The Big Meow

“It would be bad,” Rhiow said. “In the aftermath of the quakes associated with the arrival of the power the ancient ehhif called Tepeyollotl, Los Angeles would certainly be destroyed in fire and water: and that’s just the least of the expected effects. I’m sure the poor dupes involved in this business somehow think they’ll be spared if they succeed… but they’re crazy.”

The Silent Man sat quietly for a moment. Knowing that you people have all kinds of amazing abilities, he said, I’m noting that you’re not making any offer to send me and the local feline population to safety.

“Because if we fail,” Helen said, “nowhere we could send you, in the short run, would be any safer in the long run than where you are right now. If this is the last day for all of us, better that you and the local People should go about your business, and their business, with dignity.”

And hope you succeed.

“I like our chances,” Urruah said, sounding a whole lot calmer than Rhiow felt. “Pity there’s no one to take the bet.”

Through his concern, the Silent Man got a glint of amusement in his eye: but over to one side Rhiow caught a glimpse of Arhu and Siffha’h exchanging a glance, and she could feel some private thought passing between them. Must ask about that later, if there’s time…

The French door on the backyard side of the room pushed open a little, and Aufwi slipped in. “Sorry,” he said, “I had a couple of local gate issues. It’s acting up again…”

“Why wouldn’t it,” Urruah muttered. “It has to feel how everything’s hanging in the balance right now…”

“And we’ve been doing that as long as we dare,” Rhiow said, “but we must get moving and get over there now. I could wish we had the last tranche of information that we need… but no matter: we’ll have to do without it.” She stood up. “Iau be with us in its absence, for we’ll need Her.” Her tail lashed with unease.

“Wait, what?” Aufwi said. “What’s still missing?”

“Ith can’t find the carvings uptime,” Rhiow said. “They’re not in the museum any more!”

Aufwi looked surprised. “What, at Exposition Park?”

“Of course, what else would she be talking about!” Urruah said.

Aufwi blinked at him. “But of course the carvings wouldn’t be there. They moved them.”

Rhiow stared.“What?”

“The pre-Columbian art was only in the old Museum until the Sixties,” Aufwi said. “But they ran out of room up there with all the other stuff they kept cramming into the same little space. So they built a new place, the LA County Museum of Art, down on Wilshire, by the Miracle Mile. ‘Museum Row,’ they call it now: there’s a whole bunch of them down there – the Page Museum over by the Tar Pits and a few others.”

Rhiow sagged with relief. “So it’s just all been moved across town –?!”

“Only five miles or so,” Aufwi said. “Just tell your friend–”

Rhiow sat down again, reached down into her mind and poured everything she’d just heard down the until-now dormant link to Ith’s mind uptime. “I’ve told him,” Rhiow said. “Aufwi, I don’t know whether to pull your ears right off because you didn’t think to tell us this earlier, or to thank you and beg to have your kittens.” She caught Urruah giving her a slightly peculiar sideways look, and laughed. “Though in my present state that would take a lot of work. Never mind! Ith — ?”

I will go there straightaway, Ith said. As soon as I’ve seen the tablets, I will speak to you.

Rhiow stood up and shook herself. “Let’s get ourselves ready, then,” she said. “Last snacks and other personal business…”

All the People in the group dispersed and left Rhiow standing all by herself in the middle of the living room, feeling suddenly very alone and frightened, and wishing she could show it to someone, anyone. The Silent Man and Helen were talking quietly together, but Rhiow could see from their body language that it was something intimate in the ehhif mode, and interrupting them seemed rude. This is all so strange, Rhiow thought, and shivered. I want a lap to curl up on. Why do I feel so insufficient, all of a sudden?What’s the matter with me?

Slowly she turned toward the French doors and walked out into the back yard. What ‘Ruah said may have something to it, she thought. Some meditation time is what I need. Let’s get on with it.

She just wished she could make herself believe it would make a difference….

The sound of the motor of the Silent Man’s big car purring away down the empty, narrow hillside road where he left them seemed very loud to Rhiow as she watched her People and Helen melt into the underbrush at the roadside. She stood there watching the big gleaming thing cruise slowly round the curve and pass out of sight. I wonder if he really understands what he’s gotten into… she thought.