Timothy drifted in and out of consciousness. He caught flashes of familiar faces. When he eventually woke fully he sat bolt upright with a cry. He felt a hand on his forehead. It eased him back onto the pillow.
"Shhh," soothed Mrs. Brisby. "Everything's all right."
"What happened?" he asked, still panting. His mother's smile was infinitely reassuring as she smoothed his hair.
"You've been sleeping for nearly two days. It's all over; it's all right."
Timothy searched the haze of his memory. What had happened in those final moments?
"Warren... Is he...?"
"He's fine. You saved him, Timothy. You used the Stone and you saved him." Mrs. Brisby's face brightened as she smiled.
Timothy's mind went to the visions that had accompanied the use of the Stone. The wasteland; the hook; the shining, ethereal being. His mother continued, misinterpreting his unease. "The rats couldn't find any of the other mice. They found some tracks but the trail petered out. They couldn't find Spiro either, though his tracks simply stopped at a point. They did recover his cloak. It was in tatters and soaked in blood. They don't think we'll hear from him again, though they'll keep watch in case any of the mice return. They've begun to repair the colony now that the water has drained away. Even the wounded are recovering."
"I'll say!" said a familiar voice from the next bed. Timothy looked over and saw Leander sitting up and smiling.
"Hey Timothy!" he said with a wink.
"You're okay," Timothy said, beginning to laugh as he did so.
"Just dandy!" Leander's grin very wide indeed. "Being a wounded hero has its perks. I've just finished off a present from some admirers. Tasty blackberries." He held one up. "Saved one for you though," he said tossing it across to the mouse. Timothy looked down at the fruit and then back at his mother.
"Did we win then?" asked Timothy.
"Yes, we did." Mrs. Brisby smiled.
"Good," replied Timothy and sunk back onto the pillow.
Timothy stared into the clear waters of the brook. They had been back at their summer house for only a day now. Nothing had changed here. It was as if they had never left. Even though Jeremy had only dropped them off yesterday evening, everything now felt so ordinary again. The young mouse went over all that had happened to him, almost to reassure himself it hadn't all been just a bad dream.
Malachi, who Justin was careful to see was not mistreated whilst he remained the Rats' captive, had readily revealed a lot about Fraus and his plan. Warren too had given the Rats' much information and between the two of them they were building up a picture of Fraus' insanity.
Both mice were born after the escape from NIMH, so they could tell only a little about that, what they themselves had been told. Fraus had been instrumental in getting the survivors out of NIMH and setting up a colony. In those dark, early days he had been a hero, respected by all. He had even led a rescue party to free more creatures from NIMH's clutches. However despite all his good deeds, his mind was permanently tainted by the conviction that they had all been abandoned by the Rats. However it wasn't until a series of personal disasters that Fraus had really lost his grip on reality. Apparently he had lost his family due to his obsession with finding the rats, and he blamed the entire rat colony for his loss. So it was he descended into madness, simultaneously losing his position of respect in the colony. When he discovered NIMH had located the errant Rats he gathered whoever he could to him, using what little authority he had left. Those who wouldn't come willingly were intimidated, Warren's still bruised eye testament to Fraus' methods. The plan was apparently simply to murder just the original rats, Fraus feeling that this was the best he could hope to achieve. However, when he saw the chance to destroy the entire colony, he took it. It was his downfall.
He had also lied about the Mice of NIMH's settlement. It was apparently a burgeoning colony, still situated much nearer to NIMH than the Rats would have been comfortable with. Being mice they found it easier to lose themselves in the surrounding area. Fraus was seen as an extremist by the authority there, and they did not support his actions. As soon as they heard this the Rats began to plan a diplomatic mission to go to the colony of Mice.
As for the Rats' colony, it was settling back in some way to normality. They had lost two rats to Fraus' revenge. Chloe's body had been recovered and Richard the guard had died soon after Spiro was cast down. Bracken had also been beyond help. There were many injuries, some quite serious. Hugo was still unconscious, and his future in the colony was uncertain, though his actions toward saving the colony were to be taken into account. Christine's actions, although the product of great stress, could not be overlooked and she too awaited the judgement of her peers. Justin hoped that soon this episode in the colony's history would soon simply be a bad memory. That is, as soon as the Rats' machine house was fully functional again.
Mr. Ages was also slowly recovering. His wounds were many and he still could not leave his bed. Clerval had said he wasn't sure if Mr. Ages would ever be able to leave the Rats' colony and return to his home again. The old mouse would not speak of what the mice had done to him, and was rather laconic about the whole affair. Such was his way and the rats did not pressure him. Many thought he was ashamed at having revealed the location of the valley. He did say that he had been captured and held prisoner in his own home, the Mice setting up a base of operations there. He also said that he was set free by the Shrew. She had apparently been accosted by the mice and on seeing that the Brisby house had been ransacked had gone to Ages instead. She had found him and helped him recover enough that he had tried to make it to Thorn Valley.
Timothy's own family had been greatly affected by recent events as well. Teresa and Martin had left the valley early. The Rats' council recognised Warren's part in the plan was forced, though they still worried for his safety. Therefore he had gone into hiding, away from the colony, in case any parties attempted retribution. Teresa had opted to go with him. Mrs. Brisby had been uncomfortable with the arrangement, but Martin had been out-and-out furious. He did not trust Warren, claiming he was still a NIMH-born murderer. When he was denied his sister's and Warren's whereabouts he had flown into a rage and stormed from the valley saying he would make his own way home. Even the guards had been unable to stop him. Once Timothy and the rest of his family got home they had seen Martin briefly as he was leaving their summer house, though he did not say a word to them. Their mother was searching for him now, trying to talk some sense into her wayward son.
"Timothy!" a young voice cut in. Timothy turned and waved as he saw Cynthia and his other friends approach.
"Hi guys!" he called back.
"Where have you been?" asked Leslie, the young brown mouse approached, looking quizzically at the group before saying, "there's so much you missed!"
"I told them that we have a much better story!" said Cynthia slyly.
"I hardly think so," Leslie retorted.
"'Fraid so," said Cynthia shrugging. "Nothing can beat the story we have, right Timmy?"
"Yeah, well let's hear it," demanded the other.
"Okay! C'mon, Timmy!" Cynthia grabbed her brother's arm as she started off, saying, "I'll need your help on this one."
The children scampered into the woods. There was still plenty of light in the summer evening and there was much to tell. They may not be able to talk about exactly what happened but Timothy and Cynthia would have a lot of fun turning it into the best story they had ever told.
