Copycat by Colin Dann Read Free Book Online Page A

she could see the image well enough.
    ‘Why is that – that cat up there?’ Pinkie faltered.
    ‘That’s me. I am the pub,’ Snowy boasted. He really believed it. ‘I mean, we’re called the same.’
    ‘Whatever are you saying? How can a human place be called Snowy?’
    ‘No, no. Not Snowy,’ he answered. ‘“The White Cat.”’
    ‘Oh.’ Pinkie didn’t understand at all.
    ‘You look hungry,’ said Snowy.
    ‘I am.’
    ‘Come with me, then.’
    ‘No, I prefer to keep away from people. I don’t trust humans.’
    ‘Who said anything about humans? Though they’re all right. Really.’
    ‘Look,’ said Pinkie. ‘I have to catch something to eat. I can’t waste any more time.’
    ‘It’s a hard life, scavenging, isn’t it? I had to do a bit of it myself once. But since my pub days I –’
    ‘I’m going,’ Pinkie butted in. ‘I can’t just stand around here.’
    ‘Have you ever tasted rabbit?’
    Pinkie checked herself. ‘Rabbit? Oh, yes.’ Her mouth began to run water. She licked her chops. ‘Not for ages, though.’
    ‘OK. Now’s your chance. Follow me.’
    Snowy ran round the side of the building to the pub car park, which at that hour was empty. Across it was the pub garden and on the grass stood a large rabbit hutch. Two brown lop-eared rabbits were inside. Pinkie, having first made quite sure that no humans were around to bellow at her, trotted after Snowy.
    ‘They’re not rabbits,’ she said.
    ‘Certainly they are. Can’t you smell them? And look at the meat on ’em!’
    By now Pinkie had indeed recognized rabbit scent. ‘They look different,’ she murmured. ‘But, yes . . .’
    ‘Can you catch them?’ Snowy cried. ‘I’ve been trying for so long!’
    Pinkie looked at him in bewilderment. ‘You can’t catch something in a cage,’ she said.
    ‘Can’t you? I thought a wild, clever cat like you would find a way. You know – somehow get at them.’
    Pinkie sauntered all around the hutch. The rabbits skittered nervously into their sleeping quarters. ‘No. There’s no way in there,’ she announced. ‘A dog might push this over, or dig underneath. And then . . .’
    ‘A dog, yes,’ said Snowy excitedly. ‘Or a fox? I know a fox.’
    ‘I wouldn’t want any dealings with foxes. Such sly beasts. You couldn’t trust a fox. And how do you know one?’
    ‘Before I was the Pub Cat I was wild like you. I came across all kinds of creatures when I was hunting. The fox and I respected each other. We didn’t interfere with each other’s needs and co-operated to our mutual benefit. I still see him around sometimes on my wanderings, but he doesn’t like to come close to humans.’
    ‘I know the feeling,’ Pinkie said. She was thinking hard. ‘Where did you use to hunt?’ she asked.
    ‘Around the fields. Hedgerows, copses, that sort of thing. Most of them are gone now. Buildings instead.’
    ‘Were there rabbits and so on?’
    ‘Of course. Wild rabbits, squirrels, birds. It all seems a long time back. I’ve been claimed by the pub for two seasons.’
    ‘And are there any fields left?’
    ‘A few. Do you want to see them?’ Snowy asked.
    ‘I’d like to, yes.’
    ‘All right. I’ll take you there. And you’ll help me with these bunnies here if we can get the fox to do a bit of digging?’
    Pinkie had temporarily forgotten the lop-ears. She thought they were better left where they were. ‘Well, yes, if we see the fox . . .’ she replied vaguely.
    ‘I’ll see you later, then,’ said Snowy. ‘I’ve got to go and be the pub. People will be arriving soon.’
    Pinkie moved away. ‘Being the pub’ was beyond her understanding. But she understood about people well enough and she didn’t want any more scares. ‘When shall I see you?’ she asked.
    ‘Stay along the riverside. I’ll pick you up when I’m at liberty again.’ Snowy ran off towards the pub’s entrance, which was now open.
    Pinkie went in the opposite direction. She hadn’t caught