Bernice Summerfield: The Slender-Fingered Cats of Bubastis — Xanna Eve Chown

It wasn’t true that you could see the Cats from space. It was impossible, a ridiculous idea that wouldn’t stand up to even the slightest examination. And yet there were people on Bubastis who believed it…* * *Most archaeologists – including Professor Bernice Summerfield – know only two facts about Bubastis: one is, that its cheerless swamps are home to five giant stone Cats, whose ancient origins are shrouded in mystery; the other, that is has more bugs and beetles than anyone should ever have to deal with. So, when Bernice, Ruth and Jack arrive on the planet to search for a missing girl, they are unprepared for what they will find. Like the insectoid villagers with a decidedly squeamish attitude to mammals. Or the archaeological expedition made up of over-sexed students. Or the alarmingly unprofessional Neon Tsara…To make matters worse, Jack suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of the law and Ruth has brain-ache from ingesting forbidden historical knowledge. Worse still, Bernice has promised to write a book of poetry that’s due to be published in a week... and she can’t think of anything to rhyme with ‘Bubastis.’