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By Root 239 0

rat kings… all right, all right, maybe just one - and people heard about this and decided that since there was all this interest they'd try to make one. Yes. It's just like crop circles. No matter how many aliens own up to making them, there are always a few diehards who believe that humans go out with garden rollers in the middle of the night-'

'I just think that some people like to be cruel,' said Keith. 'How would a rat king hunt? They'd all pull in different directions.'

'Ah, well, some of the stories about rat kings say that they can control other rats,' said Malicia. 'With their minds, sort of. Get them to bring them food and go to different places and so on. You're right, rat kings can't move around easily. So they… learn how to see out of the eyes of other rats, and hear what they hear.'

'Just other rats?' said Keith.

'Well, one or two stories do say that they can do it to people,' said Malicia.

'How?' said Keith. 'Has it ever happened, really?'

'It couldn't, could it?' said Malicia.

Yes .

'Yes what?' said Malicia.

'I didn't say anything. You just said "yes",' said Keith.

Silly little minds. Sooner or later there is always a way in. The cat is much better at resisting! You will OBEY me. Let the rats GO .

'I think we should let the rats go,' said Malicia. 'It's just too cruel, having them packed into those cages like that.'

'I was just thinking that,' said Keith.

And forget about me. I am just a story .

'Personally, I think rat kings really are just a story,' said Malicia, walking over to the trapdoor and raising it. 'That rat-catcher was a stupid little man. He was just babbling.'

'I wonder if we should let the rats out,' Keith mused. 'They looked pretty hungry.'

'They can't be worse than the rat-catchers, can they?' said Malicia. 'Anyway, the piper will be here soon. He'd lead them all into the river, or something-'

'Into the river…' muttered Keith.

'That's what he does, yes. Everyone knows that.'

'But rats can-' Keith began.

Obey me! Don't THINK! Follow the story!

'Rats can what?'

'Rats can… rats can…' Keith stammered. 'I can't remember. Something about rats and rivers. Probably not important.'

Thick, deep darkness. And, somewhere in it, a little voice.

'I dropped Mr Bunnsy,' said Peaches.

'Good,' said Dangerous Beans. 'It was just a lie. Lies drag us down.'

'You said it was important!'

'It was a lie!'

… endless, dripping darkness…

'And… I've lost the Rules, too.'

'So?' Dangerous Beans' voice was bitter. 'No-one bothered with them.'

'That's not true! People tried to. Mostly. And they were sorry when they didn't!'

'They were just another story, too. A silly story about rats who thought they weren't rats,' said Dangerous Beans.

'Why're you talking like this? This isn't like you!'

'You saw them run. They ran and squeaked and forgot how to talk. Underneath, we're just… rats.'

… foul, stinking darkness…

'Yes, we are,' said Peaches. 'But what are we on top? That's what you used to say. Come on-please? Let's go back. You're not well.'

'It was all so clear to me…' Dangerous Beans mumbled.

'Lie down. You're tired. I've got a few matches left. You know you always feel better when you see a light…'

Worried in her heart, and feeling lost and a long way from home, Peaches found a wall that was rough enough and dragged a match from her crude bag. The red head flared and cracked. She raised the match as high as she could.

There were eyes everywhere.

What's the worst part? she thought, her body rigid with fear. That I can see the eyes? Or that I'm going to know they're still there when the match goes out? 'And I've only got two more matches…' she mumbled to herself.

The eyes withdrew into the shadows, noiselessly. How can rats be so still and so silent? she thought.

'There's something wrong,' said Dangerous Beans.

'Yes.'

'There's something here,' he said. 'I smelled it on that keekee they found in the trap. It's a kind of terror. I can smell it on you.'

'Yes,' said Peaches.

'Can you see what we should do?' said Dangerous Beans.

'Yes.' The eyes in front were gone, but Peaches could