‘Fine. You’ve made your point. Let’s go.’
The walk back was completed in silence. Grace contented herself with making rude gestures with her fingers out of his line of sight. They were perhaps ten minutes from the bike when Grace heard what she thought was a feeble cry.
She stopped still and waited. There it was again. A tiny noise somewhere off to her right. She attempted to follow the sound. Steps behind her told her Will had noticed she’d veered off without permission.
‘What it is? Too much coffee?’
‘No. It most certainly is not.’
She wasn’t going to forgive him for his earlier comments easily.
‘What then?’
‘Listen…’
Will did an impression of someone listening by holding his ear on one side, which made Grace look away, but then he started to run in the direction of the sound.
‘It’s definitely an animal in pain.’
Grace struggled to keep up with him, but they didn’t need to go far. Up against a rock just off the path was an open sack. The sound was coming from within.
Will put his hand inside and pulled out a ball of fur. It was a tiny tabby kitten. He put it carefully on the ground, but Grace could tell there was no hope. Its little body just lay there.
Will shook his head and reached in again. He brought out another one, but it was the same story. It was a little black one this time. Grace forced herself not to cry.
The pitiful meow came again. Will reached in with the utmost care and pulled out a grey kitten, its fur standing on end. It was barely alive, but it was still making a noise. It looked tiny in Will’s large hand, like a toy.
‘Quick, can you get the blanket out of my rucksack and the water, please.’
Grace snapped out of her frozen state and unzipped the bag. She poured some water into the lid of the bottle, and Will held the kitten’s head over the water so it could reach. It seemed to understand what to do and lapped at the liquid with a tiny pink tongue. Will smiled.
‘That’s it, well done, little one.’
Will passed his bundle to Grace. ‘The poor thing’s totally dehydrated.’ He bent down to pick up the blanket. ‘Here, wrap this around it, and keep getting it to drink the water.’
Grace coddled the tiny scrap, while Will double-checked there was nothing else in the sack.
He carefully put the two dead kittens back inside, tied it up and hid the package under a bush.
‘There’s nothing we can do for them, but this little one has a chance. We need to get to a vet as soon as possible. I know someone who can help.’
Their squabble was forgotten just like that. The kitten needed them and they worked together as a team, without words. Grace got as much water into the cat as possible and kept it warm, while Will rang his contact to inform them they were on their way.
‘You’re going to have to hold onto me on the bike one-armed? Is that OK?’
Grace nodded and took off her cap to shield the kitten from the sun on the walk back.
Her rides with her dad proved their worth as her sense of balance kicked in and she was able to keep the kitten stable. It was still making the odd noise, thank goodness. When they reached the vet, Will took the kitten from her so she could get off the bike, and then handed the little bundle back. He seemed to understand she couldn’t let it go.
‘Will!’
A petite woman in a white coat rushed out and embraced him fully for several seconds, planting kisses on both cheeks. It seemed a little more intimate than the usual vet-and-client greeting, but maybe it was a Greek thing.
‘Angeliki. You’ve got to help us.’
The woman gave Grace a cursory look and took the kitten out of her arms.
‘Follow me.’
