Empire of The Great Wise One

By Stephen Tearle

Gothic adventure of a rat, George, discovering an underground city where rats rules. Not is all that it seems; however, and George finds himself serving a cruel dictatorship! Can George, Ptolemy, and Phebe make the Vermin Empire a better place for all rats?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781446137383

Book preview

Empire of The Great Wise One

Chapter 1 Explosion

Beneath the city, a laboratory fire alarm roared. Cages were open, smoke filled the air, and panic struck the hearts of those left behind. The scientists, the ones in their white coats, had long since fled. A terrible accident was now sending flames perilously close to volatile chemicals. 

One of the doomed test subjects was a sturdy grey-furred rat, George, skittering along the floor with his unusually black paws. Acrid smoke flooded the laboratory. George, and his fellow rats, were guided by keen senses.

George discovered an open vent.

I can smell the air! George called, A little further, then we can get out of this horrible place!

Moans of joy, hope, and anticipation had only just escaped their mouths when disaster struck. A bright flash was immediately followed by a terrible din that shook the very foundation of the building. At first, George heard only the sounds of silence; eventually, George distinguished the sounds of sirens. The noise rang inside his aching head like a great brass bell.

Chapter 2 Cats

The silver-furred awoke feeling confused whilst his senses slowly returned. Standing amid tall buildings, George felt blood streaming from a savage wound on his aching head.

George called for his friends amongst the ruins of the fallen laboratory. There was no reply.

Black eyes darting back and forth, George sought shelter. George used all his dodging skills to avoid getting crushed as he traversed. George found himself in a dingy alley on the opposite side of the street.

George had no experience with the dangers of city life, and the scent of a large orange tabby was nothing like anything he scented. He watched from under a dumpster as it lumbered forward; the cat was carrying what appeared to be a dead black-furred rat.

The purple eyes of the semi-conscious rat seemed to plead for help. Lashing out with unknown strength, George threw himself onto the feline. The cat was taken aback with no time to react. Dropping its dinner, the cat then bolted in the opposite direction. Mind still racing, George walked sheepishly towards the unconscious rat.

Y-you alright miss?

George felt foolish asking the fallen rat such a question.

Wha- who’s there!?

An angry voice was joined by claws, get the ‘eck off me you fiend!

George fell back on his rump.

I was just trying to keep that greedy cat from gobbling you up.

Really? Terribly sorry, but you scared the devil outta me, spoke the newcomer.

George introduced himself, explaining the events that led to their meeting.

"I'm Phebe, I’m an imperial plague scout of The Vermin Empire! She announced proudly, I’m a healer, gatherer, and a bit of an explorer!"

Vermin empires? Plague scouts? George said whilst his head drummed with agony.

"Under this city, there is a large collection of tunnels; all ruled by The Great Wise One."

George mouthed the last few words, The Great Wise One, and then his eyes glazed over. George had fainted! The pain inside his skull had belaboured him from the inside out. Memories from his past seemingly flashed before him, melting into nothingness.

He awoke to a ghoulish sight looming over him; a black rat wearing a large crow skull was staring into his soul with ghoulish purple eyes.

Awaking with a start, George tried to push the assailant away from him.

Quit that squirming, big baby! Chided the daemon crow, it’s just a mask you concussed idiot!

Phebe lifted the mask revealing her rodent features. Phebe was carrying a medical syringe which was half her size. She drained the needle of a thick ichor that George could not identify; however, the syringe yanked at his memories regarding some unknown horror from his past.

Phebe? What did you just pour out onto the floor? Asked the silver rat.

Probably best you don’t know if, she replied with a chuckle.

Phebe aided George to raise on a cot made from a discarded shoebox. The cot was one of many inside a large dome-shaped cave.

This is an infirmary, Phebe said, not too far off from where we met.

You carried me here? George asked curiously.

"A big cat slayer