Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 It seemed as if they'd been walking through the sewers for ever. They'd left Ratborough far behind and were following the canal towards the tunnel where Brian had been spotted by the rat scouts. Toto, Silver and Catface were bound in pawcuffs (which looked a lot like pink gift ribbon). Toto could see the shadows cast by the guards' torches (which looked a

lot like lit matches), turning them all into giants. We'll need to fight like giants if we're going to stand any chance against Brian, she thought to herself. Up ahead, Catface's dad was being carried along by some less-than-happy rat soldiers on a throne constructed from an old flannel and a pincushion, held together by toothbrushes and twigs. At the front of the procession, a rat scout scurried about, sniffing here and there. 'I'm getting close,' he yelled. The rats all shouted words of encouragement as they held their torches aloft. 'Well, my son, let's see how my army and I deal with this monster of yours,' the king shouted over to Catface. 'HALT!' The hundred-strong army came to a standstill.

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'Bring the prisoners up here!' cried the king, just as the rat scout returned from a tunnel up ahead. He looked petrified. 'Th-th-the snake... he's up there, through that tunnel! It comes out into a small chamber with a pool. He's resting on the bank at the side. I don't think he saw me, but... he's awfully big- massive fangs, clever eyes, huge tail- you'd be mad to...' He petered off as he saw the king glaring at him. 'I'm sure he's no match for your army, my king,' he finished, bowing low. The king gave him a look of disgust, then turned to his general. 'OK, my loyal subject, here's the plan,' the king said, sounding confident. 'All one hundred of us will rush through the tunnel, surrounding Brian on all sides. I'll stab him

in the tail- you go for the head and subdue the beast. Yes, that sounds fair. Deal?' The general looked as if he thought that was a terrible idea, but he saluted anyhow. 'Right,' the king addressed his troops. 'Today is the day we show all those surface dwellers that we rats rule this city, and that we can defeat this monster called Brian. If you love your town and your family, follow me!' Toto, Silver and Catface were dragged along by the force of the crowd, and before they knew it they were out of the tunnel and into the chamber, facing the bank opposite. There, curled up in a massive coil of green and olive scales, was an enormous snake. He looked ferocious; he looked terrifying; he looked... asleep.

'Well, that was a bit of an anticlimax,' said Silver. Slowly, the army of rats edged its way towards the sleeping snake, with lit matches and toothpicks held aloft. But Toto wasn't fooled. She knew this was the most deadly predator she'd ever faced.