“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.”
Tweezer climbed farther down the tree. “I’m not going to take this,” he muttered under his breath.
“Don’t go!” Caffeina whispered. “They’ll kill you!”
There was a cracking sound inside as the table, where the fire had started, split and crashed to the floor.
“I love a good fire. Don’t you?” Sting said to Tank. The other raccoons were milling restlessly about, looking in the windows.
“Hey, Sting!” yelled one of the newcomers. “I thought you said we were gonna have a good fight tonight. There’s nobody here to fight with.”
“Yeah, you’re right. They’re a bunch of nobodies.”
“Scaredy cats. That’s what they are.”
“I know what’ll get ‘em down,” taunted Sting. “Here, kitty, kitty. I have something special for you.”
Sting went over to the bushes and yanked on the leash that Polo was tied to. “I got your ratty little pet here. Come and get 'em!”
Sting yanked Polo by his collar and held him up, squirming and strangling. Polo tried to squeal but nothing came out.
Tweezer took a flying leap off the branch. In one fell swoop, he grabbed the leash with his teeth and jerked it out of Sting’s paw. The startled raccoon had no time to act and Polo, with the leash dragging behind him like a long tail, ran as far and as fast as he could.
Chapter 46: A purpose in life
Marco followed the gray cat to the rooftop. He wasn’t sure what to do about the fire, but he was sure he needed to keep track of the raccoon turned cat. He moved stealthily behind him, but he needn’t worry. Bait was too self absorbed.
Bait, the traitor, began a conversation with someone Marco couldn’t see. Someone he was obviously friends with.
“I’ve failed. Cicero has vanished and so, I assume, has the Book. My plan to smoke him out seems childish now," Bait was saying. Marco tuned his hearing and another voice became audible.
“While you’ve been playing with fire, I’ve been speaking with my benefactor. He sends you a message.”
“Yes?”
“He says we can give you something better than what you were looking for.”
“What could that possibly be?” demanded Bait.
“A purpose. You simply need direction.”
“What do I want with direction? I want my magic!” he said angrily.
“You don’t need silly magic tricks like shape changing anymore! That’s for beginners.”
A chill wind wrestled with the leaves on the magnolia tree.
“Stop playing around like this is some kind of game!” said the whispery voice. “You are behaving like a timid house cat!”
“That is unfair!” cried Bait.
“Then don’t bother me anymore. You don’t want my advice.”
“No. No! Don’t go. Tell me,” said Bait.
There was a long moment of silence before Marco heard them speak again.
“Think about it. You’ll never get to the Book as long as it has a Guardian. He’s only doing his job, you know, but he’s getting too old. Maybe he was good once upon a time, but no longer. The Book needs someone younger and stronger. You… you are the worthy one!”
“Yes, it is by all rights, mine.”
“That only proves his foolishness. His judgment is failing. It’s time you stepped in and took action. You must not hesitate or falter now.”
Marco smelled scorched paper and heard the crackle of burning books below mingled with the quiet sounds of treachery here on the roof.
“Cicero has been selfish, wanting to keep it all for himself. This is a Book to be shared and that will never happen as long as he is alive. You must have the courage to do what is necessary!”
A gust of wind whipped down from the roof and lightning from the approaching storm flared in the distance.
Chapter 47: Destiny has its own ways
An insignificant stone became the cause for change in the course of events. Gravity and vibration caused a small rock to dislodge and roll towards Marco. It was enough to catch Bait’s attention. He whirled around, his yellow eyes glowing with a savagery he had kept hidden for so long under his gray cloak. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing? And who were you talking to?” asked Marco.
“None of your business,” answered Bait.
“It is my business, if you are planning to kill Cicero.”
“Oh! Aren’t you the noble knight? Always out to save somebody. You’re so pathetic. You don’t have what it takes to be a Guardian, whatever foolish ideas Cicero put in your head. You’ll never be anything more than a lap cat.”
“I thought you were my friend, Bait. What happened to you?”
“I was never your friend, fool. You don’t get it, do you? Grow up!”
Something below them crashed as the fire continued to gain strength. Lightening flashed and made them both jump.
“How could you burn the library?” demanded Marco. In the distance, the sound of thunder accompanied the faint whine of sirens. “What could possibly make you turn so…” bitter, he thought, then stopped as the realization hit him. “You were training, weren’t you?”
“I’m still in training. I’m the rightful heir. You’ll never take over.”
“I’m not taking over anything.”
“You are so naïve. You want to know what happened? You think Cicero is such a great and honorable cat? He’s old and greedy and he’ll turn on you like he did me. And he doesn’t keep his word. How noble is that?”