Solomon: Solomon's Kitten Part 14

You must help yourself,' said my angel, and I flicked my tail in annoyance. But last time she'd said that, it had worked. I sat in the front window, thinking, studying the flooded landscape for escape routes, wondering if it might be possible to go along the tops of fences and trees. First I had to find a way out of the house. Swimming was not an option. Meowing at boats hadn't worked. I studied parts of the roof visible from the window and noticed a skylight that was open just a crack.

I found it in the bathroom. The crack was too small, but if I got my paws up there and pushed, I could squeeze out. Jumping up was a challenge, especially from the floor. I clambered onto the shiny lid of the loo, then onto the cistern, and from this narrow slippery perch, I planned my daring leap. I had to try. Focusing on the power in my back legs, and the sharpness of my claws, I sprang up there. For a frantic moment, I hung with my claws dug into the wood. With all my strength, I lifted my hind legs, b.u.t.ted the crack with my head, and wriggled through. I was out!

It had stopped raining, so I walked up to the ridge of the roof to survey the landscape. Somewhere an engine was running, and I soon discovered it was a fire engine, sucking water out of a nearby house. I sat on the roof and meowed, but no one even looked in my direction, and my cries for help were lost in the noise of the fire engine.

I was hungry, and thirsty, and cold.

Night came with frightening speed. Another night of being abandoned, this time on my own. Thinking the roof was not a good place to spend the night, I went back to the open skylight, intending to attempt the jump back into the bathroom. But I made a dreadful mistake by putting my weight on the raised edge of the window and making it shut. My entrance was closed, and despite my efforts to reopen it, it stayed closed.

With thick darkness and a chilly wind blowing, there was no choice but to spend the night on the roof, with no soft place to sleep, no food, no water, and no one to love me.

Chapter Fourteen.

CATS IN CAGES.

I pressed myself against the chimney on its warmest side. Cold and isolated up on the roof, I tried to conserve my energy by tucking my paws under my body and dozing quietly. Staying calm was vital to my survival. No more meowing.

It ought to have been peaceful, but suddenly the roof tiles were vibrating, first from a loud clanking noise, followed by a steady rhythmic pounding, like footsteps. I could feel my eyes growing big with fright. Was the roof somehow trying to shake me off into the water?

The rhythmic pounding stopped, and, in the expectant pause, I sensed a listening, and a beam of light came sweeping over the roof. Then, an unbelievable sound.

Someone was calling, Kitty kitty kitty.'

A gentle, male voice, up there on the roof. It wasn't anyone I knew, but from past experience, I a.s.sumed that kitty kitty kitty', meant me.

Someone had found me!

I peeped round the chimney and the light dazzled me. Whoever was holding it turned it off, and I stared down at a fireman in a helmet, his face looking up at me. He looked solid and rea.s.suring, obviously a cat lover.

My tail shot up, and my fur bushed out with joy. I couldn't get to him fast enough. I slithered down the wet tiles, doing purr-meows in grat.i.tude. A friend, a warm, human friend. It was so comforting to lean against his chest and hear the slow heartbeat. I clung to his shoulder, and cried like a little kitten.

You're a beauty!' he said, appreciatively. You're gorgeous. Now you hang on to me and I'll take you down. Trust me. OK?'

How could I not trust this cuddly fireman? I hung on, and treated him to my loudest purr as he took me carefully down the ladder. It didn't even bother me when he put me in a cat cage. I was being rescued!

The fireman waded a long way through the flood to a patch of higher ground. A fire engine was parked there, its blue light flickering, reflected in the water. Behind it was a van with a familiar figure waiting at the wheel.

Got her. She's fine,' the fireman shouted. Can you take her?'

I've just got room, my luvvy. Thank you SO much. You're a star.'

She took the cage from the fireman, and looked in at me. Tallulah! h.e.l.lo, my luvvy. It's me, Penny, the cat lady. Now don't you worry, we'll take care of you and find your people.'

I was a lucky cat, and if I'd been a human, I'd have given Penny a box of Cadbury's Roses like the one Max had given TammyLee for pa.s.sing her exams.

The interior of the van was full of cat cages, and there was a cacophony of meowing and yowling. Black frightened eyes looked out, and most of the cats were extremely upset. I did a lot of work in the back of that van, showing them how to be calm and telling them about the work of Cats Protection. As Penny drove up the hill away from the flood, those traumatised cats were looking at me, their eyes hungry for rea.s.surance. The worst was a Siamese with blue tormented eyes and the loudest voice I'd ever heard from a cat. You're upsetting everyone,' I said, and it's no good wasting your energy on meowing. It won't make any difference. Penny is a good and clever human. She'll find your people for you.'

But the Siamese cat ignored me.

I thought Penny would take us to the farm with the cat pens, but she didn't. When she pulled into a car park and turned off the engine, the yowling and meowing made eerie music ring through the night.

Where were we?

She opened the back door and outside was a big building like a school, with the lights on and people milling about inside. I wished I could read the tall red words on a board outside. Penny picked up my curiosity immediately and read them for me: FLOOD DISASTER CENTRE.'

I could smell soup and bacon, and hear teacups clattering. From another part of the building came the smell of wet dogs, and the sound of barking. I listened for the particular bark I longed to hear . . . Amber! . . . but no, she wasn't there, I was certain.

Is Amber in the spirit world?' I asked my angel, fearing that her answer would be yes'.

No,' she said, not yet.'

Then where is she?'

She is lost.'

I thought of my wonderful dog being lost out there in the flooded landscape, and sent her a message: Stay where you are, Amber, these kind people will find you.' Somewhere she was shivering and alone, like I had been on the roof. I hoped the power of my thoughts would help her not to give up.

A group of smiling cat ladies' came to the back of the van and carried our cat cages in a meowing procession in through brightly lit gla.s.s doors, and down a corridor. I was proud that Penny, the Queen of Cat Ladies had chosen ME to carry.

The building was warm and full of noise. People talking and children screaming and running about. We pa.s.sed the kitchen and I sniffed the aromatic steam rising from ma.s.sive cauldrons and trays of food. Beef, chicken and herby smells. I was absolutely starving.

Trust you to know where the kitchen is, Tallulah,' said Penny when I meowed. Don't worry, you'll get one of my nice sachets of rabbit in a minute.'

They took us into a shiny room with a high ceiling. It was full of bewildered cats, all in cages around the walls. Some were sitting, hunched up and staring miserably out. Others were cowering in the back of their cage, or weaving to and fro, trying hopelessly to escape. I wished the people would open the cages and let me sit in the middle and gather them round me for a communal purring session.

The promised sachet of rabbit arrived, and Penny popped it into my cage on a plastic dish. Nothing had ever tasted so scrumptious. I ate every bit, and cleaned the dish with my tongue. I sat calmly, washing, and waiting to see what would happen. The door opened, and an elderly man came in, his eyes searching the cat cages, and the Siamese cat yelled out at him. He stumbled across the room with tears glistening on his cheeks.

Judy! My Judy!'

He opened the cage and the Siamese cat's blue eyes sparkled. She could talk, almost like a human, and the love radiated from her aura as she climbed into his arms, kissing his face and hugging him with her long paws. Then she dived inside his coat and nestled in there, her eyes half closed and blissful as she looked out at the rest of us.

Through the evening there were more emotional reunions as people turned up to find their lost cats. It was a happy time, but not for me. My confidence was draining away. Every time the door opened, a tiny flame of hope started in my heart, and quickly died when I saw yet another sad and frightened cat being joyfully reclaimed, and it wasn't me. I was tired, and the unfamiliar comings and goings resounded through the building. The effort of listening for a voice I knew was intense. Even Penny disappeared and a different cat lady took her place, but she didn't know me. I was just another cat.

My eyes began to close. It didn't feel right to be in that harshly lit noisy place late at night when I would normally have been curled up on TammyLee's bed. The children's voices changed from happy playing to screaming and crying, along with the raised voices of exasperated mothers trying to get them to sleep. Plates and pans were being crashed around in the kitchen, doors were banging, and people were shouting to each other. My head ached and my ears hurt with the noise. Sleep was impossible.

I did doze a bit and dreamed I heard Amber barking, waking me up with a jump that shook my whole body. The noise went on all night, and the lights stayed painfully bright. I only knew it was morning when the windows turned silver, and a wild wind swirled leaves across the car park.

The new cat lady brought me a meal but I was now so stressed and exhausted I didn't touch it. My joy at being rescued was fast turning into despair, and I needed a litter tray. I couldn't stay in that cage much longer!

And then . . . I heard running feet. Clonk, clonk across the car park. A figure in black, with flying hair, ran past the window. I sat up, my heart beating fast, my neck getting longer as I watched the door. And hope came flooding into my tired mind like sacred sunlight. Suddenly, I was warm, and alive, and alert.

I listened.

The footsteps I knew and loved! In the building now, marching along the shiny corridor, closer, and closer. And then my heart leaped with excitement. Another set of footsteps was running alongside, the click-click of a dog's nails on the hard floor, and when they stopped, there was the thump-thump of a tail wagging against the wall. The cat lady stood up and went to the door.

She opened it and peeked out. An argument started.

I am afraid you can't bring that dog in here.'

But she is OK with cats.'

I am sure she is, dear, but I have got a room full of traumatised cats, and the last thing they need is a dog.'

But my cat is friends with her.'

Yes, but the other cats aren't. They've been rescued from the floods . . . one was even found clinging to a bit of wood in the river. I am sorry, but you CANNOT bring a dog in. There's a place for dogs at the other end of the building.'

I heard a sigh.

I've been through h.e.l.l to get here. I waded through the floods and stuff, and I need to see if my cat is here. I'm not going away. Look, I'm dripping wet and freezing.'

All right, dear, don't get upset. I'll hold the dog, and you go in . . . but please, DO NOT let any of those cats out, even yours.'

Thanks. I won't.'

The door opened. I fluffed my fur, and sat up, determined to look beautiful. Then I heard a whisper that filled the room, and all the cats went quiet. Where are you, Magic puss cat?'

I meowed my loudest and my TammyLee turned her head and saw me. Tallulah!' she cried, and ran across the room to me, and undid the cage door immediately, her bangles jingling as she reached in and picked me up with ice-cold hands. My whole body turned into a purring machine as TammyLee lifted me into her arms. She smelled of the river, and her hair was wet, but I didn't care. We loved each other. I wrapped myself round her neck, my warm fur drying her like a soft towel, the way she had so often dried me. She kissed my face and I kept b.u.t.ting my head into hers, giving her every last spark of my love.

Magic puss cat,' she sobbed, and the tears were happy tears. I thought I'd lost you for ever. Darling cat. I'm sorry I ran out on you. Please forgive me, Tallulah.'

Forgive her? Of course I did. It's what cats do. I turned my purring up a notch, and let it tickle her ear until she giggled.

My angel was whirling round and round us, enjoying herself, whisking ribbons of stars through TammyLee's aura.

I'd better pop you back in, Tallulah,' she said after our long cuddle. But I won't leave you. I don't know where we'll end up going, but you are staying with me.'

I didn't mind being back in the cage because TammyLee was carrying it, and this time it was my turn to look blissfully triumphant with the other cats watching enviously.

And guess who's outside,' TammyLee said, as we headed towards the door.

I'd already guessed. Amber!

Like TammyLee, she was soaking wet, but so pleased to see me. The cat lady let go of her lead and Amber was so excited that she tried to gallop in small circles on the slippery floor. Then she sneezed right into my cage and her tail sent the cat lady's papers flying from the chair. But she managed to make them both laugh. I envied her that talent.

Behave, Amber. SIT.' said TammyLee sternly and Amber did sit down, facing me, and I noticed she was shivering.

She swam all the way from the park,' said TammyLee. And I didn't find her . . . she found me and she actually stopped me going into the river! She's such a clever dog. But look at her . . . she's really cold.'

Take her down there . . . to the RSPCA dog-rescue room. They've got hairdryers and towels and loads of food. People have been donating stuff,' said the cat lady. They'll sort her out, poor girlie. Here, I'll take her down. You go and find your family.'

Mum's in hospital,' said TammyLee, and Dad's with her. They're OK, but mum's got MS, so she needs some help.'

And so do you. Go on, you go to the main centre, they're doing breakfast for about two hundred people.'

She gave TammyLee a cat harness and a lead. If you want to let the cat out, put this on her and keep her attached to you. She might panic in that noisy place.'

All I wanted to do was sleep. I felt safe now, with TammyLee, and Amber, and I trusted that we would eventually go home. So I switched off and slept while TammyLee sat at a table and ate breakfast. I must have slept for hours, for when I woke up, we were in a different room, and Amber was there, lying on TammyLee's feet. She looked dry and fuzzy, and much better, and TammyLee's hair was dry.

There were families around the room, and some of the children were still asleep. It was quieter, except for a man with a woolly microphone that looked like a cat's tail. Followed by a cameraman, he was interviewing people very loudly.

This disaster has brought the whole community together,' he was saying. And families made homeless by these terrible floods are still coming in . . .'

His voice made me drowsy, and I drifted off to sleep again, this time in TammyLee's arms. She was yawning and snoozing too, and Amber was stretched out on the floor, snoring. We were all exhausted.

Wake up, Tallulah, quickly.' My angel whispered urgently to me. This is very important.'

Instantly, I was sitting up, on full alert, my whiskers twitching. Something was going to happen.

Chapter Fifteen.

FROM A DISTANCE.

You are needed, now more than ever, Tallulah,' said my angel, and for once, she was crystal clear in her iridescent colours. She was so radiant that I thought one of us was going to die. I looked at Amber, and she was breathing. I looked at TammyLee and there was a strange light around her. Squinting my eyes, I watched until the face of a golden angel materialised from its blaze. I'd never seen her before.

Who is she?' I asked.

She is the mother love angel,' said my angel, respectfully.

I studied the new angel, fascinated by the swerving colours of her robe: intense pink, aqua and silver white. Mysterious images and pictures flickered in the energy she was generating, constantly changing. For one fleeting moment, I saw a cat's face, and it was my own mother, Jessica, and then she was gone, like something melting in the sun. She hadn't liked me when I was a kitten, but now her brief appearance had radiated love, which made me glow with happiness. I wanted to play and jump in the air, but I was restrained by the cat harness.

Be calm,' said my angel, and do exactly what I tell you. Exactly. Now . . . watch the door.'

As she spoke, a new family was coming in through the door, a young mum with a little boy who was dressed in a tiny denim jacket and jeans. Their pushchair was laden with bags of food and toys. Like most of the new arrivals, they seemed stressed and anxious, and stood looking round the hall for somewhere to sit.