Kingdom’s End

By Charles D. Blanchard

The rats made their massive colony inside the ruins of an abandoned motion picture palace, where for thirty long dark years, the aged blind leader ruled over them. A beloved figure held in high regard, he ruled with patience understanding justice and love. The new ruler of the colony offered little patience towards his subjects, and his punishments were harsh. As he conspired with determination to reach the top, it was all in vain, as forces worked against him to remove him from power and end his wretchedness. KINGDOM’S END is an extraordinary tale of courage and survival as seen through the eyes of the leading characters who are all rodents. This story is of their struggle to survive in an urban landscape where there is conflict at every turn and living in fear is part of their existence. The story reaches its harrowing climax when the colony must decide on life or death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483449371

Book preview

Adams

Chapter 1

It was at night when the rats felt safe to go outside to forage. But as with any outing, they had their nerve with them, and they kept together for security.

Matthias led a small pack of rats down a familiar alley where on either side were rows of dumpsters behind the back doors of restaurants. The dumpsters were shut tightly to prevent rats from loitering about looking for food. But the rats were set in their ways. And when a location was favored, it never hurt to pass by, just in case a mere scrap was found to nibble upon.

Matthias was a Norway rat with black fur on his head and a grayish-white body. He was a high-ranking soldier in the colony. Along with Matthias were two brown rats named Wilbur and Edgar, his lieutenants. They had made this trip with Matthias before; and were now heading toward the place where they knew the man would be to feed them. Accompanying them with great eagerness was Badger, an orphan juvenile brown rat living in the colony. No family was interested in adopting him because of his habit of always sticking his nose in another rat's business to get attention. And finally, there was Penelope, Matthias's significant other and mother of his children. She was an attractive, tricolored rat with dark gray fur on her head, a white body, and light brown patches above her feet. She was proud and lucky to have been chosen by Matthias to be his mate, and she enjoyed the respect his status gave her in the colony.

The pack scurried through the narrow alleys between buildings, where it was always safer, away from the openness of the congested streets where humans lived; their dislike for rats was all too common. They moved along the trail where the street met the curb. The height of the curb concealed them and lessened the risk of their being noticed by humans. They found car tires useful to hide behind when confronted by sudden threatening sounds or movements. They passed by the homeless, exhausted and stinking, in a heap of dirty clothes, encamped in front of closed storefronts. To these sorrows the rats paid no attention, unless there was food around. With senses firmly fixed to the sights and smells of the urban setting that was their home, they raced on, their speed overtaken only by their insatiable appetites.

Matthias stopped when he saw that Badger had fallen behind a bit. You have to pick up your speed a little more! Matthias shouted to his own amusement. He was empowered when issuing commands to others.

Penelope was not impressed by this playful bullying at Badger's expense. Must you goad Badger so? she asked.

It's important to make him understand that speed is essential, Matthias replied.

Badger reached the group and looked at Matthias's disapproving stare. Instantly, there was an expectation of trouble.

Don't be upset with me for trying to teach you the proper way. You are young and have much to learn. The man leaves food for us, but there have been times when other rats have gotten to it first. Isn't that so, Edgar?

It is.

Badger was relieved at this mellow response, as Matthias was known for his temper and impatience.

At dusk, many rats were looking for food. The faster they arrived at a place, the better their chances. Also, fighting with other rats for food was common.

Edgar spoke to Badger. We have fought many rats to protect what is rightfully ours. But never forget they are rats, and we must be cautious of any potential enemy, even within the colony.

What if the enemy is human? Badger asked.

The members of the group looked at each other and then to Matthias to give the answer they knew he had to give.

The humans are very powerful, Matthias began. We cannot defeat them by attacking them. What we have in our favor is that there are many of us. Together we can make them fear us by our actions and sometimes just by our presence.

Are we that frightening to the humans? Badger asked.

I think so, Matthias said. In any case, I have seen them go away from us when we are getting too close.

They took to the path again. Just before reaching the corner that led to the pier, they came in contact with a strong smell that made their noses twitch, and their bodies quivered with expectation. The smell was of cooked meat, and they knew it was something good. They had made the last turn when sirens rattled their ears as two fire trucks sped past. The rats directed their keen noses ahead.

It's coming from over there where the bright lights are! Let's go! exclaimed Badger. He was the first one to take off after this sight.

Don't run off so quickly! shouted Matthias.

The others followed after him. Badger was excited to be ahead of the pack this time. The scent grew stronger, and the bright lights became a fire. It wasn't long before Matthias realized the fire was consuming the place where the man had fed them. He was nowhere to be found this evening.

What is happening? cried Badger, having never seen a fire before.

A small crowd of people gathered to watch and talk among themselves as the fire raged.

The bright lights that you see, little one, are destroying the place we were headed for, said Matthias. It's gone for sure.

Does that mean we won't be able to get anything to eat tonight?

A rat's instinct to find food, even in the most harrowing circumstances, never wavered.

Of course not, you silly little runt, replied Wilbur, becoming impatient at the prospect of not getting any dinner. You think a fire is going to stop us?

Badger felt ashamed for asking the question and irritating Wilbur so. Yet he was drawn to him.

Easy on him, Wilbur, said Edgar. He is young and inquisitive.

The aroma of cooked meat drifted beneath their noses, and the rats paused to capture its magnificent essence. Wilbur sniffed, and he relaxed again.

Forget it, kid, Wilbur said. I lost my head for a second.

Let's go over there, said Matthias.

They ran underneath the fire truck that was closest to the blaze so they could get a better view of the flames. Water sprayed from the trucks, and the commotion of the firemen added to the excitement. The rats hid behind a tire, watching the fire devour the meat market and the apartment above. They remained, looking in all directions with an unsettling feeling that something bad was happening. Two firemen walked into the wet alleyway that had just been sprayed to prevent further destruction to the adjacent building.

You see, Badger, where the humans are going in between the two buildings? said Matthias.

Yes. I see them.

Well, it was there where the man gave us food. Isn't that so, my friends?

Wilbur and Edgar acknowledged this fact, and they looked on as the firemen emerged from the alleyway. One of them carried two plastic plates heaped with raw meat. The rats became excited that their efforts to feed were not in vain.

Suddenly, the burning apartment above the store began to crumble, breaking through the ceiling and crashing to the ground below. The earth trembled, and the firemen dropped the plates of meat on the ground and ran out of the way. A fireball hurled itself upward. The rats gazed at the wonder before them. They scurried to the center of the fire truck, away from the impact of the blast.

We should leave here at once! shouted Edgar.

Not so fast, said Matthias. What about the food? Are we just going to leave it?

It's too dangerous to try, my dear, Penelope said.

I agree, said Wilbur.

Well, I don't agree, said Badger.

Wilbur continued, We should leave here before we all get killed.

He's right, Matthias, said Penelope. There's nothing left for us here. Let's go somewhere else.

The man is my friend. He might still be around somewhere, Matthias hoped aloud.

Edgar squeaked. I am not without compassion, Matthias. I, too, loved the man for his generosity. At least the food he left wasn't poisoned. But I fear we must accept that he is gone. In fact, he was the only human to feed us the same way birds, dogs, and cats are fed. But as you were the first one who saw him, you might have stronger feelings for him than any of us.

It's true it was I he befriended first. He was the only human who treated me like a friend and not an enemy, Matthias replied.

I don't care what you all say. I'm hungry! Badger squeaked. He ran from under the truck across the street, fully exposing himself. When he reached the plates, the rats breathed a sigh of relief that the firemen were too busy to notice him. Undaunted, he ate without considering the consequences. The other rats marveled at his sudden bravery.

We might as well get some while we can, said Matthias. Otherwise that rascal will eat it all.

The adults now followed Badger's instincts and joined him. They ate uninterrupted until they were stuffed. Badger was so excited over his display of courage that he forgot himself and was emboldened further to observe the morsel of meat that Matthias was saving to bring back to the colony for his young. Badger innocently began to nibble on it. He didn't get very far when Wilbur stopped eating and, upon witnessing this brazen act, bit Badger's neck to indicate to him that he was doing something wrong. Badger squealed with fright and dashed under the fire truck once again.

In the colony, Badger had been told about the rule that one should never steal from another member. Such an act was not accepted, and repeated offenses of this sort could lead to being expelled from the colony. Matthias, taking note of the brief incident, interrupted his feeding and looked at Badger hiding under the truck with satisfied interest.

Come out, Matthias ordered.

Badger emerged and stood before the group. His head was turned to the side, and his eyes looked downward to avoid facing Matthias directly.

What do you have to say for yourself? asked Matthias.

I didn't mean to eat it.

Of course you did. It's only natural. You will learn as you get older that it's all right to steal from the humans but not from rats in our colony. If it happens again, you will not be allowed to go out foraging for a long time. I will not mention what you have done to Indio. Just don't let it happen again.

Badger was grateful to Matthias for his restraint in this matter.

What Badger didn't know was that Matthias was pleased with his brashness. He sensed clearly that Badger was going to be a fearless adult rat and, perhaps, an excellent soldier someday. But he would have preferred not to have been the victim of thievery in front of the other rats. That sort of thing diminished his authority. And that was the last thing Matthias wanted.

Fill yourselves up, Matthias said happily. And remember to save the biggest piece to bring back home.

It was the practice that rats foraging were to bring back something for their families. Those who had no family of their own were to bring something back anyway, and those morsels were kept in storage in the colony. If the rats dropped or lost the treasured morsel along the way, they would try to find something else. There was no such thing as having too much food in the colony.

On their way back home, the rats were susceptible to getting hurt or even killed just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As far as they were concerned, cats and dogs in all their wretchedness were the most feared of all. Humans were also feared, but at least they provided food.

The group turned a corner. Visions of street life always caught their attention. A man going for a late-night walk led his pair of female toy poodles, each with colorful ribbons in her ears, by their leashes. Then came a huge, sullen man, drunk to oblivion and staggering home as if the weight of his inner pain were too much for his shoulders; lost and broken, he clung to the very heights that five beers and three cocktails could bring. A young couple was having a loud argument. A horse-drawn carriage went by. The rats naturally noticed the horse first and observed the quiet harmony of the driver dressed in black and his beast as the slow moving hoofs clicked on the ground unconsciously, transforming the very landscape they strode in the dead of night.

As they resumed their travels, Matthias wondered if he could ever be ruler of the colony. He kept this ambition to himself. It was not improbable, he thought. He was, after all, Indio's most trusted soldier. Indio was the ruler of the colony.

The rats gazed at a large pile of cardboard boxes on the sidewalk; some were folded, some open, and they were surrounded by large plastic bags full of paper and other debris. The rats' bellies were full, and they saw this was a perfect hiding place to rest. When they entered the boxes, they secured their own section of space and spit out the morsels they were carrying. Matthias and Penelope had their corner and conversed, while Edgar and Wilbur did their duty and poked their heads through an opening, watching for any sign of trouble.

Badger was eager for closeness to an adult from whom he could learn the ways of rat life. He saw Wilbur alone in his area and crawled over to him.

Some time ago, before Wilbur joined the colony, he had lived in a small area in a park, where he and his mate had made several holes beneath a large tree for themselves and their litter of five. They were content for a time, until one day he returned to their nest and his mate and the litter were gone---killed he feared. But it was not so. A neighbor rat told him that his mate had betrayed him for another, and she had taken his children with them. His anger at the unfairness of it all was suppressed for the most part, and he found it difficult to relate to the younger rats, as they reminded him of his lost children. Now that he had been accepted into the colony, he could have his choice of a new mate, an easy task considering the vast number of willing females. The temptation was always there. Despite his attractiveness and his enviable position in the colony as one of Matthias's lieutenants, his heart just wasn't in it. He preferred to be left alone. So it was with some annoyance that he noticed Badger suddenly crawling over to sit beside him. He pretended not to notice.

How long will we stay here? asked Badger.

For a little while, replied Wilbur, still not looking at the younger rat. Until we have rested properly and when Matthias says it's time to leave.

What do you think happened to the man?

Gone for good I fear. At least it was good while it lasted, said Wilbur, referring to the food they had just eaten. He was certain after having witnessed the destruction of the market that they would not see the man again.

Do you have children of your own? asked Badger.

No. I do not.

Wilbur was a very private rat, and squeaking about his past was not part of his nature. For him, serving as a soldier in the colony was enough. Unlike his superior, Matthias, his ambition was satisfied.

Wilbur now looked at Badger. Why did you ask that?

I am without parents, and I was wondering if you would be my father.

You have a surrogate family that has taken you in. And from what I understand, you haven't exactly been a model son---picking fights and stealing and all.

I don't like them, and they don't like me.

What's this? What's this? Where did you get this idea from?

I know it, Badger said.

Wilbur had known gang battle of the fiercest kind, where his flesh was ripped out in the quest for territorial dominance and food. He was a strong rat and not easily frightened. When he looked into Badger's eyes, he saw the same look his sons had given him. It was the look of a young rat seeking guidance from an elder on how to survive in an unfriendly world. Wilbur sensed a responsibility, but he remained uneasy at this moment. Badger, I am not father material. You best look elsewhere.

I don't understand, Badger said.

What he means, interrupted Edgar, is that he has responsibilities to maintain the safety of the colony and can't devote time to rearing.

Badger ignored Edgar's remarks and said to Wilbur, I'm old enough not to be a burden, but I'm inexperienced when it comes to the outside. I would consider it an honor.

You saw one example of how tough it is tonight, Edgar said.

Let them be! shouted Matthias.

Edgar, realizing he had interrupted the conversation once too often, obeyed his superior and kept his mouth shut.

Wilbur didn't want Badger asking question after question. But he knew that Matthias was watching and listening. Wilbur also knew the benefit of parental guidance toward orphaned rats. He knew any relationship between rats in the colony could only benefit the colony as a whole. He just didn't want to get involved with a juvenile.

You seemed to handle yourself quite well tonight, Wilbur said. You displayed exceptional courage, and you even put some of us to shame.

Quite right, Matthias said. You held true to your instincts and went for it. You have my admiration, if not my complete respect, for eating my morsel.

Wilbur felt sorry for Badger and offered some advice to ease the juvenile's mind. I will think seriously about your proposition and let you know. In the meantime, you just follow the rules of the colony and respect the elders, and you'll be fine. Fair enough?

This wasn't what Badger wanted, but he was resigned to accept it, since no else was interested in having him around.

After the foragers had rested, the time came for them to return to the colony. Matthias roused the others out of their pacified state. They slowly crawled out of the cardboard cave and saw the way was clear to proceed. With their morsels back in their mouths, they emerged satisfied and turned their noses upward to the smell of a McDonald's across the street. Matthias ordered the group to forget about the enticing aroma and move on. They remained together on the trek, since there was no deviation permitted as ordered by Matthias. There would be no stopping for food unless it was an emergency. There was the usual stopping to pass droppings and smell the city smells they were accustomed to.

Chapter 2

The group spotted three male rats about halfway down the street. Each group gave full attention to the other. It became evident through movement and body language that the trio was a gang on whose turf they were most likely trespassing. When one of the rats from the other group rose on his hind legs, Matthias came forward and did likewise, thereby identifying the group leaders.

I will squeak with them and find out what they want, Matthias said.

Let's go the other way, Penelope said.

There's no point in doing that. We are carrying. They'll chase us to get the food.

I will go with you, Edgar said. I know the leader. His name is Jericho.

So will I, Wilbur said.

Now wait a minute. Who is this Jericho rat? asked Matthias.

I know him from way back, replied Edgar. We were in rival gangs along the waterfront. He is strong willed and very brave. We have fought against each other in battle, and he always proved his strength for his group.

Matthias knew the importance of recruiting a strong specimen such as this rat into the colony. First he had to size him up.

There are three of them and three of us, Wilbur said.

Four, said Badger.

You're not going anywhere, Wilbur told him strongly. You're too young to get mixed up in a fight with a gang right now. Your time will come soon enough.

Wilbur, Matthias said, you watch over Penelope and the kid.

Be careful, Penelope said.

Will do. If there is a skirmish, each of you grab your morsel and run home.

Wilbur felt slighted at being left behind at such a crucial moment, but he respected Matthias's judgment and did what he was told.

The groups stared each other down. Matthias and Edgar slowly approached.

When Jericho saw this, he came forward slowly. His stomach ached for something to eat. And a taste of the morsels the other group had would be ideal. Jericho's associates walked behind him. The only sound was an occasional passing car and a male mourning dove in a tree nearby calling out for any females in the vicinity. The closer Matthias came to Jericho, the better he could see that his would-be opponent was no stranger to battle. He was young and quite handsome with scars on his face and body. The skin on his feet was torn in places and scarred. Jericho was well built, and his approach toward Matthias was deliberate but not aggressive. He was cautious, as any good leader would be, sensing the potential for danger but wise enough to control himself. Jericho walked with the grace and confidence of a leader who could easily take any rat on. Matthias also saw that Jericho and his friends were hungry.

Let me do the talking first, Matthias told Edgar. And whatever you do, don't bite first.

Well, what do we have here? Jericho said to Matthias. More garbage to dirty up our street.

Matthias just stared at him. Jericho's odor was one of body and earth. It radiated an essence of having lived a life of struggle with little enjoyment, like so many rats that were eternal vagabonds.

Hello, Jericho, Edgar said. Good to see you.

Likewise. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?

I am Matthias, leader of this group.

I am Jericho, leader of mine. We have claim to this street. You need to leave.

Just passing through on our way home, Matthias said, respectfully.

What gives you the right to tell us to leave? shouted Badger. We have just as much right to be here as you do!

Jericho and his friends laughed.

You know the rules, Jericho said. Any encroachment on another gang's street means you leave immediately or face the consequences. You have no business here.

Sarah, Jericho's mother, heard the argument and crawled up the basement steps to find out what was going on.

Jericho! What are you doing out here?

Nothing! he replied, extremely annoyed and embarrassed by his mother's interference.

Don't stand around looking for trouble. Go find some food for us!

Fine! he shouted back.

Sarah went on to call him a lazy good-for-nothing, and he resented the insult in front of his friends and the group of strangers. Sarah recognized Edgar and greeted him warmly.

Edgar returned the greeting. It's been a long time, he said.

Indeed. Where are you living now?

We have a large colony not too far from here.

An idea suddenly came to Sarah. Jericho, why don't you go with Edgar to their place? You might have some luck and find a wanting female for yourself, instead of wasting time with these bums. Don't you agree Edgar?

Your son has chosen his own path.

Nonsense! she snapped and addressed her son again. You go with Edgar. And when you come back, I hope you will tell me you found a better place to live, not to mention a good mate.

Actually, Sarah, it is up to Matthias here.

Jericho was troubled by this sudden occurrence. But he thought again that his mother was always right.

Is there anything to eat there? Jericho asked Matthias.

We have enough food. Every member of the colony has a responsibility to forage and bring back something for the family. We are one, and we share everything. It's up to everyone to pitch in and prove themselves in this capacity. We have security and freedom from human interference, at least for now. Are you interested?

He'll go, Sarah said, excited at the prospect of her son finally discovering a place better than the laundry room where they kept their nest.

Matthias waited for Jericho's response. Jericho turned to his friends, and they nodded.

Can my friends come along?

Matthias asked the names of the two rats behind Jericho.

I am Alexander.

I am Morgan. We are brothers.

Come with us, Matthias said to them. It's almost light. The humans will awaken soon.

The rats came closer to each other. Sarah was pleased, and she excused herself and wished them all good luck before going back to the nest.

And thank you, Matthias, for helping my son.

Peace to you, ma'am.

Before the rats took their coveted morsels into their mouths once again, Matthias thought about the many times he'd felt the pangs of hunger in his life and about not knowing when the next meal would come. He turned to Jericho. Don't worry. You can have my share. Split it up among the three of you if you wish.

Jericho's excitement was self-contained as he remembered his mother. He saw the morsel wasn't big enough for any one rat, let alone three. He thanked Matthias for the gesture, and instead of dividing it among himself and the brothers, he took the morsel down the stairs into the building. In a corner behind one of the washing machines, he saw his mother asleep under the enormous sink. Their home consisted of a pile of shredded newspapers nicely bunched up to form a comfortable bed on which they slept. It was a noisy place when the machines were running, but she liked it. He'd always hated it. He dropped the morsel next to her and kissed her on the cheek before going back to join the others.

Alexander and Morgan didn't like being left out since they were also hungry and longed for a nibble of something.

Don't worry, you two, Matthias said. You will eat soon enough.

When Jericho returned, the enlarged group led by Matthias, made its way through the streets. The darkness was disappearing fast, and the rats knew the coming of daylight threatened to expose them to a world that frightened them.

From where they stood, across the street and just three stores down they could see the entrance to the alley where they knew the cats lurked menacingly. Just one more block, and they would be home.

They dashed across the street and continued straight until they reached the next block. At the corner, they could see the sidewall of the theater easily now, adjacent to an empty lot.

As the rats finally reached the wall, Matthias told the newcomers, By the way, if you are accepted into the colony and you decide to stay, you will not necessarily be the master in your own home. Old Indio is our master.

Chapter 3

To say the Crown Jewel was one of the most extravagant movie theaters in the United States was no exaggeration. For fifty years, the palace, which sat fifteen hundred people, had a design lush and rich in concept, emulating the French Renaissance period and modeled after the Palace of Versailles.

The exterior was an exuberant design of carved sculptural elements---flowering vines and rich moldings. Atop the two projecting pilasters on either side of the facade outside were the gargoyle heads. With wild-looking, bloated eyes and ferocious, open mouths, they oversaw and protected those who entered the place. Built in an age where luxury took no part in ordinary life, the Crown Jewel was opulence with a purpose---to invigorate the patrons with a lavish setting, where they were not only welcomed but also made to feel a part of the splendor once they passed through the polished bronze doors.

Just beyond the arched canopy entrance was a spacious grand lobby filled with warm browns, golds, and reds. It was three stories high and eighty feet long. Its mahogany walls were lined with marble columns embellished above their bases with carved, walnut decorative panels and enriched with ornamental design. There were embroidered wall hangings, elaborate draperies, and mirrors with gilded frames. A row of four huge chandeliers hung from a spectacular, high, curved, oval-shaped ceiling of splendid, baroque-inspired decorative panels enriched with molded ornament in hues of gold and other colors, and swans, and cherubs with bloated faces. The finest quality French Regency chairs were placed in various locations and were always used by patrons and staff.

No expense had been spared when this theater was built. Two grand staircases of marble and bronze stood on either side of the grand lobby. The stairs led to the mezzanine floors, the bathrooms, and the balcony section.

In the promenade that encircled the mezzanine floor was an empty, mosaic-tiled fish pool that at one time had been teeming with fish. Ornate vases, now long gone, had once been filled with fresh flowers every other day. The walls along the promenade were decorated in sections of carved, gold frames with flowering vines; gold-framed, red velvet panels; and large, gold-framed wall mirrors. The curved iron viewing arches were decorated with vines and flowering ornaments. The arches come out slightly over the grand lobby to allow patrons an exciting view of the lobby below.

The raised relief on the walls at the entrances to the large auditorium was a pattern of vases encircled with flowering vines. On either side of each entrance stood a sculptured Indian maiden, about five feet tall and placed high on the walls so the maidens looked down at the patrons passing through to the auditorium.

Inside the auditorium, the sidewalls were a series of large, receded openings draped in lush red and gold, from which hung large murals depicting scenes from the courts of the Bourbon Dynasty. The walls consisted of high pylons flanked with fluted columns rising to support the mammoth dome eighty feet above.

The domed ceiling was enriched with decorative panels in golds, reds, and blues. Around the proscenium arch were bands of decorative moldings and red draperies trimmed in gold. This was what the theater used to look like.

Now, the theater was a quiet, dark, derelict ruin. The slow death of the Crown Jewel had begun after years of poor attendance, when people lost interest in seeing a single film in one theater. The last owner had given up the fight and locked the place up.

Abandoned, the theater had succumbed to the ravages of neglect and vandalism year after year. In the bathroom lounge areas, once beautifully furnished, only the fireplaces remained. Lighting fixtures, ornate mirrors, and chairs---anything that could be carried out---had been stolen. Foundations had been stripped of their dignity and beauty---mercilessly gouged out. If it couldn't be taken out, it was vandalized.

Of the sculptured Indian maidens that had adorned the entrances to the auditorium, only one remained with her head intact---a witness to the destruction around her. All the others had been victims of vandalism. Headless and smashed, their heads knocked off