Chapter 7: Why We Hunt
Bageera was awoken in the morning by a tom outside, calling his name.
"Bageera!"
"Munkustrap," Bageera muttered, getting up.
He went to the door and opened it. Outside were Munkustrap, Alonzo, Mungojerrie, and Rumpelteazer.
"Yes?" Bageera asked.
"Will you come with us, please" Munkustrap said.
It clearly wasn't the request it was worded as. So Bageera went with Munkustrap and company, leaving Jazz to sleep a bit longer. He was led back to Munkustrap's den where he was sat down on the floor. No pillow. No padding. He noticed Demeter in the back, trying not to be seen and, obviously, failing.
"What happened last night?" Munkustrap asked.
"I went and had a word with Mungojerrie," Bageera said.
"Really?" the protector asked. "A word? The way I hear it, you almost killed him."
"Exaggeration at best," Bageera said. "I may have subtly threatened his life once or twice, but I didn't actually do anything that would have resulted in his death."
"You dragged him out of his own den and then threw him around inside," Munkustrap said
Bageera thought back. "I wouldn't say I threw him around. But I was very physical with him, yes."
"What were you doing there?" Munkustrap asked.
"I felt he had something to do with the events of the Ball, and I needed to ask him some questions to find out for sure."
"And?"
"And I feel my theory has merit," Bageera said.
"Why do you think he had anything to do with it in the first place?" Alonzo asked. "Is it just because he used to work for Macavity?"
"So you do know," Bageera said.
"Of course."
"Answer the question," Munkustrap said. "Why do you suspect Mungojerrie?"
"That," Bageera said, "is a complicated question."
"We've got time," Munkustrap said, sitting down across from Bageera to emphasize his point. "Start talking."
"Very well," Bageera said. He looked up at Rumpelteazer. "You might want to leave. Demeter, too."
"What?" Rumpelteazer asked. "Why?"
"He's right," Mungojerrie said, pushing Rumpelteazer towards the door. "You shouldn't hear this."
"Why not?" his sister asked. "I already know everything you've done, right?" Mungojerrie was silent, avoiding Rumpelteazer's eyes. "Right?" she asked again. Again there was silence. Then her eyes darkened. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Demeter?" Mungojerrie asked. "Would you take Rumpelteazer outside, please?"
Demeter came up and took the other queen's paw, leading her outside.
Once they were gone, Mungojerrie said, "Thank you."
"It was for her sake," Bageera said. "Not yours."
"Well?" Munkustrap said. "What's the deal? Why are you so determined to find Macavity?"
Bageera smiled and leaned back. He settled in to tell the story he had not told or talked about for years. Jazz wouldn't like it. But she wasn't here to protest.
"It's like this…"
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Several years ago, Jazz and I lived in a tribe of our own. It wasn't as large as yours. We only had a pawful of cats, but it was nice. We got along okay, and we pretty much kept to ourselves. We had our own Balls and our own Choices and our own ways, much like any tribe. It was nice.
Now, our leader was getting old. He was even older than Old Deuteronomy, as I understand it. And he knew his time was coming soon. Being the Jellicle Leader of our tribe, he knew he couldn't get a chance to be Jellicle Choice. That is forbidden. So he knew he wasn't going to get the opportunity to be reborn. Once he was gone, he was gone.
Most Leaders realize this and make peace with that knowledge. Unlike most Jellicles, however, he feared death. He didn't want to be gone. He wanted to remain here. He wanted to be reborn. But the only way he could do that was if he resigned from leadership and appointed a new Leader. He would have to choose carefully, though. He only had maybe one Ball left. Only one chance.
So he did the only logical thing. He made a deal with the cat he chose to replace him. He would make that Jellicle the Leader if they made him Jellicle Choice at the next Ball that was coming up soon. The Jellicle agreed and became Leader.
That Jellicle was Mungojerrie.
I'm not sure if he ever planned to keep the deal. He was working for Macavity at the time and it might have all been a set up from the beginning. What I do know is that Mungojerrie and Macavity were planning something almost immediately. They were planning something big that would devastate our tribe.
When the Ball finally rolled around, the recognitions were done and dawn came and it was time for Mungojerrie to name his Choice. But instead of naming our old leader, he said he knew of a way for all of us to be made Choice at once.
Most of the tribe liked the idea. It sounded great. All reborn at once. All made the same age so we could all be together again. Why not? If it could be done, the Everlasting Cat would probably be pleased with them.
I didn't buy it. Neither did Jazz. We thought the idea was blasphemous. We went to Mungojerrie to tell him our feelings. But as we approached his den, we heard him talking to Macavity. We heard his whole plan. It was all a scam. They were going to poison us all.
Before we could tell the tribe, Mungojerrie found out what we knew. He, under the orders of Macavity, had us banished from the tribe, saying we were diseased and crazy. No one was to get near us. The tribe, believing in their wise and powerful leader who could make them all the Choice at once, exiled us. They forbid us from coming anywhere near them. Our parents were both gone by this point so there was no one who would stand up for us.
And so, as the preparations were made, we were forced to watch. We tried everything we could, but we couldn't get them to listen to us. And so, as planned, Mungojerrie led everyone to their death.
And that's why he's been my number one suspect ever since I learned he was here. That is why we have been on a never ending search for the Napoleon of Crime. That is why we hunt.
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"I should have known," Bageera concluded. "I was the Rum Tum of the tribe. I was supposed to know what Mungojerrie was up to. I should have known."
Munkustrap looked shocked. Alonzo looked Disgusted. Mungojerrie looked ashamed.
"Is this true?" Munkustrap demanded.
Silence.
"Mungojerrie," Munkustrap said, firmly. "Is this true?"
Mungojerrie looked away from the protector.
"Yes," he said. "It's true. It's all true."
Gasps of shock radiated from the cupboard. The Protectors were exchanging looks of disgust and shock. How could this be true? How could someone from their own tribe be so malicious and vile? Bageera was silent, glaring daggers at Mungojerrie. Mungojerrie remained silent, letting the shock pass.
When he could speak again, Munkustrap said, "Does Old Deuteronomy know?"
Mungojerrie took a deep breath and nodded. "I told him before I came back. Rumpelteazer said I should confess everything I did for Macavity so there would be no secrets between Old Deuteronomy and me."
"Does Rumpelteazer know?" Alonzo asked.
"No," Mungojerrie said. "I can't tell her. I can't. I've tried so many times, but it just won't come out. I could never let her know that the brother she loves so much, the brother she sponsored for re-entry would go so far as to eradicate an entire tribe."
There was silence for a long time. Nobody knew what to say. What could be said? Old Deuteronomy was Leader. If he chose to accept Mungojerrie after what he had done, it wasn't their place to disagree. In fact, it was their place to enforce that decision. If it really was his decision.
"We must speak with Old Deuteronomy," Munkustrap told Alonzo. "See if he really does know. Hell, Mungojerrie might have been involved with the incident at the Ball."
"I'm pretty sure he did," Bageera said, rising to his feet. "I'm pretty sure he was involved as a spy at the very least."
"I didn't-" Mungojerrie began to say, but Munkustrap silenced him with a look.
"How do you know?" Munkustrap asked Bageera.
"I have my reasons," Bageera said.
"Are you going to share?" Alonzo asked.
"Not at the moment," Bageera said. "I need more details first."
"Very well," Munkustrap said. "If you need anything, let us know."
"Actually," Bageera said, "I was hoping you could show me to Mistoffelees' old den."
"Sure," Munkustrap said, frowning. "Alonzo can show you."
"I'd rather it was you," Bageera said. "If you don't mind."
Munkustrap looked at Alonzo for a few seconds.
"Take him to see my father," he told Alonzo. "I'll be along shortly. Don't tell anyone about this. Especially not Rumpelteazer."
Alonzo nodded and grabbed Mungojerrie by the back of the neck and began leading him out of the cupboard. Rumpelteazer and Demeter were outside, waiting. Rumpelteazer tried to follow her brother, but Alonzo had Demeter keep her back. Munkustrap and Bageera walked the other way to the fading sounds of Rumpelteazer's protests.
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