Chapter 29

Cat Prison/ Slate on the Run

The Cat had been man handled all day and frankly he was sick of it. He had been dragged here to see someone and told his story. Then dragged somewhere else where he was looked over again and told a completely different story

"Don't you people have better things to do than drag me all over the city?" He asked one of his soldier guards.
The guard didn't answer him. This was not part of the deal he signed up for and nobody was listening.
So he went back to his original story.

"Look I'm telling you fellers, you got the wrong guy." The two guards which now frog marched the half dressed Cat down a dark staircase.

"You do not seem to be listening to me." The Cat said again. "I'm innocent. Slate is the one you want."
The soldiers ignored him and him through a damp cellar with a stone floor.

"I do not like the smell around here." The Cat sniffed. Then with a face of disgust; "What is wrong with you people, have you never heard of air freshener?" One of the guards unlocked and opened a large heavy oak door and the three went down another flight of stairs.

Stopping to check in with an overweight guard that sat behind a large wooden desk, the head soldier spoke; "Here he is Harry, the one they're making such a fuss about. Hope you have a real nice room set up for him." Then added "something with a view." All three soldiers laughed. It was not a pleasant laugh.

"Do you have any idea what this dampness will due to my hair?" Questioned the Cat, nobody listened.

Harry got up from behind his large desk and came around for a better look. "So is this the golden boy that everyone is up in arms about." He looked over the Cat like a fat man looks over food.

"OK boys leave him with old Harry. He'll be fit as a fiddle if and when you ever need him again." The Cat smiled at this. Maybe this place wouldn't turn out to be so bad after all.

"Don't bother. The talk is now that Lord Pious has the
Prince region returneth in custody the Tabbies will be tame as kittens. And they shall stay that way as long as we can spread the rumors that their plan was unveiled when he failed the DNA test. Then the Rogues ran off and were ever to be heard from again."

The Cat didn't like the way that sounded. He felt as though he might be acting a bit on the paranoid side, but he figured that these guys might just want him out of circulation for a while. Like forever.
He made a break for it.

Flipping up and backwards over the guard behind him, the Cat landed behind and shoved him forwards with all his might. All three soldiers crashed into the large desk. Harry was still cursing when the Cat made it to the top of the first staircase. He bolted the door behind him.

Someone somewhere sounded an alarm. Flood light glared out of every corner. Running across the now illuminated basement, the Cat could see why they had left it dark.
Its walls were lined with small damp disused cells.
The smells of the various forms of wildlife which now seem to be the only residents filled his nostrils again. He thought there might be a subtle difference, but he was distracted as he heard pounding on the bolted door.

It seemed Harry and company got up and started earning their collective pay. Or keeping their heads, whichever was the fashion at the time. They were attempting to smash the door in.

He started for the opposite door when he definitely smelt something that shouldn't be there. Ignoring the splintering door, he moved closer to the cell which the odor originated.

When he was completely inside he heard a noise behind him then a swishing sound and the Cat assumed that something seemed to explode in the back of his head. Before the warm embrace of blackness engulfed him he realized what the smell was that he had his breath he said faintly, "Pebbles?"

Then proceeded to pass out.

Pebbles and Slate were running through the woods at top speed. The night air was cold and the moon had been covered by clouds so visibility was poor, especially for the city dwelling Cat soldiers. They made their way past the main gate with the help of the local Tabby Party which was currently starting a backlash of fighting in response to the Red Hat abduction of their prince.

"Slate we were able to get you two out, you two alone. I've been in communication with our spy network." Announced the Tabby who was currently leading the duo through the night forest.

"The Prince has been captured, he is being held in the Red Hats oldest and most formidable prison."

Slate was only half listening. He was trying to make sense of the events that had taken place. He had his spies infiltrate the outlying settlements and learned all he could about the culture and local religious and political beliefs. His plan was foolproof, the hardest part had gone off without a hitch, what could have gone wrong?

Cat brother, tell me how this could have come about. We were accepted with open arms only days ago. What could have driven the Red Hats into thinking we were such a menace?"

"I know not General Slate." The Tabby stammered. "The Red Hats hadn't talked of war since before we came to Cat World. They tried to leave that all behind. Or so they said."

"Mayhaps something else could have caused them to fear us, some unknown factor that I had not foreseen?" Slate thought it over and seemed to come to a conclusion.

"I have a base twenty leagues to the south. Can you obtain transportation for us?"

"It would be an honor General Slate."

"Good. Have all the leaders of the Tabbies meet me at these coordinates when the moon is directly overhead. He scribbled numbers on a scrap of paper.

"Tell them if they value their position, and the lives of their people on this planet, they will meet with me. Slate looked deep into the Tabby's eyes.

"Remember, cross me and all of your people will suffer."

"I understand General Slate. Please understand this. The people are behind you, and I am one of the people."
Slate smiled, nothing like blind obedience to a concept of an idea.

"You're a credit to your race. Now go."
When the Tabby had left them alone in an abandoned farm house, to secure transportation, Pebbles spoke, "What is the plan now father?"

"The plan, my youngest and most loyal? The plan is the same, only now we have to fight for what is ours." Pebbles served him some of the food rations which were left by the rebels.

"Will we save my betrothed?" She asked coyly.
He looked at his daughter with great interest, then continued eating. When he finished he looked up at her and said.

"Yes we shall save your betrothed. He is still needed in the plan."