The Secret of Zanzibar by Frances Watts

stay?’ Grandpa Nelson asked.
    A silence fell as the two old mice looked at Tibby Rose expectantly.
    Tibby drew in a breath, and looked over her shoulder at Alistair. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘But I’m not. We’re on a mission for FIG.’
    â€˜FIG?!’ screeched Great-Aunt Harriet, then looked around in alarm, as if afraid of being overheard. ‘No. Absolutely not. You will have nothing to do with – with them , young lady. I forbid it. We forbid it, don’t we, Nelson?’
    â€˜It’s too late for that,’ said Tibby Rose. ‘I’m already a member of FIG, just like my parents were.’
    â€˜It’s FIG’s fault that your mother died,’ Great-Aunt Harriet said fiercely.
    â€˜That’s not true,’ Tibby Rose responded quietly. ‘My mother died because of the Sourians. But she believed in FIG – she believed that Gerander should be free. And I think she would have wanted me to believe that too.’
    â€˜She’s right, Harry,’ said Grandpa Nelson. ‘It’s what Lucia would have wanted.’
    For a few seconds the elderly mouse said nothing, her lips pressed together in a tight line. Then her face seemed to sag. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘I know she’s right. But, Tibby Rose, are you really working for FIG? It’s so dangerous, and you’re so young. I can’t believe they’ve let you wander around on your own like this. Of all the irresponsible …’ She trailed off, as if she couldn’t summon the words to describe what she thought of FIG.
    â€˜We weren’t meant to be on our own,’ Tibby explained. ‘We were with Slippers Pink and Feast Thompson all the way, and Slippers is FIG’s chief of operations, you know. It was only when we reached Templeton that she got a message saying Zanzibar was in trouble and they had to leave.’
    â€˜Zanzibar?’ said Great-Aunt Harriet. ‘But I thought he –’
    â€˜Hush now, Harry,’ Nelson interjected.
    â€˜Do you know Zanzibar?’ said Alistair, surprised.
    â€˜I know of him,’ the steel-grey mouse said curtly. ‘He’s a troublemaker.’
    â€˜No!’ Alistair protested. ‘He’s not a troublemaker – he’s a hero! He’s spent his whole life fighting to free his homeland, and he –’
    Great-Aunt Harriet turned on him. ‘I’m surprised you dare show your face around here,’ she snapped. ‘Tibby Rose would never have left if not for you.’
    â€˜Please, Great-Aunt Harriet, don’t say that,’ Tibby begged. ‘Alistair’s my best friend.’
    â€˜Harry, you’ll give yourself a heart attack if you keep carrying on that way,’ Grandpa Nelson said. ‘Calm down and let’s listen to why they’re here … Oh, I don’t even care why you’re here: I’m just so glad to see you, Tibby.’
    Great-Aunt Harriet took a few deep breaths, gazing intently at Tibby Rose. ‘You seem well, Tibby.’
    â€˜I am well,’ Tibby assured her. ‘I’ve …’ She shook her head in frustration. ‘I don’t know quite how to describe it … I guess I’ve discovered what I’m capable of,’ she said. ‘My years growing up here with you, everything you’ve taught me, the books I read, the things I made and built – I’m using all that now for a good cause, a cause I believe in.’
    â€˜If that’s the case,’ said Great-Aunt Harriet, her voice thick with emotion, ‘then I’m very proud.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Right, let’s go sit in the kitchen. I’ll makehot chocolate and you can tell us what you’ve been up to since we last saw you.’

    â€˜So now Alistair and I are going to complete the mission on our own. It’s up to us to let Sourians know the truth about their occupation of