1
Chapter 57: Skill and Guile
Gus introduces Ginger and Phantaloom to Douglas, Jeanne and John. “We invited them to stay, and having heard our tale to date, they’ve decided to join us,” Gus explains and continues, “Johnny says their arrival is a happy coincidence, and I’m inclined to agree.”
Plumping her feathers as she stands, Phantaloom offers a wing and says, “Welcome. It’s a big night tonight. It’ll be interesting if not provocative… we’ll see! Here, sit with Ginger beside me, you’ll be able to see everyone, and it’s good for us to get used to your presence… we don’t have a lot to do with people day to day.”
Introductions made, Ginger informs the Motley Crew, “You’ll be in their care for music lessons and the development of a real orchestra, to test Gus’s and Johnny’s hopes. But right now we hear about the tutors who’ve been elected for three training schools. Cats?”
Hermit reports, “We chose Lucky Skye Felix – that’s her full given name. We’ve chosen the smallest cat, why? We figure the big strong blokes like Orca, TJ, Pippin, Sooty, Tinkle and myself… we’ve weight and strength. Lucky has neither in the same measure, moreover she weighs about one third the weight of the biggest lads. Technique, that’s her strength… skill and guile, fast footwork and finely honed reflexes. We’ll each one of us, enhance these as we learn from her.”
“Thank you Hermit. That’s excellent reasoning. Now Patch, the ‘drive-drive’ team’s conclusion please,” invites Ginger.
“Our task is a bit more complex, with both dogs and goats in training, and bearing in mind we’ve ‘drive-drive’ as well as ‘craszy running’ classes. Stanley was voted the natural choice, schooled in bunting as a kid by the ‘Buntwah Master’, Kim. Terror is his understudy, and special coach of the dogs.
“Craszy running… well! Ziggurat is responsible for the logical development of her natural habits. Mac and co will analyse and categorize these, formatting it for the rest of us to learn the basics. Perhaps Basil’s secret will out, and we’ll learn how to tear off everywhere all at once! This is ‘team formidable,’” finishes Patch. “Expect the unexpected; anticipate the astounding; be ready for the amazing.”
Ginger grins a thank you and says, “It sounds like art is going to imitate life in your training camp. I hope you will plan open sessions, where we’ll all come along and enjoy the frantic frolics… ‘Craszy running’, what next! The ‘lightning bolt’ franchise. Action state, please.”
“Franchise, franchise,” says Larry. “That’s a great idea. We’ll register the developed plan and sell it to animal rights groups, then just sit about and not do anything but rake the money in… Oh well, so much for flights of fancy eh! We’ve been hard at training. It turns out Bella and Molly are naturals. Their scores have been astounding for accuracy and distance. We’ve found that reloading speed and rapid-fire ability are important. So, selecting technique over absolute strength, we’ve chosen a filly and a cow.“
Ginger forward rolls, he springs, cavorts and shapes up, shadow boxing. Ears flattened back on his head, he throws a left hook and rapid right cross combination… delivering a powerful uppercut, his mind-whizz ends in a back-flip…
Then he’s back on the rostrum, where he raises a paw for quiet. “Larry, thank you. It all sounds well organized and very brave. We haven’t heard from Rusty and Raow for some time and their last message was disturbing. We may assume we have some days to acquire fitness, in addition to battle preparedness. We’ve an orchestra to form, and practice starts now.
“Arannita’s gang must be put out of action once and for all. We’ll keep our seasonal activities to a minimum while we focus everything on this task. No more gatherings here until we hear from the Ratanui Road lads.”