If you have read chapter one-please go to:
Chapter Two
Moto and Kozo, two black cats living near Swiss Cottage, headed out for the Museum of Mankind late one evening. It was raining in London and the younger cat, Mr. Moto, complained and nagged all the way to the underground entrance.
"Why are we out in the rain? I don't like this! Look, my tail is all droopy and wet. MAN, I hate that!"
"Tonight something very magical is going to happen at the museum. Shake your tail out and stop wimpering, will you Moto?"
"Like what? Magical, my butt, what's going to happen and how do you know anyway?" said the younger cat.
"Ian told me. Thats how I know. And you'll just have to wait and see what happens."
The two cats jumped on the train car just as soon as the doors opened, not waiting for the people who were getting off. "MIND THE GAP" came the warning from the conductor.
"Why don't you mind your gap," Moto mumbled under his tuna breath.
Getting off at Bond Street, the two cats made their way to the museum. Ian was standing on the front steps of the old buidling, waiting for his two little friends.
Ian let the two cats inside the Museum and the three of them headed towards the "Cafe Latte", the place where they liked to base themselves because of the proximity to food and drink.
"Hey Ian, get me a weiner!" demanded Moto.
Ian muttered something in his thick Irish accent and took out a bunch of keys.
"How about some fish ball things, too?" Moto was unstoppable.
"Moto, you little twit. You're going to eat all that crap and then spew in one of the galleries," Kozo warned the younger cat.
"Yeah, and I want a packet of malt balls, too."
"What do you want those for ya ninny?" asked Kozo, becoming more and more irritated with his little friend.
"I'm taking them upstairs to the African gallery cause the floor is wonkers and I like watching them roll all over the place."
"Maybe not tonight Mr. Moto," Ian broke in, "tonight I've got a bit of a surprise for you."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard.....something "magical". Whatever!" Moto shot back from his perch on the Cadbury's display rack.
After Moto had finished his fish balls and half a weiner; and Kozo had quietly lapped up a dish of warm milk, Ian told them it was time to turn out the lights and proceed to the second floor.
"Turn out the lights? You mean, like ALL the lights? Moto said.
"All of them. If you want to see the surprise - and I think you will - we are going to have to have it dark. AND, we're going to have to sneak up the stairs or we'll miss it. Now, are you ready?" Ian asked.
"You bet, Ian" said Kozo.
"Is this gonna scare me?" asked Moto.
The three of them proceeded up the stairs, moving slowly because Ian always did anyway, but tonight with extra caution. When they reached the first floor, there was a rustle of paper and then the sound of something rolling across the floor.
"I told you not to bring those damn malt balls!" Kozo said in a loud whisper.
From the dark, Moto replied, "That wasn't me. I left them in the Cafe."
Just then there was a rush of air and both cats felt their backs arch and their hair stand on end. In the darkness, they heard something bouncing down the stairs. Thump...thump....thump....thump....Whoooooooosh. It stopped somewhere before the ground floor.
"what the......."
"MOTO, keep still....." said Kozo in a most commanding tone.
"Shhhhhhhhh. You two. We need to get up the second floor so we'll have a bit of moonlight to help us out. Quit talking. They'll hear us coming." Ian warned
"What do you mean "THEY"...."
"MOTO, SHUT YOUR MOUSE HOLE!!!"
As they proceeded to the second floor, they passed a series of paintings that seemed to be illuminated, even in the dark. The paintings were from the ancient kingdom of Tihgre and were called "Peace", "Love" and "Harmony".
As they approached the second floor landing, a bit of moonlight from the skylights in the African Gallery helped them to see what was going on there.
Moto and Kozo froze in their tracks..backs arched. Ian also stood perfectly still. The three of them watching with a mixture of horror and excitement.
As they stood there, a shrill screech seemed to fly at them from below. The silence was shattered and something ... or someone ...was approaching them with tremendous speed from below....the three of them stood paralyzed, afraid to move in any direction.
CHAPTER TWO
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