‘Hello, Cat,’ he mumbled sleepily, feeling the cat come and lie down on the bed next to him. ‘Where’ve you been all evening, then?’
‘Where do you think? Trying to stay out of that dreadful storm.’
Arthur’s eyes flickered slightly. If he hadn’t known better, he’d have sworn that the cat had just said something to him.
‘You didn’t just talk, did you?’ he grinned, reaching out to stroke his warm fur.
‘Sure, I did. Is there something wrong with your ears, all of a sudden?’
Gasping, Arthur sat bolt upright, almost tumbling out of bed in the process. ‘Oh my god! Cat! You’re talking!’
‘What do you mean I’m talking? Of course I’m talking. What’s wrong with you?’
‘No, you don’t understand—you can really talk!’
‘And there you have it folks, the kid’s a born genius.’
‘What? No, look—I mean, listen. You’re talking, and I can understand everything that you’re saying. Go on, say something, I’ll prove it.’
‘Liquorice sticks,’ said the cat.
‘Liquorice sticks!?’
‘Yeah, I don’t know, it was the first thing that came to mind.’
‘Weird, but OK. Now do you see!?’ he exclaimed excitedly, struggling to keep his voice down. ‘But, Cat, how’s it even possible?’
‘Search me. Maybe you hit your head on something? Did you hit your head on something?’
‘No. I don’t think so. Did you?’
‘Not that I can remember. But then I reckon that if I had, it might explain why I can’t remember doing it.’ The cat made a slight choking sound, which Arthur could have sworn was him laughing.
‘Woah! You don’t think it’s got something to do with that light, do you? You did see it, right?’
‘Of course I saw it. It made all my fur stand on end.’
‘And everything was normal before that?’
‘Well, if by normal, you mean that you couldn’t understand me, then yes.’
‘But what about everyone else? Do you know if they can understand you too?’
‘No, I don’t think so. That aunt of yours completely ignored me when I suggested that she might want to share some of her chicken with me. And that was even after I complimented her on her hair, so… And your stepfather, well let’s just say I had a few choice words for him when he stood on my tail—which still hurts, by the way.’
‘OK, so only me, then?’
‘I guess.’
‘What do you mean you guess? You don’t seem particularly excited about it. Can’t you see that this is major? You’ve suddenly started talking like a person.’