Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry by Lynne Jonell Read Free Book Online

ourselves?”
    â€œWe’ll take the train, of course.”
    â€œBut even if we tie her up, Sissy will be kicking and squeaking the whole way. And she’ll be heavy, too. How are we going to do it without anyone noticing, Jane?”
    â€œYou leave that to me, Cheswick. I’m beginning to get an idea … a fabulous, brilliant idea …” She sat in thought, pink nose twitching. “How is your penmanship, Cheswick?”
    Cheswick beamed. “Did you notice those rodent tags on the counter? I wrote all those out by hand, years ago.”
    â€œ Very good.” The piebald rat stroked her whiskers. “And how are your claws, these days? Long enough to poke holes in ceiling tile?”
    Cheswick guiltily hid his bitten claws behind his back. “If they’re not, I can just use a nail, dearest. Or an awl. I’m sure your father will have one in his shoe shop.”
    â€œThat’s true.” Miss Barmy got up and began to pace. “By the way, do you know any bats? Postal bats?”
    â€œWell …” Cheswick thought for a moment. “I know Stefano. And Guido. Stefano owes me a favor,” he added.
    â€œExcellent! You know, this really is a fabulous idea—possibly my best yet.” Miss Barmy clapped her paws together. “We’d better get started. We’ve got all night to steal what we need and get into position. Oh, and Cheswick?”
    â€œYes, my little cuddle dumpling?”
    â€œ We’re not going to bring Sissy to Schenectady. That nasty little Emmaline Addison is going to do it for us. Now, listen. Here’s what I want you to do.”

7
    E MMY COULDN’T SLEEP.
    For one thing, she had a cat in her room.
    It hadn’t been her idea, but everyone else had agreed it was the best thing to do. “Someone is getting in your room when the door is shut,” the professor had said. “I wonder if some stray river rats sneaked in to ride on your electric train and vandalized your room. They can be a little wild.”
    â€œCould it be Miss Barmy, sir?” Joe had asked. “She hates Emmy. And Cheswick does whatever she tells him to do.”
    â€œSurely they know that everyone is looking for them,” said Professor Capybara. “I would have thought they’d be far away by now. But I suppose it’s possible.”
    So Emmy had borrowed Muffy for the night. The river rats would hardly go into a room where they smelled a cat. And Emmy had no doubt that even Miss Barmy, as long as she stayed a rat, would think twice before tangling with Muffy.
    Miss Barmy would stay a rat, Emmy thought with relief. Sissy’s kisses didn’t work on her; they had been tried. The professor had guessed that all Miss Barmy’s nastiness clogged up something important inside her and blocked the effect of the kiss. That made perfect sense to Emmy.
    She was feeling a little clogged up, herself. She didn’t even want to think about the disappointed looks on her parents’ faces or the hours of extra chores they had made her do. It wasn’t fair, but what could she tell them? Joe thought Miss Barmy was behind it all, but Emmy could hardly expect her parents to believe that her old nanny was now a rat. They already thought she had lied about her room. She didn’t want to make things worse.
    Her parents had looked happier when she’d told them about Ana’s party, though. They had even given permission for her to go back and decorate after her chores were done. And now all was ready for the party in the morning. Emmy and Joe had delivered invitations, hung streamers and blown up balloons, and ordered a cake from the bakery. Emmy had even remembered to ask the professor for two Sissy-patches ahead of time. Tomorrow, when she and Ana shrank to visit Rodent City, they would not have to find Sissy in order to grow to full size again. Which was a good thing, because they would have a party to go to and guests to