The Secret of the Ginger Mice by Song of the Winns Page B

night air.
    â€œI was hungry,” argued the gray mouse. “I can’t be expected to undertake active duties on an empty stomach.”
    â€œTell that to the boss,” said the black mouse gloomily.
    â€œOh, Horace, don’t be such a worry-whiskers,” said the silvery gray mouse with a peal of laughter. “Besides, you must admit that goat’s cheese omelet was delicious—very piquant goat’s cheese that.”
    Alex suppressed a moan at the mention of goat’s cheese.
    â€œIt was all right, I suppose,” said the mouse called Horace. “But now we’ve lost sight of them.”
    â€œCalm down, Horace, dear,” said the gray mouse. “We’re trailing a couple of kids, for goodness’ sake—they’re hardly likely to outrun us, are they? Anyway, they’ll be going the long way by road, so we’ll cut across the mountains and pop out ahead of them.You watch—we’ll be sitting around for ages waiting for them to catch up.”
    â€œWe’ll see,” said gloomy Horace, clearly unconvinced. “Anyway, Sophia, I’m not so sure crossing the Mount Sharpnest pass is really the most sensible route.”
    Alice elbowed her brother and breathed, “See?”
    â€œDon’t be so nervous all the time, Horace,” Sophia advised. “It’s bad for your digestion. Now let’s find somewhere to sleep till the sun comes up so we can see this path properly. There—aren’t I being sensible?” She scanned the moonlit landscape. “I think there’s a cave up there.”
    Alice had to stifle a scream. The gray mouse was pointing right at them!
    Alex grabbed his sister by the arm, and the pair shuffled silently backward, deeper into the cave.
    They could no longer see the other mice, but the voices were getting closer.
    â€œNo way,” said Horace. “Look at those bats circling around.”
    â€œThey won’t hurt you,” Sophia assured him.
    â€œNo,” repeated Horace firmly. “Not the cave.”
    â€œOh, all right . . . Well, how about that outcrop of rocks farther on? It looks like there might be a bit of tufty grass up there we can lie on.”
    â€œBetter,” said the black mouse. His voice was so closenow that they must be right outside the cave.
    Alex and Alice lay still, huddled against the damp cold stone, hardly daring to breathe.
    â€œAre you sure about the cave?” Sophia asked, and suddenly the two young mice saw her silhouette in the cave opening.
    Alice pressed her face into the cave floor to muffle her frightened squeak.
    â€œSophia!”
    â€œJust teasing,” she said lightly, and they moved on.
    Alice and Alex continued to lie on the floor of the cave, trembling, until at last the voices had faded.
    Alex sat up. “That was close,” he said shakily. “We were almost kidnapped ourselves.”
    Alice shook her head. “I don’t get it,” she said. “Who’s following who? It sounded to me like they were following us. And if they’re the kidnappers, why don’t they have Alistair with them?”
    â€œYou’re right.” Alex thought for a moment. “Maybe they’re not the kidnappers,” he said at last. “Maybe . . . maybe they’re on our side. In fact, I thought Sophia sounded rather nice.”
    â€œYou’re just saying that because of the goat’s cheese omelet. You can’t judge people by your stomach.” Alice sighed. “They might be friends or they might be kidnappers or they might be . . .” Her stomach clenchedwith fear and she felt cold sweat bead on her brow. “They might be . . .” She swallowed. “They might be murderers. What if they’ve killed Alistair and now they’re coming after us?”
    Alex gave a scornful laugh. “You’ve been reading too many of Alistair’s adventure stories, sis. Murderers don’t stop for