Of Cats and Men

Schwenk knocked on the office door.

“Enter!” Gaius barked

The human entered quietly and closed the door. Just for once Gaius was momentarily speechless.

“I’m guessing you’re surprised to see me……”

“Sit……” he growled. “Now…..shall I call Aurelio up here or are we going to behave like adults.

“Adults….” Came the instant response. “…very adult!” he gulped

“So why are you here? I assume to beg for your life!” Gaius leaned back in his chair.

“There’s been a dreadful mix-up……Aurelio thinks I disobeyed your orders……took something…..”

“No mix-up….you did take something…….” He replied in a matter-of-fact way.

“But….what do you think I took?”

“You did take….an artefact…..”

“Artefact? Define artefact…..”

In an instant Gaius was on his feet thumping down with both fists on the desk. Schwenk fell backwards.

“You dare come here……treat me like an idiot……” he walked around the desk to the human. “All this on top of disobeying me……..” he reached down and grabbed the human. Schwenk was lifted to eye-level.

“Where…..is……it???” Gaius rumbled

“But……” Schwenk squeaked.

“AURELIO!!!!!” Gaius screamed. The lion was in the office in a flash, he skidded to a surprised halt when he saw who his boss had against the wall.

“Aurelio……frisk him for weapons…..” he dropped the human and went back behind the desk. The lion picked Schwenk up and turned him upside down. There was a crash and clatter as coins, a comb and Schwenk’s gun fell to the floor. Aurelio handed the gun to Gaius who put it in his drawer.

Gaius was the epitome of calm.

“Mr Schwenk……tell me where the crystal is……now……and maybe Aurelio can be persuaded not to eat you for Sol Invictus. He’s got the taste for human flesh now……”

“I know…I heard about Digger…..” Schwenk said with distaste.

“Should’ve been you!” Aurelio snarled.

“Enough……” Gaius waved a hand. “So Schwenk……over to you…..”

He sighed. “OK…….my room, third floorboard from wall under my bed from the pillow end……I’ll go get it for you!”

“Indeed…….and you’ll be pleased to know that Aurelio has kindly offered to be your bodyguard whilst you fetch it for me………”

“Delighted!” Schwenk replied without humour.

Gaius waved his hand. “Off you go……” and Schwenk felt like a condemned man as he left the office and went into the street. After three minutes or so Aurelio grabbed him, dragged him into an alley and lifted him up by his throat.

“Shall I tell you about the twenty minutes I spent with the meatsack, Digger?”

“No…..” he croaked in reply

“Maybe I should, because when Gaius has the crystal he’ll get me to do the same thing to you!” he bared his teeth.

“Then don’t spoil the surprise……” was the surprisingly acerbic reply Schwenk gave.

“I’m going to enjoy this……let’s not wait any longer. He dropped the human and went to the lodgings.

Schwenk’s feet hardly touched the stairs as Aurelio pushed him to his room. Schwenk moved the bed and loosened the floorboard.

“Step away….” Aurelio ordered. The human did so. Aurelio got on his hands and knees and removed the floorboard, reached in and……

“Is this a…..joke?” he growled. Schwenk looked in the floor. Nothing.

“But….but…….it was there, this morning….I swear…….” Aurelio growled and started to get up. The human decided not to find out how his discussion was going to ‘pan out’, he left via the window and sped across the cold and icy rooftops…….Aurelio roared a roar that froze his blood. He was already running down the stairs. Schwenk needed and plan and fast……..