04a012bc2b17ae954d3cdbfce12d0efc

Leaves crackled, and a little owl with white and brown feathers flew down to perch on the branch of a tree. Katsumi nodded to the bird. The owl hooted before spreading its wings and flying away into the dark.

Leaving the park, they passed a row of shops. Figaro stopped outside a seafood store and licked his lips.“Goodness me! That haddock looks delicious.” His stomach gave a deep rumble.

Just then, the crying from the clock tower rose into a sharp wail. The noise was so sad and lonely that it made Kitty’s heart ache. “Quickly!” she called to the cats. “We’re nearly there.” She raced down a little alley that took her into a small square surrounded by houses.

The clock tower was right in front of her, pointing into the clouds. The huge clockface was as round and pale as the full moon hanging in the sky. The hands on the clock pointed to five minutes to midnight.

Kitty’s night vision grew stronger as she stared at the tower’s smooth stone walls. She focused on the terrible noise and spotted a tiny ball huddled on a narrow ledge. It wasn’t a ghost or a terrifying monster. It was a little ginger kitten. Its tail was curled around its body and its blue eyes were wide with fright.

“There’s a kitten on a ledge close to the top of the tower,” Kitty told the others. “I don’t know how he got so high.”

“Goodness me!” said Figaro. “How can one little kitten make such a terrible racket?”

“It doesn’t even sound like a kitten,” said Pixie, swishing her tail.

“There’s a way onto the roof over there.” Katsumi pointed to a house with a low porch. “Go on, Kitty, there’s no time to lose.”

Kitty nodded, grateful for Katsumi’s sensible ideas. She climbed onto the porch and from there to the rooftop. The others followed her. The kitten looked down, shivering wildly.

The huge clockface below the kitten showed the time: four minutes to twelve o’clock.

Kitty took a sharp breath. Soon it would be midnight, and the clock would make twelve deafening chimes. The noise was bound to startle the kitten. What if it surprised him so much that he fell right off the ledge?“Don’t be frightened!” she called to the little cat. “I’m Kitty, and this is Figaro, Pixie, and Katsumi. We’ve come to help you.”

The kitten stared down at them.“YOOOWL!” he cried, and tears dripped down his furry cheeks.

“Poor thing!” said Katsumi. “I wonder how he got stuck.”

“He’s very young to climb all the way to that ledge.” Figaro shook his head. “Kittens these days can be so reckless!”

Pixie turned her eyes to Kitty.“You will help him, won’t you?”

Kitty’s stomach felt wobbly. “I want to try!” she stammered. “But I’m not really a superhero. I’ve never been on an adventure before.”

“But you were wearing your superhero outfit!” exclaimed Figaro.

“It’s just for playing!” said Kitty desperately. “I’m not sure I can do this.”

“You’ve already come this far,” said Katsumi. “And superpowers clearly run in your family.”

Figaro frowned.“Yes! Just remember how courageously you dashed into the pitch-black park when you heard Pixie’s cry for help. I thought to myself at the time how brave you were!”

Pixie nodded eagerly.“I could have been up that tree all night if it wasn’t for you.”

Kitty blushed at their kind words. She thought again of what her mom had said:“You’re braver than you think.” She turned to face the huge tower, and her head spun at the thought of climbing up so high. Then she looked at the tiny ginger kitten, scrabbling at the side of the ledge.

Kitty closed her eyes and felt her powers tingling inside her.“That kitten’s in terrible danger. I know I have to do something!”

A steep drop stretched below her with a narrow stone ledge on the other side. Deep shadows filled the chasm, and the cold wind ruffled Kitty’s hair. She took a big breath. Then she sprang across, landing neatly on the other side. Gripping the stone wall with her fingertips, she began to climb.

Chapter

4

Kitty climbed the clock tower swiftly, digging her fingers into the gaps between the smooth stones.

“You can do it!” Pixie cried.

The steep drop below was filled with darkness, but moonlight poured over the tower, turning the stones silver. Kitty felt her superpowers rushing through her, and her heart skipped. Maybe she could be a superhero like her mom after all!

Pulling herself onto the next ledge, she stopped for a second to catch her breath. The ginger kitten peered down at her with wide eyes. There was a sudden click as the big hand on the clock moved closer to the twelve, and the kitten jumped with fright. Kitty’s chest tightened. It was such a long way down.

She climbed faster, her arms and legs tingling. She could hear the ticking of the clock. With a loud click, the big hand shifted to point straight at the number twelve. It was midnight!

“Don’t be scared!” called Kitty. “The clock is about to chime.”

The kitten shook as he gripped the ledge.“What’s a chime?”

Bong! The clock made a deep sound. It was so loud that the whole tower trembled. Kitty held on tightly.