He was trying to tell me I could die in the snow if I didn’t move fast. I dumped the depression and the despair, and raced down the hill, through the blue shadows of hedges and gates, across lanes and through copses. By the end of the day I was down there in the green grass, and there were still mice around!
The golden road became a real road and this time it was raised on a high bank as it led through the levels. Deep ditches and knobbly willow trees lined the route and there was no traffic. Only the occasional loud tractor bounced past while I hid in the dead clumps of reeds. A few fields away was a busy road with lorries and cars.
When I paused to look back at the snow-covered hills with the metal tower, slate-coloured clouds were rolling, and the north wind howled through the willow trees. The blizzard was chasing me. The Spirit Lion was still with me, a flare of light brighter than the white snow. He was watching me, and that was comforting. Encouraged, I ran on, searching for signs of home. I still thought of Graham’s house as ‘home’. It had been my first real home and I loved it.
The longing and the ache of loneliness kept me moving, imagining the blissful sleep I would have by the fire, the plate of Whiskas rabbit in the cosy kitchen. And the welcome! The joy of being in Graham’s huge arms again, the warm comfort of the sofa, the sparkle in Vati’s eyes as he welcomed me. The touch and smell of my beloved brother.
I was SO looking forward to being home that I ran faster and faster, only stopping to shake the wet snow off my fur. My paws stung with cold, and I felt wretchedly tired. But Vati was close. I could feel him.
I crossed a field into a lane. Everything was different and muffled under the fresh snow. I followed one of the hard, slippery wheel tracks, finding it easier on the hard-packed, yellowish snow.
With one paw in the air, I paused by a gateway to listen. All around me was the muted patter of snowflakes, and the crack of twigs as the north wind tore through the trees. A child’s voice crying. A woman’s voice. And then … an old familiar sound that told me I was home.
‘Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, AH.’
I belted across the lawn with snow flying from my fur, and charged through the dear old cat flap.
And in that moment I was a kitten again, full of hope and unconditional love. I shook myself, put my tail up, and swanned into the lounge.
Chapter Sixteen
YOU SMELLY OLD CAT
Vati was hunched in the corner of the sofa. His fur had lost its gloss, and his hip bones stuck out either side of his spine. His face was pixie-like and thin, his eyes black and frightened. He saw me, but he didn’t come to greet me. He didn’t move at all.
I jumped onto the sofa, my fur and paws soaking wet. Did Vati even know it was snowing? Why wasn’t he sitting in the window watching? I was overjoyed to see my brother again, and happy to be in the warm house which had once been my home. I wanted to give Vati lots of love and healing, so I immediately set about licking him, rubbing cheeks and purring. He didn’t respond.
‘I’m here now,’ I said. ‘I’ll take care of you.’ Telling him about my long journey didn’t seem appropriate. Vati was traumatised, and maybe I was the only person who could bring him out of it. Words were pretty useless, so I purred and made a fuss of Vati. He lay there unmoving, like a china cat. I looked at his eyes, and they had a flat frowny line over the top lids. In the end I lay down and leaned against him, wrapping my tail round his back and letting my loud purr fill both our bodies.
Vati did look at me then, hesitantly, as if he didn’t dare to move. Then a chubby little girl toddled into the room. She squealed with delight when she saw me, and ran to stroke me. ‘Big new pussy cat!’ she called, and Lisa appeared from the kitchen.
She gasped when she saw me on the sofa with Vati.‘Don’t touch him, Heidi,’ she snapped and pulled the little girl away. Then she screamed at me. ‘GET OUT, you smelly old cat!’
Astonished, I looked at her and purred. I even gave her a cat smile. But she went berserk, picked up a newspaper and swiped me as if I was a wasp.‘Get OUT!’ she screamed. ‘OUT…!’
I didn’t move, but I was shocked at being hit like that. Surely she hadn’t meant it. Had she?
She shrieked for Graham.‘There’s a dreadful smelly old cat on the sofa, and it won’t move.’
I assumed Graham would come in and be pleased to see me. We’d been buddies, I thought proudly.
‘Sorry, love. I’m late now and it’s snowing. I’ve got to go,’ he called from the hall. ‘You deal with it. See you later. Bye.’
‘MEN,’ said Lisa angrily. ‘NO, Heidi … leave the cat alone. You are not to touch it. NO.’
Heidi began to cry like Leroy, and Lisa picked up the screaming child and dumped her in a round playpen in the kitchen. When she came back she had a broom in her hand.