The Road Less Travelled
Part Two: Calm Before the Storm
By Rheow
When Munkustrap had been old enough and strong enough to go out and play with his brother, Julianna watched them go with mixed feelings. She had known a moment's maternal anxiety but she knew it had to be so. Kittens had to grow up.
Another part of her was relieved. It meant that she could continue with her search.
Julianna climbed out of the old oven and stretched thoroughly before making her way out of the yard, taking the routes that she knew so well.
She was headed towards something of a no-cats-land. The buildings were old and dilapidated but there was human activity in the scaffolding and heavy vehicles that reeked of dust and oil. It was dangerous for a cat if one did not know what dangers to watch out for.
No other cat would understand her forays into inhospitable territory. But then, not everyone had Grizabella the Glamour Cat as their mother.
The memory was still so clear--the day when her mother had left her and Julian in Jellylorum's care at the gates of the junkyard . . . and left.
It had not been so bad at first--but then the others knew who she was and how they had been abandoned. The whispers, the sidelong looks--she saw them all for she was especially sensitive to the moods and temperaments of those around her. It had not been so bad--until Julian left.
Julian--her brother, her mainstay throughout her childhood. They might have been true twins for the closeness they shared. The other cats said he had his mother's wandering feet. But she knew better--Julian was on the same quest as she was.
A quest that brought her to the rubbish heaps outside a construction site, where a small community of cats foraged daily. Some of those cats were practically feral, others merely old and tired like Pherya.
Pherya was a fade tortoiseshell, often neurotic and nervous. She had not got over certain events involving the stray-catchers and ran at the sight of any human. She was also a cat who had known Grizabella. Julianna had found her early in her search because Pherya had, in a moment of lucidity, recognised Grizabella's features on Julianna and called out her mother's name. Now it was almost two months since she had seen the old queen and she wondered if Pherya still remembered her.
"Ju-Julianna?" a querulous voice called out from a sheltering pipe to one corner of the rubbish heap.
"Yes, Pherya, It's just me." Julianna took care to sit some distance away--there was no telling what mood Pherya was in at that moment. But today, she seemed to be more sure of herself and crept out to exchange greetings with the grey tabby queen.
"Eh, Julie--you've had kits." Apparently the older queen could still rely on her sense of smell.
"Yes." She had told the old queen two months ago, but Pherya's memory was not what it used to be.
"How's your mate?"
"His humans took him away," Julianna said politely.
The old queen was silent for a moment and Julianna feared that there might be another one of those outbursts of pity she received whenever the news got out.
"Eh, that's life--always leaving you holding the kittens . . ."
Julianna reminded herself that not all cats were like Jellicles who mated for life.
"You still searching?" The question came out of the blue and shook the grey tabby out her private thoughts.
"Er--yes," Julianna replied. Her search had not been as vigorous as before after she had found her mate. More so with the first litter and then the second.
"Still nothing, eh?" Pherya shook her head. "Tis hard, finding a cat who don't want to be found . . ."
"Why wouldn't she want to be found?" The question came out harsher than she had meant it to be. Pherya just looked at her calmly and Julianna subsided.
Of course, Grizabella the Glamour Cat did not have a good reputation. Among the Jellicles, no one would speak of her. Though the older queens sometimes would when they thought Julianna was not listening. And could she face the kittens she had left behind? There was her, Julianna, Julian--now gone--and Derrelldare--the older brother neither of them had ever seen.
"H-have you heard anything?" Julianna had asked Pherya to keep an ear to the ground in case Grizabella happened by that area.
"No, dearie--I'm sorry, I wish I could help you more," Pherya said apologetically.
After exchanging a bit more news about each other's lives, Julianna had to go back to the junkyard for her turn at kitten-sitting.
"You'll come back?" Pherya asked.
And Julianna knew how lonely it was for the old queen in the past few months. She had came to look forwards to the tabby queen's visits.
"I'll come back."
Just another day in the junkyard . . . kittens playing, cats sunning . . .
Macavity and Amberene were having a quite moment on top of the old washing machine when Cateract dashed in, looking frantic.
"Has anyone seen Munkustrap?" he asked to the junkyard at large.
"No . . . whatever happened?" Jellylorum asked worriedly from her pipe.
"He was pestering me to bring him along with him when I went out--s-so I did," the grey tabby said. "Only for a short walk . . . but I was checking out a dustbin behind that restaurant on the next street and then when I turned around, he was gone!"
"Did you look for him?"
"'Course I did! But he wasn't anywhere! What'll I tell Ma? I just *happened* to lose my little brother?" Cateract looked like he was getting close to hysteria.
"Come on, we'll go out and find him," Macavity said. "Amber--"
"I'll keep everyone informed--you go help Cateract," the queen said understandingly.
Cateract and Macavity rounded up their friends, Nic and Mir to help with the search. A few of the older cats who were not kitten-sitting also joined in.
They searched the streets around the junkyard and Macavity hoped that they would find the kitten soon--the air was heavy with the scent of an impending storm.
Macavity was considering going to find perhaps the Rumpus Cat to help them when Cateract came running around the corner and into the alley that he was searching.
"Zerehmir and Avaleen--they've found him," Cateract said breathlessly as he halted before the ginger cat. "And the little blighter's all right--"
"Good--"
"Dreadfully sorry to put you to so much trouble, Mac," the grey tabby said apologetically.
"No matter. I'll be going back to my humans now--they normally expect me back around this time."
"Good idea . . ." Cateract too had smelt the coming storm.
Macavity knew that there was short cut from the street he was on to his home. He did not use it often as Pollicles tended to roam around there and with them came the stray-catchers.
He was barely halfway up the deserted street when he heard barking. And the mewing--like that of a young cat in distress.
The next thing he knew, a smoky-violet queen shot across his path, closely followed by a barking Pollicle.
Without pausing to think, Macavity joined in the chase.
The kit had a good lead but the Pollicle could catch her if she did not have the sense to run into some drain. Macavity racked his brains, trying to find a way to save her.
The queen ran into a dead-end alley bracketed by abandoned flats. Macavity embarked upon a rash plan. He leapt, clearing the Pollicle in front of him, snatched the violet kitten by the scruff and sprang upwards--
Even with the weight of the kitten, Macavity was a strong cat and one of the best at vertical leaps. He made it to the rickety second-storey fire-escape--just barely and scrabbled up to safety.
The Pollicle below skidded to a halt and looked about in bewilderment at the disappearance of the cat it had been chasing.
And then there was a rumble of thunder and the first drops of rain began to fall.
"Oh no--we need shelter now," Macavity said after he had caught his breath.
"My home is nearby," said the kitten who had recovered fairly quickly from her near escape. "Come back with me--my father would thank you for saving me . . ."
Griddlebone's Narrative
It was my third month in Mathernon's gang when *he* came.
That night was a wild one. Having scented the approaching storm, most of Mather's cronies had gathered in the old house that served as his headquarters. They lounged about on the old pillows, enjoying a touch of catnip or some of the boss' beer stock.
I hung around the fringes of the festivities, more than a bit worn out by the day's work. Chasing after that Estelle was *not* what I had expected when I first joined Mather's gang as a runaway stray. But I hadn't seen the girl since dinner and I was getting worried--mainly about my own tail if Mather found out that I was slacking off.
There was a sudden fuss at the door and most cats turned to have a look. It was Estelle--and with her was this big ginger tom. By the way she was looking at him, I could tell where this was leading already.
"Wot's this then?" asked Mather, the brawny leader, from his couch of cushions. "Estelle, you've been in trouble again?"
"Dad! I got chased by this mean dog--but Macavity saved me!" cried Mathernon's only daughter as she flung herself onto her parent. "Macavity, come meet my father!"
The young tom greeted the older tom politely enough but there was no bowing and scrapping like some other cats might have done. Perhaps this new cat did not know what sort of company he had fallen into . . . But there was a natural pride about this one and myself being intrigued, I inched closer.
"You have done me a great favour," Mathernon said grandiosely. "My young daughter is dear to me, so I shall grant you a boon."
"I have no need of boons," said this ginger tom Macavity with a slight bow.
"What, cat? No need of help?" Mather was eyeing the newcomer in that shrewd way of his. "Very well then, this boon is yours to claim whenever you choose--take your time. Why not join my humble celebrations tonight?"
"You are most generous and I do not wish to impose on your hospitality--but the rain is troublesome. May I just have a corner to wait out the storm?"
"What? No catnip or kippers? You are a most hard to please guest--Griddlebone, find a spot for our friend here and see that he has proper refreshments if he changes his mind."
Oh, Mather was a good host, especially when he had other cats to run around for him. "There's a window seat unoccupied," I said. "This way please."
Our guest had no sooner thanked me for showing him the quiet seat when Estelle leapt up next to him began chatting. Wisely, I retreated to the kitchen where a few of Mather's gang who were more like house staff were.
"Eh, Griddlebone, them toms give you any lip?" asked Starkey or Old Gaffer as the others called him.
"No, Gaffer--I can take care of myself." I settled on the worn-out seat-cushions by the stove and groomed out a few tangled spots. I longed for my brush to straighten out my white fur--being long-haired was no picnic when you had to do odd jobs at odd hours.
"If yore tired, then I kin cover for you," Loriallele offered.
Lori, mother to a few litters of kittens, was also mother to us all. I shook my head wearily. "I have to be on my toes--Estelle sneaked out again. And you'd never guess who she brought back."
"Do tell, dearie!"
"A ginger tom who saved her from a dog--she's smitten with him already," I reported.
"Griddlebone!" A tom stuck his head into the kitchen. "Mather sez we're outta catnip--stir yore lazy tail and bring some more!"
"All right, Lockely," I muttered to myself as I got up. "Keep your mangy tail on."
After going to the basement stores to get the catnip, I had to do the washing up. I hate washing up--it's a punishment, I suppose for letting Estelle out of my sight.
At the end of that slogging, I had the honour of tidying the main room after the celebrations were over and the cats were snoozing peacefully.
Swearing under my breath, I batted the chewed catnip toys to where Gaffer waited with the rubbish bag. And there were the spills--most efficient way to clean them was to have supper at the same time.
"Griddlebone," Mather said softly from his couch. I started and looked up from the bit of sardine I was going to polish off. He was not asleep--probably had been watching me all along.
Composing myself, I approached him slowly, not showing fear or open defiance. "Yes, sir?"
"Griddlebone, I know you want to prove your true potential . . ." When I did not show my eagerness, he went on. "So I'm going to give you a mission--follow that tom when he leaves and find out where he hails from and what his intentions are."
Worried about Estelle was he? "Consider it done, sir," I replied and looked towards the windowseat where the subject of our discussions sat.
This was my chance surely! As one of the new members of the group and a queen at that, Mather had never considered me for anything. Or rather Lockely and Arfehul--Mather's sons--didn't even test my skill at thievery. And I've seen the looks that Lockely's been giving me--if I didn't make any headway into the organisation, I was going to run away again.
The rain slackened off and Mather's guest took his leave. I could see that that tom didn't like to stay--he wasn't stupid and any cat could tell what we--they--were. (You think yourself apart, don't you, Griddlebone?) I smelled human and other cats on him even through the rainwater--quite a well-filled out cat and polite enough not to say how he didn't like the company. Estelle didn't have a chance--a queen can tell these things.
He was looking into space when she was babbling, something else on his mind for sure. Good-looking cat like that would have some queens wanting him . . . perhaps he already had a mate.
After speculating fruitlessly, I set off on my little mission. My experience on the street was limited, but I always relied on my wits to see me through. This shadowing was not a problem--a cat can be invisible if she puts her mind to it, as I learned earlier on.
Macavity the ginger tom led me on a long walk out of Mather's territory and to an area frequented by a great many cats. There was this large junkyard and it seemed that was mistaken about his status--no, he emerged again and went on his way again. So I had to follow.
He had a human (or some humans) apparently. They lived in a nice-looking two-storey with a neat lawn and garden. Sniffing about the premises didn't yield much and I wasn't a thief or a true spy, to go sneaking through the cat-flap and into the house.
This was not going my way at all . . .
The junkyard--a vague hope, but still *something*.
Back at those gates, I paused to think. Was I desperate enough to do this? I shoved aside my distaste for this task--those emotions belonged to a different cat--and approached a puddle.
Ugh. I looked like drowned rat after my muddy roll--dirty but definitely pitiful. Tail down and affecting a slow dragging walk, I brushed against the fence and crept into the junkyard. I was prepared to run for it should there be any unfriendly cats or dogs but the first being I came across did not chase me out.
"Who goes there?" demanded the tom gruffly. He was large and most definitely a fighter, so I didn't have to pretend to be scared.
"Eh, a queen? What are you doin' here" he asked, this time a tad more gently.
"I'm l-lost," I bleated.
By that time, the other inhabitants had stirred and looked out from their various nooks and crannies.
"Oh you poor thing," said a light cream-coloured queen from her home in a large pipe. "You look like you need a good cleaning . . ."
And they did do a very good job of grooming too. The cream-coloured queen was Jellylorum and her friends were all matronly types with kittens. The big grey cat I had seen first when on his way again--he was some sort of protector the junkyard and he always kept an eye on things.
All this I took in carefully.
The next morning when Amberene came into the junkyard, she was in time to observe the departure of a white Chinchilla Persian queen--escorted by any number of young toms.
"Whatever happened?" she asked her circle of friends.
"Oh, some cat got lost and stranded in the rain--they're all falling over themselves to see her home," Vesta said, clearly glad that the newcomer had left. "She's from the posh part of town--goodness knows what she was doing around here . . ."
"I could make a few guesses," Belinda said cattily. She had not been pleased by the way the toms had looked at that queen even though she had protested her singlehood ever so often.
"I think she was just lost," Avaleen said. "After all she's gone now, right?"
Amberene looked up at that moment and brightened noticeably. "There's Macavity now . . . see you later," she said before going off.
"There goes a happy queen," Vesta said wistfully.
Avaleen looked after her friend, worried. The dreams had been coming with greater frequency and in each one of them, her sense of dread grew stronger. She feared for Amberene whom she had known since kittenhood. She feared for Macavity and what those dreams might mean. She feared for the entire Jellicle tribe.
It was easy to lie. Especially when the lies had been the truth once. There had been a cat who had lived up that street in the big fancy house. Her humans had called her Lady Lillian and planned to show her off at cat shows. Lily didn't like that. Lily ran away.
I turned around after all those toms had left at last and went back to Mathernon's place. Very few cats were up that morning as I picked my way around the sleeping cats to where the leader sat folded in his accustomed meditation position.
The burly tom opened one eye. "Well?"
"He's from a tribe of cats living in the junkyard by the Russell Hotel--the Jellicles."
"Jellicles . . . Old Deuteronomy's tribe?" Mather asked shrewdly.
"Yes."
"Ah . . . then we have nothing to worry about then . . ."
For some strange reason, I almost wanted to say something about not underestimating that one, but I reined in my tongue and left it at that.
Avaleen was a cat who was rapidly becoming more and nervous by the day.
She saw how her brother looked at Amberene and she worried constantly.
But that was nothing compared to the worry she felt when she saw Mir sitting with Amber in the sun one day and when they parted company, he certainly did not act very much like just a friend as they brushed whiskers.
Ava decided to clear it up as quickly as possible. It was probably just her imagination acting up or paranoia--but when she approached the tortoiseshell queen, the guilty look on her face gave it all away.
"You-you and *my brother* . . ." she choked out. "So I wasn't imagining it . . ."
"Oh Ava . . ." She looked so helpless then that Ava instinctively wanted offer her a shoulder to cry on. "I'm such a mess--I can't even decide properly! Macavity . . . Zerehmir--I never knew one could feel like this about *two* cats! And I feel terrible--it's like I'm leading the both of them on!"
The black and white queen was at a loss for words. She started to licked Amber's face hesitantly. "Will you d-decide?"
Amber looked up, obviously torn. "I have to--one of these days, I'll *have* to . . ."
And that meant breaking one heart, even Ava knew that much.
"Will you tell, Ava? He's your brother after all . . ."
"I won't . . ." Ava said slowly. "Just . . . if you should choose--just be gentle with him . . ."
Who she meant was not really clear.