The four adventurers whirled to see their captor-and found themselves face to face with a giant rat!

"I knew it!" cried Howard.

"A rat!" cried Gwen, shuddering.

"But of course," said the rat silkily, grooming his whiskers. "Who else would it be? You took long enough to find me," he added. "I was really most disappointed."

"Where are the books of magic?" demanded Org.

"Oh, really, you don't think I'd just hand them over?" asked the rat. "Such high-handed behavior from a bunch of helpless prisoners. Shouldn't you be begging me for your freedom instead?"

"Would you give it to us if we did?" asked Lance.

"No," said the rat, "but it would have been such fun to hear you beg. It's so delightful to have you under my control. Symbolic, don't you think? All those years that humans have dominated rats in your world, and now you humans are a prisoner in mine."

"But why?" asked Gwen. "Why us? Why the game?"

"I'd no intention of playing games with you in the beginning," said the rat. "But when Org brought his great detectives over from the other world, I couldn't resist the chance to have a little extra fun. But it's over now. I'm moving on to greater things. Only this morning, I found the spells I was looking for in the books of magic. In less than an hour I will leave you here alone and trapped, while I use the magic to destroy Adventure Castle once and for all. Then the magic which protects these fairy-tale worlds will die, and all will be under my control-that is, under the rule of myself and my fellow rats. Together we will make a new world, where rats rule supreme! At last, I will have my revenge!"

"Revenge for what?" asked Gwen. "What have we, or any of the people here, ever done to you?"

"Hah! Everything! My people have always been at the mercy of humans! You've trapped us and poisoned us, set cats and dogs on us! And for my own ancestors, it was the worst of all!" The rat pulled a pile of papers from the pocket of his coat and tossed them at Howard. "You never figured out which story was missing from the fairy tale book, did you?"

"On the contrary," said Howard smoothly. "I've suspected for a while who-or what-you were, and what story it must be." He handed the papers to Org without looking at them. "I think you'll find that this is the missing story, and it will be "The Pied Piper of Hamelin."

"Exactly," said the rat. "You are cleverer than I thought, my young friend. Hundreds of years ago, my ancestors were brutally killed by the people of Hamelin, who hired that villainous piper to lead the rats away and drown them in the river. But a few could swim, and escaped. Some came here, some stayed on earth. We bided our time. We multiplied, as rats do, until now there are enough of us to take over this world-once I have destroyed the castle and the magic. Then we'll find a way to use the magic and get to your world. There we will liberate our fellow rats on earth, and take over your world as well. The humans must pay."

"But they did pay!" protested Gwen, who knew her fairy tales. "The people of Hamelin did! The piper stole their children in the end."

"That was to punish them for their greed," said the rat, "not to avenge the rats. No one cared about us."

"I still don't get it," said Lance. "If you're just trying to take over our worlds, then why the other crimes? Henny Penny's kidnapping, and the tarts, and breaking in the bears' house?"

"Simple," said the rat. "After my conquest, I'm planning a celebration dinner. The birds and the tarts will be part of the feast. As for the three bears, this is their cottage. I broke in to dig the tunnel, so that I could use this place as a prison for you. The bears were so upset by my mess that they moved to a condo. We needn't worry about them any more."

"And Rapunzel? Why did you lock her in the tower?" asked Org.

The rat shuddered. "Don't ask me about that one!" he snarled. "What a nasty, nosy girl she is! She saw me take the tarts, and tried to blackmail me! She said she wouldn't tell anyone, as long as I gave her all my money so she could buy clothes. I had to give it to her, but I fooled her! I crept back at night, dressed as a witch so she wouldn't recognize me, and imprisoned her in the tower. Then I stole all my money back from her. Hah! She can rot in there for all I care!"

"She won't. Howard let her go," said Gwen.

The rat eyed Howard grimly, but said only, "Enough of this storytelling! I have better things to do. I'm off to make the last preparations for my world takeover. Then I'll return here to get the magic books, and it will be time! As for you, I'm afraid I must keep you prisoner until then-but don't worry, I'm not a bad villain-I won't even make you go hungry. There's food in the kitchen, so feel free to help yourselves. It will be your last meal ever!" With an evil laugh, he started towards the door.

"Get him!" shouted Lance, and the four of them dived for the rat. But the rat, like all rats, was slippery and fast on his feet. He slipped from their grasp, ran for the door, and escaped. The door slammed behind him, and they heard the sound of a key clicking in the lock.

"Try the windows!" said Org, but they were all locked and the glass would not break. There was no way to escape.

"What can we do?" cried Gwen.

Org and Lance shrugged helplessly, but Howard refused to give up.

"Look," he said, "We just have to outsmart him. My parents have been in tougher situations than this, and they always find a way out. I'm not going to let them come home to find they have no son any more."

The others looked at him with new respect.

Boy, Howard sure has changed, thought Lance to himself. But aloud he said only, "O.K., what do we do?"

"Simple," said Howard calmly. "We trap the rat."

For the next hour, the four prisoners were extremely busy. Under Howard's direction, Lance and Org busied themselves gathering up a bucket, some rope, a sheet, and a fan from around the inside of the cottage. As for Gwen, she was in the kitchen making cheesecake.

"I didn't know you could cook," said Lance in surprise.

"You never asked," she said smugly.

At last all was ready. The trap was set. The four waited anxiously for the rat to return. Org and the two boys waited in the parlor. Gwen stood by in the kitchen.

Finally, they heard the key click in the lock. The rat slunk in, looking extremely pleased with himself.

"All is ready, my friends," he announced gleefully. "Better say your last prayers. The rats only await my signal to attack!"

Howard, who was nearest to the kitchen door, made a secret motion to Gwen, who turned on an electric fan next to the cheesecake.

"What is the signal?" asked Lance to distract the rat from this activity.

"Why, the disappearance of the castle, of course," said the rat. "The moment it is gone, all the rats in Adventure Storyland will proceed to attack! It will be the most spectacular." he broke off suddenly to sniff the air and say, "What is that delicious smell? It.it smells like cheese!"

"Oh, that?" said Lance casually. "That's just our cheesecake. Gwen's just finished baking it for our dinner."

"You did promise us a last meal, you know," reminded Howard.

"Ah, ah, yes, of course," murmured the rat. A glazed look had come over his face and he was beginning to drool a little. "It smells most delectable. Your young friend must be an excellent cook."

"Sorry we can't share it with you," said Org, "There wouldn't be enough. We'll just go eat it while you get your magic and do your spells."

By now the smell of warm cheesecake filled the whole cottage. The rat was panting and licking his chops. "The spells can wait," he said urgently. "I must have a taste-I'm too hungry to wait for my feast." He started toward the door, but Lance blocked his way.

"Sorry," he said, "but I can't let you in there. If we're going to die, we have the right to our own food first."

The rat was crazed beyond thought. "Out of my way!" he cried, shoving Lance aside and staggering into the kitchen.

"Now!" cried Lance. He reached through the door and pulled on a rope. A bucket of water landed upside down on the rat's head, leaving him sputtering and choking-and blinded! Org and Howard wrestled him to the ground. Quickly, Gwen threw a sheet over the rat's head.

"Curses! Let me go!" hollered the rat, struggling. Lance tied his paws behind his back and then they wrapped him up like a mummy in the sheet. At last he lay immobilized at their feet.

"Now then," said Org to the rat. "Suppose you tell us where the magic books are."

"I'd rather die first!" snarled the rat.

"Yes, well, that could be arranged," said Org.

But Lance just reached for the cheesecake and waved it under the rat's nose. The rat's jaws quivered. He struggled to take a bite but Lance held it just out of reach. "Want some, do you?"

"Please," begged the rat.

"Sorry," said Lance. "Not unless you tell us where the books are."

The rat was drooling now. He closed his eyes. "Cheeeeese," he moaned. "Must have cheeeeeeeese!" He opened his eyes again. "Give it to me, please!"

"Nope," said Lance. He took a bite. "Mmmmmm," he said. "Delicious!"

"All right!" shrieked the rat. "I'll tell! I can't stand it any more! They're under the floorboards, by the fireplace!"

"Got them," called Howard, a moment later. "Ask him where Henny Penny and the others are."

"In the shed behind this cottage! Now can I have the cheesecake," begged the rat. "I've told you everything!"

"Don't give it to him!" said Gwen indignantly. "He doesn't deserve it!"

"Oh, I'll give it to him, all right," said Lance grimly. And he did-right in the face!

Gwen burst out laughing. The rat was a miserable sight. Gooey cheesecake dribbled down his face and into his eyes and ears, then plopped on the floor.

He tried desperately to lick it off and eat it, but only got a little bit for his efforts. "That wasn't fair," he whined.

"Neither was taking over the world!" Gwen retorted.

But after that, the four detectives had little time to waste on the sticky villain. Org phoned his fellow security officers to come and take the rat to jail. Gwen, Howard and Lance went to the shed and set free Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky and Turkey Lurkey, who were overjoyed not to be eaten. Meanwhile, Org returned to Adventure Castle, after making plans to meet them later at Henny Penny's farm.

Once at the castle, Org consulted the magic books and did a little magic of his own. Instead of seeing the castle disappear as they had expected, millions of rats all over Adventure Storyland were startled to see a giant message written in smoke across the sky. It read "SURRENDER RATS!"

"Always did love that 'Oz' movie the earth kids watch!" chuckled Org. Just for good measure he sent a swarm of flying monkeys after the rats. The rats promptly fled back to their homes and tunnels and were not seen again for a very long time.

The four detectives-now temporarily retired--dined that evening on a delicious vegetarian dinner, cooked for them by a grateful Goosey Lucy. Afterwards they returned with Org to the castle, and bid him a fond farewell.

"We'll miss you!" said Gwen, hugging him. "I wish you could come back with us."

"Alas," said Org sorrowfully, "Would that I could." He winked and added, "I should like to investigate those new iPods. Wonderful things. But I'm needed here. We haven't solved all the crimes yet, you know. I've still got to find out who took Bo-Peep's sheep. Probably that wolf again."

"Well, if you need help, you know where to find us," said Lance.

"I do indeed," said Org, "and I'm sure I'll be calling on you again. But now that young Howard here has found his calling, I'm sure you'll have plenty of mysteries to solve back in your own world."

"If my parents will let me," said Howard ruefully.

"Oh, I think they'll find you've changed," said Org. "They'll see what a help you can be. And now, farewell.." A thick mist swirled around them, and Org's voice faded into the distance. A moment later they found themselves back in the study of Howard's home, and a few minutes later, they heard the sound of voices in the hall.

"We're home, darling," said Howard's mother, giving her son a hug. "How's it going, son?" said his father, giving Howard a pat on the back.

Funny, thought Lance. I thought famous secret agents would look a lot different. But they're just regular people.

Gwen was thinking the same thing. Howard's parents are nice, she thought. But I thought they'd be more exciting.

Just then, a phone rang. Howard's mother pulled it from her purse and answered. "It's for you, dear," she said, handing it to Howard's father. "It's the President."

Howard's father took the phone. "Yes, Mr. President. What can we do for you?"

Gwen turned to Howard, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Is that the President of the United States?"

"Sure," said Howard. "He calls all the time."

Gwen and Lance's eyes met.

"Whoa." she breathed.

"Cool," said Lance.

Howard's mother turned to them. "It's so nice that Howard's finally made some little friends," she said. Howard turned red, and the other two smothered a grin.

"We've had a great time, Ma'am," said Gwen truthfully.

"Really? What did you do, dears?" Howard's mother asked, but they could tell she wasn't really listening. She was trying to overhear her husband's phone conversation with the President.

"Oh, nothing much," answered Howard. "We just traveled to another world, solved a few secret codes, rode on a dragon, almost got eaten by bears, danced at a ball, and we were held prisoner by someone who tried to take over the world."

"That's nice, dear," said his mother absent-mindedly.

"Oh, yeah," added Howard, eyes gleaming, "and we caught a rat."

"A RAT!!" shrieked his mother. "WHERE?" Gwen and Lance giggled again.

"Oh, just around," said Howard.

"Ugh! I hate rats!" said his mother. "I'd better buy some traps and some rat poison."

The three children leapt to their feet. "NO!!" they all shouted.

Howard's mother looked startled.

"Uh, sorry Mom," said Howard. "That is, uh, I'll take care of the problem. You don't need to worry. I can handle it."

His mother beamed at him. "Well, isn't that nice!" she said fondly. "You really are growing up, aren't you?"

"I hope so," said Howard. He winked at his friends. "Say Mom, since you feel that way, how about showing me what you've got in that lab in the basement?"

The End