A Cats Tale
The Nine Lives of Isabelle Book I Amun
Published By Robert Dixon at Smashwords
Copyright 2012 Robert Dixon
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A Cats Tale
The Nine Lives of Isabelle Book I: Amun
By Robert Dixon
Introduction
We have all heard of the saying that a cat has nine lives, but where did it come from? Sure most humans would say that it’s because cats are so lucky, but I am here to set the story straight. A cat having nine lives is not because that cat is lucky; it is because that cat upset a goddess! Plus, guess what? All of those nine lives are not as the same cat! I should know, because I’m that cat.
Hi! My name is Amun, but you can call me by my current name, Isabelle. I am currently on life number nine and I can’t say if there will be any more lives after this one, but believe me, a rest would sure be nice. In my other lives I have been either a male or a female cat. I have never been anything else, not a human, or any other kind of animal especially a snake (ugh!) or a dog. As the saying goes cats rule and dogs drool, I really couldn’t see me as a mindless drooling dog. Believe me, I have seen enough of them through my other lives to know that cats are definitely on the top of the chain as far as animals go, and this may include humans as well.
What? You ask. How can a cat be higher than a human? Well, just look at us; we have been idolized since before the days of the pyramids. So much so that even the Egyptian Goddess (Bast) was worshipped for us. We do not need humans to survive, but they depend on us to rid them of mice and other such creatures. Sure they may reward us for our efforts with a nice warm place to stay, some table scraps to tide us over till our next hunt and even a nice fur rubdown occasionally. But most of them know that we will only tolerate so much and are quick to bare our claws or sharp fangs should the mood strike us.
We are in our element when we are left alone to roam or explore our world and surroundings. The human I have now knows this independence well and lets me do as I wish. Sure, she complains when I explore the top of the table, especially when there are other humans present and there are tasty morsels of food upon it, but I am gracious enough to remove myself as to reduce her embarrassment. I allow my hostess to stroke my fur when I feel she needs my attention and I always give her a swift paw or nip when she displeases me.
I can always tell when she is upset or troubled with things and after living as many lives as I have, I’ve seen more than my share of troubles. I try to comfort her as best as I can in those moments, but I mostly wind up swatting her on the cheek, as if to say, “Snap out of it!” I find this approach works well and I can get back to my more pressing endeavors (napping) sooner, but more of this current life later. As I said, this is my ninth life and it is pretty cushy, but believe you me, the road to getting where I am today wasn’t so smooth. In fact, at times it was downright rocky! Plus, the garden times were unpredictable! The garden is where I went in-between lives. The garden times were nice, but you couldn’t kill anything there, and as a cat with all these mice and birds, and snakes, (drool) all over, believe me this heaven was hell!
Remember I mentioned a time before the pyramids? Well I guess that was very fortunate for me to include that, due to the fact that there is where my journey and now yours begins.
Chapter One
Like I said, I was first born a cat in Egypt, that is, it is this life that I first remember. My mom, Isis (named after the Goddess Isis) was beloved of Isom, a servant girl to Cheo who worked in the palace of King Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti. Sounded pretty important the way mom said it, but it still boiled down to the same thing, pest killing!
My dad, according to mom, was a real tough mau (Egyptian for cat, or one that meows) that she met while on patrol in the granaries for mice. He didn’t work there, just happened to be passing through. Mom was a force to be reckoned with in her own right, being the biggest cat that worked the palace grounds, Grandpaw was part leopard according to mom.
I found out through my older sisters that their mating ritual was the stuff of legends and is still mentioned by the palace guards and workers who were witness to the event whenever my mom would pass by on patrol.
The story my sisters told and later expanded upon by mom, was that the day started out as usual for Mom in her life at the palace… “Isis!” called Isom, “Here kitty! Come get some fresh milk!” Isis, the very large female palace cat, came bolting around corner at the sound of her human’s voice. “There you are! I knew you wouldn’t want to miss out on this treat.” Isom said, as she stroked the cat’s fur.
“You’ve got that right!” thought Isis, “Nothing like goat’s milk to give me strength to go out patrolling!” Isis accepted the milk and the fur rub graciously and even rubbed her sides on her human’s legs as they walked back to their chamber together, once the milk was gone.
Along the way she saw her two daughters lounging in the chambers of another servant. Isis called out a hello to each and they both helloed in return. She saw just how fat they had become, living as they do. No granary duty or patrols of the palace grounds. The only action they see is an occasional mouse that makes it past my patrol outside. “Maybe it is all my fault they have become so soft,” she thought, “perhaps if I let more slip in.”
Her thoughts drifted so that she almost missed an asp slithering alongside the wall close to their chamber. It was Isom’s shriek that brought her back just in time to see the thing coil back into a striking pose. Isis became a black streak that was only a blur to the vision as she attacked and swiftly killed the snake.
With the snake still dangling from her mouth, dead and limp, she saw her daughters come out of their chamber. “Way to go Mom,” they called out, “thanks, but we would have gotten it!”
“Kids,” she thought, “I’m glad I am through with all that!” She thought back to their father. He was much smaller than she was, not a good hunter and wasn’t very lucky either. He was unfortunate to have scampered out of the palace one day after the kittens were born and right under the wheels of a passing chariot. “Served him right,” she thought, “for producing these two.” At least they were cute kittens and were quickly taken off her paws after they were weaned.
As she let the snake drop from her mouth Isom came over and gave her fur a great rub. “You know? I can see why even the king has heard of what a great cat you are.” she said, “Come and rest before the night sets in.” With the asp cleanly discarded out the hall window, they entered the bedchamber and Isis curled up on Isom’s sleeping mat and drifted.
She awoke to the sounds of raised voices and cheers coming from the hall. As she went to investigate, she saw Isom and others leaning and waving out the hall windows. Isis clambered up to the window ledge in front of Isom and saw the King going by in his chariot, followed closely by his Queen driving her own chariot. “OK”, she thought, “that was interesting, but it doesn’t mean a thing to me.” So Isis went back to bed.
Her next awakening revealed the Sun God Ra was driving his chariot past the mountains in the west and it was getting dark, “Time to hunt!” she thought. If she had known what was coming next, she said she would have stayed in bed! The patrol started out pretty routine as it always does. A few mice trying to slip in by the stables, a few snakes sliding along the bushes near the palace steps, but as she turned the corner towards the granary Isis said she caught the scent of, something.
“It seemed as if eyes were watching me the closer I got to the storage bins.” She did quick turns to see if the culprit was closing in, nothing. Her attention turned to a rather large mouse that was trying to enter the space under the granary door, which really wasn’t a space at all, or a way into the granary, stupid mouse. The granary was constructed in such a way that it was sealed tighter than one of the tombs down in the Valley of the Kings, she would know, that is where she was born.
Isis and her Dad use to explore all the tombs. His job was to protect the tombs from thieves and such. Grandpaw, being part leopard, is where Isis got her size from and skills. When humans talk of curses being placed on tombs, that was the job of Isis and her Dad! They would scare the wits out of anyone who would come to desecrate the tombs of the kings, and send them screaming for their lives.
Isis was little more than a kitten when Isom came to visit the tombs with Cheo. She and her Dad would usually hide in the dark recesses watching everything, but Isis had failed to find a spot big enough for her to be totally hidden from sight and Isom saw her. Without fear she came over to the spot and knelt down to look at Isis in her hole. Isis tried to scare her off with hisses and spits, but they were only half-hearted, due to the fact that this human had brought something in her hand that smelled wonderful. Her mouth was watering so hard that it was difficult to hiss; it was more like someone doing a raspberry, with a lisp!
The human opened her hand and offered the kitten the contents. Isis discovered later that she had given up her independence and time with her father for cheese. As she made short work of the cheese the human touched her fur. It was a soft caress that felt soothing, like when she would rub against her dad or mom as a kitten. She was lifted into a basket and Isom said, “I think I will call you Isis!” That was the last she saw of the Valley of the Kings, or her dad.
The granary stores were sealed tight, with only the aroma of grain escaping to entice hungry rodents. It was as she was choking down the fat tail of this stupid mouse that Isis was knocked flat! “Hey there, good looking!” purred out the ambushing attacker, “What’s a cute thing like you doing in these parts?” Isis staggered back to her paws and looked up to see what it was that had just floored her, ready to strike back.
“What I saw almost laid me out again.” He was the biggest mau I had ever seen since my dad, he might have been a bit bigger, and man was he gorgeous! “What did you do that for?” Isis hissed.
“I simply could not resist!” he purred back, “I had seen you on patrol the last time I passed through here and you intrigued me enough to cause me to stop longer this time through, and, might I add, that I am now glad I did!” The large leopard mixed mau circled Isis, careful to stay just out of claw length.
“I may make you change your mind about that last bit.” she hissed, careful to keep her front to him as he circled, then added, “If it is a meal you have stopped for, I will make you regret your poor choice!”
“A meal?” came the low response from the mau and with a wink. “That is not why I stopped.”
Isis realized now just what this handsome mau was after and coyly hissed, “It would be easier to make a meal of me than to get that! Now, be gone or be dead!”
The larger male chuckled slightly and said, “I think I am up to that challenge, my dear.” His constant circling was obviously creating the effect he had hoped for. Although Isis was smaller than he was, she was very capable of fending him off, but she was getting dizzy. He looked determined to make this one his.
The howls from the two in their circling dance attracted the attention of some guards and palace workers. They debated whether to stop the exchange, but settled for placing wagers instead. The crowd grew as the howling grew. Isom came running to the palace wall to see, as well as my sisters when the word spread through the palace. Her instinct was to rush down into the granary yard to protect her beloved pet, but the guards held her back.
Isis was keeping pace with the larger male, but was feeling more and more vulnerable as the circling became faster. She admired the stranger’s style, turning this into a challenge of wills, but she didn’t have the need or the time to have more kittens! Her eyes were focused on his, locked in his matched pace, then he stopped. She saw the expression on his face had changed and his eyes had caught something and in a flash he had sprung towards her. Isis had her claws at the ready and raked the stranger across his stomach as he leapt, over her? She quickly turned to see the handsome mau snatch a cobra in mid strike that was aimed to bite her. The cobra went unnoticed by both while they were circling until the stranger spotted it about to strike. The snake did not stand a chance of winning against the savage attacker and was quickly destroyed.
With his stomach scratched up pretty good the mau retreated to one of the granary doors, away from Isis, and the humans watching from the wall. Isis stood there for a moment looking at the shredded remains of the cobra, then toward the door where the mau went. She went to the doorway and saw the handsome mau slumped down in the corner.
“I knew you would be fast,” he said, “but I had no idea!”
“I am so sorry!” Isis cried, “I thought you were attacking!”
“If this was what was in store for me,” he said, “I’m glad I didn’t! Ouch!” The mau licked the wounds on his stomach.
“I think you will live.” Isis said, relieved.
“Yeah, just a scratch!” he chuckled back. “Well I guess I should be moving on,” the mau continued, after a final inspection of his wounds, “I have a long way to go.”
As the mau was getting up to leave, Isis said with a wink, “Aren’t you forgetting what you came here for?”
The two remained in the doorway for almost an hour and this was causing the watchers on the wall to become concerned, when all of a sudden the mau came trotting out. The blood from his scratch encounter with Isis was clearly visible to the observers, who let out gasps. Isom screamed and the mau was heading out of the granaries when the spear of a disgruntled bet loser came flying towards him. He never heard a sound until it was too late, and it was the gasps of the watching crowd that alerted him. The spear thrower’s aim was true and the large mau was well on his way into the afterlife before he even realized he was doomed.
Isis did not realize what had happened, she was exiting the doorway and saw the handsome beast had slumped into the dirt of the garden. She ran over to him and then noticed the spear. “No!” she cried, “Not again!”
“Don’t worry my dear Isis,” he said weakly, “It’s just a scratch…”
“I didn’t even get your name!” she wailed, but he was gone. She did not hear the disappointed shouts from the wall, the wage losers, nor did she hear the shouts of jubilee from the winners. What she did hear was the approaching steps coming toward her in a fast run. She weakly turned to the sound and felt her heart leap when the approaching sounds were those of her Isom. Isis, weak with sorrow, collapsed in the dirt across the unfortunate mau.
She said she awoke back in her home, on a mat of her own, with Isom tending to her. She was still mourning and it felt good to lie there and be tended to. Milk and cheese were close by and Isom fed her the cheese and dipped a cloth in the milk and let it flow into Isis’ mouth. The food made her feel much better and she was back on duty in a few days.
Mom said she continued her patrols and guard duties at the granary until her stomach became so large that she couldn’t climb up and down the palace steps. The thought that kept going through her head was is she going to explode or be doomed like her own mother was because of the size of the kitten inside her? Mom’s mother was large, but nothing compared to her daughter’s size. The trauma was so great to her that she survived only by sheer will to nurse her kitten. Within three weeks of delivery Grandmew was gone, but had given just enough nourishment to her daughter to ensure her survival. Fortunately Mom had a father that stuck around and provided the protection and food that she needed. This made her miss her handsome mate even more.
Mom said the labor lasted what seemed an eternity to both her and Isom. Both did their part, one the labor and the other providing comfort. My sisters were also around, but proved mostly a source of antagonism to their mom. The closer she got to delivery, the less comfort she found. Her comfort came only when I was born. I looked like my mother, mostly black, with shocks of gray and white, no tail and tufted ears. Mother admitted that she had survived the birth due to her own size and that she had already given birth prior.
Chapter Two
I grew fast and was soon following mom on her patrols. I had the best teacher and was quick to learn the skills needed to be a great killer, yet I had a gentle streak as well. This last part drew the attention of the queen and her nephew. I spent my time when off patrols hanging out with him and following him about the palace grounds. The boy liked to rub my fur and watch me perform my duties on patrol. He was also the one who named me. “Aten,” the boy said, “You are a great warrior! I can only hope to become half as skilled as you. A swift and merciless killer at times, yet you also have the gentleness to be beloved by those around you, even my uncle sees your greatness.”
I thought, “I just do as I was taught.” My eyes diverted to where Mom was stalking her prey in the granary yard. I saw her a make swift meal out of a fat rat that was trapped in a crack.
As I grew in favor with the royal family so did my acceptance in the palace proper. I was welcome in the chamber of the queen and the nephew, as well as the throne room. King Akhenaten saw my presence at war counsel as a good omen. I had heard that the Pharaoh had once been great in battle, but age had slowed his once masterful military mind. I was present when the beautiful Queen Nefertiti posed for statues of her; she would stroke my fur as a distraction to posing. I had even heard that the nephew of the queen, whom I had grown very fond of, would become king before too long. This was due to the fact that the king and queen had only produced daughters. The boy was to wed one of them and ascend to the throne.
“Let’s go for a ride,” Nefertiti called to her nephew, “I’ll let you drive my chariot!”
“OK, but I want Aten to come as well.” he called back.
“A little protection is always welcome,” she said, “most certainly, bring him!” Meanwhile, I had been stalking a scorpion as it scurried along the tile toward the throne room, when I heard the call from the boy I slammed my massive paw squarely on the scorpion, sending it instantly into the next life. I turned and trotted off toward the calling voice.
The queen and the boy were pulling out of the palace gates in the chariot when I came rounding the palace steps. In what had become a game to the boy, and me, I kicked it up into pursuit speed. The speed that I reached as I passed the palace guards had them shaking their heads in disbelief and in what has also become a tradition, I zipped through the closing gate with barely a stone to spare. The dust was kicking up high behind the racing chariot as I caught up, and with one great leap landed flatly on the chariot platform at the feet of my friend and the queen.
“Where are we going?” the boy asked his aunt.
“To the Valley of the Kings.” came her response, “To pay our respects to the great Pharaohs of the past and to ask of them to impart their wisdom to you, my future king.”
“A perilous outing indeed.” he said, “I am comforted in knowing that Aten is along to protect us from grave robbers and thieves!” I looked up at the mention of my name, but was more interested in the passing scenes as we raced along the Nile, through Thebes and up to the Valley of the Kings.
I had been on other chariot rides before with the young king to be, but never had they passed this way. The river was loaded with barges that drifted and made their way to distant markets. We saw great stone statues along the way and more as they approached the Valley of the Kings. As we entered the area I could feel eyes upon us, and this brought me to full alert. They tied up the chariot and walked to the tomb area, the queen noted that construction was going well on the tomb that would hold her and Akhenaten when they passed. They saw that a few articles scattered about proved the thieves were busy as well. This left an impression on the young boy and gave him some ideas as to how better protect his tomb when the time came.
As the boy and the queen entered the new tomb area I nervously scanned the surrounding stones that contained many areas that could keep a snake hidden and in a position to strike out at a passing leg or arm. I also couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. The boy was busy talking to the queen and did not see the snakes coiled on the rocks he was about to pass.
I caught them mid-strike, one in my mouth and the other with my paw. The one under my paw was ripped to shreds as I spun to send the snake that was in my mouth slamming into the rocks. The force of the blow sent pieces of the snake showering down like rain. “You never cease to amaze me Aten! This must be at least thirty times you have saved my life!” the boy said, after he recovered from the shock of what he had just witnessed. He and the queen entered the tomb.
“Just as fast as your mother.” came a voice from up above me. This was startling enough to cause me to jump almost ten feet away from the voice, into the rocks. “Just as jumpy, too!” the voice laughed, “So the rumor is true, the palace guards took out poor Horus, but not before he gave her you! Welcome Grandson! Welcome home.” I looked up into the rocks above me and saw a mau that was equal my size and more.
“You know of me and my mother?” I asked the stranger, “You know of my father?”
“Know you?” the older mau chuckled, “Why, boy, you are the spitting image of me as a youngster. Plus you have the color of your mother, which she got from her Mom. As for the tale of your creation, I may be some distance from the palace, but news of that event carried far down the Nile. I am Anubis, your Grandpaw, I was named after the God of the Dead because I patrol and protect the tombs. Your father, the unfortunate Horus, used to patrol here with me.”
The queen, with nephew in tow, chose that moment to leave the tomb and discovered me staring up at the large leopard-mau mix. The boy picked up a rock, but before he could hurl it in the direction of Anubis, he was gone. “Come, Aten,” said the boy, “time to head over to the temple.” With that, we walked back down the path and over to the temple of the kings, followed secretly by Anubis.
As the boy and queen entered the temple I stayed outside and my Grandpaw reappeared. “It was I who suggested to Horus to check in on your Mom, for I had not seen her in years.” he said, “He reported back about what a great hunter she had become. I could tell that he had become fascinated with her and that something like what happened might occur, but I never thought Horus would get hurt in the process. You have the blood of excellent hunters running through your veins and endless courage and loyalty. I have already heard of your exploits and the favor you have in the human world, but be careful, my son, for these humans have a strange way of rewarding loyalty.”
“What do you mean by that, Grandpaw?” I asked, without realizing just how good it felt calling this old mau by that name, “Strange?”
Anubis uneasily answered, “You know that I have been patrolling here for a very long time. I have seen many burials that have taken place, from small ceremonies to large full-blown ones. Every ceremony has the same routine. First comes the dead, next the family, followed by the things that the dead one loved most in life and what they wanted with them in the next life, mostly food and wealth. Sometimes though, that included pets, and sometimes slaves and such.”
“I can understand that.” I replied back, “So?”
“Some of the things that go in never come back out!” cried Anubis, “Especially the pets and slaves.”
I finally understood what my Grandpaw was saying about rewarding loyalty. The truly loyal servants had made themselves so indispensable that the king needed them in the afterlife as well, this meant death prematurely in this life. I could see that I was already a candidate for this early entry into the afterlife, but the boy who would be king is young and by all rights he would most certainly outlive me! It is at this time that the young boy and queen reappeared from the temple and headed toward the awaiting chariot. I called out a hasty goodbye to my newly discovered Grandpaw and he called back for me to tell Mom that he is doing well and missed her.
On the ride back I kept thinking about the things I had learned today, and counted myself fortunate for having traveled along. I met my Grandpaw! I learned of my father, Horus! I couldn’t wait to tell Mom of this, but even though I was glad to have this new knowledge of my family, it had come with a harsh realization of what could happen if the king so wished.
Chapter Three
Mom was on patrol in the garden when I got back to the palace. I decided to tell her the news of my discovery in the Valley of the Kings and headed to the garden. Since the encounter with my father a little more than a year before, Mom had become very jumpy when on patrol. Today was no exception. Even though I called out to her at some distance, she still leaped about five feet in the air. “Aten!” she hissed, “You know I can’t stand it when you sneak up like that!”
“I wouldn’t quite call this sneaking.” I laughed, standing on the other side of the garden.
“You know what I mean.” she retorted, “It’s just like, um, you sound so much like someone else.”
“You mean my father, don’t you?” I said, as I approached, “That’s part of why I’m here.” I recounted my trip out to the Valley of the Kings and of my encounter with Grandpaw, the story of my father and of the reward for loyalty tale.
“I’m glad to hear that my Dad is well, it has been so long since I left there.” she said, “I am also saddened to find out that it was my Dad who sent your father to look in on me. I am so sorry you never got the chance to know him, for that matter so am I, but at least now I know his name. Thank you.” she paused, sorted her thoughts then continued. “As for the loyalty bit, I have heard of that as well, here in the palace and it is true.”
“It is a good thing my boy is young then.” I replied, “I will be gone long before him.”
“Yes, that is true.” Mom replied, “Very fortunate, so you better make sure he lives for a long time.”
I set about to do just that. I became the future king’s shadow, protecting the boy from any harm that came his way, from scorpions to snakes. We slept in the same chamber and I even thwarted an attempt on the boy’s life as an assassin entered the chamber in the dead of the night, only to face my claws of fury. The would-be assassin exited the chamber using the window, about a fifty-foot drop, because he could no longer see. The stop at the end was much more merciful than I was. It was my mission and I was bound and determined that this boy lived a long time.
Things and events happened quickly after a year of being dubbed the protector. The old king died and passed on the kingdom to the boy. The queen left the kingdom and all but vanished. The young king moved his palace back to Thebes and restored the original deities to be worshiped, including Amun, the king of the gods. Under Akhenaten’s rule there had only been one Supreme Being, Aten, who I was named after, but the people were upset with this and so the new king gave the old gods back to the people. He even changed his name to show the people his belief in the old gods. This is how I became now known as Amun.
The new king set about returning the names of the old gods to the temples and statues, which Akhenaten had removed when he gained the throne from his father. Peace and prosperity flourished under the king, it was hard to believe this boy of nine was King of Egypt! We spent many days out on hunts, or racing the chariot up and down the streets of Thebes. I became his supreme protector and he even had an amulet made for me, which I wore around my neck. Talk about impressing mom and the sisters! Plus it allowed me free access to everywhere I wanted to go, and not to mention, the other palace cats were drooling all over it!
The young king grew as I did and I protected him from everything and everyone, except for Queen Ankhesenamun, his wife and the daughter of Akhenaten. He and his young wife had tried to have children, but were unsuccessful in their attempts. I would lie at the king’s feet in bed and would hear him call out in grief during the night. The king had resigned himself to the fact that he would have no heirs, but with the help of his advisors laid out the foundation of future dynasties and government within Egypt. He made sure the armies were strong and the people were prospering. He even devised his tomb to thwart grave robbers as it was dug with a few extra changes in design.
He provided air holes to the tomb and false rooms. There was also a spring that was diverted to the tomb that would provide fresh water. The tomb was honeycombed with small passages from chamber to chamber. The purpose of these new designs had the tomb builders baffled, but they carried out the instructions. The king must have had premonitions about some unforeseen death and set about with instructions for after his time came.
I was stalking a snake in the throne room when I heard, “Amun! Let’s go!” At this I scrambled down the hall and down the steps to see my friend in his long chariot with a few palace guards.
“Must be a special trip!” I thought as I leapt into the back of the chariot at the foot of the king. The ride was familiar as they made their way along the Nile and up to the Valley of the Kings. “Perhaps I will see Grandpaw again.” I thought as we stopped short of the temple, “It has been years!”
As the guards kept watch on the surrounding area, the king jumped off the chariot. They also kept close watch as we walked toward the tombs. I was a bit curious as to why they were here doing my job, but then I saw a band of thieves exiting a recent tomb with the wealth of its’ former occupant in their arms. The guards and I gave chase as the looters dropped their goods. I leapt on the back of one as he clambered over some rock and proceeded to shred his shirt and points beneath! The guards were able to inflict some painful reminders to the thieves as well, to stay out of the Valley of the Kings. I scanned the rocks for a glimpse of Grandpaw, and saw him clamped on the backside of one of the looters. He was being dragged down the path out of the valley. I chuckled at this sight and hoped I would have the chance to ask him how long it took for him to get the taste out of his mouth! The king entered the tombs and called out for the guards and I to follow, which we did. I could see well in the darkness and squinted when a guard struck fire to a torch. We followed a path through a few chambers and then descended from one chamber into another. The path was like a maze and was hard to keep track of where we had been. We finally stopped at what appeared to be a dead end. The king pushed against part of the wall and it swung inward.
I heard a sound from the back of the chamber we had entered and then saw a fountain with water flowing through it. This chamber led to other chambers as well. I noticed a fountain in each chamber that flowed with water and even paused at one for a drink. “Not bad, all the comforts of home!” I thought.
The king looked impressed as well and turning towards me said, “What do you think of our new home?” Only then did I see the small holes carved in the walls, too small for a human to crawl through, but the right size for a cat!
Bolting from the tombs and into the safety of the hills beyond was the first thing that came to mind, and then the king’s voice returned to my ears. “I wish for you to be my protector in death as you have protected me in life. I have made these things,” the king said, as he pointed to the fountains, “to provide you and your family with life giving water.” I understood what the king was requesting of me. The king continued explaining his request at the amazement of the guards who were even more astounded when it appeared that the large cat was actually understanding the king’s words. “The water will attract mice and rats galore, so food will not be a problem either, and I have provided the air with which we breathe. I wish you a long life Amun, I do not wish you to join me in the afterlife as is customary. I want you here to protect me from the grave robbers, to be my curse!”
Chapter Four
As we exited the tomb and made our way back along the passages to the daylight, I reflected on my friend’s request. I was so astonished by this revelation that I had forgotten all about Grandpaw. This new tomb design was the king’s way of sparing my life upon his death, by providing me a purpose and a reason to remain among the living. I thought about this all the way back to the palace and well into the night as I looked up at my friend from the foot of the bed. I also thought about the life and duties that I now have and how much I cared for my friend, but what I puzzled on the most was what the king had meant when he said “family”.
I awoke in the night and went out into the garden area. After chowing down on a nice juicy rat that unwisely crossed my path I clambered atop a statue of Bast to ponder the mysteries of life. I had become very attached to my young king, had given him years of protection, so why should that stop now? I had seen the devastation that thieves do to the tombs of kings; did I want the same for mine? I thought about his possible meaning of “family”. If protecting the king meant that my mother and sisters would have to be placed in the tomb with me, then we would just flee from the palace and return to Grandpaw in the Valley of Kings. Ra was riding his chariot up from the East as I descended from my perch.
I made it back to the bedchamber just before the king awoke. I studied him and did see the kindness in him, but to seal up my family in his tomb was a different story. “No way!” I thought, “I will have to tell Mom of this, of course, and then we can plan our escape.” I went about my usual duties and managed to save the king from tripping over a rather large rat that had somehow made it into the palace, past Mom and my sisters. The young king was about to step on the rat’s back as he climbed the stairs to the throne room, which would have caused the king to fall. Later, on one of the king’s visits to the garden, I spotted Mom stalking a snake. I took this opportunity to ask her to meet me back here tonight, which she agreed to.
That evening when the king and queen were down and the palace slept, I once again slipped out and into the garden. Mom was waiting near the entrance to the granary. I told her of the king’s revelation in the tomb and his use of the word “family”. I also told her about my thoughts of escape if the king meant to entomb her and my sisters. Mom thought about all she had heard and knew of this practice of taking possessions into the afterlife and concluded that they were in a no-win situation. If they stayed they would end their lives in the tombs one way or another. She also thought about Isom and the love she has for her. Then she thought of her Dad, of how great it would be to see him once again after all these years. Still she couldn’t give me an answer then, Mom wanted to consider it a little more. With that we parted, she back to the granary and me back to the king.
As dawn was breaking I spied an asp slithering under the door to the chamber, a shadow on the other side of the door silently moved away as the asp entered. The king and queen were still slumbering and were in no direct danger of being harmed by the creature, so I watched it slither along the side wall and it finally came to rest near the chest where the queen kept her wardrobes. I quietly left the bed and exited the chamber into the hall just in time to see the king’s “loyal” advisor turning a corner down the hall. He looked back for a moment, but failed to see me behind an urn. “Hmm…” I thought, “This is going to be tough to protect against.”
I returned to the chamber and made swift work of the asp, only a slight stir from the royal couple as I slammed my paw square on the asp’s head. “No more slithering about for you!” I mused, as I slung the snake out the window. I began to think back to the other creatures that just so happened to find their way into this chamber. One would think the palace was crawling with vermin just by the amount of them that I have killed in this room. From what I have seen, this is not the case. The rest of the palace rooms are relatively clear of pests, except for the rooms that the king used. I was putting two and two together when the king rose from the bed and entered his bath chamber to conduct his morning business. I was left watching at the foot of the bed when the young queen also rose and hastily rushed toward her bath chamber. “Humans!” I chuckled, “Every morning, the same thing! The race to the chamber pot!”
I guess I shouldn’t make so much of that though, I saw the servants enter the chamber after we left, to clean the baths, which included my own spot of sand that was always clean and fresh every day, even sprinkled with a few lotus petals. “Yep!” I thought, “It’s good to be the king’s protector!” But even these little conveniences couldn’t shake my conviction that sealing up my family and me for the sake of tomb raiders was not the answer. There had to be a better way. As the day’s events passed without incident I had a chance to ponder alternatives and the return to the Valley of the Kings was looking more appealing with each passing thought. As for Mom’s decision, that was made easier a few months later.
Chapter Five
The palace was all-abuzz one morning as the king and queen readied for the day, servants rushing about carrying large trays of food and urns of wine. I watched the royal couple exit the chamber all dressed in their finest clothes, full headdresses and robes. This meant only one of two things, a celebration of birth, which both king and queen had a while back, she turned twenty and he turned eighteen. “Wow!” I thought, “I can’t believe time has passed so soon!” The second reason for the attire and the hustling servants meant that other royal guests were coming. “Whoopee!” I smirked, from the foot of the bed, “I hope they don’t have kids!” I trotted off behind the king and queen as they made their way down the hall toward the throne room. I paused to smash a scorpion as it scrambled to duck out of the way into a crack in the wall. “Thanks,” I said to the smashed remains, “I needed that!”
I was right about the guests and counted myself fortunate that no kids had tagged along. Kids were always a problem because they wanted to chase you around and caused a fuss whenever I tried to discipline them. They would go running back to their mommy to take care of a few scratches, but it was always, “Bad Amun!” Like it was my fault! Today was not going to be one of those days! I saw the royal guests enter the throne room in robes that rivaled the king and queen, so they must be rulers from another land. They brought with them gifts that were carried in by their servants, chests filled with various sparkly things and shiny things, as well as bolts of cloth. I was at my usual spot beside the king as the tribute was laid before him. I kept my eye on a tall muscular servant who carried a rather large chest on his shoulder. He easily swung the chest down and with a thud he placed it at the foot of the throne.
As this servant was coming forward I noticed the usual onlookers peering in from the doorways on the side and rear. I saw Mom’s human giggling with others as they watched the male walk forward and saw her mouth drop open as he swung the chest down. I was quite fascinated with this spectacle, and I also saw the tall servant return Isom’s stare. I then saw something I didn’t know humans capable of doing, she actually started to change color! As she did this she left the doorway and the male servant smiled as he returned to his place behind the royal female. Later in the day as the two royal couples were taking a stroll in the garden I saw Isom and the male servant talking in the hall, very closely.
There was a large banquet that evening and I had an envious position of being seated under the table between the king and queen, so there was no want for tasty morsels. The royal couple sat on either side and I could hear them discussing different matters of state, from alliances to mutual enemies. I heard Isom’s name mentioned at one time, but my attention quickly turned to a rather sizable hunk of meat that the former owner so carelessly allowed to slip from their grasp. “Thank you, grease!” I thought, as I pounced upon it. After the meal was finished and the evening prayers were said in the temple the royals retired to their chambers. As all were sleeping I decided to go pay a visit to the chamber of the “loyal” advisor.
Mom was going down the stairs to the granary when I spotted her. “Hi Mom!” I called down to her from the top of the stairs. She still jumped straight up about five feet. “Oops! Sorry!” I followed up with.
“Aten! Erg… Amun!” she hissed, “Stop doing that!” She paused in her decent and returned to the top of the stairs. “What are you up to this time of night?” she asked.
“Just checking something out.” I said, “I have a suspicion that I want to confirm, so if you hear any screaming…”
Mom gave me a look that said be careful and as I turned to continue down the hall she said, “By the way, have you seen my Isom tonight?” I replied that I had only seen her ogling over that male servant earlier but not since. “Funny,” Mom said, “she didn’t come back to our chamber this evening.” I called back that I would keep an eye out for her over my shoulder and padded off to face an assassin.
There was the sound of heavy snoring coming from the chamber of the advisor when I silently let myself in. I scanned the room and saw him sleeping soundly. I wanted to just jump up there and claw him apart, but I needed more proof. I nosed my way into a clothing chamber and spotted a few lidded jars tucked way back under the advisor’s hanging wardrobe. After hunting vermin for as long as I have, you recognize the scent of your prey and these jars were fuming with it. Scorpions here, deadly sand spiders there, and in between both was an urn filled with asps! “Man, I hate snakes!” With this discovery, I convinced myself that this advisor had higher ambitions in mind. It was far too easy for these guys to seize power, especially since the king had no sons to follow him. A little accident and it would be out with the old and in with the new! So sorry… time to move on!
I was turning to go back and claw this advisor into the next kingdom, when a better idea occurred. Carefully I eased the jars and urn onto their sides and quietly opened each one, saving the asp urn for last. This deed done I scampered quickly out of the room and back to the royal chamber. “Let’s hope he enjoys a little of his own medicine!” I chuckled, as I resumed my position at the foot of the bed. “See how you like it…” With that last thought I drifted into a deep sleep.
The screams coming from the advisor’s chamber early in the morning awoke almost the entire palace. The king and queen hastily dressed and charged down the hall. A large crowd had gathered by the door, but it was still shut. The king was quite upset that none of the palace guards had opened the door to see what was wrong and was about to demand why, when he saw people pointing to the bottom of the door. I snickered when I saw the sand spiders darting in and out of the room, as if protecting their turf. “Get the palace cats over here to take care of this!” the king yelled. The guards took off down the hall and the king turned to me. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Well?” I just looked up at him as if to say my job is to protect you, not an advisor. At that moment my sisters and mother came down the hall followed by more of the palace cats.
“What’s going on here?” Mom asked, “Tell me this wasn’t your doing!”
I looked her in the eyes and said, “I found an inside assassin and now it’s time for him to pay.” The screams were still coming strong from the room, as were the pleas for help.
“It looks like all you managed was to place the palace cats in danger.” Mom said, “How many do you think will get hurt because of your grand idea? It certainly sounds like the advisor is still alive and even if your plan worked and he was killed, who still has to deal with these pests? Us! That’s who!”
Mom was steamed at my poor judgment and I could see that she was right. I knew I should have just finished him when I had the chance. The king looked at me again as the spiders were starting to come further into the hall. “Tell the other cats to stay back,” I told Mom, “Time for me to clean up my mess!”
I sprang to the door and smashed a spider with each paw as I landed. I kept pouncing and smashing till the flow of spiders stopped coming under the door. A guard stepped up and opened the chamber door and the screams got louder. The crowd saw the advisor hanging from the oil lamp chain over his bed, nightshirt dangling as a few scorpions were trying to grasp it as he swung by. No one noticed the blur that entered the chamber and was making short work of the rest of the spiders and scorpions throughout the room. As I cleared the bugs from the bed I couldn’t resist snagging the advisor’s nightshirt and sending him on a swift spin. I had cleared the bugs while avoiding the snakes striking out at me as I leapt from side to side. Now it was time to face them, did I mention that I hate snakes?
When I turned over the urn of snakes I had no idea of how many it contained. I saw the advisor holding onto the chain, but his bare feet were on the bed. I kept hoping one of these stupid things would at least have the courtesy of going up there and biting him, but no! They were all focused on yours truly! I was looking out upon a squirming sea of black, and the waves were closing in on me. The sea was pushing me closer to the balcony and at that moment, I struck. Using the pounce and spin technique I was able to take out four at a time with each landing, plus one in my jaws as I crushed its’ head and slung it over the balcony. I heard gasps of amazement coming from the hall, but had no time to reap any of the praise, my paws were full and I was getting tired. It was about that time when I noticed another blur enter the fray, Mom! I had learned my tricks and skills from her, so between the two of us the snakes had a snowballs chance in… well here!
The advisor had gotten off the bed finally and was between the door and the balcony when I saw the final asp trying to slither under the bed. With a swift move I snatched the snake by the tail and sent it soaring straight toward him, like an arrow released from a bow. To his good fortune, or perhaps I just wanted him to know that I was on to him, he saw the snake coming and had time to duck. The snake, fangs at the ready, went sailing over him, the balcony and into oblivion at the end of the drop. Our eyes locked as he turned from his kneeling position. In that moment an understanding was reached that I accented with a hiss. “Don’t mess with me and don’t mess with my king!” As I left the chamber with Mom I said, “Thanks!”
“Don’t mention it, really!” she said, snickering, “I’d hate for it to get around that I raised such a bonehead for a cat!” And that was that, the advisor had received his warning and the palace returned to normal. The visiting royal couple had witnessed my skills and tried to get the king to trade me off, but like I said before, there are some perks to being the kings’ protector. They had no chance for that, but Mom was a different story. Had she stayed outside the chamber they would never have seen her skills as well. Sure she was the best granary guard the palace had, but humans trade everything it seems, especially if it meant safe and secure borders. Mom was expendable.
Chapter Six
“Moving away to another palace!” Mom sobbed, as we sat late one night in the garden, “I am just too old to be starting over.”
I saw the moonlight shine off her tears and said, “You know, there is that other option.” She turned her face to me and I saw a smile slowly form, her head nodded just once. We knew we had to act quickly with a plan that would satisfy everyone. The guests would be leaving in a few days and would want to take Mom with them. To keep them from coming back here making demands, or jeopardizing any treaties, she must leave when they do. Once on the road, though, many things can happen.
Mom said Isom was pretty broken up about the whole thing, but may now have something else to occupy her time. Isom and the handsome servant of the visiting couple had been spending the nights together. “So,” I thought to myself, “apparently the human male likes a female that changes color.” I mused about this as I formulated an escape plan for Mom that would get her safely back to Grandpaw in the Valley of the Kings. This would take skill, stealth, speed and most of all… luck! Yes, sir! Lots of luck!
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