I did one of my yes-meows, and because Graham knew me so well, he understood. He sat down on the floor and looked at me with respect and compassion. Very welcome, after the way Lisa had treated me! I wanted to touch noses with Graham, but I felt committed to keeping still for Vati’s sake. I appreciated Graham bringing his face close to me so that we could touch noses. I felt emotional, so did he, judging by the tears in his eyes. He stroked my fur tenderly, his fingers touching the burrs and tangles. ‘You ARE in a sorry state, Timba,’ he said. ‘And you came through all that snow! Poor fellow. And how did you get across the river? Oh Timba! All that way. What a brave, clever cat.’
Graham was talking to me so kindly, I wanted to cry. I kept doing my yes-meows in response. He looked at Vati who was still curled like a seashell, his chin upwards, looking blissful as he snuggled into my thick fur.‘Vati needed you,’ Graham said, ‘and you knew, didn’t you, Timba? Poor little Vati. I feel so, so guilty … I wish …’
He was going to tell me what had happened. I tensed, hearing Lisa coming down the stairs. She opened the door cautiously, peering through.‘Have you got rid of it?’ she demanded.
Graham looked sheepish, but he kept stroking me.
‘Lisa, this is Timba,’ he said. ‘He’s found his way here, alone, from South Wales for goodness’ sake! Two hundred miles.’
‘I don’t care, Graham. He’s DISGUSTING. I want him out of our house.’
Graham kept his hand on me protectively.‘I am not going to chuck Timba out in the snow,’ he said steadily. ‘He can’t help being a bit scruffy after a journey like that.’
‘A bit scruffy!’ Lisa looked at me angrily. ‘He stinks to high heaven, and he’s got fleas, and he’s made the sofa such a mess, Graham, and what about Heidi?’
‘What about her? She’s OK, isn’t she? Is she in bed?’
‘She’s asleep, thank God. Otherwise she’d be all over that filthy cat. Graham, it’s a health hazard, and I want it out.’
‘You’re overreacting, darling. I repeat … I am not going to chuck him out. He’s staying right here until Angie can collect him.’
‘Have you phoned her?’
‘No … I’ve only been here for five minutes. I’ll phone Angie in the fullness of time.’
‘The fullness of time! And meanwhile our home … your daughter’s home … is being messed up and … oh my God … is that a piece of chicken on the floor?’
‘Where?’
‘You’re nearly sitting on it.’
Graham turned and saw Vati’s piece of chicken where he had dropped it. He picked it up and put it on the sofa.
‘Don’t put it on the sofa! It’s made enough mess on the carpet. We’ll have germs everywhere. Do you want Heidi to get salmonella?’
Graham refused to get ruffled. He waggled the piece of chicken and winked at me.‘Who raided the fridge then?’ he teased. ‘Tut tut! You know what, Lisa? This cat can actually open the fridge. He’s brought Vati a meal. Isn’t that sweet?’
‘Stop being so infuriating.’ Lisa’s aura was hanging in shreds. She stamped her foot and yelled at Graham. ‘OK … either you sort these cats or I’m packing my bag, taking Heidi to stay with my mum. Right now.’ She turned and went out, slamming the door and making Vati jump. I purred into his ear and gave him a lick on the top of his head, and he settled back into sleep.
Graham sighed and rolled his eyes.
‘I’d better ring Angie,’ he said. ‘She’ll be ecstatic.’
In the deep of the night I found out what was wrong with Vati, and it was worse than anything I could have imagined.
As always, I awoke at midnight. I heard Graham’s mother’s clock chiming all of its chimes. I disentangled myself from Vati and climbed up to my favourite windowsill. The snowstorm was over, and a yellow moon shone on the silent snow. Each twig and branch of the apple tree was encrusted with glitter.
It occurred to me that, in the morning, I wouldn’t have to be on a journey. I was free to eat and play! First, I raided the fridge again and found the rest of the chicken. I took the best, most succulent chunk to Vati. This time he looked at me, and he did eat a little bit. Once he’d done that, he ate more, then he sat up and stared at me.I stared back and saw that he wanted me to notice the pain in his mystic eyes.
‘So what happened?’ I asked.
Silently Vati held out his front paw to me. It looked strange, and there was a sense of heat and pain. I sniffed it, then Vati silently held out the other one. It was the same.
‘What happened?’ I asked again.
I waited, and Vati began to cry and cry, the way a very distressed cat cries, in little squeaks and growls. His pain was beyond words, and it wasn’t physical pain, from an accident or illness. Vati had been assaulted. His beautiful paws, such a tender part of this sensitive little cat, had been deliberately damaged.
My dreams of playing in the snow with Vati disappeared under a black cloud. I let him cry, and sat close, licking and comforting him as best I could. When he had cried enough, he did manage to tell me the appalling truth.