Logs were laid in the middle of the tyre clearing. Slowly but surely they were piled up with twigs, bits of scrap wood and anything else the cats could find until a modest pyre had been built. "Ere Tugger, will this burn?" Asked Alonzo, holding up a toaster.
Rum Tum Tugger looked up from where he was busy sunning himself on the car bonnet and sluggishly replied, "Don't see why not. Yeah, chuck it on!"
Alonzo shrugged and tossed it on top of the pile. Then he looked at it and scratched his head. "Do you think it's tall enough?" He asked.
"Do I look a pyre expert to you?" Rum Tum Tugger replied tersely.
"You said you were!" Alonzo said exasperatedly. "So that's why Munkustrap left you in charge of building this one while he's off teaching."
"I'd say it could do with another couple of feet, then," Rum Tum Tugger said in a bored tone of voice.
"You said that last time!" Alonzo replied through gritted teeth. "And are you actually going to do some work today or what?"
"I am working!" Rum Tum Tugger argued. "Recharging the batteries after the night I had is a serious business my man. Now off you go and build that pyre like a good kitten."
"I'm not a kitten!" growled Alonzo as he stomped off, passing Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer who were coming the other way with armfuls of God knows what.
"Alright Tugger?" Mungojerry hollered. "Where didja say ya wanted me to put this stuff again?"
"Stick it all on the pile my good man. And woman," Rum Tum Tugger said lazily.
"Right you are, then!" And the duo did as they were instructed before stepping back to admire their handiwork.
"Ere? Aintchoo gonna pay us? Darn't forget you owe us a pint!" said Mungojerry, looking suspicious. After all, a hard working criminal didn't do anything for nothing!
"A promise is a promise," replied Rum Tum Tugger with a grin. "What did you want? Full cream, half fat, pasteurized, unpasteurized…I got loads to choose from?"
Mungojerry spread his paws and shrugged. "I dunno, do I!? Milk's milk innit?"
"Ya dunno whatcha talkin abaat Jerry, ya great wally so shut your trap, innit!" Rumpleteazer piped up. "We want Full cream unpasteurized of course. None of that 'alf rubbish! How else ya sposed to make mum's junket? Mmmm! Juuuunket!" She licked her lips and sighed dreamily at the thought of one of her favourite foods.
"Gotcha," said Rum Tum Tugger with a click of his fingers. "I'll pay you later when the sun's gone in."
"You better, Tugger!" yelled Rumpleteazer. "We didn't knick all this stuff for nothing, ya know!"
The twins were about to argue some more when they heard voices heading their way. "So Tugger? How is this pyre coming along?"
"Smashing, Bro!" Rum Tum Tugger called back. "Take a good look for yourself!"
Munkustrap arrived to inspect his brother's handiwork with about fifteen youngsters in tow alongside Jemima and a young tom with a brown patch over one eye taking up the rear. Fully expecting there to be a pile of nothing in the middle of the clearing, Munkustrap was pleasantly surprised. "Wow Tugger that was quick! I'm impressed, if a little shocked!" He said.
"Have I ever let you down?" his brother replied.
There was a long, drawn out silence. Then Munkustrap looked at his charges and smiled. "And this kittens, is how we build a-hey, wait a minute!" That was about the moment when he took a closer look.
Before he spoke he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tugger?" He said quietly.
"Yep?" Rum Tum Tugger looked up and lowered his sunglasses.
"I thought you said you were an expert?" Munkustrap kept his voice calm, but there was a slight edge to it, a bit like razor wire.
"The one and only!" his brother replied, still grinning.
"Then you will be well aware that, for a pyre, you need wood?" Munkustrap raised an eyebrow up at him as he said this.
Rum Tum Tugger shrugged apathetically. "Yeah? And?"
"Why then, can I see a toaster on there?" Munkustrap demanded, taking another look of disbelief at the pyre. "Along with...tyres? What looks like an entire cutlery drawer and...is that my mug?"
Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer looked at each other. "LEG IT!" they shouted and bolted for the entrance before Munkustrap could get hold of them.
At that moment Alonzo appeared, hefting a car battery. "Can I put this on?" He asked cheerfully.
"No. I don't think you can!" Munkustrap growled.
"Oh? And why not?" questioned Alonzo. "Seems alright to me!"
"Because!" Munkustrap replied exasperatedly. "This is meant to be a funeral ceremony, NOT Chinese New year!"
"Yeah! Idiot! Geesh!" Rum Tum Tugger interjected with a sarcastic roll of the eyes, as though he hadn't put him up to it at all!.
"I don't understand!" snapped Alonzo.
"And there is the reason why I'M a protector and you're not!" Munkustrap muttered under his breath.
"It was HIS idea!" Alonzo shouted, pointing at his conceited uncle who held up his paws in self defence.
"Whoop! I'm staying outta this!"
"But I left you in charge!" said Munkustrap through gritted teeth.
Rum Tum Tugger chuckled a flicked his paw at Alonzo. "Well I passed the charge over to 'Lonz here, seeing as he's the second in command," he explained casually.
Alonzo's mouth fell open. "That is NOT TRUE-!" He started, but Munkustrap cut him off.
"Tugger!" He hollared at his brother. "Either you come and fix this or I will take that toaster and stick it-!"
"Sorry bro!" Rum Tum Tugger interrupted, giving himself a good stretch. "I'd love to stop and chat but you know, things to do, really must get on, BYE NOW!" And as he said that he casually wondered off, thumbs in belt, hips swinging from side to side as though he hadn't a care in the world. And the truth of the matter was, he really didn't!
"Tugger! You get back here this-!" Munkustrap started to shout, but Rum Tum Tugger had already departed.
"Oh! I could murder him sometimes!" Munkustrap groaned and began to massage his temples.
"Um...Uncle?" said a timid voice.
"Yes Jemima?" Munkustrap said wearily.
"Maybe me and Tumblebrutus could help? And the kittens?" she suggested.
"Hey! That's a good idea, that is Jems!" said Tumblebrutus giving her a nudge with his elbow.
"No Tumble, it's a great idea!" Munkustrap commended as he knelt down to kitten level and clapped his paws together to get their attention.
"Right kits! Listen up!" He announced. "Who wants to build a big fire?"
He was answered by an enthusiastic show of paws.
"Me!"
"Me!"
"Me!"
"And what do we need to build a fire? Do we need tyres?" he continued, talking in an animated way that was proven to keep little attention spans from wondering off!
"NO!" They all cried.
"Do we need toasters?" he asked.
"NO!" They said again.
Munkustrap spread his paws and finally quizzed, "Well, what do we need then?"
"WOOD!" They shouted.
"Very good!" He praised, ruffling a few of their ears. "I'll make guardians out of you yet!"
"Because goodness knows I could use some common sense around here," he thought.
He clapped his paws again. "Right! Let's see who can find the most wood!" He said.
Then he gave his son a hard look. "Alonzo. Seeing as I now have to teach you how to build a fire, YOU'RE helping!"
"Yes dad!" grumbled Alonzo. "What can I do?"
"Well you can start by removing EVERYTHING from that pyre that is NOT made of wood," Munkustrap instructed and then asked in a sardonic tone. "You do know what wood looks like I presume? Kind of brownish, comes from trees-?"
Alonzo shifted awkwardly. "Er...There's quite a lot of stuff on there that's not wood…" he admitted.
"Then you had better get cracking hadn't you!" Munkustrap replied over his shoulder as he began to head off with the excited group of kittens in tow.
At long last the pyre was completed just in time for sundown with not a toaster in sight. The Jellicles gathered solemnly together as Old Deuteronomy stood upon the tractor tyre to address the crowd. "You may be wondering why I gathered you all here tonight," he began. "Let me first begin by telling you a little bit about our fifteenth Protector, whom many of you may not remember, for he died before many of you were born. As well as being my son he was also a brave warrior who died protecting our tribe from a pack of vicious pollicles who held a vendetta against us. Before the wall was built and the humans rounded them up, they would frequently terrorize us and not a day went by when a cat was not either killed or maimed. One fateful day, during the jellicle Ball, we were the victims of a savage surprise attack. Many cats died but the pollicles also met their match, for my son fought them off and saved a great many more from abject slaughter. But it was while he was fighting that he met his end. As Finnslar the pollicle leader came at him from behind, he never stood a chance. However, while he may be dead, his spirit lives on. Trapped in the Astral plane for eternity, he helped our current Protector to return to us, for which we are so grateful. So I think it is only fair that we honour his request to be released from his prison and allow his soul to finally rest in peace."
He nodded to Mistoffelees, who nodded back and stepped up with the wooden box; placing it with great reverence onto the pyre. Then Old Deuteronomy nodded to Munkustrap who was holding a flaming torch in his paw. He too nodded back and dutifully stepped forward, thrusting it into the very heart of the log pile before taking a good step back as it began to smoulder and catch alight. "Goodbye, old friend," he whispered, while behind him the orphaned kittens watched the leaping flames with enthralled fascination.
"Here lie the bones of our fallen comrade," Old Deuteronomy continued. "May the flames release his soul into the arms of Bastet and may he find peace for all of eternity. May we also take a few moments to remember all those we have lost, including my Grandsons Meritas and Anchises, and of course, little Sophia." And in his deep baritone voice, he began to sing,
"I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain.
You weren't afraid to face the devil,
You were no stranger to the rain."
Like a gospel choir, they all joined in,
"Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done.
Go to The Heaviside Layer shoutin'
Love for The Everlasting Cat."
Then Munkustrap came in with his tenor voice,
"Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve.
I wish I could see the angels faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing."
Before being joined by everyone else,
"Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done.
Go to the Heaviside Layer shoutin'
Love for The Everlasting Cat."
(Go Rest High On That Mountain by Vince Gill with a few lyrics changed.)
As the fire died down to ash, a small ceremony was held for the burials of Sophia and Meritas's solo dancing shoe with Old Deuteronomy blessing each of their tiny graves by uttering a small prayer which was then etched into the stone. Sophia's read:
Here lies Gabrielle
Parents unknown
Age unknown
Here also lies Sophia
Daughter of the above
Died aged 8 weeks
Your life may have been short, but your impact was felt.
While Meritas's read:
Meritas
Son of Demeter and Munkustrap
Missing presumed dead aged 4 weeks
Forever loved, forever missed
Being a solemn occasion, the festivities were far from joyous. So rather than the usual energetic singing and dancing the Jellicles slow danced around the clearing as though in a trance, with balletic movements which mirrored their sense of mourning and loss.
After awhile Jazzie went to rest on the tyre next to Bombalurina and there they sat in silence, watching the goings on until presently Bombalurina spoke. "I've had almost every tom in London," she stated, to no one in particular whilst absentmindedly placing a paw on her abdomen.
Jazzie looked at her sharply. "Zat's a lot of toms!" She exclaimed.
"Well, not actually ALL of them, but you get the idea," said Bombalurina with a shrug. "I'm a slut. It's what I do." She took a drag of her catnip cigarette.
Jazzie frowned. What was this about? "OK...so, why are you-?"
"Want to know why I sleep around?" Bombalurina asked, cutting her off as though she hadn't spoken.
"I'm not sure I-"
"Same reason all sluts sleep around. But they never do."
"Never do what?"
"All they see is this," explained Bombalurina, indicating her curvaceous figure. "They don't actually love ME-"
"Munkustrap loves you!" Jazzie interrupted.
"I thought he did," Bombalurina confessed. "I really wanted to believe it. But I think he loves the idea of me more than anything else. I mean he says all the right things, does all the right actions. But I know him. When he looks at me, I can see into his heart and it's not all there. I know I'll never be his number one. I'll never be anyone's number one. Not like you. They all want you, whereas I have to be content with picking up whatever's left over."
Jazzie was speechless. "But he does! He told me-!" She spluttered.
"Oh don't get me wrong," Bombalurina said quickly. "He loves all of us, of course he does! But he is IN love with Demeter. If he had to choose between any one of us he would choose her every time, mark my words. I don't think he even admits it to himself, but like I said. I know him."
Jazzie was perplexed. "Your cousin? Ze one who treats him like shit?"
"That's the one! Ironic isn't it!" Bombalurina smirked.
"That's the trouble with our Silver Knight," she continued. "None of us are allowed to have him all to ourselves and the time we spend with him is just a moment that we borrow. But alas! That's toms for you. They love you for a bit and then they're onto the next pretty thing. Not that we can blame them, mind, it's just the way their brains are wired. So I play them at their own game."
Jazzie shook her head. "No, you're wrong. Munkustrap is not like zat! He's different-!"
"I'll admit," Bombalurina cut in. "He is one of the good ones. One of life's rare gems. But don't let that fool you. Take it from someone who knows about these things."
While this conversation was going ahead, Munkustrap and Demeter were standing awkwardly side by side in front of their son's makeshift grave. Munkustrap heard her sniffing and looked sideways at her. He tentatively tried to touch her paw, but she moved it away. "Do you mind?" She hissed. "I am trying to mourn my son."
"Our son," Munkustrap quietly corrected her.
She said nothing, stubbornly focusing her attention upon the marble headstone in front of her and not even glancing in his direction. So he took a deep breath. "Demeter," he said.
She didn't respond. "Demeter!" He was losing patience with her now!
"What?!" She snapped.
"We need to talk."
"About what?" She said coldly.
"About us!"
"What about us?"
"There is no us!" he snapped, rounding on her.
The colour appeared to have drained from beneath her fur. "Wh-what do you mean?" she stuttered.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean for it to come out like that. But I have been thinking about it for awhile and I think it might be for the best if you and I do not see each other, at least for the time being..."
She was shaking her head. "No, this isn't what I want…!" She cried.
"It is not about what you want," Munkustrap replied. "But what is for the best. Surely you can see that the two of us constantly at each other's throats is not what is best. Not for you, me or the tribe. Perhaps we would better off as just friends-?"
"I thought you loved me…!" she said quietly.
"Oh, I do," he replied fervently. "I just don't want to fight with you anymore."
Suddenly her expression changed from one of shock to one of dark fury. "This is about her isn't it?" she simmered. "You're leaving me for that slut!?"
"I told you not to call her that!"
"I'll call her whatever I fucking like!" She shrieked.
Then her voice changed again and she began to beg, her eyes wild and desperate,
"Tell her you're mine
That you have been blind
Tell her it's over
And you belong to me
Tell me to come
And like hell I will run
Back into your arms
'Cause you belong to me
There's a river on my skin
There's a dragon in the dark
Nothing scares me more
Than the silence of your heart
If you wanna hold me
If you wanna know me again
If you wanna love me
Than take me home
I've been at the bottom
The deep end of the ocean
Barely surviving by the dark side of her street
Tell her you belong to me
She'll never win
I'm not giving in
No matter how long
I still be hanging on
This kind of love
I'm not giving up
So tell her, tell her
Tell her you were fooling
Yeah
If you wanna hold me
If you wanna know me again
If you wanna love me
Just take me home
I've been at the bottom
The deep end of the ocean
Barely surviving by the dark side of her street
Tell her you belong to me!"
(Tell Her You're Mine by Beth Hart)
"I'm afraid I cannot do that," he said dismissively.
"Why not?" she demanded.
"Because I need her, Demi," he confessed, softening his tone until there was almost a plea in his voice too. "Either both of you stay, or one of you goes. That is your choice. Do you accept her?"
"Never!" She exclaimed.
"Then you must go," he told her.
Her mouth fell open in disbelief. "You-you choose that floozy over me? After I have been loyal!?"
"It hasn't been easy for you though has it?" he muttered.
"I don't know what you mean!" She spluttered.
"Oh I think you do," he responded. "You see. I had a very interesting conversation with Macavity right before-"
"So-?"
"They're not mine are they?" he cut her off.
"What do you-?"
"Meritas, Ajax, Cindykit. They're HIS. Aren't they?" he repeated.
"No! No!" She fervently shook her head.
"I don't believe you."
"Would I lie to you-?"
"I honestly don't know anymore," he admitted. "You say you love me Demeter, but why don't I feel it? I mean, you don't even close your eyes when I kiss you. You don't look at me when I make love to you. So where are you, my love, if you're not with me?"
She was quiet.
"Just as I thought! Well at least you won't have to lie to me anymore!" Munkustrap said sadly and started to walk away, but she grasped his paws and looked desperately into his eyes.
"Munkustrap!" She pleaded. "Don't do this! Please! None of us are exactly saints in all of this are we? Hell, she's a lying little cheat too so why choose that fucking whore over me?"
"She's not a whore, so don't let me hear you calling her that ever again! That was your final warning!" and as he uttered those final words he showed her his teeth.
She shook her head in dispair. "But why-?" she sobbed.
"Because she loves me, that's why!" He cut her off. "She doesn't just try to! In her eyes I can do no wrong, whereas in your's I can never do anything right. And I have grown weary of trying, Demeter-"
"I love you-!" She began.
He shook his head, sadly. "No. You don't," he said quietly. "It's just the idea of me that you love, and it stinks of guilt. Oh what? You think I don't know where your heart truly lies? I've known for longer than you think, but it is no longer worth my while trying to pretend that it doesn't bother me. Loyal? Pah! You make me sick!" He clearly enunciated the final words, practically spitting them.
Then he prized her paws off of his and let them drop limply to her sides before turning his back on her and walking away. "Nooo!" She screamed and tried to grab him, but he roughly shoved her away.
She stumbled backwards but was caught just before she fell by Alonzo, who had been watching the proceedings as they unfolded from a safe distance. She collapsed into her half brother's arms, crying and sobbing, but Munkustrap didn't turn around. Instead he made his way over to Bombalurina, swiftly snatched the cigarette out of its holder and took a long drag before replacing the stub back inside the holder; leaving Bombalurina looking temporarily stunned and ever so slightly miffed. "I was enjoying that!" she complained.
"Well you shouldn't have been!" he replied, seating himself next to her.
"You never minded before!" she pouted. "And besides, I thought you'd given up!"
"I have," he replied. "But someone has to stop you from harming your kittens!"
He turned to her and held her paws. "Or should I say, our kittens."
She stared at him, realisation slowly catching up. "How do you feel about it?" she asked tentatively.
"My dear, you know that as long as you are happy, then I am happy," he replied. "Are you happy?"
"Well, I couldn't possibly be anything else now, could I?" She chuckled.
"I am not sure how they will see it though," he said, looking around until his gaze landed, first on Demeter, and then on Rum Tum Tugger.
"Who says they have to find out?" she suggested.
"Oh, they will!" He warned. "But, we shall cross that bridge when we come to it!"
"In the meantime," she said apologetically. "I think I may have just upset someone. Bomby Bigmouth strikes again! Sorry."
Looking over, Munkustrap's heart sank when he spied a meek creature who was sitting all by herself, looking as glum as he felt. So he gave Bombalurina's paws a final parting squeeze and walked over to the forlorn Snowshoe. He crouched down in front of her, but she didn't look up; seeming far too fascinated with the task of picking at her toe claws to acknowledge his presence. "What's the matter, Snow Boots?" he asked.
She sniffed, but said nothing.
"Oh dear, what have I done now?" he said jokingly. "I only left you on your own for a few minutes!"
The flippant comment seemed to have an effect because he got a small response. A slight shift followed by a heavy sigh told him he was one step closer to the truth. "Talk to me Jazzie," he pleaded. "Whatever it is, surely it cannot be that bad?"
"Bomby says you don't love me!" she confessed and pouted, without looking up.
Munkustrap couldn't help but laugh, "Bomby said that? Jazz, that's absurd!"
"Is it?" She said accusingly. "She seemed to know what she was talking about!"
"Bomby is very good at stirring up shit, if nothing else!" he muttered, glaring over at the russet Queen who was socialising with another group of cats and had her back to him.
Was he about to lose two queens tonight? "Look!" He grabbed her paw and held it to his heart.
"You see?" he said desperately. "It dances like this for no one else, believe you me! How much more proof do you need?"
He managed to catch her eyes and locked onto them so that she could not tear her gaze away. "What Hell have I not been through for you?" he reminded her. "Think on that. Does none of my pain count for anything? Please do not torture me further with another rejection. I cannot face another goodbye tonight!"
This time it was her turn to laugh. "Tu imbecile! I will never say goodbye! Even if you decide to."
She put her arms around his neck and he held her tenderly. "I won't!" he whispered.
Then he straightened up and hauled her to her feet. "Come!" he said, loud enough for everyone else to hear. "I don't know about you, but I could do with a dance. Who's with me?"
The Jellicles all cheered and not a single one remained seated. Even Demeter managed to stumble to her feet with a little help from Alonzo.
"And this time," he continued. "We shall not dance for sorrow, but for joy! Together, let us celebrate what we know to be perilously fragile, not to mention infinitesimally short. Let us waste no more of our precious time on unhappiness, but be glad that we are, for now at least, alive! And Jazzie. NEVER again be in any doubt as to my feelings for you!
If your world has only done you wrong
And all you find yourself is all alone
And if there's no one there to see you through
I'll be there for you
And in your darkest hour I'll be light
I'll be your beacon through the longest night
Like Samson and Delilah once again
Until the bitter end
There is nothing that anyone can say to me
To persuade me to change my mind needlessly
For here I am and I will stay
To long for you in every way
To love you better, come what may
To fight for you another day, day, day
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me
There is nothing that anyone can say to me
To persuade me to change my mind needlessly
For here I am and I will stay
To long for you in every way
To love you better, come what may
To fight for you another day, day, day
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me
Come unto me!"
(Come Unto Me by The Mavericks)
By midnight the ceremony had ended and one by one the cats filtered away back to their respective homes until finally, Munkustrap and Jazzie were alone. "Come with me," he said. "I have something to show you."
"What is it?" she asked with intrigue.
"It's a surprise!" He told her. "Close your eyes."
She looked at him suspiciously. "Why? What you going to do to me?"
"You're getting ahead of yourself, my dear!" he chuckled. "Trust me! I'm not going to do anything. I promise!"
"Ok…"
She gave him one last suspicious glare, then closed her eyes and allowed him to guide her to a secluded corner of the scrapyard. "Et voila!" he announced. "Open your eyes!"
Jazzie did so and gasped. "Je n'en crois pas mes yeux! I was not expecting zat!" *1
Plonked in front of a stack of white goods, as though it had descended from outer space, sat an old pedal harp. It's lacquer and gold filigree decorations were flaking, but it still looked a handsome thing! "Wow!" she exclaimed as she ran her paws over the smooth sound board. "It's beautiful! Where did it come from?"
"I don't actually know!" Munkustrap admitted. "But I'm guessing that some orchestra was having a clear out because we've had a few instruments turn up in the last few weeks. There's a grand piano over on the other side, plus I found violins, flutes, trombones, a xylophone and even a bassoon! You just never know what will turn up sometimes!"
"But how did you know I played?"
"I didn't!" he said, taken aback. "I mean, you do? I just thought you might be interested…"
"Venir ici!" *2
She led him by the paw to where the body of the harp was being propped up by an old microwave. This made a perfect seat for two, with her perched in front and him nestled in just behind her. He wrapped his arms around her as she lifted up the knee, placed body of the harp against her right shoulder and began to tune it, delicately plucking the catgut strings (which even Munkustrap had to admit was a bit macabre!) and twisting the little tuning pegs until it resonated perfectly. Then he watched, entranced, as she began to play, with her fingers brushing the strings like peacock feathers to produce a waterfall of golden sound.
"The first time, ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars
Were the gifts you gave
To the dark, and the endless skies
My Love
And the first time, ever I kissed your lips
I felt the earth move in my hands
Like the trembling heart
Of a captive bird
That was there, at my command
My Love
And the first time, ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy
Would fill the earth
And last, til the end of time
My Love
And last, 'til the end of time
My love
The first time, ever I saw
Your face
Your face
Your face
Your face!"
(The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack)
She turned around and kissed him deeply. "Last one back to your den is a rotten egg!" she whispered.
"That'll be you then!"
"Hey!"
As the Summer Sun rose over Thames Scrapyard, two lovers lay cuddled up fast asleep; together at last. One dreamed of him, while the other was having an altogether different experience of slumber...
Munkustrap stood in the middle of the tyre clearing surrounded by apparitions of enormous cats, none of whom he recognised. He felt slightly intimidated, mainly because they were all twice his size! Still, he was a Protector and therefore, needs must. So his ears flattened and he got ready to fight. But then a cat stepped forward, one that he did recognise. "Poseidon!?" He exclaimed. "I thought you'd moved Upstairs?"
"I had," Poseidon replied. "But I found it all rather dull to be quite frank with you, so I convinced Ma to let us out."
"What do you mean us?" asked Munkustrap dubiously.
Then it dawned on him as to exactly who these cats were; as Poseidon stood proudly with the group of fourteen ex Protectors. "I took your life, Brother," he explained. "Think of this as my way of compensating you. I have watched over you since the day you were born, you didn't think a small detail like being dead would stop me did you?"
"Uh, this is all very nice, but really, there's no need…" Munkustrap stammered.
"Don't worry, Brother. We won't be badgering you every five seconds. We will only appear when we are needed. A Protector never leaves his post after all. Oh, and about that key…"
*1 I can't believe my eyes!
*2 "Come here!"