Hiro Arikawa - The Travelling Cat Chronicles

‘We’re here, Nana.’

This must be the bed and breakfast Satoru had talked about – the inn, run by some friends, that accepts pets. Today, the place was reserved just for us.

As the van pulled into a parking lot big enough for about ten cars, a man Satoru’s age came out to greet us.

‘Sugi!’

Satoru gave him a wave and unloaded his bag from the van.

‘Is this your only bag? I’ll help you.’

‘Apart from Nana, I only brought a change of clothes, as it’s just the one night.’

Sugi took hold of his friend’s bag, and Satoru carried me in my basket, and together they climbed the gentle slope to the B&B entrance.

‘What a wonderful place this is. Is that a dog run?’

On the way up the slope was a fairly large fenced-in space with what looked like a kennel near the back.

‘I wanted a space where my dog could run free.’

‘A Kai Ken, isn’t it? I remember you saying you had one.’

From inside the basket, I sniffed at the air. A disgusting smell that belonged to that perennial rival to cats.

I squinted through the bars and watched as a hard-faced brindle dog sprang to his feet and stared challengingly in my direction.

‘Yeah, his name is Toramaru.’

‘Is he okay living with a cat?’

‘Of course. We have Momo, you know. And lots of guests bring their cats.’

‘Ah, that’s right…’

I’d already heard from Satoru that they had a middle-aged female cat named Momo. She was twice my age, he’d said. I was still fairly young, so would we get on?

‘Hey there. Hello. Glad to meet you, Toramaru,’ called Satoru, holding his hand over the fence.

Hold on a minute! Don’t go speaking to that dog! I glowered from inside my basket.

This Kai Ken who went by the name of Toramaru cast a sharp glance our way and growled and bared his yellow teeth.

‘Is he in a bad mood then?’

The instant Satoru inclined his head – ruff! – the dog barked at him.

‘Whoa!’

As you might expect, Satoru quickly pulled his hand back from the fence.

Hey! Knock it off, hound!

Every single hair on my body was now standing on end.

If you’re going to pick a fight with Satoru, then I – a cat with a strong sense of pride – am not going to just sit here and take it! If you don’t want that nose of yours cut to shreds, then apologize right this instant, you mangy mutt!

‘ Tora! ’

Sugi scolded him, but the mutt didn’t stop his miserable yammering.

Satoru tried to soothe me, too.

‘It’s okay, Nana. Just hang in there.’

He was holding the door of the basket closed from the outside because he knew I was quite willing to have it out with that stupid dog if I had to.

‘I’m really sorry,’ Sugi said. ‘He’s not usually like this.’

‘No, it’s okay… I wonder if we did something to upset him.’

‘What’s going on?’ A woman hurried out of the front door. A pretty woman wearing an apron. ‘Is Tora angry?’

‘It’s no big deal. Hi, Chikako. How are you?’ This from Satoru, who waved his hand at the woman.

‘Satoru! I’m so sorry. Is everything all right?’

‘No worries. I’m not used to cats or dogs getting angry with me, and it startled me for a second.’

That’s true. From an animal’s point of view, Satoru was a pretty stress-free human, the kind that passing dogs and cats found no reason to pick a fight with.

An impudent dog like this leaping out at him was definitely a first.

‘I’m so sorry. I really am,’ Sugi apologized, making another knock it off gesture at the dog . Toramaru let his curled tail droop. Serves you right, you stupid hound.

‘It’s fine. Really,’ Satoru said, trying to smooth things over. ‘He seems like a good, dependable dog. Maybe I look a little dodgy to him?’

Satoru tried again, reaching over the fence to scratch the dog’s neck. The mutt quietly allowed him to stroke him, but it was obvious to me he was still sulking. Try flashing those gnashers at Satoru again for even a split second, mate, and you’ll have me to deal with!

Through the bars, the dog and I exchanged some seething, hostile looks, but Satoru was then shown inside the house, so there was an unavoidable pause in the action.

We were shown a lovely sunny room on the second floor.

‘After you get settled, come down,’ Chikako-san said. She turned and went nimbly down the stairs.

Well, I’ll take a look around the room, then. I easily unlatched the door of the basket from the inside and slipped silently out. The neat little room had wooden flooring, and from a feline point of view looked perfectly cosy.

‘Oh, hello there, Momo.’

At the sound of Satoru’s voice, I spun around to face the doorway. A small, dignified, brown female tabby was sitting quietly in the corner. Double my age, but still quite limber, from the look of things.

Nice to make your acquaintance, Momo greeted me, in a dignified voice quite in keeping with a dignified tabby. I hear you and Toramaru have already squabbled.

I let out a sniff. That dog has no manners. Baring his teeth at humans who try to say hello to him – he couldn’t have been well brought up.

I was thoroughly sarcastic in my comments, and Momo smiled wryly.

Please forgive him. Just as your master is precious to you, so Toramaru’s master is precious to him.

Your master is precious to you so you bark at your master’s friend ? That doesn’t compute. At all .

As if sensing my displeasure Momo gave another wry smile.

I’m really sorry. I believe our master is not quite as strong a character as your master.

I still didn’t get it. I refrained from objecting, though, because I didn’t want to be disrespectful to an older lady.

‘HE SEEMS TO be getting on well with Momo.’

Satoru had come down to the lobby-cum-lounge and, with a smile, he was pointing upstairs.

‘They’re in the bedroom, getting to know each other better. Now, if only Toramaru could be friendlier. Maybe he’s angry that I brought a cat along?’

‘He should be used to guests bringing cats by now.’ Chikako tilted her head, puzzled, and offered them some herbal tea.

‘Darling, you did explain things to Toramaru, didn’t you?’ Chikako scolded Sugi jokingly.

‘Of course I did,’ Sugi pouted, his tone a little snappy.

You be on your best behaviour, okay? Sugi had said, as Toramaru gazed into his eyes. So why did he then bark at Satoru?

Maybe Toramaru had detected some discomfort in Sugi?

‘Wow, this is delicious,’ Satoru said as he sipped his tea, and Chikako beamed.

‘I’m so happy! Our guests seem to like it, too. The herbs are from our garden.’ Chikako looked over at Sugi sternly. ‘The first time I made herbal tea for him, he said it was like drinking toothpaste.’

One silly slip of the tongue back when they had first got married, and Chikako still bore a grudge. Thinking about this, Sugi had often wished he could follow Satoru’s lead and be shrewder in dealing with things. But, in truth, Sugi found openly praising anyone a bit embarrassing.

‘It’s slightly sweet. What do you put in it?’ Satoru asked.

‘Stevia.’

‘Ah, that makes sense.’

‘This is why I enjoy talking to Satoru, because we can talk about things like this!’

‘Your business seems to be doing well,’ Satoru said, clearing his throat.

‘It is. Targeting guests with cats was a smart move,’ Sugi said.

‘All my idea,’ Chikako returned.

‘Indeed. Entirely the wife’s doing,’ Sugi added. ‘But what about you? Are you doing okay? Giving away your cat… all of sudden?’