"No. It's not true. I refuse to believe this!"
The tabby queen stood awkwardly before Munkustrap, paws figeting behind her back, shuffling her footpaws uncomfortably. It wasn't as if she knew the Jellicle Protector that well, and now she had to get him to believe what essentially amounted to a made-up story. Just because she was a thief, it didn't make her a good liar… Having mentioned Jerrie and Mack's absence to Alonzo, Rumpelteazer had got the harlequin to agree to break the news to Munkustrap once the silver tabby was out of the infirmary, thus (she'd hoped) saving her having to go through such a confrontation—conversation, she'd corrected herself, this wasn't a battleground after all…or was it? Unfortunately, Munk had been unsatisfied with Alonzo's explanations and asked to see whoever it was the harlequin tom had heard the news from: namely, Teazer. Now, standing here in Munkustrap's den, she felt as though she were back in a situation she'd experienced many times before: being grilled by the Lady Mother as to her whereabouts and doings, and if she didn't give satisfactory answers— But thankfully, the situation was also very unlike those to which she was accustomed: unlike Griddlebone, Munkustrap wouldn't start beating and slapping her about if she said anything he didn't like or didn't answer his questions at lightning speed. At least, Teazer hoped not. But she supposed she couldn't really know for sure. Thus far these Jellicles—for the most part—had proven completely different to anything she and Jerrie had known in the warehouse with the henchcats. But she still hadn't known these 'nice cats' for very long, and wasn't accustomed to calm discussions in which neither party ended up with some scratches and bruises. And hadn't she only just recently seen one Jellicle brother attack another? And it'd been Tugger, at that, whom everyone seemed to adore! For all she knew these cats were just as dangerous as the henches. Instinctively, she took a few steps back.
But when she ventured to raise her golden eyes to glance timidly up into the silver tabby's green ones, she detected no anger there—only shock, hurt, and something else she couldn't identify.
"I can't believe it," he repeated. "How can you be sure?"
"W-well," she stammered, "Oi…I can' be…c-certain sure…beyond any doubt at all… Bu'… Jerrie'n'me… We'd jus' 'ad the grandest row of our lives. Oi foun' 'im lookin' ready t'go off somewheres'n said didn' 'e know 'twas dangerous t'wander about wot wif all that's been goin' on an' the Lady Moth—the Lady an'er 'enchcats at large'n 'e come righ' out an' say we're goin' back to'er. Nat'rally I said I ain' goin' anywhere, we jus' got away, an'—but 'e finks we're worse off'ere, an' that I'm crazy t'stay 'cause bein' friends wif' the Jellicles means makin' an enemy o' the Lady, an' did I wanna be kilt, an'…"
"I'd never have let anything happen to you two," Munkustrap interrupted—his automatic response to any mention of danger, though clearly he was distracted, scarcely listening to her babble except to wait for the bit when he'd find out how all this involved his brother.
"I know," Teazer acknowledged, though she was by no means certain. Hadn't plenty of dreadful things already happened to Munk's own family? And the silver tom had been powerless to stop any of it. Of course, that might be largely due to the fact that they kept running themselves into danger behind his back. Like now… "Bu' Jerrie…well, Oi fink me almos' bein'…that is, me'n Adme…well,'e finks it's pref'rable t'be the—the slave o'the most dang'rous cat in town than t'be 'er enemy. An' I said'ow c'ld 'e be so ungra'ful when Mack wos the one wot saved us an'all… Then'e got a funny look an' said Mack was goin' wif'im."
Munkustrap shook his head. "But it makes no sense! I can understand Jerrie's reasons—Teazer, don't be angry with him, you two scarcely know us and it's hardly his fault if he doesn't wish to risk his neck for a group of cats he hardly knows…"
"But even a blind bloke c'ld see't yew an' yer folks is much better to'ave as friends'n that—that monstress," Teazer gasped, her fear and misplaced loyalty for the 'Lady Mother' growing less and less by the minute. In spite of herself, she was beginning to take to heart what Quaxo had said—that she had no ties to the Persian, nor never had, nor had any need to fear her anymore. Suspiciously, she wondered if the tuxedo tom was somehow meddling with her mind, making her less afraid. For that matter, perhaps it was he who was inspiring her to tell such a great load of fibs to Munkustrap! But then, the only real fib was that Jerrie and Mack had gone back to Griddlebone because they wanted to…
"Yes," said Munkustrap, "and I'm grateful you think so. But fear is a very powerful thing, and—" He frowned. "Perhaps that's it—fear. But what is Vitie afraid of—? I'm sorry, Teazer—did Jerrie say anything else?"
"Er…" Teazer gulped. "'E said… er, that is, I said that couldn' be righ', why'ud Mackavee ever go back there, an' Jerrie said c'ld y'blame'im not wantin' t'stay 'ere where no'un wan'ed 'im…"
"No one wanted him?" Munkustrap interrupted yet again.
Rumpelteazer held up her paws defensively. "I'm on'y repeatin' wot I was told…an', an' y've been laid up in Jenny's den the pas' sev'ral days, y've not seen it, but Jerrie does'ave a bit of a point. Mack's avoided ev'ry'un an' they've all more er less avoided'im back…" She fought back tears—for the fact remained that MacVitie and Mungojerrie had gone, which was upsetting enough in itself regardless of the reasons. Even if she was having to invent the story, Teazer had no need for any 'acting' as far as her feelings were concerned. "An' so eviden'ly Jerr'n'Mack decided on their own that it'ud be bettah fer both on'em if they went…"
"And Jerrie decided this without you?" Munkustrap gazed at her in disbelief. Whatever else he knew or didn't know about the twins, he had learnt early on to think of them as inseparable—just like Coricopat and Tantomile, or (until more recently) Plato and Admetus.
"Reckon'e knew I pr'ferr'd it'ere an' would object. But when it came down to it, 'e figgered I'd foller'im." She scrubbed at her eyes, scarcely able to hold back the tears. If this conversation didn't end soon… "Bu' I couldn'…not this time…no' go back there."
"He thought no one wanted him," Munkustrap muttered to himself, almost forgetting Teazer's presence. "He never asked me! Why, he never came to see me at all," he added in an astonished tone, as if the thought had only just occurred to him. "Gone for ages and then gone again…without even speaking to me." He shook his head. "That Growltiger…and then Griddlebone…he'd scarcely been two steps from home before…who knows what they put him through…enough to drive anycat mad, no doubt…"
Was he already beginning to believe it—not only that Mack had left, but that his reasons were sinister? Was it truly this easy to make Munkustrap doubt his own brother? Teazer couldn't bear it. Despite what Quaxo had said—no doubt he'd have recommended she allow Munk to continue down this line of thinking, it was safest for all and so on—Teazer couldn't refrain from speaking up again, "'E wan'ed t'see ya, I'm sure of it. On'y…'e couldn' stan' the thought o'seein' yew ill…well, after…an' 'e blamed'imself fer it…'e's blam'd 'imself fer just about ev'rythin' on earth lately…" She trailed off, uncertain where she was headed with her words, only desperate for Munkustrap not to think the worst of MacVitie.
"Just like Mum," Munkustrap murmured.
"Eh?" At least she'd remembered not to let on that she knew anything of Bella's story.
Munkustrap shook his head. "Nothing," he sighed. "Is…is that all you know?"
Teazer hesitated. "Ay—nay—that is…"
"Well, is there more or isn't there?" he asked, somewhat sharply.
Teazer's lower lip trembled. "I…"
Munkustrap put a paw to his forehead. "I'm sorry, Teazer. None of this is your fault, and you've been through enough already without being interrogated…You've told me plenty. This isn't your problem. Why don't I walk you to Jenny's den and she'll give you a snack…"
"But it is my problem," she choked out, no longer caring if Munk saw her tears. "Jerrie's me bruvvah, an' Vitie—Vitie's my—my friend. The fuhst real frien' Jerrie'n'me ever'ad! May'ap I've not known 'im's'long's yew, but I do care about'im. An' I don'—don' wan' yew t'think…badly of'im." Quaxo would not be happy with her for moving in this direction. She didn't care. 'They must believe it, or be very good at pretending to believe it.' Very well, then, she'd hope Munk was good at pretending, because she wasn't going to try anymore to make him believe his brother had 'gone bad.' "'E'd nevah…nevah join with the Lady unless—well, 'e must'ave a plan."
"He's always got a plan, apparently," Munk growled in frustration. "Or Coricopat and Tantomile have a plan, with him as their chief pawn. And it never involves me. And thus far nothing seems to have been accomplished except Jellicles either disappearing for months on end or just barely missing being killed."
"But think on it," Teazer insisted, warming to her subject and forgetting her own hurt feelings. "Yew'n'yer bruvvahs—fr'm wot I gather yer sommat like the Protection Squad fer the Junkyahd. Ol' D. d'pends on ya t'keep fings safe whilst 'e spends most on'is time elsewhere. Yeah? An' yew an' Tuggah've got 'uman fam'lies t'take care of as well. Well, wot wif yew bein' needed'ere fer protection an' Tuggah bein' needed orften at'is 'umans' 'ouse…" Tempting as it was to dismiss Tugger as 'useless' and 'lazy,' the last thing Teazer wanted at the moment was to cause more division amongst the brothers. "Well, 'oo does that leave t'go off an' see to the protectin' away fr'm the Junkyahd?" Munkustrap didn't answer. "An'," she added, lowering her voice, "'tain't true that nothin's been accomplished…the Tigah's gone." She paused. "Altho'…Mack an' Deme an' Bomba didn't really'ave anyfin' t'do wi' that far's I know. But…it pr'vided the distrac-shun needed fer them—an' me'n'Jerrie—to escape. An' now…now there's one less enemy t'worry about." She peered sideways at Munkustrap, uncertain what his reaction would be. Jellicles weren't keen on harming other creatures, even if it was an enemy. But no Jellicle had done any of the actual killing…
There was a long pause. Then, "Come on," said Munkustrap, "I'll take you to Jenny…"
"I know 'ow t'find'er meself," Rumpelteazer responded, somewhat peevishly. "If'n y'wants me t'go away an' leave yew alone, jus' say so." But she followed along with the silver tabby all the same. Was he not going to say anything else about what they'd just been discussing? What was he thinking of? Was he secretly planning on going to the warehouse and investigating on his own…? "Say, Munk'tap," she said as they made their way to Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks's den, "y'do believe me, don'tcha? Tha' is…"
"What you've said makes sense," he responded briefly, "and I hope you're right. And I suppose…I'd better not go following them, not yet—it might ruin whatever schemes they've concocted and land them in even bigger trouble. I don't want you or anyone else following them either," he added, narrowing his eyes and momentarily turning to fix her with his most no-nonsense expression before returning his gaze to the front to watch where they were going. "I know this must be upsetting for you, but you'd only endanger yourself—and them—if you tried anything now. Also, as a matter of interest," he lowered his voice as they had almost reached Jenny's den, where she appeared to be laying out some sort of a picnic, "Jenny might collapse with heart failure if she sees anymore injured cats. Please don't go off and get hurt and be the cause of her untimely demise."
"Wouldn' dream on it. But lissen…" She tugged at Munkustrap's paw to get him to stop before they reached Jennyanydots. "I don'…wanna hurt'er feelin's but… Well, I ain' some baby kit an'…I don't need… That is, she needn't feel like she'as t'…"
"Take care of you?" Munkustrap chuckled. "But she takes care of everyone—not just kits. It's something of a speciality with her." He grew serious again. "There's no shame in letting yourself be taken care of once in a while, Teazer. Everyone needs it sometimes. No matter how silly or embarrassing it might seem," he added with a shake of his head, doubtless recalling how terribly helpless he'd felt being laid up in the infirmary.
"Mebbe…mebbe so. I've…nevva really known wot that's like b'fore meetin' Miz Jenny an' Miz Jelly…it is rathah noice," she admitted. "On'y… Wot I really need more'n' anyfin'…is a job. Sommat t'do, someway to'elp, t'keep my min' offa…ev'rythin'…" After all, it wasn't as if Quaxo had given her much to do apart from starting 'the rumour' and 'helping with the Ball.' Might as well take some initiative…
Munkustrap watched her thoughtfully. "How are you with kittens?"
"Eh? Kits? Well, dunno, never wos much allowed near'em in th' ware'ouse…weren't part of me job, I was too young…" She grinned. "Well, I did distrac' Buckety from bein' scared whilst we wos waitin' fer the others durin' the escape…we played The Quiet Game, on'y you'ave t'make funny faces…"
"Why don't you play with the kits for a little while every day—say, after lunch? Jelly's busy with her little newkit, Etcetera, so I'm sure Jenny would be grateful for any extra help. I keep an eye on them in the mornings after my rounds, but you might be better at…well, playing. And," his eyes lit up hopefully, "if you wear them out, they might actually take afternoon naps." He looked, Teazer noted, ridiculously excited at the prospect. That made her a bit nervous; just how much trouble were these kits? But she had asked for a job…
"Be'appy to," she found herself saying.
"Thanks, Teazer." The silver tabby gave her paw a friendly squeeze. "Well, I'll leave you to lunch with Jenny…" He turned to go, but Teazer stopped him.
"Abou'…Mack'n'Jerrie…"
"I don't blame you," Munkustrap said firmly. "And as I said, I'll not do anything rash." He let out a frustrated sigh. "Much as I hate it…once again…we'll have to wait and see."