Chapter 21 - Phantom Thief Dung-i (2)
“Dung-i? Is that the cat you take care of, sir?”
The middle-aged man waved his hand dismissively at the casual question.
“Not me. See that alley over there? Turn right, and it's the cat from the house with the blue gate. I can't keep cats—got allergies.”
“Thanks for the help. We appreciate it.”
“No big deal. But if I'm on TV, don't blur my face with a mosaic—make me look big and clear so my family can see.”
We brushed past the kindly faced man and headed straight into the alley.
Right around the corner, the tipster's eyes went wide as she let out a shriek of excitement and bolted forward.
“L-Look at this! Bosal-i's collar! This must be the house!”
A collar poked out awkwardly from under the blue gate.
Just like the neighbor had said, that sealed it—this blue-gated house was Phantom Thief Nyan's hideout.
“Whoa, my heart's pounding. Should we go in now?”
“Let's do it.”
Ding-dong—ding-dong—
I pressed the doorbell up front, and soon an elderly woman who looked well past seventy creaked open the iron gate.
“Aigoo, where'd you folks come from now?”
“Hello, ma'am. We're...”
“I told ya I ain't interested in no newspapers. Go on now.”
Before I could finish, she shooed us away with a wave. As the blue gate started to swing shut, I quickly followed up.
“We came to see Dung-i. We're from the TV show Animal Kingdom.”
“Animal Kingdom? You gonna find Dung-i a real owner?”
Find it an owner?
What did that mean?
“Pardon? Aren't you Dung-i's guardian, ma'am?”
“Guardian? That might fit. But not owner. Don't just stand there—come on in. You wanna see Dung-i, right?”
Before we could process the confusion, she shuffled inside with her hunched back, and we followed.
'Didn't the neighbor say Dung-i was this house's cat?'
'But she's not the owner... What gives?'
The tipster whispered with Reina as they climbed the stairs, then gasped softly at the stack of boxes by the entryway.
“Oh! Th-Those... those are all Bosal-i's toys! Ma'am, there's even my house slippers here!”
“Heavens. Were those yours, missy? Dung-i's the one who dragged 'em all here.”
“Ohohoho. Missy? Ma'am, I'm way past forty.”
“Really now?”
“Ohohoho. Anyway, I thought I'd lost them for good—finding them all here's a relief.”
“Dung-i brought somethin' every single day without fail and piled 'em up there. Come on in. Lunchtime soon—Dung-i'll be here any minute.”
“Ohohoho, alright, ma'am.”
Was the real bodhisattva the tipster?
She beamed innocently just from getting her toys back.
Inside with the crew, the elderly lady served warm tea and continued Dung-i's tale.
“There was this stray cat hangin' round my yard. Belly swollen like a mountain—figured she'd pop any day. So I'd leave feed in a bowl now and then. I raised young'uns myself; I know how tough it is.”
“That must've been Dung-i's mom.”
Her face darkened as she nodded.
“I'd fill bowls with food and water out front, and she'd polish 'em off like a ghost—smart and tough. I did what I could... but there was my grandson's wedding back home. Left the house a few days. Came back to find she'd kittened. Heavens are cruel. Of all times...”
Reliving it, she wiped her wrinkled eyes and went on.
“Aigoo... Few days later, I hear mewlin' by the half-eaten bowl. Three kittens, but only Dung-i...”
Her shoulders trembled as she bit her lip.
“Even people need seaweed soup after birthin'. And I wasn't here...”
“So only Dung-i...”
Reina laid her hand over the lady's.
“Named 'im Dung-i so he'd grow fat and never starve. Figured his mama's owner might take him in, so I kept feedin' him. He got bigger, started haulin' stuff from everywhere like he was showin' off. Lately dolls, slippers... Kept pilin' 'em up 'cause I didn't know where he got 'em or why.”
Even the lady didn't know why Dung-i stole. One way to find out.
“Hmm... Guess we won't know without hearing it straight from him.”
“Hearin' from a cat? Animal Kingdom sends comedians now?”
She chuckled, wiping her crinkled eyes.
—Today's slippers smell so savory~ Grandma loves slip... Huh?
“Speak of the devil—here he comes.”
A small tabby slipped through the slightly open living room window. Phantom Thief Dung-i.
—Gasp. Wh-What? Strangers...?
Dung-i froze, mouth agape, and the slipper dropped with a thud.
The lady's quick hands scooped him up by the armpits in a flash.
“Gotcha, you rascal! Wondered where you kept stealin' from! Next door, huh?”
—N-No, it's not...
“Oh my, another of our house slippers!”
“Heavens, you know you're caught stealin', don't ya? You don't meow like that usually. Why bring the missy's trash bag too? Say sorry quick!”
“Ohohoho, not missy... It's fine, ma'am. Got it back right away.”
The tipster really was a bodhisattva. No frown even at her stolen goods. Maybe her real personality was just this sweet.
“Ma'am, mind if I chat with Dung-i alone for a bit?”
“Heavens. Vets talk to cats these days? Musta studied hard. If he listens, give him a good scoldin'.”
Studied hard... Yeah, in a way.
Not that studying let me talk to animals.
—Sob. Tell Grandma not to hate me. I didn't mean bad—I just...
I took the pitifully mewing Dung-i to the living room corner for a quiet talk.
About ten minutes later.
The lady voiced her worry.
“Scoldin' him that long? Ears must be ringin'.”
“Ah, just wrapped up.”
Back at the seats, I set Dung-i down. He scampered like a puppy straight into the lady's arms, nuzzling away.
“Really? What'd he say? I'm dyin' to know.”
—Nooo! Grandma can't die!
Dung-i yowled even at her playful words.
Time to spill the truth.
Before Dung-i burst into tears again.
“Might upset the tipster, but Dung-i didn't steal toys with bad intent.”
“Aigoo. Vet takin' the cat's side? What's good intent in stealin'?”
Despite the chiding tone, she rubbed Dung-i's rump soothingly.
“Animals don't grasp human morals like 'stealing is bad.' They act on possession, territory, resource defense.”
“What's that mean? Plain talk, dear.”
“Dung-i brings you dolls 'cause he sees this as a safe nest. And...”
Dung-i shoved his head between her legs, embarrassed at what I'd say next.
“He wanted to repay your kindness.”
“Repay? With slippers?”
“Heard of house cats bringing mice uneaten to owners?”
“Sure have.”
“Cats bring prey like mice or birds for reasons: seeking hunt praise, or seeing owner as inept hunter.”
She clapped and roared with laughter.
“Heavens! This cheeky one thinks I'm the bad hunter? No cat that big! Or wanted my praise? Huh?”
—N-No, Grandma! Not that...
“That's typical cats. Dung-i did it to thank you specifically.”
She gently scratched under his chin as he squeaked excitedly; his pout melted away.
“Thank me? What's that mean?”
“You feed him, take him to vet. He can't talk back, but he knows how well you care.”
“Aigoo. For real?”
—Sorry, Grandma. I was gonna bring better stuff when bigger...
Dung-i buried his head shyly again.
“His thanks? The tipster's toys. Must've hurt losing them, but cats don't see 'stealing'...”
“Huhu-huk. So precious! This little one's repayin' me! So kind! Dung-i's an angel, an angel!”
I skipped how he couldn't catch live things out of fear—for Dung-i's pride.
The lady gazed fondly at the sobbing tipster, then lifted Dung-i by the armpits.
“Rascal. No more 'gifts' like this. Good heart or not, stealin's bad.”
—Sorry. Thought you'd like... Won't steal again. Promise...
“You are the gift. Don't need more. Eat well, grow healthy. That's enough.”
—...Grandma. Thank you. Really.
“Aigoo. Rubbin' like a human kid? You get me?”
—Yeah! I'll listen better! Really!
Their warm exchange went on awhile.
Languages differed, but hearts connected true.
“Dung-i's grandma's so sweet, and the tipster too. Everyone's just too good, right? Hear what she said earlier?”
“What?”
“Whoa, forgot already? She'd set a separate bowl and toys for Dung-i by her house. Made my heart all fluffy—I teared up for no reason.”
Heading back to Seoul post-shoot.
Today's story had Reina buzzing the whole ride, voice high and bubbly.
“But Director, aren't you a little worried?”
“About what?”
“Bosal-i might snap if she sees Dung-i. Grandma forgives, but to Bosal-i, he's just Thief Cat. What if Dung-i climbs her roof and trouble brews...”
Just us in the car, but she whispered anyway.
“Couldn't say on shoot, but Bosal-i's no ordinary pup. Temper like a Chihuahua, not Welsh Corgi.”
“Won't happen.”
After Dung-i's shoot, I'd stopped by the tipster's to tip off Bosal-i.
She'd started growling about biting the thief's butt, but teared up at Dung-i's story. Even offered to lend toys except two attachments.
“Hmm. Hope so. Better be fine...”
“Got her toys back—she'll calm. Crew checks back in a week; we'll see on air.”
“Shorty Bosal-i and Dung-i getting along? Kyaa~ Eh? Whoa... Unreal.”
Reina's pterodactyl screech dropped suddenly.
“Something wrong?”
Tongue-clicking softly, she showed me her phone screen.
“Real-time trends... totally lost it.”