dove in after him
The water was colder than the super-chilly
deep freeze slushy at The Icy Rat ice cream
parlor. Even my whiskers were FROZEN.
But I didn’t have time to think about that.
I searched frantically for the runner. Then
I saw him sinking below the surface of
the water nearby.
CHEESE NIBLETS He looked
just like, well, a drowning rat! There was no
time to lose. I dove down under the water
and grabbed him by the tail. Then I swam to
the surface.
Suddenly, I heard a roaring sound above
me. I looked up and saw a helicopter. It was
coming to rescue us.
I looked up and saw a
helicopter . . .
80
“Here! We’re over here!” I shouted,
waving my paw in the air.
The helicopter lowered a long metal cable
with a life ring attached to the end of it.
Once I grabbed on to the life ring, the
rescue workers pulled me and the other
runner up together.
They wrapped us in warm blankets.
The doctor checked us out. I was fine,
but the runner I had saved needed to rest
overnight in a hospital. They delivered him
to a waiting ambulance.
“Now where can we drop you, Mr.
Stilton?” the helicopter pilot asked me.
Lots of places came to mind, like a gourmet
cheese shop or a tropical island. But a little
voice inside my head kept nagging me. It
said,
N
e
v
e
r
g
i
v
e
u
p
!
N
e
v
e
r
g
i
v
e
u
p
!
What could I do? I had to go on with
the marathon. That voice was giving me a
mouse-size headache! I asked the pilot
to drop me off at the exact place on the
bridge where I had stopped running.
PEE-YEW!
I caught up with some of the other
marathoners. We ran across the bridge and
through the city streets. We passed by a fish
market. Pee-yew, it stunk! I tried holding
my snout and running, but I kept tripping
over my paws. Did I mention I’m not the
most coordinated mouse on the block?
Just then, I heard a sound behind me.
A sardine truck had jumped the curb. Fish
spilled out all over the street! The driver
stood nearby, wringing his paws.
“Now what am I going to do?” he
moaned. “I have to deliver these fish today.”
I felt sorry for him. What if he had been
delivering The Rodent’s Gazette? I would
want someone to help
him. I had to do something, even if the fish
to help with the cleanup.
When we were finished, the truck driver
gave me a hug. It felt nice to do another
good deed. Well, except for the stinky, slimy,
fishy part.
I waved good-bye to the truck driver and
took off running again. As I ran, I peeked at
my watch. Holey cheese! It was late. I didn’t
have far to go, but at this rate, I’d be running
were
stinky
. I organized the other runners
into the night.
Yikes! Did I mention I’m
afraid of the dark?
84
FELINIUS
F
EROCIOUSMUS
I was still thinking about running in the
dark when I heard a sound. A strange
sound.
Well, actually, it was more of a terrifying
sound. It sounded like the meowing of a
a marathon for mice? I GULPED. Something
told me it wouldn’t be part of the cheering
section.
With a squeak, I forced myself to turn
around. Big mistake.
I found myself snout-to-snout with a
MASSIVE beast. It had snow-
razor-sharp fangs. Its claws
hungry cat!
But what would a cat be doing at
colored
fur, blazing yellow eyes, and
86
were so huge, they looked
like kitchen knives!
I almost fainted. It was
the huge, hairy
feline I had seen in the paper! Yep, the
one that had escaped from the Natural
Science Mouseum of Nibbles. Felinius
ferociousmus, otherwise known as Fifi,
stared at me with evil, hungry eyes. This was
it. I was a dead mouse. “Good-bye, cruel
mouse world!” I sobbed as I turned and
raced through the streets.
Behind me, I could hear Fifi licking her
chops.
I ran FASTER AND FASTER . My
aches and pains disappeared. My paws felt
as light as feathers. It’s amazing what
being chased by a cat can do to a mouse. I
felt like an Olympic track star!
87
“
I
’
m
b
e
i
n
g
c
h
a
s
e
d
b
y
a
c
a
t
!
”
“
Make way! Make way!
” I shouted as I ran.
The other runners jumped aside. I guess
no one wanted to be Fifi’s dinner. But me? I
kept going at supersonic speed
for what seemed like forever.
I was so worried about Fifi, I didn’t even
realize I had reached the finish line. I ran
right through the tape and kept on going.
Then I spotted the museum workers
making their way through the crowd. In an
amazing manuver, they captured Fifi in an
enormouse net and took her away.
I collapsed in a heap. “I’m alive!” I
squeaked weakly. Then I fainted.
My dear nephew Benjamin was standing
over me when I woke up. “Uncle, I knew
YOU were good, but I never imagined
that you would come in first!” he shrieked.
88
“F-first?” I spluttered.
At that moment, the crowd lifted me up
and tossed me high into the air.
“Hooray for Geronimo Stilton!” they
cheered. “The winner of the Mouse
Island Marathon!
”
Tears sprang to my eyes. I felt so happy.
So proud. So dizzy. Did I mention I’m afraid
of heights?
The crowd lifted me up . . .
90
NEVER GIVE UP!
Old Rat Rickety shook my paw. “Well
done, Sonny!
” he squeaked. “I’m so glad you
took my advice. Never give up. Never stop
believing in yourself. And never get your tail
stuck
in a revolving door. Let me tell you,
that hurts!”
I was about to ask Rickety more about the
door-slamming incident, when the national
anthem of Mouse Island began to play. I
was so humbled. They were playing it in my
honor!
After the national anthem, there was a
fancy awards ceremony. Everyone was there:
my family, Old Rat Rickety, Honey Fur, even
Sugarsnout. I got to stand on the block
with the number one on it. Then an official-
NATIONAL ANTHEM
OF MOUSE ISLAND
A thousand tails
raised in the air
A thousand voices
squeak with care
Rodents cheer and
heave a sigh
Sweet Mouse Island
will never die!
92
looking mouse put a shiny medal around my
neck. I could hardly believe it. I felt like I
was in the middle of a crazy dream.
I mean, how else could I have come in first
place? I was the least athletic mouse around.
I couldn’t lift a half-pound weight. I couldn’t
jump rope. And I was always the last rodent
picked for the team.
Just then, I spotted Champ
in the crowd. “I’d like to thank
my family, and especially my
friend and trainer Champ
Strongpaws for entering me in
this marathon,” I squeaked.
I watched as a tear slid down his snout. I
was glad I had made him proud. Maybe now
he’d finally tell me where he’d hidden my
precious Cheesy Chews.
93
MARATHON IN THE
R
ATTYTRAP JUNGLE?
A few hours later, we boarded the plane
back to New Mouse City. Ah, it felt good to
go home. I was so tired. I couldn’t wait to kick
up my paws and relax!
That night, I treated myself to a delicious
cheesy lasagna dinner. Then I crawled into
bed and fell fast asleep. I dreamed I was
vacationing at a peaceful island resort.
The next morning, I went into the office
early. I had decided that my dream must have
been a sign. Yep, I was in desperate need of
a little R&R. I would take the rest of the
week off and relax at my favorite resort and
spa, The Restful Rodent.
But first, I needed to tell my staff. “Excuse
me, I have an announcement to make. I am
going to be taking a week off . . .” I began.
At that moment, a very muscular rodent
burst into the office. Can you guess who it
was? Yes, it was Champ Strongpaws.
“Mr. G, you must have ESP!” he cried.
“How did you know I just signed you up for
another marathon?”
I blinked. “Another m-m-m-
marathon?
” I stammered.
Champ’s grin lit up the room. “That’s
right, Mr. G. You’ll be
taking part in the RATTYTRAP
JUNGLE MARATHON on the Rio
Mosquito. Isn’t that great?”
he cried.
I felt faint. This isn’t
happening, I told myself.
The Rattytrap Jungle was the
94
It’s a
frightful
place, full of
snakes . . .
96
scariest place in the world. I knew, because
I’d been there on one of my previous
adventures. It was filled with poisonous
snakes, raging rivers, and deadly spiders.
No way was I going back there.
But how was I going to tell Champ?
I decided honesty was the best policy. After
all, that’s what my dear aunt Sweetfur always
told me. So I calmly explained to Champ that
I’m not really much of a sportsmouse.
I like working in my office. I like reading
books. I like relaxing in my mouse hole.
Champ just yawned. “Boring!” he
snickered. Then he waved an airline ticket
under my snout. “Besides, it’s too late to
back out now. We’re leaving in an hour. The
marathon is tomorrow!”
My jaw hit the ground. “Tomorrow?”
I squeaked.
At that moment, my favorite nephew
Benjamin popped into the room.
“Uncle Geronimo, I hear you’re going to
be in another marathon. Can I come with
you? Please? Please? I always knew you
were like Supermouse,” he said.
I agreed. What else could I do? I knew
I wasn’t like Supermouse, but I really did
have a super nephew.
98
ALL IN ONE DAY
How did it go?
Well, let’s just say the JUNGLE is a
very, very dangerous place. I was chased
by a snapping crocodile, hunted down by
a ferocious tiger, and practically strangled
by a giant mouse-eating snake. Moldy
mozzarella
Yes, you might even say it was crazier
than the Mouse Island Marathon. Still, I
would always remember my experience in
Nibbles. After all, not every mouse gets to
run a marathon, nab a thief, save a drowning
rodent, survive an earthquake, and catch an
escaped Felinius ferociousmus all in one day,
right?
!
1.
EAT THE RIGHT FOODS!
Start the day with a good breakfast: It’ll give you energy!
Try not to eat too many chips, fried foods, candy, cho-
colate, or other sweets, when possible. They are difficult
to digest and usually don’t have the nutrients your body
really needs!
Try these, instead. These nutrients will give you lots of
energy for exercising.
•Vitamins and minerals (fruits and vegetables)
•Complex carbohydrates (whole wheat pasta and
bread)
•Proteins (meat, fish, eggs, beans, milk, and dairy
products)
•Oils (nuts, fish, cooking oil, and salad dressing)
It’s okay to eat all different kinds of food . . . but in
the right quantities. Not too much, and not too little!
To stay healthy, it’s important to eat healthy foods and
get plenty of exercise.
2.
Water is a very important part of staying healthy. Eight
glasses is the daily recommended amount.
When you play sports or when it’s very hot, you have
to drink even more water. Otherwise, you could become
dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when you lose more
liquids than you actually drink.
Try not to drink too many fizzy drinks, like soda,
because they make your tummy swell up. Drink water,
milk, fruit juice, and vegetable juice (which contain the
mineral salts you lose when you sweat).
DRINK AT LEAST EIGHT
GLASSES OF WATER A DAY!
When you sleep, your cells renew themselves and your
body regains the energy you used during the day. Eight
hours is a good amount of sleep to aim for. Here is some
advice for a good night’s sleep:
• Get up and go to bed at the same time each day.
> • Don’t eat too much in the evening.
• Don’t watch too
much TV (and avoid
scary movies, which
could give you night-
mares).
• Before going to
sleep, read a few
pages of a good
book!
• If you’re having
trouble falling asleep,
drink a glass of hot
milk (milk contains
calcium, which helps
you sleep).
3.
GET EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP
EACH NIGHT!
1. Keep your legs
together and your
arms down at your
sides.
2. Jump up a little,
spreading your legs
and raising your arms.
Repeat.
1. Keep your legs
together and stretch
your arms out in front
of you.
2. Bend your legs as
if you were about to
sit down on a stool.
Repeat.
Jumping
Jacks:
TRY THESE SIMPLE EXERCISES!
4.
2. Switch and touch
the tip of your right
foot with your left
hand. Repeat.
1. Standing with your
legs apart, touch the
tip of your left foot
with your right hand.
2. Lean your body
left, then move back
to the center.
3. Lean your body
right, then move
back to the center.
Repeat.
1. Keep your legs
apart and place
your hands on your
hips.
If someone offers you cigarettes, alcohol or
drugs, talk about it with your parents, tea-
chers, or other adults who you trust. They
care about you, and will always give you
good advice!
SAY NO TO CIGARETTES,
ALCOHOL, AND DRUGS!
Being an athlete also means saying no to cigarettes,
alcohol, and drugs.
These things are bad for you! Make the right choices,
the intelligent choices. Choose what is best for your body
The Mouse Island Marathon Page 4