by Rahma Krambo
“It’s all coming back to me now. Mother always told me I had the gift. But I will go far beyond this weak gypsy magic. Tarot and tea leaves will not suffice. No one will ever have power over me now.”
The Professor rubbed his hands together. Blocking the candle light, his shadow was thrown on the wall, looming larger than life.
As he talked, he began to unlatch the cage. “What a disgusting notion—cats guarding such a priceless treasure. This is not a book that should be hoarded in some forgotten bookstore by a filthy cat.
“Should I set you free? A gesture of good will, perhaps? I suppose there are men who might do such a thing, but I know the right way to treat a cat.”
Cicero did not waste a moment. The instant the cage door was unlatched he became a wild animal and pushed through, leaping at the Professor and latching onto his neck.
The next thing he knew, he’d been hurled to the floor. All he could remember now from that moment was the numbness in his legs and disgrace in his soul.
After the Professor sped away in his car, a light appeared outside the doorway. Alaniah had arrived.
“Where have you been!” he scolded.
“I couldn’t find you-ou. There was so much interference, my navigation system was thrown off. However did you get to… what is this place? The Tar and Feathers Inn?”
“Never mind. There’s no time to explain. I can’t move, and I fear I’ve lost the book.”
“Poor, dear Cicero. I’m so sorry. Lie still.” Then Alaniah hovered above and showered him with something like warm snowflakes. Soon the feeling began to return to his leg.
“Make me a portal, Alaniah,” he asked, and the Losring transported Cicero back to the bookshop. But it was too late. The tiny room had been ransacked. He went out the back and saw the man disappearing down the dark alleyway.
There was only one thing left for him to do. The power of the book was his to use in extreme circumstances. He hobbled down the alleyway, running as best he could on his three good legs, trying to imagine what in the world he would need to become in order to rescue the book.
As soon as the answer appeared, a wave of power surged through his body. Then his feet disappeared and outstretched wings emerged from his sides, lifting him off the cobblestone street and into the air.
The alley became his runway and he flew over the Professor’s head, trying out his hawk wings. He soared in a wide circle, with the night sky and wind holding him above while he looked down at the earth from this new height.
The Professor left the alley for the street, dark and deserted except for one car and a few scattered pole lamps. Cicero’s hawk eyes picked the target site and locked onto it, as though he’d done this a million times before.
The air whooshed under him as he picked up speed and made his silent, deadly descent. The Professor’s hand was on the car door handle when he attacked, one jab with his beak in the darkest circle of the man’s eye.
The Professor didn’t make a sound right away. He fell to the ground, hugging his head, then let out one of the worst screams Cicero had ever heard coming out of a human. In one smooth motion, Cicero snatched the book with his talons and flew back up into the silent night sky.
Chapter 32: Decisions
Cicero had never quite recovered from that experience. Alaniah had not wanted to take any chances going back to the bookstore and assured him she would find a safe place for them.
Not that he had any complaints about the sleepy Angel Springs library. The librarians let him have his own room where he read to his heart’s content, but there were times when he still missed Amelia and the bookshop. Such are the hardships of a Guardian’s life.
Today, especially, he was feeling his age. Few cats ever lived so long. Only those touched by a Losring like Alaniah. It was good to be blessed by such a creature, but for Guardian Cats it often meant they had not found their successor and needed more time. His pondering was interrupted by voices outside his chambers.
“I’ll be good, I promise.”
Cicero sighed. Why did he find the ferret creature so annoying?
Marco walked into the room and Polo came bursting in behind. He sat on his haunches, trying to imitate Marco.
“Greetings, Cicero,” said Marco. “I brought Polo. I hope you don’t min…”
“Well…” Cicero cut him off before he could finish.
“I want to learn how to read. Just like Marco!” Polo blurted out.
Cicero paused. This he was not expecting. “Hmm.”
“I’m a fast learner.”
Cicero did not feel like being diplomatic, but he held his tongue.
Polo did not hold his. “How about a story then? Marco says you tell really good stories.”
Cicero ignored the ferret and turned to Marco. “Please take your friend out of the library. We are already pressing our luck, having meetings in the storeroom, and few are allowed in my chambers. I fear he will get us all kicked out.”
Marco hung his head. “Come on Polo. Let’s go.” He steered the ferret out through the door.
Cicero heard Polo chattering all the way down the hall. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble. I don’t know why he’s so grumpy, though. Why is he so grumpy, Marco?”
Cicero jumped down from the chair and poked his head out the door. “Marco! After you take him outside, come back in here. I need to talk to you.”
Cicero curled up on a chair and put his head down, weighed by the decision he needed to make. He had to be sure.
The room filled with the radiance only Alaniah could make.
“Ahhh, Alaniah. I need your light right now.”
“Why so glum, Cicero-ero-o?”
“I am feeling the days,” said Cicero.
“There is something more, I think.”
“Yes, Alaniah. So long I’ve been waiting, I’d almost given up. I was too careless before; overlooked too many obvious signs. I fear making a wrong decision again and that’s not like me. I’ve never been a fearful cat.”
“This is true.”
“I must have no reservations.”
“Yes, but you cannot know everything ahead of time. Wherein lies your uncertainty?”
“Marco seems… I don’t know… too young.” He sighed and closed his eyes.
“Weren’t you but a kit when you set foot on this path? Can you not remember your own impetuous youth?”
“It was so many lifetimes ago."
“Then what will you do?”
“I need to look to the Code to see if Marco is up to the challenge. Why do I not remember these things?” said Cicero worriedly. “So first, does he pass the test for courage?”
“Did he not do battle with three others who were much larger?
“Yes, that might be courage. Yet it might be foolishness.”
“What is foolishness?”
“I often wonder what the difference is… between courage and foolishness. If we knew what we were getting ourselves into, we probably wouldn’t do much but sleep. It takes a bit of madness to jump into the middle of things which might turn out badly. Marco shows a remarkable aptitude for this reckless kind of courage we talk about.”
“Isn’t that what you’re looking for?”
“Yes… and honor, compassion, humility, self-sacrifice. Many things it takes to make a Guardian. Marco did not hesitate to help save Lily when the raccoons had her. That’s the kind of thing I mean. He does jump in when things need to happen. He is good that way.”
They sat in silence for while, Cicero pondering and Alaniah quietly hovering.
“He’s intelligent and I believe he has the other qualities, but I wonder about his judgment,” Cicero finally said.
“What do you mean?”
“Well… it’s his friendship with that ferret. Why does Marco waste his time with him? Polo is such a foolish and undignified creature.”
Alaniah flew up in a swoop and came down to face Cicero. “This is how you measure his wisdom? Dear Cicero, are
you not lacking in tolerance? Polo is not an intelligent creature, but he is a pure soul.”
“Oh, my dear Alaniah. Am I being too harsh? I don’t mean to be, but I must look at everything. How can I know he will have the wisdom to be successful?”
“Wisdom, understanding? Where does it come from, Cicero? Why are you asking me? You know the answer. He will make mistakes, like you. Earthlings seem to learn everything the hard way-ay.”
“So true, Alaniah. So true.”
“You are forgetting something else.”
Cicero looked to her to continue.
“Marco hears. He hears the frequency. He hears the music of the Book and he hears me, something that never happened with Bait.”
Cicero nodded. Marco did have all the signs he’d been looking for. Even the one he didn’t mention now, but held as a touchstone, the highest criterion he needed to make his final decision… and that was the connection Marco had made with Akeel.
Chapter 33: Guardian-in-training
Marco knew he was in trouble, but Cicero was being unfair. Like Polo, he wondered why the old cat was in such a foul temper.
Outside Cicero's door, he peeked around the edge and took a quick sniff to test the atmosphere inside.
Cicero spotted him and called out in a spirited voice. "Marco! What took you so long? Come in!"
Marco’s eyes widened and he stepped in the room. “I'm… not in trouble?"
"On the contrary!" exclaimed Cicero. "My displeasure was not with you, but due to grave matters at hand. Decisions, calling on clear judgment and needing certitude cause vexation to the spirit.”
Marco wondered if Cicero might be apologizing. It was hard to tell.
“Today is a most auspicious day.”
"It is?" Marco asked. ‘Auspicious’ sounded like something to worry about, but Cicero was too light hearted.
“Most assuredly. I will tell you now that these past weeks you have been on trial. Not for any crime committed, but to measure your worthiness. Careful observation and analysis of your actions have revealed crucial characteristics required for this post. Being a Guardian Cat demands a high level of integrity.”
Marco had no clue what Cicero was talking about, so he remained silent.
“To put it more simply,” Cicero continued, “when you have reached the end of your journey, how will you view it? Will you be able to say you led an honorable life? Or to paraphrase someone, ‘I have suffered, it is true, as few men… uh… cats… are ever called upon to suffer, but I have been weighed in the balances by a jury of my peers and found not wanting?’”
As usual, Cicero’s long-winded explanations, punctured with quotes, confused Marco even more. Cicero finally noticed his bewilderment.
"Alaniah, would you please convey the nature of this momentous event to our young friend?"
Alaniah floated down from a high corner to join them. “It would be my honor-or," she sang. “Marco, what Cicero is trying to say is that he has chosen you to be his successor."
Marco’s breath caught in his throat. Whatever he’d been expecting, it certainly wasn’t this. "I don't know what… to say," he stammered.
"You may say yes,'" teased Alaniah. "That would please Cicero most."
"Yes," he consented. Then he repeated it with vigor as the realization sunk in.
"Good. I am most pleased." said Cicero. "Let us proceed to the hidden chamber."
Marco followed Cicero downstairs to the mirror, thinking about his dream come true. Even though it came as a surprise, it did seem like his destiny. He was feeling nobler already and could hardly wait to tell someone.
As they waited for Alaniah to open the mirror portal for them, Cicero sat looking forward, “You can’t tell anyone!”
Marco jumped. How did Cicero know what he was thinking? It was beginning to spook him. They descended down the dark, dungeon-like stairs once again. This time though, he knew what awaited him at the bottom.
When they reached the door of the underground chamber, Alaniah floated through and disappeared, leaving them in utter darkness. Marco bumped into Cicero.
“Hang on. Sometimes she gets distracted. She also likes to mess with us.”
The door opened and the chamber glowed with light swirling in a rainbow of colors. “I prepared the room especially for this occasion. You may enter now,” said Alaniah.
Cicero allowed Marco to enter first. He felt a ripple of excitement. When he came here before, he’d been so naïve. Not anymore, he thought.
"Very well, Marco," said Cicero. "We have no time to waste. Please come and sit in front of me."
Marco stepped in closer to Cicero. Cicero raised his paw and placed it on Marco's head. "Marco, as of this moment, you are officially a Guardian-in-training."
Cicero removed his paw and jumped up to the table.
"Is that it?" asked Marco thoughtlessly. In books, ceremonies were always very elaborate, especially for knighthood, which was how he thought of his new position.
"What did you expect?"
"I don't know. Something… more…" Marco felt foolish putting it into words.
"A celestial being who deems to talk to you, a time traveling journey back to the most magnificent library ever created, a meeting with the original human Guardian, witnessing a major historical event and being here in the presence of the most powerful and magical book in existence…” Cicero said sternly. “What more do you want?”
Reduced to a speck of dust, Marco turned his face to wash a non-existent itch on his back. Cicero would change his mind now, probably throwing him out on his ear.
"Marco, look at me. We are cats. Try to remember that," said Cicero simply. “Now come up here and let’s have no more foolishness.”
Marco looked up at Cicero, who had made his blunder vanish like a puff of smoke. With this cat, nothing was predictable.
Marco jumped quickly up to the table. Alaniah flew in swirls around the room, in ever-smaller circles, until she landed on top of the box. As soon as she touched it, one side of the box opened up like a flower. Inside was Akeel’s book.
Marco gasped. “It really is Akeel’s book.” He looked around the room, half expecting to see him. “I wish he were here.”
"I understand. I do feel his presence when I am with the book. This is his legacy, however.”
"So… Akeel brought the book here?"
"No, but someday I will tell you the story of how we both came to be in this place."
Marco started feeling cocky again. “Make it do something. Like Akeel did.”
“Not allowed.”
“What do you mean? You are the Guardian. You can do whatever you want, right?”
“Yes… and no.”
“That’s not much of an answer. Here I am, on my first day of training. So train me.”
He felt Cicero’s glare, but he didn’t feel like backing off.
Finally Cicero gave in. “I will show you one small thing. But understand this. You cannot use its magic except for very serious matters. Life and death. Or to save the Book itself. Its power is addictive and it becomes dangerous to the one using it.”
Marco waited eagerly.
“Marco?”
“Yes?”
“Do you understand?”
Marco was sure the right answer was ‘yes’. “Yes, Cicero.”
Cicero looked around the barren cave-like room with only a table and the Book.
“Hop down,” he ordered Marco.
They both jumped off the table. Cicero closed his eyes and mumbled some words, and the table changed shape. In one smooth transformation, the top became a piece of thick clear-cut glass, and the legs appeared to be growing out of the floor like a tree trunk.
Cicero looked pleased. “I may leave it that way. It’s one way I keep in practice… changing the table.”
Marco could not believe how lame this trick was. “How will this help me? What if I’m in some life or death situation? I hardly think redecorating tables will save anyone!”
“You want something more dramatic?” Cicero sighed. “Okay, Marco, just this once I will give you dramatic. You will need to learn the language anyway.” Cicero closed his eyes. “I usually say this silently.” He began to chant in a strange language.
“Fa-taw-lah-nee, rah-ma-la-nee, ma-fa-taw-nee, moon-too-lah.”
Marco had never heard anything so silly in his life. He yawned—and because his eyes were closed for a half second—he missed how the magic happened. When he opened them, a strange human towered above him.
Spooked, Marco turned and ran out the door, but he stopped on the other side to peer back inside. The man was chuckling and holding out his hand to Marco. “Is this dramatic enough?”
“Cicero?”
The man looked at Marco and smiled. “Yes?”
“You’re human?”
Cicero as a man reached down to pick up Marco and scratch behind his ears. “I always wanted to see what that felt like to a human.”
Marco loved being held again. “Will you stay like this?” he purred.
“Oh my, no,” replied Cicero. “Being human is much too complicated.”
Chapter 34: Library Invaders
Sting never hated cats before. He never even thought about them except when they got in his way. What was he doing wasting his precious time stalking this stupid Marco? Hanging out by the library, for pete’s sake. But there he was, climbing a tree with that ridiculous ferret right behind him.
But at least he knew he was in the right place. The strange raccoon had been telling the truth about the cats’ new hideout. He didn’t know what to think about Lazer. He’d never taken advice from anyone before, so why was he listening to this guy?
Oh yeah, something about the cats having magical powers because of a book. And if he was right about the cats, then he must be right about the warehouse full of food. Sting’s mouth watered at the thought of so much food all in one place. More than he could eat, Lazer told him. Hah! Like that was possible.
“Crimmany, go see what he’s up to,” he ordered. “Maybe he’s got the book in there.”