by Lana Axe
Choosing a small glass phial, Cali tapped it with her claws. It was sturdy, and unlikely to burst if carried near her implants. That was exactly what she needed. Next, she tested a few matches, making sure they were dry and in good working condition. Selecting two, she placed them next to the phial.
The third part of her invention took some searching to uncover. It had to be small enough to fit in the mouth of the phial, and rough enough to strike a match against. After digging through every inch of the workshop, she nearly turned a backflip when she found what she needed. A sheet of parchment coated in tiny bits of crushed glass would do the job perfectly. Normally used to smooth metal or wood surfaces, glass paper was the perfect abrasive surface. Tearing loose a tiny strip, she returned to her invention.
Making use of her claws, Cali fashioned her makeshift grenade. The cork stopper housed the matches, which were angled to strike against the edge of the phial’s mouth. With a small drop of glue, she attached the glass paper to the phial’s mouth, making sure the match heads would indeed come in contact with it. Testing her theory, she was delighted to see the matches spring to life. Blowing them out, she replaced them with two more.
Now came the most dangerous part. Carefully, Cali placed a small amount of gun powder inside the phial and packed strips of newspaper over the top of it. Making sure to twist the cap so the matches were on the opposite side of the glass paper, she stoppered the phial. Tucking it between sections of her tail implant, she made sure the grenade was held securely in place. It wouldn’t do to have it rolling around loose. Now all she had to do was twist the stopper and pull it straight, thus striking the matches and lighting them. If all went as planned, the newspaper would catch fire and wick the flames, giving her enough time to throw her bomb before the flames hit the gunpowder. With a smirk, she thought, That should stop those spiders in their tracks.
Taking great pride in her invention, Cali strutted back toward the apartment. Before she could reach the door, the red light on her tail lit up. Emmit was in trouble.
Tearing through the workshop, Cali paid no heed to the objects she knocked over. Sliding through the flap, she reentered the apartment only to hurl herself through the open window without stopping for a single breath. Emmit needed her, and that was all that mattered.
Cali’s flight didn’t stop from the moment her paws struck the sidewalk. It would take ten minutes by her estimate to reach the bank if she continued at this pace. That was no problem for a special cat like her. With her enhancements, she used far less energy than an ordinary cat, even while covering more ground. Her speed was unmatched by the casual feline, and her desire to save her friend further hastened her steps.
Dodging between carriages, she made a mad dash across the street. A horse reared back, halting the carriage and earning her a few gasps from the ladies inside. Back on the sidewalks her pace didn’t slow. Sprinting for the alley, she weaved herself amid the crowds, navigating through their legs with expert skill. A man shouted and shook his fist as she flew past, nearly knocking him off-balance. She didn’t bother to look back. No human could possibly hope to catch her. The red light on her tail gazed down at her, imploring her to run faster. What felt like hours passed, but in reality it was only minutes. She stopped short as she reached the bank, activating her mechanical eye.
Somewhere amid the humans coming and going was a mouse, and she had to find him. Was he still alive? Had he been injured? The worst scenario would be that he was carried off somewhere that she would never find him. Not knowing his fate would be the worst feeling of all. To her great relief, the figure of a warm mouse outlined against the cool grass entered her field of vision. Springing forward, she brought herself to his side.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, out of breath. He appeared uninjured to her eyes, but some wounds were undetectable by sight.
Emmit shook his head. “I’m sorry if I frightened you,” he said, noticing her bristled fur. The calico was clearly shaken. He truly regretted worrying her.
“It’s all right,” she said, smoothing her fur and settling herself on her haunches. Seeing the mouse alive and well was more than she could have hoped for. “You summoned me,” she said, awaiting an explanation.
“Yes,” Emmit said. “Look over there.” He pointed at man standing beside the bank and facing away from the street. He was short and plump with a brown derby hat pulled low to shield his eyes.
“Do you know him?” Cali asked. Despite the fact that she rarely forgot a face, she did not recognize this man.
“Never seen him before in my life,” the mouse replied. “It’s what he’s carrying that made me summon you.” He hoped Cali would find worth in his discovery. This man was definitely up to something. He’d been casing the outside of the bank ever since Emmit showed up.
The pair skirted around the edge of the grass, keeping clear of the road. A small natural park area near the bank gave ample cover. There were a few trees to hide behind, and a cat hanging around here wouldn’t draw too much attention. Staying low to the ground, they kept themselves perfectly still. Not a single word passed between them, both understanding the need for absolute silence.
Concentrating only on the strange man, they tuned out every distraction on the street. His eyes darted all around nervously as he flicked a cigarette to the ground and stomped it with his boot. Then, he approached the bank’s window, a small chest in his hands. Cali recognized it immediately from the previous night. Though it had stood open and empty in Morcroft’s workshop, it obviously contained something now.
Neither spoke, instead a silent nod confirmed they had both seen the chest before. Staying intent on the scene in front of them, they could only guess what lurked inside. The heavyset man looked over his shoulder and to each side before opening the chest. Cali zoomed in with her mechanical eye. Tiny, gold-colored dots crawled out of the box, clinging to the bank’s outer wall. Further magnification revealed eight legs on each dot. Twelve clockwork arachnids walked in a row, making their way up the wall toward the open window. As they disappeared inside, the man shut the box and casually walked away.
“What did you see?” Emmit asked. His eyes were nowhere near as powerful as Cali’s.
“Spiderlings!” she replied. “The smallest we’ve seen yet. He’s let them loose in the bank. That means the heist is going down tonight!”
“What do we do?” Emmit squeaked. His first instinct was to run to the police, but they would never understand mouse-speak. He’d have to write it down first and deliver the message, never mind the strange looks they would give him. He could present them with the note and then run away, hoping that they’d believe him.
“We have to stop those spiderlings,” Cali said.
“Ourselves?” Emmit asked. “Shouldn’t we alert the police?” He had already worded the note in his mind.
“There’s no time for that,” she said. “And they’ll never believe a cat and a mouse. They’ll think it’s some sort of prank.”
Emmit knew she was probably right, but the two of them charging inside would be dangerous. They didn’t know what Morcroft was planning. He might send in an army of dogs, all with enhancements like Cali’s. They might end up as dinner rather than heroes. What they needed most was more time to plan. “I still think it’s dangerous,” he cautioned. “And how do you plan to get in without being seen? Those humans aren’t going to want either of us in there.”
“I know that, and I’ll think of a way to slip in unnoticed,” she replied. Her mind whirled with different scenarios, all of them ending in disaster. If she made it in, how would she avoid the security systems? Were they programmed to attack cats? Who or what would Morcroft send to fetch the owl? Would she be able to fight against it?
Double checking the security of her homemade weapon, she wished she’d had time to make ten of them. This mission was dangerous, no doubt about it. But she was in too deep to turn back now. She had to get inside the bank and protect the owl. Sending power to her haunches, her rear end w
iggled as she prepared to pounce inside the window.
“Wait!” Emmit cried. “Look!”
He’d spotted the spiderlings straight ahead. They were making their way onto the bank manager’s desk. A lady entered with a tray bearing a steaming pot of tea along with a ceramic cup. The banker acknowledged her with a nod, but didn’t look up from his work. He had no idea the spiderlings were approaching.
“Do you think they’ll hurt him?” Emmit whispered.
Cali didn’t know how to answer. Narrowing her eyes, she kept watch over the clockwork devils. They crept along the desk, up the side of the banker’s cup and did not exit again. She covered her mouth with her paw. “Morcroft wants the man to swallow them?” What on earth was he planning?
“They’ll eat him from inside out!” Emmit squealed. “We have to do something.”
“I agree,” Cali said. “Do you think you can get inside and knock the cup over?”
“I think so,” he answered. As long as the banker didn’t look up, he would never see the mouse creeping along his desk. Otherwise, Emmit could be in big trouble.
“I’ll be there in two hops if you get into trouble,” Cali reassured him. It was a promise she intended to keep. Seen or not seen, she would get through the window and save her friend. Then if she was tossed from the bank by human hands it wouldn’t matter. Emmit’s safety was her first priority.
“I’m going in,” the mouse said. He disappeared in a flurry of blue-gray fur, scampering along the window ledge and dropping down to the floor.
Cali saw his small form hurrying along near the banker’s legs, pausing momentarily to make sure the man was distracted. He showed no signs of moving, so Emmit continued on his mission. His heart nearly stopped when the banker turned and reached for the tea pot. Tipping it over the cup, he filled it to the brim, the spiderlings nearly floating over the edge. A look of horror flashed across the mouse’s face as he looked back at Cali. Flicking her paw, she signaled for him to hurry.
Dashing up the side of the desk, Emmit seated himself on top of a ledger. The banker’s hand reached for the mug, grasping its handle in his hand. Panicking, Emmit didn’t know what to do. Staying invisible was now impossible. He couldn’t get to the cup without the man seeing him. Leaping for the cup, he slammed into its side. Grasping with his paws, he managed to hang on.
The bank manager, Mr. Lisen, took one look at the mouse and shouted, flinging the cup away. Mouse, spiderlings, and all sailed across the room, clattering to the floor. Cali wasn’t sure where to look first. The spiderlings skittered away, hiding themselves between the slats of the wooden floor. Emmit raced away in the opposite direction with Lisen hot on his heels.
“Run, Emmit!” Cali shouted with a distressed yowl. Fearing she’d sent the mouse to his death, she pulled herself through the window.
Charging in the direction she last saw Emmit, she found herself on the edge of chaos. In the bank’s central chamber, she saw a flash of fur as the little mouse tried desperately to evade his pursuers. One woman shrieked and jumped on top of her desk, giving Emmit the opening he needed. He darted beneath the desk, his heart pounding.
The relief lasted only momentarily. One man grabbed a broom and began poking it underneath the desk. Emmit was forced from his hiding space, frantically zigzagging through the room. There were too many wide open spaces. With nowhere to hide, he knew he’d soon be caught. It was only seconds before he found himself trapped. Paralyzed with fear, he crouched low near the wall.
A flash of purple revealed Cali at the far corner of the room. I hope she has a plan, he said to himself. He was completely out of ideas. Five men closed in around him, one still armed with the menacing broom.
The sudden crash of breaking glass diverted the men’s attention. Unfortunately, Emmit was still frozen in place. His beady eyes landed on a painting of an arrogant, large-nosed man that had been dislodged from the wall in spectacular fashion. He heard the men asking how it had happened, but they weren’t distracted for long. Turning their attention back to the mouse, they resumed their attack.
“Cali, do something!” he cried. His words sounded like a high-pitched squeal to the men in front of him.
“Squealing won’t save your dirty little hide,” the man with the broom said. Poking the bristles roughly at the mouse, he forced Emmit onto his hind legs.
Another picture fell from the wall, a blur of calico disappearing like a ghost. A framed map of Ticswyk shattered on the ground, shredding the fine details of the city. It still wasn’t enough. Two of the men didn’t even look away from the mouse.
Cali frantically searched for anything that would create a bigger diversion. Spotting an eight-foot-tall potted palm tree, she knew she’d found the answer. Leaping for the top, she grabbed onto its wide leaves, tugging with all her might. As it began to topple, she bounced once against the trunk, lunging toward the ceiling. A dangling mass of crystal and silver nearly blinded her, but she grabbed a hold, ignoring the flashing light. Dangling from the chandelier, she watched as the tree crashed into the back of the man with the broom.
Scampering away, Emmit finally found safety. Off to his left was a marble statue of what appeared to be a tiger in attack posture. Situating himself between the statue and the wall, he prayed no one had seen him. When no one followed, he dared to breathe again.
While all the humans were focused on cleaning up the mess of palm tree, Cali flung herself from the chandelier. Somersaulting through the air, she landed next to the statue where the mouse had taken refuge. Joining him, she flattened herself against the floor.
Before she could ask if he was unharmed, a single plunk sounded at the center of the room. It was soon followed by a second and third. With no more warning, a great downpour of crystal and silver beads clattered to the floor, sending the humans slip-sliding all over.
“Now that’s a distraction,” Emmit commented. “Next time I’ll think bigger.”
Cali pressed a paw over her mouth to stifle her laughter. It wasn’t exactly what she had in mind, but it would do. Everyone was far too busy with the cleanup to bother looking for the mouse now. Cali doubted anyone had seen her, as she’d taken great care with each leap. Bouncing from wall to wall, she’d focused her attention upward, above the humans’ natural eye level.
“Did you see where the spiderlings went?” she asked.
“No,” he replied. “I lost all sight of them after I started to run.” Had he stopped for even a moment, he knew the humans would have had him. They would have smacked him with that broom and tossed his limp body out for wild animal predators to enjoy. It was a good thing Cali had come in behind him and caught their attention. “Thanks for saving me,” he said.
“Any time,” she replied.
“What do we do now?” Emmit asked.
“You have to get out of here,” she said. “Go now while everyone is still cleaning up. By the time they’re finished, it will be closing time. Get out the window before they lock it up tight.”
“What are you going to do?” he wondered. Was she really going to stay in here alone and face whatever Morcroft sent inside?
“I’ve got to find a way in the vault,” she said. “That’s where the owl is, so that’s where I have to be if I’m going to protect it.” She’d already formed half a plan in her mind. The rest she’d have to figure out as she went along. For starters, she needed a way inside the vault. For now, the door stood open, but she couldn’t exactly waltz inside. Two guards stood at their posts, unfazed by the strange events unfolding inside the bank. One stood next to the vault door, the other inside the vault itself. Distracting these professionals was going to take more than a chandelier.
“But those spiders are dangerous,” Emmit protested. “Not to mention whatever Morcroft is sending to fetch the owl. It could be that sentry from his workshop. I think I should stay with you.” Eventually the spiderlings would work their way back out of the floor, and they might want revenge.
“No,” she replied. “I need
you outside. There’s something very important I need you to do.”
“What do you need, Cali?” Emmit asked, steeling himself for what she might say. So far he’d been courageous, but now that they were inside the bank, things seemed awfully bleak. At any moment, Morcroft might show up. Or worse, his creations might show up. Who knew what he was planning? He might take down the walls to get in. Those little spiderlings might only be a diversion.
“I need you to find the transmitter to light up my homing beacon,” she told him.
Surprised, Emmit replied, “I know exactly where I left it.” It was still on the grass beneath the windowsill where it was unlikely to be found by humans.
“Good,” she responded. “You have to keep watch for me. Whenever Morcroft’s thieves show up, press the button. Then I can be prepared.”
“But it lets you know only that something is about to happen. It can’t tell you what I’ve seen.” How could she prepare if she didn’t know what was happening? Emmit didn’t like this plan at all. It was incomplete, not to mention dangerous.
“It won’t make much difference what he sends in here,” she replied. “I’ve already thought it through. I expect he’ll send those spiders in. Why else train them to steal?”
“You’re probably right,” the mouse conceded. “But what if they’re giant spiders instead of small ones?”
“Giant clockwork spiders would be unsteady and slow,” she said. Her confidence renewed, she stuck out her chest. “You saw the way the smaller ones moved. Building them larger would only make their skittering, sloppy movements worse.”
She made a good point. The calico was nimble and quick. Those spiders were no match for her. Besides, they were crafted to steal and flee, not stand and fight. At least, the ones they had seen didn’t seem capable of defense. It was enough to put Emmit’s mind somewhat at ease. With any luck, the bank thieves would not be more sophisticated than their smaller counterparts.