[Heraklia and the Pookah hid in the rocks, awaiting the imminent arrival of a lion in the mood for love . . . having sprayed the LionLustLure all over the unconscious Studley, as bait(well, he DID look sortof like a white lion, if you didn't look at the hooves - or neck - or ears . . .) It was a mere matter of time. Then - shoot the lion with tranquilizer, haul him back to the King, take the large reward, the Pookah cleaned up on his bookie operations back on The Golden Phoenix, and all would yet be well!

Well - if they could get to Studdeley before he lost his virtue, that is . . .

Both stiffened. The brush rustled. SOMETHING was definitely coming their way . . . it came closer and closer! There was a peculiar mewing sort of noise . . . then








Aghast, Heraklia looked at the kittens; the male, in particular, was full of boundless curiosity and came over to see her. Meanwhile, Studdeley was coming out of his swoon . . . ]

Studdeley [weakly] Yo no say - where is?

Heraklia: [to the cub] Excuse me, your daddy isn't right behind you, is he?

CUB: No, ma'am. Actually, I'm an orphan, but I live with Uncle Eleazar back in the bush. That's my cousin, Paxil, back there.

Pookah: Ah, and demme it all to the pixies, we end up with one below the age of consent!

Heraklia [warming] Well, you're a sprightly young thing. I'm rather fond of cats.

CUB: [wistfully, looking at the exotic llama, the Celtic pookah, and the Roman matrona, with briar scratches down both legs and mud on her chin] Where did you come from? I've always wanted to see the world, but there's not much chance to . . .

[And the eyes of the three, lady, llama and pookah, met irresistably . . . ]