Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane - 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

as we may dare be. Your closeness to her is well known. That you sacrificed yourself, that you leaped rather than let King Gorger kill her — this made a great impression on everyone. Can you think of another baby it could be, Gregor?" Vikus asked solemnly.

    Gregor shook his head. It was Boots. And they were right about one thing: If they killed her, something in him would break. "So, why did you bring her down here? Why didn't you just leave her in the Overland, where she was safe?"

    "Because she was not safe. And neither were you. The crawlers watch you night and day, to protect you," said Vikus.

    The roach he had trapped in the mayonnaise jar that morning flashed before his eyes.
    "You mean the little ones?"

    "Yes, they are in communication with the larger ones below. But the rats watch you as well. They have been tracking your family's movements since shortly after you left the Underland, waiting for a chance to take your sister's life," said Vikus. "It was not possible in your home. But today you ventured out with her very near one of the gateways."

    "We went sledding in Central Park," said Gregor.

    Then Ares spoke up. "The Overlander was chased in the tunnels by gnawers. He had to drop into the Waterway to escape them."

    "Then the crawlers must have rescued Boots just in time. She was the rats' target today, Gregor," said Vikus.

    "Why not just kill me?" Gregor asked numbly.

    "They would be happy to. But they have seen you leap and live to tell of it, so they are less confident in such a goal," answered Vikus. "And at the moment they are more concerned with the prophecy. It is by killing Boots that they mean to destroy you."

    "I still think we would be safer in the Overland. We just won't go to Central Park. We'll keep Boots inside...." But Gregor wasn't really sure it would be safer.

    "I will send you back directly, if that is what you wish. But they will find her, Gregor, now that they are set on it. In their minds, it is a race. They must kill Boots before the white rat is killed. Only one may survive. Believe it or not, we brought her to the Underland to protect her,"
    said Vikus.

    "And to protect yourselves," Gregor said flatly.

    "Yes. And to protect ourselves," said Vikus. "But as our destinies are intertwined, it seemed one and the same thing. So, what will it be? Shall we take you home, or will you play out your hand with us?"

    Gregor thought about the scraping sounds he sometimes heard in the walls of their apartment. They made his mom nervous even though his dad said it was probably just mice. But what if it was rats? And what if they were just a few inches of plaster away, watching Boots?
    Watching and waiting and reporting to the giant rats below.

    There was a skittering sound at the door. Gregor looked over to see Boots riding in the door on the back of a giant roach with a bent antenna.

    "Ge-go!" She giggled. "I ride! Temp take Boots ride!"

    She was so happy...and tiny...and powerless... he couldn't watch her twenty-four hours a day...he had to go to school...there was no one else to protect her...even he had been worthless today...if it happened again, the rats could kill her in a New York minute. Not even.

    "We're staying," said Gregor. "We're staying until this thing is over."

    ***

CHAPTER 5
    "Go, Ge-go!" Boots told Temp, tapping her heels on the roach's shell, and he obediently carried her over to Gregor. She slid off and ran over and hugged his leg.

    "Hey, Boots," he said, ruffling her curls. "Where've you been?"

    "I go ride! Fast! Fast ride!" she said.

    "Do you remember Vikus?" Gregor asked, gesturing to him.

    "Hi! Hi, you!" Boots said happily.

    "Welcome, Boots," said Vikus. "We have missed you."

    "Hi, bat!" Boots said, waving to Ares, although Gregor had been ignoring him.

    "Hey, Temp," Gregor said to the cockroach. "Next time, do you think you could tell me before you run off with Boots? You freaked me out."

    "Hates us, the Overlander, hates us?" asked Temp.

    Oh, great,