The Keeper. Part 1. An Invitation - страница 13

Arthur shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

‘It’s OK. You do not need to be afraid. You are not in any trouble. In fact, quite the opposite. I believe that you are in a position to help me recover something very valuable, which was lost in a recent, and rather unfortunate accident.’

His mother was whispering animatedly with Aunty M.

‘A short while ago, a powerful energy spike was detected coming from the vicinity of this house. Do you have any idea what I might be referring to?’

Arthur nodded.

‘And am I also correct in thinking that you were able to open the object?’

Arthur nodded again.

The expression on the general’s face, which had up until that point been calm, suddenly became deadly serious. ‘Then the sooner you return the object to me and give me your assurance never to mention a word about it or what you have seen to anyone, the safer it is going to be for you and your family… Do you understand what I am telling you, Arthur?’

‘Yes,’ replied Arthur, feeling a shiver run down his spine. ‘I understand.’

‘Fine. And do you have the artefact in your possession?’

‘Please give the officer what he came here for!’ cried his mother before he’d even had a chance to say anything. ‘It clearly doesn’t belong to you! We’re so sorry, General, he’s always been a bit of a handful, ever since he was just a toddler. I think he gets it from his father, you know.’

‘Yes, it’s here,’ frowned Arthur, removing the box from his pocket and placing it on the kitchen table.

Picking it up, the general gave each side a cursory glance before tucking it into his shoulder bag. ‘Thank you. Now, I realise that you doubtless have a lot of questions, especially about what it was that you saw. But I mean it very sincerely when I say that the less you know, the better.’

The general turned to his mother and Aunty M, hovering by the door.

‘And the same, I’m afraid, also applies to the both of you ladies. The fewer people who know about this, the better. I trust I also have your assurances on this matter?’

‘Fine then,’ he said, as they both nodded vigorously. ‘Now, if you will please forgive the manner of this intrusion, I really must get going.’

Rising, the general shook Arthur’s hand, put on his cap and left, leaving the three of them watching through the kitchen window as he and the soldiers headed back up the garden path.

No sooner had the garden gate clattered shut behind them than Arthur suddenly found himself in the world of trouble which he knew was coming.

‘When are you ever going to learn not to go poking your nose into things that don’t concern you!? And look what’s happened this time—even the army had to get involved! I just don’t know what we’re going to do with you, I really don’t. Why can’t you be normal like your friends?’

And no amount of trying to explain that all he’d done was find it was going to get her to change her mind on the matter. The worst part about all of it, though, was that very shortly after the general had taken the box, Arthur discovered that he was no longer able to understand the cat. At first he’d thought that Cat was playing a joke on him, but after dousing him with water, and not hearing anything except hisses and unhappy meows, he understood for sure. In many ways it felt like losing a best friend, whilst not actually losing him.

Gradually, after unsuccessfully trying different ways to communicate, they fell back into doing what they’d always done. The cat continued to follow him around, and Arthur still talked to him as though he understood. But it wasn’t the same. And as for the box, well, the general’s insistence that he promise to not discuss it with anyone had only made him even more curious about what it really was.