Asprin, Robert Lynn – Catwoman – Tiger Hunt (With Lynn Abbey)

“There’s something seriously wrong there.”

“But what?” Sister Agnes asked. “She’s not ready to tell us or God. Should we follow her? Should we try to keep her here?”

“We’ve done all we can. Maybe she’ll come Saturday. Maybe she’ll tell us then.”

“We should have kept her here,” Sister Theresa grumbled. “I shouldn’t have let her go.”

“No,” Mother Joseph admonished. She felt the same compassion the others did, but she answered to the city bureaucracy as well as to God and the diocese. Her options were limited. “We can do nothing against her will, not even for the good of her soul. We will pray that she comes on Saturday.”

Another nun entered the discussion. “Did you see her look at that cat? I haven’t seen a look like that except in the movies.”

Mother Joseph adjusted the starched wimple beneath her veil, snatching an extra moment to consider what had been said. Cats had special privileges at the mission. They found sacutary in every nook and cranny. Food and water were laid out for them each day. Sister Magdalene, who’d begun the tradition, wasn’t here any longer. The Order was an army. The sisters went where they were told—although Mother Joseph had had a hand in getting Sister Magdalene out of Gotham City. But the cats continued to gather at the kitchen door and, from time to time, an envelope would appear in the poor box filled with untraceable currency. Mother Joseph understood that the money was for the cats.

“Perhaps we could invite another old friend to dinner on Saturday,” Mother Joseph mused. “We haven’t seen Selina in a while. Beelzebub’s people-shy, but if Selina brought one of her kittens—she’s always got a kitten or two—maybe we could get to the bottom of this.”