Meu, a Cat of Ancient Egypt

by Yancy

As I look down from my window I can watch the people move about the hot dusty streets of the city of Alexandria and I can't help but worry about my Queen. It all started six months ago in the year of 48 B.C. Our country is ruled by the Ptolemy family and there is a civil war between Queen Cleopatra and her brother, King Ptolemy.

Let me introduce myself. I am, Meu, the Queen's royal cat. My name means kitten and that is what I was when I was given to Queen Cleopatra as a gift seven years ago.It has been said many times that I am a very beautiful siAhmense and have lovely large blue eyes. As I drink from my golden water bowl I can see they are right and in the reflection I see both my gold and ruby earrings that I wear in my left ear and my matching necklace.

Since I am the Queen's favorite cat I am allowed to wander any place I please inside the palace gates. I do enjoy chasing the geese in the courtyard but must be very careful not to be chased by Cleopatra's pet monkey and her many dogs.

I do not wander much now that the Queen is gone because I fear Ahmen. He is King Ptolemy royal vizier and the cause of much of the trouble between brother and sister. I distrust and hate Ahmen more than the monkey. When I see his long white flowing robe coming into the chamber I run and hide because I have few in the palace to protect me from this cruel man.

It is time for another nap and as I curl up on my cool satin pillow I can't help but hear the servants talking about a rumour of a Roman fleet being seen on the horizon of the Mediterranean Sea.

Part 2

It is time for another nap and as I curl up on my cool satin pillow I can't help but hear the servants talking about a rumour of a Roman fleet being seen on the horizon of the Mediterranean Sea. As I drift off to sleep I wonder if these rumours are true and what will happen to my lovely Queen, but I can no longer think for I am overtaken by sleep.

Crash! Clang! I am awaken by the clanging of shields and loud voices coming from the courtyard through the window. I shake the sleep from my body and jump up to the windowsill. I peer out of the open window and see that night has fallen but I can see as clear as day because there are many torches burning brightly. Roman soldiers fill the courtyard. As I look down I see King Ptolemy standing under the window with Ahmen at his side. I can overhear them welcoming Caesar and showing him the gifts they are offering to try to win his favor. Well, I think I will see what foods are being cooked in the kitchen and maybe I will be offered a morsel of meat.

I am sleepy after that meal of fish and I need to sleep but Caesar and some of his men are in my favorite room and one man is propped on my pillow. A dirty Roman on my beautiful pillow. Now where will I sleep? This room is becoming too crowded. Now a servant is coming in carrying a rug. I will never get any sleep now. Wait! My Queen is here. I can smell her scent but where is she? I cannot see her. I stretch my head up and sniff the air. Yes, she is here but where? Suddenly the servant unrolls the rug and out comes my Queen. Oh, she looks lovely. I rush to her and rub against her leg. I think Caesar thinks she is lovely too because he is smiling at her.

It is the next afternoon and I am sitting in my sunny window. I hear a noise behind me and see Ahmen and his servant in the hall. I strain my ears to hear the words they are saying. Poison? What is this about poison? I jump down and slowly go to the open door. I can hear Ahmen telling his servant to carefully pour the poison into his ring. Why would Ahmen need poison in his ring? He tells his servant to say nothing and to be surprised and saddened at the news of the Queen's death tonight.

I back away slowly. Crash! I have knocked over a pitcher of wine. Ahmen sees me now and comes at me. His face is purple with rage and I can hardly see his beady eyes that are lined heavily with eye makeup. I am trapped. He is muttering something about my death as well. He roughly grabs my tail and thows me out my favorite window. As I fall I really do see my nine lives pass before my eyes..

Part 3

THUD! Am I in the Land of the Pharaohs? No, because I am being bouced around. I open one eye and look around. I am in a haywagen. I recognize the old man driving it. He is the man that brings watermelons to the palace kitchen. I thank the gods he has already delivered the watermelons! But where is he taking me? We are leaving the gates of the palace and I had never been outside the courtyard. I keep looking back at the palace as it gets smaller and farther away.

Suddenly the wagon jerks to a stop and I am thrown forward. This is my chance to get out of this rough wagon and back home. As I jump down it seems like I have landed in a sea of bare legs and sandaled feet. I can no longer see the palace. Which way do I go? I have to be careful not to be stepped on by these people in the market place and the oxen that pull the many carts. I will rest under this large table and try to remember the path back to the palace. Sniff. What is that wonderful fragrance? I crane my neck to see the contents of the table. Oh it holds my favorite dish. Long silver fish. It reminds me that I have not eaten since early morning and I am very hungry. Since no one is going to serve me now, I guess I will have to serve myself. I stretch my hind legs to reach one of the fish and WHACK! I fall back on all four of my paws. I have been hit. I cannot believe it. I have been hit with an old dirty broom. I have never been hit in my life and this person should be put to death for this crime. WHACK! Again I am hit and as I look up I see a cross looking woman about to strike me again. She is yelling about my stealing her fish. I would never steal. It belongs to me. She belongs to my Queen and so she belongs to me and so does her fish. WHACK! I had better get out of here.

It is dark now and I have been wandering the streets of Alexandria for many hours. Nothing looks familiar. I can't see the palace. Perhaps if I jump up on a rooftop I will be able to see the path back to the palace gates. No I can only see the water . Oh what shall I do now ? Wait. I remember seeing the royal hunting barges from my wonderful sunny window. If I can jump on a hunting barge I would be able to float down to the palace and swim through the opening of my Queen's bathhouse. I hate to get wet but this is an emergency.

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YAWN. How slowly this barge moves. It won't taken much longer for as I sit here I can see the roof of the bathhouse. These men are so very slow at this hunting business. They have let me sit on this coarse pile of ropes and given me some lovely fishheads to eat so I know they must appreciated my beauty. Well, I had better get ready for my dreaded swim. I hope this water is drier than it looks for I hate being wet. SPLASH! It is very wet water. I must keep swimming. I know the opening is here somewhere for I have often accompanied my Queen and her ladies at their baths and have seen cranes coming through the opening. Yes, here it is. I see the room is empty. I shall rub myself dry on this lovely towel. My fur is very wet and is clinging to me. I look like skin and bones. I know I must look like a fright.

Well, home at last and I should proceed with caution for I may run into Ahmen before I reach my Queen. I can hear her lovely laughter. How happy she will be to see me. Oh no, Ahmen and his servant are in the chamber with Cleopatra and Caesar. What is this? They are drinking wine and Ahmen has on his ring that contains the poison. I must warn her. I begin to meow very loudly but she only smiles at me and says she is happy to see me. I will save her but how? She lifts the wine to her lips and I spring knocking the goblet from her hand. Everyone is yelling at me but then there is silence as they look at the table slowly burning away.

Part 4

The Queen declared this "The Day of the Cats" and there is much feasting and celebration. The noise of the festival is loud even though the sun left the sky hours ago. The day has been dedicated to me and all the cats in the kingdom. Today has been a long day that began with a procession in front of Cleopatra and Caesar. I was seated in the place of honor on her lap wearing my new sapphire collar and earrings that look lovely with my blue eyes. The first in the procession were the Royal Guards pulling Ahmen by chains while the crowd mocked him, then came the dancers, followed by trained horses, and ending with servants carrying baskets of fruits and, my favorite, platters of silvery fish.
I know by the way the Queen looks at me and strokes my fur that she loves me very much and I shall continue to be her favorite now and into the Land of the After-Life.

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