Read Online Children of Bast by Frederick Fuller - Free Book Online

down.
    ~ ~ ~ ~
    “Let’s go down by the fountain,” Adele said, turning back to look at me while she ran.
    “The fountain?”
    “Not far. It’s in the rose garden.” She slowed so I could catch up. “A big old fountain that sprays water and makes a delightful mist. Just enough to bathe in without getting soaked. Chad lives there.”
    “Chad?”
    “Yeah, another friend. Weirdest amait you’ll ever know.”
    “Why weird?”
    “Wait and see.”
    I was stunned when we got to the fountain to see a splotchy amait swimming. Amai can swim, my maama told me, but only to avoid drowning. Evidently, this one swam because he liked it.
    Adele perched on the rim of the fountain and called out, “Chad. It’s Adele.”
    “Hello, gorgeous. Come on in. The water’s delicious.”
    “No way, Water Rat. How ‘bout you getting out? Got someone for you to meet.”
    “Be right there.” He disappeared around the fountain. A moment later I heard him slopping and dripping his way toward us.
    “Aren’t you going to shake off?” Adele asked.
    “And spoil a good soak? Why amai avoid water I will never understand.”
    “Chad, meet Gaylord, and one stupid remark about his name and I’ll drown you.”
    “That means you’d have to jump in with me.” He looked at me. “Gaylord, it’s a pleasure.” He pushed my head and licked my ear, and soaked my face.
    Still astounded by an amait that liked to swim, I managed to mutter, “Uh, well, hi, how do?”
    “Wet and loving it. But, I guess I’ll shake to please Adele.”
    “Thanks,” she said.
    He walked away few paces and shook himself. Water flew everywhere, including on us. I began to lick myself dry, but Adele just sat and glowered at him.
    After I dried, I asked, “You really like to swim?”
    He stretched before walking back to us. “Oh, it’s my passion. I used to be a house amait until I ran away, which is altogether too long a story, but my bašar had kids. They loved to swim, and one day when I was barely off my maama, they threw me into their pool. I thought my maama would die right there, until I swam to the side, jumped out and let her lick me dry. But I felt great. The feel of the water on my skin and faraawi turned me on. So, I jumped back in and paddled around as my maama yowled her head off. Spent the whole day in there playing with the kids and having the best time I could remember. Maama eventually calmed down and concluded she had a crazy son who liked to swim. End of story.”
    “Well, she was right; you are crazy,” Adele said.
    “I prefer eccentric.”
    “No. You got to be a pure blood to be eccentric. You’re all alley, Chad, and you’re crazy.”
    “Have it your way, Sweet Thing. Hey, when do you come in?”
    “Three weeks. Why?’
    “I wanna be first.” He started licking her face and ears. “First, my ragdoll, before the other toms mess you up.”
    She pushed him away. “Forget it, Fish Brain. I wouldn’t have your kiths for all the treasures in the world. They’d be water rats like you, and, I am not a ragdoll; I’m Abyssinian.”
    “You’re a common tease,” Chad said, “but I love you.” He turned to me. “Gaylord. I like your name. Gaylord is a special name with bašar, you know?”
    “I didn’t know. What’s so special?”
    “Dunno. Just know it’s special,” He grinned.
    “Yeah, well, Chubby almost split a gut when he heard it, and Treise almost crushed her kiths when she guffawed,” I said.
    Adele asked, “Hey, Chad, how do you know all this stuff about names and all?”
    “I listened to bašar for hours. Mine were smart ones that loved amai and learned all about us. They’d actually talk to us about us, and I’d listen.” He looked at Adele. “What’d you do, pretty amait? Eat, groom yourself, sleep and use the litter box?”
    “I may hurt you real bad in a minute.” She menaced him with an evil stare and a playful hiss.
    “By the way, Chad, why’d you cut out if you had it so good?” I said.
    “Kids