Chapter One
Marco sniffed his way around the perimeter of the house and the old woodpile, tracking for mice. Breathing in the hot summer air, he savored the aroma of the warm wood, but a light breeze brought with it the ghastly scent of gardenias. He cleared his nose by sniffing a pile of dry leaves, which made him sneeze and he gave up his hunt for the time being.
A trickle of water from a rusty spigot quenched his thirst and he let it drip slowly down his throat. Then, scooting through a hole in the wooden fence, he decided it was time to explore new territory.
He trotted along the sun-baked sidewalk, its heat burning through his thick cushion of toe pads, forcing him to keep moving. When he got to the road, he knew to stop. Now that circumstances forced him out in the world, he had grown more streetwise.
He heard the steady hum of cars from a distant freeway, but the road in front of him was clear. He set his sights on the other side and sprinted across. Without warning, a car charged toward him, bearing down with the ferocity of a wild animal. He propelled himself across the street, the blare of the horn blasting his eardrums and airstreams ruffling his fur.
His heart pounding, he darted down into a ravine that led him through the relative safety of a damp concrete culvert. He slowed his pace and let his breathing and heartbeat return to normal, then emerged into a blast of heat and cut across the dry stubble of a vacant lot.
On the other side of the lot were neat rows of buildings and Marco discovered the deserted back alleys where he found a few scraps of food. He liked the cool dark passageways between the buildings and the curious things he found there, but it lead him right back to main sidewalk that lay exposed to the scorching sun.
A noisy group of people were walking towards him and he moved over to avoid getting trampled, but he hoped someone would at least notice him. As they passed by one girl yelled, "Hey look at this darling cat." But the others were too busy talking and she ran off to catch up with them.
The heat finally forced him off the blistering concrete onto a wide expanse of green lawn. The freshly mown grass sent a ripple of coolness through his body and he stopped to look at a large building in front of him. Made of massive cut stone, one side of the building dipped down to follow the sloping earth into a densely shaded hollow. The contrast of the green lawn and white-washed stone were soothing to Marco’s eyes, but it was the large magnolia tree that drew him in. Of all the discoveries he'd made since he'd lost his home, trees were his favorite. He climbed up into its wide arms and rested in the cool shelter of its dense leaves.
Marco had not been on his own for long. Until recently he lived in a house with a wrinkled old woman who stroked his head while she talked to him. That enormous, hushed dwelling filled with soft cushions, the scent of old books and the steady ticking of the grandfather clock was all he had known until now. He was starting to get used to his new life. It wasn't so bad, he thought. His old life certainly had its problems too.
He had started out in a box under the kitchen table. From the beginning, he was always hungry since his five greedy sisters never let him eat until they had their fill. One by one they mysterious disappeared even though they claimed they were smarter and cuter than him. After they were gone, he could eat all of the tuna and bits of chicken in the food bowl, so he finally knew the joy of a full stomach. Still, even if they were annoying, it was lonely without his sisters and he was forced to make up his own games.
He explored the house, running madly up and down carpeted stairs. He poked his nose into closets and under beds, and wove spools of thread through the legs of dining chairs until he got himself tangled and had to be rescued. He chased dust motes in shafts of afternoon sunlight and stalked flies caught between the heavily draped windows. Curiosity and imagination were his best companions, but the drowsy old house offered little other excitement to a young cat.
That is, until he discovered the room with books.
Most recent edit: July 2, 2009
When Marco, a homeless tabby cat, breaks into the town library, he discovers that he can hear the books reading to him. More amazing is the mysterious old library cat who seems to have his own private chambers. When the elder cat takes Marco back in time to the great Library of Iskandariya and reveals the mystical Book of Motion, Marco does not know that this magical book, with its power to transform, will change his life forever.
As he is gradually taught the importance of protecting the book, he faces a growing threat from adversaries who operate in the shadowy realm of deception.
Despite his best efforts to live up to the centuries-old tradition of the Guardian cats, Marco falls under a powerful dark spell and must ultimately rely on some very unusual beings for help.
Guardian Cats
and the Lost Books of Iskandariya
Guardian Cats and the Lost Books of Iskandariya
For middle grade readers and up
