1c8c0f371c0d914159db2df0bf94b5c6

“Do you have a question for Master Omar, Tex?” asked Marge, who seemed as excited as the rest of the people making their way to the old Excelsior building, a known landmark.

“Oh, I have my question all right,” said Tex, a grim expression on his face. “In fact I havethe question.”

“Good,” she said. “This is our chance to find out the secrets of life so we shouldn’t blow it.”

Tex nodded seriously, as if to say that soon life would have no more secrets for him.

We’d arrived at the address indicated and found that it was a majestic house with a majestic entrance. The Excelsior building had been erected by a couple of billionaires around the turn of the century (the previous century, that is) and it looked majestic, its red-brick facade lit up by powerful halogen lights. Actual columns supported a portico and two guards stood sentry and gave every single person seeking entrance a once-over.

“No scanner?” asked Chase.

“Master Omar knows that no terrorists will try to gain access to his temple,” Gran said in eulogizing tones. “They wouldn’t dare.”

“But how can he be sure?” asked Odelia, who clearly had trouble taming her reporter’s instincts and bringing out the inner worshipper.

“Master Omar knows. He’s like a god among men. And gods among men don’t need scanners to keep the bad people out. They simply make sure that the thought of entering the premises doesn’t even enter the thug’s mind.”

“Is Master Sharif also a god, Harriet?” asked Dooley.

“Of course he is,” said Harriet. “Master Sharif is a god, and Master Omar is a god. They’re both gods.”

“But… how can a cat be a god?” asked Dooley.

“Cats have been gods before,” she said. “In Egypt.” Her eyes glittered excitedly as she threw her mind back to those long-lost times when cats were revered and worshipped as the next big thing. Yup. You had to hand it to those pharaohs. They treated us cats with the respect we deserve. “And now you better reserve your questions for Master Sharif,” she said. “He’ll be able to explain everything so much better than a mere mortal like me.”

“Okay,” said Dooley, and I could see that he was hatching a couple of doozies.

Finally it was our turn, and Tex cleared his throat and said,“The Family Poole. Ten strong.”

The guard scrutinized us for a long moment, then gave the all-clear sign by jerking his thumb in the direction of the entrance and we all dutifully filed in.

Once inside, I was pleasantly surprised by the opulence on display there: marble floors, crystal chandeliers, column-supported ceilings. It all looked very airy and bright, and I immediately felt at home. Though as far as I could ascertain, no comfy couches were in evidence where a cat could curl up into a ball and snore the night away.

“Nice place,” said Uncle Alec, sounding surprised.

“See?” said Gran. “I told you!”

“Told me what?”

“That Master Omar only settles for the best.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

People were milling about, sipping from flutes of something bubbly and effervescent, and talking softly. There were easily dozens of people there, maybe even more.

We all stood in a corner, glancing around, and waiting for whatever happened next.

“Masters Omar and Sharif usually hold their conferences in separate rooms,” said Harriet in hushed and respectful tones. “Last night we were in a room on the second floor while Master Omar was on the ground floor.”

“How many floors are there?” asked Brutus, glancing up at the ornate staircase, also marble, winding up to the next floor.

“I don’t know,” said Harriet. “I haven’t seen the entire house yet. But I’ve heard rumors that Master Omar has his private rooms on the top floor, where only members of his inner circle are allowed.”

“An inner circle I’m joining tonight,” said Gran.

“No, an inner circle I’m joining tonight,” said Harriet.

Before the argument could spin out of control, a person appeared on the stairs and clapped her hands.“Master Omar is ready for you now. Will you all please join him in the main hall? And for our feline friends, Master Sharif is waiting upstairs.”

“This is it, Max,” said Dooley, clearly in the grip of the same kind of anticipatory excitement as the rest of the company. “We’re going to learn all the secrets of life now!”

“Uh-huh,” I said without much enthusiasm. I already knew all about the secrets of life: a good human and a nice couch to sleep on. Still, I was curious to meet this Master Sharif and find out what all the fuss was about.

So I followed Harriet as she made her way to the stairs, and then we were tripping up that cream-colored marble en route to the second floor and our first meeting with Sharif.

Chapter 12

Odelia watched with a touch of concern as her cats moved up the stairs. She told herself they’d be all right but still felt a little uneasy in her mind. Meanwhile, Gran was fussing over Uncle Alec, clearly unhappy with his general appearance and demeanor.

“Remember to be polite, Alec,” Gran said.

“Yes, Ma,” Uncle Alec grunted.

“And stand up straight. Don’t slouch.”

“I never slouch!”