Copycat by Colin Dann Read Free Book Online Page B

anything and she was beginning to think of Monty’s meat-bowl again.

—8—
    The Church Cat
    Word got around the local cat population of the fierce tabby who was hogging Monty’s meat. As the news spread it was exaggerated and Sammy began to acquire the status of a kind of monster. A lot of curiosity was created and several of the cats were determined to go and see this phenomenon, so at dusk that day the inquisitive ones began to head for Monty’s garden. One of these was a beautiful blue Persian who belonged to the local vicar and was referred to as the Church Cat by all the others. She was a magnificent specimen with long, silky blue-grey fur, coppery eyes, a proud expression, and a faultless pedigree. Her name was Hermione but no one called her that. She spent most of her time licking and polishing herself and kept apart from the others who she thought were mostly common and inferior. However, even she was interested in the existence of the ‘bruiser’ who had upset Domino so easily.
    Sammy had spent most of the day in the garden. Every so often he called Pinkie but always in vain. Once or twice he climbed on to the high wall to look for her but she was nowhere to be seen. Sammy decided not to go any further than the wall. He didn’t want to dirty his coat, which he was anxious to look after properly, as Monty did his. And somehow the wall began to assume the nature of a boundary between his new regime of caring for himself like a pet and his old happy-go-lucky vagabond days.
    ‘Where’s your precious mate?’ Monty dared to ask at one point as Sammy endlessly padded up and down.
    ‘How should I know?’ Sammy snapped back irritably. ‘She was scared off, thanks to your human friend with the loud voice. She doesn’t understand humans, Pinkie doesn’t, not at all. There’s nothing to be afraid of, if you’re a pet.’
    ‘But she’s not a pet, is she?’ Monty returned.
    Sammy realized he had revealed more of his thoughts than he had intended. ‘If she could behave like one, there would be no problem,’ he said simply.
    Monty looked long and hard at Sammy, expecting an explanation. None was forthcoming and he didn’t have the courage to probe further.
    ‘When will the girl come this evening?’ Sammy asked, remembering his promise that Pinkie should have his share of the meat.
    ‘That’s all you care about – food – isn’t it?’ Monty was bold enough to comment. ‘I told you before. Towards dusk. She wouldn’t come in the dark. How long do you mean to stay here?’
    Sammy stopped in his tracks. ‘I’ve only just begun,’ he answered. ‘My plan’s a long-term one. I want Pinkie and me to be safe like you. And we can be, both of us, if she’d only listen to my advice.’
    ‘Safe?’ Monty queried. ‘Safe from what?’
    ‘Danger. The round-up. The patrols. What do you think?’ Sammy said in exasperation. He came close up to Monty who was resting in a sunny spot on the grass, his paws tucked under his chest. Sammy loomed over him. ‘You’ve no complaints, have you?’ he demanded.
    ‘No, no, not at all, none that I can think of,’ Monty answered hastily, jumping up and putting a distance between himself and the tabby. ‘No,’ he continued, ‘you did what you said you would last time and I suppose –’
    ‘I’ll do it again, eh?’ Sammy growled, half in jest. ‘You bet I will. I’m a fixture here as far as any other cat is concerned. They’ll soon appreciate that.’ He grinned cocksurely. But Monty swallowed hard. He felt helpless. Only the return of his owners could alter that. And their return, he knew from experience, could be a long way off.
    The inquisitive cats, among whom were Ling, Spike and the Church Cat, had all eaten their own meals during the day and, by the evening, were ready for a little excursion. Ling and Spike travelled together and arrived at the fence separating Monty’s garden from the neighbour’s. Timidly they waited a while before they climbed the