The Tale of Despereaux

Cook shakes the napkin from Gregory’s tray, and Despereaux tumbles into a cup of oil. Mig pulls him out by the tail and he wriggles away, dropping to the floor. She swings a kitchen knife at the mouse and severs his tail. This shocks Despereaux back into action, and he scurries “like a professional mouse” (179) back into the pantry. Disappointed with Mig’s rodent-killing skills, Cook gives her a clout to the ear.

In the pantry, Despereaux weeps out of pain and relief at his unlikely survival. He falls asleep as the sun sets and dreams of its light morphing into a knight. He watches the knight swordfight the surrounding darkness—which manifests as his parents, then the brother who led him to his death, and finally, a rat. Despereaux asks the knight who he is—if he is salvation. The knight says Despereaux already knows the answer, but when the mouse inches closer, the armor is empty. Seeing the empty suit leads Despereaux to believe that he doesn’t exist: “it’s all just make-believe, like happily ever after” (182).

While Despereaux sleeps, Roscuro implements his plan. First, he chews Gregory’s rope so the jailer will get lost in the dungeon.