As they neared the front gates, MacVitie saw his brother tilt his head, presumably listening for sounds of conflict. But all was eerily quiet, as Mack had guessed it would be. There were only two ways this could go, he'd reasoned: either Griddlebone and the henchcats would succeed in capturing Old Deuteronomy, in which case there would be no reason for them to stick around; for what could be more guaranteed to hurt all the Jellicles at once and throw them into chaos as the Persian henchqueen so desired than to steal away their beloved leader? Mack could hardly believe this hadn't occurred to him sooner. On the other paw, if Griddlebone didn't succeed…it would be because Quaxo and the twins had managed to stop her—in some mystical, magical way which Mack still didn't understand—in which case, the henchcats would most likely scatter, bereft of their leader.

Either way, there was little reason to suppose there would be some giant brawl going on when they arrived—unless a particular Jellicle and a particular henchcat had managed to get something started. Indeed, all things considered, there was little point in Munkustrap rushing to the rescue, Mack thought grimly. What could brute strength do up against whatever mystical mind battle would be going on—apart, he supposed, from holding off any henches that might try to interfere.

But the uncanny silence suggested that all had already been decided, one way or the other, with or without anyone's interference…

Arriving on the scene, Munkustrap and the others came to an abrupt halt, staring all about them in bewilderment. All the Jellicles appeared to be gathered here now, as if the Jellicle Ball had merely moved locations this year. Indeed, if no danger had been on Munk's radar, he would have easily believed all was well—that everyone was merely hanging around in various groups, resting between dances as they often did. And not even a single hench was in sight—except… MacVitie's pelt prickled, and he pointed out two felines, nudging Munkustrap. "Over there." Gilbert crouched on the ground, head in his paws, while Old Deuteronomy appeared to be calmly speaking to him—as if he were any other Jellicle, and not the filthy traitor that he was.

"It's dad," Munkustrap breathed, shoulders sagging in relief. "Then he's all right…" He frowned. "Vitie, if he's here—well, you and Mungojerrie led me to think…But who…Is that…Gilbert?"

"If dad's all right, it's because of Quaxo," MacVitie interrupted. "But you need to get over there. I don't trust that…creature…he's talking to, as far as I can spit. He's…something like Coricopat and Tantomile, so be careful. No doubt he's going the sob-story 'I've-been-on-your-side-all-along' route, but don't believe him for a minute."

"Sounds like someone else we know," Tugger smirked, overhearing.

"Don't start in on that again," Munkustrap snapped, taking charge. "And don't think either one of you is getting out of the Family Conference that's taking place the instant we ensure everyone's safe. I'll go see for dad. You two, find out from Alonzo and the others what's happened. Skimble…please find Jenny and Jelly and make sure everyone's accounted for." He hurried over to Old Deuteronomy.

"Er, wot…wot d'we do?" Jerrie inquired timidly.

"Just you stick with me," Skimble ordered in his most no-nonsense tones. "I'll see if I can't keep you two out of trouble for at least a half-moment…"

"Quax'," Teazer exclaimed, all at once catching sight of the tuxedo tom. She ignored Skimble's orders and made a beeline for Quaxo, kneeling down by his side where he lay stretched out on the floor, unconscious. Skimble heaved a resigned sigh and followed, Mungojerrie in tow. Most of the Jellicles appeared to be gathered in that general area anyway, though clearly they'd been told to "back off," as all but a few were standing well away from him, looking on anxiously. The only felines immediately near him now, apart from Teazer, were Tantomile, holding his head in her lap and appearing to be 'mind-melding' with him, or attempting to at any rate; and little Sillabub, who crouched beside the tom, having refused to move. She looked up as Rumpelteazer knelt down on Quaxo's other side, her large yellow eyes brimming with tears that mirrored Teazer's. Mungojerrie stood irresolutely a short ways off, still uncertain what to do or where to go.

Fearing to disturb whatever Tantomile was attempting to do, Teazer whispered to the kitten, "Wot…wot'appened?"

Sillabub held a paw to her lips. "Shh. Kwaxy did a big trick, but it made him so tired that he had to take a big nap. Miz Tanto says he needs to wake up now. She's waking him up." Her lip quivered. "I ask him to do too many tricks? Is that why he falled asleep?"

"No, no,'course not," Teazer soothed. "'E's jus' saved th'world, that's all. 'E'll wake up soon, I knows it."

Sillabub nodded, smiling through her tears. "That's what Miz Tanto said. I'm holding his paw till he wakes up so he won't be scared. Maybe he have bad dreams and feel better if I'm holding his paw."

Deciding that particular situation was as well in hand as could be expected, and Jerrie and Teazer weren't likely to move, Skimble turned to seek out his mate and Jellylorum.

Jenny had gathered as many of the younger cats and kittens as she could off to one side, and was trying to keep them occupied with various games in small groups. Seeing Skimble make his way over to Jenny, MacVitie looked about for Coricopat—who, he had reason to think, might be the only tom actually willing to tell him anything.

He found the mystic tom lying on an old rug that was serving as a makeshift bed, waiting to be tended by Jelly—along with a few others. So there had been a fight then; and more than just a 'mind battle.' He looked 'round at the others: Plato, looking slightly scratched but sitting up, Admetus crouched beside him; Alonzo, having his head bandaged by Jelly, who at the same time somehow noticed Bombalurina trying to sneak off despite the nasty-looking bite marks on her leg. "Just sit your tail right back down, young miss," Jelly snapped. "I'm coming for you next. You'll not have any sympathy from me if you walk off and that thing gets infected…"

"See to her first," mumbled Alonzo, in a daze.

"Quiet," snapped Jelly, "or have you suddenly become the medical expert? Head wounds first."

Tugger, meanwhile, had come up to Bomba and was apparently trying to persuade her to listen to Jelly. Bomba appeared none too pleased to see him, and snapped something about, "Since when do you ever listen to anyone?"

Peter lay on the next rug, motionless, though MacVitie couldn't see anything immediately amiss with him physically.

Mack turned back to Coricopat. "Cori…" He didn't know where to begin.

The mystic tom opened his eyes. "Not hurt," he rasped, "just exhausted…"

"Like Quaxo, then?"

"Quaxo's worse off…should never have tried that much…Tanto should leave him alone for now and try again later…good long sleep might be just all he needs…"

"Tried that much what? Coricopat, what exactly happened? None of you ever told me anything…"

"I know. Couldn't. Sorry. Gilbert…"

"Who's now suddenly suspiciously penitent," Mack growled. "Shouldn't someone…"

"Leave him. He can't do any harm for a good while…he's used up just as much energy as I have." Coricopat looked somewhat smug at that thought. "And besides…don't think he has the will anymore. He was misguided…thought he could bide his time with the henches…get his revenge…conspired with Griddle to have Growltiger murdered…then planned to do the same to her…first chance he had…"

MacVitie shook his head, dazed. So Gilbert had been working against the henchcats all this time? But then what about all he'd done to MacVitie and the others, what about his intending to capture Old D? What about the state he'd brought Quaxo and Coricopat to? … Was Mack seriously expected to believe it was all in the interests of the Jellicles?

"Not…for Henchcats. Or Jellicles," Coricopat resumed, as if still able to detect Mack's thoughts despite his exhausted state. Or perhaps Mack was such an open book that his thoughts were simply blatantly obvious. Just as Gilbert has warned on countless occasions. He had given the occasional piece of good advice… "He…works for his own…interests. Revenge for Hecuba. Blames everyone. But…if anyone…can bring him back round…stay his madness…it's Old Deuteronomy."

MacVitie was not convinced. But for now, he didn't argue the matter. "Griddlebone. Where has she gone? And the rest of the henches?"

"Henches…only fought us as long as their leader was here…then scattered."

"But what happened to her?"

"Quaxo. He…sent her…somewhere. Won't know where until he wakes and tells us. That…part of the plan…succeeded."

"So the entire plan hung on whether Quaxo could magically cause a cat to disappear from one place and appear in another?" Somehow, this infuriated MacVitie. In his mind, Quaxo still seemed like a silly kit doing parlor tricks. "Did you know he would succeed?"

"We…thought so. Yet so much depended on…whether Gilbert…detected the plan…and informed the Lady. Fortunately…he focused his attention on Tantomile and me, underestimating the extent of Quaxo's abilities. And besides…it turned out the Lady's disappearance was in Gilbert's best interests as well."

"And that's what knocked Quaxo out? Sending Griddlebone away?"

"No…it was bringing…Old Deuteronomy back."

"Back? So the henches did steal him away after all? But you said that when Griddle disappeared, they scattered…"

"Gilbert…managed to transport him…away. I believe to the warehouse."

MacVitie gasped. "And you say he's not for the henches? That he's no danger?"

"Hush! I said he was for neither. And…that he was no harm…for now. His strength is spent for the moment."

"Well, and how about when he gets his strength back? No doubt he'll set himself up as the new hench leader, if only to keep using them! And…he evidently still wants to capture my father, Griddlebone or no Griddlebone!"

"Not if Deuteronomy can persuade him otherwise. You see…all of this…the reason he ran mad to begin with…was his loss of Hecuba. He…somehow managed…to persuade himself that… Deuteronomy has the capability of bringing cats back…For years he has held onto the hope that one day…Hecuba's life could be restored…only he didn't believe Deuteronomy would be willing, so thought to use force… As for Griddlebone, she too had reasons of her own, and promises made to the other henchcats…" He sighed wearily. "But she is gone. And I do not believe Gilbert will continue his mad schemes. The events of tonight…have broken him."

"This is all mad," MacVitie muttered. "Crazy, walloping mad." A sudden thought struck him. "But what of TB? He was as much a danger as anyone, perhaps more, at least when it came to brute strength and determination. I can't believe he'll give up so easily…" He gasped. "Coricopat. Where's Demeter?"

Coricopat managed to murmur, "With Carbuckety," before exhaustion overcame him at last and he dropped abruptly into a sleep from which he was unlikely to wake until morning.

With Carbuckety. Of course. Where else would she be?

MacVitie hurried over toward the group of kittens, where Jennyanydots was still attempting to explain to Skimble what had happened, though she kept bursting into tears and having to be comforted. Not stopping to speak to anyone, Mack simply scanned the group, seeing what, if he were honest with himself, he'd expected from the beginning.

Carbuckety was missing from the group. So was Demeter.

Heart pounding, MacVitie turned tail and hurried towards the Junkyard entrance.