Galahad has discovered sketching, or, to be more precise, he's discovered a workbook on learning to draw and the idea that this is a learnable skill has been absolutely fascinating. Subsequently, he's also found a sketchpad and a box of charcoal pencils of varying fineness, and since it's a nicer day than the last few have been he's out by the lake trying to commit the phragmites to paper.

He looks up at the sound of the cat. He feels as if he can hear her voice in two ways at the same time, as a mew and as words -- it reminds him of how in his Bible Jesus' words are rendered in red.

But a talking cat seems no more fantastic than a talking dragon, which he's already encountered, so he says, "I think you're the first cat."