The Deptford Mice 3: The Final Reckoning (35 page)

‘Very great you have grown, my little one,’ said the Green Mouse, ‘and wise beyond measure. I humble myself before you for you alone are responsible for this glad day and my release.’ He held out his paw and Audrey walked over to him. He inclined his head once more and kissed her.

Audrey pressed her paw into her chest with surprise and shook her head. ‘It wasn’t me,’ she piped up, ‘it was the Starwife really. I think she sacrificed herself to create the snowdrop.’

Those deep, fathomless eyes she remembered so well twinkled at her. ‘You, her, she,’ he chuckled, ‘all are one now, so I thank you.’ The girl looked at him puzzled for a moment and then she smiled. ‘Yes,’ she said.

Audrey then looked at her mother and Thomas and grinned. ‘I know what is in your heart,’ she said. ‘Father knows too and he wishes you both happiness. You belong together now.’

Gwen glanced at Thomas then Audrey and gasped, ‘How did you know what I . . . ?’ but she blushed and looked at her feet.

The Green Mouse laughed. ‘Come Mrs Brown,’ he chortled, I give you my blessing.’ He turned to Thomas and told him, ‘You are a lucky mouse, seafarer.’

Thomas blinked and then he blushed too. ‘I reckon so,’ he mumbled sheepishly.

And so the Green Mouse married them and the glorious spring sunshine filled the hold and lived in their hearts till the end of their days.

The bounteous time lasted for many months and in those splendid days the mice remained on the Cutty Sark and made comfortable homes for themselves there. Master Oldnose and Algy Coltfoot and the other mice who fell were buried in the park beneath a hawthorn tree and the grass that grew over them was dotted with flowers all year round.

The bats had taken their dead away for their own private ceremony but they raised a little monument to Hathkin on the observatory hill in the form of a crescent moon crafted in silver that shone on dark winter nights to give hope to the weary traveller. The friendship between the mice of the ship and the bats of the air was strong ever after and neither side forgot the part the other played in Jupiter’s downfall.

After some weeks had passed, several mice, led by Arthur, returned to the empty house in Deptford. But the damage Jupiter’s army had inflicted could not be repaired and they had to load all the useful items they could find into sacks and take them back to the ship.

Audrey had travelled with them, and while Arthur and the others were inspecting the wreckage and tutting at the devastation she slipped into the cellar and hunted till she found what she sought.

On a moonless, May night, when the stars blazed in the heavens, she took leave of her family and made her way up the hill to the overgrown chambers of the old squirrel colony. With the starlight burning on her brow she took a small pendant from the pocket of her dress and held it up to the celestial lamps. Their white fire flickered over the silver acorn in her paw and then Audrey tied it round her neck and her beauty was that of another world. With a sad smile on her lips she became the new Starwife, Handmaiden of Orion.