1 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: Hello friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. Today, we're 2 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: excited to share the final chapter of The Rat King, 3 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: which we'll be airing on sleep Tight Stories, but we 4 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: want to remind you that this is not the end. 5 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: Susan and Tucker's story will continue to unfold on The 6 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: rat King podcast. We would be thrilled if you joined 7 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: us there, in case you are just joining us in 8 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: this chapter. The rat King is an exciting continuation of 9 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: the Cat City Story, an adventure we produced previously on 10 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: sleep Tight Stories. In The Rat King, the story picks 11 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: up where Cat City left off, with Susan showing signs 12 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: of magic outside the city and the Rats plotting more conflict. 13 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: If you like this story and want to listen to 14 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: the rest, talk to your parents and follow The Rat 15 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: King on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 16 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: After seeing Susan and returning to Cat City, Tucker is 17 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: determined to warn the council that something is still happening. 18 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: He and Vinnie walk together to tell the members what 19 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: he has learned before it is too late, But are 20 00:01:52,440 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: they going to listen this time? The Rat King? Tucker 21 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: did his best not to flinch from the steady and 22 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: judgmental stairs of the two large gray guards who flanked 23 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: the inner doors. He was positive the only reason they 24 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: didn't call him out was because Vinnie did indeed have 25 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: his back only a pace behind, with his head and 26 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: tail high. The guards certainly appeared unhappy about his arrival, 27 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: if unwilling to challenge their leader. Tucker passed between them 28 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: without a single complaint and exhaled the breath he'd been 29 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: holding since he entered the building as relief. One. Maybe 30 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: this was a sign that everything was going to be 31 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: all right. The first door on the left was wide open, 32 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 1: but Tucker passed it by. His mother's voice echoed toward 33 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: him from inside, telling him he'd made the right decision 34 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: not going home, since she wouldn't have been there to 35 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: beerate him anyway, and it wasn't like his father, George 36 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: was much help. Tucker swallowed a moment of guilt, thinking 37 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: about his orange tabby dad. That way, He'd spent his 38 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: whole life being looked down on for having a Persian 39 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: full blood mother and an ordinary ginger tabby father, so 40 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: carrying on that belief certainly did neither of them any good. Still, 41 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: the truth of the matter was that despite his father's support, 42 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: it was Cynthia who Tucker really needed on his side. 43 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: If only his mother wasn't so stubborn. Tucker carried on 44 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: down the wide hallway hah, silent on the polished marble, 45 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: the quiet of murmuring voices drifting through the still air. 46 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: He didn't look up at the paintings of previous council 47 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: leaders that lined the tall corridor, nor paused to admire 48 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: the elegant furniture, upholstered in deep plum velvet and painted 49 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: in the same glittering gold as the trim on the 50 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: ivory walls. He'd been here enough times that such things 51 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: didn't impress him any longer. Maybe, if he wasn't thinking 52 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: about Susan or worrying her nightmares were premonitions or worse 53 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: than that meant she was still tied to the rats, 54 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: he could have appreciated his surroundings instead. With his shoulders 55 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: hunching more and more the further he went, the fur 56 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: on his back lifting in protest to his growing anxiety, 57 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: Tucker finally stopped outside the last door at the end 58 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: of the corridor. If it wasn't for Vinnie, right on 59 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: his heels, Tucker was very sure he'd have turned around 60 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: and laughed then and there two more hulking guards, both 61 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: of them solid black and with the same bulk as 62 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: his main coon friend, but far sleeker, with brutishly flat 63 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: faces and dull brown eyes, observed him in silence as 64 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: Tucker stopped and spoke, I need to see Albert, he said. Now. 65 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: Tucker almost jumped at the sound of Vinnie's voice that 66 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: commanding word. Following right after his request, the guard on 67 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: the left bowed his head to the main coon. A moment, Captain, 68 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: he said in his deep, rasping voice. He turned and 69 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: entered the doorway, slipping through the narrow space he made, 70 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: leaving no room for anyone to follow. Tucker did his 71 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: best to sit on his haunches and remain composed. The 72 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: temptation to shuffle his pause or even begin to groom 73 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: himself so powerful that he had to bite his tongue 74 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: hard enough it hurt to keep from doing so. He 75 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: couldn't afford to show weakness. Not here, not now. Susan 76 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 1: was counting on him. Whether she knew it or not. 77 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: The whole city was, which had him flinching all over again. 78 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: A doubting voice whispering in his head, sounding suspiciously like 79 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: his mother. Because only you can save Cat City, is 80 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: that it, Tucker, I'm the only one who seems to care, 81 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: he shot back. We'll see about that, his mind told him, 82 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: if Albert will even see you. The big guard returned 83 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: just as Tucker's doubt finished. You may, he said, one 84 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: paw in front of the other. Tucker thought, you can 85 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: do this, with his inner voice, now silent, he did 86 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: exactly that. He didn't even trip or stumble or hesitate. 87 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: Proud of himself despite the butterflies dancing in his stomach. 88 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: Finny gently nudged his shoulder while the big cat strode 89 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: next to him, Tucker glancing up in surprise to find 90 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: his friend beaming piece of cake. The main coon whispered, 91 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: so far, so good at least again, Hope rose to 92 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: smother fear, and Tucker drew another deep breath. Would Albert 93 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: finally listen? The leader of Cat City's council sat on 94 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: the surface of the large wooden desk that filled the 95 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: far end of the room. Artificial light that so served 96 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:04,239 Speaker 1: as their daylight shone in through the beautiful stained glass 97 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: window behind him, The scene depicting humans and cats in 98 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: daily harmony, casting rainbow glimmers over the plush cream carpet 99 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: that covered most of the marble floor. Tucker always felt 100 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: so small in this office. The towering wooden bookshelves filled 101 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: with heavy leather tomes of knowledge and history, forbidden to 102 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: all but the leaders of the city, a constant curiosity 103 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: to him. There had been a time he thought about 104 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: clerking for the council, serving as an assistant or aid 105 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: to one of the councilors, if only to gain access 106 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: to the books here. But the Gate's lore was far stronger, 107 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: and now that he knew what he knew, he was 108 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 1: glad he'd chosen that path instead of one of study 109 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: and service here in the office. Such a hero, that 110 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: awful internal voice whispered to him. Tucker Albert blinked slowly, 111 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: his large yellow eyes unreadable. You pulls narrow slits as 112 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: he basked in the light, an open book before him. 113 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: Both front paws rested on the page. He studied, flattened 114 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: ears over his broad skull, making him appear more unhappy 115 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: than he was, thanks to his Scottish fold breeding, at 116 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: least usually right now, his thick orange tail that matched 117 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: the rest of his heavy body trailed over the edge 118 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: of the desk, twitching at the tip. That was the 119 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: only sign that the council's leader wasn't happy to see them, 120 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: but it was more than enough to make Tucker nervous 121 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: all over again. Finny, what can I do for you? 122 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: He had to know. This wasn't the first time they'd 123 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: had this conversation, And though there had been a time, 124 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: only a short week ago that the leader of Cat 125 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: City spoke kindly and gratefully of Tucker's contributions to the 126 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: safety of their home, it hadn't taken long for him 127 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: or the rest of the council to back away from 128 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 1: their new found kindness and return to their frustrating refusal 129 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: to admit anything was wrong. It hurt Tucker. He wasn't 130 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: ashamed to admit it. He thought he'd earn their trust, 131 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: only to end up back here fighting to be heard 132 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: yet again, despite everything, Tucker's words caught in his throat, 133 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: and for a moment he almost gave up. Then and there, 134 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: Susan's magic isn't dormant, Vinnie said for him, and she's 135 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: having dreams that are far from it. Albert Tucker inhaled 136 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: sharply as his friend did for him what the butterscotch 137 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: tabby couldn't. She's still connected to the magic of the city, 138 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: even in the house above. More importantly, she's still in 139 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: tune with the rats. Albert squinted, eyes now narrow and 140 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: pupils widening to darken his gaze. You have proof as 141 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: much as we had the last time the rats attacked, 142 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: Vinnie said again, before Tucker could speak. Tucker almost choked 143 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 1: on his friend's cold and flat tone, an anxious laugh 144 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: bubbling in the back of his throat. You remember that, right, 145 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: how Tucker warned you, how Susan did, but you didn't 146 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: listen until it was almost too late, the time that 147 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,439 Speaker 1: Tucker and Susan saved our city from those same rats 148 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 1: no one believed were real. Vinnie hesitated his words, stopping 149 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: just for a moment. Tucker glanced over, seeing the big 150 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: cat's face twist in surprise, before he exhaled and went 151 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: on with another massive headshake. No, I'm not wrong, he 152 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: said out loud, looking up at the leader again. While 153 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: exposing two traders, Vinnie went on as if he hadn't 154 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 1: stopped just now, tossing one to our enemies and putting 155 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:27,319 Speaker 1: an end to the other. Tucker, now alarmed and wondering 156 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: what that weird moment meant, couldn't think of a thing 157 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: to say as Vinnie fell quiet a moment while Albert glared. 158 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: This time, however, it was clear the main coon had 159 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: stopped on purpose. It was such a long time ago, 160 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: the big cat sighed, shaking his head, a whole week. 161 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: His sarcasm cut as deeply as his claws could have. 162 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: I know, I know a lifetime, his gold eyes sparked 163 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: as his tone shifted to dull accusation. Maybe you've forgotten, 164 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: Tucker snickered. He couldn't help himself. Finny had this way 165 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: of disarming others with wit and words that no one 166 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: else could get away with. The main coon needed to 167 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: stop thinking he was stupid. He just proved to Tucker, 168 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: yet again, he was far from it. Albert had no 169 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: recourse either, and he knew it, that tail twitch speeding 170 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: up as he sat quiet and still, as though trying 171 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: to come up with some reply that might win back 172 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: some control of the situation. Finally, he sighed, his tail 173 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: falling still as the council leader bowed his head. Tell me, 174 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: he said, then in a weary voice that sounded defeated, 175 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: no more than that strained, as if it took great 176 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: effort to ask what was going on, Dill. The Leader 177 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: was paying attention, asking questions. Tucker's heart lifted at last, 178 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: except as he opened his mouth to speak to tell 179 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: the leader everything, the door behind them opened and a 180 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: familiar white Persian entered her amber, eyes snapping fire. We've 181 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: heard enough, Cynthia snapped before her son could say a word. 182 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: And I'm personally done with this foolishness, Albert. It's time 183 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: we sever our ties to the family above. Tucker gaped 184 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: at his mother as she nodded curtly. As of this moment, 185 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: it is my request to the council that Tucker be 186 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: removed from the house and the influence of that girl 187 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: she almost spit those words, and be released from his 188 00:14:54,400 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: position as gatekeeper. And that is the end of this part. 189 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: Good night, sleep tight.