10-MADAME LOVE DOCTOR

MADAME LOVE DOCTOR I reached the tenth floor, out of breath. My heart was beating wildly in my chest. A sign on the door in front of me read, Madame Love Doctor Suddenly, it all became clear. My sister was sending me to a fortune-teller. Yes, some wacky mouse who claims to tell the future. I groaned. I didn't have time for this

mumbo jumbo. I had my whole day planned out. First I would feel sorry for myself. Then I would cry me a river of tears. Then I would float home and cry some more. Yes, I had an important schedule to keep. I was about to leave when the door opened with a creak. I caught sight of a DUSTY room. It smelled like incense and burning candles. "Come in," said a feeble voice. "I've been waiting for you." How strange, I thought. I could have sworn I had heard that voice before. But before I could figure it out, the voice continued. "Come in, Mr. Stilton," it murmured. "And bring your broken little heart with you." I FROZE. How did she know my name? And how did she know about the countess? In the corner of the room, I saw a strange

figure. She was wearing a long, flowing dress. Her head was covered by a FADED pawkerchief. The room was so dark, I couldn't make out her face. The fortune- teller pushed me into a chair. Then she uncovered a CRYSTALBALL. I almost giggled. Maybe next she would try to read the lines on my paw. It was all so very silly. I wanted to leave, but right then, the fortune-teller began to whisper. "I see roses. A whole van of roses," she murmured. "And chocolates. Gourmet cheese-

flavored chocolates. Yum, yum." My jaw hit the ground. My blood ran COLD. My fur stood up in shock. Did this rodent really have magical powers? The fortune-teller sniggered with delight. I guess she liked surprising her clients. "Roses aren't enough, neither are chocolates," she went on. "You need much more to win over this mouse, Germeister." I blinked. "Germeister?" I murmured. How very strange. Why did this rodent seem SOOO familiar to me? She coughed, then continued. "Are you willing to do anything to make your true love fall at your paws?" she asked. Hope made my heart beat faster. I nodded "yes" so hard that my eyes rattled in my fur. I leaned closer. The fortune-teller told me I needed to do

something extraordinary. Something no mouse had ever done before. Something so amazing it would make me famouse. Then Stephanie oon Sugarfur would be sure to notice me. I scratched my head. "S-S-Somethingamazing?" I stammered. "But I'm just an average mouse. I run a newspaper. I'm not an EXPLORER." The fortune-teller took a closer look at her crystal ball. "But I see that some very clever rodents want you to go on a trip with them. You must go. It will be an amazing success!" she predicted. I chewed my whiskers. I was planning on