The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 6

The next day, Robert once again paid a visit to father Lane. The priest had arranged a dinner party. Robert was served both bread and soup, but hardly touched the food.

"My son, my son - your troubles won't diminish just because you're not eating. No matter if they're worldly or spiritual."

Robert nodded and obediently cut up a piece of bread for himself.

"This cat", said Theresa. "Tell me about it."

Father Lane gazed upon his maid.

"Do you remember a girl named Nancy Sanderson?"

"Nancy - yes, I remember her", Theresa whispered.

"We believe that we've found out her cause of death", said Robert. "She was attacked by that cat, the one that everybody's talking about. It's a female, I'm sure of that. She recently killed Mary Anne Ricster. And Roselyn Tex."

Theresa made the sign of the cross.

"Its natural habitat must be in the forest. Let's go there!"

Robert tried to sound persuasive.

"When?" O'Morris asked.

"In the evening, perhaps even at night. My cousin has a cabin not far away from here. He's gone away for a month, I'm sure we can stay the night."

"Are you going to kill it with your mother's dishcloth?" O'Morris teased.

"I'm going to bring a pistol. I would appreciate your company, I've already persuaded father Lane."

No sooner said than done. The following evening, they plodded through the forest.

"My cope are getting snowy", father Lane complained.

"You should have taken a jacket", O'Morris muttered.

"We're there!"

Inside the cabin, O'Morris was busy making a fire. Father Lane read aloud from the catechism while Robert charged the pistol.

"Nice", O'Morris lauded. "How much did you pay for it?"

"You don't wanna know. Put it this way: I made two piles of my wages. I bought the pistol with the first one, I gave the other to my mother."