Journey to Thorn Valley

Chapter 3

"PREPOSTEROUS!" was her answer, when Brisby finally told her. Well, when she finally said it. First she had to find the old shrew, who kept herself busy, constantly on the move. That alone took her the better part of the day.

"I have something to tell you, and it is important."
"Well, out with it, Brisby, I don't have all day."
"You are not going to like it..."
"Well, now I need to hear it!"
"The children and I are moving..."
"At last! It is getting warmer after all, and Timmy is well and fully recovered..."
"No, Auntie Shrew, we are going very far away, to live somewhere else."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"We don't have much time before moving day, and we will be gone for good."

The shrew looked at her like she had just grown an extra head, and took a moment before answering, with the mannerisms of an old no-nonsense incredulous teacher talking to a kid who knows she's in trouble.

"And why would you do that? Where would you be going with the kids?"

Brisby sighed, "to live with the rats."
Auntie Shrew stared at her with that incredulous look, "pardon!?"
"The kids and I are leaving to go live with the rats."

Then she said it, "PREPOSTEROUS! Are you joking my dear? Or have you gone insane? You can't possibly be serious, you should really know better than to toy with my nerves!"
"I assure you I am serious."
"Nonsense! Let me tell you..."

Brisby armed herself with patience and let the old one bicker as she liked, only answering questions when she asked them, giving her some space for her to speak.

"...And why would you do such a thing?"
"Well, I have my reasons," she said with a tone that sounded a bit more definitive than she meant, but only because the shrew was not listening... but she still took it as an insult of some sort and turned away with an offended huff.

"Well, I know when my advice is not wanted."
"Auntie Shrew, please..."
"No no, dear! We can talk again when you are making more sense."

And she walked away muttering about how she had too much to do to waste time with nonsense.
Brisby watched her go with a heavy heart. The shrew could be harsh, but she meant well, and she had been so helpful to her family...

Brisby went back home feeling blue. She would try to talk to her again soon, for there was something else that she needed to tell her and she couldn't leave her a note, since the shrew couldn't read.

She arrived to find the job half done already. The kids, in their excitement, had decided to put all the things that were imprescindible in one spot, the ones that were on trial in a second spot, and then one for each of them to bring whatever they wanted as long as they could carry it themselves.

Martin had tied his slingshot so that it would hang from his neck, and found a small bag that was already filled with pebbles. Little Cynthia didn't seem like she understood the assignment: she kept bringing toys into her spot and being told that she could only take one.
Timmy was looking very smug: his geography book had been deemed imprescindible, and he got to choose some other book to bring along himself. And then another one, and a third one.

"Timmy, if you stuff your bag too full it's going to feel too heavy later on."
"I can take it!"

Teresa had prepared a selection of large bags for her mother to decide which one would be better, and stood with pride as Mrs. Brisby checked the imprescindible pile: blankets, imperishable foods, water, a knitting kit, and some medical supplies. Aside from the book.

Brisby took the book and called for Timmy.

He stood tall and proud in front of her, and then his face changed as she explained to him, as gently as possible, that the geography book was too heavy and it took too much space, let alone the other books.