Chapitre 12: Chapter 12: A Friend In Need

Tucker took the back alleys as he made his way to Center Square. He knew exactly where the Council would have hidden Susan away. The labyrinth system below the City was extensive and multi-layered, but only so many had cells big enough to hold her in. As he ran, he just kept hoping he wasn't too late already.

Tucker came to a wide street, which he had no choice but to cross. He paused only long enough to check if it was safe and felt a heavy blow as he was hit from behind, sending him rolling out into the street.

He got to his feet in time to see he was surrounded. Harold and his crew had found him and from the look on Harold's ugly, flat face, they had no intentions of letting him walk away from their meeting.

Tucker gathered himself as the four cats slunk low to the ground, circling around him, hissing and whining, claws clicking on the paving stones. He was only barely aware of the other cats on the street running for cover and knew he wouldn't get any help from any of them.

Just me, I guess, Tucker thought. "And what have we here?"

Tucker looked up, concentration broken, shocked but suddenly hopeful. Vinnie stood watching, his huge tail calmly wrapped around his paws, wide, heavy head tilted slightly to one side, big green-gold eyes half-lidded.

"Stay out of this," Harold snarled at Tucker's friend. "It doesn't concern you." "Oh, but it does," the huge cat said softly, almost happily. "You see, Tucker is my

friend, and I don't take kindly to you ganging up on him." Vinnie got to his feet and stretched his huge body. "Figure with me giving him a hand, you have about a minute to run before I do something I really don't want to."

Harold wasn't backing down this time. "Come and make me," he snarled.The other guards hesitated, but Harold snapped at them, too. "He's big, not fast. Take him! The boy is mine."

Tucker had only that warning and Harold was on him. Tucker ducked and rolled under the big guard, his claws catching Harold on the soft skin of his belly. Harold shrieked and spun, cuffing Tucker hard on the same side Julian had and he felt the blood rise again on his wounded ear. He shook his ringing head to clear it and almost missed the second blow Harold aimed at him, seeing it coming just in time. And then, Harold was on him, faster than Tucker expected, but not faster than Tucker.

What followed he could barely remember through a cloud of flying fur, howling and sharp claws. Before he knew it, he was standing over a panting Harold who was rolled over on his back, ears flat, humming a howl, submissive.

Tucker looked up to see Vinnie watching. "Done yet?" His huge friend asked.

"I think so," Tucker said. "You?"

"Oh, they ran off ages ago," Vinnie licked at one paw. "I've been waiting for you." Tucker actually laughed.

Harold tried to slink away, but Vinnie stopped him.

"Tucker didn't say he was done with you, yet," Vinnie said quietly.

Harold glanced back over his shoulder, tail on the ground. Tucker shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, let him go, Vin," Tucker said as casually as he could. "I can always go find him again later."

Harold ran off with a howl of fear. Tucker and Vinnie met in a head-butt. "Thanks for the help," Tucker said.

"Anytime," Vinnie winked. "Although, I am fairly certain that you, my friend, would have been just fine if I had not been following you all along."

"Why didn't you say something?" Tucker asked.

"Figured I'd wait until you needed me," Vinnie said, laughter in his voice. "I need to get to Susan," Tucker said."And I need to talk to both of you," Khai said, stepping out of the alley Tucker just left. Tucker was surprised to see him.

"Why should I listen to anything you have to say?" Tucker was still angry and bitter about the betrayal in the Center Square. Khai lied, made Tucker look like he was trying to deceive the Council.

"Tucker, please believe me," Khai said. "I was trying to protect you. And the girl. But you wouldn't let me."

"Some protection," Vinnie said. "You gave him over, called him a liar." "Knowing I was right," Tucker finished. "Why?"

Khai's whiskers drooped. "I know. I should have spoken up for you. I'm sorry. But, the City was in danger and the Council wouldn't listen, no matter who told them the rats were coming. Tucker, they wouldn't have believed me, either."

"You could have tried." Tucker was softening. He knew Khai always had his own best interest at heart. And even though Tucker had been mad, he knew Khai must have had good reason.

"Will you help me now?" Tucker asked. "I have to save Susan."

Khai hesitated, then nodded. "I can't help you directly," he said, "but I may be able to help you get her out of the City once you free her."

"But the Gate," Tucker said. "They won't let us through."

"There is more than one way into and out of this City than the Gate," Khai said. "It's about time you knew that. Now go," the Councilor turned and headed off, "and bring her to me when you get her free."

Tucker turned to Vinnie.

"Thank you," he said. "I have to do this alone."

"Says who?" Vinnie asked. "Besides, you know I'll just follow you anyway, right?" Tucker sighed. "I don't want to get you into any more trouble, Vinnie."

"I make my own trouble," Vinnie told him, whacking Tucker with his huge tail. "What kind of best friend would I be if I let you go off to adventure and danger all by yourself?"

"Are you sure?" Tucker's whiskers drooped as he thought of Vinnie getting hurt. "This is dangerous. If they catch me, the Council will probably lock me up, too.""Then we can tell each other stories through the bars of our cells," Vinnie said cheerfully. "Listen, Tucker, you're the best friend I've ever had. I know I'm not the brightest cat in the City and that a lot of people think I'm big and slow because of my sizeÉ"

"I don't!" Tucker said.

"I know," Vinnie said softly, butting his big head against Tucker again. "You never judged me, ever. And you've been there for me a bunch of times. Let me be here for you."

Tucker cuffed his friend's shoulder with one paw.

"Think you can keep up?" Tucker said, heart lighter than it had been in weeks. "Just try me," Vinnie said.

"Let's go, then," Tucker said, turning to bound off. "We have a rescue to do."

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