chapter 77

Which Has the Distinct Smell of Stimple

Jackson’s nose twitched. He shook his head. He smelled … Stimple? He sniffed again. It was the distinct smell of Stimple’s garbage bag. Stimple was going to get him home.

Home!

Jackson jerked back. The rat lost his grip, and Jackson swung away.

And that was just enough time for Jackson to snap out of it.

On the swing back, Jackson’s head cleared. The huge, slimy rat was standing up on its hind legs, its front claws reaching out for him. The rat’s pink nose twitched and his mouth opened wide, showing off his long, yellow teeth. Jackson had only an instant to react.

Jackson pumped his weight, as if he were on a swing, and turned himself so he’d be feet first. He only had one shot.

Jackson kept his eyes open to make sure he hit the target.

With a sickening thud, Jackson’s feet hit the rat right in the face, narrowly missing his wide-open jaws. The rat squeaked and fell over. Jackson began spinning backward.

“Don’t play nice, do we?” The rat rubbed his nose angrily.

Jackson slowed himself from spinning and immediately began making loops around his feet to climb. One foot. The next foot. Another step.

“Nasty thing! We are not finding much patience anymore!” The rat got up and began pacing.

Jackson had climbed five feet.

“Looking especially delicious, we are!” the rat cried out. His grabby claws reached out to snatch Jackson but missed.

Jackson climbed another five feet. He felt like he could climb anything.

“Getting so sleepy!” the rat called out in his hypnotic voice.

Jackson ignored it. He was getting out of there.

“Come back! So lonely, we are!” The rat’s voice was even further away.

Jackson grabbed the sharp edge of the precipice and hauled himself over, the broken edge scratching and squishing and poking his stomach.

Jackson collapsed onto his back, breathing heavily. His stomach hurt, his arms hurt, and his chest hurt. He pulled up his shirt. Two thick, red lines crisscrossed his body, oozing blood. He curled up in a ball, trying to calm down. He closed his eyes, and made himself breathe slowly and evenly.

Jackson listened for the rat. He didn’t hear anything.

He turned, pulled out his flashlight, and shone it down the canyon, down to the ledge where the rat was lurking. Two red eyes glowed up at him.