Pshaw-Ra came to me while I was having a nap and instructed me to go to the pyramid ship, which he said was fully fueled, and take it into space to try to find someone to help us leave the planet. I rose and found Jubal, who was fishing at the underground river. He pulled out his net full of fish and hauled them onto the bank, saying, Okay, but I’m coming with you. Carrying the net with him, he returned to the nest Renpet and Chione had made for the kittens. “More cats are coming,” I told Renpet. “Your sister has rejected her own kittens and ordered the deaths of them and all of the others, and she is not very fond of my kind either.” Renpet spat. “She would! Do you think the exiles would help me mount a revolt against her?” “Why bother? The boy and I go now to bring help to evacuate us all—no need for you and the youngsters to stay here among cats so stupid they put up with your sister as queen. Frankly, my dear, we’re all too good for them.” Renpet froze suddenly, her ears back and her fur as puffed out as it would go.
