Tree Secrets

Untitled Part 21

A BOOK, A BOY, AND A CAT – Lineal Pastures

Timeless

We had just finished lunch when I noticed a single tree in the middle of the rolling hills in front of us. Beside the tree, perched on something, was what appeared to be an animal of some kind.

Michael, Abby and Lexi looked over my shoulder.

"I need a better look," Michael shaded his eyes from the sun, "there's something there all right. It's a little odd that there's a single tree standing all by itself out here, but compared to everything else that's happened, it seems normal."

We hurried back to Spirito and climbed aboard. As we bumped up the hill then down again, I thought I heard the donkey say something but I couldn't determine what it was I decided that he was just grumbling about not having enough for lunch. He had already eaten a large slab of salami and some provolone cheese.

Michael was sitting right behind the donkey holding the reins. "Hey, Spirito, how about going a little easy on that provolone next time? Man! You stink!"

"S'cuse," I heard Spirito reply.

Sure enough, as we approached the single tree, I noticed it wasn't bright and full of leaves like the others we'd seen. It was withered and sick looking. But there was indeed a large animal, an opaque black cat, perched on an oversized, old book.

Lexi ran over to the cat and started petting it. The cat immediately rolled over on her back and let Lexi scratch her tummy, "She's the cutest thing!" Abby bent down beside her cousin and joined in petting the cat who was purring loudly.

The cat rolled over and stood then started entwining itself in and out of the bottom of my legs, brushing up against me and purring.

"She's adorable," I said.

Michael picked up the book and started leafing through the pages, "It's got some weird writing and symbols in it." The cat suddenly stopped rubbing against my legs and hissed at Michael. Spirito lifted his head and tried to speak, but before he could form a word, the cat's head shot up in surprise and narrowed its eyes at the donkey. Spirito again opened his mouth, but all that came out was a low and frantic braying. He pounded his hoofs on the grass and reared up, pawing the air in front of him. Michael tried to calm him down, but Spirito continued to bray until the cat turned away from him. Again, the cat curled against my legs and looked up at me. I sensed it wanted something but I didn't know what, so I cut off a piece of ham from the back of the wagon and brought it back to the cat.

The cat limped forward, "Here, try this," I said, hoping to make the cat relax. "Oh, look, its paw is hurt. It almost looks like a burn," I said holding the singed paw. The cat quickly withdrew its paw and accepted the bit of ham, but I noticed its eyes were once again on Spirito. Likewise, Spirito glared at the cat. Finally, the cat moved across the open field in front of the wagon, then turned and looked at us as though motioning for us to follow.

"I think she wants us to follow her," I said in a soft voice, "I don't think it likes Spirito very much and the feeling seems to be mutual."

Michael sighed and tossed the thick book into the back of the wagon where it landed with a thud, "I guess following a cat is as good a plan as any we've had so far. Besides, what harm can a helpless cat do?"

We scrambled onto the cart and followed the cat over the next hill and down into the next gully. The cat stopped suddenly and walked back to the wagon. She jumped into the back, curled in a circle on the old book and quickly fell asleep.

We watched the cat jump into the wagon. "Well, now what? Where are we?" I said.

Chapter 22.