Carbonel and Calidor Read Online Free PDF Page A

Zack’s malaria!’ said Rosemary. ‘Carbonel said he wanted us to help him. Dear Carbonel, what’s the matter?’
    â€˜Sit down on the floor, and I will tell you,’ he said. ‘I’m getting a crick in my neck with all this squinneying up at you. Grown like a couple of runner-beans you have, since I saw you last.’
    John and Rosemary sat cross-legged on the kitchen floor with Carbonel facing them, sitting very upright in the middle of the folds of Rosemary’s coat, his tail curled neatly round his paws. She noticed that his muzzle was flecked with grey.

    â€˜What’s the trouble?’ asked John.
    â€˜Calidor, my son, heir to the Throne of Fallowhithe Cats, he is the trouble,’ said Carbonel.
    â€˜What’s the matter with him?’ asked Rosemary.
    â€˜Matter?’ went on Carbonel. ‘Wickedness is the matter. Wickedness and folly! Here have I been training him, day in, day out, for the high office that will one day be his, and what does he do? First he gets into bad company and refuses to make the marriage that was planned for him since he was a kitten ...’ He paused and swallowed, as though steeling himself to go on. ‘And then one day, after saying he didn’t care a herring bone who is King of Fallowhithe when I am gone, he runs away. Disappears without a trace.’
    He looked so unhappy that Rosemary leaned forward, and stroked the top of his drooping head with one shy finger.
    â€˜Poor Carbonel!’ she said softly. ‘But what did you do?’
    â€˜Do? What could I do? If any ordinary cat had disappeared, I could have alerted every animal in the kingdom: but not for Calidor, Prince of the royal blood. How could I tell the world that he is no longer worthy to be their King? Before the news becomes public property I hope to find him, and perhaps persuade him to a change of heart. So far only Blandamour, his poor mother, and my faithful Councillor Marbeck know what has happened.’
    â€˜Did you never find any trace of him?’ asked John.
    Carbonel raised his head wearily.
    â€˜After searching high and low I tracked him down at last to Fairfax Market. He seems to have taken up with two old women I’ve crossed claws with before, though how I don’t remember. I felt a tingling in my paws the minute I set eyes on them.’
    â€˜Do they live in a funny little house squashed in between two new blocks of offices?’ asked John suddenly. At the same time he looked at Rosemary with lifted eyebrows. She nodded in return.
    â€˜They do,’ said Carbonel. ‘For some reason my son Calidor has joined them, but for no good purpose I am afraid. Once, I got my head round the door and heard them talking for a little, before it was slammed on my whiskers; but I could smell it, the smell of wickedness! Ever since, I have forgotten my pride, and called to him from time to time, pleading. I, Carbonel, pleading! But he gave no answer. I was in despair ... and then I thought I recognized you at the bus stop.’
    â€˜Your son, Calidor,’ asked John. ‘Is he a black cat with white paws?’
    â€˜He is,’ said Carbonel.
    â€˜Then I shouldn’t think there’s much doubt,’ went on John, turning to Rosemary. ‘Calidor must be Crumpet!’
    â€˜Cr-r-r-umpet!’ spat Carbonel, with ears flattened once more, and bristling back. ‘They dare to call a cat of the royal blood by such a name! Cr-r-r-umpet indeed!’
    â€˜I don’t suppose they know he’s royal,’ said Rosemary. ‘And he does toast himself in front of the fire. We saw him.’
    â€˜You saw him?’ exclaimed Carbonel.
    Rosemary nodded. ‘This afternoon. We were having tea there, with Mrs Cantrip and Miss Dibdin. I think we heard you calling,’ she went on. She remembered how Crumpet had dived for cover under the armchair when he heard the strange, bubbling cat cry.
    â€˜You mean you can