Nimh's Dream

Chapter 5

A cough was heard then made Justin and Anna jump away from each other quickly. There stood Nicodemus and Elizabeth. Both had large smiles on their faces.

"To the boats" Justin said sheepishly with his arm holding his neck.

"The boats" Nicodemus nodded.

Nicodemus stepped in first offering a hand to Elizabeth and Justin stepped in next. He took Anna by the waist and easily placed her in the boat across from him.

Justin steered as they all spoke together. "Sometimes, when we have a large project that takes us into the open Mr. Ages makes up a sleeping powder to give to Dragon" Justin explained.

"How do you get him to take it?" Anna asked.

"Someone must go into the farmhouse kitchen and put it in his dish. The only way into the kitchen is through a tiny hole in the floor" Justin said looking to Anna.

"It was just a thought" Anna shrugged.

"Ages tried it yesterday. That's how he broke his leg" Justin nodded.

"Right. So maybe it wasn't a good idea" Anna shook her head.

Something then fell from the ceiling and Justin steered the boat away just in time.

"That was close" Elizabeth commented. "What's up there?"

"That's the mill... it's been falling apart. Hopefully it stays up there at least until we've done with the Plan" Justin said absentmindedly.

"Plan... what is the Plan?" Anna asked.

"To live without stealing, of course. It's wrong to take electricity from the farmer" Justin shamefully looked away.

"My child, we can no longer live as rats. We know too much" Nicodemus said to Anna.

"We're almost there" Justin said looking ahead.

"Um... your Majesty... I should go prepare the children, for tonight" Elizabeth said getting out of the boat taking Anna's hand.

"We shall wait here until dark..." Justin said looking to Anna.

"Um... About Dragon, maybe..." Elizabeth started to say before she shook her head. "Oh nothing. Goodbye!" Then she started walking away before she ran back over to the boat leaving Anna on the rocks in confusion.

"I volunteer! For Dragon.." her mother spit out.

"Oh no, Mrs. Brisby!" Justin said fearfully looking to Anna's worried face. "Nicodemus, this is no job for her!"

"Please" Elizabeth asked.

"As you wish" Nicodemus nodded.

"All right" Justin sighed. "I'll meet you at the west side of the farmhouse at dusk."

"Thank you...Oh I must be crazy" she mumbled the last part to herself. "Goodbye!"

"I'll see you later" Anna said to Justin and he nodded.

—-

Anna and her mother were walking back to their house. Anna had relayed the information she learned to her mother and she had done the same.

They shared a moment of silence for Johnathan after Anna learned what had actually happened to him.

"Now a mother always knows... how are you feeling toward Justin" Elizabeth asked Anna and Anna shuffled her feet in shyness.

"He feels the same way as I always have" Anna explained with a light in her eyes her mother hadn't seen in a long time.

"He's a very nice man" Elizabeth noted.