The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot

PROLOGUE--The Cage Door Opens “Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage.” –Richard Lovelace This is the tale of two rats, Frederick and his brother, Ishbu, who lived in a cage in Miss Dove’s fifth grade classroom. One day, Millicent Mallory left the cage door open, and the rest is history. Frederick (that’s the brave rat) saw his chance. He scampered right out. At first, Ishbu (he’s the timid one) refused to go, but a sharp nip on the ankle from Frederick persuaded him. Once they were both out of the cage, they darted down the heater vent in the floor and slipped into the duct, which to them was just another small tunnel. Rats like tunnels very much. They find small, dark places irresistible. In fact, Ishbu was so comfortable that he wanted to stay there, but Frederick had a different plan. “Come on, Ishbu!” he hissed. “Don’t stop now!” And so they went on, down the twisty corridors and up the narrow passageways deep in the old school. And finally, even Ishbu saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It was the boiler room window. Frederick wriggled out and looked around. Ishbu crawled out and looked at Frederick. The boiler room was a dank, narrow little spot, lit only by a tiny window high in the wall. Fortunately for the rats, the window was open just a tad. Frederick sniffed the fresh outside air and scrambled up the rough brick wall, using the hollows in the crumbling mortar for toeholds. Ishbu, who didn’t want to be left behind, followed. They paused on the window sill and stared out into the dull, rainy winter day. . . .