A Night in the Lonesome October

October 2

We took a walk last night, acquiring mandrake root in a field far from here at the place of a killing by somebody else. The master wrapped it in silk and took it to his work space direct. I could hear him engage in good-natured banter with the Thing in the Circle. Jack has a long list of ingredients, and things must be done properly on schedule.

The cat Graymalk came slinking about, pussyfoot, peering in our windows. Ordinarily, I have little against cats. I can take them or leave them, I mean. But Graymalk belongs to Crazy Jill who lives over the hill, in towards town, and Graymalk was spying for her mistress, of course. I growled to let her know she had been spotted.

«About your watching early, faithful Snuff,» she hissed.

«About your spying early,» I responded, «Gray.»

«We have our tasks.»

«We do.»

«And so it has begun.»

«It has.»

«Goes it well?»

«So far. And you?»

«The same. I suppose it is easiest simply to ask this way, for now.»

«… But cats are sneaky,» I added.

She tossed her head, raised a paw and studied it.

«There are certain pleasures to be had in lurking.»

«For cats,» I said.

«… And certain knowledges gained.»

«Such as … ?»

«I am not the first come calling here today. My predecessor left traces. Are you aware of this, faithful watcher?»

«No,» I replied. «Who was it?»

«The owl, Nightwind, consort of Morris and MacCab. I saw him flee at dawn, found a feather out back. The feather is tainted with mummy dust, to do you ill.»

«Why do you tell me this?»

«Perhaps because I am a cat and it amuses me to be arbitrary and do you a good turn. I shall take the feather away with me and leave it at their window, concealed amid shrubs.»

«I prowled last night after my walk,» I said. «I was near your house beyond the hill. I saw Quicklime, the black snake who lives in the belly of the mad monk, Rastov. He rubbed against your doorpost, shedding scales.»

«Ah! And why do you tell me this?»

«I pay my debts.»

«There should not be debts between our folk.»

«This is between us.»

«You are a strange hound, Snuff.»

«You are a strange cat, Graymalk.»

«As it should be, I daresay.»

And she was gone amid shadows. As it should be.