
built it to make sure that we would be safe in case ‘the Castle' would be
attacked. The only ones who know about the Maze are Nicodemus, Justin and
myself.' Arthur explained.

‘This is a good opportunity to use
it. There are several bedrooms, an infirmary such as this one but smaller, a
weapon-unit and a nursery.' Justin said.

‘The escape route leads directly
to the Waterfall.' Arthur said, completing Justin's sentence.

‘We must make a list with all rats
that can be trusted for the whole 100 percent.'

‘Wait a minute! How on earth do
you know who can and can't be trusted. What if you'll make mistakes? You could
lead killers into the safety spot, and leave innocent citizens up here where
they'll be killed for sure!' Wendy said, looking at the two male rats.

‘We'll start by evacuating the
Brisby Family, Nicodemus, Brutus, Mr. Ages, Gabriel, Nanny, Arthur, you my love
and myself.' Justin said, ignoring Wendy's fears.

‘Wait a minute! What about the
other rats?' Wendy pleaded. ‘You are the one that should protect all of them!
You are the one to make everyone feel safe!'

‘I'm sorry my love, but I have to
do it this way! I would have died for Philip! He was the one I always confided
in! I even put Nicodemus' life in his hands while we were in London! I don't
know what to do either! Who can I trust? Everyone could be a follower of
Jenner!'

‘Then let me talk to him! Let me
talk to Jenner! He's my father, he won't hurt me!'

‘No way in Hell I will let you
talk to that murderer.' Justin yelled.

‘But...' Wendy said, but she was
interrupted by Justin.

‘No buts! Discussion closed,
Wendy.' Justin said, calmly, but his heart was beating like crazy.

Wendy was numb by Justin's words.
Her eyes filled with tears.

‘You really don't trust me, do
you?' She said with a lump in the throat.

‘I do trust you! This has nothing
to do with trust!' Justin said non-understanding.

Nanny and Arthur stared at each
other. Jenner? Wendy's father?

‘Wendy dear, he's just worried
about you and the baby...' Nanny spoke to ease the starting fight between the two
newly weds.

‘Come on guys! This is not the
time to argue.' Arthur said. ‘I think Justin made a good point in getting Wendy
to safety. If Jenner indeed is your father, he'll go directly after
you.'

‘He is my father. Tell
them, Justin.'

‘Yes, he is her father. He told me
during the fight. I didn't tell anyone, except for Nicodemus  because... well, I just didn't. She learned
this a few days ago.' Justin said.

‘Oh Wendy, I don't believe this!'
Nanny sadly said.

‘Nan, I'm still the same! Please
don't look at me differently!'

‘No! No way! I just cannot imagine
that such a sweet, beautiful lady could have a monster like that as a father.'
Nanny took a deep breath. ‘I think you should be the last person to go near
Jenner.'

Suddenly Wendy felt a painful
sting in her stomach. She grabbed her stomach and gasped for air. ‘Wendy!
Please sit down!' Justin said while he grabbed his wife's shoulders and gently
seated her. ‘We have to get her to the infirmary.' He said to Arthur.

‘No, no... I'm alright. It's gone
already.' Wendy stumbled.

‘But there might be something
wrong with the baby!' Justin said, while he balanced on one knee in front of
Wendy.

‘I've had this before, it's
nothing serious. I guess I have just been under a lot of stress lately.' Wendy
softly said, as she took Justin's hand and placed it onto her stomach.

‘He's moving.' Justin said and his
serious face finally showed a smile again.

‘Perhaps she's just giving her
mommy a hint not to worry too much.'

‘No, his mommy can leave
that up to his daddy.' Justin teased. ‘But if you've had this before
then....'

‘Then I should go to the doctor to
check it all out.' Wendy finished.

‘Yes, that was what I had in
mind.' Justin said, again with his serious face.

‘Well, I have already seen a
doctor for this, and he said that there was nothing to worry about. It's just a
sign. Of course it's bad, but if it weren't for these signs...'

Justin looked at his wife with a
sad face. ‘Oh Wendy, I just wished that you didn't need to feel this way. That
is why I must move you to a safe place. And the Maze is the perfect place for
that.'

 

‘Well, this is it! Do you like
it?' Justin proudly said while he opened one of the bedrooms in the Maze.

‘It's... eh... dark.' Wendy softly
replied.

‘Well, yes... we are under the
ground again. I guess we have to get used to that again.' Justin
admitted that he hated the fact that he would actually lock his wife up, but he
didn't see an other opportunity.

‘This will be your room, right
over here.' Justin pointed.

‘Wait a minute... Does that mean
that you will not be sleeping with me anymore?'

‘It's just temporarily....' Justin
tried.

‘No way! I'm not staying here by
myself!' Wendy shouted.

‘Wendy, I'm sorry....'

‘Justin! I will not accept this!'
Wendy pleaded.

‘Arthur, lock the door please.'
Justin said.

‘Justin! Justin! Come back here!'
Wendy shouted from behind the door, but it was no use; Justin was already gone.

The Brisby Family also had a room
in the Maze. They were sad to hear Wendy's pleads further in the hallway.

‘I really can't believe he did
that!' Martin said.

‘He does this to protect his
wife!' Theresa said, standing up for Justin.

‘Yeah right. He's keeping her
hostage, that's what he's doing!'

‘Martin, please... I agree with
Theresa. Wendy's pregnant. And since Jenner is her father, what I really don't
understand, Justin has to be extra careful with her. If Jenner will find out
about the pregnancy, as he hasn't already, he'll be bound to take his daughter
back with him as well as his grandchild. He'll leave Justin with nothing.'

‘What are so saying mother? That
if Jenner gets his hands on Wendy that we will never see her back again?'
Timothy asked.

‘Yes, dear... I'm afraid we'll lose
her if he does.' Mrs. Brisby said.