Nightshade City (25 page)

Mother Gallo quickly left Killdeer’s compound and made haste to the Kill Army mess hall, but not before stopping at her High Ministry workshop. There was something in the jewelry chest she needed.
The Kill Army mess hall overflowed with soldiers at this time of day. She would need help locating the boys in the massive hall, and she knew just who to ask. More
flies with honey,
she thought, as she bustled down the narrow corridor.

High Cook Longtooth sloshed the remainder of her mushy pig hash into a dented metal pan and placed the breakfast leftovers in a large pantry off the main army kitchen. The High Cook was not a cleanliness fanatic—not by far. The troops were lucky for their strong constitutions. Rats, unlike Topsiders, could endure the multitude of bacteria growing on their food. It seemed to make their systems stronger. They could safely digest everything from sawdust to concrete.

The troops were all still eating as the cook called for final serving. She hoped to close up early so she could go home and soak her tired, dirty feet. She lifted her oily apron and scratched a leg. Cook Longtooth had sinewy gray hair that tended to fall out in strange clumps, leaving dry, itchy patches that made her even more cantankerous. Her eyes were opaque, invaded by cataracts. She was missing many teeth, and the few she had left were brown, stained from years of working in the thick smoke that emanated from the kitchens. There were several large holes above the kitchen leading Topside, relieving the smoke, but the taint still lingered in her skin and teeth, adding to her unsightly appearance. Her nasty temper certainly didn’t help soften her revolting looks.

Mother Gallo entered the swarming mess hall, coming upon the throng of young rats, all talking loudly, loading their mouths with lumps of food. She inspected as many rats as she could on her way back towards the kitchens. She looked for splashes of orange and the contrast of black and white, but she could not find Suttor’s brothers.

She spotted Cook Longtooth, scuffling about, sticking utensils here and there. The cook was born with an abnormally long front
tooth that hung over her lower lip, ending well past her stubbly chin. The cook made the best of her oddity, using her snaggletooth as a crude can opener, which came in quite handy.

Mother Gallo put on her brightest smile. She had a cheerfully wrapped parcel under her arm, done up in colors of plum and silver. “Cook Longtooth,” she said. “It’s Mother Gallo, come to say hello, if you have the time.”

Longtooth twisted around, her teeth splintering into a fractured grin. “Mistress Gallo,” she said in her craggy, broken tone, “to what do I owe a visit from the High Mistress?” Mother Gallo took the wrapped parcel and presented it to the old cook. Longtooth’s voice crackled. “Well, what’s this, Mistress?” She scratched her head. “It’s not my birthday—is it?”

“Cook Longtooth, please call me Maddy. You’ve always been so kind to me. I feel I need to reciprocate your generosity. Please take this gift as a gesture of my appreciation. I insist. The Ministry insists.” She put Longtooth’s decrepit paw on top of the package.

Longtooth grimaced shyly. “I don’t remember the last time I got a present. It seems ages, perhaps when I was a girl.” As detestable as Longtooth could be, Mother Gallo couldn’t help but feel for her.

Mother Gallo smiled. “Now, this is just a little something special I came across in my workshop, and I thought if anyone deserved it, it was you. We girls have to stick together, especially surrounded by all this Kill Army bravado and bluster.”

“I suppose we do,” Longtooth said with a sigh. She used a ragged claw to sever the silver string, letting it fall to the ground. She tore open the colored paper, revealing something shiny, a silver beaded necklace and matching bracelet. “Oh, Mistress, you shouldn’t have! It’s lovely—just lovely!” Her ashen skin prickled in delight.

Mother Gallo lowered her voice. “Now, Longtooth, these silver
beads belonged to Nomi, our beloved High Duchess from days long gone. You know what a strong female Nomi was, and I know she would be proud for you to have these.”

“Oh, Mistress, how can I ever repay you?” Longtooth wiped away tears with a corner of her soiled apron.

“Longtooth, we are friends, you and I. I’m repaying your kindness. You owe me nothing.”

Out of character for the old cook, she hugged Mother Gallo, squeezing her with all the might her raggedy arms could muster. “May the Saints bless your soul. There must be something I can do for you.”

“Well, as a matter of fact—there is.”

As it turned out, Longtooth did know Suttor’s brothers. Their atypical markings made them hard to ignore. She cackled as she told Mother Gallo that Kar looked as though he’d been smacked in the face with a bucket of whitewash. She did, however, have a soft spot for Duncan; the chubby orange rat had quite a fondness for her creamed corn with bacon. “I like that young fellow. He’s a tubby thing—likes my food, he does.”

Longtooth pointed to where the boys usually sat, then hustled back to the kitchen, clutching her new treasure in her bony digits.

Mother Gallo spotted the boys. They looked the same as they did the last time she saw them—five years bigger, but the same. She knew little Kar would not remember her, but Duncan was old enough.

She approached the table. The boys were picking at their meals, shifting food around on their plates. “Boys,” she said, leaning towards the table, “do you remember me?” The boys looked up from their plates. Kar looked at her with a blank expression. Duncan stared at her for a moment. His pumpkin face brightened slightly.

“I know you,” said Duncan. “You’re Tuk’s mother—Mother Gallo. You make those cherry tartlets.”

“Yes, Duncan, that’s right. Do you remember my boys, Gage and Hob?”

“Yes, ma’am, Gage used to play hide-and-seek with me. He
always
found me, though,” said Duncan, crinkling his forehead. “I never knew how he did it.” Mother Gallo chuckled to herself. Clearly Duncan had no idea that his size and tangerine hue made him rather easy to spot.

Mother Gallo leaned in closer. “Now, boys, I have news of Suttor—good news.” The boys’ mouths dropped. Their ears perked.

Duncan slid over on the bench as fast as he could move his pudgy frame. “Come sit, Mother Gallo. What news do you have of our brother?”

“Boys, Suttor is alive and well,” she whispered. “He has asked that you come with me and meet him in a new city, far away from the Combs and the army. Killdeer and Billycan have agreed to grant you leave for the day, to spend time with me and my boys. As I speak, friends of your brother are digging an escape route. Now, then, if you want to stay here in the Kill Army, I’ll tell your brother myself. You
do
have a choice. You do not have to come.”

Little Kar looked up at Mother Gallo. He seemed a bit overwhelmed, curling in closer to Duncan. “You mean we can leave this place?” he asked in a quivery voice.

“Yes, darling,” said Mother Gallo, “you can leave forever. We are building a home for you boys, a wonderful home.” Kar sniffled, wiping away stray tears. “Now, boys, you have to leave all your things behind in the barracks, or it will look suspicious. We must leave right now, agreed?” Both boys nodded. “All right, then. Follow me—no dawdling.”

She got up from the table. The boys trailed behind her. Mother Gallo cleared their departure with a sector major, and they walked out of the Kill Army mess hall, smiling silently.

Noc could hear the boys rushing about, dashing to and fro as they moved buckets of tilled earth from the hole to the corner of the room. “That’s it, boys! You’re doing a fine job,” he said.

The rickety door to the Gallo household creaked open. Tuk and his brothers froze in their tracks. They had tried to stay quiet, but perhaps their constant scurrying had been heard. The boys exhaled with relief as Mother Gallo stuck her head in.

“Bless the Saints,” she said, stunned at the mountain of earth in her once-pristine home. “Come in, boys, quickly, now.” Suttor’s brothers followed quietly behind her. They looked round the room, bewildered.

Tuk nudged Gage. The two approached Duncan. “Duncan,” said Tuk, in his most grown-up voice. “It’s good to see you. We have a lot to catch up on.”

“Yes,” agreed Gage. “We can all talk on the way to Nightshade.”

“You mean—you’re going down the tunnel with us?” asked Duncan.

“Of course,” said Tuk, “we are going to the new city, too. We’ll all be back together, and you and Kar will see Suttor tonight!”

Mother Gallo took Kar over to Hob, explaining how they had played together as babies. “So you see,” she told them, “you are friends already. You just don’t remember.”

Oard suddenly poked his head through the ground, surprising the boys. He spoke in his croaky voice, but his tone was subdued. “Hello, boys, I am Oard. Juniper and the others are about to break through,
so you can stop your digging. Your hard work has given us a brilliant start. Worms, get into position. We need to be ready to backfill!” Oard zipped back into the earth like a brown wisp of smoke.

Hob led Kar over to his mother’s bed, where he had set the bulk of his toys, and gave Kar a wooden rat to keep. Suddenly, the bed started to shake and the center of the floor started to rumble. There was one final tremor, and the ground gave way, dropping into the fresh tunnel below. Juniper and the others pulled down more earth, widening the hole as best they could.

Juniper popped his head and trunk through the hole, his coat matted with dirt and pebbles. He shook his head vigorously, flinging dried earth everywhere. He looked round the room. The boys all gawked at the oversized rat.

He chuckled heartily, grinning. “Now, who is who? I see five surprised faces with five open mouths. Who are their owners?”

“I see you’re back for more trouble, Mr. Belancort,” said Mother Gallo. She smiled prettily at Juniper, a smile her boys had never seen before.

“Maddy, you are a sight for my weary eyes,” said Juniper. He pulled himself up into the room and dusted himself off. “Now, who are these fine fellows before me?”

“Juniper, this is my son Tuk, the oldest. Next comes Gage; he’s mine too. And this fellow with the lovely orange fur is Duncan, one of Suttor’s brothers.”

“Boys,” said Juniper, nodding his head. He bent down, eyeing Hob and Kar. “And who are these strapping young rats?”

“These two little ones are Hob and Kar. Hob is my youngest, and Kar is Suttor’s baby brother.”

Kar clutched the wooden figurine Hob had given him. “Well, hello, there,” said Juniper. “Are you boys ready to go to your new
home?” They both nodded. “Well, we’d best get going, then, eh? We’ve a long way to travel, so we must depart—”

The door suddenly rattled. Someone was pounding on it. “High Mistress Gallo,” called the voice from the corridor. “It’s Lieutenant Carn, Aide to the High Collector. I need to speak with you right away.”

The boys glanced at one another nervously. Juniper put a claw to his lips. Everyone stood very still. Terrified, Kar dropped his wooden figurine to the floor.

“Mistress Gallo,” called Carn again. “Please come to the door directly. I can hear you inside.”

Holding a paw to her heart, Mother Gallo replied, “I’m coming, Lieutenant Carn.”

Juniper silently directed the boys away from the door and then nodded to Mother Gallo. She grabbed the handle of the door, pulling it open only a crack.

“How can I help you, Lieutenant Carn?” she asked in an official tone.

“Mistress Gallo, I was sent by Billycan. He’d like me to transcribe the details you gave him in regards to the Chosen One’s disappearance.” Carn looked over her head and noticed that her quarters were in disarray, completely covered in dirt. Overpowering her, Lieutenant Carn flung open the door. He stared in amazement, taking in the scene. It was clear that she was escaping with the boys. His eyes abruptly halted on Juniper. “You!” he hissed. “So, it’s true!”

“Now, lad,” said Juniper calmly. “Let’s not do anything hasty—”

Carn looked down each end of the corridor. A patrol of sector majors was rounding the corner. “Quickly!” he said to Juniper. “Sector majors are on their way. Get everyone down the hole and out of here now! You
will
be discovered!”

For once, Juniper was speechless. He knew Carn’s face, but how?

“Now, go!” said Carn, trying not to shout.

It was late. The travelers had walked a good distance and were just steps away from Nightshade Passage. Juniper carried Kar, while Cole held Hob. Despite the bumpy trudge down to Nightshade, both little boys had fallen asleep on their shoulders.

Vincent, Victor, and Suttor had been waiting restlessly in the passage. Suttor was still dizzy and weak from his fall, and Juniper had thought it best for Vincent and Victor to stay with him. Suttor had protested, but Juniper told him an injured rat would only be a liability. Suttor reluctantly agreed, so there he sat in a miserable state—waiting.

At last, Ulrich and Ragan entered the passage. Suttor jumped to his feet.

“What of my brothers?” he asked, trying to push past the twins.

Ragan put his paws on Suttor’s shoulders. Suttor did not look well, his skin felt hot to the touch, and his eyes drooped. “Calm down, lad. They’re just a few steps behind us. The boys are fine, son, just fine. You have some tired but happy brothers ready to greet you.” Suttor’s whole body relaxed. Ragan kept tight hold of Suttor’s shoulders, worried he might fall to the ground. “They’re none the worse for wear, Suttor—none the worse.”

Juniper called out from inside the corridor. “Suttor, my boy!” He emerged from the corridor with a sleeping Kar attached to him like a pet monkey. “Kar, it’s time to wake up, now,” he whispered. Kar lifted his heavy head and rubbed his eyes.

Suttor rushed over to Juniper. Without a word, Kar reached out his arms to his older brother. Suttor took hold of him, squeezing him tight. “Kar, are you all right?” Kar nodded blearily. Duncan wandered
in, looking up at the rotunda in wonder. “Duncan!” shouted Suttor. The three bothers embraced in a tangle of black, orange, and white.

“Juniper,” said Suttor, “thank you, thank everyone.”

“You’re quite welcome,” said Juniper. “Lad, do you know a Lieutenant Carn?”