Now perhaps we'll get some PEACE,' said Max wearily.

TammyLee stood there with me in her arms. I nuzzled against her and the pulse throbbing in her neck felt hot.

Is that all you care about, Dad?' she asked. So-called "peace".'

Max pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.

Dad?'

I am not going to engage with further provocation,' said Max, and a hard grey sh.e.l.l closed around his aura. He turned back to his laptop and tapped at the keys like a terrier digging a hole.

Fine. Don't bother,' said TammyLee. She put me down and marched into the kitchen. I ran to see Amber, who was lying quietly on her bed, her ears drooping and only the tip of her tail moving. She whined and lifted a paw to me. I wanted to describe my adventure by the river, and tell her about Rocky's turquoise eyes, but she wasn't in a receptive mood.

There was a terrible row,' she told me. TammyLee was in a temper and she burned Max's tea and slammed the plate down on the table. She shouted and swore at him, and every time Max tried to say something, she shouted even louder. I hated it, I hid behind the curtain, and now I've been on my bed for too long and I haven't had a walk.'

Amber looked miserable and anxious. I gave her lots of love, weaving my way round her, brus.h.i.+ng her face with my tail. She gradually relaxed, and when I ran into the kitchen for my supper, Amber crept over to Max and leaned against his leg.

You haven't had a walk, have you?' I heard him say, and he shut the laptop.

Where's your lead?'

Amber instantly became her joyful self again, charged into the kitchen, nearly knocking me over as I ate my tuna chunks. She circled the lounge and jumped right over the sofa, while Max was putting his coat on.

I'm walking the dog,' he said curtly to TammyLee, and clipped the lead onto Amber's collar.

Fine,' said TammyLee, and, once he'd gone out of the door, she muttered, And don't come back. I don't care if you never come back.'

I needed a wash and a long sleep. But TammyLee needed me more. She carried me upstairs, and we checked Diana, who was asleep, her face tranquil, her skin pale in the dim blue of a night light.

Tallulah's back, Mum,' TammyLee whispered, but Diana didn't stir. She's on heavy medication.' TammyLee closed the door quietly and took me into her bedroom, where she kicked off her shoes and slumped onto her bed, burrowing into a mound of cus.h.i.+ons. I stood on her chest, purring, and looked at her tormented eyes.

I'd DIE without you, Tallulah,' she said, smoothing my coat with both hands. You're all I've got. And you know about Rocky.'

I did a purr-meow, to show her I understood.

I went to Rocky's Bench after school today,' she said. It's his birthday. My baby's birthday. And I'm not there for him.' She cried and cried into my fur, and I lay still and listened. Why did I do it, Tallulah? Why was I such a coward? What will Rocky think when he grows up, wherever he is? What will he think about his real mum dumping him like rubbish? I wish I could tell him why. I wish I could tell him that I loved him. I can't bear to think he might grow up and never know that.' She sobbed into the cus.h.i.+ons. Then she said something that worried me a lot: I want to die, Tallulah. I just . . . want . . . to die.'

I felt powerless. What could one small tabby cat do, faced with a suicidal human? I patted her wet cheek with my paw, and thought maybe if I washed her face, she might feel better. So I started licking, tasting salt and make-up, licking gently round each of her eyes and calming the frown lines between them. And it worked! After a few minutes of it, she was smiling and looking at me again.

Magic puss cat,' she said, and then she did something beautiful: she took my little black cat brush out of its drawer and began to groom my fur. I loved it, and it was just what I needed. I rolled onto my back and let her brush under my chin and down my belly. The brus.h.i.+ng, and the appreciative purring, seemed to soothe TammyLee.

Look at this fluff, Tallulah!' she said, showing me the wad of fur she was pulling out of the brush. She put it in a plastic bag. I'm saving your fur and one day I'm going to make something with it, a heart-shaped cus.h.i.+on, or a cus.h.i.+on that looks like a cat's face.' She said, Then I can keep you for ever, Tallulah.'

I stayed in her bedroom, thinking I'd better keep an eye on her. Instead of sleeping, I sat on the table next to her laptop, and watched her begin her homework, sighing as she ticked boxes and looked intently at the computer screen. We heard Max coming in with Amber, and he came slowly up the stairs and tapped on TammyLee's door.

She rolled her eyes.

What?' she asked, without looking up from her work.

Can we have a chat?' Max looked different after his walk with Amber. His cheeks were red and his eyes brighter.

No, Dad. I'm really tired right now. And I've got homework.'

Max hovered in the doorway.

I hoped we could make peace, and . . . move on,' he said.

Yeah, yeah, Dad.'

I do appreciate what you do for your mum,' said Max quietly. I know it's not easy for you, but, for what it's worth, TammyLee, I do love you. At the end of the day, I do. And I do care about your future.'

Finally, TammyLee looked at him.

Yeah, yeah,' she said again. I know you care and stuff, Dad. Look, I've got an exam tomorrow and I need to do this homework. Will you leave me alone . . . PLEASE?'

Max looked upset and bewildered. TammyLee sighed. She got up and gave her dad a hug. It's OK, Dad. I'm sorry I sounded off at you. But please . . . go and watch the news or something.'

I meowed at Max and he had the sense to back off and go downstairs.

If it wasn't for you, Tallulah, I'd go mad,' said TammyLee.

Probably true,' I thought, and sat patiently by her laptop, pretending to doze.

You're SUCH a good cat,' she said, and that made me feel better, especially when my angel drifted into the room and hung around by the bookshelves, s.h.i.+mmering with joy.

You've done a brilliant job today, Tallulah,' she said, and I basked in the encouragement. Then she said, Thank you,' and covered me in stardust. My fur tingled with joy. It was the first time on this planet that someone had said thank you to me.

That weekend, I learned a lot more about the river.

Mid-morning, we set off in the hot suns.h.i.+ne, with Max pus.h.i.+ng Diana's wheelchair and TammyLee in front leading Amber. A bag bulging with towels and picnic stuff was stashed in the pouch at the back of the wheelchair, and TammyLee had even put in a sachet of my favourite chicken-and-rabbit cat food, and some biscuits for Amber.

I don't think you should let Tallulah come,' Max had said. We should shut her in.'

But TammyLee trusted me, and she knew how much I needed time outside.

She's my cat, and she's not a prisoner,' she said. She's coming, if she wants to.'

Don't blame me if she gets lost,' said Max.

Tallulah can sit on my lap if she gets tired,' said Diana, her eyes luminous in her pale face. Come on, darling.' She patted the rug over her thin knees, and I jumped up and travelled the first bit in Diana's arms. We'll all look after you, Tallulah we love you to bits.'

It's the other way round,' I thought. I'm looking after you.'

I was a happy cat now. I loved my family, I had my own dog, and I adored TammyLee. Life was just perfect now. I felt exuberant as I jumped down and chased after Amber, who had been let off the lead. We belted towards the river and I could hear laughter behind us.

I LOVE the way that dog's tail goes round and round when she's running,' said Diana.

She uses it as a brake,' said TammyLee. She'd got her long hair tied in a loose ponytail at the back of her neck, and she wore a black vest with a green dragon on it. Her bangles flashed in the sun, and she had long jeans with frayed edges that brushed the floor, and a slit in each knee, which I loved to play with when she was sitting still. I'd get my paw in there, pull out a thread and play with it. Instead of her clonky shoes, she had soft sandals and she'd painted her toenails a witchy green to match the dragon. For once, she looked free and happy, s.n.a.t.c.hing at seed heads of gra.s.s as we walked along.

Until a shadow fell over our day.

I'd never heard Amber growl before, but she was growling now, her soft muzzle curling to reveal the gleam of her impressive set of teeth. Her hackles were up along her spine.

Amber!' TammyLee grabbed the dog's collar as three young men came slouching round the corner. Amber barked, and TammyLee's aura turned to cracked gla.s.s. I figured Amber was barking at the tallest of the three lads, who was in the middle. His hair was standing up in a stiff ridge, and he had rings in his lips and eyebrows.

Alarmed by Amber's behaviour, I climbed a post and sat on top. I wanted to look at the eyes of this muscular young man who Amber didn't like. But he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at TammyLee, his eyes moving over her whole body, up and down. He and his two mates stood across the path in front of us.

Max stopped pus.h.i.+ng the wheelchair and anger flooded his aura with a brick-red colour. He opened his mouth to speak, and Diana put a restraining hand on his arm.

Hi, Dylan,' said TammyLee, and Amber went on growling with the sunlight glistening through her hackles.

What's up with your dog?' Dylan asked, mockingly. Nasty, ain't she?'

She doesn't like you,' said TammyLee.

Shame about that.' Dylan still straddled the path, towering over Max, who was tutting and glaring at him.

I thought you had a Sat.u.r.day job,' said TammyLee. What happened?'

Dylan shrugged. I quit, didn't I! Dead boring.' He put his face close to TammyLee. So, what happened to you then? False alarm was it?'

TammyLee looked at him steadily, her mouth twitching.

It's none of your business,' she fired at him. And I don't want nothing to do with you, Dylan, so stay away from me.'

You heard her,' said Max. Let us pa.s.s, please. Can't you see my wife is in a wheelchair?'

Calm down, Pop.' Dylan grinned round at his two mates. I'm not planning on raping your precious daughter. Not today.' He winked at TammyLee and she glared back.

It was Diana who intervened. With a radiant smile and her eyes piercingly bright, she said, Good afternoon, boys, lovely to meet you. Are you enjoying this beautiful suns.h.i.+ne?' She held out a thin white hand. I'm Diana. And you are?'

Dylan got smaller and smaller as he looked at Diana's radiance. None of the boys shook the hand Diana was offering. They looked embarra.s.sed and shuffled awkwardly from one foot to the other. Sheepishly, they moved to one side.

Thank you. That's so kind of you.' Diana looked tenderly at each of them. I hope you have a lovely day. Bye-bye, now.'

Max pushed the wheelchair onwards, and Dylan turned and saw me sitting on the post. Ello, puss,' he said, and we had eye contact for a long moment. His eyes were turquoise and sparkly, but the sparkle was not astonishment, it was wariness, and a sense of being lost. I knew who he was instantly, by those compelling eyes. Dylan was Rocky's father.

If only I could talk.

Chapter Nine.

DROPPED.

Max pushed the wheelchair, until the wide path ended at a shallow place where the river bubbled over stones. Amber charged into the water with everything flapping, and I followed TammyLee onto the bank. She picked me up.

You stay with mum, please,' she said. Dad and I are going swimming, just up there.' She pointed upstream to the old stone bridge where Solomon had appeared. Below it was a s.h.i.+ning pool. The river fascinated me. I wanted to follow it into the hills and watch the waterfalls and hear its music. There were streams cascading like threads of silver down from the iron-blue ridges of the hill. I wanted to explore them, and find a tiny pool where I could sit on a stone and catch sardines. There were sheep up there too, and baby lambs who might play with me.

I was too excited to do much cuddling and purring. TammyLee put me down on Diana's lap.

Isn't this WONDERFUL?' Diana's eyes shone. Oh, it's such a treat for me to see my river. I love it so much. Thank you for bringing me.' She reached up and pulled Max's arm until he stooped and kissed her.

Will you be OK sitting here?' he asked. You can see us swimming, and when we come back and dry off, we'll have the picnic.

I'll be ecstatic!' said Diana, while I dough-punched with my paws in the soft blanket she had over her knees. And I've got Tallulah.'

TammyLee and Max stripped off their clothes down to their swimming gear, TammyLee in a bright green bikini, and Max in black swimming trunks. I sat up to watch what would happen.

You don't have to stay with me, Tallulah,' whispered Diana. You go and be free and enjoy this lovely place. But come back, won't you, darling? We love you so much.'

I kissed Diana on the nose, grateful for her understanding. With my tail flying, I ran after them, along the river, keeping out of Amber's way as she was already dripping wet from nose to tail. The stone bridge was warm from the sun and I quickly found a perch out of reach of the splashes. Amber was swimming silently round and round the pool, with only her nose and eyes above the water and her tail streaming behind. Max was swimming like a frog, his chin out of the water. But TammyLee seemed transformed from the girl who marched around in clonky shoes. She was like a fish. Diving and twisting and rolling. She swam right under the water and the sunlight made webs of gold dance over her body, her hair swirled and, when she popped up for air, her face was dark pink and radiant. She looked more alive than she ever looked on land. Max soon tired and found a rock in the sun, where he sat, proudly watching his daughter. Amber clambered out and shook spirals of drops into the air, and, finally, TammyLee got out, and I stayed by myself, watching her walking back. Now was my chance to do some private hunting.

A flash of gla.s.s and a laugh caught my attention, and high up on the ridge of the hill, the three boys were sitting. One had binoculars and they were taking turns to watch TammyLee. Even though they were far away, my sensitive ears picked up a feeling of menace in their laughter, dark intention that rolled down the hillside like a rain cloud.

I looked back at the patch of sunlight where Diana sat in her wheelchair, her face lifted to the sky. My angel told me to go back to her, but first, I wanted to go up the river and explore.

So I pretended not to notice her. Only later did I get the message, for it was to be another terrible lesson. Never ignore your angel.

Under the dappled shade of trees, I followed the flowing water to a stream that joined the river. I trotted beside it, until I found a shallow fis.h.i.+ng pool, where I sat, completely absorbed, waiting to see if any fish would come swimming into that clear water. I'd hook one out with my paw, and play with it as it jumped and flipped on the gra.s.s, and then I'd eat it, and catch another one.

My attention was so focused on the water that I ignored the footsteps and the loud voices coming down from the hillside.

Hey, guys, that's TammyLee's cat.' It was the gruff voice of a young lad. Puddy Puddy Puddy,' he called, but I ignored him and wished they'd go away and leave me in peace. The tip of my tail was twitching with annoyance. If I'd been a human, I might have sworn at them.

I'm gonna get it,' said one Dylan.

Nah . . . leave it.'

Who are you telling what to do? It's 'er cat, ain't it?'

Whose?'

The girl in the pool, stupid. TammyLee. Spoiled b.i.t.c.h.'

The voices got louder and louder as they argued, but I continued staring into the water, waiting for a sardine to appear.

When the footsteps came right up behind me, I swung round and put my tail up, thinking Dylan was going to stroke me. Instead, he grabbed me by the scruff and held me up in the air.