Three Wise Cats Read Free

Ptolemy said to be as inobstru—unobtu—invisible as possible.”
    Ira laughed; he felt in his heart this was the adventure to which he’d been born. And so as he walked, he purred to himself, enjoying the day and the warming sunshine.
    They slept that night burrowed into a small haystack not far from the path, which had now widened to a road as they neared a village.
    â€œI still wish Ptolemy had come with us.” Abishag yawned as she snuggled closer to Kezia.
    â€œWe could all use his thick fur coat and warm paws about now,” Kezia answered.
    â€œThis is nothing!” Ira boasted. “When he took me along for the falcon hunt last winter, it was far colder than this at night. And I, still a kitten, slept by myself.”
    â€œThen you can do so again,” Kezia said, and she pushed him away from where the two girls were curled up in the fragrant dried hay.
    â€œOh, well.” He sighed. “I’ll take the first watch.”
    â€œFirst watch?” Abishag asked.
    â€œI intend to make this trip into a soldier’s campaign. And soldiers stand watches.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œTo make sure enemies don’t slip up on us.”
    â€œAre you speaking of fierce dogs?”
    Ira grinned in the dim light from the setting moon. “Dogs, owls, snakes, humans with brooms . . .”
    â€œWill you two please quit talking so I can get some sleep!” Kezia hissed.
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Ira winked at Abishag and slipped behind the haystack. He climbed to the top of it, curled his long tail about himself, and settled in to watch.

    Three hours later, he leaped to his feet when something touched him on his back.
    â€œWho’s there!” he demanded and heard his foster sister laugh.
    â€œJust me, Abishag.” She giggled and climbed up beside him. “Go get some sleep, Ira the Soldier. I think this sentry plan is a good idea. I’ll watch until dawn for you.”
    â€œBut that’s two watches,” Ira objected.
    â€œWell, we’ll have to stay hidden tomorrow once we’re in the town anyway, so I may as well sleep then,” Abishag said practically. “And Kezia is truly tired, so let her sleep tonight. She’ll take her turn, too, once she realizes it’s the best way for us to be safe.”
    â€œWell, then, good night.” Ira climbed back down the haystack and curled up a few inches from Kezia; he was sound asleep almost before he completed a quick bath.
    Abishag stared up at the stars, frowning, until she located the North Star as Ptolemy had taught her to do.
    So I keep my nose pointed to that and we’ll find Lepcis Magna . I do wish Ptolemy had decided to come along with us. I miss him already, and we’ve only been gone a day. I hope the old astronomer doesn’t die before we return. No one will look after Ptolemy at all then.
    Dawn came, and Abishag stretched several times and licked a few stray hairs into place before picking her way down the haystack to where the other two still slept. Resisting the impulse to leap upon them and startle them awake, she patted Kezia with a paw.
    â€œWake up, Kezia; it’s morning and we need to get hunting.”
    The tabby stretched and yawned, then nudged Ira.
    â€œWake up, lazy one. We need to begin traveling again.”
    After a quick breakfast of several foolishly inquisitive quail, they washed up and set out once more.

    â€œMy paws are sore,” Kezia said, worried. “I thought they would get tougher as we walked farther and farther.”
    â€œTry resting them by walking alongside the road, in the grass,” Ira suggested. “And once we’re in the village, we’ll slip into someone’s barn and see if we can’t beg some cream to put on all our paws.”
    Kezia brightened at the thought and kept trudging on, veering into the grassy places as she found them.
    Off to the side of the road and running in a ditch worn by a