The Golden Owl (Clockwork Calico Book 1)

by Lana Axe

  Grasping the handle, Cali pulled the drawer open and hopped inside. The frantic scratching of rodent feet scraped against the drawer above. The mouse had an escape plan. As Cali jumped from the bottom drawer, she spotted the mouse as he emerged from the top center of the desk, running as fast as his legs could go.

  “Clever!” she shouted, giving chase.

  In blind flight, the little mouse dashed through the factory, searching desperately for cover. His eyes landed on a blackened piece of machinery with a pipe leading all the way to the ceiling. Racing toward it, he found himself only one pounce in front of the calico. Leaping with all his might, he grasped at the pipe, hoping to climb to safety. To his horror, the metal was too slick, and he slid back to the ground.

  “Got you!” Cali cried as her paw landed on the mouse’s tail, pinning him to the floor. “You gave me quite a chase,” she told him. Licking her lips, she prepared herself for the single bite needed to end the mouse’s existence.

  “Wait!” the mouse squeaked, barely able to catch his breath. “Don’t eat me yet! I have information for you. It’s about your friend.”

  Cali cocked her head to the side. “Friend?” she asked. Did he mean Lionel? What could this little mouse possibly know?

  “Yes,” the mouse replied. He stared up at the cat, her purple eye large and intimidating. Shuddering, he focused his gaze to her normal green eye, which was far less terrifying. The clang of her metallic enhancements as she had chased him left no doubt in his mind. She was the strangest—and scariest—cat he had ever encountered. He panted a few times before saying, “Promise you won’t eat me after I tell you.”

  Weighing her options, Cali decided she could quite easily catch another mouse. This one had given her more of a chase than most. “Agreed,” she said. “But your information had better be valid, or I take it back.”

  “Fair enough,” the mouse replied. “You’re the strange calico that lives with Florence’s brother, right?”

  “Strange?” Cali repeated, slightly insulted. “I do live with Lionel, yes.”

  “He was kidnapped,” the mouse said.

  “What?” Cali asked, stunned. “When? Why?” Narrowing her eye, she demanded, “Tell me everything you know.”

  “I will, but could you please let go of my tail?” the mouse asked, looking down at his tail.

  Cali moved her paw away and waited patiently. If the mouse tried to run, she would have his hide.

  “Thank you,” the mouse said. “And my name is Emmit. I believe you’re Cali, correct?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, Cali, I saw your master this afternoon,” the mouse began.

  “He’s my friend,” she corrected. “Cats have no masters.”

  “Of course,” Emmit replied. “I was having a snack a few blocks away near the bakery,” he explained. “I heard a shout and ran to see what was happening. Sometimes humans shout when they’ve dropped food, so it was worth a look.”

  Cali rolled her eyes. Mice, she thought with disdain.

  “I didn’t see any food,” Emmit went on, “but I did recognize Lionel. He’d been here earlier in the day, so his face was fresh in my mind. Two large men stuck a bag over his head and carried him off.”

  Cali couldn’t believe her ears. “I have to find him,” she said. She started to turn away, but the mouse stopped her.

  “I know where he is,” Emmit said. “I can take you to him.”

  Cautious of accepting the mouse’s help, she asked, “Why would you do that?”

  “Because you didn’t eat me,” Emmit replied. “I am grateful for that. You can also be of help to me in the future.”

  “How so?” she asked impatiently.

  “Promise never to eat me when I’m prowling this factory. That’s all I ask.”

  “You have my word,” she replied. “Now take me to Lionel.”

  With a squeak, the mouse bounded across the factory floor, leading her to the rear exit. A tiny crack in the bricks allowed the mouse to squeeze his sleek body through to the other side. But there was no opening for Cali. Determined to follow, Cali leapt for the door handle and tugged, pressing her hind legs to the wall next to the door. It popped open a few inches, and she hopped through it before it banged closed behind her.

  “Good job,” the mouse said. Without waiting for a reply, he scurried along the cobblestones. He led her to a drain in the street and said, “It’s faster if we go this way.”

  Looking at him with disgust, she asked, “How much faster?”

  “At least fifteen minutes,” he replied.

  With a groan of displeasure, Cali followed Emmit down into the sewer tunnels beneath the street. The stink assaulted her nostrils immediately, making her wish she could shut off her sense of smell. A rat looked up from across a river of brownish-green liquid, the look on his face one of amazement. A cat and mouse walking together was a sight to be seen. Cali flicked her tail at him and continued on.

  When they emerged through another tunnel, Cali desperately yearned for a bath. She fought the urge, telling herself it would have to wait until Lionel was safe. She had been careful not to touch anything, so she probably didn’t smell as bad as she feared. Unfortunately, her nose still burned from the stench, and it would probably be days before her sense of smell returned to normal.

  “This way,” Emmit called, his voice now a whisper. He didn’t want to alert any humans to his presence, for fear they would chase him away. His deal with Cali was far too precious to lose.

  The night was still and damp. The rain had finally retreated, though the clouds remained. Gas lamps lit every street, projecting a warm glow and a gentle hum. Cali found them familiar and comforting, despite the pounding of her heart. Her mind reeled with the knowledge that someone had taken Lionel. If he were hurt, she would see that the person responsible was throttled. She would do it with her own paws if she had to.

  They rounded a corner, and Emmit announced, “It’s not far now.”

  A narrow alleyway lay before them, but it was plenty wide for a cat. She slinked low, her fur bristling with anxiety. A scent came to her nose, faint at first, but strong enough to make it past the memory of the sewers. It was Lionel’s scent. Her pace quickened, her four paws moving silently over the cobblestones.

  “In here,” Emmit said, leading her to a door.

  The metal door was sealed tight without a single crack wide enough for a mouse to squeeze through, let alone a cat. Its only visible weakness was a small, rectangular window about two thirds of the way up.

  “Do you know of a way in?” Cali asked.

  Emmit shook his head. “You’ll have to wait for someone to open the door or claw your way through it.”

  “I will if he’s in there,” Cali pledged. Crouching low, she leapt high, aided by her enhanced legs. Her metallic claws gripped the edge of the window, allowing her to dangle momentarily. There, slumped over in a chair, was Lionel. Her heart sank at seeing him in such a sorry state. He had obviously been mistreated, and anger boiled in her belly. She had to get to him. He would do no less for her.

  Allowing herself to slide back to the ground, she made ready for another pounce. Determination gleamed in her eyes. “I’m going in!”

  Launching herself on powerful haunches, Cali slammed into the window. It was no use. She didn’t weigh enough to bust through it. Another leap, and she slashed at the glass with her enhanced claws, leaving behind scratches but little else. “I need something heavier!” she shouted to Emmit. She was getting in one way or another.

  The mouse looked all around, but there was nothing at hand to use as a tool. “We could run along the street until we find a brick,” he offered. Though he wouldn’t be able to lift it. That job would have to fall on Cali.

  Peering through the keyhole with her mechanical eye, Cali zoomed in on her friend. The noise from her fight with the door had caught his attention, but he looked more frightened than relieved. From this distance, he probably couldn’t tell who was at the door. H
is sight was not as advanced as Cali’s. He should have put some implants on himself, she said to herself. Then he would be strong enough to break free.

  Observing her closely, the mouse formed an idea. “What about your claws, Cali?” he suggested.

  “They’re not strong enough to break the glass!” she replied. “You saw me try.” Was he not paying attention?

  “No, I mean you could pick the lock and open the door,” Emmit suggested. It could be done far quicker than running up and down the streets looking for something to throw.

  Looking at her claws, she said, “I’ve never picked a lock before.” Jamming a claw into the keyhole, she pulled and tugged, trying to rip the lock mechanism apart.

  Emmit cleared his throat. “If I may?” he offered. Climbing onto her tail, he ran along her back and onto her outstretched paw. Taking control of her claw with his tiny paws, he worked at the lock. “It takes a bit of finesse,” he explained. “Brute force probably won’t work. These locks are made of reinforced steel.”

  Making note of his fine movements, Cali activated all her senses. Every nuance was worth remembering if she was to learn Emmit’s technique. Next time, she wouldn’t need his help. At least, that was her intention as she memorized the delicate procedure.

  “Have you done a lot of this?” Cali asked, narrowing her eyes. She wondered if her new companion might be some sort of criminal. But who was she to judge? The life of a street mouse was far different from her own.

  “On occasion,” Emmit replied, still concentrating on the lock. “I’ve never used a claw, though. A hat pin makes a fine lock pick.”

  The lock released with an audible click, music to Cali’s ears. “Nice work, Emmit,” Cali said. “You’re one handy mouse.” She licked his face with her scratchy tongue.

  Emmit cringed a little, unused to such treatment from a cat. With little effort, the clockwork cat leapt for the door handle, pressing against it with her hind legs. It opened only an inch, forcing her to swing sideways. With her feet now against the door’s edge, she gave a strong kick. Despite its weight, the door opened a few more inches, allowing her to enter.

  Emmit darted in behind her. Though his part of the bargain was fulfilled, he didn’t want to leave Cali now. This place was obviously dangerous, and she might need more of his help. With her friend in danger, she might not think as clearly as she should. Emmit, being a level-headed mouse, knew his presence might be crucial. He would stay and see things through.

  Despite her instinct to run to her friend, Cali slowed her pace and crept into the room. The lights were dimmed, a single lamp shining on a workbench near Lionel. Turning to Emmit, she placed a claw to her lips, urging him to keep quiet. The mouse understood. Scanning the room with her mechanical eye, she looked for any sign of a security system. Something mounted to the wall reminded her of the egg-shaped cameras at the factory. Standing perfectly still, she waited to see if it was moving. It wasn’t. If it were armed, there would be an indicator light, but there was none. Feeling a bit safer, she crept forward.

  Lionel stirred momentarily in his chair but slumped back to his defeated posture. He had no idea Cali was approaching. A quiet click sounded from a corner of the room, and Cali’s ears twitched in response. Zooming in with her eye, she spotted the source of the noise. A shining bit of round metal had clanged against the steel bars of a cage. She nearly gasped as she realized what the metal was. It was a tag, attached to the collar of a guard dog. Locked safely in a crate was a large black-and-tan dog, his pointed ears standing at attention. His long nose sniffed the air.

  Swallowing hard, Cali wondered if the dog knew she was there. For a moment she debated whether it was safe to keep moving, but there was no other choice. She had to get to Lionel, even if the dog could bark and alert its master. Switching her vision settings, she scanned the crate for its lock mechanism. It was secure. Unfortunately, a thin wire extended from it, snaking its way across the room. If she ran into it, the dog would be set loose. Clever, she thought. Most intruders wouldn’t notice the wire before finding themselves face to face with the dog.

  “Psst,” she whispered to Emmit.

  The little mouse padded to her side. Pointing with her paw, she directed his attention to the dog. Emmit’s eyes grew wide.

  Silently she mouthed the words “trip wire” and traced its outline with her claw.

  Emmit understood. He was too small to set it off just by walking, but if he tried to jump up to Lionel or the workbench, he might brush against it, allowing the dog to run free. He wouldn’t last long in its powerful jaws. He would have to step carefully.

  Moving low to the ground, Cali proceeded with caution. Lionel wasn’t far. A sudden movement to her right startled her, and she looked in time to see the dog, baring his white teeth. A low growl rumbled in his throat, and Cali’s fur bristled in response. Hopping over the trip wire, she found herself at Lionel’s side.

  In a single pounce, she landed on his lap. He jolted upright, surprise written all over his weary face. He mumbled something inaudible through the gag in his mouth. Taking great care with her claws, she slashed at the fabric.

  “Cali!” Lionel said. “How on earth did you find me?”

  The calico let out a soft mew and hopped down from his lap. With three swipes of her claws, she freed him from the ropes that bound him. Bringing his wrists around to the front, he rubbed them each in turn.

  “Thank you, Cali,” he said. “I don’t know how you managed it, but I’m ever so glad to see you.” Lifting her off her feet, he cradled her in his arms.

  When she returned to the ground, she placed herself between him and the trip wire. She hoped if she didn’t budge, he would step over her, thus avoiding the trap. With a loud meow, she encouraged him to leave quickly.

  The meowing caught the dog’s attention, and a warning bark rang out. Lionel looked over at the dog and scoffed.

  “He’s caged,” he assured her. “Don’t you worry about him.” Turning his attention to the workbench, he began moving items around. “Now what did that Morcroft do with my tools?” he asked, scratching his head. He spotted them beneath another bundle and pulled them free. A soft plink sounded from beneath the workbench, and he wrinkled his brow.

  Cali’s body went rigid, fearing a trap had been triggered. With a glance at the dog, she reassured herself he had not been released. But her sigh of relief came too soon. Her delicate ears picked up a soft sound, like a metal ball rolling through a wooden shaft. One look at Lionel assured her that he was hearing it too.

  “We better get out of here,” he said. Scooping Cali up, he tucked her under his arm. Before she could protest, his foot hit the trip wire, the door to the dog’s crate lifting open.

  With a snarl and a growl, the dog charged forward, his feet sliding on the wooden floor. Once he gained his footing, he was moving far too fast for Lionel to outrun. Cali had to act quickly. Wriggling herself free of his grasp, she charged toward the dog.

  “Cali! No!” Lionel shouted. He watched in horror, fearing she would be killed. To his amazement, she pounced with a yowl and a hiss. Landing square on the dog’s back, she tore at him with her claws. The dog let out a loud yelp of pain. He spun, faster and faster, trying to shake the cat from his back. She held on tight, but a vicious shake of the dog’s body threw her to the ground. Lionel ran to her aid.

  A loud crack signaled that the rolling ball had found its target. A bang and a sizzle followed, the pair holding their breath and waiting. It was too dangerous to move, but staying put could be deadly. A soft whistle began at the opposite end of the room, growing louder as it moved near. Cali’s eye could see tiny holes opening in the wall. With a paw against Lionel’s face, she turned his head so he could see too.

  “Stay low!” he cried. Clutching her and shoving her beneath him, he laid flat on the floor. Two dozen tiny arrows sped past, plinking against the wall. “We’ve got to get out of here!” he cried, scrambling back to his feet. “Morcroft’s booby-trapped the whole plac
e!”

  The dog licked at his scratch wounds a few times before bounding toward them again. Cali hissed and arched her back, but Lionel grabbed her anyway. Holding her tight against his chest, he sprinted for the door. The dog was on his heels in two strides. He grabbed onto Lionel’s pant leg, tugging furiously.

  “Let go, mongrel!” Lionel shouted as he tried to pull his leg free.

  Emmit, who had stayed well out of harm’s way, suddenly sprang to action. He set his sights on a large paper bag only a few feet from the crate. Immediately he recognized the scent of dog kibble. Its unmistakable aroma had drawn his attention shortly after they’d entered the room. If he could get the dog focused on food, his companions might be able to escape.

  Racing across the cold floor, Emmit flung himself on top of the bag. Pulling and tugging with all his might, he tried desperately to rip it open. He failed. Using his teeth, he bit and gnawed, but the paper was too thick and would take several minutes to chew through. They won’t last that long, he told himself, frantic. Thinking on the fly, he spotted the dog’s dish only a hop away. Jumping down, he grabbed the bowl and banged it against the metal crate.

  The dog’s ears perked up, but he didn’t let go of his prey. When Emmit banged the bowl against the kibble bag, the dog couldn’t resist the familiar rattling. With a high-pitched bark, he released Lionel’s pant leg and made a mad dash for the kibble. Emmit raced out of the dog’s path, heading for his companions. Meanwhile the dog slashed into the bag, sending chunks flying all over.

  Twisting the door handle, Lionel cursed. It wouldn’t budge. He kicked it hard, but only managed to make his foot throb. Rushing back to the workbench, Cali in tow, he dug through the pile of tools. Beneath them was a small pouch filled with dark powder. “This’ll do!” he said, racing back to the door.

  Emmit stood clear, watching with interest as Lionel sprinkled the powder on the floor. Producing a small box of matches from his pocket, he lit one and took a few steps back. Holding Cali tight, he tossed the match toward the powder.