Cat and the Young Magic Flutist

Author: Terry Pratchett
Translator: Zhou Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The story takes place——partly takes place——on the mail coach that travels over the mountains from the distant plain city. The coachman dislikes this journey. The broken route twists and turns through the forests, winding among the mountains. Deep shadows lie beneath the trees. Sometimes he feels as if something is stealthily following the coach, making his heart tighten. Moreover, throughout the journey, strangely, he can hear some sounds. He is certain that the sounds come from the roof behind him, yet there is nothing there except large oilcloth mail bags and the luggage of the young man. There is no doubt that nothing is large enough to hide a person. But occasionally, he does hear sharp voices whispering. Currently, there is only one passenger, a blond young man, sitting alone in the swaying coach, reading a book. He reads very slowly, pointing at each word, murmuring under his breath.
A grumpy but kind-hearted magical cat, not only capable of speaking but also possessing extraordinary intelligence, comes to the dreadful city of Bingly——where a plague of rats is raging——during his days of wandering with his companions: a seemingly foolish teenage whistling boy and a dozen or so extraordinary mice living beneath his nose. Later, they meet the mayor's daughter——a little girl full of whimsical ideas. A cat, a group of mice, a boy, and a girl. An unexpected and amusing story begins in this way.