Soul Music - Cat

At the foot of the bed, paying no attention whatsoever to the keening around it, was a large, very fat, ginger cat.

SQUEAK.

Susan looked at the hourglass. The last few grains tumbled through the pinch. The Death of Rats, with exaggerated caution, sneaked up behind the sleeping cat and kicked it hard. The animal awoke, turned, flattened its ears in terror, and leapt off the quilt. The Death of Rats sniggered.

SNH, SNH, SNH. One of the mourners, a pinch-faced man, looked up. He peered at the sleeper. 'That's it,' he said. 'He's gone.'

'I thought we were going to be here all day,' said the woman next to him, standing up. 'Did you see that wretched old cat move? Animals can tell, you know. They've got this sixth sense.'

SNH, SNH, SNH.

***

Soul Music - p64