Katts and Dawgs

by Roberto Sanhueza

Table of Contents
Book II, chapter 12, part 3 appears
in this issue.

conclusion

“Yes, Phydo, I know what you are thinking. Do I have the right to make that decision?

“I think not. In my years of solitude I have learned to know and love this brave new world of yours, and now my resolution is not as strong as it was.

“So I’ll leave it all up to you, Phydo. I won’t leave this cave; and for you to go out all you have to do is stand in front of the entrance, it will open by itself from the inside. You must decide if you will leave having pushed the button or not. I, my dear friend, am through.”

Adam speaks no more and something tells Phydo this time the old Ape will not speak again. A shiver goes down Phydo’s spine as he watches the silent room and the now ominous-looking flasks.

* * *

Thomm goes out of the ship and shakily kneels on the snow and proceeds to wash his bloody face. Kitti lies within the healing box and he has, at least, managed to bring her alive to Adam’s airship.

The box clicks and chirps softly and Thomm feels the exertion finally washing over him and he lies down, exhausted. Nothing to do but wait now. Wait for Phydo to come back and hope the box will get Kitti well enough for her to pilot the ship and take them all back.

Night falls on the mountains. Cold and the distant howling are more than enough reason for Thomm to seek shelter inside the ship and try to get some sleep on the couches there.

By morning nothing has changed. Thomm wakes cold and cramped to see the box just as he left it and no sign of Phydo.

By noon Thomm’s stomach is wildly protesting, and the young Katt searches the ship for some edibles. Nothing. But Katts are resourceful, and the mountains hold enough small game to feed a hungry and not too picky fellow. He’d rather have roasted stew, but raw meat will have to do.

Daylight is slowly fading again, and now Thomm is deeply worried about Phydo.

As the first stars begin to appear in the sky, the box opens and Kitti, weekly, tries to get out of it.

“Kitti! You’re awake!”

“Thomm... It’s so cold in here... Why haven’t you turned the heat on?”

Thomm stares blankly. “I don’t know how to do that, Kitti.”

“Oh! Sorry, Thomm, of course you don’t. Come, help me out of here!”

With Thomm’s help, Kitti manages to get out of the box and tumbles to some odd-looking set up, and choosing one among many knobs, she turns it over. She moves some others and the ship is lighted as well as heated.

“Now, that’s better, isn’t it? Where is Phydo, Thomm? and Adam?” Then she shakes her head in horror as the memory of their ordeal comes back. “They’re dead! aren’t they?”

“I don’t know for sure, Kitti. Adam was badly hurt when he sent me here with you but Dawggy seemed pretty whole to me.”

“How long have I been in the medical box?”

“Two days now. I’ve been waiting for them to show up or for you to wake up, whichever came first. Do you think you can trace our path back to wherever it was Adam was going?”

Kitti shakes her head. “No, Thomm. Adam never told me where we were going nor what for.”

“So we just have to keep on waiting?”

“I’m afraid so, Thomm. At least until we are sure they are not coming back any more.”

Then, as in cue, both turn their heads to the ship’s door. Their keen Katt hearing has noticed a change in the howling outside.

“It’s coming closer! the howling is coming closer!”

Hurrying as much as she can on her shaky legs, Kitti finds her way to the control chairs. “Sit down and hold on, Thomm. I’m taking this bird up. Those beasts are after something or someone!”

A flurry of snow quickly dispersed by the night gale marks the take-off of Adam’s airship. A powerful searchlight appears on the ship’s front, and Kitti searches intently on one of the screens before her, trying to discern which way the horde is coming. “There! See here Thomm! There’s somebody running this way and the beasts are after him! Let’s have a closer look!”

Kitti maneuvers deftly the ship and it jumps ahead, a short height over the snowy path and too close to the rocky walls for Thomm’s comfort.

Soon the search light shows an upright figure desperately running in front of the howling horde.

“It’s Phydo!” cry both Katts.

“Hold on, Thomm! I’ll put the ship between him and the beasts! Be ready to grab him!”

Thomm feels his meager lunch coming back up his throat as Kitti maneuvers the ship like a kite. It falls, more than lands, right in front of the now-terrified horde.

“Now, Thomm! I’ve opened the door!”

No sooner does the lid slide open than Thomm jumps out and catches his tumbling and exhausted friend by his freezing fur and throws him bodily inside.

With both Phydo and Thomm safely inside the ship, Kitti takes the metal bird up again, fast as she can. But she needs not really worry. The horde is disbanded in terror and getting farther away by the minute.

For a while, Phydo only lies on the floor, unable to speak. When his breathing becomes somewhat more normal, he feels able to answer some questions.

Kitti has brought the ship back to its original landing site and now both she and Thomm face Phydo.

“How are you Dawggy? You had us sick worried over you!”

“Where’s Adam, Phydo?”

Phydo just looks at Kitti and his sad eyes tell her all she needs to know.

“I’m sorry, Kitti. He did not come back.”

“And what about you, Dawggy? Where’ve you been these two days?

“I pray for you to understand, brother Katt, but I cannot fully answer your question. Adam passed onto me a holy and heavy-laden secret and I am sworn not to speak about it.”

“That was the reason why he brought us here?”

“Yes. After he passed away I buried him and stayed by his grave for some time. When trying to get back I got lost, and I sniffed around searching for your scent. Bad thing was, the beasts caught my scent at just about the same time as I caught yours. I thought I was doomed.”

“Well you’re not.” Says a resolute Kitti, wiping up a stray tear from the corner of her eye. “Did you mark the spot where Adam lies, Phydo?”

“Yes I did.”

“I’ll come back to it soon, now, we will all have something to eat and we’ll leave these Man-forsaken mountains. I’ll drop you back in Kannis this very night, Phydo, and I’ll take you where you tell me to, Thomm. As for me, I’m going back to my home at the Stairway. I have a lot of thinking and arranging to do.”

It is a sad group that makes the trip back from the mountains, each one of them set on their own thoughts.

Near dawn, Phydo finds himself back in his quarters at the University and he looks out of the window. A feeling of surprise rises in him when he sees the quietly sleeping city. So much has changed but everything seems the same.

He sighs and goes to his bed; he isn’t sure if he will be able to get any sleep.

* * *

Summer has arrived in Kannis and the city dresses itself with all the colors of blooming nature. The Summer Festival is about to begin.

Inside Kannis Castle’s main tower, oblivious to the city’s gaiety, Phydo Bones works on the multiple little problems administration brings. Mayor Rover Quicknose is altogether glad for Phydo’s change of interests from Archaeology and History to administration. Phydo has proved to be a shrewd negotiator with quite a skillful wrist in dealing with the city merchants, artisans, professors and students.

Mayor Rover worries, though. Phydo works too hard, and Rover fears for his assistant’s health. Today Mayor Rover is once again at Phydo’s desk and he is quite firm. “You’ve got to stop, Phydo. Time for a vacation.”

Phydo looks blankly at Mayor Rover. “Vacation?”

“Yes, a vacation. You know, you stay home... don’t come to work, and try to have a good time.”

Phydo smiles. “I know what a vacation is, Mayor. It’s just that I don’t think it’s wise to leave you with all the preparations for the summer festival ahead.”

“Dear friend, the city won’t collapse if you’re not here by your desk. I quite appreciate the work you’re doing, so I don’t want you falling ill on me. Go home to your family for a week and enjoy the festival in their company. You haven’t seen them for nearly a year now.”

Phydo opens his mouth, as if to speak and contradict Mayor Rover. Then he stops and considers. He is rather tired. In fact, if he were to be sincere with himself he would have to admit being on the verge of exhaustion. Perhaps it is the time to go home. It has been more like a year and a half since he last saw it. “All right, Mayor. If you put it that way... I’ll go visit my folks for a week.”

“It’s settled then. Give my regards to Momma Bones and have a good time!”

* * *

Phydo feels the cool breeze on his face as he gallops the highroad. The hills of Kannis fall behind with every step of his hoofer and he can’t help but wonder what has he been doing to himself, locked behind the castle walls for so long. The sun shines on a beautiful morning, and Phydo’s good spirits rise with every mile he rides away from the city.

Suddenly, his bucolic reveries are broken by a familiar voice. “Phydo! Hey Dawggy!”

Thomm! But his voice is coming from... up?

Phydo looks up to see two flyers gliding down in a lazy spiral and on top of them, Kitti and Thomm.

“Brother Katt! I had almost despaired of seeing you two again!”

Phydo halts his hoofer by the road side and the Katt jumps down as the two big birds touch the ground. Both Katt and Dawg hold each other in a tight hug.

“So good to see you Kitti and Thomm! What are you doing here?”

It is Kitti who answers. “I decided I no longer have a mission, now that Adam has passed away, and Thomm and I are trying to patch up our relationship.”

“I’m so glad to hear that!”

“That’s right, Dawggy. Kitti couldn’t adapt herself to Kattsville and the Katt way of life so we’ve both decided to get away from Kattsville for a while.”

“We are starting a trip. We mean to go beyond, far beyond the Sentient People’s land boundaries. Far into northern lands and see what we will find.”

“We have already visited Adam’s grave, and now we were coming to bid you farewell in Kannis. Lucky thing we were traveling over the highroad and could spot you riding.”

“Why, yes. I’m on my way to visit my folks. You would have certainly missed me in Kannis.”

“Well, you know my father wants me to settle down and eventually take over the Katt Patriarchy. I’m not so eager to comply, but I know that in time I will, so this trip will be useful to wear out my wanderlust a bit.”

Phydo feel his heart warming up at the sight of his friends and now he truly realizes how lonely he has been. The time has finally come to say goodbye.

“So long now Dawggy, you’ve saved us, at least, part of the trip to Kannis. We’ll make sure to pay you a visit when we return.”

Kitti comes closer and hugs Phydo and whispers in his ear. “Find yourself a nice Dawg girl, friend. It’s not a good thing to live alone.”

Phydo only smiles. Soon both flyers are high and far. Phydo keeps looking until both specks can no longer be seen. Then he sighs and continues his own way.

* * *

Phydo’s unexpected arrival in the Bones household causes an honest to goodness revolution.

Momma Bones is so happy she could cry, and the girls run hither and thither trying to please their important big brother. Papa Bones looks pretty much the same, but Phydo notices a little more haggard look on his face and his slightly lumpy walk. He’s been away too long, definitely.

That afternoon they sit on the porch and talk.

“How long do plan to stay, son? How long can the Mayor spare you this time?”

“About a week, father.”

“Good!” Momma Bones cuts in “You will stay for the festival’s barn dance then!”

“Why, certainly Mother!”

Little Belle brings the drinks and Phydo notices his little sister is growing into a beautiful Dawg girl, not so little any more.

“Momma wants you to meet someone, Phydo!” Belle bursts out.

Everybody laughs happily at Belle’s words. Momma Bones is a well-known matchmaker.

“I mean it too! I saw her talking to Momma Goldfur the other day!”

“Hush girl, hush! you’re going to scare your brother. I talk to everybody in the district.”

Phydo just shakes his head. He wouldn’t be surprised if Momma tried some matchmaking.

The days go slowly by and Phydo sees how right the Mayor was. He gets up early and helps Papa with the farming and the knot inside his chest begins slowly to untangle with every menial task he undertakes. In the evening, dinner with the family and the girls’ happy chit-chat seems like a soothing balm for Phydo’s restless mind.

But at night, alone in his room, he looks out his window and he sees the fixed star, and bitterness find its way to his soul again.

The big night arrives and all the farmers and their family get together in the Bones barn to celebrate the famous Summer Festival barn dance. The musicians are there and all the farmers, young and old, are happily forming the quadrilles.

Only Phydo stays quietly in a corner, some of his depressive mood is back tonight, and he doesn’t feel quite like dancing.

Then somebody taps him on the back. “Don’t you dance, city boy?”

Phydo turns around to face a smiling and beautiful Dawg girl. The face is somewhat familiar but he can’t quite place a name to her.

“I’m Sunflower Goldfur, you poor-memory twerp.”

“Sunny! Sunny Goldfur! I hadn’t recognized you!”

“That just goes to show what the city does to good farm boys.”

“Well. It’s been years since we took the holy teachings together, and you’ve grown up now. Beautifully I should add.”

Sunny laughs happily. “I see they’ve taught you manners in Kannis, at least. Did they teach you how to dance?”

“Let’s find out!”

Momma Bones and Momma Goldfur sit together by the hay and they look at each other conspiratorially.

“They make a nice couple, don’t they?”

“Aye, Momma Bones! They do.”

Oblivious to the old mothers’ looks, Phydo discovers dancing is a pleasure he has stayed too long away from. The night goes pleasantly on and with every turn on the sawdust floor he feels part of the weight he has had over him of late, slowly lifting.

Suddenly Phydo stops in the middle of a piece. Sunny looks at him questioningly.

“What is it Phydo?”

But Phydo cannot explain. Now the music seems far away and the barn seems to have blown away with the light of sudden revelation. Because, looking into Sunny’s eyes, Phydo has seen the strength of a race, the force of the unborn pups in the never-ending chain. Because now the amber flasks in the mountain cave lose their terrible allure, and Phydo feels in his heart his choice has been the right choice.

Phydo just laughs and grabs Sunny by the waist. “Too hard to explain! Let’s just say I’ve seen the light. Come on! we’re missing the step!”

They dance on.

* * *

In a cave in the mountains that mark the eastern border of the Sentient Peoples’ land, row after row of flasks filled with an amber liquid softly shine.

Outside, the cold mountain wind blows and the howling of the savage dogs can be heard in the distance.

Inside, something clicks, and then all is silent again.