by Henrik Tamm
But he had gotten a good look at them. Through his eyepiece, he had seen both of them. Oh yes. Two cats—kittens, really. Yes, he had seen them. Brave, though, venturing out in that weather. But why snoop around? In the middle of a storm? Oh, how brash. Thought maybe they would be hidden from his view? Maybe. Perhaps. Two very misguided cats. He hadn’t imagined them. He had seen them, hadn’t he? Yes, he had.
And the flying machine would be easy to find again. He had his connections. This was a one-off, a unique design, so it wouldn’t be difficult to locate. It was a girl cat pilot, if he hadn’t been mistaken. In fact, he could probably use her for something. Yes, he probably could. She had skills. There was real talent there, maneuvering that craft through the storm, he had seen that. So maybe even…maybe she could be the one to provide him with that other thing he had heard about. What did they call it? The thing that seemed to be so important to the living? Love. Yes, that was it. He would need it, after he was reborn, as he liked to think of it. To be alive meant you had to love, apparently, and he wanted the full experience. Yes, with her skills, she might make a good fit. It was soon now. The machine was almost finished, and he would finally gain the only thing he didn’t have.
He would find her. Yes, he would. His captains would. Gack and the Iguana boys. And bring her here.
Wouldn’t be hard to find a girl cat pilot. Not at all. And the other one? The one with the curious goggles, peering in at him? Well, if Rabbit could find one, he could find the other, couldn’t he? Yes, he could. After all, curiosity killed the cat, didn’t it? Yes, it did. It would just be a matter of time.
He took the last bite of the éclair and got cream all over his blue fur. He walked over to the table, picked up a napkin, and wiped his fur very, very carefully. Then he helped himself to another éclair.
Chapter 11
THE MORNING WAS crisp and bright. It was as if the storm had wiped the sky clean, and now there was just clear blue. Timmy woke and wiped the sleep from his eyes. He got up on an elbow, yawned, and let his legs drop to the floor. They hung there while he slowly let them wake up and regain some sense of feeling. He had slept uncomfortably, waking up often and half gazing around the room.
When he had finally fallen back asleep, he’d had nightmares. The Blue Rabbit had been in them, but Timmy had only ever been able to glimpse him or see his shadow. The Rabbit’s fur had been wet and had smelled funny, like something he had smelled before but couldn’t place. Although now the dreams were fading into obscurity, as they always seemed to do.
Timmy yawned again and spread his toes out. It made him wake up a little more when he spread his toes.
Alfred was already up; Timmy could smell the coffee in the air. Timmy didn’t care for coffee himself, but he drank the milk that Alfred put into a little pitcher next to his coffee. Alfred always had a cup in the morning. It was the only time he drank anything besides tea.
Timmy walked into the little kitchen area.
“Hey, Alfred.”
“Hi, Timmy.”
Alfred’s voice seemed low and without its usual spark.
“What’s the matter?” Timmy hopped up onto the chair opposite. Alfred sat grasping his mug of coffee. Then he let his eyes look into Timmy’s. At first Alfred wasn’t going to let on how he felt, but looking at the little gray cat in front of him, he felt a curious sense of companionship.
“I just don’t know what I’ve dragged you into…,” Alfred began slowly.
“You haven’t dragged us into anything,” Timmy replied. “This is just happening. It was our own idea to become a ninja gang. It sounds really silly to say it now, but I did this because I felt I was finally doing something important. I was just a street cat once. I failed at school, didn’t fit in. It bored me. I always thought there was more to life than falling in line with everyone else. And now, it finally feels like I’m making a difference.”
Alfred peered at Timmy inquiringly.
“I just feel responsible,” Alfred began. “I made Rabbit all those years ago and know how powerful he became. And I encouraged you to become a ninja gang. And now you’re face to face with him.”
“You didn’t know it was the Blue Rabbit at the time.”
“No, I suppose I didn’t. I just worry, that’s all.”
“Don’t worry, Alfred. We’ll manage okay.”
“I know, Timmy. You are the bravest creature I have ever met.”
For the second time in just a few days, Timmy blushed under his fur. Alfred smiled glumly and looked out the window. The sun was streaming in, and all was very peaceful.
The calm before the storm, Timmy thought.
Flores’s voice from the doorway startled them both.
“Hey, boys.” She leaned casually against the doorframe. “I’m gonna go see to the plane. Check on any damages from last night.”
Timmy looked at her. She looked radiant in the morning light. No bags under her eyes from bad dreams, like he had. Didn’t she ever worry about anything?
“Just make sure you’re back before dark. We plan everything tonight. We need your skill as a pilot to pull this off,” Alfred said.
“Oh, I’ll be back before a rhinoceros can say ‘potbelly,’ ” she answered with a snicker.
With that peculiar statement, she was off. Timmy went up to the window and watched her stride down the street. Alfred smiled behind him.
“You like her.”
Timmy took a moment to answer.
“Yes, maybe a little.”
“Go ahead. Go help her look over the flying machine.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure she could use some company.”
Timmy was out the door. Flores was way ahead of him, so he upped his pace. He called out to her, but she didn’t hear him. He jogged a little farther and called out again. She turned and saw him.
“What?” she yelled back.
A buzzing sound that had been in the background grew in strength. Timmy couldn’t quite place it. He slowed to a walk.
“I just wanted to…” And then he saw where the noise was coming from.
A dozen or so steam-powered motorcycles were coming up the street toward Flores. They were coming fast, too fast for comfort. He turned and saw more of them behind him. As they passed, he saw that all the drivers had scales, like reptiles. They wore big iron helmets and had leather jackets with studs in them. On the sides of their bikes, they carried nets. This was not good.
“Flores! Watch out!” he yelled.
But as he watched, the first motorcycles reached her. They circled her, kicking up dirt and dust. The noise from their engines was loud and sharp. He saw the riders heckling her, laughing as they went round and round, trapping her. She tried to run, but the circle of motorcycles was blocking her. Then the riders threw their nets. Flores skillfully avoided the first ones. Timmy began running toward her, his heart beating wildly.
He ran for all he was worth, faster than he ever had before, but he realized he would never make it. He was just too far away. As he watched in horror, they overcame her, and she was knocked down and trapped in the nets. Then there was another loud noise, coming from the sky. Timmy looked up and saw an air balloon swooping down fast, with steam pipes on its sides spewing smoke. In the carriage underneath stood a furry blue creature with long ears: the Blue Rabbit.
As Timmy watched in shock, Flores was lifted up into the air balloon, struggling against the nets. The Blue Rabbit grabbed her and hoisted her on board, and the balloon quickly ascended amid plumes of smoke.
“No!” Timmy shouted as he ran.
But when he finally reached the spot, the balloon was already high up in the air, and the bikes had sped off. Gasping for breath, he stopped and looked up. The balloon was now just a speck in the blue sky, moving swiftly across the city. Timmy felt sick and angry. It felt like a kick to the gut. A minute ago, he had felt invincible, like nothing could stop him. Now, without Flores, he felt hopelessness seize his heart.
C
hapter 12
THE AIR WAS heavy with gloom that evening in the toy shop. Timmy sat with his head in his paws, staring at the floor. He couldn’t believe this had happened. He had dragged Flores into this. Because he fancied her. Now she was in the clutches of a villain who would steal that vibrant laughter from her. Timmy felt utterly defeated.
For a moment, he wished he could just return to the baker’s loft and stay there. Stay out of trouble. Invent things. Continue with his life.
Except he couldn’t.
He heard footsteps and looked up. Alfred was standing over him, holding a little wooden box. The man slowly sat down next to Timmy.
They sat in silence for a while, Alfred still clutching the box and Timmy with his head in his paws. Another few minutes ticked by. Timmy glanced at the box. He finally spoke with a small voice.
“What’s in the box?”
Alfred peered down at him, a slow smile forming.
“Why, it’s something for you.”
He opened the box. Timmy looked over. He had to scoot closer to see.
It was the blue flower he had picked and spent at least two of his lives on. It lay there at the bottom of the box, looking like any other flower. Maybe just smaller and a little shriveled.
“Doesn’t look like much.”
“It doesn’t, does it? But I’ll tell you something. It has dried a few days now and has reached a perfect stage of dryness. It is in its most powerful state,” Alfred said solemnly.
“Is that right?”
“That’s right. I was thinking maybe I could make you something with it. What do you think? You picked it, after all.”
Alfred paused, waiting for a reaction. Timmy looked at the flower. It didn’t look magical at all.
“But maybe there is no point.…” Alfred’s voice sank as he continued. “Maybe you have given up. And anyone would understand if you had. You have that look, like there is no point in going on. So maybe I will save it for later. For someone else.”
“Yeah.”
“Yes.… Might be best.”
Alfred nodded slowly, looking out over the room as he continued in a low voice, almost to himself:
“It would be a very powerful magical device that I could create with this flower…but I suppose I could give it to another ninja cat when he comes along.”
Timmy slowly raised his head. He glanced sideways at Alfred.
“How powerful?”
“Pretty powerful.” Alfred sounded somber.
“Well…maybe there is still a point. In going on, I mean. A small point. Tiny point,” Timmy finally said.
“You think so?” Alfred looked at him, his eyebrows raised.
“Yes, maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Well, what I mean is that…it’s important to me to make sure Flores is okay.”
“In that case, maybe I should make you something after all. But you would have to promise to use it properly. And do it soon, because time is running out.”
“I thought maybe it was already too late. For Flores, I mean.”
“No, there’s still time. If there’s anything I know in this world, it’s magic. Collecting laughter takes preparation and time.”
“So you think Flores might still be okay?”
“I do. But not for much longer. You would have to hurry.”
“I could do that,” Timmy said in a small voice.
“So yes?” Alfred raised his eyebrows again, a soft smile spreading on his lips.
“Yes.”
“Okay, then. Good. I will set to work immediately.”
“What will you make?”
“I don’t know yet. The flower will tell me. It will show itself.”
“Okay.”
“And in the meantime, try to cheer up. Despite what has happened, the game isn’t lost yet. We have lots of work to do. Lots of preparations to make.”
Alfred got up. He closed the box and disappeared into his lab.
Timmy was left sitting alone again. But now he could feel his willpower seep back into his heart. He was going to do this. He would defeat this wretched Blue Rabbit. He straightened his spine and walked tall into the shop room.
It wasn’t hard for Timmy to convince the gang to join him in this final quest. “We all like Flores,” Jasper said.
“Even if she’s been a bit hard on us at times,” Casper added. “And it isn’t only about her anyway. It’s about all those kids.”
“One thing, though, guys,” said Simon. “We need to come up with a good name for ourselves. Not ‘Ninja Timmy and His Gang.’ ”
They agreed they would all put their minds to it.
That afternoon, the most unusual thing happened. They were all sitting together, planning the rescue operation, realizing what a gigantic task it would be for only four friends, when there was a knock on the door. Alfred had closed the shop for the day in order to work in peace, and there was a big sign on the door saying Closed.
“Who could it be?” murmured Jasper.
Casper went to the door. “We’re not open today! Who’s there?”
There was only a muffled, inaudible reply. Casper turned to the others, trying to decide if he should open the door. Another loud knock rattled the door. Casper did a quick calculation in his head. A burglar wouldn’t knock; he would simply break in. If whoever was out there had seen the sign and understood it, they had to be a friend of Alfred’s. If they didn’t understand the sign, they were probably from out of town and perhaps in need of assistance. And what kind of crime-fighting gang would these four friends be if they didn’t lend a hand to those in need? He made a mental list of all the foreign languages in which he knew the phrase “Good afternoon” and opened the door.
Casper’s jaw dropped. He hadn’t been so surprised and frightened at the same time since he was just a little kid, and Jasper, dressed up as a pirate, had jumped out of a closet in the middle of the night.
In front of him stood Dobie Gribble, the biggest of the Gribble cousins. He smiled meekly at Casper. In his hand was a box of chocolates, which he held up. The piglet and the wild boar stood like that for what seemed like several minutes—Casper in shock with his mouth open, and Dobie with a silly smile, waiting for Casper to take the chocolates. Across the street stood the rest of the Gribbles, waiting anxiously to see what was going to happen.
“Friends?” Dobie finally said.
“Good afternoon?” was all Casper could come up with to say.
“Friends?” Dobie repeated. “Let bygones be bygones? Water under the bridge and all that?”
At this point, Timmy and the others had all come up to the door. They gathered behind Casper, staring at the tense scene in amazement.
“You see,” Dobie continued, “we know that our two gangs started off, shall we say, on a bad foot. And there were some misunderstandings, and differences of opinion, and some scuffles, and a lot of running.”
“That must be the greatest understatement of all time, but sure, yes. And what do you want? What’s with the box of chocolates?” Timmy said, who had now come up to stand next to Casper.
“Well, see, we all discussed it, and that seems to be the thing to give someone when, well, you want to say…ehm, sorry.”
“You’ve come here to apologize for being the most despicable gang of boars to ever wander the streets of Elyzandrium?”
“That pretty much sums it up, yes.”
“And why would you want to do that?” Timmy was both highly suspicious and genuinely interested.
“We would like to be friends.” Dobie turned to his cousins for encouragement. “Yes, friends, that’s it,” Dobie said as the rest of the Gribbles behind him nodded in unison. Timmy wasn’t having it. He thought for sure this was some kind of foul trick, or a strange form of ambush.
“Well, we’re not sure we want to be friends with you guys.”
Dobie was beginning to look desperate and again held forward the chocolates. He was looking around nervously now, as if there wer
e something about to spring from around the corner and hurt him.
“No? But we brought chocolates, see?” He held the box up higher.
“We’re not falling for one of your tricks!” Timmy’s tone was sharp. His tail wagged back and forth in irritation. Dobie looked frustrated.
“But you must help us! We need your protection! The Rabbit is going to kill us!”
“What? Kill you? I thought you worked for him!”
“Not anymore. Not since you guys whooped our behinds! Apparently there’s some really tiny print in our employment contract that clearly specifies death if we fail to finish a job! When we returned without the puppy that night, the night when you whooped our behinds, he was terribly upset, you see. Then he showed us the contract…and now he’s after us and is going to kill us.”
The last sentence was nothing more than a whisper. Dobie sounded legitimately scared. He looked nervous and miserable, and Timmy thought he even spotted a tear forming in the corner of his eye.
“Oh, please…please, please, please, please!” He was begging now. “I’m too young to die.…” And now the tear dropped onto the stone step where he was standing.
Timmy exhaled and looked at the others. They seemed equally at a loss. Simon shrugged. Casper and Jasper stood with their notepads out, scribbling furiously, but they couldn’t come up with an equation that made any sense. Alfred shrugged too, then nodded. Timmy turned back to Dobie, still suspicious.