The words came slowly from his ancient mind, and this time he called me by my name.
‘Timba, Timba …’ The resonance was like Graham’s voice humming through me. ‘Have confidence in the power you have been given. Don’t be afraid. Remember who you are, Timba … the leader, the best kitten.’
I listened, fluffed out with pride.
‘It’s not over with Leroy,’ he said. ‘This child was born to help the White Lions. Do not hide from him. He needs you, Timba. Always go to him. Always welcome him with your tail up.’
‘But I don’t want to be Leroy’s cat,’ I said. ‘I want to stay with Angie.’
‘You won’t be Leroy’s cat, or Angie’s cat,’ breathed the Spirit Lion. ‘You are your own cat.’
He said no more, but held me in the place of light between his paws. We purred together, and I noticed his purr was spaced out, so different from mine. But I felt satisfied with my purr … it was loud for a kitten and I already knew how to use it to comfort Angie and Graham. Had I purred for Leroy? I couldn’t remember. Thetime with him had been so full of fear and pain. Yet Leroy, more than anyone, needed the comfort of a purring cat.
I slept blissfully, and when I awoke the sun was setting, and Angie’s car turned into the drive. I saw the red of it through the hedge. Whenever she arrived, the horses whinnied and the chickens clucked hopefully. Usually she went round to see them before coming into the house, but this time she came straight in. Her face was bright with joy, and … she wascarrying a cat cage!
I ran to meet her with my tail up.
‘Hello, Timba darling,’ she said, and smiled in a mysterious way. I followed her inside. She shut the door and put the cat cage gently on the floor.
And then a miracle happened.
The best miracle ever.
Angie opened the cat cage, and out stepped an elegant black kitten with a white dot on his nose.
My brother Vati!
Angie had found Vati, and brought him home.
‘Oh not another one, Angie!’ said Graham when he saw Vati sharing my dish. ‘How many more waifs and strays are you going to bring home?’
Angie flared up immediately.‘As long as there’s room in my heart, Graham. If the Universe sends me a gift, I wouldn’t DREAM of turning it down. I’m here to love, and that includes you … you sexy hunk.’
She stood on tiptoe, wound her arms around Graham’s neck, and kissed him until his aura filled with light and blended with hers. He slid his arms around her waist and held her close, murmuring words of love into her hair. Angie peeled off his jacket and flung it over a chair, then she loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, all the time with her eyes locked into his.
They hurried upstairs, with Angie giggling and Graham thundering after her on his big feet. The bedroom door slammed shut and the house rang with Angie’s laughter.
Vati and I went on eating.
It was a good time for him to arrive, I thought, with the house full of the energy of love. While we were eating, I had a good look at Vati. He was smaller than me, more streamlined in his coat of satiny black fur. His tail had grown, and it had a kink at the tip. His eyes were turning lemon-green and were full of secrets. I knew he had much to teach me, and I sensed a nervousness in him. He needed my leadership and courage, just as I needed his wisdom.
Vati was scared of being in a new house, so the first thing we did was wash each other. I enjoyed rubbing cheeks with Vati and licking his wistful face, and seeing him close his eyes so trustingly as I did so. As he washed me back his eyes inspected the room and he seemed to be listening to the twilight sounds from outside, and the particular creaks, drips and hums from the house itself. I wondered what he would do when he heard Graham‘sing’.
I wanted to take Vati out through the cat flap, but he wouldn’t go. I wanted him to play with me, but he wouldn’t play. I raced around on my own and he crawled onto the sofa and sat there watching me, and when I finally sat quietly with him, he seemed glad to have me there. I tuned into his mind and picked up sadness. Vati was sad. I asked him why.
‘Nobody wants a black cat,’ he said.
‘I’m black,’ I said, ‘and Leroy wanted me like mad, and so did Angie.’
‘But you’re fluffy. No one wanted me. I was in a cage for days and days on my own, and people kept looking in and saying they didn’t want me. Until Angie came, and I don’t know her. I don’t feel I belong to her.’
I heard myself quoting the words of the Spirit Lion:‘You are your own cat.’
Vati looked stressed and bewildered.
‘And why is she calling me Vati?’ he asked. ‘What kind of a name is that?’
‘We are named after the White Lions of Timbavati,’ I said. ‘Angie’s got a picture of them. Vati is a really important name.’