The Chatty Cat.

[StoneRoad]

"A sample of two is not a large one, have either of them spoken in the hearing of anyone else or only when you've been alone ?
From the sound of it, there should be others, but how do we find them ...
Does that Ginger tom have an owner and if so, does he speak to that person. I haven't determined that with my B&W friend, yet"
Biggles answered.

[Kismet]

'Let's go and find out,' the vet suggested. 'I often see him in the park next to the surgery. Shall we wait there and see if he turns up?'

[Fairblue]

Biggles looked at his watch. He had managed to find time to nip down to Chedcombe at Bertie's request but he couldn't stay all that long. Somehow he didn't think that Raymond would accept talking cats as an excuse for their continued absence

[Kismet]

But he was worried about Bertie's continued safety.

'I can give you an hour,' he stated.

[Fairblue]

The hounds were by no means pleased at being excluded from the party. Nipper, in particular, tried to stay beside his master.

[StoneRoad]

Seagull realised, from the sounds that Bertie and the others were about to go, so whinnied very loudly for Bertie.

[Kismet]

The dogs howled miserably in their kennels. The cats, perched on their high vantage points, laughed at them.

[StoneRoad]

The vet suggested that "maybe Seagull needed a stable companion, and had the hounds had the run out that his arrival has interrupted ?"

[Kismet]

'This isn't normal,' the stablehand said decisively. 'Maybe the weather is about to change or something. They don't behave like this usually.'

[Fairblue]

"No, it not normal," the vet stated decisively. He looked at Bertie. "It might be best if you stay here, if you can?"

[kylie_koyote]

Bertie looked at Biggles.

Biggles sighed.

[Fairblue]

"I'll cover for Bertie," Algy said quickly. "Maybe Tibbles will behave himself if Bertie isn't at home."

[Kismet]

'Is Bertie safer here or in London?' Biggles asked bluntly. 'There are more animals and fewer people down here.'

[Fairblue]

The hounds decided to tell Biggles that the master was much safer here with them. Seagull too, added his ha'porth.

[Kismet]

Sadly, none of the hounds or Seagull possessed the power of human speech. All the men heard was an unhappy cacophony.

[Fairblue]

The cats sat on their lofty perches and silently laughed.

[Kismet]

Bertie decided to stay at Chedcombe for a little longer, in the hope of Biggles and Siegfried getting answers from the ginger tom which might clarify matters. Maybe it would be a simple as a big donation to the Cats' Protection League, he thought hopefully.

[Fairblue]

Biggles and Siegfried,accompanied by Algy, went to the park next to the Veterinary practice. Siegfried leather over to a bench on a path which surrounded a huge flower beds.

[Kismet]

Siegfried pulled a catnip mouse on a string from his trouser pocket, removed three bags of treats from his jacket, selected the ones for cats, and called out 'Here, puss, puss. Come to daddy.'

[Fairblue]

"That didn't work for me," Biggles couldn't help saying.

[Kismet]

But Siegfried was a vet, and vets have a special relationship with animals. Within five minutes, a large ginger tom was lying watchfully close by, tail twitching as the catnip mouse moved.

[Fairblue]

Biggles watched the cat closely, trying to spot similar behavioural characteristics to his own black and white cat.

[Kismet]

But apart from Marmaduke, the cat who thought he was a duck, cats weren't very distinctive to Biggles.

[Fairblue]

The Ginger Tom was now watching the movement of the catnip closely, moving it's head in time with the swing.

[Kismet]

Its ears were turned forward and its weight was back, ready to pounce.

[StoneRoad]

Sudddenly, his tail lashed twice as he pounced, only for Siegfried to almost get the mouse back out of reach.
"Naughty, naughty" he hissed

[Kismet]

Siegfried removed a cat treat from his bag. 'Woukd you prefer one of these?' he said, holding it out to the cat.

[Fairblue]

"What are you after, human?"

[Kismet]

'Information.'

The cat looked unblinkingly at Siegfried, delicately took the cat treat from his fingers with his rough little tongue, snapped it down then washed his face with his paw.

[Fairblue]

Siegfried waited patiently. Biggles hardly dare breath.