Coated in black, the cat is almost invisible in the darkness of the alley. It's green eyes glow, illuminated by some unknown power within. He sniffs at a stagnant puddle not yet dried from last week's rains.
A young tabby furtively enters the alley. She shies away from the dumpster's visible fumes. She sees the green eyes, and hesitates before asking, "Are you Merlin?"
"Call me what you will," he shrugged. "What do you wish of me?" Cats from all over the city had come to see him about one thing or another. It seemed as though each one had a different name for him. Like humans, cats picked whatever name seemed to fit the feline they were addressing.
"I-I want a tom... one that will stay with me... that won't leave when I am pregnant."
"You ask for a tom to go against his nature. To be something he is not."
"I know it sounds preposterous, but..."
"I will not do that to a tom."
The tabby hung her head. "There is nothing you can do then?"
"No. I can, but I won't. You have to find your own way."
"What way?"
"That is for you to discover."
"You won't tell me?"
"Information told is information forgotten. Information learned is a lesson kept and remembered."
The tabby sat and watched him for a long time. Finally, she rose and left the alley.
The black cat, sometimes called Merlin, also left the alley, licking his forepaw as he levitated up onto the roof of the apartment building where he lived. When he landed, he entered a small cat door at the bottom the roof access door, and descended the stairs to his small apartment.
He passed through the main room which felt much smaller than it was, due to all the clutter. He stepped lightly over books and papers and around a large chemistry set that took up a quarter of the room. Merlin had learned many things from his human, including the levitation trick he had just performed.
"Ah, there you are, my furry friend. Been watching the pigeons again, have you?" said the old white-bearded man, emerging from the kitchen.
Merlin rubbed against his leg and purred.
"I have a surprise for you." The old man picked up his cat and took him to a kitchen so small it was more of a closet than a kitchen. He set Merlin down at his food dish. Merlin growled. There was another cat there, eating his food. The female tabby lifted her head and grinned.
"I heard her meowing outside. The poor thing is half starved. She'll make a wonderful companion for you," said the old man, walking out the door. "It will be nice to have kittens in the house again," he mused from the other room.
The two cats stared at each other. Merlin growled again. He wanted to pummel this queen. Kittens indeed! Not if he had anything to say about it!
The tabby continued to look smug. "You told me to solve my own problem. What better way to get what I want than to be adopted by a human with a tom?" she purred.
"How did you know the old man would take you in?"
"Cats are known the world over as watchers."
"How did you get in here before I did?"
"You're the magician. You tell me," she purred and rubbed up against him.
He wanted to hiss and strike out at her, but as she rubbed up against him, a wild and forgotten instinct roared within him. It was pleasant... She was getting what she wanted from him! He shot out of the room, up the stairs and out his cat door. He sat on the roof, gasping for breath. He heard a clearing of the throat beside him. It was the tabby. "How?"
She purred, "I have my own secrets."
"Why me?"
"You are unique. You left the choice to me. Very generous for a tomcat. Besides, you did say there was something you could do."
"Who are you?"
"You may call me Hera."
His green eyes widened. He knew that name. Like him, she had many others, but this one suited her best. He shuddered. "And I am your Zeus," he said dully.
She purred.
Elizabeth Williamson Copyright © 2008
