24-FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS!

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS! After listening to our amazing adventures, the manager of RATLIN'S Resort got us four first-class seats on the first flight back to New Mouse City. Well, actually three seats, since Thea had decided to stay a few more days. "He is such a deeear!" Thea had shrieked about her new, big-eared friend. "I have never met such a charming mouse! He adores me, and he is sooo romantic! geronimo, why don't you stay for a little longer, too?" "I want to go home! I just want to go home!" I kept telling her.

The time to leave finally came. "Now boarding!" blasted the loudspeaker at the airport. We climbed onto the plane. "All rodents, please fasten your seat belts!" the pilot requested. A pretty flight attendant with dark brown fur walked down the aisle, passing out slices of tasty Swiss cheese. "HAVE FUN on your vacation?" asked the mouse seated next to me. Fun wouldn't exactly be my first word to describe it, I thought. How about disaster? Or nightmare? But I nodded anyway. "Fun," I grumbled. "LOADS OF FUN." Trap was back to his usual self. I heard him flirting with the flight attendant. He told her he was an expert sailor. Then he began telling her about our ADVENTURE.

I missed most of the details. I was too busy looking at the view outside my window. This was the first time I had seen the island from above. It was quite a sight. Right in the middle of the ISLAND was a lake as green as an Emerald! And, of course, the lake was exactly where the treasure was supposed to be on Thea's map. Now, that was odd. From up in the sky, the lake looked just like an emerald-green eye. Eye? Emerald? "Holey cheese!" I squeaked excitedly. Benjamin, who had fallen sound asleep, woke

up with a squeak. "Look!" I shouted, pulling Trap's tail. I jumped out of my seat and pointed out the window. "It's the Emerald Eye!" I shrieked. A frail white-haired rat waved her book at me. "Shhh!" she said, glaring. Other passengers threw me dirty looks. Oh, well, guess I wouldn't be winning the most popular passenger award. "So that is the treasure shown on the map!" I cried, ignoring my newfound enemies. My cousin just snorted. "Gerryboy, to me a treasure is something you can spend! All you can do with that treasure is wash your socks in it!" I sighed, sinking back into my seat. The shimmering green lake in the middle of

the island moved farther and farther away. Benjamin laid his tiny head on my shoulder. "I think the Emerald Eye is a wonderful treasure, Uncle," he said. "It's the most beautiful treasure I've ever seen!"