CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: MARTIN ON THE MOON (as told by Schumanzer)

I am utterly confused. After travelling for thousands of miles, I never did find the 'Red X' on Martin's treasure map. That's why you have not heard from me ever since I bought the map.

I am completely pooped out now. Think I'll take a snooze. My body is aching all over and my eyelids feel heavy, heavy, very heavy....

(Three hours passed and Schumanzer rouse with a start!)

I know where Martin hid the treasure map. You won't believe me if I tell you I just met Martin...will you? I must admit I'm a little woozy, but I am sure it was Martin.

Can you guess what He's doing? Chasing the mad rabbit! And a lady in a funny-looking robe (Lady Chang Er?) was chasing Martin too!

"Don't you dare chase my rabbit!" the lady shouted angrily at Martin. "It is helping me make the elixir of life...it's for my husband, so he can join me on the moon," she shrieked.

"You STUPID DOG! How did you end up here on the moon?" she cried in desperation.

"Rabbit meat, Rabbit stew, I can't wait!" barked Martin; panting and grabbing the rabbit by its tail.

" Take this!" howled the not-so-ladylike Lady on the moon; smashing Martin's head with a broom.

Martin fell.

Can you believe it? The God Martin has fallen, defeated by a Lady with a broom???

As Martin fell, I saw the RED X on the palm of his paw! My treasure, it's on the moon. But I don't know how to get there.

With a howl of anguish, Schumanzer tore up the map and fell asleep!

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: Schumanzer's folly?

Schumanzer yelped with joy as he held Martin's treasure map in his paws. He paid 300 GP for this and it had better be good.

Born of rich German parents, Schumanzer has seen his fortunes dwindling since he became an avid collector. Quite a collector he is too--mostly of useless things: a dictionary of 5000 useless words; a rare book of useless facts and lies; and the list goes on...

"Alas! another collectible!", he murmured to himself, as he tore open the package containing his treasure.

To his horror, he can't decipher the treasure map. He turned it upside down, then sideways and then all around, hoping that something sensible would just jump out of the map when he did that.

Actually, Schumanzer never went to school and he cannot read a thing. When he does, he reads from right to left...so the word: M-A-R-T-I-N is read as N-I-T-R-A-M, which of course make no sense.

After studying the map for an hour or so, he decided that the treasure must be where the red X is.

" X marks the spot!",he revelled in his cleverness. That was what his dad used to say all the time when they were looking at things in the map.

So began Schumanzer's journey to look for that special place in Dogland that is marked with an 'X'.

"Not any ordinary X mind you, but a RED one!" he reminded himself.

Will Schumanzer find his treasure? Only Martin knows!

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: FORGOTTEN

Whiskers wore a dazed expression on his face; stupefied by the news that they were to be trapped in the cell forever. Dragging himself out of bed, he scuffed towards the entrance. To his surprise, the bars were nowhere in sight...

He felt a rush of excitement and scuttled out of the entrance to his freedom. He managed to get out and shouted to Fluffy to do the same.

Fluffy watched Whisker's exit in awe. She sprinted towards the entrance. But the same gate came crashing down, almost severing her fluffy tail.

"What the ...?", both CATs cried out.

The next few minutes saw Whiskers moving in and out of the entrance without any obstacle in his way. The CATs concluded that the bars only came down if it sensed Fluffy's exit.

"All's not lost," comforted Whiskers.

"You can stay in while I go out to sea to catch Unagi to feed the both of us. At least we will not starve," reasoned Whiskers.

Fluffy gave Whiskers an alarming look. But she quickly realised that Whiskers was right after all.

The two maids went about their daily chores as though nothing has happened. And if you're still wondering, they are not real Dogs.

After a hard day's work, they would retire to their bases--drop dead and get re-charged for the next day's activities. In the 1900s, they were called R-O-B-O-T-S.

The guards never returned to the cell. So confident was King Sam in his Smart Prison Concept, he did not even bother to guard the cell.

The two CATs were left mostly on their own and lived out the rest of their lives forgotten by Dogland!

And if you were reading this blog, you should also be glad that you would not hear of the CATs anymore... CATS. They are best forgotten.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: TRAPPED

The Unagi was the best Whiskers had ever eaten in years. He had not eaten or slept for days. After downing a dozen unagis and some beer, vertigo sets in and he fell into deep sleep...

Fluffy paced up and down in her room. What will she do with Whiskers? She can't possibly hide him in her room for long without being discovered. She desperately needed a plan.

The maids announced the arrival of King Sam. Fluffy hurriedly covered Whiskers in her bed covers and sauntered over to the living room to meet King Sam.

" What brings you here, your royal highness?" Fluffy bowed her head and curtsied demurely.

" The News is already out. As far as Dogland goes, you're dead and gone. Do not venture out of this cell-- not even a single step. Is this understood?" King Sam sounded impatient. Without waiting for a reply, he left.

Fluffy looked out into the lush garden outside her cell. Not a step out of this cell? Is this even possible? All she could see is the open lush garden. No bars ... She can easily walk in and out as she pleases. With that thought, Fluffy scampered towards the garden.

To her horror, a gate came crashing down out of nowhere. The gate completely closed the entrance to her cell. Fluffy is trapped!

She turned back into her cell. Whiskers was awoken by the crashing sound and thought he was still dreaming. Then he saw Fluffy running towards him, almost out of breath.




"We're trapped!" Fluffy cried in despair.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: DECEIVED

Whiskers, under cover of the dark, stealthily roam King Sam's palace to find clues as to the wherabouts of Fluffy, whom he is sure is hiding somewhere in Dogland. His first destination: the King's pressroom to take a peek of the next day's Dogland Times--Dogland's only newspaper.

Stacks of newspapers were just off the press. Whiskers grabbed one. Staring in his face was Fluffy's. Fluffy has just made headlines.

"Fugitive CAT assassinated in Palace! " it said.

"So, Brickhead killed Fluffy!" muttered Whiskers.

Suddenly, melancholy overcame Whiskers. Fluffy is gone. Forever.

"Brickhead shall pay for this!" Whiskers swore.

"Fernando Attacks Again," read another headline.

"Urgh! Fernando--what a waste of time!," Whiskers hissed.

Whiskers advanced towards the beachfront of the palace, trying to think of his next course of action.

Then something caught his attention. A light flickering in the distance. It seems to come from a cave, a prison according to the map.

Whiskers ambled across the beach as it was quiet and unguarded. Thanks to Fernando.

As he approach the cave, Whiskers smelt a familiar smell. Grilled Unagi--Fluffy's favourite.

"Unagi tastes better than green eggs and ham for sure. Stupid brickhead!" Whiskers mused.

Then Whiskers stopped dead at the entrance to the prison. It is indeed a very special prison.

Where else can you find a prison that is adorned with walls of silk and ceilings of gold? And the prisoner is not held in chains, but free to roam about and to cook her favourite dish. Not only that, there were also two maids in waiting...

"Just, what are you doing here, Fluffy?" Whiskers sprang a nasty surprise, grabbing Fluffy's paws tightly behind her back.

" I see, you finally caught up," Fluffy said unperturbed.

"Guards! Put this intruder away!" the CAT shouted.

"No use now. All the guards are now called to fight Fernando!" Whiskers retorted.

"How dare you betray me, Fluffy?" shouted Whiskers, not believing that this encounter is for real.

"Calm down Whiskers. This plan I have... it's for us," Fluffy continued, ignoring Whisker's annoyance.

"You had better explain!" Whiskers growled.

So, Fluffy explained how she hated Spain, having to eat uncooked fish and dressed up in silly-looking cat outfits made personally by Mrs Mirgle; how she misses Unagi and the good life she had with Whiskers in Catland. Exiled now from Catland for escaping from Dogland after the war, her second best choice is to stay in Dogland.

So, she bribed King Sam with the treasure map. To make King Sam look good, she agreed to stay hidden in this special prison while the rest of Dogland thinks she had been captured and killed.

"Brilliant idea, don't you think?" asked Fluffy indignantly.

"Where do I come in?" asked Whiskers almost exasperated.

"I always have plans for you, trust me!" Fluffy continued, fluttering her eye lashes.

"Have some Unagi, you must be famished," consoled Fluffy.

"Might as well," said Whiskers.

Can Fluffy be trusted? You will find out--SOON!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: KING SAM

It was turbulent times in Dogland. Many wars were fought. Pirates assailed the coast of Dogland, bombarding the patrol ships with canons when night falls. Fortunately for King Sam, the kindness he has shown towards Monstalban has been well-rewarded. The Monkey ex-pirate--now made captain-- proved himself a capable fighter and has remained loyal to Dogland since.

Many kings came and went. Often, a King's reign is very short. Dogland kings were an unruly lot and some were very cruel. This has caused much displeasure among the dogs and cast great suspicion on every King who came to be crowned.

Sam is a powerful looking dog with a brick-like head and strong muscular jaws. He is very hunky and stocky, yet agile, and extremely strong for his size. Sam is a good fighter. He led an army of 12,000 dogs to win the war with the CATs and was crowned King.

After the war, he outlawed all cats in Dogland--urging dogs to shoot them on sight. So, when a CAT suddenly showed up in his sleeping quarters, he was startled but remained calm.

In turbluent times, Dog officials are often corrupt and incompetent, securing benefits for themselves whenever the opportunity arises; making the best of the influence they wield when good times are still in their favour. But to make it to the King's Palace is almost incredible--this is one very clever CAT!

"Hush! Hush!" silenced the CAT.

" I come in peace and bring you abundant fortune--if you will only listen to me," whispered the CAT.

She (the CAT) unfurled what looks like a map and whirled it across his face.

"How did you get into my palace?" King Sam demanded.

"That is not important," assured the CAT. "What you are about to know is," she said persuasively.

King Sam was in a dilemma. If he were to listen to the CAT, he is going against his own decree; and if he were to kill this CAT, he may never know the great secret she brings.

What should he do? If dogs came to know, he is ready to conspire with a CAT (what more a female), it would surely cause much displeasure. A rebellion will surely follow suit...

"Alright," snarled the CAT, growing impatient.

"If you think dogs will rebel against you and think you a traitor, they already do!" the CAT continued audaciously.

"Turbulent times calls for unorthodox thinking, Sam," the CAT cajoled.

"Give me 10 minutes and if you don't like what you hear, you may have my head!" the CAT seemed exasperated at Sam's indecision, but confident that she would finally win Sam over.

Sam saw the map (actually half the map); the other half is in the CAT's head, so no point chopping that off.

Discussions in hushed tones continued. A deal must have been made as Sam and the CAT shook paws...

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: FLUFFY"S BETRAYAL

"Fluffy, it had to be Fluffy!" Whiskers muttered to himself. Fluffy, though cute as a furball, is a far more scheming feline than she appears to be. Whiskers brought Fluffy with him to Spain after the war, sharing his plan to secretly to steal the Dogland treasures and later on to live with Fluffy in Spain happily ever after...

While Whiskers memorised the map, he gave half of the missing map to Fluffy for safekeeping. Fluffy was supposed to plan her own adoption to the Mirgle household and secretly plant the map in the garden. The scheme was to reveal that half of the map to Captain Mirgle so that he would plan the attack on Dogland.

Fluffy, being Fluffy, sat demurely on the doorstep of the Mirgle's mansion and won over Mrs Mirgle immediately. Fluffy became Mrs Mirgle's favourite. She also brought Whiskers to the family and all went well as planned.

The CATs behaved just like other cats on the Planet Earth. Who can tell they were really alien cats? They mewed, loved fish, glared with glassy eyes , licked their paws and even hated dogs! They scampered playfully in the garden every lazy afternoon , playing hide-and-seek.

One evening, when Captain Mirgle was reading Treasure Island, Fluffy mewed excitely to draw his attention to the treasure map she had purportedly dug out in the garden. The rest, as they say, was history.

The plan was to have Whiskers stow away in the pirate ship to secretly enter Dogland and retrieve the treasure. Fluffy was supposed to remain in Spain to keep Mrs Mirgle company. After all, if Mrs Mirgle is happy, she would not make herself a nuisance to the Captain. But did Fluffy stick to Whisker's plan?

Thinking back, Whiskers could almost swear that he could feel the presence of Fluffy in the ship. He had thought it was just that he was missing Fluffy. So it seemed that Whiskers is not the only one who had memorised the map.

And someone (Fluffy?) got to the treasures first. Perhaps she even made a deal with the King. Could she be hiding in the castle still? Whiskers just had to find out...

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE:MONKEY MONSTALBAN PART TWO

A fleet of 3 Marquis(ships), 3 War Esophagors and 8 Avenger of wars arrived at the attacked ship. Monkey Monstalban sank 1 Marquis and 1 War Esphagor. Monstalban was then dragged off to prison. Monstalban one day managed to ask the king for forgiveness. The kind king forgave him and his duty was set as a captain of a ship. He was also able to keep his ship. He was also assigned on Saturday and Sunday as a patrol force. He was the first monkey to join Dogland. However, he had to pay money for the cost of the ships he sank as well. He is a good leader and he will continue to fight off attacking pirates and smugglers. He wanted to be famous when he died, and his dream came true! His old crew was still in the dungeons, refusing to seek forgiveness. But he missed his life as a pirate and fortunatley he did not give up his life of serving Dogland.

Sidebar to Chapter Twenty Four: The Map

Oh Yes! The old Dogland Map. It was rumoured that the map reveals hidden treasures. It was also rumoured that some ruthless CATS knew the existence of the treasure and that was why they attacked Dogland. When the Dogland map was discovered, a part of it was missing. Who has the missing map?

Having lost the war at Dogland, some cats secretly escaped. The CAT's ambition of uncovering and finally stealing the Dogland treasure was still very much alive.

Whiskers, the vile and manipulative feline, escaped from Dogland after losing the war. He disguised himself as a stray cat, roaming the dark alleys of a city in Spain. It was there that Whiskers got adopted by a pirate who happens to be the Captain of The Black Mirgle. Whiskers calculated that he could sneak into Dogland undetected when the Black Mirgle attacked the coast.

But the Black Mirgle was sunk and Whiskers was too late! The King had already uncovered the treasure and was happily sorting out his jewels when Whiskers arrived.

How did the King know where the treasure lies? Whiskers is the only one with the missing map, unless...