Munkustrap woke up in the early morning – darkness was still in the sky – and slowly walked to the main area. He was going to do his usual morning stretch when he saw Alonzo waiting for him, sitting on an old, broken television.
"Oh, hi, Alonzo. I didn't expect you here," Munkustrap said.
"Of course you didn't," Alonzo snapped. Munkustrap now could see the anger in his face.
"What's… what's wrong?" he asked.
"You don't know what's wrong, do you? You're the protector of this tribe and you don't seem for it to be necessary to come to the patrols that you picked the cats for. Not just one patrol. The second day patrol and the night one. Where the hell were you? What's wrong with you? Since Plato was hurt, it was just me and Tumblebrutus who went on the patrol. Now do you understand my anger?" said Alonzo, trying to calm down.
"I'm… I'm really sorry. I will make sure it doesn't happen again," Munkustrap apologized.
"A sorry is not enough. At all," said Alonzo. His eyes were full with furry.
"Ok… ok! I'll tell you. I was out there… by the back entrance… and I… I… let out my… uh… emotions… and then…" Munkustrap stopped confessing there. He didn't want to get into the whole Rumpleteazer-getting-hurt topic.
"I see… I won't ask specifically how…" said Alonzo, tiredly.
"From now, if I can't come to a patrol, I'll tell Old Deuteronomy and the patrol team in advance," promised Munkustrap.
"No. That won't do. I want you to come to the patrols," said Alonzo.
Both cats sighed and walked away in different directions.
Munkustrap now decided to go see how Rumpleteazer is doing. That cut probably would take a long time to heal, he thought, so would the broken ribs.
He knocked on Jellylorum's den. Jellylorum opened it and greeted him with a warm smile.
"Thank you. How is Rumpleteazer doing?" he asked.
"Well, she can smile," Jellylorum said with a nervous smile, "Please do come in."
Munkustrap did so with a thank-you smile. He took a look to the side – the kittens were sleeping there. All of them seemed to be in a very deep sleep. Jemima was sleeping with her head on Etcetera's belly; Electra was cuddled by Jemima and Electra's sides.
He walked to the bed where the orange cat was sleeping.
"Hey, Rumpleteazer, it's me, Munkustrap. How are you doing?" he whispered.
Rumpleteazer just gave a small smile; she was still half-asleep.
He licked the wound that seemed to make her feel better. He could feel how the area around the wound was swelled up and how blood was clogged up to a brown-like color at the cut.
"Thanks, Munky," she said.
Munkustrap gave a small get-well kiss at the wound and moved the Rumpleteazer's ears.
"Rumpleteazer, I'm glad that you seem to get better, but I want you to keep a secret with me," he said.
The poor orange cat looked at him with curiousity.
"I want you to never tell anyone that a human hurt you. Never tell anyone. Just say that you fell upon a high dirt heap onto something sharp or something," he said gently but firmly.
Rumpleteazer nodded. She couldn't really say no about this to the cat that kind-of, or rather, really, saved her.
Munkustrap gave a gentle hug, kissed each of the sleeping kittens, thanked Jellylorum, and walked out into the thick morning fog.
He kept thinking about Rumpleteazer's smile… how she was such a troublemaker but had such a beautiful smile…
Shoot! The flowers! The flowers that she gave me as an apology yesterday! I left it at the back entrance! he suddenly remembered.
He raced towards the back entrance. It was certain he forgot the flowers as he was helping Rumpleteazer get on his back to carry her back to the main area.
He wished so much that they were at least there; whether they were fresh or withered didn't matter…
Nothing. There was nothing at the place… nothing that looked like flowers.
He gave a great sigh and just sat there, looking at the cloudy sky.
It's going to rain today, he thought…
That was when he noticed there were two men, very well-dressed, by the actual back entrance. They were talking to each other.
Munkustrap quitely hid behind an old tire and listened:
"I can't believe you plan to organize and redevelop such a mess, sir."
"Oh, cleaning up is the easiest part of the job, mate. Don't you worry a single bit."
"And sir, when is the cleaning-up going to be started?"
"Let's see… August… uh, twenty-sixth. There, I remember. Ha! That's only two weeks and five days away!"
"Ah, sir, quite faster than what I had expected. You seem like quite a fast-paced man, sir."
Both gave a gentleman-like laugh.
"And sir, how do you suppose those creatures will be taken care of?"
He was pointing at Munkustrap's tail, which failed at being hid by the tire.
"Hmm. Again, that's the easiest part of the redevelopment. Just kill them the night before the redevelopment with some poison or axe or something."
"Sir, what about earlier than that night?"
"Oh, just do it as I tell you to. I suppose I am being kind by giving them chances to escape!"
Both men gave another laugh.
Munkustrap froze at what he had heard. His heart was beating so fast it was the only thing he could hear. His paws seemed to be shaking. Two weeks and five days until redevelopment, he thought, or really, two weeks and four days until killed.
He raced like lightning back to the main area. He couldn't keep this information by himself.