Apocalypse Meow
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I don't own The Cat Returns—not now, not ever.
Baron decided that, in order to get to the bottom of thing, he and Haru should first learn as much as they could about these disappearances. To that end, they made their way to the cattail fields, where the bulk of the Cat Kingdom's population was known to reside. Discreetly, they traveled from door to door, questioning every cat they could find. Everyone they had spoken with responded with roughly the same story: that a friend or family member had gone out to run a simple errand, and never came back.
This was, of course, not particularly helpful as it didn't provide our heroes with anything they didn't already know. The only thing they seemed to be accomplishing was upsetting the locals; almost everyone in the kingdom had lost a loved one, and the last thing they wanted was to be reminded of the fact that no one seemed to have any answers. Yet the Baron, ever patient, remained steadfast in his resolve to get to the bottom of things.
Haru, on the other hand, was a bit more susceptible to frustration than the Baron. And after several fruitless hours, she found herself seriously contemplating giving up. Even though the horrible imagery of her dreams still haunted her, she couldn't help but wonder what she hoped to accomplish. Whatever was going on in the Cat Kingdom, it seemed like too big a crisis for a simple schoolgirl like Haru to deal with… even if she did have the Baron on her side.
As the list of people to question grew shorter and shorter, Haru finally threw her hands up in a gesture of defeat. "This is ridiculous!" she cried aloud, drawing Baron's surprised attention. "We're never gonna solve this mystery! It's hopeless!"
"You shouldn't say things like that," Baron said assuredly. "Giving in to despair will accomplish nothing."
"Well in case you haven't noticed, we're not accomplishing much of anything right now! I mean, most of these people have been questioned by the Cat Guards already, and they didn't learn anything helpful."
Groaning in frustration, Haru plopped herself down on a nearby rock and began massaging the sides of her head. "I'm sorry, Baron," she said after a moment. "I shouldn't have blown up at you like that."
"Your feelings are understandable," Baron said "all things considered. But you must remember to control your feelings, if for nothing else but to remain your true self. I trust I do not need to clarify that."
No, he didn't. Haru knew exactly what he was talking about, and was in full agreement. "You're right, Baron," she said, getting back on her feet. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. And you're right as well; most of these cats have indeed already been questioned. But let me point out that the key word here is most and not all. I am not wholly convinced that these crimes have gone unnoticed. There must be a witness; we just need to keep looking."
"If a witness is what you need, then look no further."
Both Haru and Baron were startled by the strange voice. Turning around, they saw a scruffy, orange cat standing their, with a brown bag thrown over his left shoulder. "Hello,' he said in a raspy, yet pleasant, voice.
Baron was the first to respond. "Hello there. Is there something we can help you with?"
The scruffy cat laughed. "Help me? No, no, no! Other way, I think! I know who you are, both of you. Mmm, yes. But then, who wouldn't, eh? Quite the ruckus you caused here last time, the noise from which casts its echoes still. Mmm, but that is a different matter I think, yes? Mmm, we shall see."
"Oooookay…" Not surprisingly, Haru felt compelled to put a few feet of space between herself and the cat.
"So you know who we are," Baron said. "Then you have us at a disadvantage, for you have yet to tell us your name."
"Tell you my name? Oh, mmm, no, no, no! Much danger in telling names! Names have power. Words have power. But, mmm, you must call me something I suppose, yes? Of course you must; it is your way. Very well, you may call me Nemo then." He chuckled. "Mmm, yes, Nemo is very appropriate, don't you agree?"
"Uhhh, sure. Well, Nemo, me and Baron are just gonna go stand over here now…"
But Baron cut in. "Now Haru, let's not be rude. I'm sure that Mr. Nemo has good reason for requesting a moment of our time."
"No mister, just Nemo. And did I request anything? No, no! You are the ones looking for something. And Nemo has come to help as only Nemo can."
Haru's curiosity was piqued. "You know something about the disappearances, don't you?"
"Oh, Nemo knows many, many things. But do people listen? No! Crazy, they call me! Crazy Nemo, instead of just Nemo! Are they right? Mmm, maybe. But then, just because one is crazy, doesn't mean they don't have something important to share, as this one does. Oh yes, much to share!
"Hours ago I was walking through the great maze. Why was I there? Mmm, not important. Only important is what was seen. Creatures of shadow! Mmm, yes! I saw them. They kidnapped two: one cat, and one who is not a cat." He reached into his brown bag, and pulled out a running shoe. "This was hers, the one who is not a cat; she lost it while running, yes."
Haru examined the shoe. There was something disturbingly familiar about it, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Well, this is a pretty common shoe style. I've probably seen a least a dozen people wearing it. But still… "Wait a minute, are you telling that there's a human in the Cat Kingdom?"
"Well of course there is! You are human, yes? But besides you, yes, there is another human. For how much longer though, who can say? A dangerous place this is, now for cats as well as humans."
"So it would seem," Baron agreed. "You mentioned something about creatures of shadow?"
"Mmm, yes, creatures of shadow. Very bad. Nemo knows what name they go by, but he will not speak it here! No, no! But where they live—if living it can be called—oh, that is known as well. Come! Follow Nemo! He will show you the way, yes!"
Nemo began walking off, gesturing his paw for the others to follow. Haru looked at Baron, wondering if they were going to comply. "Baron?"
The dapper cat figurine shrugged. "So far, he would seem to be our best lead."
"Yes, but doesn't he seem a bit… well, off?"
"Perhaps. But as he said, even the eccentric can have something to say."
"I believe I said 'crazy'," Nemo corrected, looking back.
"I am aware of that. I merely wished to be polite."
"Then you are rare; for few are polite to Nemo at all. Mmm, yes. Many rude cats there are…"
Baron turned back to Haru. "In any case, he does know something; you're holding the proof in your hands."
Haru looked again at the running shoe. She had to admit, this was something she couldn't ignore. If there was another human in the Cat Kingdom, then it was important that they find out.
And the more she looked at the shoe, the more unsettled she became. I know I've seen this somewhere before… but where? C'mon Haru! This is no time to be a scatterbrain! THINK!
To be continued
Well, I must say, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. Mmm, yes. A lot of fun indeed…
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I feel somewhat ashamed for making such an ultimatum. There won't be any further demands like that from now on, though I still expect there to be some reviews.