Pooky questioned how I knew that’s what happened. I could have said that according to my mother, I’m not an ordinary tabby and the M on my forehead is the proof. A simpler truth is that I’m pretty good at processing information. Misty wondered if that meant I was a genius cat.
I don’t know the answer to that question and that makes it an excellent question. I venture to say that all animals possess some level of intelligence––humans call it instinct. Some humans agree with my observation and they will probably one day design an IQ test that is not human-centric and appropriate for animals in scope and scale according to their species. Maybe then, the age-old question of who’s more intelligent––a cat or a dog––now based on the number of words they recognize, will be forever settled.
In the small hours of the morning, I made my last trip to the abandoned shed. If Simon thought the group of about thirty cats would intimidate or persuade me to leave with them, he was wrong on both counts. I was right about his fake altruism––he was forming his own clowder, had heard about my tactical fighting prowess, and wanted me to help him conquer other clowders and territory.
I made it clear that I was living out my life with Alyx, to comfort her and protect her and those she loved, and, if possible, I intended to do it to the best of my ability.
Simon and I are bound to meet again someday, maybe under different circumstances. But that will probably be the last life for one of us.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ANNA KERN grew up in East Pointe, Michigan, and lives in St. Johns County, Florida. Retirement allows her to enjoy every minute of her free time doing what she loves to do best––write. DEADLY DIAMOND is her second novel in the Murfy the Cat Mystery series and she is working on a third. A PAWS-IBLE THEORY is Murfy’s first adventure. Visit Anna at https://www.facebook.com/anna.kern.author.
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