Harry the Rat

There was no way getting away from it. The growths on Harry’s back had spread. There was now a discernible weight forcing down onto his spine. At first he had tried to shake the feeling off. As he turned from side to side the growths had became more and more rigid. His tiny feet felt stiffened as he scuttled along the earthy tunnel. He kept stopping to take extra breathes and he senses a permanent weariness. He stopped and nuzzled at the earth walls of the side tunnel. His nose twitched but with a slightly sad motion.

 Usually Harry was the happiest and most vibrant of the younger rats in the colony. He usually played endlessly with his brothers and sisters scurrying along the tunnels and crawling along the garden above.

Perhaps if he stayed in the side tunnel no one would notice the changes. They had started a few weeks before. While he was waiting a familiar sound came from down the tunnel. A whistling sound was followed by the sight of Paula his friend. She glanced down the tunnel with her usual impatient, clever eyes.

“What are you doing there Harry old pal” she said cheerfully thinking him to be playing a game of some kind. Her eyes sparkled with the expectation of laughter.

“Oh, oh” Harry replied trying to some normal and equally cheerful as his friend. “Just taking a break” he sniffed the ground to disguise his melancholy expression. “Oh well come along with me “smiled Paula lets go and explore a bit mmm.” Paula was the kind of smart, quick thinking rat who adored challenges and was always suggesting an adventure of some kind.

“Ok” agreed Harry a bit sheepishly. “You go on ahead and I will catch you up”

“Catch me up!” laughed Paula with sparkling eyes, “you can’t catch me! Never in a million years“ she laughed and sped away down the tunnel. Harry edged into the main tunnel. His back was throbbing. The ache filled his whole body. He needed to check on what was happening on his furry back. He didn’t follow Paula but doubled back slowly along a narrow tunnel that led some way down to a central cave. A couple of small rats were napping in the corner. Along the walls there were a collection of interesting objects that the younger rats had discovered. There was an old watch next to some shiny paper and a series of shells and stones. Harry edged up to the shiniest stone and looked at his reflection. He gasped. His worst fears were confirmed by what he saw. In the gloom of the cave Harry could make out a line of tiny shapes on his back. The bumps and growths had developed and developed. As Harry squinted he could see a line of tiny, tiny buildings on his back. A tiny tower stood next to a line of houses and a kind of tiny castle that spread along his back to just above his tail!

The small rats were snuggling together in the corner snoring lightly when suddenly a bigger rat poked its head into the space. Uncle Rat sniffed the air and immediately looked toward Harry.

“What are you doing over there?” asked Uncle Rat, “why are you out with the others harvesting?” (Harvesting was the term the rat colony used for scavenging for food and nesting materials) Uncle Rat spoke with an air of severe authority. His eyes burnt with a strong stare.

“I’m sick” Harry blurted out. “I’m just resting here for a bit”.

“Resting! Resting! “ boomed Uncle Rat with a loud burst that woke the two youngsters in the corner. “What’s wrong with you? Scared of mice are you? Get out there you little lazy rat!”

Harry moved slowly out into the cave and Uncle Rat’s eyes widened suddenly! “What on Earth!...“ he began to stutter. He sniffed at Harry and then studied him from twitching nose to scratchy foot.

“What is that on your back?” he boomed again and the two young rats ran in fear out of the cave. Open mouthed Uncle Rat stared and stared at the strange shapes on Harry’s back. He sniffed and stared and then stared and sniffed. He was dumbfounded. Silence filled the rat cave.  After a long time Uncle Rat said quietly in a thoughtful manner. “Come with me “....

The Rat council gathered in the special meeting cave. Some of the rats were very, very old and wore emeralds and silver around their tails. There was a piece of broken glass squashed into the earthy wall and a line of shiny green and amber pebbles around the edge of the floor. The rats were all different shades of black and brown. One huge old rat spoke in a faltering aged voice.

“We have spoken here together for many hours. We have decided in our wisdom that the only course of action available to us as a nation of rats is....” she paused. Harry who sat in the corner of the cave looked up. There were 20 or more rats lining the cave. All of them had powerful and aged eyes. All of them were staring at him. Harry felt his whole body tremble with fear and anxiety.

“You will be expelled from the colony never to return Harold” said the old rat.

“Harry “hissed another rat “the youngsters name is Harry “.

“Yes, yes Harry “said the old rat in a fading voice. She coughed and then spoke again. “

How this magic can be stopped is beyond us. We must think of our colony. Apart from anything else those shapes will cause absolute havoc on our carefully constructed tunnels!”

 “She coughed again. “Go and never return” she said firmly sniffing the air.

Harry found himself in a garden. There was rubbish strewn here and there. An empty crisp packet blow past. Harry dived toward it and licked the inside. The salty taste filled his mouth. His hunger was so deep inside him now that it seemed to weigh him down. He shook his body. The town on his back creaked and stilled. Across the garden a fence led down toward the river. A high tree shrouded this end of the garden in darkness. Harry stopped sick and tired. After his expulsion he had walked far from the old colony. Sometimes he used other tunnels. This was dangerous though because other colony’s might take a very dim view of a stranger using their tunnels especially a rat that looked as strange as Harry now did. He sipped at a tiny puddle of water caught in a leaf. The rain began to patter down. When he was in the old colony he had always love the patter, patter of rain. Now Harry felt dejected and hungry. He missed his old playmates with all his heart. Most of all he missed the familiar smells and sounds of the colony. He missed the old rats and the young rats who were all part of his extended family. He hated being alone. He thought of his future and it seemed very bleak. The rain began to pour and Harry shivered. He thought of running to the river and jumping in. That would end his torment once and for all. He hated the feeling of loneliness. He missed the company of rats like clever Paula. He wished that he was as clever as her. “She would know how to solve all this awfulness ” he thought glumly to himself.

A leaf above him suddenly rustled and Harry glanced up ready to run for cover. He nestled down in the wet earth trying to conceal himself as best he could. The rustling continued.

 From above a shape dropped into view just a small distance from Harry. Harry braced himself. He was getting ready to run. A long elegant claw came into Harry’s view. Then another claw appeared. A beak plucked down at the leaves. The beak was black and shone with rain. Harry stayed very still. The beak plucked a wriggling shape from between the leaves. The worm wriggled and struggled as the sharp beak flicked it up again. Harry took his chance. He scuttled quickly away. Whatever it was eating the worm would surely be too busy to follow him. Harry moved as quickly as he could into the pile of leaves and kept going head down. As he came to the base of the tree he leapt across toward a patch of grass where there was a green fence. As he headed under the fence he heard the rustle of wings and the claws appeared directly in front of him. He glanced up instinctively. A dark mass of black feathers glared back. A pair of glassy eyes stared at him with open hostility.  The beak opened slightly.

“What are you doing in my garden” hissed the crow. His beak gleamed with rain. “We don’t allow rats here “he hissed threateningly. Harry froze. He realised that the crow could peck him at any moment. He sighed and said, “I’m sorry. I’m sick and had to leave my home. I didn’t know this garden was only for crows”. His voice was a pathetic, low squeak.

The crow stared for a moment. He looked Harry up and down. “What is this thing on your back?” He went close to the tiny town that had grown there. “What is this magic?” he asked.

“I don’t know “said Harry in a burst of anguish” I just want it to go. I just want to return to my colony one day. I hate being far from my friends!”

The crow listened and thoughtfully backed away from Harry.

For a long time there was a silence between them. The rain gave the only sound. The crow looked at Harry for a long, long time.

“You are hungry aren’t you “he said and Harry immediately nodded.

“Wait here “said the crow and suddenly flew smoothly up into the sky.

Harry had no alternative but to wait.

The rain finally stopped and the sun came out. Harry waited and just as he gave up hope the crow returned. The crow dropped an insect in Harry’s path.

“Can you eat that?” he asked with his black head on one side.

Harry leapt forward and began chewing on the dead insect.

The crow and Harry began to talk. Harry explained the story of the growths and the life in the tunnels of the colony. The crow talked of great storms in the sky and the beauty of the dawn sky. They talked and talked until the rain started again. After a while the crow said,

“You must be a very special rat indeed. I will take you to someone who will be able to explain this strange happening.”

The crow walked uneasily across the garden. He shouted back to Harry “follow the fence down the river bank, then follow the river back into the forest. I will wait for you there.” Then the crow, whose name was Raoul, flew up into the rainy sky.

Harry scuttled along by the fence until he reached the river. He saw a tiny mouse that scrambled away as soon as he saw Harry. He saw a whole beside the river and was tempted to hide there. However fearing an otter he continued along the river. The sound of the racing water filled his ears. The water surged and gurgled and splashed along by the stony and muddy banks. At last Harry reached the forest. Now the moon was shining. Moonlight cascaded down from between the dark branches. Harry looked around and could not see the crow.

The sky seemed to be full of gleaming moonlight. The silver light shone on the leaves and stones. The ghostly light mesmerised Harry as he waited. At last the crow landed nearby.

“Now you must follow the moonlight “said the crow. I will meet you with my brothers and sisters in the open glade near here”.

Harry followed the intense white light of the moon. He crossed ridge of stones and grass and walked carefully between the roots of huge trees. The forest was silent apart from the rustle of the leaves. Harry looked up and saw the trees overhead. He watched the leaves move in the night wind. He saw something shining in the trees above him. A jewel like shine stood out from the trees. Suddenly the bright jewel became a movement and a rush of dim colour. Harry instinctively ran and shouted to himself “OWLS!” Harry raced into the undergrowth as the owl dived toward him. The owl’s talons brushed over his tail. Harry span around and rushed toward the shadows.

The owl settled on a branch and watched the ground. His eyes were well trained and accustomed to the darting movement of rats. His head turned in the moonlight. His beak trembled with expectation of a juicy meal. Harry moved very carefully and slowly between the trees. He knew he was in mortal danger. He felt exhausted. The weight of the town on his back seemed to be growing. In a moment the crow landed nearby. “You are too slow rat “said the crow. “Follow me. We will not let the owl hunt here in our trees.”

As Harry watched two crows swooped near the owl and he flew up into the moonlight. The crows squawked and the owl flew off back toward the river.

The crows were gathered on some old stones near the centre of the glade. There were too many for Harry to count. Black and bulky the crows stood waiting bathed in moonlight. They watched Harry approach with Raoul. The crows gasped as they saw Harry.

In the moonlight the town on Harry’s back began to grow. The towers leapt up taller and taller. The stone like castle sprouted new battlements. A house mushroomed up on Harry’s shoulders. Harry thought this was the end. He rolled to one side in agony. A pale beautiful light filled the glade. The trees on every side shone with the brilliant shade. Moonlight glinted and gleamed over the assembled crows. The stones shone with light and the night sky burned with ivory stars.

Suddenly the houses and towers and castle left Harry’s back. A haze of moonlight shone around the rat. The city he had carried was suddenly sitting on the floor of the forest in the shining moonlight.

Harry sighed and felt a huge relief. He shook his head and he shook his tail with pleasure. He twitched and sniffed the air. Raoul the crow said,

‘You have done your job Harry. They needed someone to bring them to this magic place. Look!’

From inside the tiny houses and towers even smaller figures emerged. They were as small as insects on the ground. They stood in the mesmerising moonlight and waved their arms. They were small figures who began to float up into the moonlight.

Harry blinked and frowned. The town on the forest floor was crumbling before his eyes. The towers and castle became tiny, dusty ruins. The figures danced up into the air. White and green the figures danced away toward the leaves, toward the night sky.

Harry heard a shimmering voice,

“We thank you Harry. You carried us to a special place. We are far from our home. We are travelling back. We saw your good heart. We knew you would find a way to this glade eventually. We are grateful.

Now you can return to your colony. Your eyes will always sparkle!”

Colours traced the high trees in silver and green. The night shone.

The crows rose up into the air in a black pulse of flight.

Harry felt the light wash over him. When he opened his eyes again he was back in the colony. The familiar entrance hole was before him. He stopped for a moment. His nose twitched and his eyes shone.

                                                                                               Chris Bird