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to assess the job. “You did a good job here, Podge.” She paused and Podge smiled with pride. “I’m sorry to say,” she finished and Podge’s smile faded. “It’ll take a while to shift this. Right, let’s get to it.” They all set to with a will. Using hammers and bars and axes from their tool bags, they began to pound and pry and lever at the planks.

Chapter 9
    After much pulling and prying and levering and grunting, Mouse and the others had cleared away the barrier that closed off Podge’s old pantry and in they went, Mouse’s head scraping the roof. A cold breeze blew from a hole in the opposite wall, the hole where Podge had broken through into the Creepscreech’s lair. They set to again, clawing and digging and scooping away sufficient earth to make the hole big enough to crawl through.
    For the journey ahead, the Under-gardeners had collected handheld lanterns and a coil of rope; some of their larger tools would come in handy as weapons. For his own protection, Mouse selected a hefty length of wood from Podge’s barricade. He hoped he wouldn’t get an opportunity to test it, but just having it made him feel safer. At intervals along the rope, Alkus made loops for each of them to put an arm through. “Don’t want anyone to get lost,” she said. “I want us linked together all the time we’re in there. Now, a quick roll call. Snick and Snock.”
    â€œHere,” the deer mice answered, for once in unison. Stepping smartly forward they saluted together, one with the left arm, the other with the right.
    Alkus made a mark on the clipboard and called, “Chuck!”
    â€œThat’s me,” answered the groundhog, waddling forward.
    â€œYes, I know it’s you.” Alkus sounded irritated. “Please answer in the approved fashion.”
    â€œOh, pardon me,” said Chuck haughtily. “He-re!”
    â€œThat’s better,” said Alkus. “Podge!”
    â€œHummh?” mumbled Podge, pulling his head in from the opening into the Creepscreech’s lair.
    â€œPlease answer when I call your name,” said Alkus.
    â€œMy name? Why, Podge!” Podge sounded puzzled.
    â€œThis is a roll call,” explained Alkus patiently. “Podge!”
    â€œYes?” said Podge.
    â€œHere,” shouted Alkus.
    â€œWhere?” said Podge, giving a startled jump.
    Mouse intervened. “She wants you to answer ‘Here’ when she calls your name.”
    â€œDoes she, by gollopers?” Podge looked at Alkus. Then he looked back at Mouse. “Why didn’t she say so? Tell her—here.” He moved into the line as Alkus muttered to herself.
    â€œQwolsh!” she continued.
    â€œHere,” said Qwolsh, taking his place.
    And “Here,” said Mouse, stepping into the line as his own name was called.
    Alkus placed herself in front of Mouse, who could see the logic in this arrangement. Snick and Snock, the smallest, were at the front; the tallest, Mouse, was at the back; the others were graded in between according to height. This way, each could see over the heads of those in front and had a clear view of whatever danger might lie ahead.
    The lanterns were lit. As though on cue, each took a deep breath at the same time. Mouse pulled his pajama top tighter around him, set his shoulders and took a firm grip on his wooden cudgel. Somebody said, quietly and determinedly, “Breath in our bodies.” All took up the call. “Breath in our bodies!” they whispered fiercely as they moved toward the dreaded hole.
    Although Snick and Snock were in front, they weren’t so much leading as being pushed. Chuck gave them a boost with an upward swing of his snout. Leaping forward with a shared “Oof,” they disappeared into the dark on the end of the taut rope.
    The tunnel was quite small, not nearly as large as the tunnel that Digger had fallen into, so they decided