I had shaved the site of the operation and poised my scalpel over the grossly swollen abdomen when he whistled softly.
My God, he said, its like opening an abscess!
That was exactly what it was like. I felt that if I made an incision the mass of kittens would explode out in my face and, indeed, as I proceeded with the lightest touch through skin and muscle, the laden uterus bulged out alarmingly.
Hell! I breathed. How many are in here?
A fairish number! said my partner. And shes such a tiny cat.
Gingerly, I opened the peritoneum which,
to my relief, looked clean and healthy; then, as I went on, I waited for the jumble of little heads and feet to appear.
But with increasing wonderment I watched my incision travel along a massive coal-black back and, when I finally hooked my finger round the neck, drew forth a kitten and laid it on the table, I found that the uterus was otherwise empty.
Theres only one! I gasped. Would you believe it?
Siegfried laughed. Yes, but what a whopper! And alive, too. He lifted the kitten and took a closer look.
A whacking great tomhes nearly as big as his mother!
As I stitched up and gave the sleeping Emily a shot of penicillin, I felt the tension flow away from me in happy waves. The little cat was in good shape. My fears had been groundless. It would be best to leave the kitten with her for a few weeks, then Id be able to find a home for him.
Thanks a lot for coming in, Siegfried, I said. It looked like a very dodgy situation at first.
I could hardly wait to get back to the old man, who, I knew, would still be in a state of shock at my taking away his beloved cat. In fact, when I passed through the sacking doorway, it looked as though he hadnt moved an inch since I last saw him. He wasnt reading, wasnt doing anything except staring ahead from his chair. When I put the basket down by his side, he turned slowly and looked down wonderingly at Emily, who was coming round from the anaesthetic and beginning to raise her head, and at the black newcomer, who was already finding his private array of teats interesting.
Shes going to be fine, Mr. Ireson, I said, and the old man nodded slowly.
How wonderful. How simply wonderful, he murmured.
When I went to take out the stitches ten days later, I found a carnival atmosphere in the igloo. Old Eugene was beside himself with delight, while Emily, stretched in the back with her enormous offspring sucking busily, looked up at me with an expression of pride which bordered on the smug.
I think we ought to have a celebratory cup of tea and one of my favourite buns, the old man said.
As the kettle boiled, he drew a finger along the kittens body.
Hes a handsome fellow, isnt he.
He certainly is. Hell grow up into a beautiful cat.
Eugene smiled. Yes. Im sure he will, and it will be so nice to have him with Emily.
I paused as he handed me a bun.
But just a minute, Mr. Ireson. You really cant do with two cats here.
Why not?
Well, you take Emily into the village on a lead most days. Youd have difficulty on the road with two cats, and anyway you dont have room in here, do you?
He didnt say anything, so I pressed on.
A lady was asking me the other day if I could find her a black kitten. Many people ask us to find a specific pet for them, often to replace an older animal which has just died, and we always seem to have trouble obliging them, but this time I am delighted that I was able to say I knew the very one.
He nodded slowly, and then, after a moments cogitation, said, Im sure youre right, Mr. Herriot. I hadnt really thought about it enough.
Anyway, I said, shes a very nice lady and a real cat lover.
Hell have a very good home. Hell live like a little sultan with her.
He laughed. Good good and maybe Ill hear about him now and then?
Absolutely. Ill keep you posted regularly.
I could see I had got over the hurdle nicely and as I took a sip at my tea I thought Id change the subject.
I must say, Mr. Ireson, you do seem to be a remarkably happy person. Very content with life. Maybe its something to do with Emily.
Very true! In fact I was about to say that but I thought you might think me silly.
He threw back his head and laughed. A merry, boyish laugh.
Yes, I have Emily, the allimportant thing! Im so glad we agree about that. Come now, do have another bun.
Olly and Ginny Settle In
As a cat lover, it irked me that my own cats couldnt stand the sight of me. Ginny and Olly were part of the family now. We were devoted to them and whenever we had a day out the first thing Helen did on our return was to open the back door and feed them. The cats knew this very well and were either sitting on the flat top of the wall, waiting for her, or ready to trot down from the log shed which was their home. We had been to Brawton on our half-day and they were there as usual as Helen put out a dish of food and a bowl of milk for them on the wall.
Olly, Ginny, she murmured as she stroked the furry coats.
The days had long gone when they refused to let her touch them. Now they rubbed against her hand in delight, arching and purring and, when they