Part 8
Alonzo watched as they sang for Jenny and Tugger and he felt how is eyes narrowed more and more and how he grew all cold inside. But it wasn't because he felt cruel or ready to attack someone. It was fear, fear for his friends. He was watching the kittens try to get Tugger's attention and smiled fondly at them. He looked at the elder cats look at Tugger with distaste, the toms looked at him either angrily or with envy, the queens swooned around him and Demeter swatted at him. He chuckled and looked at his tribe. He sighed and shook his head.
"Hey are you okay lad", Skimble asked him over his shoulder. Alonzo noticed that Teazer was now dancing with the others. Obviously Skimble had lost the fight with his daughter.
"Yeah I had a little fright before the ball Skimble nothing to worry about. I will be alright in a minute."
"Well you look a bit shaken lad. Don't worry I was a bit worried at my first ball too."
Alonzo smiled at the old gentle tom. Then he was hit by a thought.
"Skimble…"
"Yes lad?" Skimble threw a look at his daughter before looking back at him.
"I've heard Jenny and Jelly talk about a queen named Cryss… Who is she?"
Skimble flinched at the name.
"Well lad", he said. "It is a very tragic and sad story involving… the NoC."
"Who?"
"I think you know. Anyway lad, Cryss was one of the queens of the yard and was in love with a special tom."
Alonzo smiled softly thinking of his mother and father.
"His name was-" Skimble began but was interrupted by Jenny and Jelly and Asparagus as they came to stand beside him
"Oh that Tugger", Jenny said.
"We better try to make him stop", Asp said. "He's a bad example for the kittens.
"Yes", Skimble said and jumped down from the car. "We'll have to talk later lad", he called back to Alonzo.
"Yes", Alonzo said darkly. "We will. I'll keep that in mind during tonight…"
He watched as the four of them chased Tugger around the clearing and suddenly the annoying tom was dancing just in front of him trying to show off his mane. Then he just stopped and pointed at a small shaggy looking queen that stumbled towards the tribe with a hopeful look on her face.
"Who is that", Alonzo asked.
Tugger hissed something and stalked off.
"Well he is a polite one", Alonzo grumbled. He watched the ratehr small queen stagger into the clearing.
"Who is she", he thought as he watched the kitten Quaxo approach her only to be shoved away by Munkustrap. "And why are they so mean to her? Even Skimble and Jenny..." He flinched when Pouncival scratched her.
"Our spies haven't told me about her", his thoughts went on and he left the car to go down and investigate. Then the queen started to sing.
Remark the cat who hesitates toward you
In the light of the door which opens on her like a grin – He saw Victoria and Etcetera move in on her but Jelly tried to hold them back.
You see the border of her coat is torn and stained with sand – Jelly and the two kittens hurried away and the annoying queen Cassandra rose. Munk was eyeing her and she walked past him.
And you see the corner of her eye twist like a crooked pin
Alonzo recognized the light in Cassandra's eyes. She wanted to attack so he reached out and grabbed her.
"Let me go", she hissed.
"Not until Munk give the okay."
"Why should I listen to him or you?"
"Because we are in command when Old Deuteronomy isn't here. So stand still!"
Demeter started to sing then and was later joined by Bombalurina and the tribe.
She haunted many a low resort
Near the grimy road of Tottenham Court
She flitted about the No Man's Land
From "The Rising Sun" to "The Friend at Hand"
And the postman sighed as he scratched his head
"You'd really had thought she ought to be dead"
And who would ever suppose that – here Grizabella bent down in shame
Was Grizabella, the glamour cat – she looked up.
Grizabella, the glamour cat, Grizabella, the glamour cat
And who would ever suppose that
Was Grizabella, the glamour cat
While they sang Cassandra struggled and Munk nodded to Alonzo to let her go. Grizabella stumbled away.
"Grizabella huh", Alonzo thought. "I think I remember father telling me about her. Yes… she was Old Dummy's mate! Oh well this is turning out even a sweeter revenge than before. "
His joy for the new sweeter revenge carried on through the performance of Bustopher Jones when suddenly lights started to flash. Bustopher Jones fled and Alonzo raised an eyebrow and mumbled to Asparagus:
"I never knew someone as big as him could move that fast."
"Well life is full of surprises", Asp grinned before getting on the lookout when sirens from police car was heard.
"Macavity", Demeter said and immediately the Jellicles scattered and disappeared into the dark.
"Wait a minute", Alonzo thought and stopped his leaving. "It's too early… father said he would come later when Old Dummy is here… what is going on here?"
He turned back to Munkustrap who gestured for him to scout the area and Alonzo left.
He ran into someone and both of them fell. He flew to his paws and hissed but then sighed when he saw who it was.
"What are you doing here?"
"Father told me to tell you that this is a false alarm", Sphinx said.
"Damn it Sphinx someone might see you!"
"No one will see me. I'm too good. Now remember when Old D comes don't stay too close to him understood?"
"Yes."
"He might realize who you are and father doesn't want you to fight the henchcats when they come to catnap him."
"Sphinx I know the plan I was part of planning it."
"Details details", Sphinx grinned. "Oh just so you know it's those two calicos who are the ones doing this."
With that he darted off and Alonzo returned to the clearing and stood beside Munk. The protector was watching Jerrie and Teazer sing and dance and Alonzo saw that he was not happy with them. He chuckled.
"I guess it was a false alarm then", he asked and Munk jumped.
"When did you get here?"
"Munk I've been here since I saved Tumble but I came into the word when-"
"You know what I mean", the protector hissed at him.
"Whoa down boy it was just a joke."
"Sorry… I'm just so… so…"
"Annoyed?"
"YES!"
Alonzo jumped. "Geez Munksy take it easy."
"Sorry…"
"No you're not."
"You're right."
"As always."
"And modest too."
"Thank you for noticing it."
"Haven't we had this discussion before?"
Alonzo bit his lip and thought about.
"Yeah we did", he said and grinned and they heard the twins sing:
From a vase that is commonly said to be Ming
"Do you wish to stop them?" Alonzo asked.
"No they're finished soon anyway. Let's just… show them that we don't like them scarring everyone."
"Yes sir", Alonzo grinned and when the two calicos stopped sing the tribe entered the yard. Alonzo and Munkustrap grabbed their sacks and the twins tried to run for it.
Jenny was scolding the two calicos for their stunt and Alonzo saw Skimble stand off by himself so he walked over. Skimble smiled at him.
"Hi there lad."
"Hi Skimble. Not to too eager but you were about to tell me about that queen Cryss."
"Oh yeah I was wasn't I lad? Well I told you that she was in love, did I get to the tom's name?"
"No you didn't."
"Well she was in love in a tom named Sabestin."
Alonzo's smile slid off his face and instead confusion replaced it.
"What?" he asked.
"You sound surprised."
"Damn", Alonzo thought and realized he had to act quickly so he said:
"She was in love with Sedasten?"
"No Sabestin lad, why do you know someone named Sedasten?"
"Well heard of… he's a pirate."
"Ah I see your point. Anyway Cryss was in love with Sedasten."
"Sabestin."
"Oh yes I meant that. Sabestin and Cryss were very much in love and they got a kitten, twins actually."
"They did", Alonzo felt fear creep into his heart.
"Yes two girls, wonderful little girls. One of them had the fur like gold and the other had fur like moonlight silver. They were named Apollina and Artemina after the greek gods Apollo and Artemis."
Alonzo nodded and felt some of his fear leave his now cold heart. "Jenny named a tragedy when she talked about Cryss."
"Oh yes and what a tragedy that was… Cryss' mate and children were killed by a pollicle but I'm not so sure."
"Why", Alonzo asked really interested.
"You see Alonzo Sabestin had a brother that-"
"What's the name of the brother?"
"Oh his name-"
He cut himself off as he looked behind Alonzo. The patched tom turned and saw that the railway cat was looking at the kitten Quaxo and the twins Coricopat and Tantomile.
"What's going on Skimble", Alonzo asked in a whisper. But before the old tom could answer Quaxo spoke and he said:
"Old Deuteronomy." Munkustrap turned to him and Quaxo looked at the protector. Not really sure if he could trust the young kitten Munkustrap turned to the twins. They took a breath and sang:
I believe it is old Deuteronomy
Everyone felt calm and happiness come over them, except for Alonzo who felt something like dread and doubt clutch his heart. There he was, the leader of the Jellicle tribe. The one who had cause Alonzo and Sphinx and their father so much pain, even Brutal was hurt by the old tom. But he also felt happy to see the old tom. He guessed it was because he knew that soon, very soon revenge would be partly his and Deuteronomy would pay for his sins.
"But is it right", Alonzo thought. "What was Skimble about to tell me and what was Kapri about to tell Sphinx?" He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't hear the song until Tugger started singing.
Tugger: Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives
And more I am tempted to say ninety-nine
And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives
And the village is proud of him in his decline – When Tugger sang Alonzo noticed that he had lied down just like the other cats and sat up when Tugger sang.
"Freaky", he thought. "But maybe that's what it means to be in a tribe, you act together…"
Munkustrap: At the sight of that placid and bland physiognomy
When he sits in the sun on the vicarage wall
The oldest inhabitant croaks
Tugger and Munk: Well of all things can it be really
Yes. No. Ho. Hi. Oh my eye
My mind may be wondering but I confess
I believe it is old Deuteronomy
Alonzo followed the brothers' gaze and saw the old leader. He felt something stir inside him but didn't know what it was. Was it anger and hate? Or maybe it was joy and loyalty? He noticed how he rose and joined in with the tribe as they hurried over to meet their leader.
Jellicles: Well of all things can it be really
Yes. No. Ho. Hi. Oh my eye
My mind may be wondering but I confess
I believe it is old Deuteronomy
All: Well of all things can it be really
Yes. No. Ho. Hi. Oh my eye
My mind may be wondering but I confess
I believe it is old Deuteronomy
All: Well of all things can it be really
Yes. No. Ho. Hi. Oh my eye
My mind may be wondering but I confess
I believe it is old Deuteronomy
Alonzo didn't listen to Munkustrap's speech all he was focusing on was the old tom on the tire. Alonzo felt his eyes narrowing and his father and Sphinx's words came back to him:
"Don't stay too close to him, he might recognize you."
"Oh believe me brother", Alonzo whispered so low only he could hear it. "and father. When this night is over the old fur hat will realize he made a mistake, he trusted a tom from the streets, a tom he knew nothing about, save his strength. And it will cost him… it will cost him dearly."
TBC Sorry that the chapter is a bit jumpy...
Malurina - yeah he got a bit dark there
Roselna - Are you sure about that?
raptoregg64 - Yeah it does remind of the Sigh-, Rude- and Grinlanders.
SummerRose12 - Someone is messing indeed
Thanks for all reviews:)
