Читать книгу When We Were Kittens - David Greagg - Страница 48

Another cold, wet day, but it got better in the evening. We went for a short walk up the road and back and the most amazing thing happened. Outside Red Cat One's house we saw what I thought was him, on a leash, tied up outside his house! We couldn't believe it. It was dark, but he looked very sad and sorry for himself.

Shadow went and touched noses with him and came back to me looking thoughtful. You know what? she told me. I know it's Red Cat One's house but it isn't him.

I stared at her and then at the poor cat, still tied up to a post in the middle of one of those little garden things we have along our road. Then who is it? I asked.

Red Cat Two, she said. Look at him. His markings are different and he's bigger.

Well, I didn't see how that could possibly be true. Red Cat Two is completely crazy. Look for yourself, she said, and sat down by the side of the road to consider the situation. Then I went up to him and he looked at me, but he didn't move. I sniffed at him and he sniffed back, but all the fight had gone out of him.

I asked if there was anything we could do and he just said, Get me out of this! And then he turned away.

I looked up at Man and you could see he wasn't sure what to do either, but he bent over to stroke him. Red Cat Two shrank away at first, but then he let Man caress his fur, which he'd never let anyone do before. Suddenly Man went home at a fast walk. We didn't know what to do so we followed him.

Do you think Man will let him go? I asked. Shadow said she hoped not. She's still scared of him.

Man went into the house and came back with a bowl of water and a plate of food. We followed him back to Red Cat Two who was still there all tied up. Man put the bowl and the dish down in the garden next to him and this time he let Man stroke his fur properly. He wouldn't eat or drink, but I could see him calming down. I could see his point. If he was going to be tied up at least he was going to get food and water.

So we went on our way and finished our walk in peace. When we settled down on our bed Shadow came and curled up with me.

I didn't like seeing Red Cat Two tied up, she said. Even though he is a menace. People shouldn't tie cats up! What if other people started doing that?

That was a very bad thought. But I told her that our humans would never do that. They're kind and gentle and you saw how concerned Man was about Red Cat Two. I did admit that I was wondering who did that to him and why.

Shadow had a bit of a think and then said, Look this happened outside Red Cat One's house. You know what a kind and gentle cat he is, and what a bully Red Cat Two is. Maybe Two invaded Red Cat One's home and the humans there said, Right that's it! I've had enough of you; we're going to make sure you don't do this again. I'll tie you up and that'll teach you.

I think you're right, I said. Man seemed angry though. I think he was shocked that anybody would do that for any reason.

Do you think Man will let him go in the morning? she asked me. I told her I hoped so, and then we went to sleep.