‘What is it, Vic?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘It sounds like rain.’

‘Can’t be. Keep still!’

We sat motionless, listening.

The pattering sound was nearer now: a sound of a thousand little leathery feet running over pebbly ground. I knew what the rustling sound was. I’d heard it before: only it wasn’t one or four, but hundreds.

The rats were on the move!

V

I jumped to my feet.

‘Come on. Let’s see how fast you can run.’