Chapter 2
A Gift From The Gods
It was the deepest dark of night around the silo, but the crunching of sharp little teeth nibbling at the grain could be heard plainly. Outside, the guard could barely see the stranger as he approached.
“Did you come to see the miracle?” the guard asked. “For that is truly what it is. A miracle of the gods that has saved us from the fate of years past when our crops failed and there was widespread famine.”
“Tell me about the miracle,” said the stranger. “I do a great deal of traveling to gather intelligence for my employer, and this night’s assignment is one of tremendous interest.”
“We call them mau, for light and seeing, because their eyes glow in the dark,” said the guard. “They can see in the dark, and the rats can’t. Their distance vision is astounding, and so the encounter doesn’t last long. They’re going in now.”
As he spoke, a huge rat scurried from the silo. And in the dim light a shadowy form, with strong, rapid strides and then a long, graceful leap, seized the rat in its teeth and quickly disappeared.
“I have never seen an animal so beautifully equipped for its job,” the guard said. “Ah, there will be food for our families this winter, and all because of these remarkable creatures.”
“Where did they come from?” asked the stranger. “And when?”
“No one really remembers,” the guard replied, “but some say they came from Nubia. When? It was hundreds, perhaps a thousand years ago. Our people suffered horribly when there was drought and crop failure, and so it was deemed necessary to build silos and store grain harvested in good years so there would be food for the lean years. But the silos attracted rats, and the situation became even worse than before, with the rats not only eating the grain but often bringing disease. And so we prayed to our gods for help.”
The two sat on a stone wall outside the silo. “What form of help did you expect?” the stranger asked.
The guard laughed. “We really had no idea. But it came in the form of these beautiful, powerful animals. Mau was not even domesticated. But it made short work of the rats, and our food supplies, for the first time in years, were safe. Each year when the silos are filled and the rats come, mau goes into action, and like magic, our problem is solved. It has all been so amazing that in appreciation to the gods who sent them, our leaders designated some of the animals themselves as divine, and our people were more than ready to worship them. They are truly remarkable, not just masters at hunting, but tremendously intelligent. It did not take long for mau to be domesticated, and today, many, many homes in Egypt have them as family companions. Their versatility is almost unbelievable. They are beloved household pets. They are gods and goddesses. They can change in an instant into the skilled hunters you saw tonight. Whatever god created these animals was truly a genius. And they are so beautiful that every Egyptian woman tries to model herself after them.”
He paused. “I am sure you are here to learn of these animals and perhaps acquire some for your own country. You appear to be a person of high degree. Do you represent a government? Perhaps a wealthy nobleman?”
The stranger smiled. “A little of both. We are very interested in this remarkable animal. You say it can see in the dark, and its eyes glow?”
“That is correct. Mau’s eyes seem to reflect the glow of the sun, which we worship. But mau has many more outstanding attributes. Strength, fierce courage. And judgment and wisdom far superior to any animal I have ever encountered. Plus, of course, a spark of the divine. They are independent and do not run in packs like dogs or in herds like cattle.” He paused. “What did you say your name was?”
“You may call me Gabriel,” was the reply.
* * *
God was feeding Talulah when Gabriel entered his office the next day.
“Good morning, sir. I traveled a bit last night and discovered how very popular your cat is in Egypt. Incredibly popular.”
“Do they still worship them?” God inquired. “That sort of bothers me.”
“They still do to some degree, sir, but I think that’s gradually going out of style. I found that in addition to ridding the grain silos of rats, cats are now family companions in many of the households, something I think you wanted very much to achieve.”
God nodded and smiled.
“Perhaps your new specifications helped bring this about,” Gabriel continued. “They are now considered domesticated animals, albeit still fiercely independent. But they are held in highest esteem by Egyptians. Incidentally, do you know what the penalty is for killing a cat in Egypt? Even accidentally?”
God shook his head.
“Death,” Gabriel told him. “And when a cat is killed, there is significant family and public mourning.”
God frowned. “Death seems much too harsh a penalty unless the killing was premeditated. I don’t think it’s a good idea to be so severe. Mark my words, having a law like that will come back to haunt those people.”
“I suspect you’re right, sir. But they believe cats saved their nation, and that may well be the case. Anyhow, my research shows that the attributes they’re most impressed with are the cat’s beauty, gracefulness, aristocratic posture, physical strength and ability to see in the dark. They call the cat mau, which is pronounced somewhat like the sound the cat makes. But I was told this is an Egyptian word for ‘light,’ because they believe the cat’s eyes glow with the light of the sun. They aren’t aware that this is just a reflection. Of course, they feel the cat is the most intelligent of all creatures on earth, perhaps even more intelligent than humans in some ways.”
“Are all the cats located in Egypt?”
“No, sir. They’ve traveled on sailing vessels not only to Europe, but all the way to Asia and are often smuggled out of Egypt because there is such great demand for them. The Chinese are especially fond of cats, as are the people in Siam and Burma. While cats aren’t worshipped in those countries as they have been in Egypt, they do play a role in religion by guarding the temples, and they are favorites of royal families. I’m told they have also been taken to Japan.”
“Interesting,” God said. “Oh, did you find the new specifications?”
Gabriel handed him a file folder. “I did, sir. Perhaps you’d like to look them over and later we can discuss whether any more refinements are needed.” He walked over and tickled Talulah under the chin, and she seemed to enjoy it.
“Thank you, Gabby,” said God. “I like to have you traveling around and keeping me informed. Please do so any time you have the chance.”
As God reviewed the new specifications for the cat, he glanced frequently at Talulah, who was created to those specifications. He imagined her as one of the sleek, graceful hunters who saved the Egyptians from starving by eliminating the rats who stole their food. He imagined her also as a gentle companion in the home of an Egyptian family; and, as he watched her groom herself after her nap, he marveled at how beautifully she fit both roles.
And then, deep in his consciousness, came Talulah’s voice:
“Papa, I realize that my fellow cats and I were designed to be great and efficient hunters, the fastest animals our size on earth, and that our appeal to humans has been largely linked to our ability to destroy the pests which threaten and annoy them. But I urge you to consider that in order to achieve the goals you have set out for us -- teaching humans to live in peace with one another, with animals and with the earth -- there is a far more important quality we cats must possess.”
God was listening intently, and his mind asked her what that quality might be.
The answer came quickly, “Love, Papa. The ability to love and the ability to be loved. To love God, for we are your children, too.”
Now God spoke out loud. “Of course, you’re right, Talulah. I only wish all cats could know me as you do so that I could return their love personally.”
Talulah’s voice was that of the teacher. “But you can, Papa, you can. Did you not know you have surrogates? Throughout history, past, present and future, the human companions who love their cats are their gods, and they take your place. And from this relationship the dream of peace on earth can come true. I am fortunate, Papa, because I know you personally. But if I did not, if I had a human for a companion instead of a deity, that human would be my god, and I would love that human and trust that human completely, just as I love and trust you.”
God could not help but be impressed with Talulah’s wisdom. She was, indeed, correct. Love was the key to everything -- everything he had wished to accomplish through personal entreaties and through prophets, and now, everything he hoped to accomplish through the feline teachers he had personally designed and put on earth.
“But it will not be simple, Papa,” she continued, “because, as you well know, there is still a tremendous amount of hate in the world. Hate of humans for other humans and hate of some humans for cats. There will be sadness and terrible suffering before our dream of peace comes true. But it will come true, Papa, because of your power and the ability of cats to communicate your lessons to humans by example.”
God was deeply moved. He rubbed Talulah’s back and scratched her behind her ears. Her eyes closed gently and opened again.
And she purred.
(end chapter 2)
To Be Continued
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