The mice have already cleared Shorty's basement of most of its summertime pests, and have learned their way around the place since getting here. Doc might be happy to know that the Chipmunk Issue has been resolved in an ecologically friendly way.

The little mouse is dressed in scraps of fabric and, as of arriving in Purgatory, a tiny cowboy hat stolen from a Polly Pocket set. They like to go native as much as they can. He squeeks his thanks (with Many Audible Capital Letters) before scurrying off to relay his news to the rest of his travelling companions- not Alex's whole colony, but a much larger contingent than he took with him to Australia.

"What do they call you?" Alex asks, genuinely curious now.