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

“I’ve come to help you,” she said when she had one hand over Rose’s mouth and the other pinning her firmly to the mattress. The terror in Rose’s eyes intensified. “I won’t hurt you.” No indication of belief in the bulging eyes. “The cats didn’t mean to hurt or frighten you. They sent me to say they’re sorry and to make things right for you. But I can’t do that unless you can answer my questions. Tell me his name. Tell me the name of the man who made you more afraid of cats than him.”

A final surge of terror shook Rose’s body, then she went limp. Catwoman removed her hands gingerly. Fear could do many strange things; it could kill. Rose’s eyes fluttered. She took a deep breath and sat up slowly.

“Eddie. Eddie talks to the cats. They’re everywhere. They’re all dead, but they answer him. They make him strong and smart. Then he makes them watch me.”

Catwoman shook her head. She was too late; Rose had gone around the bend. “Eddie who?” she asked, not knowing if she dared to believe any answer she got.

“My Eddie. Eddie Lobb.” Rose hesitated. She looked past Catwoman to someone only she could see, or remember. “You know Eddie. He made good. He has his own business. He has nice things. He gave me things. Nice things when I worked for him. Then he said I should live with him. He said I was his woman. He had a place near the park. A nice place—except for the cats. Big cats. Lions, tigers, panthers—mostly tigers. Eyes everywhere, watching me. His place. A nice place. Him and the cats. All the cats. All watching me. Then he put them in the room with me.” She began twisting the blankets into a tight spiral, then she began to gnaw on them.