Me and My Shadow - The Saga Continues
Chapter 9
The early evening sun hung low in the western sky as the 6 o’clock hour rapidly approached.
Shadow cautiously moved between the growing pools of darkness as the sun slowly slid below the horizon. Hunny Bee riding in the shotgun position sat high on top of his head midway between his ears.
The rear patio of the train station was dimly lit by a pair of flickering torches.
Two degenerate looking humans identifying themselves only as Mr. X and Mr. Y stood before a group of approximately a dozen equally unsavory looking men.
The two guard dogs, Cliff and Bruno, however were nowhere to be seen.
Mr. X and Mr. Y stood at the far edge of the rear patio close by a long ago abandoned farmer’s field. To the side of Mr X stood an old, round, rusty barbecue grill, balanced precariously on three, wobbly legs and a large paper sack containing what appeared to be chunks of charcoal. Beside Mr Y stood a small folding table piled high with small plastic bags that reeked with the odor of dead fish.
Mr. X was the first to speak. He called the meeting to order promptly at 6 PM .
(Mr. X) “I regret to inform you we will not be serving duck again at this year’s meeting… We will be serving grilled shrimp instead. ….”
As Mr. Y slowly moved nearer the flickering torch it became increasingly apparent that he was horribly disfigured. The right side of his face and neck were deeply scarred. He had a dirty white patch covering one eye. The right side of his lip was torn and swollen and he had long deep scars on his right arm and hand.
(Mr. Y) “You all know me and why I have summoned you here for tonight’s special meeting…. We are all fellow cat haters. I … have a special score to settle with them four legged vermin … as you all can readily see.”
“ What happened you may ask ?....Well let me tell you…”
“I was real hungry ..you see.. and I happened upon this nice juicy cat… You all know they taste just like chicken… and boy do I love chicken… so I pick up this critter and grab him by the head so I can break his neck.... All of a sudden this gnarly fur ball sticks out his claws and rakes them across the side of my face. “
“Then he takes another swing at me taking out my right eye. I tried to hold him but I couldn’t.” ... “He raked his paw down my arm and across the back of my hand.”
“The Constabularies took me to the hospital. While I was in there I overheard a report that a tiger’s kitten had escaped from the local zoo…. “
“I told those zoo officials that not only did I know where he was but that it was the self-same ferocious beast what had attacked me.” “They were extremely grateful when they recovered that kitten… and perhaps a bit concerned I might sue them… Not only did they pay all of my doctor bills…they gave me a sizable reward as well.” “None the less... I hate the varmints just the same and intend to rid the world of those feline pests forever !”
“How then do I intend to perform this miracle ? …”
“Look yonder at that abandoned farmland surrounded by the barb wired fence.”
“What do you see ? … Just a bunch of tall dry brown weeds…but, … underneath that long, brown layer of grass camouflage a new strain of catnip that Mr.X and I have developed is secretly growing . “
“This catnip is both highly addictive and extremely lethal. Even in relatively small doses it makes a cat appear to have rabies or some other dreadful disease….. They roll on the floor foaming at the mouth…. They growl and hiss. “
“If the catnip doesn’t kill ‘em the frightened owner will almost certainly have the varmint quickly put down….”
What say ye Mates to this ?”
“Admit it … Mr. X and I are geniuses… are we not ?.”