by Lana Axe
The calico obeyed, digging her claws, both enhanced and natural, into the edge of the basket. While Lionel busily worked the controls, the engine sputtered and stalled. The balloon shifted to the right and began to twirl at the mercy of the wind. A single gas-powered flame still heated the air, keeping them aloft momentarily. A hiss and a pop interrupted the fuel supply, and the vessel lurched, spiraling out of control.
Cali clutched at the basket with all her strength, her eyes intent on Lionel. A sudden updraft launched the ship skyward, but she kept her balance, as did her companion. He worked furiously at a bolt, beads of sweat dotting his brow. Knowing her help was needed, she leapt toward the engine and landed on top of it.
“Careful,” Lionel said. The calico was dangerously close to the edge. He grunted with effort. “Almost…” The muscles in his thin arms bulged as he attempted to shift a lever that was stuck fast.
Cali didn’t need him to ask. She knew exactly what he needed her to do. Pressing against the lever with her enhanced right paw, she leaned her weight against it. Sending power to her haunches, she pressed against the sturdy engine and made use of all the added strength her implants provided. It was enough to shift the lever into position.
The engine returned to its quiet hum, and the balloon drifted gently on the breeze. With a sigh of relief, Lionel let go of the lever. “That was a close one,” he said. He moved toward the gas pipes to reignite the flame, sending warm air throughout the balloon. In less than a minute, the ship was fully under his control.
“I’m glad I had you along,” Lionel said.
Cali purred and nudged his ankles with her nose. Winding her tail around his leg, she offered her unwavering support. If he could have understood her language, she would have reassured him that she was there for him. She would always be there for him. Not long ago, he had rescued her from a life on the streets. He had gifted her these remarkable implants, and she could never thank him enough. He would always have her friendship and devotion.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Lionel said as he steered the craft toward home.
The feline agreed. She was always ready for adventure, but nearly plummeting to her demise had taken its toll. She was ready to go back home and relax on her windowsill. Maybe a bite to eat would help too.
With expert precision, Lionel brought the airship to a smooth landing on top of the factory roof. Once he had secured it with a rope, he turned to Cali. “Not too bad,” he said with a grin.
Cali gave a slow blink in reply and hopped out of the basket. She headed toward the hatch and paused, hoping Lionel would follow. He didn’t. His focus remained fixed on his engine as he sorted through his tools to continue his work. She worked up a pitiful mrrroooww, but the tinker didn’t acknowledge it. There would be no snack in Cali’s immediate future.
Lacking thumbs to operate the pulley, she headed down the metal staircase to the sidewalk and let herself in through the apartment window. She sniffed at the air, searching for signs anything was amiss. No strange smells found their way to her nostrils, suggesting everything was as it should be.
“How was it?” Emmit’s voice chirped. His eyes sparkled, a wide smile on his face.
“It was fun,” she said. “Until we nearly crashed.”
“Oh no,” the mouse replied.
She waved a paw dismissively. “We were able to fix it, and I’m sure the second flight will go much smoother.” Lionel was probably adding oil to that lever this very moment. With so many moving parts, he was bound to overlook one or two. The next flight would likely be perfect, and then he could focus solely on speed. After all, he wanted to win the race, and Cali would be rooting for him, hopefully from inside the basket.
“I’m glad you’re all right,” the mouse said. What would he do without Cali? Not only did she provide him with an ample supply of cheese, she was his closest friend. She was always there to get him out of scrapes. Or was it the other way around? At any rate, he was accustomed to the presence of his feline friend, and should she ever become absent, he would never feel complete again. They had bonded despite their many differences.
“With that part aside, though,” the cat went on, “I found the city quite beautiful from above.”
“You weren’t scared at all?” the mouse asked. “It’s so high.”
“On the contrary,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind flying higher.” She paused to groom a spot on her paw. “Though, I suppose I’ll get that chance during the race.”
“You want to be inside it during the race?” Emmit nearly fell over. His stomach clenched as he thought how terrifying that would be.
Cali laughed. “You might like it if you tried it,” she said. “Once you get off the ground, I think you’d be surprised. It’s not nearly as scary as you think.”
The mouse paused to consider her words. Maybe she was right, but cats were naturals when it came to heights. They were agile and sturdy, and they always landed on their feet. She had little reason to fear. Emmit, on the other hand, was not nearly as flexible, and he’d experienced firsthand that mice don’t always land on their paws.
“I won’t push you to ride in the airship,” Cali said, patting the mouse on his back. “But I think someday you’ll be curious and want to come along.”
“Maybe,” he replied. If Cali were in the ship with him, and if he could hold onto her enhancements, he might actually be safe. Then he’d have only his nerves to deal with.
“When you think about it, it isn’t much different than riding in a carriage,” Cali said. “You might go a little faster, but if you don’t look down, you’d never know you weren’t on the ground.”
“Except for the view of clouds in your face,” the mouse said.
Laughing, Cali said, “Yes, if you’re that high in the air.” She shook her head, still smiling. Emmit was far braver than he gave himself credit for. One day he’d ride in the airship and wonder what all the fuss was about, and Cali would be there alongside him. The two would have a good laugh, and all would be well.
A clang of metal sounded from above, a sure sign that Lionel was still hard at work. Cali’s eyes looked up, her ears at attention. Grumbled words that she couldn’t make out suggested things weren’t going as smoothly as the tinker would like. Sighing, Cali turned her attention to the window.
“It’s midday,” she said, her stomach beginning to rumble.
“I suppose Lionel will spend all day on the roof,” Emmit said.
Cali nodded. The tinker frequently spent long hours in his workshop, forgetting to feed himself. Normally, Cali would make a fuss by refusing to leave him in peace until he fed her. Today she decided against resorting to those tactics. There was only a short time left for Lionel to finish his engine, and she wanted him to win the race. Stretching her back, she contemplated taking a nap to pass the time. Settling into her cushion, she tried to ignore her empty stomach.
Hearing a gurgle from the cat’s midsection, Emmit said, “We could go get something to eat.”
Cali squinted her green eye at him. “Will it require traversing through sewers?” Emmit liked to take the fastest route, even if it wasn’t the cleanest.
The little mouse shook his head. “No, we’d be heading toward the docks.”
“That’s clear across town!” the feline complained.
“Yes, but it’s the freshest fish you’re going to find,” he said. Seeing she still hadn’t budged, he added, “I bet tuna is far tastier fresh than from a tin.”
Cali’s ears perked up. “You’re pretty clever, Emmit,” she said. “Let’s go.” Hopping through the window, she waited on the sidewalk for her companion to join her.
Following her lead, Emmit scurried through the window. “This way’s quickest,” he said, darting around the corner and into a narrow alley.
Cali rolled her eyes but followed the mouse without voicing any complaints. The path was narrow and mucky but not overly smelly. She turned her thoughts to the promise of fresh tuna and tried to ignore the
rest.
The sound of Lionel’s engine faded out as they moved away from the factory. Cali hoped his repairs wouldn’t take too long. He needed rest like anyone else, but he was so intent on his work that he’d ignored all his own needs. If she found any fresh enough, she would take a piece of fish home for him to eat. Bringing gifts was the best way to show her affection. She tried to remember the last time she’d brought him one, and remembered it had been a mouse. That had been months before she’d met Emmit. She gave him a sideways glance, grateful that he had no knowledge of the event. Such a gift was unthinkable now.
“We’re getting close,” Emmit said, misreading her expression.
“I think it’s about a mile away,” she pointed out.
“True,” the mouse replied. “But it’s closer than it was ten minutes ago.”
Cali shook her head and kept silent. She wondered how far Emmit must travel in a week as he searched for food. Of course, he had the option to simply share her meals. She was glad to save a small portion for him since a mouse didn’t require large quantities. But Emmit had a varied appetite, always craving this or that. His taste range was far wider than the feline’s. Cali often winced at the treasures he brought home, especially when it was days old and unrecognizable.
“Look,” Emmit said, pointing to a shadow on the street ahead. Both of them looked skyward at the airship that had cast the shadow. It was high, too high to see any of the passengers.
“You can see how smoothly it seems to fly,” Cali said to him.
“Yes, because it’s slow.” He paused a moment to observe the craft that seemed to move no faster than the average human’s walking pace.
“A fast ship is smooth if it’s crafted by the right person,” the feline said.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Emmit replied, continuing along the street.
Just when Cali’s stomach could hardly take the waiting any longer, they turned a corner and laid eyes on the fish market. It stretched along an entire block, stalls filled with all manner of fish. Flashing scales caught the midday sun, illuminating Cali’s meal of choice. “I think I see tuna,” she said, salivating.
When she started toward the stall, Emmit squeaked to stop her. “You can’t just walk up to the stall,” he said. “They’ll shoo you away.”
“I won’t leave,” she replied.
“They’ll throw things,” he said. “They don’t like beggars—human, cat, or mouse. We have to stay out of sight.”
“Then how do we get the fish?” Cali asked. It was piled high right in front of her. Why not walk up and take it? After all, she was famous in Ticswyk. Surely one of these fishermen would be willing to share in exchange for a close look at the famous clockwork cat.
“From the boats,” Emmit said, pointing toward the water. “They load the fish from there, but first they have to retrieve a cart. That’s when we can sneak in. All it takes is patience and proper timing.”
Cali narrowed her eyes. “You’re a regular little thief,” she said, grinning.
Emmit shrugged. “A mouse doesn’t need to take much.”
“Yes, but I do,” Cali said. “I need a whole fish for me and some to take back to Lionel.”
“Good thing you’re strong,” Emmit said. “And fast.”
Skirting along the edge of the docks, the two were careful to avoid all humans. No one seemed to notice the pair because the fishermen were far too busy unloading their catch.
“There,” Cali said. “Fourth boat.” That one had tuna. She hadn’t seen them whole before, but they perfectly matched the picture on her tinned tuna flakes. She watched a fisherman intently as he fiddled with a pole and then set it aside. When he climbed out of his boat and walked away, she said, “Wait for me behind those barrels.”
Emmit nodded and scurried away.
Cali didn’t hesitate. She sprang forward, dashing toward the boat. Leaping with her enhanced legs, she hopped over the gap and landed on the pile of tuna. The boat swayed beneath her. Her eyes gleamed at the prize, but it seemed to be sliding away. Realizing she was the one who was sliding, she grabbed onto a fish with her mechanical claws. It wasn’t enough to stop her momentum. The slippery fish came along with her as the boat rocked, tipping her over the side.
Yowling with displeasure, she kicked her hind legs and splashed wildly. It drew the attention of the fisherman, who hurried back to his boat.
“Oy, there, cat!” he yelled. “Thief!” He raised his fist and shook it.
Cali didn’t care. Transferring the fish to her mouth, she bit down hard with her fangs. With her front paws free, she paddled away from the fisherman. Pulling herself out of the water, she trotted away with her prize.
Wet through, she knew she must look frightful. She could hear laughter somewhere behind her, but she ignored it and continued toward the barrels where she’d sent Emmit.
The little mouse took one look at his companion and gasped. “What happened?”
Spitting the fish onto the ground, she shook her body to remove the water. Despite her disdain for being wet, she kept her composure to maintain dignity. “I fell in,” she said matter-of-factly. “I’d never been on a boat before, so I neglected to time my jump with the motion of the water. Next time, I’ll do better.” She held her head high, a look of satisfaction on her face.
Emmit stifled a laugh. “I believe you will.” Looking down at the fish, he asked, “May I?”
“Help yourself,” she said.
The little mouse immediately went for the blank, lifeless eyes, devouring them in a few bites. Cali nearly gagged. Choosing a more civilized fillet, she sliced open the fish with one metal claw. When the insides came out, she stuck out her tongue in disgust.
“You catch it, you clean it,” Emmit said with a grin. His belly fully, he sat back to relax while Cali enjoyed her share.
Gobbling down the fresh meat, she realized it was far better than tinned tuna. It was probably the best meal she’d ever eaten. “I’m going to have to come down here more often,” she said. “But I won’t be stealing again.”
“Then how will you get the fish?” Emmit asked.
“I’ll go fishing,” she replied.
“You mean swim for it?” The mouse looked horrified.
Cali shook her head. “No, I don’t plan to be all wet again.” The mention of her earlier misstep gave her the irresistible urge to groom, and she gave her flank several licks before continuing. “I’m sure Lionel has some sort of enhanced fishing pole I could use, or I’ll have to invent one myself.” She had every confidence she could figure it out. All it required was being smarter than a fish, and there was no doubt in her mind that she was.
“Sounds like fun,” Emmit said. “I’ll come along whenever you’re ready.”
Cali nodded and continued to groom her fur until every strand was back in place. She wasn’t sure how long it took, but her companion had dozed off at some point. “I’m ready to go,” she said, waking him.
Emmit rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “There’s still a lot of fish left,” he said.
“I’ll have more later, and I want to leave enough for Lionel,” she replied.
He didn’t say it, but Emmit suspected Lionel wouldn’t want fish that had been left lying in the sun for an hour.
Securing the fish in her mouth, Cali turned toward home. A rattling sound stopped her as she approached the alley. A metal trash bin overturned, clattering against the cobblestones. Something moved inside it, grunting and growling. Instinctively, she reached out her paw to prevent Emmit from going any farther. The clang of metal on metal echoed from inside the trash bin, followed by a faint ticking.
Cali zoomed in with her mechanical eye. A metal coil scraped the edge of the bin, but she couldn’t make out the source of its movement. Something was buried beneath the trash—something clockwork.
“Stay back,” Cali called to Emmit as she approached the bin.
“What is it?” the mouse asked.
Cali didn’t know the answe
r yet, but she was determined to find out. Setting aside her fish, she crept low and silently toward the overturned garbage. Wads of old newspaper littered the alley, their movement on the wind a constant distraction. But Cali remained focused, her eyes peering inside the bin. Scraping, as if someone was digging, sounded against the metal. Cali flattened her ears to tune it out.
When the noise suddenly stopped, the feline did as well. Pausing midstride, she waited. Movement. The jumbled garbage inside rose in a single lump, and it was coming toward her.
Cali shifted power to her haunches and readied her claws. When the creature burst forth from the bin, the feline flinched. It was a dog, no bigger than herself. She allowed her muscles to relax. This was no sinister creation stalking the streets of Ticswyk. It was just an unfortunate stray.
Upon closer inspection, Cali noticed a metal spring protruding from the dog’s side. He wore a monocle, or rather, it was attached to his skull. She could clearly see the mechanism that held it in place. The sound of ticking resumed, and she realized that he was indeed clockwork. Her ears had not deceived her.
The dog’s eyes were wide with surprise as he looked upon the cat. A scurrying creature behind her drew his gaze, and he sprang into action. “Mouse!” he cried as he pounced on Emmit, pinning him with his front paws. Scooping the mouse into his mouth, he shook vigorously.
“Drop him!” Cali shouted, swatting the dog on the nose. The first strike was with her unenhanced paw, the second would be with the other. But there was no second swat. The dog obeyed after the first, dropping Emmit to the ground.
Emmit brushed himself off and moved to stand behind Cali.
“That mouse is my friend, and he’s under my protection,” Cali said, sticking out her chest.
“I’m sorry,” the dog said, lowering his head. “I thought he was a windup toy.”
Emmit scoffed. “Windup toy indeed,” he said, crossing his arms.
Cali chuckled. Dogs weren’t very smart, so she was inclined to believe his explanation. When the dog padded sideways and sat on his rear, she could clearly see gears attached at his hips. Someone had tried to mimic her own implants, and she was certain she knew who it was.