The Story of a Wayward Cat

Chapter Four - The Only Way Out Is Up

Minke was famished. No, worse than famished. He was starving. He was also very thirsty and weak to the bones. He smelt the delicious scent of roast chicken wafting underneath the door. Minke's stomach grumbled. "Another of their tricks to make me give in," he thought. He hadn't eaten breakfast that morning or dinner the night before. "I can't believe I skipped dinner to go tree-surfing!(where a person puts a smooth bin lid on the strange blue trees of Lop Lop and surfs.) I will always eat my vegetables from now on!" Minke vowed.  Minke felt dizzy and sick. As each hour passed, he felt himself growing weaker and weaker. If he agreed to help, he would have to find the petrol before he could eat. Minke wavered. When Minke was just about to pass out, he heard a thump and a clatter. As he fell back, he looked up, and through an air vent that he hadn't seen before, peered Minka.

"Come on, wake up, wake up!" whispered Minka. "I can't haul you up!" After Minke had fainted, Minka had jumped lightly to the floor and tried in vain to wake him. She had tried everything that wouldn't draw attention. "Oh well," thought Minka grimly. "There's only one way to do this." Grimacing, she held Minke's chamberpot under his nose.

"Arggh! What are you doing to me?" screeched Minke. Minke had woken instantly. "You didn't have to hold a chamberpot under my nose! I don't think that has ever been cleaned!"

"Shh!" whispered Minka. "Don't attract attention! And anyway, I already tried everything else."

As Minka explained her plan, Minke packed his things. Minka had to whisper so she would not be heard, but she was so soft that Minke could hardly hear her. When Minka had explained five times, he finally understood. "So we climb the walls, don't we?" Minke asked.

"Yes we do," said Minka. "You first."

But just as Minke was about to start climbing the wall, they froze. A guard was unlocking the door to the corridor and was saying, "The boss wants you. Dunno why. Probably wants to torture you."

Minke's eyes grew wide in horror. Luckily the cells were designed so that even creatures from the Planet 3472628 couldn't even break through. Currently, 3 of the 20 bolts were undone. "Wish there weren't so many bolts..." grumbled the guard.

"Quick!" hissed Minke. "You're slower to climb up, you climb first. I'll try and delay him."

"What? Is that supposed to be an insult?" whispered back Minka, outrageous.

"Just go!" said Minke and prepared to delay the guard. Grumbling, Minka started climbing the wall. Only two of the bolts were left. The guard had gotten someone to help him.

"Quick! Get up here!" Minka peered down from the air vent.

Minke nodded as the last bolt came undone. The guards came in. "Hey! What's goi-"

As soon as the guards came in, Minke lifted up his chamberpot and threw it at the guards. They spluttered as Minke clambered up the wall furiously.

"This way!" urged Minka, the guards yelling curses behind them. "We've not much time!"

Hurrying, they reached the rooftop just as the alarm bells started sounding. Guards started rushing about everywhere. "Here!" said Minka. She was at the edge of the building. Expecting to see a vehicle of some kind, Minke saw only window ledges. "Jump down here!" said Minka, jumping to the first.

"Are you crazy?" whispered Minke. "We'll die down there!"

"Well, it's either this or death by torture at the hands of them." Minka nodded her head in the direction of a troop of soldiers going past. They didn't look up. "Come on, unless you like torture."

Minke shivered and jumped to the first windowsill. Surprisingly, he found it quite easy to balance on them. Minka grinned at Minke from below. "So earth cats aren't as fit as me? And here I was thinking I was fat." Minke tried to reply, but suddenly Minka motioned him to be silent. She hid behind a potplant on the sill. Minke copied her. Down the street came marching a whole troop of soldiers, with the boss at their head. Suddenly, he spotted them. He let out a furious cry and started climbing the wall.

"Minke!" cried Minka. Minke looked down. Minka threw him a backpack. Minke inspected it.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Pull the string!" cried Minka. She pulled the string, and she suddenly started flying.

Minke was amazed. "This planet is amazing..." he muttered. Just then, the boss grabbed his foot. Petrified, Minke pulled the string. Nothing happened. Minke tried to shake him off but nothing happened. Minka had long gone. "Minka!" screamed Minke. No reply. Minke suddenly had an idea. He grabbed the nearest pot plant and hurled it with all his strength at the boss's head. "Arggh!" he cried and let go of Minke's foot. Suddenly, Minke's backpack went into action, and Minke flew up into the air. "So long, suckers!" cried Minke, waving, before he fainted again in the air.