"It is a tool used for harvesting grain. The farmers were using scythes today as we flew over the fields," said Howard.
Gregor remembered the tools then, being swung from side to side. "So, why do those mean death?"
"Because they cut down life. In old scrolls from the Overland, sometimes the figure of Death, in a hooded black robe, also carries a scythe. To cut down humans' lives," said Howard.
"Oh, yeah. That's where I've seen it," said Gregor.
Howard built a small fire to try to cheer things up. Unfortunately, in the ghost town that was the mouse colony the shadows the flames threw against the stone walls only made the place feel more eerie.
Boots, who was puzzled by the whole situation, squatted next to Hazard and patted him on the leg. "Hazard is crying. Hazard is sad," she said.
"It's okay, Boots; everybody is fine," said Gregor, picking her up for a hug.
"No, we are not fine. We have seen the scythe," said Hazard.
"And yet we still live," said Luxa, stroking his curls.
"Yes, perhaps that mark was meant for someone else," said Howard.
"Or they made it during the plague," said Luxa. "Before the cure was found and all warmbloods were as good as dead."
Hazard quieted a minute to consider this. "I don't know," he said. "In the jungle everyone dreads the mark."
"Did you ever see it yourself? In the jungle, I mean," said Gregor.
"Once. There was a swarm of flying insects. Their bite brought quick death," said Hazard.
"But you did not die, Hazard," said Howard encouragingly. "Or you would not be here to tell us of it."
"My mother died," said Hazard wanly. "Frill outran them, but my mother was bitten first."
There was nothing to say after that. No explaining to Hazard that they were safe. Around any corner could be another swarm of stingers. Another plague. Another way to die.
Some mouse had scratched that mark in the cave wall. Cevian had made the same mark at Queenshead. Why? What threat was upon them? Gregor didn't believe it had to do with the plague. Or the snakes.
"Hazard, when you lived in the jungle, how did the nibblers get along with the snakes?" asked Gregor. "The ones that look like vines."
"You mean the twisters?" said Hazard. "They avoided each other. The twisters eat the nibbler pups, and the nibblers eat the twister eggs," he said.
"It is true," said Luxa. "The twisters never came near the nibblers when I was there. I believe neither thought it was worth the risk."
"So you think the twisters only moved in after the mice had left?" asked Howard.
"That is my hope," said Luxa. "But also my fear. It would mean that not one but two colonies of nibblers have left their homes because of an unknown threat."
"It sounds as if they have a lot of enemies," said Gregor. "The spinners, the cutters —"
"Those were land disputes. Once the nibblers had left their regions, neither the spinners nor cutters had any interest in pursuing them. I can think of only one animal that would do that," said Howard.
No one had to mention the rats. They all knew who Howard was talking about.
They had snacked from the picnic baskets on the flight, mostly eating whatever was on top. Now Howard laid out the delicacies the cook had prepared. Spicy fish salads, a dozen kinds of cheese, pickled vegetables, roasted chicken, sliced beef, stuffed eggs, several loaves of bread, and a variety of sweets. It was an amazing spread, but no one really enjoyed it except Boots. She ate until her belly stuck out like a basketball. "See?" she said to Gregor, pulling up her shirt. He poked her stomach and shook his head. "Talk about eating like a shiner!" he said. She was probably about to hit a growth spurt. At least, he hoped so.
By the time the picnic was over, everyone was dropping from fatigue. Except Boots, who'd had a nice long nap on the trip and was ready to play. They broke up guard duty into two-hour shifts. Gregor and Temp volunteered for the first watch.
Gregor dug in his backpack for something to keep his sister quiet. Since he hadn't planned to bring her along, he hadn't come prepared to entertain her. The best he could do was the binoculars.
"Look, Boots, magic glasses," he told her. He had to take a few minutes to show her how to look through the binoculars. She was fascinated by the magnified images. She peered into the eyepieces and then dropped them down repeatedly. "Temp is big. Temp is small. Temp is big. Temp is small."
"Shh. Everybody's going to sleep," said Gregor.
"Temp is big. Temp is small. Temp is big. Temp is small," whispered Boots.
Gregor was glad to get a little time with the cockroach. Temp rarely spoke in large groups, although in private he'd chatter along with Boots and Hazard in that bizarre mixture of English and Cockroach the three had developed. Most of the time, it was easy to forget Temp was there.
"So, Temp, what do you make of this thing with the nibblers?" asked Gregor when the others were asleep.
"Hate the nibblers, the rats do, hate the nibblers," said Temp.
"Well, we don't know if the rats are involved yet," said Gregor.
"It be too late, the knowing, it be," said Temp.
"Too late for what, Temp?" said Gregor.
"For the doing," said Temp.
"Doing something to help the nibblers, you mean?" asked Gregor, and the roach nodded.
By the time Gregor's watch was over, Boots had worn herself out. He lay down with her, and she soon drifted off. It took him a little longer. He kept thinking about what Temp had said, about it being too late for the doing. Gregor glanced unhappily around the empty colony, afraid that the cockroach might be right.
No one felt satisfied with the idea of returning to Regalia the next morning.
"What we have seen will not be enough to incite the council to action," said Luxa.
"Perhaps telling the story of your crown will aid our case, after all," said Howard.
"No. As Cevian was not able to tell us the reason she sent it, it will be assumed the twisters drove the nibblers out of the jungle and have gone in search of a new home," said Luxa.
"What about the marks of secret?" said Hazard. "That would be enough in the jungle."
"But we do not know specifically why they were made, so the council will not be able to justify sending soldiers after the nibblers," said Luxa.
"In truth, Cousin, I believe the most likely scenario is that the rats drove the nibblers out of both of their colonies. But we have no evidence of that. And even if we did, we have never sent an army to prevent the nibblers' relocation before," said Howard.
"We should have," said Luxa grimly.
"What about that basketful of baby mice?" said Gregor. That somehow disturbed him more than anything else.
"The council could say, like you did, that the mother was mad. Or, if something drove the nibblers out, that she did not believe the babies could make the journey. They will reason all of this away. Yet when I add it up, the crown, Cevian's death, the baby mice, two empty colonies, and the marks of secret, I know in my heart that a grievous wrong is occurring," said Luxa. "We must find more substantial proof."
"That will be hard to get, since we will all be restricted to quarters the instant we return to Regalia," said Howard.
"My mom will send Boots and me home," said Gregor. "I doubt she'll let us come back again."
"For how long?" asked Hazard.
"Maybe forever, Hazard," said Gregor. His family was only waiting for his mother's return. The second she could manage it, she'd pack them all up and take them to Virginia.
"You mean, we will not see you after this trip?" said Luxa.
"Probably not," said Gregor. It didn't seem quite real that by tomorrow he might never see the Underlanders again. But his mom would never trust him down here, especially since he'd taken Boots on this "picnic."