Page 38 - Fables volume 3

other cat could he find. But there were plenty of rats! He trapped one
and promised it a quick and easy death if it would tell him where the
feline population had gone.”
The grandkits had fallen perfectly still. Grimalkin had them in the
pads of her paws. She lowered her voice for effect.
“‘They have gone to their reward,’ squealed the rat. ‘What do you
mean?’ demanded Klugscheisser. ‘All dead,’ said the rat, with great
satisfaction. ‘Some important person from the big city came and told
the townspeople that cats were agents of the Devil, and only witches
would keep one around.’ Yes, kitties, those stupid bipeds rounded up
all the cats and killed them. Isn’t it sad?”
Chiffon, the runt of the litter and quite sensitive, snuffled.
“Well, needless to say, the king of cats was enraged. All his family
wiped out on the word of one foreigner! His kittens—never to be
seen again. No queens, no subjects. He swore revenge and stayed in
hiding, waiting to strike. At first, it was immediately apparent that the
people had harmed themselves as much as they had hurt the cats.
The rats had no enemies now. They ate whatever they wanted,
becoming ever bolder. And they carried terrible diseases in their
bodies and in the flying insects which lived in their fur.”
Grimalkin paused and looked around.
“But that wasn’t enough for Klugscheisser. He decided to give
them kid for cat.”
“What’s that, Grandcat?” Kitty Boy Floyd was puzzled.
“You’ll find out if you let me finish! Now the great king was also a
master at currying favor with the humans when he wanted something
from them. One day when all the adults were in their big building
where they sang and listened to stories, he went from house to house,
luring out the small children with his smooth and silky voice, and his
look of absolute adorableness. They had not seen a cat in months,
and wanted to pet it and play with it. But he stayed just out of reach,
making sure that all were following him as he left the town and went
deep into the woods. And then, do you know what became of
them?”
“No,” came the awestruck response.
“All the children were eaten by wolves. Klugscheisser had
promised them a hearty meal if they came near Hamböhn that
morning. And that was his revenge. Satisfied at last, he came here, to

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