JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE
December 1981
Septemember 27th. Dawned bright and clear. Black Tom and his queen, Astra were contentedly grooming themselves in the time honoured fashion. Tom was relatively sanguine about the outcome of the evening's meeting. Several conclaves of cats had adopted the sitting and staring policy throughout the summer months with some degree of uccess. Also, with the usual exodus of the humans on the sacred 'Summer Holidays' syndrome (which seemed to form such an important part of their lives), there had been a rota of unattended gardens for two to three weeks at a time; this afforded long Lazy hours of cat pleasure. Towards sunset, cats made their way over rooftops and sheds, scaling fences with long practiced ease until they arrived at the Back Yard. T
om, as Chairman, stood slightly above the mewing furry crowd with Tabby to his left and Astra slightly behind, ^elix, a new member of the committee, to his right. Clearing his throat Tom raised his right paw in the traditional gesture for quiet. "Fellow Felines- the purpose of this meeting is to ascertain the freedom that we cats have managed to win from the humans with respect to movement and use of land. I am fairly well satisfied that......."
He was interrupted by a tail-waving, yowling mass of cats advancing through the flowers and vegetable patches. A motley crew of wild-eyed savages bearing banners which read 'Tom out Ginge in'. Heading the frenetic assembly was Ginger. He was flanked by Battleman and Yellah, two of the most notorious catar-waulers of the district. Hissing at Black Tom, Ginger cuffed him aside and a deathly silence fell over the assembled quadrupeds.
"We've had enough of conciliation and tenuous policies. What is needed is power. Don't be misled by the absence of the humans on their annual laze-about. Now is the time of the crop-gathering, the bulb -planting. Will they want us scratching in their earth?" "NO" came the concerted roar. "My policies are simple- overwhelm them. Twine round their ankles in a simulated attitude of affection and trip them up. Wait for the bulbs to be planted and rip them up. Sharpen your claws on the new young saplings. Hang from the1 washing-Anything that will reduce the humans to raging wrecks. Eventually they will leave the gardens to us-TO US"- he screamed the last in a high-pitched yowl- fur standing on end. Hundreds of cats were screeching for Ginger, they had arrived from all district of Oxford alerted by Daily Catfo. Fights and scuffles broke out in the crowded Back Yard between rival contingencies. Black Tom screamed for control,but could not be heard. Turning to Astra, Felix and Tabby he beckoned them to one side,"This is dreadful, appaling. We shall have to gather the friends that we have left and see what influence we can bring in other ways. Come.*" and he led the way out of the Back Yard. Ginger's entourage saw Black Tom's retreat and raised a cat-calling scream of triumph. GINGER FOR LEADER POWER TO THE MASSES. YOWL.YOWL. YOWL.
Windows were opening with a crash all round the Back Yard. Several humans threw buckets of cold water onto the cats. Despite Ginger's continued screams the wet-furred brigadefirifted away to lick themselves dry. When a brick caught Battleman a glancing blow on the hip even Ginger's crew withdrew. But they were triumphant. Tom, meanwhile, was engaged in consultation with Felix, Tabby and Astra. "Ginger is a time-bomb. The lunatic fringe that he has gathered around him are the scrag-end of the cat-world. Footloose and non-owned they respect nothing. But they are attractive to the Kits (adolescent cats) representing as they do spurious excitement and illusory freedom."
"Surely, Tom," purred Astra, "the Kits of our acquaintance have been bred with some standards of decency; they have enough catelligence to see Ginger for the catomaniac that he is." "Taking every Kits natural need for rebellion" Tabby interposed " there is no knowing which way they will turn." "We could discuss all night, we need ideas". A soft padding brought fluff into the dark corner, his green eyes the only visible mark of his presence,, Astra purred greetings to her son who had left the litter some weeks previously. Tom cuffed him affectionately. "Father, I was at the meeting. I think I can help." "How?" "Since leaving the litter I have contacted several of Ginger's fringe members" He mewed reassuringly at Astra's indrawn breath," it is alright, Mother. I wanted to find out what Ginger was planning. They seem powerful but if ginger was discredited or removed the rest would fall apart. This is my plan.........." Black,tabby and grey heads drew together as Fluff outlined his idea.