Okay Muffin, first thing is to see how well I can walk, maybe we can get away from here before they come back.  So out we go, walking down to the road.  But my knee and ankle are so swollen I just can’t make it.  We have to go back to the house Muffin.  Once back inside we sit together and think for a while.  Meow, meow.=We stay here and fight them.  I thought about that Muffin, but Jenny had my other gun and this gun that I got from the pilot is no good.  See?  It doesn’t work.  I thought for sure he was a trustworthy type, but I guess not.  It was just another way to trap me and get my gun.  And we need to get the contents of that black case in the right hands, or a lot of people will get hurt.  I look at Muffin, she’s sitting there looking up at me.  She knows what’s coming next.

Remember the different plans we have Muffin?  Meow.=Yep.  We don’t have much time, we need to use plan H.  Meow, meow!=Don’t like plan H, want to stay here with you!  I know that Muffin, but this is so very important.  I need you to do this for me, you’re the best PI partner I could have and I need you to help me now.  Those men said they would be back around 9, so that gives you a 4 hour head start.  I will try to stall them as long as I can.  Let me see if this works.  Yes, it’s working just fine.  Do you remember what to do with this?  Meow.=I remember.  And the letter I put in here before?  Meow.=Yep.  Good, now here is a note, you need to find someone to help you, someone you can trust.  I know you can do that.

Now, you should be fine going down the road to the right.  But make sure you hide out of sight if you see any cars coming.  Meow.=Yep, I do that.  Okay, you need to go now, it’s important, I really need your help.  Meow, meow!=You can trust me, I do good job, you see, you be proud of Muffin!  I know I will, I am already, now go fast, but don’t run, save your energy.  Muffin looks at me, gives me a hug and a kiss on the nose.  Then she goes to the door, turns and looks, a little tear comes from her eye.  Then off she goes into the night.  All alone.

I need to figure out a way to stall these men to give Muffin more time, but how to do it?  Meanwhile Muffin is trotting down the road.  Daylight comes, the sun is shining brightly.  Every time a car passes by Muffin hides in the grass so no one sees her.  I so tired, says Muffin, but must keep going, my human needs me, he counting on me.  I hungry too, only find 3 grasshoppers to eat.  She keeps going into the midday sun.  She sees some trees and goes over to lay down for awhile.  Need sleep, she says, and my little feet hurt and there is some sticky things in my fur.  She curls up and sleeps for a short time.  Then she’s up and running down the road now.  So tired, she says, but must keep going, must find someone to help Muffin.  I so hungry now, my feet hurt so much, one foot bleeding after stepping on something sharp.

It’s getting late, nearly dark again.  Muffin stops and sits, there’s a house over there!  I go see if people friendly.  It’s dark now but there are lights on in the house.  Muffin tries to meow, but barely has strength to make just a quiet meow.  Then she lets out a loud howl and an older woman comes to look.  Oh my, what do we have here, and she picks up Muffin.  And you even have a little backpack, you must belong to someone.  Are you lost little one?  Muffin couldn’t understand a word the older lady spoke, but she pulled out her note.  What’s this?  A note?  She couldn’t read it but she called her husband who was able to read English.  It says, “Hello, my name is Muffin and I am lost, please help me by phoning this number day or night and ask for Rossana.  There is a reward for helping me.  In the side pocket of my backpack is money to ship me to Rossana, the rest you can keep.”

The older lady was so kind and put something on my sore feet so they would feel better, then she gave me some nice food.  The man called Rossana and she asked to ship me right away.  When he found out where she lived he decided to take me himself since it really wasn’t so far, he said.  They left very early in the morning, but will they be in time?

To be continued.

Steve and Muffin.

©2020 Steve McLeod.