The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (8 page)

FIVE

The journey home was uneventful. The professor kept looking around as if expecting an attack, but nothing happened. He remained very puzzled. All too soon, the children found themselves back on the path by the river.

"Can we come here tomorrow, Professor?" asked Tom. "Can we go on
The Jolly Boat
again?"

"No, Tom. The purpose of each visit is to get closer to the Whangdoodle. We must press on to other things tomorrow. But we'll come back to
The Jolly Boat
another day, I promise you."

As they came out of the tunnel and into the garden, Lindy tugged at the professor's sleeve.

"It was the best afternoon in the whole world," she said.

The professor looked pleased. "I'm glad you liked it. I enjoyed it, too. My instincts must have been correct. Our second trip came sooner than the Prock expected. Though I still can't understand why the Whiffle Bird kept saying the same thing, over and over again. Well, I will say goodbye now and see you all tomorrow after breakfast, if that is convenient."

The children were very happy and relaxed as they walked home.

Ethel cooked them a good dinner and they discovered that, in spite of all the ice cream they had eaten, they were still hungry.

Later, even the boys were willing to retire early. They wanted to be in the quiet of their own rooms to reflect on the wonders they had seen in Whangdoodleland that afternoon.

Lindy changed into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, pulled her curtains, and was just about to turn down her coverlet when to her surprise she saw, neatly folded on her pillow, a bright and cheerful-looking piece of material. Her heart leaped as she recognized her scrappy cap.

She ran to find the boys. "Look," she said. "Look what was in my room."

"But I thought you gave it back to the professor," said Tom.

"I thought I did, too," replied Lindy.

"Well, don't worry about it. Just keep it safe and give it back to him tomorrow."

Long after the lights went out and the house became quiet, Lindy lay in bed clutching the hat and trying to recall why she had not remembered to give it back to the professor. She hoped he would not miss it. He might be upset.

She took the scrappy cap from beneath the blankets and gazed at it in the moonlight. It certainly was pretty.

On an impulse she put it on her head and tied the ribbons beneath her chin.

Lindy's curtains seemed to be moving slightly in the breeze coming through the open window. The flowers on them looked just like the flowers in Whangdoodleland. Lindy wished that the curtains would stop moving, because she felt a little dizzy. She blinked several times, and looking more closely at them, saw with growing excitement that it was
only
the flowers that were moving and not the curtains at all. She watched them swaying on their long stalks. Far out in the field, something like a plume was moving slowly backwards and forwards and coming towards her. Fascinated, Lindy watched as it came nearer and nearer. Suddenly she realized it was not a plume at all but a tail.

The flowers at the edge of the field parted and into her room stepped the most wonderful creature that Lindy had ever seen.

It was a cat. But no ordinary cat. This one was as soft as a Persian kitten, yet as big and powerful as a mountain lion. He was silver grey with large
velvet
-
like
ears and glowing amber eyes. His paws were enormous, with great pads that pushed into Lindy's
rug, kneading it gently. His back legs were much higher than his front legs and all four of them were so profusely covered with shining, silky fur that he looked as if he were wearing soft, voluminous pantaloons.

The extraordinary creature looked slowly around the room, and seeing Lindy sitting up in bed, blinked and twitched his long tail in surprise.

"Oh, goodnessss," he hissed, his voice both deep and sibilant. "I'm sssso sorry to interrupt. I sssseem to have lossst my way."

"That's all right," said Lindy faintly. 'Won't you please tell me who you are?"

"I'm the High-Behind Ssssplintercat." He moved around Lindy's bed, his tail trailing over the brass railing. "No need to tell me who you are. I can tell at a glance that you're Missss Lindy."

"How do you know?" she asked in surprise.

"I've heard the Prrrrock sssspeak of you." The animal bunched himself and sprang very gently onto her coverlet. "He was talking about you jusssst the other day." He stretched languorously. "That fellow'ssss a bully, I mussst say. I sssaid to mysssself, if ever I meet that charming girrrl, I'm going to apologizzze for his rrrrude behavior."

The High-Behind Splintercat suddenly rolled over on his back like a playful kitten. Lindy found his

head in her lap and the amber eyes gazing up at her.

"I wonder if you'd do me a trrrremendous favor?"

"Why, of course." Her hands stroked the silky fur.

"Would you—ah—could you, jussst scrrrratch beneath the chin a little? Mm . . . oohhhh, that'ssss the spot." A dreamy look came over his face. He pushed his nose against Lindy's hand and then rolled over again. "Now, jussst on my back, by the tail. Thank you sssso much. You don't know how long it'sss been ssssince anyone did that for me."

Lindy rubbed and scratched and the creature responded by arching his back sharply, so that Lindy had to stand up in bed in order to continue. This gave the Splintercat the opportunity to wind himself around Lindy's legs, and his tail passed under her chin and over her shoulder. Then, quite suddenly, he sprang lightly down from the bed.

"Do you mind if I look arrrround?" he asked cheerfully, stretching once again. "I love sssseeing people's pads. This is purrfectly delightful."

Lindy quickly got out of bed. She didn't want to miss one second of her visit with this interesting creature.

"Is there something I should call you?" she asked. "I mean, do you have a name?"

"Oh, you can call me Kitty if you like, or Fluffy. How about Rrrrover?"

"But Rover's a dog's name." Lindy giggled.

The cat's tail whisked across her face to stifle the sound. "Shhhh. We musssstn't wake anyone. They'd be bound to sssspoil the fun." The cat suddenly tensed. "Wait a minute. Look out."

He crouched low and then gave a mighty leap forward. Lindy wasn't sure what was happening until she saw that the silky creature had hold of a little toy mouse.

"Be careful!" she cried. "That's my favorite toy."

"I thought it was a rrreal one. O
oo
hh,
look
what I've found." He produced a large ball of wool from beneath Lindy's bed and proceeded to play with it. He patted the ball and ran after it, then tossed it in the air and rolled on his back to catch it.

Lindy sat on the floor enchanted as the High-Behind Splintercat executed a dazzling display of tricks.

"Oh, this is ssssuch fun." The cat threw the ball again. It bounced off his high behind. "I ssssimply adore sssstring." He caught the ball with his tail and lobbed it the length of the room.

"D000ccuse me . . ." He skidded across the floor. ". . .
Got
it. Just give me a ball of wool to play with and I'm an absssolute ssssucker."

After several moments of play the cat stretched

out beside Lindy on the floor. His tail switched from side to side and he purred loudly.

"This has been ssssensssational. How glad I am that I passed this way. You're a ssssweet girl." He nuzzled close to her and then yawned, revealing a startling row of sharp teeth. "I ssssuppose I should be getting along now. It'ssss quite late."

"Oh, must you go so soon?" Lindy was dismayed. "You've hardly been here any time."

"I'm afraid I musssst. I don't want to go, but the beastly Prrrrock might discover that I'm missssing. How I wishhh that I could take you home with me and shhhhow you
my
pad."

"Do you have a lovely pad?" asked Lindy, hoping that if she kept the conversation going she might keep him a little longer.

"Well, it'sss a rather sssspecial pad, in that it's made of ssssilk and ssssatin—with tassels, of course." The cat got to his feet.

"That sounds fabulous," Lindy breathed. "I would love to see it. Do you suppose I ever could?"

His fluffy tail stroked her cheek. "Well, I'm not ssssure if the Prrrock would allow it, but you could take a peek now if you rrrreally wanted to, because I know he's ssssleeping."

"Gosh, I I. . . I don't know." Lindy was hesitant.

"It's . . . very nice of you. But I don't think the professor would want me to do anything like that."

"Of coursssse. I'm a ssssilly ssssap to ssssuggest it."

He padded slowly to the curtains. "Well, sssso long, Missss Lindy. It'ssss been ssssmashing."

"Oh, wait!" Lindy cried desperately. "Will I ever see you again?"

"I doubt it." The cat seemed dejected. Lindy saw that the beautiful eyes were moist. There was a long pause. "You know—it occurssss to me that if you did come with me, we'd only be gone for an hour, maybe lessss. The rrrrisk would be ssssmall because everrrryone is assssleep."

Lindy had a sudden idea. "Do you think I could wake my brothers? Do you think they could come too? I'd feel a little better about it."

"Gracioussss, no." The cat's eyes flew wide open and his hair stood on end. "No boys, pleassse. They're always thrrrrowing things and pulling tailssss. Besides, we get on sssso well and they'd sssspoil our fun."

"That's true," conceded Lindy. "You're quite sure we could be back in an hour?"

"By my eight lives, I sssswear it."

"I thought a cat had nine lives," Lindy giggled. She ran to the closet to get some warm clothes.

The High-Behind Splintercat examined one long, razorsharp claw. "Well, I'll be truthful. I had a little scrrrape a few yearssss ago and I ssssuffered rather a ssssetback."

"You mean you lost a whole life?" asked Lindy. "It was ssssilly of me, but I got carried away for a moment. The rrrresult was rather messy."

"Messy?" Lindy's voice rose.

"I'd rather not talk about it, if you don't mind. It'ssss bad enough losing a life, but then, to have to disssscuss the ssssordid details . . ." He shuddered.

"That must have been really gross. I can understand why you'd rather forget it."

"You're a ssssweet, ssssympathetic, ssssustaining soul."

Lindy came out of the closet and the cat straightened expectantly.

"Here I am," she said a trifle nervously.

"How prrrretty you look," said the Splintercat admiringly. He spun around in sudden pleasure. "Hot dog! Thissss is going to be ssssuch fun."

Placing his soft tail protectively around her back and chatting all the while, the High-Behind Splintercat escorted Lindy carefully into the field of waving flowers and, without a backward glance, they disappeared into the night.

SIX

The next morning, Ben woke early and ambled into Tom's room. He found his brother sitting on the side of his bed looking somewhat groggy.

"Did you just wake up?" asked Ben.

"Yeah. I had a terrible night. I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I. I guess we were excited about today and being with the professor. Let's see if Lindy is awake."

They went to Lindy's room and cautiously opened the door. Her bed was empty and the covers were in disarray.

"I guess she couldn't sleep either," said Tom with a yawn.

Ben walked to the open closet and picked up Lindy's pajamas from the floor. His eyes scanned the rack of clothes. "Do you know her blue slacks aren't here? Neither is her cloak. Her shoes are gone too."

"What did she get dressed for?" Tom scratched his head. "She never dresses till after breakfast."

After a thorough search of the house the boys were more puzzled than ever. Ben said, "You know, I've got a feeling something's wrong."

"Maybe she went over to the professor's house," suggested Tom.

"At seven in the morning?"

The boys looked at each other. Suddenly, Ben said, "I think we should call him."

"What if we wake him up?"

"Then it means that Lindy isn't with him or she hasn't reached him. Either way, we ought to check."

As Ben dialed the number, Tom said, "Boy, if she's there, I'm really going to tell her off. What a stupid thing to do."

The professor's voice came over the phone and Ben spoke hurriedly.

"Hello, Professor? This is Ben. I'm sorry to bother you. I hope I didn't wake you. Er . . . have you seen Lindy? I mean, is she with you? We can't find her and we thought that . . ."

The professor interrupted. "I know, Ben, I know. I was just about to phone you."

Ben detected an anxious quality in the professor's voice.

"Lindy isn't with me, but I know where she is. Don't ask questions now. I'll explain when I see you. It's imperative that you come over right away."

'What about Ethel? What shall I tell her?"

"Say that I invited you over for a very early breakfast. Be careful and get out of the house before she realizes Lindy isn't with you. Don't panic now, but
hurry."

A half hour later, the boys jumped off their bicycles and ran up the steps to the professor's front door. He was waiting for them, his face pale and angry-looking.

"You got here quickly. Come with me."

"Where is Lindy?" Ben asked as they followed him into the house.

"She's in Whangdoodleland."

"What!"

"You're kidding!"

"I'm afraid I am not kidding," the professor said bitterly. He strode up and down the room. "That miserable Prock. That cunning, devious demon. Apparently, late last night, Lindy received a visit from a creature called the High-Behind Splintercat, a devastating animal; seductive and as smooth-talking as you please. She must have had her sympathetic hat with her. . . ."

"She did," interrupted Tom. "She showed it to us last night."

"Yes, well, I only discovered it was missing this morning. She must have forgotten to give it to me, or maybe the Prock stole it."

"How do you know all this?" asked Ben.

"I had a visit from the Prock just before you telephoned. That smug devil was so pleased with himself, I could cheerfully have punched him in the nose.
The thing that makes me angriest of all is that if I'd had an ounce of sense yesterday, I'd have realized what the Prock was up to."

"What do you mean?" Tom was puzzled.

"Well, the whole journey in
The Jolly Boat—the
wonderful afternoon and the fun we had—was all designed to lull us into a false sense of security. Lindy had such a good time that she completely forgot her fears. By the time the Splintercat finished his charming act, Lindy was more than willing to go with him. Now I understand what the Whiffle Bird was trying to tell us. We
were
being taken for a ride, and I was just too stupid to see that it was all part of the Prock's evil plan."

Ben was furious. "You know, kidnapping is a crime."

'What are they going to do with Lindy?" Tom asked with concern. "She must be really scared."

"I don't think so," said the professor. "The Prock informed me that she is happy and will be well taken care of. He will release her when I promise on my honor to give up trying to reach the Whangdoodle. I have until tomorrow morning to give him my decision. Of course, I'll agree to his terms."

"You mean, we have to give up the whole adventure?" Ben said in a horrified voice.

"I'm afraid so."

"But why?" cried Tom. "Why not just call the Prock's bluff? I'm sure he wouldn't do anything to hurt Lindy. You said yourself that all the creatures in Whangdoodleland are peace-loving."

"Yes, Tom. But I sense that the Prock's getting desperate. Remember he feels that Whangdoodleland is in great danger. With so much at stake, he might not harm Lindy, but he could keep her there indefinitely."

"But there must be something we can do," said Tom desperately. "It just turns me inside out to think that the Prock has won—and we'll never get to see the Whangdoodle."

"Wait a minute." Ben looked up suddenly. "You don't have to give the Prock an answer before tomorrow. Right, Professor?"

"That's right."

"Then why don't we just go and try to rescue Lindy now, while we've still got time?"

"What a great idea!" Tom said excitedly. "We could sneak in and get her out of Whangdoodleland before the Prock knew anything about it. He'd never expect us to do something like that."

"Hold on, hold on," the professor said. "I'm not sure that's wise. The Prock could capture us, too. Then where would we be?"

"It is a risk," agreed Ben. "But we could be extra careful. I'll bet the Whiffle Bird would help us."

"Oh, go on, Professor. Say we can do it," urged Tom. "This is the one chance we have to put things right. Then we could still try to see the Whangdoodle if we wanted to."

"Well, I must say, I do hate to give up the experiment. . . ." The professor wavered.

"We can't give up now, after all our hard work. You know Whangdoodleland better than anyone. You could take us to find Lindy, I know you could.
Please
say yes," Ben pleaded.

The professor walked to the French windows and gazed out across the lawn. After what seemed like an eternity, he said quietly, "Very well. We will try it. Perhaps we will be lucky and find Lindy before anyone finds us."

He turned to the boys. "I shall phone your house and speak to Ethel. I will tell her that we've planned an excursion."

Tom said, "She won't mind that. Mom told her that we'd be spending a lot of time with you."

"Good. But on second thought, it might be better to tell her we'll be gone for a few days. That way, if something unexpected happens and we're delayed, she won't worry."

"If she thinks we'll be gone a few days, she'll expect us to take some clean clothes," Ben pointed out.

"That's using your head," replied the Professor. "You'd better go back home and pick up some things. Get something for Lindy, too. I'll have Mrs. Primrose prepare us a good hot breakfast before we leave. It could be the last meal we'll get for a while. Now let's hurry. Whangdoodleland is a large country and we don't know where Lindy is. We haven't a moment to lose."

Lindy was beginning to feel anxious. It seemed as if she had been walking for hours.

"Dear frrrriend, are you getting weary?" the Splintercat asked. "Would you like a ride?"

Before Lindy could answer, the cat's tail encircled her waist, lifted her high into the air, and deposited her gently on his back.

"There, now issssn't that nicccce? Much more fun, too."

Lindy had to admit that sitting on the Splintercat's back was much better than walking, even though she had a tendency to slide forward since the cat's behind was so much higher than his front. But she soon made herself comfortable by hooking one arm around the cat's tail and tucking one leg under herself.

A brilliant sun came up over the horizon, bathing everything in a soft pink glow. The spring
-
like air carried tantalizing aromas of popcorn and cinnamon toast that wafted past Lindy's nostrils, reminding her that she was rather hungry. She knew instinctively the smells were coming from the unusual shrubs and bushes so abundant in this area. She made a mental note to tell the professor about it when she saw him.

They came to the bottom of a big mountain. "Hold on tight now," said the Splintercat and he began to climb. Surefootedly he moved up the almost vertical face of the rock.

"This is where my long back legssss become very usssseful," he said. "They make going up mountains sssso easy."

Lindy shuddered to think of what would happen if she fell off the Splintercat's back. She took a firmer grip on his tail and told herself not to be afraid.

They reached a wide plateau. There were boulders and rocks lying as if a giant hand had scattered them about the landscape. There were trees, too: short scrubby ones that were shiny black like patent leather, and larger ones with generous branches and bright melon-yellow leaves in clusters.

"Now, are you rrrready for a ssssurprise?" said the Splintercat, lowering Lindy gently to the ground. She followed the cat into a small grove where he pointed and said proudly, "There it is. Home ssssweet home."

Lindy saw a big lollipop-shaped structure, which looked as if it were made of something soft and furry. At a second glance she saw that it was a tree which was completely covered with colored yarn, laced and interlaced in such a way that the structure was strong and durable.

"Come and ssssee insssside," purred the Splinter-cat. He sprang across the clearing and leaped into the tree, disappearing from view.

"Don't leave me. Please don't leave me," cried Lindy.