Some Try, Brisbys Do

Moving the House

Elizabeth and Kristy went back to their home. They were confused to see a bunch of string lying around. Auntie Shrew and the children were busy cleaning it all up.

"Miss Shrew", Kristy said looking around. "What exactly happened here?"

"Giant hoodlum, that's what happened", Auntie Shrew answered. "The foolish crow came around thinking he could pilfer the house."

"Jeremy?" Elizabeth asked. "He's not a bad person. He's the one who took me to see the Great Owl."

"Poppycock!" she scoffed.

"Look", Elizabeth said. "I need you and the children to help prepare. The rats from the rosebush are coming to move the house. I need to go help prepare for tonight."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Kristy asked.

Elizabeth nodded and ran off to meet Justin at the farmhouse. She looked back to see Auntie Shrew and the children going inside. She quickly followed them to see they weren't prepared at all to be moved. Instead, Auntie Shrew insisted on them washing clothes.

"Rats? Rats?" she mumbled outraged.

"They'll be here any minute", Kristy said. "Miss Shrew please help prepare. We need to tie everything down before they move the house."

"Wrong!" Auntie Shrew said. "Not while I'm keeping watch!"

"Auntie Shrew, Auntie Kristy, I'm not afraid", Cynthia sweetly said.

"There's no need to be afraid", Kristy said. "I'm going to go outside and wait for them. They'll need my help. Miss Shrew, please tie down everything and make sure Timmy's alright. Don't be afraid."

She crawled out of the hole going outside. She was surprised to see practically all the rats from the rosebush come to help. Even Nicodemus sat a distance away to watch the progress. Mr. Ages sat on the stone watching the rats beginning to rig the ropes around the block.

"Justin", Kristy gasped as he ran to join them.

She hugged him and looked around.

"Where's Elizabeth?"

Justin looked down.

"I said I would go back for her later", he said.

"Justin?" Kristy said not liking the sound of that.

"The Fitzgibbons saw her in the house", Justin said. "They caught her. Don't worry, she's still alive. She's just locked in a cage."

Her tail went straight as she looked at him in horror. Justin patted her shoulder and walked past her. They would have time to talk later. They had to get the house moved while Dragon was asleep. Kristy looked up as it began to rain as everyone began to work. She held onto the ropes as the block began moving. She watched amazed as the rats worked hard, lifting the house out of the mud.

"Children, are you alright?" Kristy yelled in the hole.

"Auntie Kristy, what's going on?" Martin asked.

"Everything's alright", she said. "The house is being moved right now."

Kirsty held onto the rope and watched the progress. Justin stood on the stone giving orders to the rats. Nicodemus sat below the block, watching it. Jenner and Sullivan stood by the ropes on the ground keeping their eyes on Nicodemus.

Kristy gasped as she felt the rock stop in midair. The rock began shaking as the ropes began loosening.

"Justin, what's going on?" she asked.

The block shook again, making Kristy hold onto the ropes tightly. She watched as the rats scattered as the machinery fell apart. The ropes snapped, making the block fall to the mud. Kristy screamed as she fell. The pieces of wood came apart hitting Nicodemus, knocking him to the ground.

"Justin!" Kristy said. "Don't worry about me! Nicodemus is hurt!"

He nodded and went to the rubble with a group of rats. They pushed their way past the wood looking for Nicodemus.

"We've got to hurry! Come on, come on! Ok, I see him!"

Justin stopped as they looked ahead of them. All they could see were more pieces of wood. Among the wreckage, Nicodemus' hand hung limp. Nicodemus was dead.

"Oh no", Justin looked away. "No..."