Hello, everyone. I hope you're all well and that you're taking care of yourselves.
With this of the quarantine and because I found another wonderful translator, I will take up again the translation so you can read it, of course it will still have some mistakes, but at least it is understandable, because many of you write me to translate it and for a while I could not.
I hope you enjoy it and I will keep working as fast as I can
Chapter 18: Surprises
It's been several weeks since the events in the lower sector. Both Puss and Joey were following in the footsteps of the architect, in fact, the golden cat realized that they had gone to visit the palace library, because of the old plans... Only there was a problem, they had to find the right moment to look at those plans and see what they were up to.
While trying to find a day for that, the two of them kept visiting the lower area, separately of course. On Puss's side he would often go to see Kitty, whenever circumstances allowed. They spent time together and the orange cat bothered to bring her the necessary supplies for the little ones at the orphanage so that she could help him in some way.
Joey, on the other hand, spent a lot of time in the lower section, because he was in charge of the meetings with Noah and Carlos, also helping with the reconstructions with his girlfriend, etc. That's why his friend had his back most of the time. Their days were very short and they could not dedicate themselves fully.
Until one day Puss saw his friend enter the barracks and ran after him in a hurry.
- Hey Joey! I need to talk to you! - he said.
-Let's go to your room - he added, noticing that it was important and good news.
The two of them went quickly over there. Once they entered Puss served some drinks before sitting down in front of him.
-Joey, it's today or never - said the orange cat anxiously - They are taking a break because a mishap has come up and they are going to be late. I saw that they left the plans in the room where they were, there is all the information we need.
-That's great! - exclaimed his friend - How do we do that?
-I can only think that in the evening it would be a good idea, they are not here, we would have enough time to look at those papers and if possible make a sketch of what they are doing - said Puss.
- It's the only option we have, it's too risky to do it now... there's a lot of movement, we'd be a point of attention," said his friend.
- Well, we'll do that tonight," concluded the orange cat.
Both cats made a little preparation in the evening. Joey made sure that they changed their shifts to coincide with the night and that they could enter the meeting room without any problems, just to make sure that it didn't take long.
Finally, night came. Puss was in the corridor checking that no one was around, although it was difficult, since at that time they were all sleeping. Once he made sure of that, he went in to help Joey.
- Everything's okay outside - said the orange cat.
- Yes, that's right - said Joey, he was drawing the pictures on a scroll with the most important things, he was concentrating on them.
On Puss's side he was looking at the books on top of the big table, several of those titles were about the history of the kingdom, architecture and design.
He became curious and began to browse through the book, it had several beautiful drawings of how they would decorate the places of the kingdom and the palace, many of them came to fruition. Another chapter talked about some projects that could not be carried out due to problems that arose.
Puss began to read the various problems, one of them was on the subject of space, lack of materials, money, etc.
"In the nearby area of the middle sector, before they were divided into rings, a tower would be built, because the land was not safe due to several caves that it crosses and runs through several sectors of the kingdom. These passages are still there."
-Bingo! - He shouted very happily, startling Joey.
- Are you an idiot or what?! You scared me! - his friend accused.
- I'm sorry! - he apologized. - But look! There are secret passages under the kingdom!
- What?! -Are you kidding me? - he asked, refusing to concentrate, coming over to his friend's side... Oh, this is great!
Suddenly there was a noise from outside.
- Shit! - said Puss - Someone's coming!
- What shall we do? - he asked, almost in a panic.
Puss tore out the two pages of the book, which contained the recent and valuable information and left them as they were on the table while he put the pages in his boot.
- Quickly, take the scrolls - he ordered as the orange cat went to the window and looked outside - have you got everything?
- Yes, now what? - asked Joey.
- Get to the edge of the window, hold on to the protruding rocks of the palace and try to reach that tree below," he whispered lower and lower as the footsteps came closer.
Quickly Joey listened to his friend's instructions, secured the scrolls in his bag and Puss, in one quick movement turned off the light in the room and carefully exited the room by closing the window cautiously from the outside.
He could see that Joey was a few feet lower, having no major problems. Puss came down with great agility; not for nothing he have a girlfriend who made him work on his physical condition and he had become much more agile thanks to her.
Finally, he reached the tree, thank goodness, it was lush and no one was around, for now.
-Phew, that was close - said Joey - But we must not let down our guard.
Again, it was heard that someone was approaching through the palace gardens.
-Here - he whispered, passing him the two pages of the book he took out of his boot. - Stay here, until I get rid of him.
His friend nodded. Puss got down from the tree, tidied up his cloak by pulling out the branches above it, and tidied up his hat, as it was somewhat crooked. He walked closer to the path so that it looked as if he was walking around.
- What are you doing here? - One of his companions asked, 'Isn't your round supposed to be inside the palace?
Oh...
- That's supposed to be, but the truth is, I'm looking for Joey. We split up inside the palace, you know how big it is...
-Yes, of course, in spite of the years we are here, it is impossible not to get lost, it is a real labyrinth - he agreed.
- Yes, in fact we had this great idea because we heard a noise, we split up to cover more and here we see the result - added Puss - And your partner?
- In a doggy mood, but he's on the other side, we'll meet at the entrance to the garden.
- What a shame - said Puss - Well... I'm going, goodbye.
He said goodbye to a gesture and went around the garden to make sure his partner wasn't there so he could go back to Joey.
- Is everything okay, buddy? - asked the orange cat.
-With my soul up my ass, but all good - said Joey, Puss laughed willingly.
- The worst is over - he said.
- I'd better go and leave this at the barracks, don't you think? - asked Joey.
- I'll go, you're supposed to be lost, go around, we'll meet in the main room - said Puss, his friend nodded in agreement.
The golden cat found him right, so he gave all the things to Puss. Quickly he went to leave the scrolls and papers in his room. He had no problems during this task.
Both guards agreed to continue reviewing all that information the next day in the tavern.
Puss was at the tavern waiting for his friend, who had gone to find Claire so that she would know everything about what had happened the day before. He stood beside them in a corner, stretching out the scrolls on the table.
Claire slapped her boyfriend on the shoulder after hearing the story of how they got all that.
-You didn't have to take such a risk! What if something had happened to you? Or if you had been caught? - claimed the two-colored cat. - It's good that you are helping us, but I would be terrified if you were caught.
- Love, take it easy -Joey tried.
- I'm calm! - she replied, upset. Puss laughed slightly.
- Claire, we appreciate your concern for us - said the orange cat.
- But...- she insisted.
-But nothing happened to us - calmed Puss.
- Honey, he's right - said her boyfriend, putting one arm behind and confronting her.
- Let's forget about that and focus on what concerns us, remember we don't have the same time as before - said the orange cat.
-It's true - finally recognized Claire, while Joey kissed her on the cheek.
- What we were able to find out is this - said the golden cat - these sketches correspond to the original plans, if you look closely, here are all the points where they want to build.
- They want to block all the entrances, just as they had said and also build that panoramic platform in the middle - he said and Claire looking at the plan - On top they already have the design.
- Exactly - said Joey - They plan to start in about three weeks.
- Goodbye to our pass to the tavern - said the two-colored cat.
- Not necessarily - said Puss -We have another chance, here are the old passages under this kingdom, they take you to different parts.
- Wow! - said the female cat in surprise.
- We haven't investigated that yet, but we have a starting point - said the orange cat.
- The bad thing is that among all the things we have to do... there would be no time to find out about it - said Joey in frustration.
- You go ahead with the preparations of the plan and the rest of your tasks - said Puss – I'll take care of this.
- Are you sure? - asked Joey worried.
- You guys have enough work to do – said the orange cat - I have nothing to do with your plans and I would like to help in some way. Remember, I promised.
- Yes, but you go alone... -said Claire thoughtfully.
- Nobody knows that I am in it, there is nothing to worry about - said Puss.
- In that case, take over - said Joey.
- Thank you - said Puss, relieved.
- To you, my friend - said Joey. The orange cat kept the two leaves in his boot.
- What time is it? - asked Puss.
- About six o'clock in the afternoon - answered Claire.
- I'd better take advantage of the daylight and get to work on that - he said.
- It doesn't have to be now - said the two-colored cat.
- Time is short and it's the last thing we have - Puss reminded him.
- You're right about that - she answered.
- Take care of yourself, my friend - said Joey.
- I will, you two take care too - said Puss.
Kitty was practicing with the bow and arrow in the area she always used for that. She was very concentrated trying to hit the target, little by little she was getting used to it, but she was still missing the shots.
She exhaled in frustration, if Mike were watching her he would surely be laughing and scolding...
She took the arrow again, pointed and missed again, exhaled in frustration.
- Damn it - complained the cat. Suddenly she felt hands on her waist and a tender kiss on her neck. Her boyfriend had hugged her from behind, taking her by surprise.
- I can help you if you want - said Puss.
- You're a great distraction, dear Puss - said Kitty, and he laughed.
- Go ahead hold the bow - said her boyfriend, Kitty looked at him mischievously - Well, your shoulders are firm, but you are scattered, you have to consider that your two arms are one - added the orange cat - One aims, the other triggers, if one of them misses, so does the aim – he said. Kitty held up the arm with which she was aiming next to the arrow.
- All right, you're doing great at controlling your breathing - he flattered her.
-And I'm right next to you - joked the dark cat.
- Better yet, I am instructing you - he laughed. Then he corrected the other arm -Tilt your head a little to get a better aim - he said - When you are ready, release the arrow.
The dark-toned female cat concentrated as best she could and shot the arrow. To her surprise, she hit the target.
-Excellent! - congratulated Puss.
-Thanks to you - she said, turning around to hug and kiss him affectionately.
- It's difficult at first - He said - But you will master it. How long have you been practicing?
- A couple of weeks, but I haven't had much time - she replied.
- Not bad for a short time - said the orange cat. - I had a hard time trying to master the bow, so I turned to the sword.
-So you knew that? -Why? - She asked curiously.
- Before entering the Royal Guard, they train you in various disciplines - he explained -You should have seen me, it was sad - he laughed and Kitty joined.
- More or less, I get the idea - she said, thinking of Mike and his scolding.
- Why? - asked Puss.
- I have a... How can I describe it? - she asked herself thoughtfully - A very demanding teacher and father figure who also treats Claire better than I - she explained, and Puss was amused.
- I see, so I have a father-in-law? - he asked amusingly.
- Something like that - she answered, laughing with him.
- Changing the subject - said the orange cat - I have a job to do and I need your help.
Kitty wondered what kind of job it would be, what would it be about?
- And it's a surprise too - he said when he saw her face - Sit down and close your eyes - he ordered. The black female cat raised an eyebrow she was dying of curiosity. Puss rolled her eyes - Come on, Kitty.
- Okay, okay, I'll do it... - she finally said and obeyed.
Puss took out the two leaves and stretched them on the ground, sitting in front of her.
- Ready, you can open your eyes now - said Puss.
Kitty saw those papers on the floor, she didn't understand anything until she started to read the description and everything else. She realized what it all meant, simply had no words.
- What? How? - she asked perplexed, couldn't believe it.
- I found this together with the plans with Joey, in short, I am in charge of this task of seeing these passages - said the Royal Guard.
Kitty rushed towards him with emotion and as a consequence, she made Puss lose his balance and went to the floor, leaving her on top of her boyfriend. The dark female cat filled him with kisses.
- I will surprise you more often - he said, laughing.
- I can't believe what you've done! - said Kitty enthusiastically, she sat down again and helped her boyfriend to stand up.
-It was difficult but not impossible - he said - I would like you to help me identify some passages, especially what makes the connection between here and the middle sector.
- Of course! - she said happily - Let's see - she lay on her stomach on the ground looking at the map. Puss admired her as she tried to interpret these roads as she moved her feet. - Well, it's a very old map...
- It seems I haven't looked at it very carefully - replied Puss.
The cat continued to look at the paper, until she noticed a somewhat disturbing detail. - Puss, did you tear this out of a book?
- Yes, it was my only option, the truth - he answered, knowing where the matter was going.
- Will they notice this? - she asked.
- At some point, I think they will, but it was either that or steal the book, which would be more noticeable, plus it was my only chance - he answered.
- Let's do the following, I'll make a copy on parchment tonight and then I'll get rid of this so that we don't have any evidence - said Kitty pointing to the papers.
- It wouldn't have occurred to me - he said - I was so focused on getting the information and didn't think about the consequences.
- That doesn't matter, we will solve it - she reassured. - You did a great job and helped us a lot - she added, coming closer to take her cheeks with her hands as a sign of support.
- In that case... Tomorrow we could go together to investigate those roads... Or not? - he asked.
- Of course - she confirmed - Let us determine which one to choose.
- Sounds good to me - said Puss, giving her a little kiss.
Again, they focused on the map, and Kitty lay down on the ground so that she could have a better look.
- Let's see - said the female cat - I know three sides of this sector, the other entrances would be a middle ring. One of these roads is in the central area, where they destroyed near the square - said Kitty.
- And the other two? - asked her boyfriend.
- One is further away from here, but I'm not sure - she replied - Although... luck is on our side because the third one was practically right under my nose.
- How? - asked the curious cat.
- This is in the house where I found the letter and it has a passage to get out of here - she replied.
-Wow - he said, very surprised - And I suppose that's where you're planning to get out of here.
- Exactly - she said -In this case, it must have another secret door or something, and that would take us through this passage.
- Great - said the orange cat - Tomorrow after my shift I'll come here and find out.
- All right, I'll wait for you - said the cat.
Both of them remained deciphering for a while more the plans to continue finding out more information, after that Puss continued teaching her how to use the bow; although in one opportunity they were distracted... because both of them provoked each other with tricks but later they tried to practice again, which was difficult.
Puss stayed a couple more hours to continue enjoying Kitty's company.
The next day, Puss had a little trouble getting out of his job, in part, was Dulcinea who was looking for him and the Royal Guard had to make manoeuvres to avoid her. With the last conversation they had had... he wasn't in the mood to talk to her. On top of that, there were other mishaps at work.
Except for all that, he was able to get out of work and start up the lower sector, put on another cape so that he would be recognized as a Royal Guard and also went out on the other side, taking all possible precautions.
- I thought you weren't coming any more - said Kitty once they had met in their place.
- Not a chance - said Puss.
- Didn't you have any trouble? Nothing happened? - she asked worriedly.
- Nothing for now, calm down - he said, caressing her cheek.- How are you? Everything all right?
- Great - she answered - I removed the evidence and made the map.
-You see, all the more reason not to worry - said Puss.
- It's inevitable, at this stage of the game I can expect anything - said the dark female cat -Shall we go?
- I'll follow you anywhere - he answered, and Kitty smiled at him. She took his hand and looked him in the eyes.
- Let's go - she said.
Kitty showed him the way, as it was near sunset there were still people walking around, so they went the other way until they reached the house without being seen. Puss was able to continue watching the way they lived, even though everything was deplorable, they managed to be happy with what they had. Even with the sector almost in ruins.
- Here it is - said Kitty when they stood in front of it and she took the key out of her boot - This brings back very good memories - she added, smiling and showing the object.
- Really? Why? - asked the orange cat curiously.
- It was the beginning of the inevitable - said the female cat - I took this key out the day I visited a certain Royal Guard, and in addition to cornering me and he stole a kiss from me - she accused.
Puss was surprised, he remembered it perfectly, so that she had gone to look for it in the Palace - Aren't you supposed to have found nothing?
- At that time I was not going to tell you the truth - she answered and laughed.
- And how I stole a kiss from you! If you kissed me again without hesitation - the offended orange cat defended itself.
-I let myself be loved, there was no way out," she answered simply.
- Oh, the lady in distress, poor thing - said ironically and Puss rolled his eyes, amusing Kitty.
-I also saw something else before entering the palace - said the female cat, looking at him accusingly.
Puss didn't even bother to answer, he had no idea what she was talking about, he just looked at her because he didn't know what she was going to say.
- Feel proud - joked Kitty in a good mood - I felt a lot of jealousy when the nice and pleasant princess kissed you.
How could he forget...Again he was surprised because he didn't expect that information, what bad luck.
- That was the closest thing to kissing an ice, I can even say that is warmer than the Princess - answered Puss and Kitty laughed willingly.
- You should have seen me, I wanted to hang her - she said.
- Anyway, I prefer your kisses, without a doubt the best - said the orange cat looking at her in a stinging way, Kitty did the same.
- And you are flirting with me, as usual - she said.
- And you're not? - Puss defended herself.
- Of course not - she said innocently. And she approached to kiss him tenderly.
- Let's go in - said Kitty, smiling as she opened the door.
The house was just as they had left it, the only thing that changed was the supplies that were there and that were still being brought in. Kitty explained to him what the plan was and what they had been doing. She also explained what she knew about the rooms in the house.
They both went with a torch to the sector where the sealed exit from the kingdom was located.
- I think there must be another gate like this one that will lead us to that road, but I have no idea where to start or where to look - said Kitty.
- Do you remember anywhere you haven't visited? - asked Puss.
- This is a maze, I don't remember much, if I didn't mark this path I would probably be lost - she said.
- Then let's go where it's not marked, and if we follow this pattern of the gate on the ground we'll more than likely find it - said the orange cat, and the female cat nodded.
They spent about a couple of hours looking, but no luck. Until Puss came up with the idea of entering the room where Kitty found the bow. He moved several pieces of furniture and still couldn't find anything. He had almost given up looking there, but as he ran to a corner shelf... he found it, it was covered in dust...
-Kitty! I found it! - shouted the Royal Guard happily.