Free The Island of Whispers by Brendan Gisby

the monastery. Built for the Inner Circle, he surmised; their
escape route. Well, with luck, it’ll soon be our escape route.
    He moved
cautiously at first. The floor of the tunnel was also much less
steep than the other one. He sniffed the dank air. The scent of
he-rats was very faint, indicating that the place was seldom used.
There was little time to spare. He crept more quickly down the
tunnel, but stopped dead after only a few yards. The Protector’s
tail was a mere inch away from Twisted Foot’s snout. He held his
breath, stayed rigid. The Protector lay with the back half of his
body inside the tunnel. The gentle rise and fall of the rump
confirmed that his sleep had not been disturbed. Beyond him, inside
the lair, two other dozing forms stretched across the tunnel
mouth.
    Twisted Foot
hadn’t realised how short the distance would be. Very slowly, very
quietly, he stepped backwards until the Protector’s tail was out of
sight. He halted briefly, listening for movement. He was shaking
uncontrollably now, gasping for air. Thankfully, the guards hadn’t
stirred, but disaster had been so very close. He turned and
scurried back up the tunnel. For once, the outside world would be a
welcoming sight.
    Narrow Back’s
agitation had returned.
    ‘ Well?’ he squealed as Twisted Foot re-emerged.
    ‘ Sh!’ Twisted Foot hissed. ‘Not here.’
    They travelled
further up the slope. When they reached the monastery wall, Twisted
Foot spoke quietly and urgently.
    ‘ Listen again, comrade. The tunnel leads into the lair of the
Protectors. When we go, we will leave by that tunnel. When the next
Assembly takes place, watch for my sign, be ready to follow me.
Tell your mate to wait outside the Watchers’ lair. She won’t be
alone. There will be others. Tell her to follow them. Now, do you
understand all of that? Do you understand that nothing must be said
to anyone – only your mate?’
    ‘ I understand,’ Narrow Back nodded. ‘But –’ He hesitated now.
‘The tunnel. Isn’t it –’
    ‘ Yes, it is guarded. But it won’t be during the Assembly, not
when the killing begins. Twice now, I’ve watched the guards come
out for the killing. Don’t worry, it will be safe for
us.’
    Twisted Foot
looked upwards. Ragged patches of light had already infiltrated the
leaden sky.
    ‘ Come,’ he said. ‘The watch is over. Let’s join the
others.’
    They climbed
into the monastery. In the midst of the rubble, Narrow Back stopped
abruptly. He was still hesitant.
    ‘ Just – just one last thing,’ he squeaked. ‘I – I don’t know if
I can swim.’
    Twisted Foot
cuffed him lightly.
    ‘ Neither do I,’ he replied and moved on.
     
    – o –

– Chapter Seventeen –
     
    It was an
anxious time for the conspirators. They knew the details of the
plan. They knew what was expected of them when the moment came, but
the waiting seemed interminable. They knew the perils of their
venture, and the horrors which would befall them if their flight
was routed, but the waiting magnified their fears, increased their
nervousness. The last Assembly took place many days ago. The
underworld was growing hungrier. The next Assembly must be
imminent.
    In the deep of
night, the Watchers’ lair was hushed. Here and there among the rows
of sleeping rats, an alert, concerned face gazed into the darkness.
Sleep wouldn’t come to them. They kept the vigil, waiting for the
Rulers to wake, waiting for the Assembly to be announced.
    Like his
fellow plotters, Twisted Foot was restless. As he peered along the
nests, he could pick out Long Ears, Small Face, Fat One. All awake,
he observed. All here except Narrow Back, who keeps the night watch
above. They trust in my leadership. The plan is a good one, I’m
sure of it. Once in the Protectors’ lair, we’ll race through the
escape tunnel, across the rocks and on into the water. The she-rats
in the lair will raise the alarm, of course, but by that time we’ll
be far away. There will be no pursuit.