Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1 'Of course I can do it. It's a piece of cake, especially for a fully fledged ninja deputy!' Everyone in the milk bar roared with laughter and encouragement. Toto the Ninja Cat sat at the end of the table, her head in her paws, trying not to laugh and praying her dear friend and two brothers didn't do anything too stupid The cats were celebrating, and with good reason. They had recently foiled the evil King Roderick the

Spotlessly Clean's dastardly plan to steal the animal Crown Jewels, frame Toto's boss Larry, raise an army of rats and pretty much destroy everything on earth (it was a weird plan). And they had done such a good job that Larry had bestowed the title of DEPUTY NINJA CAT on Toto's brothers Silver and Socks and their dear friend Catface (the most popular cat-rat in

London town). While this was a huge honour, Larry was at GREAT PAINS to point out: 'It certainly does not mean you are actual ninjas.' For one thing, none of them had the patience to get through the training, which took ages. Plus, although they were all brave (and for that alone, Toto was proud of all three of them), none were terribly gifted in the fighting department. Silver wasn't bad but, in his own words, the training 'got in the way of good eating time. Socks was spirited but too tiny to fight off anyone with big muscles. Catface had fenced as a young rat, and had picked up the odd move from Toto, but, as he readily admitted, he was 'mostly hopeless at that sort of thing. But being a deputy ninja came with a badge and an allowance of twenty-five litres of Jersey milk and five hampers of cheese a year... and that was not to be sniffed at. So after the ceremony the team had decided

to celebrate at THE LEGENDARY MILK BAR THE SOUR SAUCER, under Blackfriars Bridge on the banks of the River Thames. The last time the cats had been here the atmosphere had been very different: the whole bar had been full of cut-throats and smugglers intent on making them walk the famous plank that jutted out over the cold waters of the river below. Luckily, thanks to Toto, that gang was behind bars now, and while the clientele was still on the salty side (mostly made up of ships' dogs, rats and cats) it was a lot safer to drink in. So Catface, Silver and Socks had been making the most of their Jersey milk allowance and were now keen to take on the challenge of the plank... which brings us back to why Toto had her head in her paws... 'A piece of cake! I'll wager with any one of you fine ladies or gents that I, Catface, Alexandre Rattinoff the Thirty-third, and my two fellow deputies can leap from

the plank, SOMERSAULT IN THE AIR and land perfectly on that lovely boat moored below without getting even one strand of our fur wet. What say you all to my bet... a litre of your best milk? Henry! Set them up, we'll be back in a jiffy? Henry, the landlord of The Sour Saucer, who was an enormous, gruff, but well-meaning Maine Coon, rolled his eyes and went back to drying glasses. 'Come on then, chaps, away we go. Catface ushered his friends towards the plank. They didn't look entirely convinced this was a good idea. 'Catface, are you sure about this? It's dark and- MAMMA MIA!- an awfully long way down, Silver kind-of-protested. 'Too right, bro, and I'm not exactly the world's best swimmer, said Socks. 'Oh, stuff and nonsense,' replied Catface. 'You won't even get your paws wet. Think of all the tips you've

picked up from your sister down the years. Now, come, gentlemen. The rat turned once more to the patrons of the bar, who were all now enthralled at what might happen. 'My friends, witness the awesome skill, bravery and power of the deputy ninjas. We shall rejoin you anon!' At this the rat LEAPT INTO THE DARK VOID, followed reluctantly by Silver and Socks. The whole of the bar crowded around the windows to watch. Toto raced to a window herself, and even though she was almost totally blind, she could just about make out the shadows of shapes hurtling through the night air. Despite Catface's false bravado, all three managed to perform some pretty impressive somersaults as he was yelling, 'See, what did I tell you!' Toto couldn't help but feel a little proud... until they crashed through the deck of the beautiful little yacht one by one, going straight through the hull and