Order had returned to the junkyard.
It was about an hour after the fight that had resulted in Mistoffelees' catnapping.
Old Deuteronomy had called the male jellicles together to discuss what should be done. They were meeting in an old car where they could talk privately and without interruption.
Alonzo and Munkustrap had regained consciousness and both had bandages on their heads.
Deuteronomy sat on the passenger seat which was reclined so that he may see everyone present.
The other toms sat wherever they pleased.
"I don't understand why he only took Mistoffelees," said Alonzo, who was stretched out on the dashboard. "He could've taken Munkustrap or me or all three of us. But why Mistoffelees?"
The red tabby known as Skimbleshanks spoke up.
"Magical cats are very rare these days," he said. "Mistoffelees is worth a lot of human money."
Plato was next to speak.
"Yeah," he said. "Macavity could sell him to one of those circuses that Mungo and Teazer used to work in and get a fortune in return."
"Or start his own circus with Misto as his main attraction," replied Rum Tum Tugger gravely.
The striped cat called Mungojerrie spoke up.
"No, Macavity wouldn't do that," he said.
"What do you mean?" asked Tumblebrutus. "He's certainly capable of it."
"Yeah he's capable of it but he wouldn't do it," answered Mungo. "C'mon, you all know that Teazer and I worked for him a couple years. I know his style. If he wants something he just takes it without a second thought. Money is of no value to him."
"He does have a point," said Admetus to the others.
"But still, why Mistoffelees?" said Munkustrap. "Last year he catnapped Old Deuteronomy. That's understandable. Without our leader, the tribe is pretty much helpless."
"I think that if anything happened to me, the tribe would be left in good paws," said Deuteronomy with a smile.
The gray tabby bowed to the old cat, very pleased at the compliment.
"He's also catnapped queens in the past. That's more of his style," said Pouncival.
Munkustrap hissed as the memory of the master criminal attempting to catnap Demeter came back to him.
"We don't know Macavity's motives," said Deuteronomy. "What we do know is that one of our dear friends is in trouble and it is up to us to rescue him."
"How can we?" asked Coricopat. "We have no idea where Macavity is keeping him."
"We don't even know which way he went after he left the junkyard," mumbled Asparagus.
"I think I can help you with that," said a small voice from the rear of the car.
The toms turned their heads to see who had interrupted their meeting.
They saw Etcetera who had sneaked in through the back window and now stood timidly before them. Munkustrap was about to scold her for not staying with the other queens, but Deuteronomy spoke first.
"What can you tell us my dear?" he asked kindly.
"Andromeda watched the fight, she saw everything."
"Where is she?" asked the old cat.
"She. . . she followed Macavity after he left with Mistoffelees," sobbed Etcetera. "I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen!"
The toms sprang to their feet.
"Which way did she go?" demanded Munkustrap.
It was about an hour after the fight that had resulted in Mistoffelees' catnapping.
Old Deuteronomy had called the male jellicles together to discuss what should be done. They were meeting in an old car where they could talk privately and without interruption.
Alonzo and Munkustrap had regained consciousness and both had bandages on their heads.
Deuteronomy sat on the passenger seat which was reclined so that he may see everyone present.
The other toms sat wherever they pleased.
"I don't understand why he only took Mistoffelees," said Alonzo, who was stretched out on the dashboard. "He could've taken Munkustrap or me or all three of us. But why Mistoffelees?"
The red tabby known as Skimbleshanks spoke up.
"Magical cats are very rare these days," he said. "Mistoffelees is worth a lot of human money."
Plato was next to speak.
"Yeah," he said. "Macavity could sell him to one of those circuses that Mungo and Teazer used to work in and get a fortune in return."
"Or start his own circus with Misto as his main attraction," replied Rum Tum Tugger gravely.
The striped cat called Mungojerrie spoke up.
"No, Macavity wouldn't do that," he said.
"What do you mean?" asked Tumblebrutus. "He's certainly capable of it."
"Yeah he's capable of it but he wouldn't do it," answered Mungo. "C'mon, you all know that Teazer and I worked for him a couple years. I know his style. If he wants something he just takes it without a second thought. Money is of no value to him."
"He does have a point," said Admetus to the others.
"But still, why Mistoffelees?" said Munkustrap. "Last year he catnapped Old Deuteronomy. That's understandable. Without our leader, the tribe is pretty much helpless."
"I think that if anything happened to me, the tribe would be left in good paws," said Deuteronomy with a smile.
The gray tabby bowed to the old cat, very pleased at the compliment.
"He's also catnapped queens in the past. That's more of his style," said Pouncival.
Munkustrap hissed as the memory of the master criminal attempting to catnap Demeter came back to him.
"We don't know Macavity's motives," said Deuteronomy. "What we do know is that one of our dear friends is in trouble and it is up to us to rescue him."
"How can we?" asked Coricopat. "We have no idea where Macavity is keeping him."
"We don't even know which way he went after he left the junkyard," mumbled Asparagus.
"I think I can help you with that," said a small voice from the rear of the car.
The toms turned their heads to see who had interrupted their meeting.
They saw Etcetera who had sneaked in through the back window and now stood timidly before them. Munkustrap was about to scold her for not staying with the other queens, but Deuteronomy spoke first.
"What can you tell us my dear?" he asked kindly.
"Andromeda watched the fight, she saw everything."
"Where is she?" asked the old cat.
"She. . . she followed Macavity after he left with Mistoffelees," sobbed Etcetera. "I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen!"
The toms sprang to their feet.
"Which way did she go?" demanded Munkustrap.