Gone Ferret

In which Amos is introduced to his new master and narrowly avoids killing his old friend Felix on his first full day in New Zealand. We also meet the young hob Castor, the ferret Kara gave birth to aboard ship, and observe the way he's begun to question the lies his mother has told him about who his real father is. 

In which Felix is nursed back to health by Tama, the tattooed manservant; Amos is put in charge of teaching Tama's daughter to speak English; the drunken herd keeper executes a ferret in full view of the others; Felix is returned to life and distinguishes himself on the day of a great hunt, even rescuing the life of Castor; and Amos makes a fateful bargain with his powerful master, Thackery. 

In which a new threat arrives onto Thackery's farm to destroy the annual shareholders' banquet and to provide Felix and Amos with their next mission.

In which the ferrets are relocated to the port of Wellington to fight the rats aboard ship and Felix is visited by a ghost of his recent past.

In which Amos and Tama reach a new understanding beneath the crucifix of dead rats as Felix comes face to face with the blind seer rat known as Tiresias.

In which the true nature of Castor's relationship to Felix is made known, after he discovers him assisting the rats to escape from the ships, and Missus Hollis reveals a similar painful truth to Amos, after he defends Amaia's honor from the advances of a dangerous dinner guest.   

In which Felix attempts to lead Tiresias and the other rats to freedom aboard a stolen ship, only to have his plans sabotaged with the arrival of Castor and the other men who work along the dock.   

In which Felix and Amos decide to return to the port of Wellington in order to rescue Castor and Tama, only to be met by the fiery wrath of Thackery.

In which the surviving fugitives discover a new land on which to begin again; Kara delivers the report of a miracle to her son, Castor; and Felix arrives back upon the shore where the story first began, to be welcomed home by an ancient ancestor.  

Chapter art generously provided by Victoria Kapka and Royston Scott.

Copyright Registration TXu 2-168-920, U.S. Copyright Office, October 19, 2019.