The Dark Portal Page 20

  Oswald bit his tongue forcing himself to remember.

  The rats meanwhile had scraped some soil away with spoons and revealed a large white boulder. It was the biggest they had yet come across.

  ‘Lever it out,’ they called and pushed their spoons underneath it.

  There was something very strange about the boulder. It was perfectly round with odd, wiggly lines marked into it.

  ‘Heave,’ the rats cried. They all pushed down on their spoons. Nothing happened.

  ‘Again!’ The stone budged slightly.

  All at once Oswald remembered. Blackheath – of course! Long, long ago there had been a terrible plague – the Black Death. The bodies of the dead had been buried under BIackheath and covered with horrible, burning quicklime. It was this that was burning Smiler’s paws.

  ‘Stop, stop,’ cried Oswald to the rats. ‘You don’t know what’s happening – we’ll all die – stop!’

  ‘Shut it Pasty. Heave lads,’ cried the rats. With one last effort the boulder moved, the soil rattled down, around it and the great white object rolled out.

  It was a grinning human skull.

  A violent rumble shook the mine as the face gave way and other skulls and bleached bones fell free. Rising with the dust of the disturbed earth was a yellow mist.

  It billowed out, curling through the empty eye sockets and seeping through the gaps in teeth. In the dense fog there were ugly spectral forms.

  Jupiter had made the Plague a living thing with his black arts and the mist was writhing with evil life. Oswald shrieked and fled.

  Panting heavily he charged down the mine.

  Smiler looked at the bones, dumbfounded. The first skull teetered on a chunk of brick, rocking from side to side as though it were shaking its head at him. Then he saw the mist and the wicked faces that formed there. His eyes opened wide as the fog swirled around his legs and stole up behind him. Two smoky arms reached out from the pale ghostly sea and transparent fingers covered his face. Smiler cried out and tried to pull the creature off but his claws simply passed through the smoke. Higher the phantom writhed until Smiler was staring into unclean eyes full of unquenchable hunger. He could not struggle. The Black Death overpowered him and he fell to the floor, the fiend seeping down his mouth. Smiler’s mighty tail gave one last thrash before he died. It smacked the skull and sent it spinning down the mine.

  How Oswald ran. All the rats were looking up in bewilderment. They saw an eerie vapour slowly creep along the ground, engulfing, enveloping, soaking into nooks and niches.

  When the mist reached them they tried to step out of it but it clung to them stubbornly and would not shake off. Then they would choke and gasp and fall down, their faces black and swollen. The fog flowed over their bodies.

  Down came the skull, crashing and rolling, bouncing off the walls and flattening the rats who dithered in its way.

  Oswald heard it rumbling behind him and he looked over his shoulder in terror. He saw the skull gaining, its grisly face turning as it spun. Teeth chipped and smashed when it struck the ground. As it passed beneath the torches the flickering light seemed to make it wink maliciously.

  Oswald tried to run faster. The insidious mist was not far behind and the plague spectres rose from it like foam on the sea. He heard the chokes and desperate strangled cries of the rats as the plague touched them. He knew that this was the eternal reward Jupiter had promised.

  The other entrance to the mine appeared ahead and Oswald took heart at the sight. He was very weary, his energies nearly spent. Only the thunder of the skull chasing him kept him going. Vaguely he recognised the small passage that Finn had led him to as he raced by. The yellow fog would seep in there and cover the rat’s body.

  CRASH!

  The skull bounced on a rock and snicked Oswald’s tail as it landed. He put on an extra burst of speed.

  The entrance was close now. With one last leap Oswald jumped clear of the mine. He landed clumsily and struggled to keep his balance.

  Oswald was on a narrow ledge. Below him water surged thickly. He turned to face the skull, which seemed to laugh as it rushed towards him. An almighty thud rattled the ledge.

  The skull had plugged the entrance completely. Not a gap or chink was there to be seen around it. The demonic mist would not be able to escape. Oswald breathed heavily in relief and bowed his head – he was safe.

  He glanced upwards and froze. On the adjoining wall of this large chamber was the altar of Jupiter.

  14. The Dark Portal

  A hot sulphurous wind began to blow through the sewers of Deptford. It blasted down long-forgotten passages and buffeted the hanging weeds.

  Audrey hurried along behind Madame Akkikuyu. The warm, dry air made it difficult to breathe. ‘It’s so hot,’ she gasped. Her ribbon was damp and dangled limply around her neck. When she touched the sewer wall next to her she drew back in alarm. ‘The bricks are hot!’ she exclaimed. ‘What is happening?’

  Madame Akkikuyu replied without turning round. ‘He is growing, mouselet,’ she said knowingly. ‘His fiery claw reaches out – the Prince, he make ready.’

  Audrey was afraid. Her palms were sticky and she nibbled the edge of her lace collar nervously. What doom was she going to? Jupiter himself awaited her, and she felt so small against him. There seemed to be no way out for her. She could not escape: something was guiding her small, delicate feet towards him. It was as if this meeting had been decided long ago fated since before she had been born. Now she was merely carrying out the part set for her.

  The sewer ledge was getting hot now. Audrey had to hop around to keep from burning, and the silver bells on her tail jangled wildly. Madame Akkikuyu showed no signs of having noticed the rise in temperature. Audrey glanced at the rat’s large feet and saw how leathery and covered in calluses they were. It would take a long time for the heat to work its way through them.

  As they drew ear to the altar chamber it became even more stifling. Surely the legends about Jupiter breathing fire were true, thought Audrey. He must be belching out flames like some demonic dragon.

  The sewer water had even begun to steam, and wisps of it curled up and rose into the hot air, gathering about the tunnel ceiling. Damp sizzled in the brickwork and moss withered on the walls. Soon even Madame Akkikuyu loosened her shawl and mopped her face with it.

  ‘Like when Akkikuyu very young,’ she said. ‘Now mouselet – we nearly there.’

  The fortune-teller passed through a small arch, and following, Audrey found herself cramped in an ante-room. It was dirty and smelled dreadful. A pile of old straw in one corner showed that someone occasionally slept there.

  Madame Akkikuyu’s crystal was there too, nestling in the straw like some magical egg.

  ‘Master Stumpo kip here,’ Akkikuyu said. ‘The old spotted one has to be near the High One at all times. ‘But for how much longer?’ Akkikuyu wonders.

  The fortune-teller paced over to the crystal and popped it into one of her bags. Then she stretched herself to her full height and puffed out her chest, bursting with her own importance.

  ‘I have the trust of His Majesty. He learns me dark secrets and I deliver you to Him, so bargain is kept. I am worthy of the black knowledge.’ She smiled for a brief moment, happily contemplating the power that would be hers. When she broke out of her reverie she looked down at Audrey with something approaching pity.

  ‘Oh poor pretty mousey,’ she sighed heavily and blinked her coal black eyes. ‘Why you get mixed up in things too great for you?’

  Audrey considered the rat and this new mood that had seized her. Carefully she said, ‘You could let me go. It’s not too late.’

  Madame Akkikuyu shook her head sadly. ‘Oh no my mouselet, too late it is. Roads only go one way – no back turns allowed, never.’ The rat gazed into space. ‘Akkikuyu could never return – no,’ she whispered softly to herself. ‘Paths are made and you must walk them Akkikuyu know this. Akkikuyu done many things in life, many bad things. The way back is locked
for me. Happenings happen: you can not have say in all you do. Make best with what you got.’

  Audrey broke in cautiously, ‘Or the worst.’

  ‘Don’t be wise,’ the rat snapped, flustered by the large staring eyes of the little mouse before her. ‘Little do you know of Akkikuyu, you in your cosy hole with gentle mamma. What you know of rat life? We not like you mouseys, we different.’

  Audrey shook her head. ‘I don’t think you’re so very different.’

  The fortune-teller backed away disconcerted. ‘Akkikuyu is rare creature – none like her. You tiny mouselet do not know what turns in her head.’ She faltered, her thoughts far away in the past, reliving old moments. Her first tentative steps to love and the sneering ridicule she had received had stung like a whip and crippled her heart.

  ‘What would you do if you could have a place to settle, a home, dignity?’ Audrey continued.

  Akkikuyu paused and wondered. It was a long time since she had contemplated such things. They had always seemed to be a luxury that she would never have. But now this mouse stirred all these old neglected dreams and she savoured them. Were they out of reach even now? Could she not repent all her wickedness and cast aside all her ambition? The seeds of a new life embedded themselves deep in the rat. If only she could find somewhere safe and peaceful. Slowly she nodded as the idea shone in her mind like a chink of light amongst the old spiteful shadows.

  ‘Mouselet,’ she said hurriedly. ‘You, me – run away. Leave dark places, hide and be happy in summer sunlight.’ She clutched Audrey’s paw in excitement and smiled nervously. Her heart became lighter, and many years of toil and misery seemed to fall from her shoulders. Akkikuyu looked young again. Yes, she would leave all this behind; her evil past would be a dim memory blotted out by joy; there would be those who could forgive her. She would have friends – someone to tell her worries and fears to, someone to confess her doubts to, someone to share special moments with. Madame Akkikuyu had never had any friends before: there had been many suitors when she was young, but none of them had lasted for more than an evening by the creek. A friend was something she really longed for. She could see that knowledge of dark powers was no substitute. This was her one last chance to decide.

  A shadow fell on them.

  Morgan stood in the small archway rubbing his claws together. Madame Akkikuyu stiffened and the eager hope left her eyes.

  ‘Found ’er then, did you witch?’ snarled Morgan, staring at Audrey. ‘What’s so special ’bout ’er then? Looks nowt from ’ere.’

  Madame Akkikuyu bowed her shoulders. Suddenly she looked older and more weary than ever before. She knew now that there would never be any turning back for her. Croakily she said, ‘This mousey very special. Keep your claws off.’

  Miserably she looked at Audrey. ‘Nice dream, mouselet. But you must see, paths do not turn back. Akkikuyu must follow hers, though she hate it, wherever it leads. And you I must deliver.’

  ‘Get on with it, witch!’ growled Morgan, pushing her out of the ante-room. ‘His Lordship’s waitin’ an’ ’e’s in a foul temper: the mine’s collapsed and summat’s wrong.’

  The fortune-teller threw him a withering look and slowly led Audrey to the altar chamber of Jupiter.

  ‘Bah!’ spat the Cornish rat. ‘She’s barmy.’

  Oswald crouched under some sacks on the adjoining wall. The ledge on which he trembled was far below the altar. He was too afraid to move from his hiding-place, although he was nearly fainting with heat and fatigue. Through a hole in one of the sacks he could see the altar of Jupiter clearly. The candles burned steadily, but beyond their pale flames all was dark. Oswald wondered if the rat lord was aware of him. Nothing had happened since the skull had jammed in the mine entrance – surely Jupiter must know about that?

  Something moved in the corner of his eye. Oswald gulped in dismay: it was Audrey, and beside her walked an ugly rat woman. What was she doing on the altar ledge?

  Without thinking Oswald stood up, scattering the sacks that had hidden him, and shouted up to Audrey.

  * * *

  Madame Akkikuyu urged Audrey on. ‘Pray it will be swift, mouselet,’ she whispered.

  The bricks on the altar were scorching, and beneath them the water seethed and bubbled.

  Audrey’s mind was filled by the dark portal. Never had she imagined a darkness so deep, a blackness so eternal. The most terrifying depths of night were locked in that pitch void.

  A small voice that sounded vaguely familiar drifted up to her. But she was now enchanted by the spells that Jupiter had wound around his lair and could not answer.

  Madame Akkikuyu stepped over the soft, warm wax that dripped from the candles, and like one drugged, Audrey did the same.

  Together they stood before the black archway arid gazed into the louring darkness.

  ‘Most High Majesty,’ called the fortune-teller. ‘I have delivered what was promised.’

  A distant echo rumbled out of the void as Jupiter approached. Two dim points of red flickered in the dark distance and advanced.

  Audrey felt weak and giddy. She staggered backwards and would have fallen over the edge if Madame Akkikuyu’s arm had not flashed out and grabbed her.

  ‘My thanks, Akkikuyu.’ The soft, rich voice of Jupiter rumbled out of the darkness. ‘So this is the mouse who would upset my grand design and trample me underfoot,’ he laughed coldly.

  ‘It is as I saw in the crystal.’ The fortune-teller bowed low.

  ‘I see you now mouse,’ taunted the voice. ‘Here in the heart of my realm all powers succumb to mine. How did an insignificant creature such as you dare to challenge me?’ The voice quivered with impatience at her impertinence.

  Audrey tossed her head defiantly. She wasn’t going to give Jupiter the satisfaction of watching her grovel.

  ‘I am Audrey Brown,’ she shouted proudly, ‘and I know nothing of spells, or dark magic: I place myself in the protection of the Green Mouse! Whatever you do to me I know that I shall be received by Him.’

  Jupiter laughed. ‘Akkikuyu, leave us and make sure we are not disturbed. I will send for you when I have dispatched Miss Brown to meet her Green Mouse.’

  The fortune-teller bowed again and then glanced quickly at Audrey. Then she lowered her eyes guiltily and hurriedly set off back to the ante-room.

  Alone, Audrey faced the Lord of the Rats.

  ‘You have irritated me, Miss Brown – you and that white fool who seeks to hinder my plans. I shall deal with him in due course, but first, come up and serve me on this side of the candles.’

  ‘Never!’

  ‘But you must,’ murmured Jupiter. ‘My will is yours. Climb up, I command you.’

  In horror Audrey saw her feet begin to move of their own accord. She shuffled nearer the portal and Jupiter chuckled to himself.

  Oswald had made himself hoarse with shouting to Audrey. Now he clapped his paws over his eyes, and fell to his knees sobbing. He knew that Audrey was doomed and that he was powerless to save her. The awful sound of Jupiter’s mocking laughter filled the chamber. Oswald wept bitterly.

  ‘Oswald!’ whispered a weak voice close by.

  ‘Oswald!’ it repeated softly, only this time it seemed to be calling from far, far away.

  Fearfully, expecting some trick of Jupiter’s, the white mouse peered through his paws.

  Amidst the rising steam and shimmering heat-haze he could see a dim and vague shape. It glowed with a pale, watery green light. Very faintly, Oswald could make out the form of the Green Mouse.

  The vision blurred suddenly and nearly went out. At the centre of Jupiter’s domain the powers of the Green Mouse were feeble.

  ‘The mousebrass, Oswald,’ called the ghostly figure. ‘She needs it now.’

  A great hiss of steam engulfed the figure and the green light was extinguished. The Green Mouse had been banished from the chamber.

  Oswald quickly removed the scarf from around his head and using it as a slingshot he whirled the mousebrass
over his head several times and catapulted it though the air.

  It shone and sparkled, spinning like a wheel of golden fire. With a loud ‘ching’ the charm clattered on the ledge just behind Audrey.

  Her feet ceased their steady advance and she shook her head free of the unwholesome spells. ‘No!’ she yelled into the blackness. ‘You’ll have to come and get me yourself, you two-headed monster.’

  Jupiter let out a thunderous cry of rage and frustration. ‘How dare you! I am Jupiter! Dark Lord of All. I am the Mighty One, the Evil One, the Father of Murders. Who are you? A petty mouse – beneath my contempt. Verily I shall come to you. Gladly shall I tear you to pieces.’ The force in his voice shook the whole chamber like an earthquake and mortar cracked and rattled down as he bellowed.

  ‘Behold the majesty of Jupiter and die!’

  Audrey staggered back as the evil demon began to leave his lair for the first time. She screamed in terror.

  Below, on his ledge, Oswald saw the great long claws appear from the darkness. A colossal fist covered with matted ginger fur followed it.

  A horned shadow fell on Audrey as Jupiter brought his enormous head through the portal. Oswald’s mouth fell open in a silent scream of naked terror.

  Out crawled Jupiter.

  As the candlelight shone on the monster, Oswald found his voice and a howl of fright echoed around the chamber.

  All the rumours, all the legends, and all the horror stories were wrong. But the reality of the dark god was much worse. Jupiter did not have two heads: his one, huge head was nightmarish enough.

  The Most High Satanic Majesty was a monstrous cat!

  So massive and bloated was he that he could barely squeeze himself through the archway. His hideous face was covered with repulsive warts, and everywhere poisonous boils poked through his ginger fur. A squat purple nose sat in the middle of his face and bulging rolls of fat hung heavily beneath his open mouth. Slowly he pulled his humped back under the arch.