Conversations with Critters Presents The Case of the Jumping Gene Chapter 14

Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. And the highly anticipated release of Chapter 14! Hooray! Hooray!

Today Critters, we are pleased to bring you Chapter 14 of The Case of the Jumping Gene! This is the latest, and we do mean the greatest, and most up to date stage in the story brought to you by the J Kitten, Sleuth & Purveyor of Bright Shiny Objects Detective Agency!

Previously! Jasper Kitten survived a devious and deceptive episode of sled sabotage!

Now! Can he warm up and hold on down the homestretch to the Alpaca Farm? And. Then. What.

Please! Welcome our Core Community Critters, Jasper Kitten, Chris and Jojo in excellent endothermic critter commentary and conversation! Take it away!

Jasper: Hello, Friends! In this gripping, riveting and thrilling Chapter 14, I am ready.

Chris: Furthermore, Dear Gentle Critters, I am set.

Jojo: Greetings, Dear Gentle Readers, and please remember how much I luvluvluv you. Cuz. It’s time to go go go!

THE CASE OF THE JUMPING GENE

BOOK 3 FROM THE J KITTEN, SLEUTH & PURVEYOR OF BRIGHT SHINY OBJECTS DETECTIVE AGENCY

BY JASPER KITTEN, CHRIS, JOJO AND STAR IN HEAVEN FUREVER AND EVER

DEDICATED IN LUVLUVLUVING MEMORY OF STAR

CHAPTER 14

FARM CHORES

The core body temperature of Jasper Kitten had dropped precipitously before his extrication from the snow. Now, positioned on the supply sled with Chris, his Orange stripes shivered and his whiskers shaked. 

Chris sat as close to him as possible while maintaining their balance, speeding along, the bags of kibble stable and secure. Although, chilled himself from the transference of his own heat to Jasper Kitten, he leaned into Jasper Kitten’s stripes with an efficient thermodynamic exchange.

“Why, I can see the front gate to the Alpaca Farm up ahead,” growled Chris, loud and proud. “Next stop, breakfast!”

Jasper Kitten gave a nod in the affirmative. His core frigid body temperature warmed to the moment, long awaited and now all but ensured. 

“A nutritious meal is the first order of the day for the Ginormous Group upon the safe arrival at the Alpaca Farm. Furthermore, eating will help restore my metabolic rate due to the recent endothermic disruption which brought me to the brink of hypothermia,” assessed Jasper Kitten. 

“Cuz. You gotta eat, especially after being buried in the snow,” confirmed Chris.

“Correct, Chris. Please. Proceed,” directed Jasper Kitten.

The sled team slowed and turned into the broad gateway of the Alpaca Farm. They followed the groomed road to the farmhouse. Almost invisible in the snow, a white alpaca stood waiting at the front door.

“Welcome to the safe haven of the Alpaca Farm,” she stepped out to meet and greet them. “My name is Sassafras and I will be your host. It is always a pleasure to receive Sir Skipper and his friends.”

Jasper Kitten hopped down from the sled and strode forward. He gave a bow before Sassafras who stood poised on her slender feet with two toebeans each, tap tapping the snow.

“Thank you for your kind hospitality, Sassafras. Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Jasper Kitten of the J Kitten, Sleuth & Purveyor of Bright Shiny Objects Detective Agency. We are traveling with a rather large party of rescued cats and have come to you based on the recommendation and overland transportation skills of Sir Skipper and his award winning championship team of sled dogs,” he mewed by way of introduction.

“We are honored that you have come here to us. The world renowned sleuth, Jasper Kitten, truly an honor to meet and greet you,” she exclaimed. 

“Thank you again for your kindness, Sassafras. But. However. I can not take so much of the credit. Please, allow me to introduce my agency,” he replied as the Critter Detectives joined him. “This is Chris, my Canine Unit, Star and Jojo, and our recent graduates from Officer Training School, Clementine and Petal.”

“Welcome, Detectives. You must have been through a harrowing ordeal to go to such great lengths to reach us here at the farm. Please, come in at once with your rescued cats and warm yourselves by the fire.” She gestured with her two toebeans toward the door.

Clementine and Petal returned to the sled cabins and unlatched them with a gentle call of good morning. The sleeping cats awoke from their slumber. One by one, they hopped out and took a look around, wide eyed but quiet, in awe of their new found surroundings on the farm.

Off in the distance, by the big red barn, the pack of alpacas performed their morning farm chores. They paused in the midst of their routine, mucking out stalls and spreading fresh hay, and watched the arrival of the Critters and their procession into the farmhouse.

Sassafras seated them around the farm table and the fire crackled and comforted them. Chris wasted no time in carrying in a bag of kibble while Clementine and Petal set the table with the travel bowls and spoons. Breakfast was served and they all chowed down.

“Gosh, Jasper Kitten, do you sense your core body temp returning to, at least, a low normal of one hundred point five Fahrenheit?” queried Star.

“Yes, Star, I do detect an internal thermal shift in the right direction,” replied Jasper Kitten, seated in close proximity to the woodstove. His stripes no longer shivered. His whiskers no longer gave a shake.

“That sure is a relief,” she commented and brushed kibble crumbs from her cinnamon brown paws.

He munched on a spoonful of kibble as he sat across the table from Charlotte, who had her sights focused on her own bowl, and considered the persistent genetic mutation of her Orange coat. Jasper Kitten swallowed hard, his spoon suspended over his bowl.

“Gosh and oh my goodness, Jasper Kitten, we just got here. What is it?” asked Star.

Jasper Kitten continued to clasp and grasp his spoon.

“I need a temporary laboratory,” he spoke in an even hushed mew to her, but dropped his spoon with a clatter.

Sassafras, who stood at the sink, turned in time to see Jasper Kitten hop down from the bench at the farm table and approach her.

“Yes, Jasper Kitten? Is there something of an urgent nature that requires assistance?” she asked with a growing sense of alarm.

“Please, Sassafras, I do not wish to concern you, but it is imperative that I secure a private and hygienic space in which I may set up a temporary laboratory,” he informed her. “As soon as possible if I may be so bold. My work will not be done until then.”

“Of course, Jasper Kitten. I can leave my KP Duty for later. A farm has a never ending amount of chores, after all,” she said and reached for a dish towel.

“Officers Clementine and Petal are highly trained in KP Duty and have an international expertise in making themselves useful in kitchens. They are at your service,” he told Sassafras and gave the paws up signal to the Servals.

“That is most kind of all of you. I do seem to have an extra load of dishes to keep up with right now. We had a new group of volunteers arrive last night for the Working Barncat Program. I certainly appreciate the extra help here in the kitchen,” she thanked them and stepped away from the sink.

Clementine and Petal proceeded with an implicit, unspoken division of labor between them, washing and drying the dishes. Chris, Star and Jojo, helped clear the table of the travel bowls and spoons and the Ginormous Group remained seated for a grooming session.

In the midst of the cleanup, Sassafras led Jasper Kitten outside. He retrieved his Attache Case from the gear sled and paused for a moment while Sassafras spoke with Sir Skipper. The sled dogs had already bunked down in the snow and were fast asleep. 

He made a rapid surreptitious check of the security code and latches and was satisfied to discover no evidence of tampering. As he looked up from the Attache Case, Sassafras rejoined him with Sir Skipper.

“Sir Skipper, again, I must offer my gratitude to you and your championship sled dogs for your tremendous efforts in bringing us to the safe haven of the Alpaca Farm,” mewed Jasper Kitten. “You have been indispensable to our investigation.”

“My pleasure, Jasper Kitten. When I first received the phone call from Jojo, there was no question that we would heed the request for any and all help and let me assure you, we will remain here at your service,” he confirmed. 

“Sir Skipper, it is my understanding that you do have long term plans to proceed on to Alaska for the Iditarod Race. Although you have been ever so willing to heed our call, I do not wish to impede your progress at this point in time,” commented Jasper Kitten.

“Jasper Kitten, at the rate at which you work, I am confident that ample time remains for us to journey on to Alaska for the Iditarod,” confirmed Sir Skipper. “Once you have cracked the case wide open, my team and I will be happy to give you a ride back to your car and, furthermore, I know right where to stop for a battery on the way.”

“Good to know, Sir Skipper. You certainly plan ahead and I appreciate your confidence,” replied Jasper Kitten.

With a nod, Sir Skipper bowed and then returned to his team and bunked down.

Sassafras and Jasper Kitten padded over to a small barn. She gave the door a push with her two toebeans and it slid open to reveal a wooden workbench and a stream of natural light from a window.

“Will these accommodations be appropriate for your laboratory needs, Jasper Kitten?” she asked.

“Yes, thank you, Sassafras. And again, I only need the space on a temporary basis,” he reiterated.

“Take all the time you need,” she affirmed. “Shall I leave you to it?”

“Yes, thank you very much,” mewed Jasper Kitten. 

Now alone, he set his Attache Case on the workbench and popped the latches open. He lifted the lid and removed an airtight protective container which he had filled with a large test tube and a small beaker while still at the Bio Lab. 

“This laboratory set up will do,” he mewed. 

Jasper Kitten also retrieved a small packet of powder, the reagent needed to reverse the genetically modified Orange coat color. He had transported this sample in a solid state from the Bio Lab with the critical foresight that it might come in handy if and only if needed.

And he retrieved one final item that would make the process a proven success. With this, he would be consistent as required by the scientific method, for he would in fact repeat the experiment. Jasper Kitten, the Orange striped sleuth, had kept a penny in reserve.

Meanwhile, back at the farmhouse, Star observed the return of Sassafras minus the presence of Jasper Kitten.

“Gosh,” barked Star to Jojo. “I don’t like the looks of this. I’m going to check in on the whereabouts of Jasper Kitten. He shouldn’t be alone with Busby Bubbs still on the loose.”

“Roger that, Star,” bark bark barked Jojo as Star broke away with her can do Chihuahua attitude.

She sidled up to Sassafras and conferred and concurred with her as to Jasper Kitten’s specific location on the Alpaca Farm. Armed with the necessary knowledge, she trudged through the snow to the small barn and found him stock still at the workbench, studying the penny.

“Jasper Kitten, this small barn has all of the appearances of a suitable temporary laboratory,” surmised Star as she scanned the space. “The lighting is natural and sufficient.”

“Yes and the sooner we proceed with the reverse Orange experiment for Charlotte, the better. Time is still very much of the essence,” he apprised.

The rising sun angled in a direct ray of light through the barn window and Star blinked in rapid succession.

“Jasper Kitten, we must proceed with all due caution,” she pointed out with a cinnamon brown paw.

“I’m in complete agreement with you on that, Star,” replied Jasper Kitten. “We need all paws on deck. You and Jojo will guard the barn door. Chris will assist me at the workbench with the experiment.”

“On it, Jasper Kitten. The equipment will be well managed under the finesse and dexterity of our toebeans. The reagent. The test tube. And the penny,” she summarized.

“Please, return immediately and at once to the farmhouse and rally the Critters. I want Chris here pronto plus Jojo to stand guard. Charlotte needs and deserves support most of all during the reverse Orange experiment. Please, ask Fiona to accompany her. Officers Clementine and Petal are to remain on duty with the Ginormous Group,” he instructed.

Star bounded to the barn door, but stopped hard and glanced back at Jasper Kitten as he pocketed the penny for safe keeping.

“Jasper Kitten, you’d better come take a look at this!” she cried.

He pounced at her command and, too, stopped hard at the barn door. They observed the tracks in the snow together.

“First and foremost, Star, observe our tracks and those of Sassafras,” he mewed.

“Gosh, you’re right, Jasper Kitten. Clearly, Sassafras left tracks coming and going. Her two toebeans and large soft pad have left a characteristic alpaca impression in the snow,” she noted.

“Yes, I see, Star,” he mewed. “But. And here’s where it gets interesting, very very interesting.”

“There is an anomaly in the other tracks,” she went on.

“There is,” he agreed.

“What do you make of this, Jasper Kitten?” she asked.

“We see an additional fresh set of tracks, leading away and only away from this barn. But. Only Sassafras has left identifiable tracks leading away, in fact, from the barn. Both you and I have left our characteristic dog and cat tracks leading here only. Neither of us have left the premises,” asserted Jasper Kitten and removed his pocket magnifying glass for a closer inspection.

He knelt down and made his observation, then passed the magnifying glass to Star. She too knelt down and made a closer inspection. Their eyes locked.

“Do you see what I see, Star?”

“Gosh, I believe so, Jasper Kitten.”

“The anomaly in the tracks is quite distinctive. In my observation of the shape and structure, these tracks are relatively well spaced from each other with some kind of symmetrical lattice pattern contained within them. If my instincts serve me correctly, I’d say we are looking at the distinct impression of a custom made set of prints from none other than a snowshoe.” Jasper Kitten rocked back on his own toebeans.

“Gosh, Jasper Kitten, I’d say your instincts are serving you quite correctly. Based on my own visual observations, I must agree with you about the anomaly,” she barked, the morning light flashing in her eyes.

“Yes, I see, Star,” mewed Jasper Kitten and he felt chilled again in the very core of his being.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Poetry with Pets

Hypothermia

Extrication from the snow

Time for the warm up

By Jasper Kitten, Chris and Jojo

Thank you for reading luvluvluv Jasper Kitten, Chris, Star in Heaven Furever and Ever, and Jojo

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