While all that was going on with the cats and Brenda, we were just leaving the airport aboard one of Baldwin’s helicopters. “They just got on a chopper,” said one man to Kat, “it’s a bigger one and bright yellow, you can’t miss that one.” “Good,” said Kat, “we’ll be ready for them.” As we were flying the co-pilot said he knew of a resort on a nice lake called ‘Lone Pole Lodge’ and wondered if we would like to check it out. “That’s it,” I said, “that’s the place we want, take us there.” “How do you know that’s the right place?”, asked Kat. “The clue,” I answered, “it said ‘log and lake’, pole and log are the same thing really.” “Oh, that does make sense,” she agreed.

The pilot and co-pilot also agreed and took us over that way to the road that lead into the resort. The road is 5km long so I said to drop us off at about 2km from the resort and we would walk in from there. He flew us in just over the trees as we followed the road. “If you get any lower you’ll be chopping off the tops of those trees,” said Kat. The pilot just laughed. Soon he was letting us down at a locked gate where the road was wider so people coming in had a place to turn around once they saw the gate. Keeps people out that are not wanted. “Remember, if that light flashes, come in fast with all you have!,” I said. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I’ll be watching that carefully.”

We grabbed our backpacks and off we went around the gate and started up the road. After a little bit we went off the road on the right side and walked through the trees. We chose the right side since the lodge would be on the other side and we wanted to see the layout of the place before making ourselves visible to Katrina. We stopped. “You can still back out Kat,” I said, “I won’t think less of you for doing so, it’s very likely Katrina isn’t planning to let us go.” She just looked at me and said, “you would still go in there to rescue the cats, and if you’re going in there, then so am I. Remember, I said before, where my husband goes, I go too. And that’s final. Now we’re wasting time.”

Off we continued on our little journey. I must admit to being rather nervous, I think more so than Kat. Just a short distance on and…a woman standing there with a gun, more like a machine gun. That’s when the cats came bounding over to us, Muffin jumping on me and M.C. jumping on Kat! Poor M.C., the look on his face! I just nodded at him and he gave Kat a big hug, then they switched places for more hugging. Meow,meow.=This Brenda, she very nice human, she help us escape! Meow,=Yep, she help us good, we say you help her now too and bring her back with us away from bad human Katrina. “Hi Brenda,” I said, “is this real, or are you taking us into a trap? I’m in no mood for pretenders.”

“You really can talk to the cats”, she said, “that’s the only way you could know my name.” “Yes, we can understand the cats,” I said, “and now?” “I’m with you,” she said, “I have been wanting to leave this organization for a long time, but didn’t know how. Katrina kills traitors and it’s not pleasant. And I will help you now, even if it means getting killed.” She looks at both Kat and I and then continues, “do you think you can trick Kat?” “I’m hoping we can until we get close enough to take her,” I said, “and now you have given me a good idea on how we can get nice and close.” Kat put the vest, backpack and slingshot on M.C. while I did the same for Muffin.

Brenda just watched rather puzzled. “It’s amazing what these cats can do now that they have their equipment on again,” I said to Brenda, “okay you two, one on each side of the road and try to get as close as you can without being seen.” Meow,meow=Yep, we do good job. “You can both call for help,” I said, “so watch and listen carefully. If Katrina sees the trap, call for help. If fighting starts, call for help, then join the fight.” Off they go quietly through the trees, with M.C. crossing the road. “It’s still hard to believe that I can hear those cats talking,” Brenda said shaking her head, “will you really help me to escape Kat like they told me?” “Yes, we certainly will do that,” I said, “now it’s up to you.”

To Be Continued.

©2021 Steve McLeod.