The Crocodile Caper Read online

  “Ra-baby, come back!” Kiya wailed.

  “Never!” I cried.

  “You don’t have to be a pharaoh, Ra-baby.” Kiya waggled a tiny veil in the breeze. “You can be a high priestess instead.”

  I didn’t dignify that with a response.

  “I’ll give you seconds of stewed oxtail,” Kiya wheedled. “And all my snacks.”

  I was tempted, but only for a second. There are some sacrifices I’m not prepared to make, not even for snacks.

  “I’m coming after you!” Kiya lunged for the mast.

  I scrambled up a little higher, but there was no need. Dedi pried his sister away. “Kiya, stop it. If you want to be friends with Ra, that’s not the way. Leave him alone for a while, and come and play Twenty Squares with me.”

  Kiya pouted, but the promise of a board game with her brother won her over. After that, I lost track of time. For hours, I hung out on the mast, curled tight against a rolled-up sail. I heard fishermen shouting as they paddled out of our way, and flocks of geese honking as they rose from the reedy shore. But mostly it was quiet. Lulled by the bobbing of the ship, I lounged in blissful, uninterrupted peace.

  After a long while, I heard a familiar click by my ear.

  “I can’t believe you’re up here.” Khepri clambered onto the mast, breathless from climbing so high. “You’re supposed to be guarding Pharaoh’s kids.”

  “I can guard them from here,” I told him. “In fact, this is the perfect place to do it. Up here, I can see everything.”

  It was true. From my lofty perch, I could look down at Kiya and Dedi and the entire barge. And my view didn’t end there. Gazing out to the horizon, I could see the Nile coiling through the desert like a long, swollen snake. Thanks to Pharaoh’s expertly performed rites, the gods had blessed Egypt with the best floods in living memory. The river was growing wider almost by the hour.

  “See the small figure down on the front deck?” I said to Khepri. “The one bouncing up and down? That’s Kiya, bugging her brother—”

  “Why do people say bug when they mean annoy?” Khepri wanted to know. “Bugs are nice!”

  “It’s just an expression,” I said.

  “It’s not a very good one,” he said as he climbed onto my paw.

  “Khepri, my point is that if you look down, you’ll see—”

  “I can’t.” Khepri closed his eyes and nestled closer to me.

  “What do you mean, you can’t?”

  “I’m scared of heights,” Khepri admitted. “Especially on boats. I get seasick.”

  “Then what are you doing up here?” I asked.

  “I was worried about you.”

  You know, bugs actually are nice. Khepri is, anyway. “I’m fine,” I told him. “But thanks for the concern, my friend. Want to hop on my back?”

  “Er…you won’t make any sudden moves, will you?”

  “I’ll be steady as a rock,” I promised.

  After Khepri got himself settled, he added, “I’m also worried about what kept Pharaoh in Thebes. He just said something has come up.”

  “Oh, stuff is always coming up for Pharaoh.” I yawned. “Some priest probably wants to drone on about next year’s festival plans. Or maybe a vizier has another dull report to make. People are always boring the sandals off Pharaoh.” Not for the first time, I thought how much better it was to be Pharaoh’s Cat.

  “It’s strange that he didn’t say what was wrong,” Khepri persisted.

  “Who says anything’s wrong?”

  “Don’t you remember? Pharaoh said he didn’t think Thebes was the best place for the children to be right now.”

  “Probably because they would interrupt him,” I said.

  “Or maybe he thought Thebes wasn’t safe,” Khepri suggested. “He seemed awfully worried about them not coming to harm.”

  I felt a twitch of uneasiness but refused to give in to it. “You’re letting your imagination run away with you.”

  “But Great Detectives need imagination,” Khepri argued. “It’s how we solve mysteries. Like this one.”

  “There is no mystery,” I told him. “Pharaoh is fine. If anyone’s in danger today, it’s me—from Kiya.” I turned my head into the wind and added happily, “Though not while I’m up here.”

  “You won’t be for much longer,” Khepri said. “Miu said to warn you we’ll be arriving at Lady Satiah’s soon.”

  “Why didn’t Miu come up here to tell me herself?” I asked. “She’s not afraid of heights.” Miu isn’t afraid of much.

  “She says somebody has to look after the children.” Khepri paused. “To be honest, Ra, she’s not too pleased with you right now. You left Kiya and Dedi to fend for themselves.”

  “I’m still guarding them,” I huffed. “Just…from a distance.”

  “A really long distance,” Khepri said.

  There are plenty of servants around to look after them,” I pointed out. “And anyway, Miu ought to understand that everyone needs some time to unwind. Especially me. It’s not like I’m cut out for this role. I’m Ra the Mighty, Pharaoh’s Cat, Lord of the Powerful Paw. I’m not Ra the Mighty, Royal Babysitter.”

  “It was funny watching Kiya dress you up.” On my back, Khepri giggled. “I loved the mummy look.”

  “It’s not so great from the inside,” I told him.

  Below us, at the captain’s command, the crew bent to their oars. I looked downriver. Green shores hugged the river close, then yielded to the vast, bleached sands of the desert, glowing in the late afternoon sun. At the next bend in the river, you could see the palace, so close to the Nile that it seemed to be floating. Behind high walls and a moat, its smooth, whitewashed buildings gleamed like pearls.

  Connected to the palace by a bridge, an immense stone landing jutted out into the Nile, with piers extending from it like teeth. Boats of all sizes were tied up and anchored there.

  “I guess that’s where we’re meant to dock,” Khepri said. “But why are there so many loose logs in the water?”

  “Maybe a pier fell apart in the floodwaters,” I said.

  “Meeeeeeeoooooooooooooow!” Miu was climbing toward us, a head scarf tied around her neck. “Ra! Khepri! Where are you? We’re almost at the palace docks, and there are crocodiles everywhere.”

  Alarmed, I took another look at those logs floating near the palace. Now that we were closer, I could see they had scaly skin. And tails. And teeth.

  “Crocodiles!” Khepri gulped. “Dozens and dozens of them!”

  “Now, don’t get worried,” I told him. “Crocodiles may look fierce, but they’re animals just like us.”

  “Only with more teeth,” Khepri said.

  “Er…yes. I wonder if those rumors about their blood sacrifices are true?”

  “Blood sacrifices?” Khepri said in a tiny voice.

  “Nobody knows the details because nobody wants to ask. But you know what they call their god Sobek, don’t you? Pointed of Teeth.”

  “Ra, this isn’t making me feel better,” Khepri said.

  “I told you, there’s no need to worry,” I reassured him. “This is as close as you’ll ever get to them. Once we’re inside the palace, they can’t touch us.”

  “You two need to come down,” Miu called up to us. “I can’t look after both children at once, and if Kiya falls in—”

  Yikes! What would Pharaoh say if Kiya became crocodile food?

  “We’re coming!” I shouted. “Hang on tight, Khepri.”

  Pharaoh’s Cat is an ace at climbing things, but getting down? Well, that’s trickier, even for a cat with powerful paws. Going straight down the mast didn’t appeal to me, so I used the ropes instead. I was nearly back on deck when my forepaw skidded forward.

  “Watch your step!” Miu called up to me.

  I was about to tell her that Phara
oh’s Cat doesn’t need to watch his step—he’s naturally graceful—when my other forepaw slipped. My head went swinging over the water, with Khepri clinging to my ear.

  A rumple-backed crocodile leaped for us, rising almost straight out of the river.

  “Nooooooooooo!” Khepri and I shrieked.

  How could a reptile jump so high? Its mouth snapped open, revealing a full set of white choppers.

  Pointed of Teeth, I thought dizzily.

  It was crocodile snack time. And we were on the menu.

  CHAPTER 4

  Crocodile Smile

  Have I mentioned how much I like Dedi? That boy really takes after Pharaoh. Hearing my shriek, he ran to the railing and caught me. Khepri was holding on to me, of course, and we both landed safely on the deck.

  Not that we had much time to catch our breath. A moment later, Kiya leaned over the side of the barge, “to see the crocodiles up close.” Dedi hauled her back by her tunic, and they started tussling. Miu and I had to keep them from falling overboard.

  “Where’s Kiya’s nursemaid?” I asked Miu. “She ought to be helping out here.”

  “She’s got a sore foot, poor thing. So it’s up to us to look after these children.” Miu gave me a stern look. “That means no more shirking, Ra.”

  “Who’s shirking?” I said. And it was the truth—at least for the next half hour. We herded Dedi and Kiya around the barge until it was time to disembark. Then we had a heart-stopping minute as they crossed the gangplank. Below us, the crocodiles gnashed their teeth.

  By the time we finally entered the palace’s spiked gates, the sun was dipping low over the flooded river. It was a relief to reach safety and proceed to the great hall. Though smaller than I was used to, the chamber was spectacular. Huge columns painted with lotus blossoms rose up from a floor as blue as the Nile.

  “Thank goodness we’re off that boat,” Miu said as the children went forward, their footsteps echoing on the tiles. “We’re out of danger now.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Khepri said from his spot between my ears.

  One glance ahead and I saw what he meant. At the far end of the hall, Lady Satiah sat on a thronelike golden chair, ready to receive us. Under an impressive wig, her bloodred lips were pressed tight together, without a hint of a welcoming smile. As the children came closer, her kohl-rimmed eyes narrowed, like a crocodile sighting prey.

  My fur prickled. Out of danger? Not on your life. We were headed dead straight into it. Every instinct told me so.

  “Dedi!” I meowed. “Kiya! Don’t go any closer!” Determined to protect them, I hurtled forward, Miu at my heels.

  Ahead of us, Kiya and Dedi stopped short, staring at something in Lady Satiah’s lap.

  From high on my head, Khepri whispered, “Is that a crocodile?”

  “Yes,” I said, stunned. “I think it is.”

  “A small one,” Miu said after a moment.

  “He doesn’t look that small to me,” Khepri murmured.

  “And even small ones have teeth,” I pointed out.

  To be honest, I hadn’t expected to see any kind of animal in Lady Satiah’s lap. From what I could recall, she wasn’t even fond of cats or dogs. So what was she doing with a crocodile?

  Judging from her expression, maybe she was planning to turn it loose on Kiya and Dedi. If she did, would anyone stop her? Er…besides me, that is?

  I glanced at the people next to Lady Satiah.

  Standing closest to her was a man in his prime, dressed with military precision. He might be strong enough to take on a small crocodile, but he had a face as stolid as a tomb statue, and he didn’t look like he was about to intervene.

  Next to him was a much older man whose skin was almost as crinkled as the crocodile’s. He was watching the crocodile closely, but he was dressed like a servant, and I doubted he would dare cross his mistress.

  Standing awkwardly to one side was a bashful boy who kept looking anxiously at Lady Satiah. I recognized him as her son, Ahmose.

  Lady Satiah stared balefully at Kiya and Dedi. “What do you two mean by sailing here alone?” she hissed. “Where is your father?”

  “D-Daddy?” Faced with Lady Satiah’s anger, and her crocodile, even Kiya faltered. “He’s…he’s back in Thebes.”

  “He’s very sorry he couldn’t come,” offered Dedi, who had been trained in diplomacy. “Perhaps he will visit later.”

  “Later, later,” Lady Satiah repeated mockingly. “With him, it’s always later. And his later means never.”

  “He is very busy—” Dedi began.

  “I sent him a special invitation, and instead he sent you,” Lady Satiah interrupted. “What am I supposed to do?”

  “If you don’t wish us to stay, we won’t,” Dedi said with dignity.

  It was a brave answer, but also a foolish one. Where else could we stay? It’s risky to navigate the Nile by night because there are so many sandbars. You need a navigator who knows the local currents, and we didn’t have one. The only other place we could stay was the boat itself. I couldn’t imagine trying to keep the crocodiles at bay…

  “Very well,” Lady Satiah snapped. “You can—”

  The grim-faced man bent down and whispered in her ear. He spoke so low that I couldn’t hear every word, but he called her “sister” and said something about “our advantage.”

  Lady Satiah looked angry at first, then thoughtful. When her brother finished whispering, she gave Dedi a toothy smile.

  “My dear Ramses Dedumose, don’t be ridiculous. I am always delighted to have Pharaoh’s honored children as my guests. And Ahmose is, too, aren’t you, my love?” She turned to the shy boy. “After all, they are your brother and sister.”

  Ahmose nodded, but he wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

  Lady Satiah’s lips tightened again, but she spoke with forced good cheer. “We have prepared a great feast, and you must dine with us. Perhaps we will think of a way to entice your dear father to visit very soon.” Rising from her chair, she thrust the baby crocodile at the wrinkled servant. “Keeper of the Zoo, take this thing back to its cage.”

  The crocodile flew like a scaly package between them.

  “Oh, do take care, my lady,” the Keeper murmured, nestling the crocodile in his arms. “They are delicate creatures, and he’s only a baby.”

  Lady Satiah ignored him.

  “A baby?” Miu’s voice grew tender. “So that’s why he’s so small. The poor thing! What’s he doing out here on his own?”

  “They’ve tied his mouth shut,” Khepri observed.

  It was true. Now that the crocodile was closer, I could see the string. I guess it should have made me feel safer, but what I felt was indignant. Who wants to see a baby treated like that? Even if it is a baby crocodile.

  At least he seemed to be in better hands now. The Keeper of the Zoo had a kindly face, and he cradled the crocodile in gentle hands.

  “Don’t worry, little one,” the Keeper said soothingly. “There’s a lovely supper waiting for you in the zoo. I’ll bring you back there and untie those nasty knots.”

  As he ambled off with the crocodile, Khepri whispered, “She has a zoo? Nobody mentioned that before.”

  “I didn’t know she had one,” I said. “But I guess it’s not so surprising. Zoos have become very fashionable. Every jumped-up son of a vizier wants one.”

  “I don’t get it,” Miu said. “What’s so fun about seeing animals in cages?”

  “Humans are strange,” I agreed. “I think it’s a way of showing off how much money they have. That kind of thing impresses other humans.”

  “They trap baby animals just so they can show off?” Miu was outraged. “That’s dreadful. They should follow Pharaoh’s example. He doesn’t have one.”

  “He doesn’t need a zoo,” I said. “He has me.”

>   “And luckily he’s not fond of cages,” Khepri added.

  We were not the only ones interested in the crocodile. Kiya was watching the Keeper carry him off. She turned to Ahmose. “Can we go with them?”

  “Sure.” With an eager smile, Ahmose glanced from her to Dedi. “Both of you can come. I’ll give you a tour—”

  “Ahmose, where do you think you’re going?” Lady Satiah blocked the route forward.

  Ahmose didn’t even try to argue, but Kiya did. “We’re going to the zoo!”

  “The zoo is off-limits,” Lady Satiah said sharply. “And we are about to dine. You may refresh yourselves before we gather in the banqueting room. Ahmose, show them the way.”

  Looking miserable, Ahmose shuffled off. Kiya and Dedi trailed behind him.

  Lady Satiah turned to the grim-faced man and fixed him with a long stare. “Well, brother, this should be a night to remember.” Her lips quirked.

  “She’s smiling like a crocodile,” Khepri whispered as Lady Satiah and her brother left the hall. “I think she’s up to something.”

  “Something bad,” Miu agreed. “We’d better follow her.”

  We’d hardly taken more than a few paces, however, when a bird swooped down from the ceiling and dive-bombed us.

  “Intruders!” he screamed. “Hit the decks! Oop-oop! You’re under arrest!”

  CHAPTER 5

  Oop–Oop!

  Before we could take cover, the bird screeched to a halt, landing on the back of Lady Satiah’s empty gilded chair.

  “Impressive, huh?” Flicking back his topknot of multicolored feathers, he beamed down at us. “Did I scare you? Oop-oop! I bet I did.”

  As the bird puffed up his peach-colored chest, Khepri yipped in distress. “It’s a hoopoe bird!” Scrambling off my head, he slid down to my belly fur.

  “Hey, watch out,” the hoopoe told me. “Your snack is getting away.”

  “He’s not my snack,” I said indignantly. “He’s my buddy.”

  “Sorry! My mistake.” The hoopoe fluttered his topknot at me. “Oop-oop! Or maybe yours. They’re good eating, dung beetles. I love that stinky smell when you crack them open.”