Chapter 5
Gregor's family staggered back from the front door and huddled in a knot at the center of the lobby. Lizzie was crouched down in a ball, panting, her palms shining with sweat. Gregor's mom kneeled on the floor, one arm wrapped tightly around Lizzie, the other around Boots, who had started to wake. The toddler rubbed her sleepy face in her mother's shoulder and blinked into the fluorescent lights of the lobby. His dad had gotten back to his feet, holding his grandma, who had her eyes squeezed shut and had her hands over her ears.
Gregor was afraid to leave the door to join them. Afraid the bolt would give way under the pressure of the rats. He braced his back against the door and looked at his family helplessly. There was no leaving the building. What were they going to do? Something caught his mom's attention and she seemed to stop breathing. Gregor followed her eyes to the wall off to his right. At first he didn't see anything. Then a puff of plaster dust floated out near the baseboard. A small clawed paw broke through the wall and a rat's nose poked through.
"All right!" screamed his mother. "All right, they can go!"
It was like someone had thrown a switch. The rat noise stopped instantly. Gregor could hear only Lizzie's ragged gasps, the hum of the fluorescent lights, and the distant sound of traffic from the street. He looked down at the glass door. Not a rat in sight. But he knew they were there, in the walls, in the bushes, waiting and watching.
"We can go?" asked Gregor.
"You can go," said his mother in a hoarse voice. "But this time, I'm going with you."
"Come on. Let's get back upstairs and talk about this," said his dad.
Gregor went over to Lizzie and helped her up. "You okay, Liz?"
"My — fingers — got — pins and — needles," she choked out.
"I think you're having a panic attack, honey," Gregor's dad said softly. "And no wonder. When we get upstairs, I'll get you a paper bag to breathe in. Fix you right up." He jabbed the elevator button with his elbow and the doors to it opened at once. Like it had been waiting.
His family stepped inside.
"I can do button," said Boots. His mom held her out so she could press the number for their floor.
"See?" said Boots proudly.
"Good girl," said Gregor's mom dully, and the doors closed.
Back in the apartment, the clock on the wall said eleven-thirty. "We've got a half hour," said Gregor.
His dad settled his grandma back in her bed. Then he sat Lizzie on the couch and taught her to breathe into a small paper bag. "Too much oxygen getting into you, pumpkin. Just take it slow."
Lizzie nodded and tried to follow his instructions. But she looked miserable. "I don't — want Mom — to go."
"I think she's right," said Gregor's dad. "We need you up here. I'll go down with Boots and Gregor."
"No," said his mom. "I have to go."
"Why can't dad go?" said Gregor, a little too forcefully. His mom shot him a look and he began to backpedal. "I mean, he's been before. People know him."
This was true, but it was not the real reason Gregor wanted his dad instead of his mom. For starters, she was furious. No telling what she'd say to the Underlanders. There was something else, too. Down in the Underland, Gregor had an identity. He was the warrior. Even if he didn't always buy into that himself, it was important that everybody else did. And somehow, he didn't think it was going to look so hot for the warrior to be showing up with his mom. Especially when he knew she'd have no problem saying stuff like, "Now go wash your hands and find your manners while you're at it," or sending him to bed even if there was a bunch of people around.
"I can't be the one waiting and wondering what's happening to the rest of you. Not this time." His mom set Boots down and wrapped her arms around Lizzie. "You know what I'm talking about, don't you, Lizzie?"
Lizzie nodded. "I could — go — too," she said bravely. But the very notion was so scary, it caused her to start panting again.
"No, I need you to stay up here and keep an eye on your dad and grandma. We won't be gone long. There's just one meeting, and we're coming straight back," said Gregor's mom, stroking Lizzie's hair.
"And then — can we go — away?" said Lizzie.
"That's right," said his mom. "How'd you like to move down to your uncle's farm in Virginia?"