04b1ef9c60873c444a27c4afd3197be1

I glanced up and noticed that the ventilation system in the room was of an odd design. In line with the rest of the house it had an industrial look: the pipes led straight into the room and hung suspended from the ceiling with a series of rings and bolts and iron wiring. If only we could get up there, and pry loose one of those grates, we might have a shot at getting out of the room.

“No, really,” Dooley was saying. “I thought you were six, or maybe seven.”

“Uh-huh,” said Pussy. “Is that a fact?”

“Pussy?” I said. “Is there a way we can get up there?” I indicated the high-wire act above our heads.

“If we put all my plush toys in a big pile in the corner we might reach there,” said Pussy. “But even if we could, we’d still have to remove the grate.”

“I know. But we have to give it a try. It might be our only shot before they come back.”

So for the next couple of minutes we created a big pile out of Pussy’s plush animals. To our delight there were a lot of them. Like, a great big lot. Finally the pile reached about three quarters to the ceiling, and we took a break to think up the next part of our grand plan.

“I think Dooley should go,” said Pussy. “He’s the lightest and might reach the highest.”

“Agreed,” I said.

“You think?” said Dooley. “I think Pussy should try. She’s very light on her paws, and will simply whizz through the air like a trapeze artist.”

“Why, thank you, Dooley,” Pussy said, pleasantly surprised.

“No, I mean it. You could be a ballet dancer for all your grace and beauty.”

“Well, I could give it a shot, of course,” she said, “but it’s really you who should get out of here. I’m not to the one they’re going to try and murder.”

“Touch?,” said Dooley, grinning awkwardly for some reason.

“Oh, for crying out loud,” I said and gave my friend a nudge in the direction of the pile of plush. “Jump high and aim for that grate over there.”

“Aye, aye, captain,” said Dooley, licking his lips nervously. He retreated all the way to the opposite corner of the room, then took a long approach and at high speed raced to the pile, hopped up in a few jumps to the top, then took a flying leap in the direction of the grate, and… managed tohang on by his nails!

Unfortunately, two things happened simultaneously: the grate didn’t budge, sturdily fastened as it apparently was, and the pile of plush animals, as a consequence of Dooley’s ministrations, collapsed and tumbled down.

“Help!” Dooley now bleated, dangling from the ceiling by his nails. “Help me, Max!”

“Oh, hang on, Dooley!” Pussy shouted. “Max will figure something out!”

They both looked at me for aid and comfort, but frankly I drew a complete blank. I mean, I’m not Bruce Willis traipsing all over Nakatomi Plaza!

The only thing I could think of was:“Just let go, Dooley. I’ll break your fall.”

Just then, two more things happened: the grate finally decided to give up the struggle and dropped out. Dooley, in a supreme demonstration of nimbleness, managed to grab onto the vent opening. And then the door to the room opened and Chris walked in.

The grate fell on top of the man’s head, and he went down like a sack of potatoes. And Dooley, up above, quickly disappeared into the vent the moment he heard the door opening and immediately scrabbled out of sight.

“Go, Max!” Pussy shouted. “Now’s your chance. Go, go, go!”

And like a speed racer who’s been given the all-clear, I bolted for the door. And just when I reached there an obstacle appeared in my path: it was Tank. But since I was going fast and speeding up as I went, I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. Cats don’t have inbuilt brakes, so I bumped into Tank at full speed, and since I am easily twice his size it was like a bowling ball hitting a pin: Tank was flung to the side and I still kept going, momentum propelling me through the door.

I was free, and nothing could stop me now!

Except for the maze that was Chateau Leonidas.

Before long I was lost in the warren of corridors, but all the while I kept on running at full tilt, for right behind me was a cat in hot pursuit, and I knew it was Tank, pissed that he’d been bowled over by a mere mongrel like myself.

Chapter 22

Odelia and Chase had been driving along, en route back to town, when suddenly they passed a familiar-looking red car, speeding in the opposite direction, a little old white-haired lady behind the wheel, her face practically plastered against the windshield, a look of determination on her face.

They turned to one another and said in chorus,“Gran.”

Odelia performed her second U-turn of the day and moments later was following Gran who, for some reason, was on her way to the Flake house.

The old lady was making good time, though, and no matter how deeply Odelia punched in the accelerator, she wasn’t making any headway.

“Where did she go?” cried Chase.

“Gran is in a different category than the rest of the traffic participants,” said Odelia through gritted teeth. “She thinks the traffic code is just a suggestion.”

“Well, speed up before she wraps her car around a tree.”