"I need to go catch my family," Jellylorum suddenly started, moving to get up. "I talked with them, they know where you are," Gus said, holding her paws and calming her down. "They're waiting at home for you." "How did you know who my family are?" Jellyorum asked. "You and your family come to see every show. Eventually even a chorus member is going to notice," the grey tom laughed. Jellylorum liked his laugh.
"Now then, may I ask what a pretty queen was doing running around back stage?" the actor asked, taking a seat on the desk. "Not that I mind. After all, if you hadn't been I wouldn't have met you." Jellylorum blushed. It wasn't often that people called her pretty, particularly not handsome young actors. "I … I got lost," she explained. Suddenly she remembered the conversation she had overheard. "I was running because I needed to tell you something," she whispered, scared that unfriendly ears might over hear her. "Tell me something?" Asparagus asked, his interest peaked. In truth he was fascinated by the shy young queen before him, but felt extremely nervous. His chosen career left little time for dating, and most queens seemed to believe the old stereotype that actors were terrible queenisers.
Jellylorum quickly and quietly detailed what she had overheard. As she spoke Asparagus's face grew longer and longer. "We wants to get rid of me" he asked softly. Jellylorum nodded. The young theatre cat stood up, punching the wall with one clenched paw. Dust and plaster sprang free, forming a little cloud in the air. "This always happens," he snarled. "What always happens?" Jellylorum asked, worried that the young cat was going to walk out. Some feeling deep in the pit of her stomach didn't want him to go.
"If anyone starts to even come close to Grindlevine, they suddenly disappear or leave. It happens every time. If someone is more popular than him for a single show, or might remotely get a part he wants, they put sticks and leave. All he has to do is take a disliking to you, and that's your lot. We've lost nearly half the company this year alone." Asparagus turned back to Jellylorum, who had her paws over her mouth. "Why doesn't somebody stop him?" the young queen asked. Asparagus shook his head, a strange smile on his lips. "He's up to his neck in dodgy business. There are powerful and dangerous cats who he owes big favours to, and none of them want to see him go."
"I had no idea acting was so cut throat," Jellylorum exclaimed. "You'd better start then," Augustus laughed bitterly. "Some of the cats I know would stab me in the back, just for the whiff of a good role." He looked up at her, smiling sadly. "Thank you for warning me. I may be able to do something, or at least get a head start." "What'll you do?" the brown and grey queen asked as Augustus stood up. "I don't know. But tomorrow's a day off, so at least I have time to think about it. Come on, I'd better get you home."
The cats left the theatre together, walking through the dark streets side by side. "You don't have to walk me home," Jellylorum laughed in a tinkling voice. "Don't have to, but I want to," Augustus smiled, brushing her back with his tail. "I'm sure one day we'll come into the city and see the name "Asparagus" up in lights," Jellylorum giggled. "I never liked that name," Asparagus sniggered. "Always seemed like such a mouthful. Call me Gus." Jellylorum made a mental note to tell Munkustrap that she had been right.
At that moment the cats found their way blocked by shadowy shapes in the gloom. "Mr Grindlevine wants to 'ave a word wiv' you," the largest thug grunted, gesturing towards Gus. "Now look here," Gus smiled, stretching his arms out and putting one paw around Jellylorum's shoulder, moving himself imperceptible forward, just enough to shield the young queen. His wide smile didn't reach his eyes, making it clear he was far more worried that he let on. "I'm just walking this fine young lady home, and then I shall be happy to come see Grindlevine." "You're coming with us now," the thug grunted stupidly. "Bring your girlfriend. Maybe we'll 'ave a little fun wiv' 'er," he laughed to his friends, sounding like a herd of cows. "Lay a finger on one hair of her head and I'll remove your arm," Gus snarled. "Oh yeah little guy?" the brute sneered. "Maybe you actor types can't count, but there's one of you and three of us." "So go get some friends, until you collectively have a functioning brain, and then it will be a fair fight," Gus laughed. That did it.
The thug swung for Gus's head, but the grey tom was already no longer there, bowling over one of his friends. The two remaining brutes stupidly gazed at the young actor, before giving chase. Jellylorum started to scamper away, before pausing. She looked back at the young actor, running for his life from the three irate thugs. The queen didn't think, she just acted. A stuck out leg sent the brutes tumbling to the ground. Gus looked at her. "Get out of here!" he yelled. At that moment his tail was seized from behind and he was swung like a furry club against the side of the alley. Jellylorum screamed as he landed at her feet, kneeling to try and help him up. At that moment a large shape came upon the thugs attacking them from the rears, sending them running in a flurry of claws and yowls. "Are you alright Jelly?" the shape asked, and Jellylorum breathed a sigh of relief as she recognised her father's voice.