by Lana Axe
“Note the flexibility of her spine as she jumps down,” Lionel said. “And now the power of her legs as she returns to her pedestal.”
With those words, Cali leapt, her enhanced legs carrying her from the floor, past the stage, and up to the top of her pedestal. The audience erupted in applause.
“A full ten feet from a standstill!” Lionel announced, adding some applause of his own. “The average housecat can jump only about five feet without running.” A wide grin spread across his face. “Now, who’d like to see Cali run?” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
The children in the crowd squealed their excitement, and the men and women cheered. Everyone was eager to see what else Cali could do.
Feeding off their excitement, Cali made herself ready. Jumping from her pedestal, she landed once again at their feet. The crowd parted allowing her the freedom to run. Taking the opening, she bolted past the crowd, sprinting toward the nearest wall. Instead of stopping, she leapt and turned midair, her hind legs bouncing from the stone wall and feeding her momentum. In less than a second, she was back among the crowd, but she didn’t stop there. Once again she leapt, this time flying high in the air. With a twist of her enhanced spine she somersaulted above her pedestal and brought her feet back beneath her. Landing softly on her perch, she raised a paw and bowed to the audience.
“Bravo!” the men cried. The ladies followed suit, crying “Encore!” The children laughed and squealed, delighted by the phenomenal cat’s showmanship.
“There’s more to her than that!” Lionel announced, eliciting more applause. “She has enhanced claws on her right paw, making her a deadly foe to mice.” This was one selling point that Lionel considered adding to other cats. It would improve the skills of mousers everywhere.
Cali raised her right paw, which appeared almost ordinary at first. When she unsheathed the claws, the audience jumped back in surprise. They weren’t prepared for the razor-sharp knives Cali displayed. Though very small, they were terribly sharp and deadly to mice. Cali turned her wrist left and right, allowing the light to hit her enhanced claws. After a moment, the crowd moved forward again, the spectators eager to examine this miniature weapon.
“Don’t worry,” Lionel reassured them. “Cali is in full control of her claws, and no human will be harmed. I can’t say as much for mice, though.” He gave a quiet laugh, and many in the crowd echoed him. “Of course, Cali could use these for defense as well, should she be attacked by a large rat or some other vicious creature.”
Cali almost grimaced, but caught herself. She didn’t like the sound of that. It was best to be on the offensive rather than the defensive, but Lionel was correct. The claws could be used in either case. She could extend or retract them as easily as her true claws on her left paw.
Lionel held up a small sheet of paper and presented it before the crowd. “A demonstration,” he said.
Cali swiped her paw at the paper, shredding it in four neat strips. Generous applause followed. Before the crowd quieted down, Lionel tossed the paper into the air, and Cali pounced after it. Slicing her claws through the air, she struck the paper repeatedly. As she landed on her platform, a shower of confetti rained down on the crowd. The children raised their hands, hoping to catch a piece or two, giggling with delight. The women laughed and brushed the paper away from their hair, the men applauding before removing their hats to brush the paper bits away.
“And finally,” Lionel said, “we’ve come to Cali’s mechanical eye implant. I’m sure the large purple lens hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice. Don’t worry, Cali’s true eye remains intact. I’ve only added to it and given her the ability to see far better than the average cat. With this eye, she is able to magnify her target, seeing it more clearly. She can also detect heat signatures, meaning no mouse can escape her. Cali will always know where it’s hiding.”
Cali tilted her head left and right, allowing the light to dance off the implant. The spectators looked her over, wondering what it must be like to possess such an enhancement. Most of the children brought their fingers to their eyes, their mothers stopping them before they could hurt themselves. Cali would have laughed, but this was a serious moment.
“Now, you might ask,” Lionel began, “how do these implants work? What is their power source?” Cali spun on her pedestal. “You’ll see she has no outward gears or windup mechanisms. Cali is powered on the inside, by a system of tiny gears. Her power source is her own beating heart.”
The crowd gasped, instantly shocked.
“That’s correct!” he went on. “Cali’s own heart and blood vessels are incorporated into the enhancements. She cannot wind down, nor does she require any special rest.” With a glance at Cali, he added, “Well, no more than any other cat.”
Polite laughter came from the audience. Most of them knew how much cats enjoyed their rest. From his pocket, Lionel drew out a small device, no bigger than the average pocket timepiece.
“This device allows me to alert Cali if she’s away, calling her back home.” When he pressed the button, a tiny red light illuminated on the tip of Cali’s tail. If she were away, she would know that Lionel needed her to return home, most likely for her dinner.
“If I could have complete silence for one moment, those in the front row might be able to hear the soft ticking sound associated with Cali’s gears.”
Cali bounced down to the edge of the stage, a hush falling over the crowd. Everyone in the front row leaned in close, some cupping their hands to their ears.
“I hear it!” a boy shouted.
“Yes, yes—I hear it too!” a man announced. Others joined in, agreeing that they could indeed hear the ticking of Cali’s clockwork components, though they were no louder than a whisper.
“You see, ladies and gentlemen,” Lionel said. “Cali is far from the ordinary cat. She is one-of-a-kind, a true masterpiece of modern engineering. Some of these enhancements will be available for your own mouser, should any of you wish to discuss the matter.” He would never make a cat quite like Cali, but he would be happy to add certain features to other cats for the right price. Many areas of Ticswyk were plagued with mice and rat infestations, and he could certainly make a difference to the community while still making a tidy profit for himself and Cali.
Turning to Cali, Lionel said, “How about one more run for the children?”
With a nod of her head, Cali obliged, leaping from her pedestal and dashing across the room. Twisting and turning, she leapt through the air torpedo-style, much to the delight of the children. Not only did they laugh and point, they clapped their little hands as fast as they could. The adults applauded as well, elated to see the charming Cali repeat her best stunt. She was a marvel. Far more interesting than machines and gears, she was a living, thinking being, made spectacular by the hand of man. She was what this age of industry was all about.
With the first show complete, many of the spectators lined up to converse with Lionel. Some had simple questions about Cali, while others were eager to employ him to enhance their cats. One woman even asked if Lionel could possibly enhance her bird. Unfortunately, the implants would be too heavy to allow her parakeet to fly. Ground birds might be possible, though. The woman went away disappointed.
The sinister looking man in the top hat took a very close look at Cali, spending several minutes listening to her ticking. Keeping a polite, soft posture, she surveyed him as well, giving him a thorough going-over with her mechanical eye. When he pulled out a watch to check the time, she could clearly read his name on the inscription: JAMISON MORCROFT.
The name nearly made her shudder, but she managed to keep her composure. She knew him from Lionel’s conversations with his sister. Morcroft was a member of the Engineers Guild, serving as its second in command. He was a dangerous man, notorious for his criminal behavior. He once hired a crew to tunnel beneath Ticswyk’s museum of art in order to steal a painting the curator had refused to sell him. Not only did he steal that particular work of art, he got away
with several antiquities as well. Among them was an Egyptian statuette of pure gold, which he quickly melted down to hide the evidence. Three guards were injured during the heist, but Morcroft didn’t care. Neither did he face punishment. The Guild stepped in, and the law backed down. Rumor had it that the judge assigned to the case found himself quite wealthy all of a sudden, and he retired to a warmer climate.
After putting his watch away, Morcroft approached Cali and stared for another minute. She did not back away, though the fur on her back ruffled slightly at his nearness. Thankfully, he did not reach out to touch her. The urge to strike out at him might have been too strong for her to control.
Finally he walked away, and Cali relaxed. Lionel, having finished his conversations, approached Cali and scratched under her chin. She lifted her head and purred, enjoying the attention. From his shirt pocket, he retrieved a small tin, the sweet-smelling treasures inside making Cali’s nose tremble. Liver! Lionel offered up a liver treat, which Cali gobbled readily. With a soft mew, she begged for a second and was quickly rewarded with another treat.
“Only two more shows to go,” he said, patting her head.
The second show went the same as the first. Cali performed her tricks with pride, and Lionel’s confidence soared, his voice becoming more and more inspired. They made a great team, putting on a show the crowds would never forget.
Morcroft attended the second show as well, keeping himself well out of view in the back. But nothing escaped Cali’s superior eye. She watched him closely, scrutinizing his every move without missing a beat in her performance.
After the second performance, Cali was given yet another liver treat. A child ran up as she was swallowing, and pressed his little face as close to hers as he could. Lifting his lollipop to his mouth, he narrowly missed depositing sugar on her fur.
“Not so close now,” Lionel said, wagging a finger at the boy. His mother stood close by, oblivious to the boy’s actions.
The boy backed a few inches away, but lifted his hand and poked his chubby fingers at Cali’s rear leg implants. Cali remained calm and patient. When the boy cocked his head to the side, she could almost hear the wheels turning in his head. He was up to no good.
Reaching a sticky hand toward her tail, he curled his fingers around it. Lionel reacted with lightning speed, batting the child’s hand away. The mother reacted with shock, grabbing her son and holding him to her side.
“Forgive me, ma’am,” Lionel said convincingly. “You see her tail is electric, and if the boy had tugged on it, it would have given him a nasty shock. It could have knocked him clear out the door and across the street!”
The woman gasped, her eyes growing wide. “You leave that cat alone!” she scolded, grabbing her son by the arm. She stormed off, child in tow, heading straight for the exit.
Lionel laughed and stroked Cali’s fur. Amused, Cali flicked her tail and nuzzled her head in his hand. After a few licks to smooth her fur, she was ready for the final show of the day.
More onlookers gathered, the biggest crowd yet as the sun was beginning its descent. Morcroft was among them, still pulling his hat low in an effort to hide himself. When Lionel squinted out in the crowd and gave a disapproving grunt, Cali knew he had seen him as well. Why he had attended all three shows was a mystery, but both Cali and Lionel knew that he was plotting something.
The show went well, Cali performing at full energy despite the late hour. By now Lionel had perfected his act, throwing in a short encore for the final crowd. They closed to thunderous applause. A few spectators threw roses onto the stage, many of which Cali caught in her teeth, taking a bow after each one. She enjoyed showing off, and the crowd appreciated it as well. Soon the applause ended, and the crowds departed for home.
Silence descended over Exhibition Center. The machines were shut down, and no announcer called out shows and times. Lionel opened the crate and asked Cali to step inside once more.
“There could be people hanging around for an extra glimpse,” Lionel explained. “I wouldn’t want anyone to bother you.”
Cali knew he was referring to Morcroft more than any other. He was a dangerous man who had taken an interest in Cali, and Lionel was crating her only to protect her. Without argument, Cali hopped inside and settled herself into the crate.
“Attagirl,” Lionel said.
To Cali’s delight, the carriage that drove them home was pulled by the same black-and-white horse as before. “Good evening,” Cali said to her. “I don’t think I caught your name before.”
“I’m called Nellie,” the horse replied. “And you?”
“Cali,” she stated.
“How was the exhibition?” Nellie asked.
“Fantastic,” Cali replied. “I enjoyed every moment.”
The horse stopped in front of Lionel and Cali’s apartment. “Glad to hear it,” the horse replied. “I had a fine day as well. Lots of carrots and plenty of sunshine.”
“Wonderful,” Cali said as she was taken out of the carriage. “I hope I see you again, Nellie.”
“Likewise.” The horse tossed her head and whinnied before trotting off into the night.
Nestled inside her crate, Cali waited for Lionel to carry her inside. Securing the door first, he opened the crate and scratched at her ear.
“We did real good today, Cali,” he said. “You were a sight to behold.” Lifting her, he hugged her close to his heart.
Cali purred softly, enjoying the warmth as he held her. Back on her feet, she waited patiently as he poured a saucer of cream, which she lapped up readily. After kicking off his shoes, Lionel sat himself in his favorite chair, which also happened to be his second-favorite invention, and pressed the lever that allowed him to recline. Cali jumped in his lap and curled herself into a ball. The day’s events played over in her mind as she drifted off to sleep. Her dreams echoed with praise and applause, a content smile lingering on her face.
Cali awoke bright and early the next morning, still snuggled on Lionel’s lap. All the excitement of the exhibition had come to a close, leaving both of them exhausted and grateful for a good night’s sleep. Lionel was still fast asleep, his head rolled to one side, his arm hanging off the side of the recliner. Cali sat up and meowed.
Lionel didn’t wake.
Her tummy beginning to rumble, Cali tried again. No reply. Leaning up on her hind legs, she pressed her cold nose to his cheek. He awoke with a start. She mewed softly and snuggled her head against his face.
“All right,” he said, grasping the lever to bring the chair back upright. With his feet on the floor, he pulled himself up. “Wouldn’t want to be late to breakfast,” he said.
Cali hopped off the chair and raced toward the kitchen. As Lionel fidgeted with a tin can, she weaved herself between his ankles, purring all the while. After what felt like an eternity, Lionel placed a metal dish on the floor, the aroma of its contents flooding her nose. Shredded beef! Cali plunged into her breakfast and lapped up every bit, barely taking the time to taste it.
Lionel laughed as he watched her eat, twirling his finger around her tail. When she had finished, he took the dish and cleaned it before preparing his own meal. A wedge of cheese and a soft hunk of bread sounded about right. He took a seat at the table with Cali perched at his feet.
“You’d think I never feed you,” he said, offering her a bit of the cheese.
She took it gratefully and savored it on her tongue.
The sun’s rays filled the apartment, bringing with it a warmth that usually made Cali sleepy. Instead, she was surprised to find herself energized this morning, the previous day’s strenuous activities having no ill effect on her. No soreness, no fatigue; she felt like a spry kitten.
A knock at the door alerted them both, and Lionel moved to answer it with Cali, as always, at his feet. When he opened the door, he smiled, happy to see who had come calling. It was his sister, Florence.
Florence stepped inside with a nod to her brother and a pat on the head for Cali. She stood onl
y an inch shorter than Lionel, her honey-colored hair piled on top of her head, a small yellow hat sitting on top of her curls. She wore a ruffled yellow dress and high-heeled leather boots, an outfit suited to her position as factory overseer. The gas lamps produced by her workers were the very same that lit the streets of Ticswyk. She was a busy woman, but she always made time for her brother.
In fact, Lionel saw his sister almost daily. With his apartment attached to the factory, it was natural that the two would come in contact regularly. Lionel was frequently employed by his sister as an engineer, responsible for the repair of several of the factory’s machines. He was a far more dependable worker than a Guild member, and his presence kept her from relying on corrupt Guild leaders. Though the machines did not break often, Florence knew she could count on Lionel when they did. His expertise with all things mechanical, and his hardworking nature, made him a model employee.
Plus, she enjoyed having her brother around. In exchange for his work, she paid him a small stipend and allowed him use of the apartment rent-free. He was perfectly happy with the arrangement. An ample workshop came along with the deal, and he was able to use scrap parts produced by the factory in his own tinkering.
Cali helped at the factory as well. When she wasn’t busy sitting on her windowsill, observing the world, she served as head mouser for the entire building. Being a lamp factory, the place was not overrun with vermin as a food-producing facility might be. But the mice still got in, and Cali was happy to dispatch them for Florence and her workers. In exchange, she received numerous pets and loads of praise from the workers, as well as small bits from their lunch. It was perfect payment.
Occasionally, Cali would leave a fresh-caught mouse in Lionel’s shoe as a gift. After all, it was about the best thing a cat could give her dearest friend. He would feign his delight and praise her, but she knew he wasn’t keeping the mice. He’d toss them out in the refuse bin when he thought she wasn’t looking. Cali didn’t mind. Even she got tired of the taste on occasion.