Anton and Cecil, Book 2 Read Free Page A

landships. But I didn’t think you’d want to leave again.”
    â€œI don’t,” Anton said. “I just feel obligated. I don’t think Hieronymus would send for us if he weren’t in real trouble. We’ll stick together this time, right?”
    â€œAs long as I’m the leader,” Cecil agreed.
    â€œI’ll be the brains and you can be the brawn,” Anton replied.
    â€œOur mission is as good as accomplished,” Cecil declared. “Let’s go tell those silly mice we’re booking passage.” The brothers sauntered down the dock to have a look at the
Sea Song
and plot the best strategy for getting aboard.

    Anton wondered how their mother Sonya would take the news. He hadn’t gotten the chance to say goodbye last time, when he was impressed right off the docks in the daylight. As he and Cecil explained everything to her that morning outside the lighthouse, she was surprisingly calm.
    â€œI’m proud of you for going to help your friend,” said Sonya, nodding. She looked from Anton to Cecil, smiling slightly, then stepped in close and touched noses with each of them. “Be careful.”
    Three of the kittens, Clive among them, barreled out of the lighthouse, squealing and tussling. Clive spied Cecil and leaped onto his back, trying to wrestle him down, but Cecil stood sturdily and laughed. Clive slid off and sat between Cecil’s front feet.
    â€œYour brothers are going on a trip,” said Sonya to the kittens, who immediately fixed their big eyes on Anton and Cecil.
    â€œCan I come with you?” asked Clive, looking up at Cecil’s white whiskers.
    â€œNo, it’s too dan—” Cecil paused, as Sonya sent him a warning look. “We’ll take you along when you’re older.”
    â€œWill you bring us back some stories?” asked another of the kittens.
    â€œOf course we will!” Cecil boomed. “What’s an adventure without lots of good stories?”
    Anton swallowed and looked at Sonya as the kittens cheered. She smiled, and winked at him.
    Billy appeared on the path, puffing toward them. “It’s time,” he said.

    Cecil and Anton crouched on the hard packed dirt between two fat barrels, waiting for the right moment. Sailors grunted as they lugged the last of the cargo up the gangplank and onto the
Sea Song
, while others shimmied up the lines to loosen the sails. The cats knew what that meant: she was about to cast off, and they needed to move. Cecil could see someone with a large and elaborate hat, probably the captain, perusing a bundle of papers at the stern. Another man, very thin and wearing a bright green scarf, stood directing the crew as they reached the top of the plank with their loads. A loose plan formulated in Cecil’s mind, and he raised a paw toward the thin man.
    â€œHe’ll be an easy one,” said Cecil. “He’ll probably be pleased to see us. Everyone likes a cat or two on board, right?” He stood and stepped out from between the barrels. “Come on!”
    The brothers moved with quick feet through the bustle on the dock and paused, side by side, at the bottom of the gangplank.
    â€œVolunteering for duty!” Cecil meowed, and they began to climb up.
    The thin man whirled toward the two cats and froze, an expression of horror on his face. He squinted, pulled the folds of his green scarf up over his nose, and began shaking his head rapidly. He stepped onto the plank, holding one hand up in front of him like a shield.
    â€œHe doesn’t look pleased,” said Anton, slowing a little.
    â€œFollow my lead,” said Cecil. “We’ll win him over.” He hurried toward the thin man’s legs and rubbed against them affectionately, but the man shrieked and leaped away. Snatching up a broom from the deck, the man dropped the scarf from his nose and sneezed three times.
    â€œWhat’s he doing?” Anton asked, ducking