Ratos-a- — De Academia -

They called themselves Ratos-a-de Academia —The Academic Rats.

The rats held an emergency assembly inside the wall cavity of Lecture Hall D. Hundreds of them gathered, whiskers trembling. El Jefe banged a thimble for order. RATOS-A- DE ACADEMIA -

Alba froze. She knelt and peered into the dark crevice. El Jefe banged a thimble for order

The crisis came when the Dean announced the closure of the Philology department. “Low enrollment,” he said. “No return on investment. We’re converting the building into a ‘Digital Innovation Hub.’” The crisis came when the Dean announced the

Two beady black eyes stared back. The rat wore a monocle—a real, tiny brass monocle—strapped to its face with twisted copper wire. Next to it, a second rat was taking notes on a shred of parchment using a chewed quill dipped in ink made from crushed berries.

Alba smiled. She had never felt less alone.

“Excuse me,” Alba whispered. “Did you just grade my student’s paper?”