Storyteller's Cabin
The salesman suddenly froze, then laughed it off. I must be
dreaming, he thought -- surely that cat didn't just speak to me!
He dozed off again, the warmth of the fire filling his aching
bones.
After another hour, the salesman suddenly awoke again. This time there were two black cats sitting in front of him -- but the second cat was as big as a wolf! They both stared at him intensely through searing yellow eyes.
"What shall we do with him?" asked the second cat to the first in
a booming voice.
"Let's wait 'til Jesse comes," hissed the first cat.
The salesman shook his head, thinking that his long, tiring travels had finally gone to his brain. For this was the strangest dream he had ever dreamt. He sighed and fell back asleep.
Another hour passed, and the salesman awoke again. This time there were three black cats staring at him -- but the third cat was as big as a horse, with large, menacing eyes that seemed to burn with yellowish evil. The third cat turned to the other two and said in a loud voice that drowned out the booming thunderclaps outside:
"Shall we do it now?"
"Soon, very soon," hissed the first cat. "Let's wait 'til Jesse comes."
Well, now the salesman had heard enough. He leapt out of the chair, flung open the door and ran as fast as he could out into the ferocious storm. He scrambled onto his horse and rode away, shouting back over his shoulder:
"It was very nice meeting you, but when Jesse comes, tell him I couldn't wait!"
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