The Mouse Island Marathon
Page 1
Dear mouse friends,
Welcome to the world of
THE RODENT’S GAZETTE
EDITORIAL STAFF
Geronimo Stilton
A learned and brainy
mouse; editor of
The Rodent’s Gazette
Thea Stilton
Geronimo’s sister and
special correspondent at
The Rodent’s Gazette
Trap Stilton
An awful joker;
Geronimo’s cousin and
owner of the store
Cheap Junk for Less
Benjamin Stilton
Asweet and loving
nine-year-old mouse;
Geronimo’s favorite
nephew
THE MOUSE ISLAND
MARATHON
REST IN
PIECES
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Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted,
downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced
into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by
any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter
invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For
information regarding permission, please contact Atlantyca S.p.A.,
Via Leopardi 8, 20123 Milan, Italy; e-mail foreignrights@atlantyca.it,
www.atlantyca.com.
eISBN 978-0-545-39246-4
Copyright © 2004 by Edizioni Piemme S.p.A., Corso Como 15, 20154
Milan, Italy.
International Rights © Atlantyca S.p.A.
English translation © 2007 by Atlantyca S.p.A.
GERONIMO STILTON names, characters, and related indicia are
copyright, trademark, and exclusive license of Atlantyca S.p.A. All rights
reserved. The moral right of the author has been asserted.
Based on an original idea by Elisabetta Dami.
www.geronimostilton.com
Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
Stilton is the name of a famous English cheese. It is a registered trademark
of the Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association. For more information, go to
www.stiltoncheese.com.
Text by Geronimo Stilton
Original title La maratona più pazza del mondo!
Cover by Giuseppe Ferrario
Illustrations by Valeria Turati
Graphics by Merenguita Gingermouse
Special thanks to Kathryn Cristaldi
Interior design by Kay Petronio
First printing, June 2007
1
HOLEY CHEESE ...
It was a beautiful summer morning. The
sun was shining like a round ball of cheddar
in the sky. What a great day, I thought as I
headed off for work.
Then I missed the bus.
I tried running after it,
but I had to stop.
My whiskers were
sweating. And I
could barely bieathe!
Holey cheese, I was out of shape!
Eventually, I made it to the office.
Oops, I almost forgot to introduce
myself. My name is Stilton,
-
2
Geronimo Stilton. I am the publisher
of The Rodent’s Gazette, the most famouse
newspaper on Mouse Island.
Anyway, I got to the office just as my
Yes, I mean roared. She likes to ride her
motorcycle indoors!
“Wow, big brother, I just heard the
news. When did you turn into such a
SPORTSMOUSE?” she chattered, grinning.
I shook my head. I definitely wasn’t a
SPORTSMOUSE. I could barely chew a
sister
ROARED through the lobby.
3
cheese stick and walk at the same time.
Just then, my cousin Trap strolled in. “Hey,
Germeister. How’s the training going? Who
would have thought a wimpy rodent like you
would become such a SPORTSMOUSE?” he
snickered.
A minute later, my nephew Benjamin
appeared. He tugged at my sleeve.
“Uncle Geronimo, what are you doing
in the office? A SPORTSMOUSE like you
should be out running in the park. After all,
you’re in training,” he SQUEAKED.
4
I twisted my tail up in a knot. Had my
whole family gone crazy? The last time I
went for a stroll in the park, I tripped over
a pinecone and twisted my ankle. I was on
crutches for three weeks!
“would someone please tell me what
you're all squeaking about!” I shouted,
plopping down behind my desk.
Before they could answer, a rodent strode
into my office. He wore bicycle shorts,
sunglasses and a whistle. I would know that
mouse anywhere. It was my friend Champ
Stronggpaws.
CHAMP STRONGPAWS
First Name: Champ
Last Name: Strongpaws
Background info: An all-around star
a
thlete. He’s into the latest training
trends. He works for a sports radio station,
and loves to get lazy rodents up and running.
Sports: He does all kinds of endurance sports
lik
e cycling, running, and swimming. And he
loves marathons!
His advice: Eat right, sleep right, and keep
t
hose paws pumping.
What he believes in: Exercise!
His passion: Exploring new countries and
getting to e
xperience other cultures.
His slogan: “Sports can make the world a better
place!”
His claim to fame: He built a super-fast bicycle
t
hat can seat five mice.
His dream: To explore the ten most beautiful
countr
ies in the world in ten days, with ten
different bicycles.
A MARATHON?
Champ slapped me on the back. I
checked for broken bones. Did I mention
that Champ is a super-muscular mouse?
“Oops,” he snickered. “Guess I don’t
know my own strength. Speaking of strength,
we’ll need to build up those puny muscles of
yours, Mr. G. After all, I’ve entered you in
THE MOUSE ISLAN MARATHON
Marathon? I blinked. I could never run a
marathon. I couldn’t even chew cheese and
wiggle my ears at the same time.
But before I could protest, the door to
my office burst open. The entire staff of The
Rodent’s Gazette marched inside.
They LIFTED me up into the air and
carried me out of the room. The outer office
had been decorated with tons of balloons
and colorful streamers, and there were lots
of snacks!
I was just about to stuff my snout with
a few yummy doughnuts when Champ
slapped them out of my paw.
“NONE OF THAT Mr. G,” he
ordered. "You can’t run a marathon unless
you eat healthy foods.”
Then he offered me a carrot stick.
Oh, why did Champ pick me to do
something athletic? “So, um, how long is
this marathon race thing?” I muttered.
Champ grinned. “It’s nothing, Mr. G.
Just a mere twenty-six point two miles.”
I almost choked on my carrot. “twenty -
six miles!! Twenty - six miles
”
7
8
I squeaked. “What kind of a race is twenty-six
miles long?
THAT'
S CRAZY
”
Champ’s grin grew even wider. “That’s
right, Mr. G. And they call the Mouse Island
Marathon the craziest marathon ever!”
I pictured myself running. But not in the
race —away from Champ Strongpaws! Far,
far away where no one would ever find me.
Then I fainted.
Kreamy O’Cheddar, my editor in chief,
had to revive me with her Parmesan cheese-
scented smelling salts.
ONE TWO, ONE
TWO, ONE TWO ...
The next morning, I was snoring away
peacefully in my bed when the doorbell rang.
one bleary eye. Who would be ringing my
doorbell at such an unmousely hour?
I shuffled to the front door in a daze.
Champ was standing on my WELCOME
RAT mat. “Wakey-wakey, Mr. G! Training
begins today!” he screeched.
I thought I must be having a nightmare.
But then Champ began to sing. Loudly.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
I opened
I put my paws over my ears, hoping
Champ would take the hint. Unfortunately,
Champ dragged me out .... He made me run around the block .... I felt sick ....
Champ didn’t seem to care.
He dragged me out onto my front stoop in
my pajamas. “Come on, Mr. G., it’s time for
your morning run.” I was mortified. What
if someone saw me?
Champ’s squeak interrupted my thoughts.
“One two, one two, KEEP THOSE KNEES
UP
!” he yelled. He ran alongside of me,
checking his stopwatch every few seconds.
I felt sick. My muscles were aching. My
head was pounding. Even my fur hurt.
Champ made me run around the block
thirty times. Finally, I collapsed outside the
local flower shop. Green Paws, the florist,
came running out.
11
I passed out!
“Mr. Stilton, are you feeling OK?” he
asked worriedly. “You look a little
around the leaves, as we say in the flower
business.”
I wanted to tell him I was not OK. Far
from it. But I was so exhausted, I could
hardly breathe. Sweat dripped down my fur
like water from a leaky shower faucet.
Two minutes later, I was hit with another
shower.
green
Champ dumped a whole vase of cold
He dumped cold water
on my head.
11
12
water on my head.
“Aah” I yelled.
Champ looked satisfied. “Now, let’s see
here, for the rest of the week, your training
program will include a five-mile run, three
hundred laps in the pool, and two hours of
weightlifting. That’ll separate the strong mice
from the weak, right, Mr. G?” he chuckled.
I wanted to reply, but I was too busy
bawling my eyes out.
Oh how did i get myself into such
a mess!
13
YOUR TURN,
G
ERONIMO!
The next morning, Champ took me to
Fastfur Fields, a sports complex for serious
athletes. I, Geronimo Stilton, am not a
serious athlete.
In the afternoon, Champ took me to
play soccer with some of his friends. I got hit
in the head with the ball twenty-five times!
Then we were off to Crunchers, New
Mouse City’s most exclusive gym. Champ
made me lift weights. I fainted.
Finally, Champ took me to a huge indoor
swimming pool. I was doing great until he
took my rubber ducky float away.
The serious sportsmice at Fastfur Fields!
I got hit in the head with the ball twenty-five times!
Champ made me lift weights at Crunchers.
Then Champ made me jump off
the highdive and swim laps!
22
24/7
Days went by. Every morning was the
same. Champ woke me up at 6 A.M. to go
running. I started to go to bed in my sweatsuit
just so I could sleep for a few extra minutes.
Did I mention I’m not a morning mouse?
But Champ wouldn’t let up. He made me
run the same route every day. I ran all over
the streets of New Mouse City. I finished at
the New Mouse City Public Library. Have you
ever been there? You have to climb up sixty-
seven steps to even get to the front door.
I didn’t climb. I CRAWLED.
Champ ran behind me, shouting advice.
“Don't give up! Don't give in! Don’t give
a strange rodent your phone number. It’s
just not safe,
” he babbled.
23
My family loved to watch me run. Trap
waited for me by his kitchen window. He
put a piece of cheese on a fishing line
and dangled it above my head. “Come
and get it, Gerry Berry!” he taunted.
Thea chased after me on her
motorcycle. “Better move your
tail, little brother, or I"LL RUN
YOU OVER
” she teased.
Then there was Benjamin.
Every day he met me at his
school bus stop with a delicious yogurt
shake. “This is for you, Uncle. You’re doing
great!” he cheered.
Thank goodness for my dear sweet
nephew.
After a few weeks, something amazing
happened. I didn’t huff and puff when I ran
anymore. I didn’t feel faint. I didn’t CRY
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uncontrollably when I got out of bed in the
morning. Well, except for the day I tripped
over my catfur rug and broke my pawnail.
Yes, I, Geronimo Stilton, was starting to
feel like maybe I wasn"t such a sports
failure after all"
Of course, working out with Champ
wasn’t easy. He was in my snout 24/7. ;He
told me when to run when to rest
thrown out all of the fattening food in my
refrigerator, even my Cheesy Chews. I was
heartbroken. Still, I had to admit I was
getting STRONGER. I had more
energy. After three weeks, I even climbed up
the steps to the library without stopping!
I surprised everyone, especially myself.
I
DESERVED AREWARD
Now
if only I could find those Cheesy Chews . . .
And even what to eat
Cham
p had
24 /7
I even climbed the steps to the
library without stopping!
26
I WANT TO GO
HOOOOME!
Months passed, and Champ made me
train harder every day. Soon it was time to
set off for the marathon.
The race was going to take place in the city
of Nibbles. Nibbles is on the opposite side of
Mouse Island, overlooking Stray Cat Harbor.
not twenty million, but it was super-long.
I tried to take a nap, but Champ wanted
to give me advice about the marathon.
“Now listen up, Mr. G. Whatever you do, don’t
worry about the twenty-six long, exhausting,
painful, backbreaking miles ahead of you.
Don’t worry if you’re moving slower than a
The plane ride took TWENTY
MILLION HOURS
. Well, OK, maybe
27
snail with arthritis. Don’t
worry if you feel weaker
than an a n t with a broken
leg. Don’t worry if you’re more tired than a
hibernating sloth. Just
concentrate on finishing
the race,” he squeaked.
Oh, why had I agreed to
enter this crazy race? I wasn’t
an athlete. I was a newspaper mouse.
“I want to go home!” I sobbed.
But Champ just grinned. “Don’t be
ridiculous, Mr. G. I didn’t spend all that time
training you for nothing. You'll do great”
To take my mind off things, I decided to
read the paper. Bad idea. Staring up at me
from the front page was a photo of a huge,
terrifying cat. Felinius ferociousmus,
otherwise known as Fifi the cat, was an
1. Brimstone Lake
2. Roastedrat Volcano
3. Frozen Fur Park
The city of Nibbles is on the westernmost tip of Mouse Island. It
overlooks the Rattenburg River and Stray Cat Harbor, famous for