Full Throttle Catastrophe

Th-thunk, th-thunk, th-thunk. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind KC becomes aware of her heart beating: th-thunk, th-thunk, th-thunk…each beat coming a little bit faster than the last. KC searches her memory for a hint. Her thoughts are interrupted by the concussive ear splitting blare of a horn. LOong, LOOoong, shORt, looooOOONG! The sound pierces her brain and bounces through her body like a plinko chip…setting her teeth on edge and causing her to startle straight up, smashing her head against the ceiling. Ceiling?

Something is not right.

KC shakes her head and pinches her eyes shut, trying to clear the fog. That thunking is not her heart. In disbelief, KC recognizes it as the uneven click-clacking of a train as it thunders over endless rails. A train?

Something is very wrong.

KC's brain feels slow and her movements seem lumbering and inelegant…a definite stray from reality. Her coat is making her overheat, her mouth is dry and her eyes are having a hard time focusing. In horror, KC realizes that she has been drugged. Again!

At this point however, being drugged seems almost secondary as she registers the fact that she is actually in a metal cage. Claustrophobia and panic set in and KC retches violently in the corner. She has to pull herself together. Focus. S-t-r-e-t-c-h. She needs to shake off the grogginess and recover her agility and balance. Feeling better and better with each movement, she notices that the cage door has actually bumped open. Without hesitation, she stealthily slips through the door and into the main compartment. KC studies her environment. Apparently, she is in the storage car of a fast moving train. This is a new one. She needs to find Herman. Herman will know what to do and he must be somewhere on this train; he has to be!

Intuitively KC hunts for a safe spot and finds a hidey-hole in the back that is surrounded by tall boxes. What is going on, her mind howls. Think. Think! With a shudder she recalls being grabbed as she returned to the apartment. She twisted away but was aggressively chased through the small apartment until she was left with nowhere to go except under the bed. Effectively corralled, she didn't stand a chance as they came at her from both sides. And then…darkness. How long has she been out? Long enough to be fiercely hungry and to ache for a long cool drink.

The train rocks from side to side and KC feels it picking up speed…she feels certain that it is not supposed to be going this fast. KC's natural grace has returned though and the movement of the train does nothing to slow her down.

Quickly and instinctively she formulates a plan to exit the compartment. Picking her way delicately over and around the jostling contents of the car, KC conceals herself behind a luggage cart near the door. She sits motionless, straining to hear what is happening beyond the door. No sounds penetrate. In surprisingly short order KC is able to slide out as a Ticket Collector passes hurriedly through… thankfully, oblivious to her presence.

Relief washes over her as she skitters unseen to the first hallway alcove she can find. To her delight, on a plate outside the sleeper car door lay the remains of a poached salmon dinner. Without a second thought, KC shamelessly gulps down the food and licks the plate clean. KC has learned to take her meals when she can get them.

Beyond the next door, there are the raised voices of a crowd and KC senses heightened emotions. She decides to enter the car calmly and with assurance, hoping that she will look as if she belongs. At once, the door whooshes open and she steps inside.

Immediately KC can tell that no one in this car is concerned with or even noticing her presence. Sliding around a corner and into a row of empty seats, KC takes a moment to figure out what is causing the commotion. It soon becomes clear that the train is in danger of flipping off the rails at the next curve! Springing into action, KC runs up the aisle, bobbing and weaving around hysterical passengers. For some reason, the doors between cars have been locked in the open position the entire length of the train and although this anomaly allows her a straight run, the noise level and pandemonium has increased tenfold. Passengers seem to be rushing toward the Caboose while KC claws her way, against the grain, toward the Engine and hopefully, Herman.

As KC approaches the Engine Room, she is distraught that she has not yet found Herman. The Engine Room doors are almost completely closed and there are a number of Crew Members trying to pry open the doors with crow bars. Through the glass, KC can see what looks like Herman slumped over a dashboard panel. Finally! With relief and concern, and to the amazement of the crew, KC slips through the narrow opening and enters the Locomotive. Gracefully hopping up onto the dashboard, KC leans into Herman and rubs along the length of his outstretched arm. Bunting her head against his hand KC notices a lever under his palm as it flips into the down position The throttle bumps from "screaming" - level 8, to "mosey" - level 1. Instantly, the train slows and within seconds it's speed has reduced to a crawl. KC climbs back up Herman's arm and bunts his chin, purring loudly all the while.

At this moment the service crew manages to enter the Engine Room and awaken the engineer, Thomas Kutzner, with smelling salts. "This crazy Cat saved the day," cried the astonished Conductor! "That's KC, short for Kitty Cat," Mr. Kutzner said weakly, "she should be in her cage in the luggage car." KC snuggled more firmly into her man's lap and closed her eyes, "ahhhhhhh yes, it was time for a cat nap."