Silly Goose

“Don’t worry, ” I whispered to Khepri. “I know how to deal with geese. You just have to show them who’s boss. ”

As Khepri cowered behind my right ear, I jumped to the top of what must have been the goose house and proclaimed in my most regal tones, “I am Ra the Mighty, Pharaoh’s Cat, and this beetle is under my royal protection. We are Great Detectives, and you must cooperate with our investigation. ”

“Do you think I’m a fool? ” The goose snapped her orange bill. “Look at you! Pharaoh’s Cat, indeed. You’re nothing more than a jumped-up alley cat. I’ll report you to Sabu, I will. ”

I scrabbled to keep my grip on the goose house. “Fine. Go to Sabu, if you want. He’ll confirm it: I’m the Lord of the Powerful Paw. ” Or would he just call me Lord Fancypaws?

The goose was close enough to see the doubt in my eyes. “A likely story. ”

I dug my claws into the goose house. “It’s the truth, you silly goose! ” “Silly goose? ” Her neck pumped. A bad sign.

“A figure of speech, ” I said hastily, but it was too late.

She flapped her clipped wings, rising just high enough to reach me. “Get OUT! ” Her golden beak flashed, aiming straight for my tail.

“Raaaaaaa! ” Khepri wailed.

I sprang up onto the nearest wall.

By now, the goose was making such a clatter that everyone in the house was peering out—including Huya, who was frowning, instead of smirking. So much for any chance of sneaking up on him.

But Pharaoh’s Cat isn’t one to give up easily. “Look, ” I called down to the goose, “I’m fighting for justice here—”

Huya charged out of his house. Those bulging muscles of his weren’t just for show. He moved as fast as an arrow, and he had a heavy hammer in his hand. He looked even angrier than he had when he’d crossed paths with Neferhotep. “Scat! ”

An energetic woman jumped out from behind Huya’s shadow and jabbed at me with a broom. “You leave our geese alone, you stinking stray! ”

Yikes! That broom had a long reach. I needed a brushing—but not like that. I darted into the next yard.

“Whew! ” Khepri croaked in my ear. “Ra, next time you want to show somebody who’s boss, remind me not to be there. ”

“I got you out, didn’t I? ”

“At the last possible second, ” Khepri mumbled. “I never want to be that close to a goose again. ”

Truth was, neither did I. Putting some more distance between me and that beak, I trotted along the boundary walls. “Khepri, tell me the truth. Do I really stink? ”

“Oh, no, ” Khepri said. “You smell great. ”

The more I thought about it, the less reassuring that was. “You mean I smell like—”

“Ra, look over there, ” Khepri interrupted. “Kenamon’s up to something. ”

“Kenamon? ” Turning, I caught a glimpse of the boy darting into a niche between two houses, then snaking his way up a section of back wall that was largely screened off from view. He was moving like a cat—a cat who didn’t want to be seen.

Part of me had to admire him. The rest of me was worried. A boy who could move like that wouldn’t just make a good cat. He would make a good thief.

Was I wrong? Was Kenamon guilty after all?

“Let’s follow him, ” Khepri murmured.

I made a beeline for the boy, cutting through the courtyard next door and leaping up to the wall. If I could get the boy to sit still long enough, maybe I could pry the truth out of him with my purr. As I’ve mentioned, that’s the one bit of real magic cats have. Of course, it works best with people you’re strongly attached to, but I felt a bond with Kenamon, so it was worth a try.

“Faster! ” Khepri said in alarm. “He’s getting away! ”

The boy was slipping away as quietly as he had come. I was about to spring after him when Khepri cried out in terror. “Ra! ”

I didn’t so much see the brick as hear it, whistling down to crush me.

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