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

before she remembered Muffy. The cat slipped past her legs, clearly annoyed at having been shut in all night.
    Then downstairs, when Emmy opened the door to get the paper, she forgot about the cat again. “Drat you, Muffy!”
    Muffy, down the steps and five leaps into the lawn, looked back with a smug expression.
    â€œOh, go on,” said Emmy crossly. “You know I can’t catch you now. Go ahead and kill a bird or something, you mean thing. But you had better stay away from rodents, if you know what’s good for you.”
    At least Ratty was safely back in Rodent City, she thought as she watched Muffy stalk away. Raston had helped with kitchen cleanup and then he’d left, still complaining about the biscotti.
    Emmy couldn’t find it in her to care. Her parents would pick up an order of the Italian cookies at the bakery, and that would have to be good enough for Ratty.
    Her spirits rose as she skipped up the hill on her way to the Antique Rat. Ahead of her were the school and the playground, and on top of the slide was Joe, waiting for her. His little brother, Thomas, was a short distance away, crouched over something on the ground.
    â€œI have to babysit today,” Joe said cheerfully. “But you know Thomas—if grown-ups are around, he’s pretty useful.”
    Emmy grinned. Thomas was only six and a half, but he had large blue eyes, a round, chubby face, and an excellent ability to look innocent at difficult times. “What’s he looking at? Worms?”
    â€œOr caterpillars,” said Joe, letting go of the slide railing and flying down on his back. He landed with a thump in the sand and got up, dusting himself off. “So, any more problems with your room getting wrecked?”
    Emmy adjusted the shoulder strap on her backpack. “Not since Muffy. But I didn’t get much sleep. Hey, Thomas!” she called. “Come on, we’re going to the Antique Rat!”
    Thomas called back something indistinct.
    Emmy looked at Joe. “What did he say?”
    â€œHe found something or other. Bring it with you!” Joe called over his shoulder.
    They crossed Main Street and turned in to the alley that led to the back streets. Joe was talking about the science badge he was working on for Scouts and how he was going to ask the professor to help him, but Emmy only half listened. She was thinking about her parents.
    In a few hours, they would be proud of her again. They would see that she was responsible and trustworthy—at least if all went according to plan. And it would . Emmy had a checklist and a timetable; she had all the supplies she needed in her backpack. Right now, Brian was picking up Ana and Squippy, and Ratty would be waiting for them upstairs in the professor’s apartment.
    They were at the door of the Antique Rat. Joe looked over his shoulder at his brother, who was walking slowly, looking at something in his cupped hands. “Hurry up , Thomas!”
    Emmy pushed open the door of the Antique Rat and smiled. The party decorations she had put up yesterday looked festive; the balloons and streamers swayed lightly in the draft from the open door. The punch bowl and mints were ready on a little table, and the professor was—
    Emmy stopped smiling. Professor Capybara, on the far side of the room, thumped the laboratory counter with his hand, his face reddening.
    â€œMy formula!” he cried. “All my Sissy-patches! Gone!”
    â€œStay calm, Professor!” Emmy cried. “You know what happens—”
    Professor Capybara tried to hold his eyelids open, but they closed irresistibly. He swayed, sank to his knees, and toppled over onto the floor with a crash.
    â€œâ€”when you get upset,” finished Emmy, as he began to snore.

8
    â€œN OT AGAIN!” Joe stood at her shoulder. “I thought he’d found a cure for the Snoozer virus.”
    â€œHe was working on a cure.” Emmy bent over the professor and