Rats

It’s a slow night for taxi stories when one resorts to reporting on a rat at News Limited. 

Arriving at News headquarters last night I was greeted by a couple of excited cabbies and a security guard. “Mate," one exclaimed, "you just missed all the commotion!”

Whilst kicking his heels on the footpath a waiting driver told of spotting a beefy, Surry Hills rat dining inside the lobby under some reception chairs.

My first question was how did a rat come to be inside such a secure building. “Mate, there’s plenty of rats in this place,” deadpanned the guard, without a hint of irony.

Still, I found it hard to believe the thing had made it past the locked doors. “Okay, then, how the hell did it escape?”

Apparently, once disturbed, the rat darted across the lobby to the revolving doors and shinned up a leading edge, using the fine nylon brushes which serve as a wind seal. Reaching the top it flattened it's body through a narrow gap before scampering down the outside of the door to make its escape.

It was at this point, however, that the beast didn’t count on being challenged by a militant cabbie.

In the style of a (in)famous Iraqi journalist the cabbie instinctively whipped off his shoe and flung it at the rodent, scoring a direct hit and stopping it in it's tracks. Consequently the victim was last seen dragging itself down the gutter towards the Aurora Hotel.

Yet, formine, the act of selflessly protecting News Limited from a marauding invader was what most impressed, especially given the defender was a cabbie. That’s dedication.

Comments

[piers akaman]

are u sure it wasn't just one of there journo's

[Lance]

Ouch !!

[adrian]

Spoke to the guard again last night who now claims the rodent intrusion was the first he'd ever seen. And to be fair, late at night the lobby always looks spotless after being serviced by a fastidious cleaner.

[toronto airport limo]

Hey it means that rats also have started to live a lavish life! Great!