Free The Deptford Mice 2: The Crystal Prison by Robin Jarvis Page A

tomorrow and that you and Audrey are going too – I’m so jealous Arthur. I wish I could go too.’
    Arthur caught a quick, cautionary glance from the fieldmouse and understood that Oswald had not been told about the Starwife’s bargain.
    ‘Still . . .’ continued the albino. ‘I suppose my hayfever would have driven me crazy in the country. I can’t wait for you to come back and tell me all your adventures.’
    ‘I will,’ said Arthur.
    ‘Of course we shall all miss cousin Twit but he says he might come visiting again. I’m going to be terribly bored all alone here, but I suppose I should count myself lucky really.’
    A knock sounded outside and the patter of Mrs Chitter’s feet accompanied by the clucking of her tongue came to them as she went to see who it was. There were some muffled words which the three friends were unable to catch but presently Arthur’s mother popped her head into the sickroom.
    ‘Arthur dear and Twit, could you step out here for a moment please?’
    Soon Oswald was left alone to stare at the table covered in raw onion.
    Outside Twit and Arthur found Thomas Triton. He grinned warmly at the fieldmouse and began.
    ‘I’vecome from the Starwife,’ he said. ‘ Pl ans are slightly changed. You leave tonight – seems the old dame can’t get none of her folk to escort the rat woman down to the river in the daylight so tonight it is.’
    ‘Ohdear,’ sighed ‘Mrs Brown. ‘ Arthur, fetch Audrey – she has to hear this.’
    ‘Waitlad, I already told the lass. I went there first y’see, thinkin’ you’d all be there like,’ the midshipmouse explained. ‘Seemsthere’s a merchant chappy the Starwife’s persuaded to take you to my young matey’s field.’
    ‘ A merchant mouse?’ asked Twit.
    ‘ Aye lad, he’s a sort of pedlar – sells and trades things. Well, it seems he knows everywhere along the river, stocks up in Greenwich then takes his goods round to out of the way places.’
    ‘Well,I ain’t never seen him afore in my field,’ said Twit.
    Mrs Brown had been frowning deeply. Now she suddenly said, ‘Would this pedlar be Mr Kempe?’
    Thomas looked surprised. ‘ Whyyes ma’am that it is – how do you know of him?’
    ‘Why, he comes here in the autumn to see Master Oldnose on mousebrass business. Yes, he seems respectable enough . . . I think I’ll feel a lot happier knowing my children are in his paws.’
    Thomas agreed. ‘Justso ma’am. Well, as for tonight I shall lead miladdo here and your two children down to Greenwich Pier where Kempe will meet us. There we shall all wait until the rat arrives with those fidgety squirrels.’
    ‘About what time will this be Mr Triton?’ asked Gwen.
    ‘Midnight, if it pleases you ma’am.’
    ‘Oh Mr Triton it does not please me – not at all.
    Still there is much to be done. Arthur, come with me. Are you packed yet Twit?’
    ‘Bless me. I clean forgot about that,’ admitted the fieldmouse.
    The rippling river was dark, and cool air drifted lazily up from its shimmering surface. It was a clear, clean night pricked all over by brilliant stars. Greenwich Pier huddled over the lapping water like a tired old lady. Its timbers were creaky, its ironwork rusted and yellow paint flaked and fell from it like tears. Daily trips departed from the pier to see the landmarks of London from the river and in the summer many crowded the benches and ice cream stands. But now it was still and dark, its gates were closed and the visitors had all deserted the pier for gaudier delights.
    The only sound was the water breaking gently against the supports and slopping round a broken wooden jetty nearby.
    There were no lights on the pier at night, all was dim and grey – a place of alarming shadow.
    Audrey held on to her mother’s paw. They had come through the sewers once more, led again by the midshipmouse. She watched Arthur and Twit run ahead to explore the deep pools of darkness and shuddered. She was cold, but her mother had knitted