The Fishy Lighthouse! Part 25

Welcome back on the Thursday of my blog where every week I add a new part to the McSniff story. Today is no different and I hope you will enjoy the read.

The Fishy Lighthouse! Part 25

“I think Milady has an eye on William” Kitty smiles clapping her paws to address the kittens who are trying to take a seat on the puppy.

Lady Chambelle puts down her cup “you better watch it Kitty. But true he does have his charms doesn’t he.”

“From what I heard he had a lot more than that to, when he came back.” Francis giggles “You should have heard Tiffany who found him hiding in the field.”

-“I heard all about that ooh and then after when he was about to have a bath. He has grown stronger and more confident for sure”

“Oh Kitty you do have to tell us about that”

-“Ladies, please. There are children around “ Lady Chambelle blows a whistle and awaits the kittens to assemble in front. The puppy barking follows them jumping left and right, still being very playful. As the Kittens sit down, he shook his head and planted himself in the lap of Richie. Blocking the view from him, so much so that Richie leans over the shoulders and getting a wet lick from the puppy.

“Okay listen up, it is obvious we need to keep this a secret from everyone else. If anyone would find out we are harbouring a puppy inside these walls… well let’s not think about that. Richie he seems to have a liking for you so I hope you can work with him to listen to us.”

“He stinks and is so heavy Cynthia” Richie is pushing the puppy’s mouth away, its tongue hanging from the corner dripping saliva on the ground and his occasional slobbering splattering some drops around.

Lady Chambelle scratches the puppy and Richie behind the ears “I know and I also know you both like this very much. My Tommy had an idea and was rejected and I hope with your help we can make it work. Now whose turn was it to make dinner?”

Francis points at Richie “I believe it was your turn right together with Sharona”

“Ooh come on, how can I cook with this animal constantly with me. What does he eat?” Richie is getting annoyed with the puppy’s tail being wagged left and right against his face.

“Come here boy…”Kitty leans over slapping her thighs hoping the puppy would get to her “How about I come to help you guys, I think he will eat everything we give him. And should we not think of a name for this guy? “

-“Oh, that would be a good idea, who’s got an idea?” Lady Chambelle smiles and shows her enthusiasm towards the kittens screaming her different names. “Okay Goliath, Max, Titus, Matt, Steven, those seem like good names, but how about we call him Copper. Since he is our first COPS rescue and because of his rough fur that’s a reddish brown.”

The Kittens scream Copper in unison and start running around again with Copper happily following them wagging his tail. “You have changed Milady” Kitty says with her eyes on the playful bunch.

“Most definitely Lady Chambelle, It is like us being back in school again.”

-“Not a word about our school days Francis, I am a lady now and hope to become a better one altogether.”

Best Wishes
and hope you enjoyed.
Ranting Crow

The Fishy Lighthouse! Part 24

The Fishy Lighthouse continues after having missed a day last week. WIth Lady Chambelle maybe playing a dangerous game. And McSniff himself might be overcoming some fears.

The Fishy Lighthouse! Part 24

Still holing on tight McSniff waits for the tub to stop rocking on the waves Will just made by jumping in the boat. His frown is clearly visible and a slight anger still hiding beneath the fearful face. With a shaky paw he points at some rails planted inside the wall, “Use the hook to hook up and pull us forward”.

Will picks up the hook and swings it around into one of the rails “You sure you want me to do this.” William stand in the middle of the tub with his feet planted sturdy apart, shifting his body to make the tub rock even more.

“Will stop…, stop it for crying out loud” McSniff shout is echoed through the tunnel.

“Hey you two, basket coming” Cats above lower a basket by rope. Will is still holding on to the hook keeping the floating craft steady as possible underneath the opening. “Would you mind getting that McSniff, I can’t do everything by myself”

With reluctant and careful movements McSniff tries reaching for the basket, unwilling to let go of the edge he reaches over only to miss the rope. One by one he releases his nails and stuck to the floor, he creeps a little closer to the centre of the tub. The rope of the basket being a little too short due to the low water levels he still can’t reach up to crab hold of it.

Will is holding on with all his might to keep the tub from rocking as much as it did, while McSniff is overcoming his fear by standing up with trembling legs. Picking the basket of the hook and see it filled with food. “Thank you, we be off now”

And with a tug from Will on the hook McSniff falls back and lands on his paws. He smiles it away with a slight scare and unties the rope of the tub. Will is pulling the tub deeper into the tunnel leaving the factory above them behind. The water is shallow and smooth giving McSniff some ease of mind.

***

On the other side of town in a field with a high grass border the orphans are playing tag with their new friend. Running around having fun are 5 little kittens and a puppy. On the side lines stand Francis, Kitty and Lady Chambelle smiling.

“Lady Chambelle, do you think this will work? It is not easy sneaking in a puppy let alone let it grow up here.” Francis is looking concerned at the dog with his rough brown hair. Its tongue hanging from the corner of his mouth whenever he rest for just a second, wagging his tail in excitement and playfulness.

Lady Chambelle shows her concern written all over her face, with a cup of tea resting against her lip. “I know the risks Francis, but I have good faith in the plan to socialize a puppy with kittens. It Is that I overheard Tommy saying we would not make it any longer if we don’t come up with a solution. He to suggested it to the king, but the King’s advisers threw it of the table as preposterous. We need to at least try. I learned that much from watching William who knew nothing but did his best. And even now he is out there helping us.”

Hope you enjoyed the read of the newest part of the story. On that is still growing.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

The Fishy Lighthouse! 23

And the story continues with McSniff being a little scared today.

The Fishy Lighthouse! 23

Inside it is cogs and wheels turning pulling cables and pushing rods in and out of the cylinders. Steam escaping pressure valves, making a whistle sound. Great dials trembling in place pointing at numbers on a scale. A green light glowing on the panels next to even more dials and buttons.

Huge pistons being pulled up, sucking in water and then push it out again. On one side the lights glow red, dials are turned down and needles point lying flat to zero. Its huge glass cylinder with its piston motionless stuck in the middle.

It was as if one half of the factory had died out, or broken down. Some guards armed with swords stand in front of some stairs.

“That is where we are going, William. Up there.” McSniff points at a higher level behind the silent pistons.

-“How does it all work here I still see water being pumped is it not. What is with the cables going through the walls?”

“T-true… true enough h-hero. I-if you pleasssse Levi, c-could you explain it it to them.” Professor Knorkle response is long enough for the four to reach the stairs and start the climb.

“The cables outside are connected to a net to force the fish to swim into a shallow canal so we can easily catch the fish from the quarry by draining the canal and gather the fish. The piston that is still running is where we pump the water from the quarry back to the sea. Except we rerouted it so we won’t drain the quarry, but keep it level. Ah here we are at the entrance of the tunnels.”

A large steel door is slit across the floor showing a big opening into a even larger tube. Down below a round tub, drifts left and right on the little water that was left.

“Serious that is what you called a boat?”

-“You know it was more meant to create stability when doing maintenance, William” McSniff tries to hide his worrisome look and tries to keep it cool with a joke “you know we are cats what do we know about boats.”

William smile with cynicism “right you do not know boats, like last time I crossed a river of tears. That was bathtub, wasn’t it? ”

-“You are right Will, sorry. It is however what we made for those doing maintenance, stable and enough room for tools. So what you say ready to save Paris once again?”

McSniff leads the way gently and slowly down the ladder. After some very nervous looking attempts to step into the wooden craft, he finally makes it inside and sits down along the edge. Staring down to the centre of this so called boat.

Will shakes his head and climbs down the ladder. “Like I have a choice, this is my home now to.” Half way down he looks down Will lets go of the bars and jumps down landing in the middle of the rounded tub.

-“What the hell Will, what was you thinking?” Both paws of McSniff have their nails hooked into the tub, grabbing on for dear life as they shifted from the jump Will made.

“Ooh come on scaredy cat, you said it was made to be stable.” William bursts out laughing “You are the captain McSniff, what’s next?”

Hope to see you again next week fro more McSniff and Lady Chambelle. May you have enjoyed the read.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

The Fishy Lighthouse! 22

We continue to follow McSniff and his now newly branded assistant William in their adventure to solve the fish problems of Paris.

The Fishy Lighthouse! 22

McSniff looked very anxious as he drove with a high speed to the outskirts of town around the artificial sea. Tall against the wall stood a factory at the end of a rocky road, holding the same rocks of which the wall was made. Big blocks of this pale grey slate, sharp edges still visible from the cement. Taller than expected it rose above McSniff and William who’s head was looking at the top edge.

“What the hell is this place McSniff, what are you trying to keep out or in? Where are we?”

-“We are at the back of the artificial sea, an old quarry used to dig up the slate and now filled with salt water fresh from the ocean miles away from here. Let me show you around. As this is one of the secret facilities here in town very few know of. But this is where their fish comes from.” The cars stops in front of the large iron doors where two cats are clasping paws together and seem to be nervous. They weren’t even attempting to get out of the car yet as one of them started to talk.

“W-Welcome sir, McSniff…” both cats bow their heads down uncomfortably, afraid to look Mc Sniff and William in the eyes. “W-We’re terribly sorry..”

-“Well it is not your fault is it?” McSniff steps out of the car and looks up to the sky. “You know Will, this is what kept us alive. During the fights less fish was coming in. so they designed this large pump house next to the quarry, filling it up with water from the ocean so we could keep fish. It was to save lives of us cats. Not once did we think of our fear for water. We always kept hoping that one day we would overcome that fear or at least have some to do work on the water.” McSniff walks over to the William and slaps him on the back.

=”You are in for a surprise if you think this is stupid, hahaha.” William comes to his senses leaning against the car not even paying attention to the two cats who stare at him.

“Wait a second, is that why I am here. Because I am one of those cats, who do not fear water? That Is the reason the King asked my help?”

-“Hahaha believe it or not Will, but I am coming with you. I can’t have a Hero beat Paris his best Detective and Kings Adviser now can we. And pretty much, yes.”

“Uh h-hello sir, are you… Are you the Hero we heard of, who… who saved Paris? It-it’s an honour s-sir. I.. I’m professor knorkle, Wyatt Knorkle and this is, is my assistant…”

-“Levi Angorra sir, it is a pleasure to meet you.” His voice start to get softer and mumbling ina fast pace “Wow to think I am talking to the hero and McSniff being here to. I should tell my mum, oh my sister to she would not believe me, hehe she does like McSniff. And dad would be so proud.”

“Time to get on moving William, you coming?” the weight of the steel door straining the hinges and making a oud squeaking noise as the four cats enter the facility.

©Ranting Crow2014

Hope you enjoyed the read of this new instalment. Leave a thought or comment.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

The Fishy Lighthouse! 21

No need for introduction any more, I think. So without further ado I give you…

The Fishy Lighthouse! 21

A big sound of disbelieve rolls across the tongues of everyone. “No no this can’t be, they wouldn’t have…”

“I’m sorry, Lady Chambelle, was you saying something?” Will was asking with his head tilted sideways/ Staring at Lady Chambelle scratching her upper lip.

-“eh, oh no, sorry it was nothing.” Her eyes are trembling ever so slightly with the head just shaking ‘No’, but not to obvious to show the rest of them. Kitty and Cooky gathered around Mc Sniff’s car, shooting of question after question. “What about Milady huh?”, “You do know we need fish, laddy for dinner”

-“You coming, partner?” McSniff shouts loud to get across and over the bombardment of question from Kitty and Cooky.

Lady Chambelle pulls away from William grasp, who had lowered her paws in the hope to see a smile. “Yeah okay” eyes stare at the once so composed Lady Chambelle, now looking more like a scared kitten. “It be okay, I’m your hero after all.”

A turn of her body released the paws from Will’s before she ran back inside the house followed by Richard who stood there the whole time with his head lowered, feeling guilty about what is happening.

After all he was the creator of this story, its writer; never would he have imagined the town leading a life on its own. A life he is now part of just like William. The hero who saved Cynthia Chambelle from Monarch after saving himself from the real world. His eyes are far away in a world beyond anyone would know as he follows his wife into the house. Unable to speak a word he just gives a wave with a paw.

Cooky and Kitty have calmed down and slapping Will on the shoulder. “You better make it back in one piece lad, I’ll make you the finest of cakes” Cooky’s crooked smile is all for show, to close her eyes and hide the tears that will surely fall.

“Be careful Will, I… I believe in you” Kitty’s face is giving away a radiant red glow through her fur, blushing as she to pinks away a tear. “Watch his back McSniff”.

William lowers his tail inside the hole and takes a seat, Kitty closing the door and running her paw over the arm of Will. “No worries Kitty, I’ll bring him back”

HONK, HONK!

The car drives off with the same speed it came taking the only two cats away that could solve this problem Paris is now facing. As the two drive along the country side, they see guards marching left and right of the roads. Taking a stand on cross roads.
In town all seems normal, cats going on about their usual business, not a guard insight other than close to the palace, where several are blocking the gate.

“What is going on McSniff, and why are we not going to the palace?”

-“I am taking us straight to the pump house and the fish tunnels. It is where most likely the issue is situated. There is more going on than just the fish but I cannot yet get my paw on it. The dogs have never been so alive in years, so maybe it is connected, I am not sure. For now we need to get the fish going again so that the cats in Paris won’t die from hunger.

To be continued… next week