The CEA stared at them with disbelief. He could have sworn the cat had... No. She had mewed. Simply mewed. And walked. No. Danced towards his partner. Her paws bouncing rhythmically on the floor. Completely silent.

And now, she snuggled up in Illya's arms. Purring. Amazing...

A nap. A quite comfortable place for a nap. She perhaps should ask about Sam... What was doing this Napoleon ? He talked to his pen... A new human habit ?

-Yes, sir. We found ... er; no. The ca... Miss Cleopatra found Illya. Yes, sir. Oh, good news ! Yes, sir.

Napoleon turned to the couple.

-Illya, Sam will make it. He'll be fine. Waverly is waiting for us... with...

She didn't put her tongue at him. She was a well-educated lady. But he could remember her name !

-I'll pick up her carrier.

-No use. Let's go !

-Are you sure ?

-I wonder...

Cleopatra half-opened an eye. This tone. The 'Napoleon » was Illya's friend, but...

-Cleopatra is the keeper of a she must stay alive. Right ?

The cat showed her claws, casually. Napoleon Solo peeked at her, frowning. He whispered.

-I have sometimes the very unpleasant feeling that she can make out what I say...

Yes, I can, dear ! And I don't really like it...

-Napoleon ?

-Well, I just intended to... She keeps the secret, and she must be alive. That turns down some assumptions...

-As, Mr Solo ?

-It isn't tattooed on her skin...

-Tattooed ?

-Napoleon refers to an antique practice : a master shaved his slave's head, wrote his message, and just waited until the hairs grew again.

-Interesting... It could be worth checking...

Illya Kuryakin grabbed Cleopatra's paw. Alexander Waverly looked at her strangely. He stretched a tentative hand towards her. Shave ? Did she hear « shave » ?

Don't dare and think about it !

Waverly gave up, meeting eyes like gimlets. The Russian agent's hand stroke the cat's fur.

-Where is the cat ? Back to the Uncle HQ ? Are you joking ? You had orders ! You should have shot them and...

-And the cat would have fled again, in the streets ! She wasn't in a carrier. Kuryakin held her. It was too risky.

-I want this cat. Alive.

-Napoleon is right, anyway.

Cleopatra gulped. Il-ly-a ...? The reassuring hand lay on her back.

-We are waisting time, sir. All those medical examinations will be useless. Cleopatra 's secret lives with her. It isn't tattooed. It isn't in his blood, in his internal organs.

Napoleon Solo sneered impatiently. Alexander Waverly raised his eyebrows.

-Of course, Illya, of course. This brilliant idea had just to occur me ! Cleopatra learned the secret by heart. And she'll tell us. All we have to do is to ask !

She sighed at the ironical tone. However, in a way, « Napoleon » had pointed the fact. She took her Bastet's posture and stretched her neck towards her Il-ly-a.

-Something like that, Napoleon, something like that.

Cleopatra's cold nose brushed her escort's chin, in order to reward him.

-That's a very interesting theory, Mr Kuryakin... Nevertheless, Miss Cleopatra's appointments are to be kept.

The Old Man took a puff at his pipe.

-And now, young men, you don't fail to see our problem, I guess ? Our Thrush friends are obviously eager to pick up the cat.

The cat... She had a name... Napoleon Solo clenched his lips.

-They will stop at nothing. Today, they missed their opportunity. They watch us, sir. I thought they would try something when we went out of the MET, but...

Illya Kuryakin softly cut in.

-But I carried Cleopatra. If they had shot me, she would have fled away. Now, they are probably watching the HQ.

-So, Cleopatra will stay there.

-So Cleopatra will go home with me. They won't suspect that.

She leaped lightly to the couch, looked around her, and started to wash up. A cat's ablutions are something serious. You need time. And privacy. Ablutions can't be broken off. Il-ly-a and « Napoleon » were in the kitchen. She washed behind her ears, carefully, and ended by his long tail. Then, satisfied, she decided to go and inquire after dinner.