Scarborough Fair and Other Stories Read Online Free PDF Page B

being, a priest, holy man, shaman, what have you until I finally was allowed to achieve my highest form in this incarnation and became a cat. But my corporeal urges interfered with my ability to concentrate, so I voluntarily left my littermates and my safe abode and as a tiny kitten walked to the veterinarian’s to go under the knife so that I might help others.”
    â€œHe’s what’s called a bodhisattva by Buddhists,” Sister Paka said with awe.
    Mustard was impressed. “I like Tony and Jeannette—my doctors—very much but I always complain when I have to go. It smells bad there, and I dislike needles and having patches of fur shaved. I would never have gone for the surgery myself except my attendant forced it upon me. I admit, life has been calmer since. I have time to study and read many subjects.”
    Mu Mao purred approval. “This is good. And although you are now emaciated, it is clear that you have kept sleek and active under normal circumstances.”
    â€œI am a fine hunter of vermin,” Mustard said without false modesty. “And chase down even the fastest horoscope scrolls, however they may attempt to roll from my grasp.”
    â€œYou are versed in astrology as well?” Sister Paka asked rather breathlessly.
    â€œOh yes. From the time I was a tiny kitten such scrolls were toys —my attendant—procured for me and me alone at the food-procuring place. None of my housemates were allowed to chase them. I alone was deemed worthy.” His white cravat stuck out beyond his nose with pride, so even he could see a few pale hairs without taking his eyes from the cat on the chair.
    Mu Mao did not sound as approving as Mustard might have hoped, but flicked the bushy rust-and-cream tail shielding his paws. “Did you not seek to share with your housemates the knowledge you acquired thus?”
    â€œOf course not! They were
my
scrolls,” he said, baring his teeth and then, seeing the old cat’s eyes, added quickly, “Well, the kitten asked about them once and I did try to explain a few of the rudiments to her but she was much too young to grasp much of it.”
    â€œBut that is a good start,” Mu Mao the Master said in a tone sage enough to reflect his apparently exalted status.
    â€œA good start of what, please?”
    â€œA good start on your new life.”
    â€œMy new life?”
    â€œWell, yes. You’ve passed through number one and are now heading into your second.”
    â€œThen I didn’t—survive?” He looked down at himself, all around at himself, and began licking furiously to reassure himself that all parts were there and solid and working.
    â€œIt’s amazing you survived intact long enough to be brought to us,” Mu Mao said. “Your mouth and your entire digestive tract was ulcerated. Something caustic, Tony thought. Something sudden.”
    â€œSomething,” Sister Paka said, “poison.”
    â€œBut how can that be? I always ate the same thing, and have not even hunted much in recent years.”
    â€œApparently you ate something out of the ordinary. And that something may linger to kill your former housemates as it killed you. The young one would be in particular danger, I should think.”
    â€œThe kitten?” he asked, remembering the way the fur on her belly curled like a sheep’s wool and how fluffy her tail was and how, though she was cute, she had the taste to be black so that it wasn’t all that obvious—and she never tried to take Susan’s attention away from him.
    â€œYes. And the others.”
    â€œI don’t care—“ he began to say with a spit, but catching the slight hiss from Sister Paka, stopped himself. Mu Mao gave him a warning look.
    â€œYes, well. I understand you have made that evident over the years. If you are to join us here, you must give up your greatest vice.”
    â€œI told you