Catopolis. Part 11

He shouts, "Norbu! Do something! Help me!"

The boy, terrified, screams and crouches at the base of the tree, his fingers in front of his face.

Hissing and gurgling with success, Garakk rips through the silver cord.

Horror-stricken, Tai Pan feels the essence of his life withering. A cold, numbing darkness submerges him.

Garakk shrieks in triumph, dropping the body and turning toward the child. Raising its claws, it opens its hideous mouth.

"I will take you one small bite at a time," the beast exults, stepping forward.

"Stop!"

The imperious command comes from behind it. Lying on the forest's cold ground, Tai Pan's Astral body regains some of its brightness. His silver cord reforms, but too slowly for his need. With what little strength he's managed to reclaim in the last few moments, he staggers to his feet, trying to look undaunted.

"It takes more than one death to kill my kind, Garakk," Tai Pan announces.

"You can't save him!" gurgles Garakk. "You are too weak!" It takes another step forward. Norbu screams.

It's right, I am too weak. Tai Pan closes his eyes. It is time to call for help. To call in a favor.

His facile mind probes the night. A friendly soul answers, "Already cas.h.i.+ng in, are you?"

Two other cats show up in their Astral forms, just as Garakk lifts an arm to strike at Norbu.

"Didn't expect to hear from you so soon, mate!" says Mugs Greyshadow. "And I brought a friend, just in case."

The other cat, a large brown-striped Maine c.o.o.n, takes in the situation with a cool glance, leaps over Mugs, and lands on Garakk's back.

"Let's get him!" the Maine c.o.o.n snarls in a gravely voice, betraying a mind as thick as his fur. With savage fury, he claws away with all fours at Garakk, sending clumps of matted hair flying. The creature flings its spiky appendages backward, trying to reach its a.s.sailant.

Mugs turns to Tai Pan. "That's s.h.i.+ndig Haywhisker. He's the bouncer at the Fish Eye Cat Club. He's good." The gray studies his friend. "Oy! You don't look right, mate."

"Thank you, Mugs," replied Tai Pan, ignoring the reference to his diminished appearance and denying any more talk about it by changing the subject. "Your friend is just right for this situation."

"So that's how it is," Mugs says. Stepping forward, he hunches and begins to circle Garakk, studying the beast.

"Some nasty b.u.g.g.e.r you've got here for us, mate! Seen this before, I have-that's an Astral killer, that is."

Dodging Garakk's claws with an uncanny agility learned from years of street fighting, Mugs hollers, "Better watch its arms, s.h.i.+n. Wicked, those are. If they catch you, you won't get loose!"

Mugs feints at Garakk several times, looking for weaknesses. s.h.i.+ndig does his best to avoid the beast's claws, while delving deeper into its noisome substance. Blackish blood begins to drip from the beast.

Mugs steps back, looking at Tai Pan with an air of glee as huge switch-claws spring from his front paws. "Just got these, mate! If they don't do the job, nothing will."

He lunges again, slipping under Garakk's belly. With a wail of savage joy, Mugs plunges two oversized sets of switch-claws deep into the repugnant flesh.

With a screech born of hurt, rage, and frustration, Garakk brutally kicks Mugs away and finally snags s.h.i.+ndig. The bouncer rebounds off a tree trunk and flops on the cold ground.

Mugs staggers to his feet. "Oy, something's wrong here! That should have done him in."

Tai Pan's mind races. "He's still feeding on Norbu's fear!"

Mugs yells, shaking his head, "If it's that, I don't think we can stop him, mate." He looks at his Maine c.o.o.n friend, just staggering to his feet. "This is the first time s.h.i.+ndig's ever been down."

Gathering his strength, Tai Pan frantically cudgels his memory for bits of information that might help.

"I understand now," he calls to Mugs. "Someone evil summoned Garakk and bound it to kill the boy. Only he can defeat it. Mugs, just keep it at bay a bit longer, will you?"

"Yeah, well, we'll try."

s.h.i.+n and Mugs launch themselves against Garakk in a frenzy of screaming, hissing, and clawing. Tai Pan staggers toward Norbu and places his paws against the sobbing boy's chest. Bringing his face close to Norbu's, he purrs and says calmly, "Norbu? Look into my eyes. Look at me, Norbu!"

The terrified boy finally pulls his hands away from his face. His black eyes find Tai Pan's. He discovers unexpected solace and courage in the steady blue gaze.

Tai Pan concentrates all his will and strength to force Norbu's mind to stay focused on his words. "Listen, Norbu. Only you can defeat Garakk. That beast's only weakness is its hunger for your fear. There is nothing for you to fear but fear itself. Snap out of it, boy! Trust me, and trust yourself. It's time you did."

Norbu's eyes widen, betraying a new glimmer of consciousness, a new level of understanding.

"That's the spirit, Norbu!" encourages Tai Pan. "Stand up. Be strong. Go now, and cast that thing away!"

Slowly, Norbu stands up. He walks toward Garakk, putting one foot in front of the other. His lips are tight and a frown of concentration marks his smooth forehead.

Garakk glares at the boy after pinning Mugs under one th.o.r.n.y foot. It holds s.h.i.+ndig firmly locked in both claws, turning its head to treat him as it had Tai Pan a moment ago.

Norbu walks toward Garakk almost as if the beastly thing were nothing more than a pesky fly. Reaching up, he grabs Garakk's arms and shakes them until the monster's body rocks back and forth. s.h.i.+ndig flies from the claws to land hard on the ground.

The youngster stares the monster in its repellent eyes and, full of juvenile anger, hammers each of his words.

"ENOUGH! I-AM-NOT-AFRAID-OF-YOU-ANYMORE! GO-AWAY, AND-NEVER-COME-BACK!".

Garakk snarls at Norbu. It staggers back, dropping Mugs, and tries in vain to free its arms from the boy's grip. It can't move. Feeling its strength waning, Garakk voices a deafening shriek. Norbu stands his ground unafraid, seeing now what a pathetic creature Garakk really is. The beast shakes its head and gives Norbu a spiteful grimace before vanis.h.i.+ng in a puff of noxious green-yellow smoke.

"Thanks for the help, mate!" Mugs says as he flicks his switch-claws back in. He then scratches his neck with a back foot and steps toward s.h.i.+ndig to help the bouncer up. "Oy, Tai Pan, we done here?"

"This was a favor well returned," answers Tai Pan. "Your debt is paid, and your account with me settled, old friend. Thank you."

"Good thing, that is. What of the boy, mate?" Mugs looks closely at Norbu. "What's between you and him?" s.h.i.+n also eyes Norbu with curiosity.

Drawing himself up to his full height, Tai Pan says, "As you put it so well, my friend, that is between him and me."

"Fair enough, mate. Nice doing business with you," concludes Mugs. "Come on, s.h.i.+n." The two cats disappear into the Astral night.

Tai Pan turns back to Norbu. The boy is watching him.

"What happened?" he asks. "I mean, really?"

Tai Pan chooses his words with care, fluffing his fur as he thinks.

"It so happened you fell into someone's trap. You can't go bouncing around in your dreams anymore. It's just too dangerous. From now on you must learn to stay conscious when leaving your physical body. Careless journeys are a thing of the past. I'll see to teaching you that."

Norbu nods at Tai Pan's caution. "I'm so glad you're here, t.i.tus." As he looks at the snowy mountains, thinking of all that had happened, the veil of dreams once again clouds his gaze. He's exhausted.

"I think you've had more than enough excitement for this night," says Tai Pan. He levitates up to Norbu's waist and presses his paw against the boy's solar plexus to get him started home.

Satisfied with the sight of his student diving back toward his physical body, Tai Pan begins to think. He doesn't expect Tara Moondreamer as she materializes next to him. He steps back a pace, startled.

"Not bad for a first effort," says the old cat, smiling as she gives Tai Pan a moment to regain his equilibrium. "Of course, the lamas were very worried about Norbu running amok in the city for every clairvoyant to see. They trust you'll do better next time."

"This turned out to be a very costly first try-one life and one major favor paid," laments Tai Pan. "I'll be out of business before long at this rate."

"Ah, yes. You lost one life," remarks Tara, "but did you not gain another, with a deeper meaning and a greater worth? Did you not just trade a favor from an acquaintance for another of much higher value?"

"Touche," agrees Tai Pan a bit sheepishly. After a moment of silence, he adds, "I'm just realizing there is no greater wealth than that of true friends.h.i.+p, especially the boyhood friends.h.i.+p of a lama destined for greatness. Thank you for pointing out the obvious, Tara. With that in mind, I think I've just become the richest cat in the world." He stands up, preparing to leave the Astral Plane.

"What will you do next, Sir Tai Pan t.i.tus de Pannikin?" asks the white cat.

His voice lingers on the Astral Plane after he disappears. "If you please, I need to take a long nap. Then I'll plan Norbu's next lesson."

THE GUARDIAN OF GRIMOIRE HALL.

by Christopher Welch.

With his head low to the ground, whiskers straight, eyes glimmering and ears attentive, Delavayne entered the Antique District with uneven, silent steps. Following a trajectory of shadows in the moonlit cityscape, he had unsuccessfully searched most of the metropolis in the last week. Within minutes of treading the concrete of the Antique District, his toes began to tingle.

Grimoire Hall and The Book of Apedemak must be in this part of the city, he exulted.

He stalked the alleys and avenues, prowling between ancient structures and around parked vehicles and late-night pedestrians as quickly as his four awkward limbs allowed. His nose twitched, bringing him strong unfamiliar scents.

The smoky sheen of Delavayne's gray fur blended with the city's neon and concrete shadows. He'd also taken arcane precautions to veil himself from the city's feline population. He left little scent to track.

Despite my precautions, a big orange cat almost spotted me earlier this evening. Delavayne had faded into the darkness of the urban corridors.

Funny, how cats perceived even the slightest hints of the supernatural.

What other secrets do you hide from me? Delavayne wondered. What other arcane gifts has the G.o.d Apedemak bestowed upon you?

Delavayne saw a tall tabby farther down the street, strolling toward him. A distinctive metaphysical aura emanated from the cat's body.

This one has answers!

Delavayne ensconced himself in shadows. Smiling, he flexed his claws and prepared to pounce.

Inside the underground Grimoire Hall, Tenja nestled on a pillow reading a book she had borrowed from the shelves upstairs without Clara's knowledge by means of the ka spell. It had been years since she'd read the Poe collection, and it was like visiting an old friend.

Tenja had nearly finished Murders in the Rue Morgue, and she was antic.i.p.ating The Purloined Letter, her personal favorite. I'll recommend this book to Fergus the next time he stops by, a.s.suming his stiff feline pride can be convinced to read a human author, Tenja thought, the corners of her mouth turning upward. It is good to know something of the people who claim to keep us. And as poet laureate of the city, he'll appreciate the refrains in Ulalume.

Tenja's whiskers tingled. Sleek muscles under her white-and-calico coat tensed suddenly.

Something is amiss, her Guardian instincts told her.

No one touched the ancient books surrounding her without her approval. No one. Since early Renaissance times, members of her long-lived family had guarded the precious tomes.

Tenja rose, abandoning Poe as she a.s.sessed the situation. Her copper-colored eyes darted across the amber-lighted hall.

The Book of Apedemak lay on its central pedestal, the scrolls remained safe in their cases, and countless bound volumes by austere feline scholars and philosophers stood in orderly fas.h.i.+on.

Running up the front staircase, Tenja checked the main entrance. It seemed secure. She bounded over to the rear staircase that led to the door into back alley. It was also secure.

Everything was just as it should be, but her whiskers still tingled.

Is something wrong in the Antique District?

Tenja listened at the back door with ultrasensitive ears. She heard fading footfalls in the alley, then after six heartbeats... nothing. The threat had pa.s.sed. Her nose told her nothing.

If there is a real problem, Fergus or Sampson or even some nosy kitten will tell me about it. Kittens are good at finding out odd things.

Still alert for a predator, she returned to reading the mystery of the murderous beast that stalked Paris.

A monster was loose in the city.

The cats that nightly patrolled the myriad levels of the metropolis had alerted feline city elders several days ago that something was on the prowl, something never seen in daylight. But the creature could not be traced; even the city's best hunters were luckless in tracking it. That in itself was alarming.

"I myself spotted an odd intruder just a few hours ago during my usual scouting," orange Sampson stated to a citizen's committee. They'd hastily gathered at his call in a pocket park adjacent to a weathered brick office building.

Well respected by the city's four-footed residents for his prodigious hunting skills, Sampson's word carried weight in the cat community. Esteemed elders Clem, Isis, Mittens, Tambour, Tatiana, Gwendolyn, Ling, Oswald, Percival, Mooch, Fifi, and Sarah awaited his information.

"What manner of creature did you see?" prompted Sarah.

"It was furry and quadruped," Sampson said. "It blended well with shadows, which it rarely left. I couldn't determine if it was canine or rodent, or something else. I saw teeth and claws reflected in the moonlight as it ran past the old City Hall. Its gait is odd. And I caught a glimpse of its eyes." He shuddered. "I'm sure there was a glimmer of black magic, the darkest sorcery."

The elders stared at one another in shocked silence.

"We should have detected its mystical presence as soon as this stranger set paw in the Antique District," Clem finally said. "We're familiar with all male and female witches in our city. Who among them would summon such a threat?"

No one spoke. None could fathom the interloper's purpose.

"It must be an infiltrator from beyond the city limits," Sarah concluded in her soft voice. "It's the only logical-"

Caterwauls from two blocks away interrupted her.

Catfight!