For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The guard and cats were falling fast, yet it seemed like time stood still. “Stay on top of me,” the guard told the cats, “I’m going to try and land on my back, and I’m a big man, that might protect you. But if I bounce or roll, jump off fast and grab whatever you can and hopefully you’ll be safe.” Meow, meow.=You very nice man, we not forget. Meow!!=Tree coming up fast!! There was a crashing as they hit the tree and the guard quickly grabbed a couple of the branches. It wasn’t a large tree but big enough to stop them anyway. “I thought this only happened in cartoons,” said the guard, “but at least this tree is bigger.”
Muffin looked down. Meow,meow=Bigger tree below us, look. The guard looked carefully down. “That is a better tree and not a far drop either,” he admitted, “get on my shoulders.” The cats did and he moved himself around and let go dropping to the tree below. It was a mature pine tree with large branches. “This is much better,” said the guard as he climbed down to the ledge the tree was growing on. There were a number of smaller pines growing on the ledge too. “This is good,” said the guard, “if we have to spend the night, I can sleep behind the trees so I don’t roll off the ledge and…”
Then he stopped and looked at the cats who were sitting there looking at him and smiling. He shook his head. “Maybe I hit my head coming down, or maybe it’s just the high altitude that’s affecting me,” he said, “I mean, cats don’t smile or talk.” Meow,meow.=But we special cats, not many of us around. We understand human speak and some humans can understand our meows. Meow.=Yep, but only very nice human people can understand. Meow,meow=Yep, like you, you try to keep us safe even though you might die. The guard just looked at them not knowing what to say.
Meow.=My name Mr. Cat, but everyone call me M.C., you can too. Meow,meow.=My name Muffin, what your name? “Willie is my name,” he said, “but everyone calls me Rock because I’m so big.” Meow,meow.=That good name, we call you Rock too. M.C. looks over the edge. Meow.=Oh, that very long way down, more than we came already, want to look? “No, there’s only one thing that scares me,” he said, “and that’s heights, I’m not looking out that way for nothing!” Giggle, giggle. “You laugh too?”, he asked them.
Meow,meow.=Yep, we do lots of things. We get rescued soon, we have trackers, go to Calanthe, they find us soon. “Do you have food too?”, he asked. Meow.=We have cat food, but we share. Meow,meow.=Oh, I have sandwich, Kat put in top of my backpack, you have that. He looked, sure enough it was there and he ate it quite happily.
Now back to us… “Why would we help you after you just killed our cats?”, I said to Baldwin. “Because I’m sure you don’t want anything to happen to your pretty wife,” he said, “and your help will make things much easier for me, and ultimately for you too. I will let you go after this as there would be no point killing you, plus it would produce too many questions.” Baldwin finally came out into the open. “How did you get here from the hospital so fast?”, I asked him. “Simple,” he said, “I was never in the hospital, that’s my double.
It’s amazing what can be done through surgery these days especially when two people look somewhat alike anyway. It took a while to get it right and learn to talk right and have all of Baldwin’s different actions and walk and mannerisms. And then there is the copying and changing his ID, especially the fingerprints so they match me. I am, in effect, now your friend Baldwin and Baldwin in the hospital will soon be revealed as a fraud. That’s where you come in, because you will expose Baldwin as a fraud.”
“And you step in to take over all of Baldwin’s companies and wealth,” I said. “Precisely,” he said, “and with all of his holdings around the world I will soon be able to take over some small countries and set things up the way I want them and soon be one of the most influential and wealthy people on this planet.” “I won’t do it,” I said, “Baldwin is my friend and I won’t turn against him.” “Then your wife will join your cats at the bottom of the cliff,” he said, “I will give you and your wife half an hour to decide.”
We were then taken to a room in the cave, a metal door closed and we were alone. Though I’m sure they were listening and probably watching too. “You can’t do it Steve,” said Kat, “I’m not important, you know that. If he kills me, he kills me, that’s why I’m here.” “Now it’s getting interesting,” said a man. “I’m not interested in kissing and hugging, I want to know what they say,” said Baldwin’s look alike. “I’m not going to let him toss you over the cliff,” I said. “But you can’t turn against Baldwin,” said Kat in tears.
To Be Continued.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Nice!!ππ
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Does that mean you liked it? Of course we still have a few problems to deal with.π€π³π±ββοΈπππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Yeah! Of course!! I liked the way the Cats survived!ππ Well done! The only other thing I thought could happen was for the cats to jump off the guard just as the little tree let go! But I liked your instead! Unpredictable!
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Thanks so much Dusty! I figured it was time to add a new character to the stories, though I don’t know yet how often he’ll show up. They still need to get off that cliff. And then comes…
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I know!! Good choice of character though! But how are you going to save Kat and Baldwin with out the cats!??? That should be interesting!!π€π€ππ
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Yep, it looks like I have to go this one alone. But can I trust leaving Kat behind with this fake Baldwin. He has already shown himself to be ruthless.π¬π³
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It would depend on how he wants you to discredit Baldwin! If you need to leave Kat with him that’s trouble! But if he keeps everyone together you might have a chance!
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Yes, he must have some sure fire way to prove Baldwin is the fake and he is the real Baldwin. But how can he do that? I know Baldwin has his fingerprints on file, unless this fake Baldwin has managed to get them changed. That would be bad for Baldwin! I know Kat doesn’t mind being left behind, but I don’t like the idea.
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Yeah… leaving her alone isn’t a good idea.. but how will not?π€π€ππ
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Yep, I’m in no position to bargain here and Kat knew the danger right from the start and was still willing to do this,π±ββοΈ but I feel responsible here!π I need a plan.π¬π±ββοΈ
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Better come up with one quick!!π²π³
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Um, yeah, I just have to think of something.π¬π¬
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What did you bring with for gadgets?
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Well, at the moment our backpacks are with the fake Baldwin, so that means we have nothing.
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What did you hide in the sole and heel of your boots? You did wear boots!π€¨ππ€
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Hey, that kind of stuff is for movies!
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Nuh uh!! You can hide a knife blade in the heel of your shoe!! I can’t believe you don’t have one!ππ²π²π²π³π³
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Hey, I need my shoes, don’t want them falling off because the heels can’t be put on tight enough. That would be a small knife blade, unless the person has a huge heel. Besides, the bad guys would know about these hiding places, they watch movies too!
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Oh alright!! If you want to be defenseless go ahead!!
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I still have my grenade buttons.
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Oh!! I Didn’t know about them!! Gotta be careful though so you don’t get a friendly by accident!
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It’s okay, they have to be activated a certain way. Then there’s my watch, can’t forget that one!
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Oooohhhh that’s right!! Does that have a saw in it? Ya like a cable saw?? Those are cool! They cut through anything!
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No, but it does shoot 6 spinning blades fast as a bullet! Plus it activates the buttons. It helps the cats contact me, which they haven’t done, sigh. It also gives off a sleeping gas. Plus a couple other things.
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That’s everything you need then!!ππππ
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Except Kat just reminded me the new spinning blades I ordered haven’t come in yet and I used the old ones. Plus I forgot to refill the sleeping gas compartment after the last time.ππ
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Oh boy!!ππ Good thing it’s not the bear spray!!π³π³π³
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I knew I forgot something.π¬ππ
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I’ll set a reminder for you!π
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πππ³π³
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Heheheheπ€π€π€π€π€
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Good Morning π π
Time to rise and shine!ππππ
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Good morning Dusty!ππββ I was up and long gone by the time you sent this comment!π² I’m not really back yet,π€ have to write the next chapter which might be a little late today.ππ
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No worries! I’m sure it’ll be a another cliff hanger!π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
(Did you see what I did there?)π€π€π€π€
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Did you see what I did?πππππππ
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Ah..ππ no?π€π€
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Oh you mean the helichopchopter?
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Well, sort of, I guess.π€π
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Heheheπ€π€
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Is you laughing at me??π€¨
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How I ended that chapter with a cliff hanger!!ππππ€£π€£π€£
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LOL okay… I was just messing with ya… I saw/read it..πππ That’s was a good ending!ππ
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I was going to do more, but it was already long enough so had to stop it.π€ππ
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It was a great way to end the episode..
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Makes people hang in there.
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Their arms are getting longer already!!π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
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That can be handy.
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Hard on the knuckles though…. get calluses from dragging on the floor!πππ
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You keep them in your pockets.ππ
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I suppose you would know having short legs and all!ππ
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Wait until I tell Muffin you said she had short legs!π²π²
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Nice try!!πππ€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
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Now you’re laughing at her too!π²π²πΎπΎ
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Laughing at the idea you thinks she that gullible ππππππ
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She said she believes me. Ha!
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Fed her again did you?πππππππ
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That has nothing to do with it. Just because they were her favorite treats.πππ»π»
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You are sooo unfair!!πππππ
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Hey, it works.π
BURP! They good!πΈπ»
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bobble! I’m surprised he shares them..π€π€π€π€
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What’s with the bobble? And calling Muffin a he?? Oh, now she’s mad.π¬πΎ
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Are you sure you’re not a lawyer??πππ€π€π€ππ
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No way, not me. I let Muffin read it all for herself and she’s taking my side all the way.
BURP! munch, munch. Yep, that right. munch, munch.πΈπ»
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I’m glad I coukd help you get some treats Muffin!ππ€π€π€ Don’t tell Steveπ€«π€«π€«
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Now she said you’re trying to bribe her! That’s bad.π³πΎ
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I’m just trying to make sure you feed her enough!
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She didn’t like that remark about her weight, she’s very sensitive you know.
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Then you should stop bringing it up!! Not kind of you at all…πππ
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You’re the one that mentioned it.ππ€―
Oh well, time to say good night.π
Good night Dusty!ππ΄π΄
Talk tomorrow!π
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Good Night!! Steve
Sleep Good!ππ΄
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You three!
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Me and the two mouses?? Thanks!π²π²
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Welcome.
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ππ Have a great day!π
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Good morning Dusty!ππΊπββ
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Good Morning π π βοΈ
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You’re awake!π³π
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Ha!ππ You’re partially correct.. does sleeping while having my teeth cleaned count??π€£π€£π€£π€π€π€ππππ
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You can relax in the dentist office?????π²π²π²π²π²π²
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Oh yes… this was just a cleaning and check up.
They have those new fangled water jet cleaners. No scraping! Everything was perfect!ππ
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Glad that everything was good.π They still scrape here, sends shivers right down my spine. Terrible sound!π¬
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Only if you need to have them scraped! Mine didn’t ππ I’m kinda proud of that! They’ve never told me that before
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That’s double great then!π
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Yeah! I think so..
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πππ©Έβπ§
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How’s the pain level today? No nausea I hope.
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Fine, just fine.
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Can you believe that the soonest I could get an eye appt. Was november?? The dentist was this Wed. Then I’ll need to go through a sleep study and then a possible heart stress test. I’m going to be busy this next month!! Ugh!
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Hey, that’s not bad! Last time I had to wait 6 months for my eye appt. Usually it’s 3 or 4 months for a dentist, unless it’s an emergency, then it’s only 5 to 7 days. Stress tests are fun, I have had several.π
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Yeah… I don’t care for themπ¬π³π³ I’m thinking not on that one…
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I had to do a sleep test for sleep apnea, it came back borderline, so my doctor set me up for a major test to find out for sure. They contacted me 3 years later to tell me an appt was open!π³ I didn’t even have the same doctor, so I said forget it.π
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I was told within a few weeks.. we’ll see…
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You’re closer to a big city, that helps.
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I suppose..
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A double ! Nice twist in the investigation ! On to the next chapter ! π΅οΈββοΈπ©πΌπΌ
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Yes, but the dangers keep getting worse! What to do now?π€π³π±ββοΈπππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Great plan!! But the question is Who is the fake Baldwin?? I like where this is going but you’re going to need some help to get out of it. That or you’ll lose another wife!!
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Try Laughter You might like it
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Yes, we’re in kind of a tough spot right now and without the cats to help this could mean following this guys orders. But I’m definitely not going to lose Kat or I will track this guy down and he won’t enjoy his gains for long!
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Looking forward to Monday ππ
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πππΊπΊ
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Whoa! The plot thickens and I sense more danger and threats! π£πΌπ¬ So who is the fake Baldwin? π₯Έ
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Yes, more danger coming up as we try to figure out what to do and how to do it! Yep, I would like to know that too, who is he?π€π±ββοΈπΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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π€¨
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