Rebel Rabbit: The Great Escape

By Pendragan

The Great Escape - Part II of the Rebel Rabbit Trilogy is a wild ride and a hilarious read for anyone who loves a hero with a massive heart. A magician by trade and a king by accident, Sunny the Rebel Rabbit is back to defend his friends, this time against the wicked plans of the NET, an evil organisation whose name stands for Never Ending Tyranny! When Leo Ratello, the rock star rat, asks Sunny to help him save the city sewer rats from the poisonous plans of the NET, it all seems simple enough. Just a harmless visit to the magnificent gorilla Queen Shamba, to ask her to grant the rats new lands to live in. But the NET have ears everywhere, and no intention of letting the rats escape the sewers. Events spiral into a whirlwind of daring adventures and heroic endeavours, building up to the epic battle for the Ifflands, for freedom and for hope itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dragan Matijevic
• Release date: Aug 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311142337

Pendragan

'Pendragan' is the pen-name for children's fiction-writing duo Penny Williams and Dragan Matijevic. They also write independantly as Penny Williams and Dragan Matijevic (adult fiction, self-help and cookery books). They launched Pendragan Publishing as an independent, international publishing platform for storytellers around the world. If you would like news about forthcoming publications, or books in the works, or if you have questions about any of the characters, please let us know. Dragan Matijevic Dragan started writing during the war that broke up Yugoslavia in the early '90s. Living in England with his one-year old son at the time, Dragan wondered how he could help his people in Croatia. The solution turned out to be magic! Dragan founded a theatre charity called Rise Phoenix, wrote his first puppet play for children, created his own puppets, and together with a bunch of troubadours, jesters and jugglers, drove a truck down to the war zone. In 1993, "Peppe the Magician" began to appear in refugee camps throughout Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. Small puppets and theatre plays gave way to giant puppets and theatre spectacles. Children who had lost everything rediscovered the ability to laugh. Adults slowly joined in. One Croatian soldier shouted from the audience, "Croatia needs puppets, not guns!" Quentin Blake agreed and gave permission for Rise Phoenix to take his Big Friendly Giant to the war zone. Dragan went on to write and perform in many other children's plays, quite a few of which are now stories and novels. When not writing, Dragan teaches at The Artisan Bakery School, and continues to perform as the magician Sol Ray. Penny Williams As a child, Penny would row ashore to school from the sailing boat she grew up on with her family. This gave her a quirky view on life, encouraged by the stories she heard from blue-water sailors arriving in Falmouth Harbour. Penny grew up with a hunger for distant horizons and foreign shores. Her explorations took her to Europe, Africa, South America, Asia and even Antarctica. But her biggest adventure, which was falling in love with a Croatian magician (Dragan), happened right on her own front door step in England! So far, their story includes building their own woodfired oven for The Artisan Bakery School, moving to a crazy old cottage in Devon, taking an Invisible Man to Singapore, working with children in Sri Lanka and India and kayaking round the islands of Dalmatia. Penny also runs a professional copywriting, editing and translation business. She and Dragan write together to celebrate the magic that happens in real life. *** Connect With Us *** [e-mail] www.pendragan.com

Book preview

R&B wedding

Chapter 1: Great Assembly

The sewers were seething with rats. Smartly dressed, fur slicked back and drenched in their favourite perfumes, they were scurrying in their thousands towards The Great Chamber.

Leo Ratello, the well-known rodent rock star, was already in there, trying to squeeze through the throng to reach the stage. Ratello was more used to being on stage, singing to the masses, not clawing his way through them. He snapped at a couple of huge rats who were treading on his shiny shoes, then quickly apologised and tried to calm himself down.

It was the stench of all the artificial perfumes mixed together; they were making his eyes run and his throat sore. It really was worse than the sewer smells. When did rats get used to such awful stinks? Whatever happened to the smell of haybarns and flour mills and meadows that his grandparents used to talk about?

Ratello sighed, still trying not to breathe too hard. At least the crowd seemed a pretty laid-back bunch. Some of them recognised him and wanted to shake hands and rub noses with their famous rock and roll star, but Ratello just winked at them and carried on. If he obliged just one there would be no end to the shaking and rubbing.

Leo Ratello had been summoned to attend the Great Assembly. He had been told that he had been ‘chosen’. The question was, chosen for what? The rat with the most sensitive nose? He hadn’t been told. He asked several bright-eyed rats if they knew what this gathering was all about and they came up with all sorts of wild theories, but Ratello could tell they didn’t have any more idea than he did. It was obviously a closely guarded secret.

The Great Chamber was full to the brim now, and there were still more rats crowding through the sewers outside. Great Chief Torkid looked at his watch, then ran straight up a pole onto the central stage. He straightened his jacket and polished his round spectacles on his sleeve to get a better look at the crowd. His whiskers were twitching and his two front teeth were moving up and down, as if he was counting. Satisfied, the Great Chief lifted the microphone to his mouth.

greathall

This is our historic night! he announced. Silence fell instantly. The Great Chief circled the platform looking at the gathering, somehow making each rat feel as if he was talking to them personally. Even the rats crowding outside the Chamber were silent, straining to hear Torkid’s voice through the speakers.

Tonight is all about our future! I am so happy and grateful to all of you, individuals and representatives of organisations, large and small, for gathering in such impressive numbers tonight. If you could only see yourselves from where I’m standing, you᾿d be blown away - by the most wicked picture of disgusting and terrifying beauty!

The chamber exploded with squeals and peals of laughter. Torkid smiled. It was always good to start an important speech with a healthy dose of humour, and he knew rats love to laugh at themselves. He waited patiently for quiet.

Not to mention the smell that is wafting up here! shouted the Chief. I must congratulate you, your perfumes have beaten the stink of the sewers tonight!

The rats giggled and clapped with glee.

Now! I am standing and speaking on behalf of the Chief Council of the Elders, since I am the only one among them who can still stand up and has some teeth left!

Further ripples of laughter ran around the Chamber.

After great deliberation, the Chief continued more seriously, the Council has approved The New Venture.

Torkid paused to let the tension build up a little. Every rat in that hall, and there must have been several hundred thousands of them, was all ears.

The Old Venture was all about believing and accepting that we, the rats, should be happy living in the stench of the sewers. Stinkhole City up there above us is poisoning itself with chemicals and all kinds of toxic waste. Most of those poisons end up in the sewers, and of course, on our plates. If we weren’t as tough as old boots, we would have snuffed it a long time ago. The New Venture is about wanting only the best for the rat race and believing that we deserve it! We want to live clean, eat clean, breathe clean!

Great Chief Torkid paused again, allowing the audience a bit of time to try to remember what clean really felt and smelt like. Judging from their puzzled faces, they were not doing that well.

Brothers and sisters, we have tried our very best to change things, to make Stinkhole City accept us as equals. But the powers that be simply will not allow rats to live and prosper! They are afraid of us, afraid of our strength. We, the elders, know what they plan for us. And I am telling you, it’s not going to be pretty. It's only going to get worse - I mean a million times worse! But we are not going to sit chewing our tails until they flush us away!

The Chief glanced around the Chamber at the many faces blazing with anger and shock. Rats were tough, but they had it rough. And it was getting rougher every day. Yet among the angry faces, there were also many shining with hope. Things were clearly about to change. Torkid raised his voice.

The New Venture approved by the Council is that we move back to nature and healthy living! We will find a decent spot in the open Ifflands and build our own kingdom there. A kingdom with fresh air and fresh water and plenty of fresh food, food that we will grow ourselves! We say so long to Stinkhole City, and sayonara to the sewers! If you’re with me, let me hear you! ‘Back to nature!’

Back to nature! called back a few hundred ragged voices. Great Chief Torkid cupped his hand around his ear and raised his eyebrows.

Back to nature! boomed thousands of voices all together.

Torkid grinned.

Rats, you make my heart sing. Talking of singing, The Chief Council has appointed our very own famous rock star, Leo Ratello, as the emissary to Shamba, the Gorilla Queen of the Ifflands, whom he happens to know very well. He will plead our cause and secure a new homeland for us there!

Torkid leaned over the edge of the platform, searching the crowd below.

Ratello! Ratello!

Here! waved Ratello, blinking, still not quite believing what he had just heard. There you are! shouted Torkid. Come up here and show your muzzle, son!

The crowd parted for Ratello and he was up on the stage in a few swift seconds, whisker to whisker with the great Chief himself.

Are you ready to make this happen, brother Ratello? asked Torkid, putting his arm round Ratello᾿s shoulders.

To be honest, said Ratello. I could hardly believe my ears… are you sure it’s me you meant?

Torkid roared with laughter. My friend, have you forgotten your own songs? All you ever sing about is freedom and open spaces, clean rivers, crystal lakes… Now is the time to make it real, brother!

You could feel the electricity surge around the Chamber, running from tail-tips to whisker-ends. Ratello looked at the crowd, wondering if he was really up to doing what they were asking.

Ratello was a big star and most of the rats, especially females, loved him. His freedom-loving songs were hits with dock rats, mill rats, ship rats, shop rats, cellar rats and even farm rats, all over the known world. And it wasn’t just the rats that loved his songs. He had played for the gorillas in the Ifflands several times on his tours. They liked him there, especially Queen Shamba. But was that enough reason for him to start asking her for land?

Ratello knew that Shamba was having serious problems keeping order in her kingdom. There were certain shadowy beasts that seemed to make her life difficult wherever she turned. She wouldn’t be too keen on just giving away a bit of land, especially not to a huge number of smelly rats. Ratello reckoned this was more of a mission for skilled negotiators, for tough-cookie rats who could compute serious options and huge sums in their heads before a normal rat would blink. Maybe he, Ratello the rocker, had been chosen because the Queen would trust him and because he could get on with pretty much anyone. But was that enough?

Oh-ho! exclaimed Torkid. Our brother is not sure. Come on Ratello, you’re not turning into a mouse on us?

The crowd laughed. Ratello smiled, but his eyes were worried.

I want to help, for sure! But why me? Can I think about this?

The elders have done the thinking for you Ratello. Just do the doing now.

Rats in the hall screeched and laughed.

No disrespect, Great Chief! said Ratello. But, I could think of a dozen rats who could do better job than me!

Well, said Torkid with a smile of a wise and patient elder. In this rat race, the Great Council is betting on you Ratello!

Ratello really had no option. He made up his mind, but he knew he would need a bit of magic, if not a miracle. Before he went to Queen Shamba, he he decided to go and see his friend, the magician King Sunny the rabbit.

I’ll do it! gulped Ratello.

That’s the spirit! roared Torkid, clapping him on the back. But you’ll have to go immediately! No time to waste. Enough waste around here and we᾿re all dying from its stench! Are we not, brothers and sisters?

The rats in the Great Chamber screeched in agreement. And then a million or so rats started chanting, Ra-te-llo! Ra-te-llo! Ra-te-llo!

Just like a rock concert, thought Ratello. Not.

R&B wedding

Chapter 2: The Wedding

It was early afternoon when Leo Ratello, riding an ostrich, arrived at the Satyrian border post. His personal Ratpack of seven rat guards carrying presents for Queen Shamba rode on ostriches behind him.

The border post, situated by the only bridge over the River Gurgle, was guarded by Snort von Boar and his brother Raucous. They were huge, muscular boars, looking very smart in their freshly starched uniforms. Their tiny shiny eyes and their curly yellowy tusks protruding out of their hairy muzzles made you wish they were your friends – or at least not your enemies. Ratello knew them both well, so he was more than surprised to see the brothers looking unfriendly and drawing their swords.

Hi, guys! grinned Ratello. You don’t want to fight on a sunny day like this!

Oh, it's you, Ratello! exclaimed Snort, grinning back and showing not only his yellow tusks, but a row of impressive teeth, some of which were solid gold. For a moment I thought you were them giant rats. They have been causing all sorts of troubles in Satyria.

The rascals are back, I see, said Ratello, still unable to stop staring at Snort’s curly tusks.

It’s Trixalot! roared Raucous, making Ratello jump a little. That backstabbing fox is behind it, mark my words!

Raucous was referring to the infamous Lord Trixalot the Fox who had once been the Grand Master of Money in Satyria forest. The wily fox had finally been imprisoned by Sunny, the rabbit who had famously freed the forest of all its tyrants in less than five days.

You guys were too soft on that rotter! said Ratello. Letting him out during the day for walks, picnics and what-nots, and keeping him in a posh cell. The only thing you didn’t do for him was manicure his nails. He was bound to do a runner.

I couldn’t agree more! snorted Raucous, while his brother oinked in agreement. I’ll twist that creep’s neck if I get hold of him again!

Yeah! agreed Ratello. Anyway, I’m looking for King Sunny, have you seen him?  I need to talk to him urgently.

Oh, yes, nodded Snort. The King’s been invited to a wedding. It’s on the Gurgle Moors. Go back down this road and it's on the right-hand side. Follow the smell of Happy Hippo's great food, you can’t miss it!

Who is getting married? asked Ratello.

Wait for this! Raucous smiled. Vicious, I mean Baart, the Wolf – he changed his name - is getting married to Baarbara the Sheep!

Love is blind, I guess! chuckled Ratello, leading his trusty Ratpack on their ostriches, back down the dusty road.

wedding

***

Look who’s here! shouted Horns the Goat, breaking off mid-song as Ratello and his Ratpack rode into the meadow.

Horns and his Hairy Hipsters Band, all wildly musical goats, were playing for the wedding party.

Horns waved his arms excitedly, beckoning Ratello to the stage. Look who’s here everybody! None other, ladies and gentlemen, than that rocking rat, Leo Ratello! A world class, soaring talent from the sewers of Stinkhole City! Come on up here, Ratello, let's do a number!

Baart the Wolf and Baarbara the Sheep, the bride and groom, immediately invited the rats to join the feast. Ratello grinned his big, ear-to-ear, happy grin, removed his hat with a flourish and bowed to the newlyweds. Signalling the Ratpack to dismount and join the feast, he rode up to the stage and leapt from his saddle to join the Hairy Hipsters.

After a swift consultation, Horns announced the next song. Ladies and gentlemen, one of Ratello’s very own hits, ‘Love is for the Brave!’ One, two, three…

The music exploded. The two rockers sang their hearts out to the crowd of sun-soaked wedding guests eating at long tables in the meadow. At the top table, Baart and Baarbara sat with King Sunny and Queen Cherry as the guests of honour and Rodger the Badger, Lucy Moose and Swapsie the Chameleon. Everyone was clapping and singing along so merrily in that perfect moment, varnished with golden sunlight, that they all quite forgot how unusual it was for a wedding party to be made up of wolves and sheep!

Not that very many sheep had turned up. Most of Baarbara’s family had refused to attend, being unhappy with her choice of groom. Even though he had changed his name from Vicious to Baart, and become a vegetarian, a wolf was still a wolf and still a worry to sheep, they said.

Of course, Baart the Wolf’s side of the family were angry too, especially about him turning vegetarian, and the only reason a few of them had come along was because the bride just looked so delicious…

So Happy Hippo and Nosh the Pig had the challenge of their whole careers, creating a menu that would keep everyone happy, and stop one half of the wedding guests eating the other half. So far, it was going pretty well.

Baart’s parents had caused a stir by arriving half way through the ceremony and howling, and then his two brothers, Rumble and Grumble had turned up all smelly and scruffy and clearly looking for trouble. Fortunately, Baart was already prepared and had asked two giant bulls to act as bouncers and keep an eye on the roughneck brothers. Rumble and Grumble took one look at the bulls’ pointy horns and sat down where they were told, right between the two bulls, good as gold.

As he finished the song, Ratello laughed, high-fiving all the goats and thinking to himself that maybe this was a typical Satyrian wedding after all, so long as you were ready to expect the unexpected! Pretty much the story of his life, since the meeting in the Great Chamber. Hopping down from the stage, applause still ringing in his ears, Ratello went straight towards King Sunny the Rabbit and Queen Cherry.

R&B wedding

Chapter 3: Ratello’s Proposal

What brings you to this neck of the woods? asked Sunny, a big smile on his golden face as he greeted his old friend.

Big game, really big game, started Ratello in a low voice. "The Brotherhood of the City