The Seven Deadly Sins 36

CATS BRIGADE (121,777 words) is about a cat, Miss Licky (so named as she likes licking her owners) who lives on a yacht in the picturesque Cotternera Marina in Malta. One evening she takes a stroll off the yacht and finds the main entrance door of the nearby Maritime Museum open. Curiosity makes her enter, and shortly afterwards she finds herself locked in overnight. She is soon discovered by the resident and now very agitated museum cat Mouser. To add to Miss Licky's woes, unbeknown to her at the time, her owners are set to sail early the next morning on a long but well planned sailing trip. She actually sees the yacht departing from a museum window.

And so begins an adventure of a homeless Miss Licky, her strange relationship with Mouser and her travels around Malta. She is taken to beautiful fishing villages and even the capital of Malta, Valletta. In due course and through astute efforts by Mouser, she is reunited with her long lost brother and sister (they were born triplets). Much more is to follow, as it turns out her siblings have been left a fortune by their late carer, the Marchioness. There is an avaricious notary, named Mr Stick who is in charge of the Will. He is desperate to capture her brother and sister. Mouser enlists the help of Top Cat, who is the Capo cat of the village next to the marina.

Through all the ensuing adventures, Miss Licky's yacht returns safely. She is determined to never be parted again from her siblings. And what shall become of Mouser, the night time museum employee? He has become hopelessly smitten by his new friend Miss Licky. After all he had never had a true companion in his life before meeting her. Top Cat is also part of this delicate equation. Both Top Cat and Mouser are feral cats - they have never been near a vet! Never yearned for a domesticated life - until possibly now?

The story wraps itself around the magic of Malta and its people and it ends happily, though many unanswered questions remain.