Long, long ago, in a time and place where cats were cared for and revered, there lived mother and daughter cats in a fine home on a hill overlooking the sea. The home was open and airy, and the two cats came and went at will. They spent hot days resting on the cool marble floors or napping on silken cushions. They spent warm evenings in the courtyard, a dense, sweet smelling flower garden surrounded by a high stone wall. On the corner of the wall stood a golden statue of Bast.

The mother was called Nola and the daughter, Noori. They had lived there many years and loved each other deeply. One cloudy day, the mother, Nola, breathed her last breath, and the sorrowing caretakers of the garden buried her beneath a bush of white flowers. They marked her grave with a large pearl stone from the sea. There the daughter, Noori, lay day after day, grieving for her mother.

One dark night, Noori left the grave and walked along the stone wall to sit before the statue of Bast.

"O Bast," she said, "I have a good life here, with delectable fishes to eat and a bowl of yellow cream every evening. I fear the unknown, but I miss my mother. What is it like where she is? Does she have fishes and cream?" There was no answer, and Noori fell asleep.

The next night she again approached the statue and stood before it.

"O Bast," she said, "I have a beautiful home here, with silken cushions to lie on and sweet smelling flowers around me in evening. I fear the unknown. Does my mother have a silken cushion and sweet flowers where she is?" Again there was no answer, and a tear fell from the eye of Noori before she slept.

On the third night, Noori went to the statue and said, "O Bast, I love the sound of the sea and the warmth of the sunshine. I have loved life until now, and I fear the unknown. Can my mother hear the sea and feel the sunshine? Does she remember me?" Noori waited all night, but no answer came.

On the last night, Noori had been watching the statue for hours and considering what she might ask. She felt more and more afraid.

"O Bast," she finally spoke. "I have been too spoiled by a soft life to be brave, but I must be now. I fear the unknown, but I ask you only one thing. Take me to my mother."

The next day, the same sorrowing caretakers took the body of Noori and placed it gently in a grave next to the first one. They brought another pearl stone from the sea to mark where she lay. But Noori was not there. She was with her mother in a more perfect place, because she had conquered her fear.

NEXT:































Science fiction:

Amanda's Surprise

Gorlings of the Nonday