#81: In Sickness, and in health.

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The still reluctant and dismayed receptionist said I suppose if you insist. Considering the exceptional circumstances in this case all fees and paperwork are waived. We haven’t been able to do anything for the poor animal anyway due to it’s apparent viciousness. There has been no real expense to us. I wish you the very best of luck, you'll be needing it.

She nodded to him as he carried his new buddy out of the facility.

His pod car was outside waiting for him. As gently as he could, Sam got into the pod car while carrying the injured cat. The autonomous teardrop closed it’s canopy with a faint hiss. Smoothly and silently it carried them back to his truck without incident .

When he got to his truck he considered what might possibly be a problem. How best to transfer the cat from the pod-car to his truck? His truck WAS a monster semi-tractor that he had modified and it was large by any standards. It was a long way up into the cab.

Trog.. the old man said loudly enough to be heard over wind noise.

Yeah Sam came a gravelly voice which seemed to come from everywhere.

Lower the cargo-lift said the old man_ and by god be gentle, or I’ll trade you in on a moped... I've got an injured cat here_.

Yasssa massa snickered the gravely voice...._ cargo-lift it is. Welcome aboard Cat... We've needed a truck cat for a while...you can keep this old coot in his place_

Sam stopped. He paused for a moment with a puzzled look on his face. Then he grinned. That was just about perfect. He’d spent hours and hours programming and reprogramming the ’personality module’ of his truck's computer. He knew it was nothing but heuristically activated multiple decision trees...but still. That had sounded GOOD.

Feeling a bit cocky with self appreciation of his own work he didn’t pay as much attention as he should have. When the lift lowered and he was climbing onboard with the cat he somehow managed to gash his arm on a piece of metal. He’d make a mental note to file that down later. He’d apparently left some sharp edges when he’d replaced the lift line a while back. He hadn’t used it much since then so he’d not noticed. It wasn’t much of a cut but it smarted...and dripped some.

He and the cat were gently raised up to door level then they entered the cab. The lift silently stowed itself. Trog also stored the pod car. Sam placed the cat on his bed and dug out some cat food. There on his bed he cleaned his new Buddy. He wiped off all the dried blood, ashes, and other more noxious fluids. Sam’s hands, and the cut, were covered in filth before he was done. He had to wash up before he hand fed and watered his new companion. He fed the cat for a long, long time, one small bite at a time....as long as the cat would consume it. Eventually the cat had enough food and curled up against the old man and went to sleep.

A few hours later the cat was ravenous with hunger. Sam fed it again to satiation.

Repeat through the night.

This continued over the course of the next few days. For several days Sam did nothing else but see to his cat. He took care of his new buddy. He didn't accept any loads. He just sat there in his truck, parked in the lot...taking care of his cat. He was amazed at how much food the poor thing ate and completely mystified at the minimal use of the litter box. It was a uncanny. The cat was unnaturally warm and it ate and drank an incredible amount of food and water. There was lots and lots of input, very little output.

The cat just ate. Then it would drink. Then it would sleep. It slept a LOT. Normally cats slept sixteen or more hours a day. This one slept more...lots more. It slept in short increments though...and ate when not asleep. It ate a LOT.

At night the old man slept beside his new pet being very careful not to disturb it. The cat had pride of place in the bed.

Eventually, however, the time came when the old man felt he had to accept a load. He was fairly well off and financially stable , but still. Enrico had been muttering about hanging a mailbox from Trog’s hood ornament. There needed to be SOME cash flow. He needed cigars, beer and coffee if nothing else. He also had a little one to take care of. He would need kibbles and stinky food.

So they’d best be off. He conferred with Trog as to readiness factors, talked to dispatch and Enrico about which trailers to use...and he proceeded to hook up.

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Next Episode
#82: Cat not hurting…
Previous Episode
#80: The games began
First Episode
# 1 : In the beginning…

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