Max’s Adventures with His Loyal Friends

“We need to set up a rota,” said Hunter. “We’ll take turns watching the garden.”

And Max had an idea: “We can build a treehouse – that will make the perfect observation post! We’ll be hidden by the leaves, so nobody will know we’re there.”

Right at the end of the garden, beyond the strawberry beds, there was a grand old tree with a thick trunk. It wasn’t that tall but it was very wide, with big strong branches that were thick with foliage. The tree had an unusual name – it was a eucalyptus. They said it was planted by one of Auntie Jane’s ancestors some three hundred years ago.

That was the tree where Max planned to build their hideout.

“It’s going to be quite the job,” he said. “Let’s sketch out a plan first, then get building. I say we lay down a deck on the thickest branch to make the floor, then make the walls out of rope and tie them to the branches up above.”

Max took a piece of paper and drew a sketch of the treehouse. It looked so good that the friends couldn’t wait to get started.

“Hunter, if you can find boards for the floor, I’ll put them together. Sienna and Matilda, you can make the walls – just don’t forget to leave holes for the windows. And Tom, climb the tree and find the thickest branch that’s suitable – so the treehouse is stable, but out of sight.”

They set to work without delay. Hunter found a pile of sturdy wooden boards in the shed. Max joined them together with wooden slats and tied on the rope walls on three sides. Then he fixed his new deck to two of the tree’s main boughs, tying the tops of the walls to the overhanging branches. And just for himself, Max strung together a rope ladder – just what you need if you haven’t got sharp claws for scaling tree trunks.

Max and the cats climbed up into their hideout. It was dark up there, and only snatches of light – broken rays which managed to steal through the leaves – played across their happy faces.

“I’ve got some biscuits and a flask of milk,” said Max. “Let’s have a treehouse-warming party!”

The friends tucked into the biscuits, washing them down with the milk – that well-known favourite of all cats, and children too. And they decided that – just for now – Auntie Jane didn’t need to know about the treehouse.

That evening Hunter and Max headed out for the first shift. They sat still up in the tree, until they heard Auntie Jane calling out, “Max, where are you? Time to get washed and then it’s off to bed!” Max climbed down and ran into the house. He had a quick wash, said good night to his auntie, got into bed – and pretended to fall asleep. Auntie Jane kissed Max on the forehead and went to her room. Max waited a while longer and then, with the sausages for Hunter that he’d kept ready in his bedside table, he crept softly to the door that led out into the garden. And seconds later he’d climbed up to the treehouse then pulled up the rope ladder and thrown it over the nearest branch.

When Hunter saw that Max had brought some provisions, he was happy beyond any words! He’d had to wait some time without a bite to eat, and was getting really hungry.

Sitting up in the treehouse, the two friends tried to stay perfectly still as they peered out into the dark of the night. All was quiet. A few times that night Max’s head started to droop and he slept a while – but rather than waking him, Hunter just kept watch more vigilantly than before.

And as soon as dawn had broken, Max returned to the house to get some proper sleep in his own bed.

The next night it was Tom and Matilda’s turn to go on duty. At the very stroke of midnight they heard strange, piercing voices – and saw an old mangy fox along with two smaller foxes who must have been his cubs. One of the cubs had a black left ear, the other a black right ear. The foxes had just climbed into the garden – over a low stretch of fence by the thick tall bushes in the depths of the garden – and were heading toward the house. Then the older fox stopped short. He looked to the right, then to the left, sniffed – and suddenly started digging, throwing up dirt as fast as he could with his big paws.

Tom and Matilda didn’t know what to do. They realised they’d be overpowered in a fight – the foxes would eat them right up! But brave Matilda stayed calm: “We need to do the job we came to do – we can’t let those foxes ruin the garden! I’ll coax the smallest cub over here. If we can snatch him up into the tree with us, the older fox will have to do as we tell him.”

She climbed down from the tree and stole up to the fox cub, who was sniffing at something behind a bench. Then she leapt out in front of him, yelling “Catch me if you can!” – and made a run for the eucalyptus. The fox cub took after her. But once beneath the tree she spun round and threw herself under his feet. The cub toppled over sideways, and straight away a bundle of rope – thrown down by Tom – fell right on top of him. Taking the end of the rope in her teeth, Matilda trussed up the little fox’s legs – so fast, and so tight, that before he even knew it he’d been taken captive by these fearless cats. They hauled him up to the top, and Matilda shouted out, “Hey, old Mr Fox! We’ve got your son! If you want us to let him go, stop wrecking our garden!”

The foxes stopped digging and came toward the tree. From above, the little cub whimpered pitifully, “Help me!”

“Release my son, cat. We will leave your garden.”

“You need to promise that you’ll never come here again!”

“I give you my word.”

While Matilda was negotiating with the old fox, Tom asked the cub, “Why have you been digging holes in our garden?”

“We’re looking for an underground passage – the one leading to the ancient mansion by the river.”

“Is that the big house where the Prince of Transylvania lives?”

“Yes, Prince Georgius. And he’s got a big hen house there. We wanted to sneak in there and steal his hens.”

Tom was shocked. “Don’t you have your own food that’s meant for foxes? Our owner gives us tasty cat food every day, and on top of that she treats us to soup, meat, fish, even prawns!” (Here Tom stopped to lick his lips as he was particularly partial to prawns.)

The fox gave a melancholy sigh. “Nobody gives us any food at all. Humans take over our forests to build houses and roads, and we’re forced to look for food in rubbish dumps and gardens. Humans hate us, they hunt us and poison us. But a house pet like you wouldn’t know anything about that. You’ve got it all on a plate.”

Tom was offended. “I might be a ‘house pet’, but I know how to catch a mouse! Matilda, listen. These foxes aren’t villains – they’re just really hungry. Humans have taken their home and left them with no food. Maybe we ought to help them.”

Matilda, who knew well enough about injustice, replied thoughtfully: “It could be a good idea. But we’ll need to discuss it with the others first. What’s your name, little one?”

“I’m Kay. My sister’s called Juna.”

Tom and Matilda carefully lowered the fox cub to the ground, then jumped down from the tree themselves. Sullen-faced, the old fox watched as they loosened the ties around his son’s paws. Matilda told him, “Come to the garden tomorrow when it gets dark. We’ll think what we can do to help you. In the meantime, take our sandwiches and burgers – it’s lucky we never got a chance to eat them.”

Tom climbed quickly up to the treehouse and brought down the provisions that Max had laid on for the night watch. Before a minute had passed, the foxes had gobbled everything down – and afterwards they helped Matilda and Tom tidy things up in the garden. Luckily they didn’t have to replace too much soil, since the foxes had only had a chance to dig a single hole – and it wasn’t even in that noticeable a spot.

The foxes left, but the cats spent the rest of the night in the garden – after all, it’s rather exciting to sleep in your own little shelter, especially high up in a tree!

Chapter 5. The Walk

Early the next morning, when the whole house was still sleeping, Matilda slipped softly into Max’s room, jumped onto his bed and delicately stroked his cheek with the tip of her tail. Max woke up at once.

“Matilda, how are you, my dear? Is everything all right?”

She told him about the night’s events with the foxes. Max grew thoughtful. “I wonder what we could do to help them. Perhaps ask Auntie Jane to leave food out for them, like she does for you?”

“No, Max, I don’t know if there’s much point mentioning the foxes to Auntie Jane – humans don’t usually have a high opinion of foxes in general.”

“Hmm, you’re not wrong. Not long ago she was cursing the foxes who got into our rubbish bins – she said they’re filthy creatures and that’s all they’ll ever be. There’s no way she’ll agree to feed them. How’s the garden looking, by the way – do you think Auntie will notice anything?”

“Well, we tidied everything up as best we could, but if she goes for a walk round the garden she’ll know things aren’t quite right. We’ll have to think up some way of keeping her away!”

Max thought for a while, then his eyes lit up: “I think I’ve got a plan!” He rubbed his hands together.