CLUNY THE SCOURGE lay upon his bed, racked with crippling pains. Rat Captains gathered in the corner of the sick room. They sat silent. The terrible injuries would have proved fatal to any other rat on earth, but not to Cluny – a broken arm, a broken leg, numerous cracked ribs, a fractured tail, smashed claws, and other hurts not yet diagnosed.

  Redtooth and four of the others might have set upon their leader and finished him off for good.

  But the fear of his legendary powers was too strong!

  Nobody knew for sure the extent of Cluny’s remorseless vitality. Watching him now, the barrel-like chest heaving up and down, the still-strong tail swishing spasmodically, Redtooth marvelled at Cluny’s strength. He was not even sure if Cluny was shamming, pretending that his injuries were severe merely as some kind of test or trap that he had set for his Captains.