The Deptford Mice 1: The Dark Portal Read Online Free PDF Page B

glitter magically. The face before her smiled again, and the green fur wrinkled on the forehead. But Audrey was frightened.
    ‘I dare not,’ she whispered reverently. ‘On my, life I dare not take it.’
    Audrey felt an arm close comfortingly around her shoulders.
    ‘Do not be afraid, Audrey my love.’
    She jumped up and looked around – that was her father’s voice!
    ‘Where are you?’ she cried, taking a step back. But an invisible arm guided her gently back to the Green Mouse.
    ‘Take it and wear it always,’ Albert’s voice told her.
    ‘But Father, I can’t see you. Where have you been? We’ve missed you so much!’
    ‘The mousebrass, Audrey.’
    ‘When can I see you?’
    Albert’s voice grew faint. ‘I promise you will see me before the end, my darling child. Now, the Green Mouse is waiting.’
    Audrey looked into the eyes of the Green Mouse once more and took the mousebrass.
    ‘That’s funny,’ said Master Oldnose. ‘I don’t remember putting one of those in the bag.’
    Audrey stared at him. The Green Mouse, the light – everything had gone and all was normal. ‘Sorry?’ she managed at last.
    ‘Your cat charm! Don’t remember that ’un.’
    Audrey looked at the mousebrass in her paw. It resembled a cat’s face with narrow eyes and whiskers. Confused she turned around. ‘But my father was here with the Green Mouse.’
    Master Oldnose tried to calm her down. ‘Now, now, it’s all the excitement of the day; last year Algy Coltfoot thought he saw pink rats jumping the moon. Your dad isn’t here lass. You know that don’t you?’
    Audrey glared at him angrily. ‘But don’t you remember anything?’
    ‘No I don’t. Now go and show your mum what you’ve got. Oh, and send in the next one.’
    So Audrey left the chambers, positive that her father was alive somewhere. But how could she get to him? Who would know where to find him?
    ‘Oh that is lovely darling,’ said her mother when she saw the mousebrass gleaming around her neck. ‘Oh, yes, the Anti-Cat charm,’ joined in Mrs Chitter. ‘Haven’t seen one of those for a long time. Not very useful around here though, is it?’
    ‘Mrs Chitter,’ Audrey began. ‘What were you saying about Madame Akkikuyu before?’
    ‘Well now, if she isn’t the best fortune-teller around these days – knows all sorts of things – uses cards or the crystal, whatever you prefer.’
    ‘And have you been to her?’
    ‘Er . . . well personally, if that is what you mean, as in “have I spoken to her?” Well – no. Although others nave told me of their experience with the famous diviner of the future.’
    ‘Where do you think she will be now?’ Audrey tried to sound as casual as she could.
    ‘Ah, child you have me there. I’m afraid you missed your chance: she was in the garden last night, but by now she’s probably taking a short cut to her next venue – through the sewers.’
    ‘Beyond the Grille?’
    Mrs Chitter nodded wisely. ‘Yes, on the other side, where none here dares to venture, I’m afraid. Oh look Gwen – the children are painting the side of the grottoes. You missed out there, Audrey. What is Arthur depicting? Oh my, good gracious – a rat with two heads, eight legs, and three tails. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so horrid – you ought to watch that boy Gwen. What’s he writing under it? Can you see, Audrey?’
    ‘Jupiter,’ she replied.

3. The Fortune-Teller
     
    The moon was high when Audrey slipped out of bed. Carefully she dressed, anxious not to wake Arthur. She yawned sleepily and tied the pink ribbon in her hair. In the moonlight the silver bells looked like small blue globes. Audrey picked them up gingerly and they made no noise. She slipped them on to the end of her tail and moved silently out of the Skirtings.
    In the dark the hall was a different world. Tall shadows covered the walls, altering them into areas of pale moonlight and black caverns; deep shade and soft moonglow. Audrey could not tell