Endling by Katherine Applegate

Author:Katherine Applegate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

32.

Trapped

“You two must hide,” Luca said to Gambler and me. “We can explain our presence to the constabulary, but we can’t explain a felivet, let alone a dairne. Even if you play dog, they’ll see the truth if they examine you closely.”

I heard at least six sets of human feet pounding up the stairs. Had we been seen? Or was this just a routine security patrol?

Frantically I searched the room. Chairs, tables, mirrors, chests. Yes, a chest! Gambler considered the rafters overhead. He focused on a large crossbeam at least a dozen feet above us. He squatted, wriggled his hindquarters, and seemed to levitate straight up, landing on the beam as if he leapt like this every day of his life. And, I realized, he probably did.

I opened a dusty chest half full of decaying clothing. I rolled in and pulled the lid down just as the humans burst in.

“Here then,” a crude voice boomed. “What is this all about, eh?”

“We’re just watching the eumony.” It was Luca.

“Don’t you know this building is shut down? Who do you think you are, anyways?”

“We were just seeking some privacy.” Khara’s voice now. “Luca and I, well, our parents don’t approve, but we . . . enjoy each other’s company.”

Khara’s words were so obviously false, I could not believe they would convince the constables.

“Young love, eh?” A different voice, more cultured.

“Well, I wouldn’t say love,” Luca said, sounding embarrassed.

“That’s not what you said an hour ago!” Khara protested.

The chest muffled sounds, but still I heard Araktik’s voice from the stage.

“Thanks to the generosity of our great and magnificent Murdano, we are come together to mourn . . .”

“Love or not love, you have to get out,” the first human said.

“Yes, I’m afraid you must,” the second agreed. “Or we’ll be forced to arrest you and spoil this important day.”

“But we only want to—” Khara protested.

“Ah ah ah,” came the second voice, sounding firmer now, though still amused.

“Then I suppose we must join our friend Vallino,” Khara said, pitching her voice loud enough so that we would hear.

“And take that fuzzball with you,” the first man said.

I heard Tobble mutter, “Fuzzball!”

Three sets of footsteps left the room. But the constables didn’t follow them out. “Let’s look around and see if there’s anything . . . um . . . useful,” the smoother voice said.

“Useful, eh?” The other laughed. “And profitable, too?”

I heard the sounds of things being shoved and overturned. Holding my breath, I thanked fortune for poor human hearing. A felivet would have had no trouble hearing my frenzied heart.

Steps paused just outside my hiding place. The lid flew open, and I found myself staring up into a bearded face.

“Ho!” the constable yelled.

“Grrroooowwwr!”

Gambler roared, a sound that shook the walls. The man staggered back, drawing his sword. The huge felivet landed soundlessly on the floor.

All six constables drew weapons and formed a semicircle. They were scared, clearly, but not panicked. These were men accustomed to dealing with various species, and as powerful as Gambler was, I didn’t believe he could fight six swordsmen.

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