1.2 On the Brink of a Yellow Eye

Lynch ~ Robert Maxwell

It was not long after Atom had hatched that he came across the cat (it was a big fucker)
“New kid on the block?” it said, barely containing something acid on its tongue.
“I suppose I am,” said Atom, “how would I know?”
“’Cause I’m telling you” said the cat.
There is always some tension in these encounters: Cajones’ apparent ownership of the upper hand (or paw) is unremarkable in a world of cats; but before the queue of naked humans about to run the maze he was presented with a conflict between instinct and intellect. In addition, there was a modicum of resentment which had been added to the cauldron since Cajones' recent misadventure on the wrong end of the big stick.
“This is all an experiment.” he said, “The mad scientist is your god; you must wriggle on his hook.”
Atom looked up at Cajones,
“What the fuck are you on about?” he said
“I’ll take you to the others” said the cat, turning and heading down the hill.
Atom followed, whistling (what he presumed to be) a tune through his puckered lips.
"You lot and your music," said Cajones over his shoulder, "constantly cluttering the air with misrepresentative sound."
"Wot, cats don't like music?" asked Atom without irony (since he didn't have a clue what irony was).
"Oh we do like music," replied the cat, "Only, the music we like has greater meaning: the music of baby birds calling for their mummy; the sound of the moon on a fieldmouse's run"
Atom whistled some more, wondering how the cat had got so big.

The hotels revolving door accommodated Cajones entrance with grace beyond cool.
“Looks like they’ve put you in The Napoleon Suite” he said, peering at the register with one yellow eye, “I would offer to take your bags but I already have more than enough in that department - If you'd care to follow me sir”.
Atom expressed his bewilderment by casting (what he hoped was) a knowing eye over the register. He followed Cajones toward the threadbare staircase.

“Good luck little thing” said Cajones trailing his ginger tail out of the room.
Atom bounced on the bed noticing the pornographic images oozing from the television, unable to draw his eyes away to notice the large and worn mirror that cast judgement in the reverse image:
“Put this one in with the maybes” said the mad scientist to his assistant.