The Slender-Fingered Cats of Bubastis

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.'