Mark David | Cheddar Warrior: The Journey Begins

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Cheddar Warrior - The Journey Begins
The rat was tired of being the smartest subject in the laboratory. At night he'd sneak out of the lab and creep down to the waterside to work on his boat - the Cheddar Warrior. The name inspired hope and awe in the rat. One day he planned to use it to flee this place where rats were forced to run mazes. He'd search for the mythical Rodent Island, where rats and mice ran free in the sunshine.

Then one morning before the scientists had turned up, one of the lab mice told him all the rats were to be 'phased out'. The rat knew what that meant. It meant being put to sleep.

He didn't have the luxury of timing his escape any more. He had to leave right away. He ran over to the other rats and urged them to run. 'Maybe tomorrow,' they said. 'I don't feel like fleeing today.'

Even while the others made their excuses they heard one of the scientist's cars pulling up out front. The rat and mouse glanced at each other and then bolted out of the room, through the gaps in the walls and towards the waterside.

The rat scampered toward the water's edge, the lab mouse struggling to keep up behind him, towards where the Cheddar Warrior was fitted only with the bare necessities the voyage. The rat suddenly stopped. 'I'll need food,' he gasped. 'I could starve out there.'

'That's something I wanted to tell you about,' his friend squeaked. 'I'm coming with you. And I'm paying my way.'

They reached the boat and the rat was astonished by what he saw: a huge wedge of fine Edam cheese packed into the bow.

'That's my payment,' said the mouse. 'Let me come with you and we'll both eat like kings.'

The rat was overcome with a thousand emotions at one. 'Of course, but we've got to hurry.' They puffed and strained to push the Cheddar Warrior into the water.

Our biggest adventures sometimes start when we least expect it. 'This is it,' thought the rat. 'The journey begins.'

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