The Christmas Rat

He is one weird Christmas visitor — his hair and moustache an unearthly white-blond, his voice a gruff rumble. He fills the apartment doorway. From two metal cases he produces what a boy would expect from an exterminator: Toxic roach powders and poisonous fog bombs.

But a crossbow?

Eric is fascinated at first. He’s been bored this snowbound vacation, and has already zapped about a zillion Zergs. Antsy, he’s even sneaked a look at the Christmas presents hidden beneath his parents’ bed. Then Anje Gabrail, this exterminator, appears, talking a little madly about his war against rats — about killing them.

“”The” worst,” Anje says. And if Eric sees one in the Eden Apartments, he is to call Anje’s twenty-four-hour cell phone immediately. Later that Monday, the fourth day before Christmas, a rat “does” appear in the building’s basement — and Eric finds himself suddenly, frighteningly swept into Anje’s vengeful army.

As either partner…or victim.

With only a flashlight.