Chapter 1344: Chapter 79: Remaking the Nation (7)
Winters and Colonel Gaisa walked side by side out of the courtyard, following a cobblestone path toward the riverbank.
On regular days, Winters often took this path for a walk by the river, feeding the cats.
Passing through hedges, walls, and sentry posts, the Anya River suddenly appeared before Winters and Colonel Gaisa.
They paused to gaze, as the gently flowing river reflected the twinkling lights from houses on the opposite side, like fireflies flickering in the night.
But Gaisa Adonis could not remain as calm as the “mother river.”
On the contrary, the Colonel was shaking with anger.
After repeatedly trying to calm himself, Colonel Gaisa finally could not hold back his indignation and accused with grief, “Whose little girl is that? Such rudeness!”
“You heard it all?”
“Only separated by a door!”
Winters smiled and saluted, “I apologize on her behalf.”
“No need.” Colonel Gaisa took a deep breath, “I won’t argue with children.”
The two walked along the river aimlessly.
Winters tactfully changed the subject, “You’re here because of Kai Morland?”
“If I wanted to take care of that guy, I could crush him at any mont.” Colonel Gaisa dismissively said of the man Winters ntioned, “A Kai Morland is not worth a special trip from .”
“Then is it about sothing else important?” Winters graciously continued the conversation.
“Yes, it is sothing important.” Colonel Gaisa stopped, fixing his gaze on Winters, “But it’s not about Kai Morland, it’s about you.”
“?” Winters also stopped.
“Yes, you.” Gaisa answered deliberately.
Between the military community’s wall and the Anya River was a paved road wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. To prevent carriages from accidentally falling into the river, a barrier slightly higher than a knee had been built along the bank.
Winters gestured for Colonel Gaisa to sit down with him on the nearby barrier.
The evening breeze gently swept away the sumr heat; the bright moonlight cald their restless minds.
If not looked at carefully, the two in civilian clothes could easily pass for ordinary citizens out for a cool evening.
As they sat, a faint rustling sound ca from the bushes across the road.
A small two-month-old calico kitten peeked its body halfway through the leaves, tilting its head towards the two n sitting on the barrier.
Winters, hearing the rustling, turned his head, eting the kitten’s gaze. He made clicking sounds, beckoning the kitten to co closer.
At this age, kittens are exploring the world. Although it didn’t recognize these humans who looked a bit strange—for all humans are quite curious in a cat’s eyes—it couldn’t resist its curiosity.
So, the kitten raised its tail, taking two steps back for every step forward as it approached the two humans sitting on the barrier.
“Where’s your mommy?” Winters extended his hand, letting the kitten sniff his fingers, and said apologetically, “I didn’t bring any food today.”
“Where did the cat co from?” Colonel Gaisa was very surprised.
Unlike Venetians, Paratu people rarely used cats to catch mice, nor did they keep cats as pets.
Paratu people preferred using small terriers to handle rats. In the sparsely populated Kingdom of Galloping Horses, there were plenty of natural predators like weasels, snakes, and owls outside the barns.
So it’s rare to see cats in Paratu, even owls are more common than cats.
Colonel Gaisa’s voice startled the kitten, which wobbled back to a farther place, tilting its head to look at Winters.
“From the stables, a mother cat and three kittens.” Winters replied softly while calling the kitten back, “I asked the coachman, and he said the mother cat moved into the stable by herself, making a nest. Probably because there are too many mice stealing feed.”
With Winters’ soft call, the kitten gradually walked back.
Though it did not get any food, it didn’t leave either. Instead, it circled Winters’ leg, owing constantly, rubbing its cheek against Winters’ boot.
“Why is it so… affectionate with you?” Colonel Gaisa was dumbfounded.
“I co by to feed them often.” Winters replied succinctly.
Then Winters picked up the kitten and placed it on his lap, gently stroking its cheeks and chin.
The calico kitten didn’t resist, instead letting out a contented purr, eventually closing its eyes and dozing off.
“Would you like to pet it too?” Winters enthusiastically asked the Colonel.
“No, thanks.” Colonel Gaisa was tempted, but didn’t dare to try, “I don’t want it to bite —in the old saying, if soone is moody and unpredictable, they’d be likened to a cat.”
Winters chuckled, noncommittally.
They sat quietly for a while, then Colonel Gaisa casually remarked, “It seems like this is our first ti sitting down to chat like this?”
“Second ti.” Winters smiled and reminded him, “Last ti was the sa, we sat facing the Anya River, but it was much farther upstream.”
“That one doesn’t count.” Colonel Gaisa recalled, waving his hand, “We were adversaries then; now, we’re speaking as allies.”
“Then this is the first ti.”
“Sigh, we should chat more often.” Colonel Gaisa sighed, playfully admonishing, “And you should co to more often for chats! Not like now—making the senior co to you.”
“Okay.” Winters agreed readily.
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