Рахма Крамбо - Guardian Cats And The Lost Books Of Alexandria

“Hey, Marco! You sure tonight’s the night? We’ve been up here forever.”

“Be patient, Skitzo.”

From far off came the soft deep rumble of thunder. Out of the corner of his eye, Marco caught some movement in the bushes. A small raccoon moved in and out of the shadows, then darted across an open space toward the library. Was this one of Sting’s gang?

The other cats were too absorbed in small talk to notice, so when the raccoon climbed into a basement window opening, Marco went to investigate.

He slipped through the upper story window and made his way to the balcony, where he scanned the lower floor through the rails. The raccoon soon appeared, his head poking through the same floor vent Sting had used.

But this was not Sting. He was way too small. The raccoon moved to a table with newspapers and magazines and promptly went to work ripping them into shreds, being careful to keep them in a pile. Strange, but hardly threatening. If this was the raccoons’ big move, then he didn’t have much to worry about.

The raccoon was fumbling with something in his paws. There was a soft scraping sound, a familiar odor and an orange spark. “Stupid thing,” the animal mumbled. “What’s the matter with it?”

Marco sat, spellbound, observing from his catwalk, as though the scene below were a theater stage. A clattering noise echoed in the darkened library. The raccoon had dropped the object.

He used both paws to pick it up again. A flicker of sparks sprayed out. “Dang!” The odor grew stronger and Marco realized what it was—Polo’s cigarette lighter! How in the world did this raccoon get it? He had to be a friend of Sting’s.

The raccoon’s next attempt was successful. The flame, framed by an orange halo, burned steadily. The raccoon moved the lighter close to the torn pile of newspaper, which took the flame, turning it yellow and blue. It flared up into the raccoons face, singeing his whiskers.

“Cripes!” he shouted. Then the fire steadied and the raccoon mumbled to himself. “I always say, if you want something done right, do it yourself.” He turned and gazed into the depths of the library and Marco got a better view of his face. He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

The raccoon’s face started to change shape. No, it was more like there were two faces. Marco blinked and tried to refocus his eyes. Now it was more visible, the raccoon and another animal forming within the raccoon. It was not possible, what he was seeing. But it was happening. There was another creature coming to life, another body inside the raccoon.

What kind of magic was at work? Nothing seemed to be as it appeared on the surface anymore. He felt dizzy for a moment and thought of The Book of Motion and how Akeel and Cicero had tried to explain about power in the wrong hands. He thought about his own error in judgment, trying to use power he wasn’t ready for.

“No!” The raccoon shouted. “Don’t leave me now!”

The fire grew larger, but the paper burned out quickly, and so the flames died down to almost nothing. The raccoon frantically tore up more paper, throwing it onto the hot ashes. He tried manipulating the lighter again, but it was getting harder for him to manage.

The raccoon was getting worked up, struggling with the creature that appeared to be taking over his body. The small fire smoldered and the morphing creature became more fluid as it grew angrier. It, or they, Marco couldn’t tell which one, threw the whole lighter onto the fire.

The double creature seemed to waiver back and forth, from what it was, to whatever it was becoming. The second creature had dull gray fur and no stripes. The lighter exploded and the fire leaped into action.

The transformation was complete. The creature within the creature had prevailed. Marco was looking at one of the Dead Cats.

Chapter 44: Gathering smoke

Cicero heard a small explosion, but it was the smell of smoke that alarmed him. He dashed out of his chambers towards the balcony. He stared at the flames, not believing his eyes, thinking this must be a nightmare and he would surely wake up. When smoke drifted upwards, he knew this was no dream.

Fire was Cicero’s greatest fear… his only fear, ever since he’d witnessed the burning of Alexandria. He stared at it in a daze. He knew he should move, but he remained petrified, dreading to leave as though he could will the fire to stop by his being there.

“What dark power has come upon me… that I should suffer through this, as did my predecessors? And why did I not sense its coming?”

Finally, he turned and darted back to his chambers, looking for Alaniah. She was not there and he went back to the balcony, coughing on the gathering smoke.

Cicero stood in front of the mirror, helpless to enter without Alaniah. He saw the reflection of the fire behind him, the image repeating over and over because of another mirror on the other side. For a terrifying moment, he felt the presence of the madmen who burned the library at Alexandria.

Caffeina goes for help

“Did you hear that noise? And what is that smell?” Caffeina caught the scent first, then Tweezer and the others smelled it.

“It’s coming from inside!” cried Skitzo.

Gypsy leaped down onto a lower branch. “Fire!” she cried. “I can see it. Come over here and look.”

“Fire?” cried Skitzo. “This is how they’ve come to destroy us?”

“They? Who do you mean? The raccoons?” asked Caffeina.

“We need a human,” said Gypsy, ever the practical one. “They’ll know what to do.”

“Where are we going to find a human at this time of night?”

“There’s a light on in that house,” said Pudge. “Who’s willing to check it out?”

“I’ll go,” said Caffeina. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.”

She dropped down from the tree and ran to the house. The rose bushes pricked her nose as she climbed up the trellis, but she managed to get to the window and peer inside where two people were sitting in front of a TV.

Caffeina tapped on the window with her paw. They didn’t hear her. She tapped harder and louder. This time the woman turned and looked out the window. She squinted at her and laughed, then nudged her husband. He ignored her. She nudged him again.

Caffeina caught a whiff of smoke and tapped more vigorously. The woman was laughing now, but the man was getting annoyed.

Caffeina meowed at the humans, hoping that they would come outside and smell the smoke. The man groaned as he got out of his chair and came over to the window.

‘Oh good,’ thought Caffeina hopefully. ‘They’ll be sure to help us now.’

“Damn stray cat,” the man muttered. “Looking for a handout.”

“Look at her. She’s beautiful, Wilbur. We should give her something to eat.”

“Forget it, Iris. We’re not taking in another cat. I’m calling Animal Control in the morning.” The man closed the blinds.

Chapter 45: Tough guys

Caffeina went back to the others to report her failure.

“Where’s Cicero?” she asked. “And Marco? Where’s he?” No one seemed to be in charge.

“I’m going back out,” she said. “I don’t know where, but I’ll keep looking until I find someone. Anybody else want to come?”

Tweezer moved to join her.

“Oh! What a pity.” A voice from the ground stopped them in their tracks. “Looks like your precious library is burning.” Sting was planted squarely under the tree, along with Tank, Crimmany and some out-of-towners.

“Hey scabs! I’m talking to you!”

“Scram, creep,” yelled Tweezer.

“Oh, you must be the tough guy, huh?” accused Sting.

“What kind of tough guy hides in a tree?” asked Tank.

“In case you didn’t notice, the books are burning,” said Sting. “You gonna sit and watch? What a bunch of losers.”