The Forgotten Map by Cameron Stelzer Page A

Captain.’
    The Captain studied his crew. The disaster was their fault and their faces revealed how they would vote. They would support Whisker. The Captain set his jaw.
    â€˜There will be no vote,’ he snarled in annoyance. ‘Bring the mice aboard.’ He scowled at Whisker and stomped off.
    The mice were overjoyed as Fred helped them onto the deck. They had very few possessions – only a pile of books wrapped up in a maroon school flag.
    â€˜Thanks,’ Whisker whispered to Pete.
    â€˜I’m impressed,’ Pete replied. ‘I didn’t know you’d read so much of the Pie Rat code. The victims of tragic circumstance section isn’t until chapter thirty-six.’
    Whisker gave him a polite smile but kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t often that a lie was so good, it was actually the truth.
    Pete took the mice below, wrapped in warm blankets, while Whisker and Horace watched the blue boat disappear beneath the waves. It was an ominous reminder of what could happen to a small boat in a harsh ocean.
    â€˜It takes a lot of nerve to stand up to the Captain,’ Horace said quietly.
    Whisker shrugged. ‘What else could I do? They would have drowned.’
    Horace shook his head. ‘The Captain appears crueller than he is.’
    â€˜But you heard what he said,’ Whisker argued.
    â€˜What he says and what he does are two different things,’ Horace reasoned. ‘If you hadn’t intervened, the Captain would have huffed and puffed until the very last moment and then ordered the evacuation. That’s the Captain’s style.’
    â€˜So I made a fool out of myself for nothing?’ Whisker groaned.
    â€˜Not at all,’ Horace said. ‘The Captain may be angry with you now, but he’ll respect your courage when he calms down.’
    â€˜I hope so,’ Whisker sighed. ‘I don’t want to add the Captain to the list of people yelling at me. Ruby is enough for this boat.’
    Horace smiled. ‘She’ll come around. Why don’t we talk to the mice? I’m sure they’ve got a few adventures to share.’
    The mice had no exciting news, apart from a story about a flying pie that sank their boat, but Whisker already knew that one.
    The nervous grey mouse was a teacher called Arthur Tribble. He was rather drab looking and continually fiddled with a small silver pen in his vest pocket.
    The two children were orphaned twins under Mr Tribble’s care and attended his school in the town of Oakbridge, in southern Aladrya. Their names were Eaton and Emmaline (or Emmie, as she liked to be called). Both wore matching maroon school blazers, and if it weren’t for the ribbon around Emmie’s head, it would be difficult to tell them apart.

    Emmie was the more outgoing of the two and immediately started calling Fred, Horace and Pete Uncle . She told Whisker and Ruby they were too young to be uncles and aunties so they became Cousin Whisker and Big Sister Ruby. Ruby wasn’t the least bit interested in becoming Emmie’s new sister, and even less thrilled when Pete informed her she would be sharing her room with the girl.
    â€˜There’s no way I’m playing dress-ups,’ Ruby mumbled as she sulked off with Emmie to set up a spare bed.
    Eaton was an awkward and shy little mouse. He was extremely bright, but it was clear that he preferred talking to himself than communicating with others. The first confident thing Whisker heard him say was, ‘Where is the library? I would like a book to read, please.’
    Whisker and Horace both pointed in the direction of Pete’s cabin, and Eaton wandered down the passage with Pete clomping after him. Fred and Smudge went into the galley to prepare some food for the hungry mice, which left Whisker and Horace alone with Mr Tribble.
    Whisker had already prepared his first question. ‘Did you happen to see a small red boat at any stage of your journey?’
    Mr Tribble