Chapter Six - The Second Storm
---
There had been no retribution.
Munkustrap had not followed his son, nor made any mention of his reappearance to anyone.
But a week later, something happened that he knew would eventually force him to come foward.
Jeniiva was beside herself with worry; she cried constantly. Rubeus was livid. Demeter was frantic. The rest of the tribe remained restless and suspicious.
Azalel was gone.
She had disappeared exactly a week after Munkustrap saw Jequimas at the window of their den. Much as he didn't want to believe it, the only possibly explanation seemed to be that, for whatever reason, Jequimas had kidnapped his new niece.
But no one else knew he was back. Munkustrap was torn. If he told the tribe - and more importantly, Demeter - that Jequimas he returned, it would only cause chaos... and quite possibly, a cathunt led by Plato. And Jeniiva's reaction wouldn't be easy to bear.
But then... what was right had never been easy.
---
The toms had gathered at the junkyard to discuss Azalel's disappearance. As Munkustrap had predicted, Plato was worked up into a near frenzy. And he wasn't the only one out for blood.
"I want my girl back!" Rubeus roared. His face was flushed and his eyes bright with anger.
"I understand that," Munkustrap answered wearily. He had been in his father's place as Jellicle leader for only a year, but it felt like much longer. "We all do." He hadn't yet told them about Jequimas. He wasn't sure he could.
However, it soon became apparent that he wouldn't necessarily have to.
"Munkustrap," Plato said quietly to him as the other toms argued about what was to be done, "we can't rule out the possibility of... well, of Jequimas."
Munkustrap stiffened. "Why would Jequimas kidnap his own niece?"
"It would be a perfect revenge, wouldn't it?" Plato continued fervently, "Revenge for us banishing him. Think of Macavity."
"Jequimas isn't Macavity!" Munkustrap answered hotly.
"He killed my DAUGHTER!" Plato cried.
The rest of the toms fell silent as they gazed warily at the two of them.
Munkustrap sighed; there was nothing to say to something like that. He nodded, realizing that the time had come to tell them what he had seen. "Jequimas has been near the tribe," he began. Murmurs flew through the group. "He was at the window of our den a week ago. I attacked him, not knowing who he was. He ran."
Plato had a vindictive gleam in his eyes. "You see? He was planning it then!"
"That doesn't make any sense, Plato," Munkustrap spat.
"Why not?"
"Because if Jequimas was planning to kidnap Azalel, he would have been at Jeniiva's den, not mine."
This didn't seem to have any impact on Plato - or on anyone else, for that matter. They were all nodding and whispering, as though quite convinced already.
"Besides, we don't even know where Jequimas is keeping himself."
The toms paused to consider this. Then Rubeus growled, "Lylisan."
All eyes turned to him. His eyes were narrowed. "Lylisan would know where 'e is," he explained, his voice low and dangerous. "'Walks,' my tail - I'd bet anythin' she's been sneakin' out t' see him awl these nights."
Munkustrap watched as the toms resumed talking amongst themselves and sighed. "Bring her."
---
Rubeus and Plato fetched a frightened Lylisan and brought her back to the junkyard, where by now the entire tribe had assembled. Munkustrap looked at her for a long time, his eyes sad and aged. "Lylisan," he said gently, "Do you know where Jequimas is hiding?"
Lylisan glanced nervously at Coricopat, Tantomile, and Teilujah, who were watching her calmly. They would know in an instant if she was telling the truth. "No," she answered loudly.
"She's lying," Coricopat said flatly, looking at Munkustrap.
Munkustrap nodded, his eyes closed. Plato growled. "It's obviously no use lying," he hissed at Lylisan. "Azalel has gone missing and we have every reason to believe it's Jequimas that took her."
"No!" Lylisan exclaimed. "He didn't! He wouldn't do that!"
"You didn't believe he killed my daughter either," Plato sneered, "but you were proved wrong, weren't you?"
"He didn't kill Orea!" Lylisan insisted, "It was Macavity!"
Bitter laughter sifted through the tribe, many of the older cats shaking their heads. Munkustrap looked stern. "Lylisan, Macavity's been dead for years. Everyone knows that." When she opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off. "No. Please, Lyli... just tell us where he is. If nothing else... well, if he hasn't taken Azalel, we'll just be proven wrong."
He could feel Plato glaring at him, but he didn't meet his gaze. He knew that Lylisan wouldn't readily show them where Jequimas was, and he had to make her as comfortable as possible.
Tears began to stream down her face. "No... I can't..."
"Munkustrap, force her!" Plato demanded, and Rubeus nodded in agreement. "Or maybe..." Plato said, dropping his voice, "you don't really want us to go looking for Jequimas?" The murmuring began. "Maybe you're trying to protect him." He brought his face close to Munkustrap's, and the silver tom could plainly see the pain in his eyes, even through his zeal. "Your granddaughter's life may be in danger," he whispered. "Are you willing to let your murderer of a son go for that?"
Munkustrap stared at Lylisan, who was crying silently. He sighed.
"Show us, Lyli."
But Lylisan was gone before any of them could so much as blink. She streaked away through the crowd, clearly not intending for anyone to follow her. Rubeus went to chase her, but Plato stopped him. "Wait a bit," he said, "then tail her. She'll lead us straight to him."
---
She streaked along as fast as she could, praying to whoever would listen that she wasn't being followed. She had to warn Jequimas, to let him know they were coming - because no matter how much she hoped otherwise, she knew they soon would.
"Jequimas!" she gasped when she reached his alley. As always, he was with her in a moment. She heaved for breath. "Jequimas... tribe... coming..."
"What?" he asked, his eyes wide. She swayed a little and he caught her, steadying her.
"Azalel... is gone," she managed, slowly catching her breath. "Everyone thinks... you did it. Go!" She tried to push herself away from him, but he held her fast. "I'm probably being followed!" she insisted. "You don't have much time!"
"Azalel's gone missing?" Jequimas repeated. She nodded and his eyes narrowed. "Macavity. I'm sure of it."
"I tried to tell them, Jequimas," she said, a sob sticking in her throat, "I tried to tell them Macavity killed Orea, but -"
"Of course they didn't believe you," he cut in. "They still insist that he's dead." Still holding her, he gazed into the space over her head. "I've got to find him," he whispered roughly, "That's the only way. The only way they'll believe me is if I bring back his body." He stared fiercely at her. "Lylisan. You've got to hold them off. Stall them. I've got to find him before they find me."
She nodded. "Good luck." He gazed at her a moment longer, his eyes softening as he took her chin gently in his hand.
"Thank you," he whispered.
And he was gone.
---
---
There had been no retribution.
Munkustrap had not followed his son, nor made any mention of his reappearance to anyone.
But a week later, something happened that he knew would eventually force him to come foward.
Jeniiva was beside herself with worry; she cried constantly. Rubeus was livid. Demeter was frantic. The rest of the tribe remained restless and suspicious.
Azalel was gone.
She had disappeared exactly a week after Munkustrap saw Jequimas at the window of their den. Much as he didn't want to believe it, the only possibly explanation seemed to be that, for whatever reason, Jequimas had kidnapped his new niece.
But no one else knew he was back. Munkustrap was torn. If he told the tribe - and more importantly, Demeter - that Jequimas he returned, it would only cause chaos... and quite possibly, a cathunt led by Plato. And Jeniiva's reaction wouldn't be easy to bear.
But then... what was right had never been easy.
---
The toms had gathered at the junkyard to discuss Azalel's disappearance. As Munkustrap had predicted, Plato was worked up into a near frenzy. And he wasn't the only one out for blood.
"I want my girl back!" Rubeus roared. His face was flushed and his eyes bright with anger.
"I understand that," Munkustrap answered wearily. He had been in his father's place as Jellicle leader for only a year, but it felt like much longer. "We all do." He hadn't yet told them about Jequimas. He wasn't sure he could.
However, it soon became apparent that he wouldn't necessarily have to.
"Munkustrap," Plato said quietly to him as the other toms argued about what was to be done, "we can't rule out the possibility of... well, of Jequimas."
Munkustrap stiffened. "Why would Jequimas kidnap his own niece?"
"It would be a perfect revenge, wouldn't it?" Plato continued fervently, "Revenge for us banishing him. Think of Macavity."
"Jequimas isn't Macavity!" Munkustrap answered hotly.
"He killed my DAUGHTER!" Plato cried.
The rest of the toms fell silent as they gazed warily at the two of them.
Munkustrap sighed; there was nothing to say to something like that. He nodded, realizing that the time had come to tell them what he had seen. "Jequimas has been near the tribe," he began. Murmurs flew through the group. "He was at the window of our den a week ago. I attacked him, not knowing who he was. He ran."
Plato had a vindictive gleam in his eyes. "You see? He was planning it then!"
"That doesn't make any sense, Plato," Munkustrap spat.
"Why not?"
"Because if Jequimas was planning to kidnap Azalel, he would have been at Jeniiva's den, not mine."
This didn't seem to have any impact on Plato - or on anyone else, for that matter. They were all nodding and whispering, as though quite convinced already.
"Besides, we don't even know where Jequimas is keeping himself."
The toms paused to consider this. Then Rubeus growled, "Lylisan."
All eyes turned to him. His eyes were narrowed. "Lylisan would know where 'e is," he explained, his voice low and dangerous. "'Walks,' my tail - I'd bet anythin' she's been sneakin' out t' see him awl these nights."
Munkustrap watched as the toms resumed talking amongst themselves and sighed. "Bring her."
---
Rubeus and Plato fetched a frightened Lylisan and brought her back to the junkyard, where by now the entire tribe had assembled. Munkustrap looked at her for a long time, his eyes sad and aged. "Lylisan," he said gently, "Do you know where Jequimas is hiding?"
Lylisan glanced nervously at Coricopat, Tantomile, and Teilujah, who were watching her calmly. They would know in an instant if she was telling the truth. "No," she answered loudly.
"She's lying," Coricopat said flatly, looking at Munkustrap.
Munkustrap nodded, his eyes closed. Plato growled. "It's obviously no use lying," he hissed at Lylisan. "Azalel has gone missing and we have every reason to believe it's Jequimas that took her."
"No!" Lylisan exclaimed. "He didn't! He wouldn't do that!"
"You didn't believe he killed my daughter either," Plato sneered, "but you were proved wrong, weren't you?"
"He didn't kill Orea!" Lylisan insisted, "It was Macavity!"
Bitter laughter sifted through the tribe, many of the older cats shaking their heads. Munkustrap looked stern. "Lylisan, Macavity's been dead for years. Everyone knows that." When she opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off. "No. Please, Lyli... just tell us where he is. If nothing else... well, if he hasn't taken Azalel, we'll just be proven wrong."
He could feel Plato glaring at him, but he didn't meet his gaze. He knew that Lylisan wouldn't readily show them where Jequimas was, and he had to make her as comfortable as possible.
Tears began to stream down her face. "No... I can't..."
"Munkustrap, force her!" Plato demanded, and Rubeus nodded in agreement. "Or maybe..." Plato said, dropping his voice, "you don't really want us to go looking for Jequimas?" The murmuring began. "Maybe you're trying to protect him." He brought his face close to Munkustrap's, and the silver tom could plainly see the pain in his eyes, even through his zeal. "Your granddaughter's life may be in danger," he whispered. "Are you willing to let your murderer of a son go for that?"
Munkustrap stared at Lylisan, who was crying silently. He sighed.
"Show us, Lyli."
But Lylisan was gone before any of them could so much as blink. She streaked away through the crowd, clearly not intending for anyone to follow her. Rubeus went to chase her, but Plato stopped him. "Wait a bit," he said, "then tail her. She'll lead us straight to him."
---
She streaked along as fast as she could, praying to whoever would listen that she wasn't being followed. She had to warn Jequimas, to let him know they were coming - because no matter how much she hoped otherwise, she knew they soon would.
"Jequimas!" she gasped when she reached his alley. As always, he was with her in a moment. She heaved for breath. "Jequimas... tribe... coming..."
"What?" he asked, his eyes wide. She swayed a little and he caught her, steadying her.
"Azalel... is gone," she managed, slowly catching her breath. "Everyone thinks... you did it. Go!" She tried to push herself away from him, but he held her fast. "I'm probably being followed!" she insisted. "You don't have much time!"
"Azalel's gone missing?" Jequimas repeated. She nodded and his eyes narrowed. "Macavity. I'm sure of it."
"I tried to tell them, Jequimas," she said, a sob sticking in her throat, "I tried to tell them Macavity killed Orea, but -"
"Of course they didn't believe you," he cut in. "They still insist that he's dead." Still holding her, he gazed into the space over her head. "I've got to find him," he whispered roughly, "That's the only way. The only way they'll believe me is if I bring back his body." He stared fiercely at her. "Lylisan. You've got to hold them off. Stall them. I've got to find him before they find me."
She nodded. "Good luck." He gazed at her a moment longer, his eyes softening as he took her chin gently in his hand.
"Thank you," he whispered.
And he was gone.
---