Olivia goes West

Chapter 27

"I canno' believe we're free again," Olivia said joyfully as she and Fievel ran across the desert toward Green River, "Where do ye think we should go?"

"We know what's gonna happen with Basil and Nellie, they're gonna get a visit from Chula and Fidget. If we don't wanna get caught again, maybe we should go someplace else."

"Think we could go to yer family?" Olivia asked.

"Hm, maybe. They'll see that Ratigan and Waul have been lying the moment they see us alive."

"Alright then. And I jus' know yer family's been missin' ye."

"We'll have to find out if Basil and Nellie are alright too, somehow."

Fievel looked forward to seeing his family again, he'd missed them dearly. And after weeks of being locked in that cage, the cool night breeze and the dirt beneath their feet felt amazing to them both. To eat real food and sleep in a real bed; Fievel was excited just to be out again. But of course, their problems weren't over. Hiram and Wylie needed to be rescued. Basil and Nellie were in trouble. Ratigan and Waul needed to be stopped. Both children were determined to help solve these problems, and they weren't going to let their ages stand in the way.

"Where are those damned kids?!" they heard from the mine, a yell coming from Sweet William. The mine was some distance away from them now.

"Let's keep running," Olivia said, taking Fievel's hand.

A gust of wind sent a tumbleweed rolling across the ground toward them.

"Let's get in there, Olivia!" Fievel said.

"In that thing?"

"Sure, it's a lot faster than going on foot," Fievel said, running to catch up with it and grabbing one of the twigs in it.

"Ye done this before?"

"Uh huh, I did it to get to Green River from the Indian tribe that was worshipping Tiger," he said as he jumped in, pulling Olivia along with him.

They held on tight as the tumbleweed rolled toward town, faster than their legs could hope to carry them. Meanwhile Sweet William was trying to pick up the scent, looking for footprints. But, the trail would end in the middle of the desert, unfortunately for him.

Fidget was jolted awake by a splash of water from a vase, making him cough and sputter. He blinked and looked down at the ceiling. He was confused, until he realized he was upside down, and Basil and Nellie were in front of him.

"Ahhh! Don't kill me, don't kill me!"

Fidget was tied by one leg to a coat rack in a closet. His head had been bandaged from the wound Vartan inflicted with the chair. He could feel that his stump had been conveniently removed in case he managed to escape. It didn't seem like they were still in Nellie's apartment. They probably had to move somewhere else. Fidget saw a third mouse in the room as well, a girl with red hair and a big blue dress. It was that girl from the rally with the sign.

"Right then. Rise and shine Fidget," Basil said, brandishing a scalpel, "We can either do this the easy way, or the hard way. Hard for you that is."

"E-easy way, please, easy way!" Fidget begged.

"Allow me to explain then. The easy way involves you answering every question we ask of you. Once I feel that this has been done satisfactorily, you will remain imprisoned here until Ratigan is defeated. Then, you will be going to jail."

"Jail? B-but I don't wanna go to jail! Wh-what if I changed! What if I became good, huh? What if I promised to be good?"

Basil raised an eyebrow and looked to Nellie.