Page 23 (1/2)

Chapter 23

Gregor was floored "What? But youalways do what they say"

"No, I don't If I really believed in them, would I have run after the Bane and tried to kill him myself? It would have been pointless I pretend like I believe in them, even try to convince myself I do for short periods, because everybody else down here does So if you want to , it has to fit the prophecies, you see?" said the rat

"Not really," said Gregor What was Ripred saying?

"Look, there are hundreds of prophecies predicting all kinds of things If you wait around long enough, numerous events that resemble each and every one of theue We've had loads of plagues down here Might have been interpreted to fit any of the to interpret theor said

" I have to If I don't come up with some reasonable interpretation of them first, someone else comes up with a foolish one," said Ripred "And then it's a whole lot of extra work changing everyone's le? After the ants destroyed the starshade and we had all given up," Gregor protested

"I really thought Neveevethe cure When it was gone, you were all ready to start digging your graves The idea that we et youAnd we found the cure The alternative was to let everyone sit there boo-hooing until they died," said Ripred

Gregor frowned "What about the warrior stuff? And ?"

"Maybe you only leaped because that prophecy suggested that was the thing to do," said Ripred "Maybe that children's song about killing theMaybe Sandas a madman who locked himself up and wrote crazy poe to die"

Not going to die? The words hit Gregor like a truck Could it be possible? No, everyone kneas going to die He would prove it to Ripred Gregor tried hard to think of one incident that could not be contested "But how about Nerissa? When she was a little girl, she told Hale with a hisser and a kid ten years later"

"I adht out a hisser because of her suggestion and then didn't say no when Hazard's e coincidence They do happen Anyway, Nerissa is not Sandwich, and it's hi about," said Ripred "'The Prophecy of Time' Look how easily we bent it to replace Boots with Lizzie What does it really call for? A war? We have those all the time A code? Every near has a new code The death of a warrior? Well, if we can swap princesses so easily, why not warriors ? Thousands will be dead at the end of this er to another, I think you can beat the Bane I think you're better than he is And I don't think any e that Unless you let it So you fight, Gregor the Overlander And don't you let your guard down for a second because you think anything's inevitable!"

Gregor's head was spinning with this neay of thinking That they were really fulfilling Sandwich's prophecies on their own Basing decisions on what his words said He gave an incredulous laugh "I thought you were going to tell ood-bye"

"No such luck," snorted Ripred "But keep this under your hat If everyone finds out what I really believe, I'll lose what little credibility I have Co day"

Gregor went over and blew raspberries on Boots's sto!" she said, and pretended to go back to sleep three tior hauled her over to eat breakfast, Boots poked hiain," she said

"I seeor asked Then he knehat she meant He hadn't really teased Boots in a while Hardly ever s he'd abandoned since he'd first read "The Prophecy of Ti

He wondered if the rat was lying to ht his best But he didn't think so Ripred's not believing in the prophecies explained certain things Not just why he had tried to kill the Bane himself but how easily he had tossed out Boots for Lizzie, and how he had always been so sarcastic about Nerissa's ability to see the future Probably didn't want her co up with a whole new room of prophecies to control people Not that Ripred didn't use the prophecies to his advantage He had or repeatedly with theor to let Lizzie stay But the rat was always doing whatever it took to get his way

Gregor realized so else, too He didn't want to believe in the prophecies, either Not just because they forecast his death but because he loathed Sandwich Ever since he had learned about how he had or had wanted to distance hiuidance Now Ripred had given hi him because he killed all of those innocent mice and people, and I have to stop him Not because Sandwich says so but because I say so And Ripred's right I'ht

So Gregor was able to get through the ood-bye to his sisters He fixed up the pink backpack, refilling the water bottles and putting fresh batteries in his one reave it to theht in battle?" Lizzie asked with concern

"I cracked that echolocation thing," Gregor whispered in her ear, and her eyes widened in surprise

"Wow Will you teach or "And look here" He pulled out the travel chessboard

"I found it in the museum It's yours"

"For keeps?" asked Lizzie "Jedidiah has a chessboard, but not ato be real jealous," said Gregor

Boots tried to poke her nose in the backpack "Where'sout the rest of Mrs Coret the cookies"

"Oh!" said Boots "All for me?"

"Well, you'd better share at least one with Ripred," said Gregor

Boots shared with everyone, even tucking two cookies in Gregor's pocket so that he and Ares could have a snack later Then it was tior pulled both of his sisters into his arood, okay?"

"Okay," said Lizzie

"I aood," said Boots

"I know I love you See you soon," said Gregor