The Dogs of Kaloon

''You Dogs seem to be vastly outnumbered, Mister Charley. Maybe it would be prudent of you and your friend to come up here and negotiate with me and my associates. Maybe we can come to some sort of understanding...where no one gets hurt. What do you think...dog!'' Soom spat out the last word as though it tainted his mouth..

''What do you guys want? And how did you know my name...cat?'' Tucker said.

''Want? Why we don''t want anything, Mister Charley. We are just some law abiding citizens on our way to St. Louis. It seems we have made a wrong turn though..and now we are at a loss as to which way to continue. And as for knowing your name? Why, we have a mutual friend...a Mister Spot...he asked me to look you up. He said that you would straighten me out...and perhaps, show me around your little town here.''

''Sergeant Spot is no friend of mine...and as far as showing you around town, Mister...'' ''Soom! My name is Soom...as in doom,''

''All right ''Soom''...as far as your being shown the town...I''m afraid that the only night spot that I''m really familiar with is a cell, in the county jail. Would you be interested in something like that?

''I don''t think so, Mister dog...l don''t think so.'' Soom answered, and then without warning, leaped straight at Tucker''s face.

As Soom launched himself at the two dogs, the other cats emerged from the safety of the upper balcony to join in the attack. They came as a unit...something unusual for cats...eyes blazing, and claws seeking dog-flesh. As Soom flew through the air at the two dogs, Tucker managed to un-holster his gun. While falling backward, he managed to get his weapon cocked and leveled at the attacking Soom. Too late! The razor sharp claws of the airborne feline found a target.

''Oowww! Son-of-a-cat!'' Tucker yelled, as Soom''s slashing claws found their mark.

At the same time, Tucker''s gun erupted...twice...and blood and cat fur spattered on the stairs. The impact of the gun''s blast propelled the charging cat off to one side, and he spun like a pinwheel across the marble floor of the station. Coming to a stop when his spinning body collided with one of the benches, he scrambled...slipping and sliding...until he was back on his feet...and resuming his attack. Ears laid back, and missing a good portion of his tail, he launched himself once more at Tucker. But Tucker was more prepared for the onslaught this time. Leveling his revolver at the rampaging cat once more, he squeezed off one shot. The slug caught Soom in the throat and almost decapitated him. The cat crumpled in mid-leap, dropping in a bloody heap on the floor.

While Tucker was engaged in his struggle with Soom, Bull was blazing away with his gun at the other members of the gang. Two cats, Zut and Yow, had been hit by Bull''s deadly barrage. Zut, the black Alley, was dead, and now lay up against one of the lockers...his one remaining eye staring straight ahead. Yow, the white Persian, was not dead yet, but he was mortally wounded, and his left rear leg hung useless. Frantically he crawled as best he could into the darkness of an old cardboard box at the end of the room. That left Shong and Mowr still intact...physically. Mowr, seeing the futility of the ill-planned attack had already reversed his direction...from one of attack, to one of retreat.. Tucker, catching a glimpse of the escaping Mowr, fired off two more shots at the fleeing feline. Shong seizing the opportunity of the distraction, left the premises by way of the track-side doors and bounded down the tracks toward the safety of the trees that lined the subway embankment.