A new adventure for Alex the mouse in a magical and dangerous place, where milk turns to gold.
🔥 Alex and the Mystery of the Boiling Mountain
The day after his exploit at the warehouse, Alex awoke to a new challenge looming: the air of Fontevivo was filled with a warm, milky scent, more inviting than anything else. It was the aroma of transformation, coming from the dairy.
Dad Artur, who had regained his strength thanks to the 55-month-old Pratichiera, warned him: "Alex, smell that aroma? They're cooking! But stay away from the Copper Boiler, it's a volcano of very hot milk!"
Alex's curiosity was stronger than any warning. He had to see where his elixir was made!
The Steam Labyrinth
Alex slipped into the dairy. The room was filled with thick, hot steam. At the center, gleaming, was the gigantic Copper Boiler. It was tilted, empty, waiting to be filled for the next day's processing.
The little mouse climbed onto the base and looked inside. It was enormous! And the smell of milk and whey was indescribable.
Just then, Kicca the One-Eyed, who had positioned herself strategically near the milking bench, heard a small metallic creak.
Bingo, thought Kicca. This time he's trapped!
The Ascent to the Crater
Alex, unaware of the danger, had noticed something fascinating: a small remnant of semi-dry curd clinging to the inner edge, just like a tiny cheese sculpture. He wanted to reach it!
He began climbing the smooth, slippery wall of the boiler, using the small handholds at the joints.
Kicca tiptoed into the room. Seeing the empty boiler, she licked her chops. A little mouse in a giant pot! It was the perfect trap!
The Echo of the Meow
Kicca stood under the boiler and let out a loud meow, trying to scare Alex. The empty copper echoed horribly: "MEEEE ...
Alex flinched, but instead of falling, the vibration of the meow caused a piece of curd to dislodge from the wall... and land right in his paw! Yum! "Thanks, Kicca! Beautiful song!" Alex thought, savoring the reward.
Kicca was furious. “Damn acoustics!”
The Magic Branch (The Thorn )
The cheesemaker had left the Spino, the long tool with metal rings used to break up the curd, near the boiler. Kicca, with unexpected agility, grabbed the end and used the handle as a lever to shake the boiler.
Cling! The boiler rocked!
Alex held tight to the edge, but the sway was strong. He was about to slip... but just then, the tip of the Spino, wielded by Kicca, entered the boiler from the opposite side and created a perfect metal walkway that ran from the bottom to the opposite edge!
Alex didn't think twice. He left the edge and ran on all fours across the makeshift walkway, clearing the center of the boiler in an instant!
Kicca, seeing Alex run onto the tool, pulled the Spino back to trap him. But Alex was faster and jumped to the floor on the other side.
Kicca stood there holding the Spino, panting. "That's not fair! You're using my tools against me!"
The Escape in the Serum
Alex, chuckling, found himself near a large draining table, where the cheeses were formed and drained. Below, a small trough filled with whey (the milky liquid left after the curdling), which was collected for other uses on the farm.
Kicca, now exhausted but determined, jumped onto the bench and prepared for the final attack.
Alex did the only thing an adventurous mouse does: he slid down the tabletop and—puff!—landed in the serum channel.
The whey was warm and shallow. Alex, who had learned to swim in the Recchio, the Fontevivo stream, began paddling happily along the canal. It was like a mini-cruise that took him straight out of the dairy!
Kicca rushed to the edge of the canal. "Come back, little cheese!"
But Kicca hated water more than she loved mice. And the serum was too thick to jump into.
Alex emerged from the canal through the external drainage hole, wet, smelling of cooked milk and cheese, and free!
Returning to his hole, he cuddled up to his 55-month-old Pratichiera flake and savored the aroma. After all, the best adventure was the one that ended with a full belly and a nice aged cheese!
