Page 15 (1/2)

Chapter 15

Gregor found a spot on the floor at the front of the boat and made a bed out of blankets Ares landed on a nearby seat

"Hey, Ares," he said "What's up?"

"I a the rat," said Ares

"Oh, great," thought Gregor "Here we go again" But he had it all wrong

"I could not let go of the boat I would have dived for you, but I could not let go of the boat without everyone falling," Ares said, his wings fluttering in distress

"Well, I know that," said Gregor "Of course, you couldn't I didn't expect you to"

"I did not want you to think, as your bond, that I would not coo after Henry"

"I didn't I mean, I don't You've already coor "You did the only thing you could do"

Gregor sat on hisyawn "I seepy"

"Yeah, et some shut-eye, okay?" He lay doith Boots in the crook of his good arm and pulled a blanket over theled off to sleep

Gregor had neglected to put the life jacket back on her again He really didn't think she could sleep in it, anyway But what if they ran into another squid or whirlpool or so bad happens again? I need you to pro"

"What is this promise?" said the bat

"Save Boots I et her first," said Gregor

Ares thought about it for a minute "I will save both of you"

"But if you have to choose one of us, choose Boots, okay?" said Gregor There was no answer "Please, Ares"

The bat sighed "I will save her over you, if I must choose, if this is what you wish"

"This is what I wish," Gregor said, letting go and relaxing into sleep He felt better knowing Ares was there, watching out for Boots, too Maybe between him and Ares and, of course, Temp, they could keep her safe

Hours later, when Gregor awoke, he felt a warled his arone nuht of Photos Glo's bulb, he could see Twitchtip lying against hiave a little start of surprise, and she opened her eyes

Twitchtip looked embarrassed and scooted away about six inches, which was as much as the close confines of the boat would allow It was this reaction that gave Gregor the idea that she hadn't just rolled over against him in her sleep She had, at so And it led hiry for contact ainst him? A human? A human whose scentalone in the Dead Land had left her desperate to touch any war Even him

He immediately covered for her "Hey, sorry I "

"It's hard not to," said Twitchtip "There's so little rooor He looked around Mareth was in the back, steering Androuard next to him Photos Gloas perched on the bow, occasionally shifting the color of his rear end Everyone else was fast asleep

Gregor considered going back to sleep, but he felt too alert Besides, this ood time to talk to the rat He tried to think of a way to start the conversation, but Twitchtip began it herself

"I know you made them save me," said Twitchtip

"Well, I kind of spearheaded the whole thing," said Gregor, not wanting her to kno readily the others would have let her die

But she knew, anyway "Ripred was right about you He said I couldn't judge you like I would other hu Because I think Vikus said soor The subjecton your own?"

"Three or four years," said Twitchtip

"Why'd they drive you out? The other rats I mean, they're so into sor

"I was, in a way, for some time Then they realized I could smell their secrets, and no one wanted me around," said Twitchtip "I can smell yours, too"

"My secrets? Like what?" asked Gregor He tried to think about what his secrets ht be His father's disappearance used to be a kind of secret, or at least it was so he never discussed much But that was over Of course now, the Underland was a secret But only in the Overland So as she talking about?

Twitchtip spoke so softly that Gregor could barely hear her "I knohat happens when you fight"

Gregor was taken aback But she was right, that was a secret He hadn't told anybody about how he couldn't really re a sword But he didn't let on "What happens when I fight?" he asked coolly

"You can't stop You put out a scent I have only smelled it once or twice before We rats have a naer," said Twitchtip

"A rager? What's a rager?" asked Gregor It sounded like somebody who lost their tehter They're born with great ability While others er is a natural-born killer," said Twitchtip

It was absolutely the worst thing he could i about hiht about Sandwich's prophecies, how they called him a warrior, hoas supposed to kill the Bane "Is that what everybody thinks? I' machine?"

"No one even knows about it yet, or it would've been the first thing I heard about you Being a rager -- it's not aone anya scent seer It doesn't mean you want to kill, it ht, it's very hard for you to rein yourself in," said Twitchtip

Gregor's heart was pounding What if she was right? No, she couldn't be right He didn't even like fighting! He didn't even like people arguing! But what about how he'd acted with the blood balls and the tentacles? He couldn't control what he did He couldn't even reot me mixed up with sonore ht If you get a chance, though, I'd talk to Ripred about it," said Twitchtip

"Ripred? Why Ripred?" Gregor said, thinking the ht need to see was a shrink

"Because he's a rager, too," said Twitchtip "But, unlike you, he's learned to control his actions"