My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr

Author:Caleb Carr [CARR, CALEB]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2024-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

WOUNDS OF A WARRIOR QUEEN

It might take Masha hours more to pull herself together enough to even try to come down from her perch. If she was hurt, she might not make it—and a fall from the tree trunk itself would land her right on the rocks. She was smart enough to know not to even try such a dangerous move in the rain, involving as it would creeping down the moistened tree trunk backwards with her claws. So-called domesticated cats do not have the reversible ankles on their hind feet that their ancient ancestors, along with a couple of extant species of bigger cats, did and do, which allowed and allow them to turn around and dash down trees headfirst. I’d definitely have to go up after her, as I’d already determined—which presented other problems.

Even assuming I could get the heavy metal stepladder that I’d remembered was on the porch down to this spot, I would have to find a way to place it, folded, against the tree so that its two feet were level and secure enough to hold my weight without slipping downhill. That would mean moving some of the big rocks on the upper side of the tree; and when I examined the ground, I saw that it would be no small job, especially in the rain. But then I looked up at Masha again, saw her anxiously and uncertainly watching me, and said, “Okay, Mash—I’m going to get the ladder. I’ll be right back.” She knew those two words well—right back—from when I made runs down to the local store; so I figured she’d be okay for the several minutes that it would take me to go to the porch, put my cane and flashlight down, shoulder the ladder, then return without falling and sliding down the lawn into the bushes and rocks.

I knew it was a slightly crazy idea: I didn’t have a cell phone with me, my feet were not reliable and had been screaming at me for several hours already, and if I screwed up either the ladder placement or the climb I just might fall on the rocks and bust my head open, with no one the wiser. But these were things to shove into the back of my mind. I got the ladder into position after moving some rocks that were easier to roll down the embankment than lift, and braced the rubber-covered metal feet as securely as I could in the muddy ground. However, the eight-foot ladder didn’t reach the branch Masha was on; and the rain was coming down harder by the moment, meaning each of the ladder’s steps was getting more and more slippery. But these, too, were things to consider after the job was done. Climbing, I got to the ladder’s top step, threw my left arm around the tree’s ten-inch trunk and stretched my right arm out toward Masha, urging her my way.

“Come on, Mash,” I said; but she made no move other than

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