Barks and Purrs | Page 8

He whom I love,
and who venerates me, made not the least effort to defend me. I've
submitted to humiliating contacts, been jolted to death, piercing
whistles have shot through my head from ear to ear. Ho, ho, how good
it is to relax the nerves and to imagine that, with gleeful claws, one
tears the enemies' flesh in bloody shreds! Ho, ho! S-c-r-a-t-c-h, and lift
the paws on high! Lift them high as possible! It's a supremely insolent
gesture....
SHE
I say, Kiki, when are you going to stop that?
HE, (Indulgent and admiring)
Let him alone. He's doing his nails.
KIKI-THE-DEMURE
He has spoken for me. I forgive him. But since it's allowed, I don't care
any more about tearing the cushions ... When will I get out of this? Not
that I'm afraid; they are both there, and the dog too, with their everyday
faces ... I've twinges in my stomach.

(He yawns. The train stops. A conductor on the platform cries, "Aw-ll
a-bor! Aw-ll a-b-o-r-r!!")
TOBY-DOG, (excited)
Screaming again! Another accident?!--Let's run!...
KIKI-THE-DEMURE
Heavens, what a tiresome dog! What does it matter to him, if there is an
accident?
I don't believe in it moreover. It's the cry of a man, and men cry out for
the pleasure of hearing their own voices.
TOBY-DOG, (calm again)
I'm hungry. Can't we hope to eat soon, my mistress? I don't know what
time it is in this strange country, but it seems to me....
SHE
Come now, we'll all have our luncheon.
(She takes the things out of the basket, crumples up some tissue paper
and breaks a crisp brown roll.)
TOBY-DOG, (chewing)
What She gave me then must have been very good indeed to seem such
a tiny bit. It melted in my mouth, there's not even the memory of it
left....
KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (chewing)
Breast of chicken! Purr-rr ... Goodness me! I was purring without
knowing it! That won't do. They'll think me resigned to this journey. I
must eat slowly, grim, and undeceived, eat for the sole purpose of
keeping myself alive ...

SHE, (to the dog and cat)
Allow me to have my luncheon now, if you please. I too, like cold
chicken and the hearts of lettuce, dipped in salt....
HE, (anxiously)
What shall we do to make this cat go into his basket again?
SHE
I don't know. We'll see presently ...
TOBY-DOG
Finished already? I could swallow three times that much. I say Cat,
you're eating rather well for a martyr.
KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (fibbing)
Trouble digs a hole in one's interior. Move away please, I want to sleep
now ... if I can. Perhaps a merciful dream will take me back to the
house I've left, to the flowered cushion He gave me.... Home! sweet
home! Rugs of bright colors for the delight of my eyes, a palm with
nice shoots for me to eat, deep arm-chairs, under which I hide my
woolen ball as a future surprise for myself--ah, and the cork hanging by
a string to the door-latch! the tables covered with bibelots! I thread my
way in and out among them and occasionally it amuses me to break
some brittle thing. The dining-room is a temple! The vestibule, full of
mystery; there unseen, I can watch those who come and go ... Oh
narrow back-stairway, where the step of the milkman rings out for me
like a morning angelus--farewell! farewell! my destiny carries me on,
and who knows if ever ... But this is too sad! All the pretty things I've
been saying have really begun to make me feel badly!!
(He begins a minute and mournful toilet. The train stops. A conductor
on the platform cries, "Aw-ll-a-borr-a-borr!!")
TOBY-DOG

There it is again! An acci--Oh bother, I've had enough of that!
HE, (anxiously)
We're going to change trains in ten minutes. How about the cat? He'll
never allow us to shut him up ...
SHE
We'll see ... Suppose we put some meat in his basket?
HE
Or perhaps petting would ...
(They approach the redoubtable KIKI and both speak together.)
HE
Kiki, my beautiful Kiki, come jump on my knee, or on my shoulder.
You like that as a rule. You'll doze there and then I'll put you gently
into the basket. After all, it's open-work and has a comfortable cushion
to protect you from the rough wicker. Come, my dear....
SHE
Listen, Kiki. You must learn to act properly and to take life as it is. You
can't stay there like that. We're going to change trains and a horrible
guard will appear and say insulting things of you and your race.
Besides you'd better obey, because if you don't, I--I'll give you a good
whipping.
(But before she can lift her hand against his sacred fur, Kiki gets up,
stretches