I am..........here, where I have been every night for the past week. Unseen, I maintain my vigil, unmoving I remain completely invisible to the naked eye. They have no idea as to my location, and the natural foliage provides me with the cover I need for the task at hand. They, on the other hand are open to my scrutiny at all times, and I see every aspect of their daily routine as it unfolds before me. This will assist in the final stages before I take the action upon which I have decided.

I am..........watching. Patience is the key and just one slip will almost certainly result in the failure of my plan. Patience is something which has always been second nature to me and victims too many to name would testify to that........if only they were still alive to do so.

I am..........waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment and biding my time until I have them all just where I want them. Nothing precipitate will be allowed; I have taken too much care for everything to be wasted in one moment of utter madness. No, this is not something that must be rushed.

I am..........a killer, a cold-hearted assassin devoid of all emotion save that to please myself.I have always fulfilled my needs in this way and my skills have been honed to perfection through years of practice. I am the supreme ‘predator'; I do not need to kill, but do so nonetheless. It has always been so. Nothing is too small to be outside my remit, and the night vision equipment gives me ‘eyes' where they cannot see. I find this amusing.

I am..........coming. They do not know when or where I will make my move, but make it I will. It will be slowly as always; care and precision are my watchwords and the final delivery will be made with a consummate ease and economy of movement. They will be completely unaware of the direction from which I will launch my attack.

What was that? Unexpected movement! A figure at the back door - framed dark against the back lighting provided by the fluorescent tubing on the ceiling. He stands looking out into the gloom, but I am too far away for him to detect anything. Now another figure, her this time. Asking ‘Anything wrong?' He shakes his head and they both return inside. High powered audio equipment gives me an added edge.

Too close for comfort there, and the slightest movement would have betrayed my position. More waiting and watching. Lights going out across the ground floor signal a likely opportunity and the chatter of voices from the first storey confirms my thoughts.

I am..........moving now. Slowly, carefully, over the fence at the bottom of the garden area and into the perimeter. Stop. Look around and crouch out of sight as the dog from next door comes out for a last minute ‘visit'. Downwind of it I will be undetectable even to its powerful sense of smell. It's gone now and I am once more alone in the blackness.

An open window. People such as they never learn and it will just serve to make the entire job so much easier. It's small but perfect for my needs and I will be inside without making a sound. Now is the time, there will be no better opportunity and I will leave no clue as to my presence. Carefully now..........push against the pane.........it swings inwards and pressing with a shoulder has me half way through without a scratch. Just one more twist and I am inside and then................damn!

The pane bangs shut behind me and the sound is like a firework going off. Suddenly there is movement upstairs and the sound of feet descending towards my position. I turn..............****! The escape rout is closed by the non-return catch. I struggle with the mechanism, desperate to escape before........................too late.

"George! You naught boy! Where on earth have you been? Come on you're wet through. Now where did I put that old towel?"

I am..........Georgius Maximus Decimus Meridius, general of the ninth legion, trusted soldier and close ally to Marcus Aurelius, Caesar of Rome and ruler of the known world.

Actually no I'm not; I'm just a cat with a big ego. Bugger this for a lark, where's my dinner? Don't you know how cold it is sat there at the bottom of that garden under the Hydrangea bush? You should be prosecuted for letting a poor defenceless thing like me stay out all night in the freezing cold. I'm off to bed now......................lights please! Crikey, what does it take around here to get some peace and quiet?

Keyword: I Am

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Comments (14)

Posted by Ashutosh 2008-08-26 07:53:15 .... A cat's tale, straight from the cat's mouth! Well..there was a twist at the end, like all your stories. But you see, a deliberate twist, a manufactured, made-up twist doesn't have that kind of feel. It didn't have that natural, spontaneous feeling. I'm not being negetive but just being critical. I think you've written better pieces than this. I dunno what to make out of it. Was it supposed to be humorous? This was different. Well, I didn't like it so much. Maybe others might. + Report this comment
Posted by indianaman130 2008-08-26 08:43:59 .... as just a story, on the surface, it seems so-so, but if you look at it from a writing perspective, it's hard to do. Write from the perspective of an animal. Writing is putting on paper a view of the world the writer has. I would suggest everyone try writing as an animal, if only to learn to see the world in different ways, and apply that skill to writing. + Report this comment
Posted by philneale1952 2008-08-26 09:14:21 Explanation This was a story not to be taken too seriously, and was more in response to requests received from a certain quarter who shall remain nameless........ If it didn't grab the attention then so be it, but it was kind of fun to write, and a little light relief's no bad thing. However, ALL critique is gratefully received and will only serve to enhance any writer's skill (or lack of). Phil + Report this comment
Posted by antheerr 2008-08-26 09:18:26 .... You know I love this as I laughed when you told me about it and were playing with the ideas. I suppose the thing is that as I know the cat involved I can really see this, whereas other people can't see George and know that this is really what he would do. + Report this comment
Posted by harmattan 2008-08-26 09:34:38 I am feeling feline I caught on about half way through and it trebled the pleasure. I recall an old poem about a lady in carpet slippers wandering round her garden at night calling for her cat. The last line was something like: "But her tiger won't come in", as in the cat was playing at tigers. This is just as good. Cat playing at hired assassin? Perfectly valid. My two regularly bring me lizards and rats and leave them on the kitchen table for my tea! Some people know cats. Some don't. Nice one Harmattan + Report this comment
Posted by JonStalk 2008-08-26 10:44:30 .... This was a good one! I've grown up with cats, and there is nothing in this story that isn't true! Nice work! Kept me interested and made me laugh at the same time. + Report this comment
Posted by Behind_the_Mask 2008-08-26 12:26:25 ... That was indeed something different, at first I thought it was an assassin heading to his target, but it turned out to be your cat. Very tricky of you. Cats name is reference to Maximums from Gladiator? Well-played young sir well played. + Report this comment
Posted by sebcoco 2008-08-26 12:41:16 .... A good and different story to what you've written, though I haven't read all your works. I think you well-described the image of a cat. Good one! + Report this comment
Posted by r.e.potter 2008-08-26 13:35:22 wheres my old boot to throw Ha, the prowess of a cat. So loving, so gentle, so fury...until he turns on you with a whisk. So George is a hunter. Any dead mice or birds on your doorstep. Chilling tale of a feline fancy. Never have been a cat guy, but I would have to say,,,Garfield, move over. Didn't know what this was about when I started reading, nice job of hiding the truth. Is your other cat jealous George is getting all the recognitiion now that he is a star? + Report this comment
Posted by allmine 2008-08-26 15:49:34 .... Hahahaha..from the minds of cats. Didn't you know that they rule the world? I loved this it was awesome...gripping by nature. I loved the calculation and stalking at the beginning of the story. Awesome job + Report this comment
Posted by darrinbouley 2008-08-26 17:18:42 Night stalker... I just about lost my cookies when you let the cat out of the bag. And the whole big ego thing was just hilarious! Having owned these critters most of my life, I can see that you have a warm spot for your furry friends. What an original slant this story has! I give it two big paws up! + Report this comment
Posted by d.dasgupta 2008-09-01 23:56:40 Impressively original I went back and checked again for the category. It was indeed mystery as I confirmed. I found the mixture of mystery and humour quite original. Mystery from the cat's point of view, humour and a lot of love from the human point of view. Quite well thought out. I wonder how these animals think, I mean what their emotions are like. I think I understand a dog better than a cat. After reading this I want to post something on an animal. Neither cat not dog. Not a creature that anyone seems to love too much. Let's see! :) + Report this comment
Posted by Daren 2008-09-04 06:05:23 Funny The cat assassin! I like it. + Report this comment
Posted by Something Indecent 2008-09-04 16:32:29 .... How am I not surprised that a cat was involved? No but really I thought you did a very creative and well written story here. It's taught and thrilling leaving the reader in the dark until the feline light shines through at the end. + Report this comment

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