Wendy decided to take a better
look in Jenner's room. She wondered if there were things in there that she
recognized. The couch and the dresser clearly had belonged to Nanny and Arthur
back in the Rosebush. That desk also looked familiar, perhaps it was even
Justin's old desk. Her guess is that Jenner's bed was indeed Jenner's bed. She
didn't really take a good look at it before, but it suited him. It was huge and
made of dark wood. It was pretty comfortable, though. Her eyes were drawn to a
soft ticking object at her left. ‘Of course! That's Nicodemus' watch!' She used
to be annoyed by it, now it seemed comforting. Five o'clock already. She took a
deep breath, feeling slightly nervous for what was coming. If only Jonathan
came back with some good news... Perhaps her father was right: He probably went
straight to the Castle. She wouldn't want to waste any minute, either. How she
longed to be safely in Justin's arms!

 

‘It's five o'clock.' Justin said
to no-one in particular.

‘Yes, it is.' Brutus said, it
won't be long now. ‘Tired of waiting?'

‘You can't even begin to imagine
HOW!' Justin said and he squeezed out a small smile.

‘Worried?' Brutus wondered.

‘Yeah, of course I'm worried. So
many things could go wrong.'

‘Don't think about what could go
wrong! It'll be ok.' Brutus said, but he was worried, too.

He looked over his shoulder to see
if Mr. Ages was still sleeping.

‘Man, that stuff really is
powerful!' He yelled.

‘Hahaha, you can say that again!'
A naughty smile appeared on his face. ‘Nice and quiet, though. I think I'll
keep a little behind, just in case.'

Brutus started laughing, but
couldn't help feeling uneasy.

 

Mrs. Brisby managed to cover most
of the scratches up. The children didn't even noticed them when they got back
in from playing. They decided to go down to the dining room to grab something
to eat. Nanny said she made homemade pancakes. The children loved pancakes and
she kind of liked them herself, too. She could use a good meal. She thought
about the mouse with the dark gray spots. Was it possible that there was
another mouse on this world with the same spots as her husband? She remembered
his spots clearly. She used to love his fur. Her children didn't own any spots.
Somehow she was glad that she was able to remember the spots Jonathan had, his
smile, his stories... But what color were his eyes again? And what about the tip
of his tail? She suddenly felt really sad; she started to forget.

‘What is the matter, Mom?' Theresa
asked. She had been staring at her mother for a while, now. She picket up a pot
of jelly and started to spread it over her pancake.

‘Nothing, dear. I'm just tired,
that's all.'

‘Yow can be wonest wif uf. You
miff bab, bon't you?' Martin said with his mouth full.

‘Yuk! Martin! I can feel the drops
here!' Theresa yelled, her face filled with disgust.

‘Martin! Finish your mouth before
speaking. You are looking more and more like your father... and Justin for that
matter.' His mother complained.

Martin gave his sister a glance.
‘I said: ‘You can be honest with us. You miss dad, don't you?'

Mrs. Brisby smiled a sad smile. ‘I
miss him very much.'

‘I miss him, too! And Wendy!'
Cynthia said as Mrs. Brisby removed some pancake leftovers off her face.

‘Do you think Wendy is ok?'
Timothy asked.

Mrs. Brisby stared at her son.
‘Don't worry about Wendy, too much. She's a brave lady.'

‘But she's also pregnant.' Theresa
said, right before taking a bite off her jelly pancake.

‘Let's just hope that she and the
baby will be safely home again.'

‘I wish she could sit here and eat
pancakes with us.' Cynthia said with a hollow voice because she was talking
into her glass for she was just about to take a sip.

‘You know what? Let's keep some
pancakes for her, just in case.' Mrs. Brisby said and the children smiled and
all nodded their heads.

 

‘It's seven o'clock. They are
probably eating.' Jenner said while he looked at Nicodemus' watch. ‘It won't be
long now.'

‘How long will it take to work?'
Wendy asked.

‘According to Jonathan about ten
minutes. Less if he's managed to put everything in.'

‘Ten minutes? We should prepare
then!' Wendy said and she packed her, very few, things.

She looked up at her father.
‘Aren't you taking anything?'

He hesitated and smiled. ‘All I
need is you by my side.' He whispered.

Wendy stopped packing and walked
towards Jenner. She embraced him firmly.

‘That's the kindest thing I've
ever heard you saying.'

Jenner was shocked by the embrace,
but answered it. ‘I'm not too bad, Wendy.'

‘I know you're not, dad.' Wendy
answered without letting him go.

‘Come on, we've got work to do.'
He said and he took Wendy's bag. He checked if his knife was still in place.
"Perhaps this is the last time that I'll have to use you." He thought to
himself and gently turned the key of the door.

‘Wendy, come. Are you ready?'

The young rat nodded. Her heart
was beating in her ears.

Jenner pulled the door open with
an enormous swing. Loud noise was coming from the hallway.

‘The bastards wired the place!' He
mumbled.

‘Wendy, there's no time to waste.'
He took the young female by the arm and started running.

Wendy was holding her heavy
stomach with her free hand. The hallway was deserted. The powder had worked!
Suddenly there was a sound from behind them.

Jenner turned around and started
running even faster.

‘Dad? Slow down! It hurts!' Wendy
yelled.

‘If we slow down now, it's BOUND
to hurt a lot more, let's move!'

Behind them, a whole group of rats
gathered. None of the rats seemed to be touched by the powder. Jenner pulled
his daughter in front of him, pushing her in her back. Wendy didn't slow down,
but her stomach was extremely painful. A knife was thrown from behind them but
missed. Wendy screamed, both out of fear and happiness as she pushed the door
latch which lead outside.

‘Keep running!' Jenner yelled.

 

‘Justin?'

‘Mr. Ages? I was just preparing to
pick up Wendy.' Justin said while he put on his belt.

‘The powder... I forgot, doesn't
work with... cooked food. You must worn them.'

‘Oh my God, BRUTUS! Alarm the
rats! Get everybody out! Armed, NOW!' Justin screamed and Brutus pushed a big
red alarm button.

 

Wendy was all of a sudden aware
that the pushing in her back had stopped.

‘Dad?' She asked, and she turned
around.

‘DADDY! DON'T!'

Jenner had turned and now stood
alone in front of at least forty barn-rats.

‘RUN!' Jenner screamed, and he
started running towards the group of barn-rats, holding his sword high in the
air.

‘No....' Wendy whispered. Tears were
running down from her face.

‘Wendy! Come here!' It was Justin.

Wendy turned around and started
running. Justin took her arm and pulled her towards the entrance of the Castle.

‘Brutus, NOW!' Justin shouted and
Brutus and fifty other rats charged.

‘You're safe now.' Justin
whispered as he opened the door for Wendy. She turned around , trying to see
her father. ‘No.' Justin said. ‘Don't look back, you don't want to see this.'

Justin closed the door behind
them. Nanny, Arthur and the Brisby family rushed in to see if Wendy was ok.

She was in one piece, but falling
to pieces anyway.

Suddenly she stopped crying and
gasped for air. ‘It's happening again, it's happening again.'

‘Gabriel! Quick! I think she's in
labor!'

‘Oh dear, let's move her to the
infirmary. There's an empty bed right over there.'

Justin and Gabriel gently lifted
Wendy up into the bed.

Wendy was panting for breath and
completely pale. ‘It hurts!' She said while touched her stomach. ‘I don't want
to lose him!'

‘He'll be ok, and so will you.'
Justin said, holding her head, feeling terrible for not being able to do
anything for his wife.

‘My father! Help him!' Wendy
panicked.

‘They are doing what they can for
him. I'll stay with you.'

‘You're in labor, alright. This
time it's no false alarm.' Gabriel said.

‘But it's much too soon!' Wendy
cried.

‘Yes, but he might have a chance.
He wouldn't have had a chance in the old tree, but he does have a chance here.
Now Wendy, I need you to focus on your breathing. Don't think about anything
else, I know that's hard. Look at me. Breath more slowly, that's right. Good
girl.'

 

Brutus kneeled down besides
Jenner's body. He was still holding his sword, covered in blood.

He gazed around and saw more bodies,
all dead. Male and female. ‘You managed to take a few of them with you after
all. You died bravely, everyone will remember that.' Brutus said and he touched
Jenner's shoulder. Now was he seeing things or did he see his chest moving? No,
it couldn't be. Look at him! He's ripped to pieces! Brutus watched closer and
he saw it again! This time he heard a rasping sound as well. ‘HEY! SOMEBODY
HELP ME! HE'S ALIVE!'