Free Three Wise Cats by Harold Konstantelos Page B

gasped and leaped to his feet, throwing his blankets aside. “Wolves!” he shouted, and the entire camp woke, just as the sheep bleated in terror and crowded against an outcropping of rock. A huge wolf brazenly snatched the smallest sheep of the flock and dragged it away from the oasis; it kicked and struggled briefly until the wolf’s hold on its throat deprived it of life. The sentries snatched up their spears and cudgels and began patrolling the outer rim of their small encampment.
    Melchior and Balthazar also grasped cudgels and quickly herded the sheep into a small band. Kaspar took a torch and began setting smaller fires in a wide circle about the camp. Servants urged the camels to their feet and brought them close to the fire, which had been rekindled and now blazed mightily. In the darkness, the sounds of fighting, snarling wolves carried through the clear air.
    The sheep were brought closest to the fire and then the camels were placed at one side of it. The packs were gathered into a low wall, atop which Ira stationed himself. His foster sisters went to help watch the sheep by the fire.
    It grew colder, and the sky began to grow slightly less densely black as the sun started its slow ascent in the east. A light snow had dusted some of the surrounding hills as the travelers slept. Several times Ira saw shadows slipping through those same hills, but the wolves had fallen silent once the camp was awake and on guard.
    After the sun rose, the servants prepared breakfast for the camp and half of the hired guards lay down to sleep while the others continued at their posts. Kezia and Abishag went to Ira.
    â€œThey caught us sleeping this time in reality,” he told them grimly. “I forgot all too soon the lessons Gracus taught me. I will resume standing sentry duty at night.”
    â€œWhat are wolves, Ira?” Kezia asked him respectfully. With his harness on and his small jaw set, he truly looked like a soldier cat.
    â€œVicious, cunning animals that live in a pack. They are swift runners, and they kill not just to eat but also when the blood lust comes upon them. Or so said the soldiers under Gracus’s command,” Ira told her bluntly. “They would have killed us, too, if they had seen us. I ate too well of rich meat and slept, forgetting my duty. Gracus would have me court-martialed, I am sure.” And Ira hung his head.
    â€œBut we are all safe,” Abishag answered. “Except for the poor sheep—and Kezia and I will stand guard duty with you each night. We sleep sufficiently during the daytime travel anyway.”

    THE SAME SUNRISE found Gracus wakeful while on bivouac with a small contingent of men he was training. Although hundreds of miles away from them, Gracus had dreamed yet again of the three cats.
    This is the day Polla and Citus are to take up residence in our new home. I shall ride back to the city tonight and surprise her. And I will ask her if she knows the significance of this dream.

    POLLA COULD NOT help but stare as she rode in the cart with Citus, leaving the Roman legion encampment behind them. Zeugma, the city built on a steep hillside, which prospered mightily from the rich caravan trade and its river crossing, was certainly a sight at which to wonder.
    â€œIt is a strangely named city,” she said to Citus.
    â€œIt means ‘bridge’ or ‘crossroads’ in the elders’ form of Greek,” Citus answered her. “One of Alexander the Great’s generals, Seleucus Nicator, founded it. How are you feeling? Is the jolting of the cart disturbing you?”
    Although she was now visibly with child, she shook her head. “No, I am all right. Do we stop soon and camp, or what do we do?”
    â€œGracus wishes us to go to a house that he has now procured for you.” Citus smiled at the surprise upon Polla’s face. “See those large houses upon the hills that encircle the city? Gracus has selected a home so that