THE TIME-TRAVELLING CAT AND THE VIKING TERROR “Ka’s missing, and I don’t want to come.” Topher was on the phone to Ellie, one of his best friends. She lived in London near to where he used to live. He lived in a village near Chichester now, in a house with a big garden that Ka loved. Sitting on the kitchen table, he scanned the sloping lawn, hoping to see her emerge from under one of the trees. “She will come back, Topher. She always does.” Ellie sounded exasperated, and he pictured her raking her fingers through her dark hair. He’d been planning to spend the beginning of the summer break with her. They always got together in the holidays. “I know. But.” He wondered how to explain why he was so worried. How could he say that he thought Ka was time-travelling? Ellie was very understanding about most things, but when he’d tried to tell her - after Ka’s first journey to Ancient Egypt - she’d laughed. When he’d persisted she’d looked at him as if he were crazy. So he hadn’t told her, or that he had been too. Ellie knew that he worried about Ka, but not why – that she was often in terrible danger. People in the past were often cruel. Ellie just thought that Ka was one of those cats who had several homes, which she had in a way. “And when she comes back,” Ellie went on, “Molly will look after her. She’s good with animals.” Molly was Topher’s step-mum and Ellie was right about her. Molly had a cat of her own called Buggins. Topher could see him now, a big fat tabby, fast asleep in his box by the central heating boiler, even though it was a warm day. “I’d still rather wait,” he said stubbornly, still scanning the garden. Ka’s favourite hiding place was a willow tree near the pond. “I know what it is.” Ellie gave one of her annoying knowing laughs. “It’s not about Ka at all. You’re scared of terrorists.” “I’m not.” Well, he hadn’t been till she mentioned it. Now though, he remembered hearing warnings. There had been a spate of terrorist attacks in London and security experts said there were bound to be more. Perhaps it would be better to stay in here? Or Ellie could come and stay with him? “Topher, listen to me.” Ellie was very bossy sometimes. “If we let these suicide bombers stop us doing what we want to do, we’re letting them win. We’re letting them change our way of life.” “Yes yes.” He knew all that. “I’d still rather wait till Ka comes back, okay? Then bring her with me so she can visit all her old haunts.” Ka had first turned up when he lived in London, soon after his mum had died. She’d helped him get over that terrible time. “Topher, you can’t let your life be ruled by a cat.” “Ka is not a cat.” Luckily the doorbell rang, so he went to open it, walking from the kitchen through the oak-lined hallway, with Ellie still jabbering in his ear. Before opening the door, he peered through the diamond-paned window at the side. “Topher, is that Sanjit?” Sanjit Daas was a mate from school – and as Ellie pointed out – he was another reason for sticking to what they’d planned. Sanjit was going to London too, to stay with his auntie, who also lived in Archway. His parents were taking. Topher’s would fetch them back. It was all arranged. “Topher, let me talk to Sanjit.” Ellie never gave up. Jabber. Jabber. Jabber. “That’s settled then,” she said when he got the phone back. “You’re both coming and we’ll do exactly what we planned to do, while keeping a lookout for suspicious goings-on.” Sanjit grinned. “Just agree with her, mate. It’s easier. If anyone should be worried it’s me. You’ll be okay, with your Viking looks. With my dusky features I’ll be a suspicious going-on. My cousins are having a terrible time, being stopped by the police every five minutes. ” “With your face you’ll be chased all round London by girls going ‘Ooh! Aah! Look at his gorgeous eyelashes!’” “And if they do my Bibi will bash them with her parathi pan!” Sanjit’s Bibi, his grandma, lived with his auntie. She came from the Punjab and had very old-fashioned ideas, unlike Sanjit who was into all the latest gear. He shouted into the phone, “Bye, Ellie!” and headed upstairs to Topher’s bedroom. “Let’s see this latest game of yours, mate. I hope it’s more up to date than your chinos.” They spent the rest of the afternoon playing on Topher’s X-box and Sanjit won most of the games. They stayed in Topher’s room and he found it hard to concentrate. It was a big room overlooking the front garden, and his computer and all his books and lots of other stuff were there. But it was the statue of Ka beside his bed, which kept distracting him. He couldn’t help turning round to look at it, because it was proof that Ka was time-travelling. When she was a real live cat in the present day it wasn’t there. When she went time-travelling it was. It was as if she left a replica of herself behind, so he wouldn’t forget what she looked like. As if he could. After a bit Sanjit noticed him looking at it and went to look more closely himself. He’d never seen it before and spotted the likeness immediately. “It’s amazing. Did the sculptor model it from life?” “Dunno. My mum brought it back from Egypt.” She’d said it was old, but he didn’t tell Sanjit that. “Is that your Mum?” He’d spotted the photo beside the cat. “She looks like you. Did she show the sculptor a photograph?” “No. She couldn’t have. Ka turned up after she died.” That was true, but not as straightforward as it sounded. Sometimes he felt sure his mum had met Ka before, but it was a mystery. Time was complicated, but he didn’t say that either. Sanjit picked up the statue and weighed it in his hand. “What’s it made of?” “Sardonyx, a sort of stone.” It was reddish gold with black and white specks – like Ka. Exactly like a seated Ka, right down to the shiny black key-like mark on her forehead, the holy ankh, the Egyptian sign of life. Except that Ka was flesh and blood and fur. Longing to stroke her fur again, he took the statue from Sanjit. How heavy and cold and dull it was. That meant Ka was a long way away - in space and time. When she was returning the stone became warm and shone – and he longed for it to happen. But it wouldn’t, not while Sanjit was here. While he was putting it back beside his bed his mobile rang. Ellie again. He flopped down on his red beanbag. “Topher, I’ve been thinking.” “Wow!” “Stop it! I’ve been thinking about terrorists. Actually I’ve just read this article. It says you’re more likely to die of smoking …” “I don’t smoke.” “Shut up… even passive smoking, or being run over, than you are of being killed by a terrorist.” “So?” “It’s a minute, an infinitesimal risk.” Ellie liked big words. “Ellie, I am not scared of terrorists even though experts have said a terrorist attack is probable even inevitable.” He could use big words too. “ I’m worried about Ka.” He was lying again. He was a bit scared when he thought about it Who wasn’t? Terrorists terrorised just by threatening to attack. And he had a funny feeling – funny-weird not funny-ha ha – that something bad was going to happen. He always did when Ka was away. Ellie said, “Ka will be alright. Remember, she’s got nine lives.” That was probably true. “But I’ve only got one,” he said though that wasn’t.