‘Doctor?’ Please don’t tell me that a cat could be the reason why this isn’t working?’
The doctor stared at him thoughtfully. ‘Well, I suppose that it could be possible,’ he said at length. ‘Given everything we know, there’s no reason why it might not be the case.’
‘But Doctor, a cat!?’
‘I am well aware of how it sounds, General. But please don’t forget that the boy is the only person to have successfully opened the box without destroying everything around him.’
‘So, and what now? We’re going to have to send a jet to pick up a cat?’ he barked. The general’s usually amiable face had become contorted with frustration.
‘I believe so. Unless you have a better idea.’
Cursing, the general turned to go.
‘Wait… I… Actually, I brought him with me,’ said Arthur.
‘What, really?’ asked his father, looking astonished. ‘How is it that I didn’t know anything about this?’
‘Well, I um, had him in my backpack.’
‘You never!’ He laughed. ‘So, that whole not wanting to put it in the car boot and then your appearing again in the kitchen this morning two minutes after you’d just left was because of the cat?’
‘Yes.’
The general stared at them both in stony silence. ‘Go and get the animal!’ he instructed the doctor.
‘I can go,’ offered Arthur.
‘No, you’ll stay here. I am sure at the very least, the doctor can manage to get this right!’
‘Stay here, please,’ said the doctor, looking extremely put out by what the general had just said.
‘You know, I’m curious. What made you want to bring the cat?’ asked his father, when the general had become distracted by a colleague.
‘I’m not really sure. It was kind of a feeling that he needed to be here too…’
‘A feeling. Wow. You realise how strange that sounds, don’t you?’
‘I guess.’ And for a moment, Arthur wondered if it might not also be a good time to reveal that he and the cat were able to talk to each other.
‘Something on your mind?’ asked his father, raising an eyebrow expectantly.
‘Um, no, no, everything’s fine,’ he replied, changing his mind.
The doctor returned about forty-five minutes later holding the cursing, wriggling cat tightly under one arm.
‘Let go of me, you big elephant! You’re holding me too tight! Where are we going? Where’s Arthur? What’s this place? I don’t like it. You smell funny!’
Handing him over as quickly as he could, the doctor took out a tissue and began to wipe the bloody scratches on his hands.