cshenk wrote in rec.pets.cats.community:

Community Kitties wrote in rec.pets.cats.community:


[The copter does fly into the shimmering light, and the copter
emerges on the other side in the air over the Antarctic.]

Ok, kitties and offurs, we'z real close! If you will look out da
windows on da left side of the copter youz will see Antarctica. Da
ice dat you see dere is the Ronne Ice Shelf, an da ice ahead of
us is da Antarctic Peninsula. We'z headed towards the northern
tip of da peninsula.

Ok, kitties, we'z just about over da Palmer Station. Da Larsen Ice
Shelf is right below us. Da broken glacier we'z looking for is
somewhere really close. Efurrybody please help me find where it
is.

[After the copter has been flying a few minutes, Sammy meows over
the intercom]

Sammy: Dere, dere! Look, dere's a great big hyuje glacier dat's real
close to the ice shelf! I'll bet dat's it.

Ranger: I'll set up the GPS controller to fly us up the gap and look
for tunnels or heat sources.

[Francesca loops the capacopter back to the southern end of the gap
between the glacier and the Larsen C ice shelf, drops to an altitude
ust below the surface of the glacier, and starts the chopper
cruising slowly along the gap. The FLIR monitor beeps occasionally,
prompting Ranger to record the coordinates at which the beeps
occurred. When the chopper gets about 3/4 of the way along the gap
the FLIR monitor starts sounding a continuous tone - on both sides
of the chopper.

Daisy-chan points out a big tunnel to the chopper's left (the ice
shelf side), while Sundance reports seeing another tunnel on the
chopper's right (on the glacier side). ]

Morgana: Look on the right, up on top of the glacier - is that cats?

[Sure enouth, a group of perhaps a dozen kitties and a few penguins
is standing on the surface of the glacier. They're waving and
meowing and jumping up and down. Francesca increases the choppers
altitude and swings over near where the kitties are. ]

Ranger: Da sonar shows solid ice below us, os it ought to be ok to
land.

[Francy sets the chopper down carefully, finally shutting off the
engines when it appears that the glacier surface is indeed strong
enough to support the chopper.

Morgana and Aed immediately open the chopper's door and dash over
the kitties.]

Aed: Hi! We were looking for the colony of cats we heard lived
around here. I assume you must be part of that catmunnity. Oh, let
me introduce myself. I'm Aed, this is Morgana, and the other kitties
arriving behind us will introduce themselves.

[A Norwegian Forest Cat cat steps up to Aed and offers a head butt]

Hihi! I'z Lars, an we iz indeed part of da catmunity you'z looking
for. At least we were, until dis happened! We'z was caught off guard
- we didn't expect dis to happen fur a few more years, so dere was a
dozen of usses on dis side of the break when it finally broke free.
We'z been in trouble! We din't haf much food stored on dis side, or
much fuel fur our heaters, so we'z been relying on our penguin
buddies here to keep us alive. Zoot, could you come over here,
please? Aed, dis is Zoot. He's da head of da penguins. Dey's been
bringing us fishes efurry day to keep usses from starving.
(whispering) and we'z getting purrty tired of eating fishies.

Zoot: Hewwo, Aed. Pweased to meet you. Are you hewe to hewp deze
kitties?

Aed: Yes, we are! We'z got food and cold weather gear, and we can
help get you back to the main community if you want.

Lars! Yes, pleeze!

[Francesca takes what looks like a really large, clumsy rifle out of
the catacopter cargo bay and walks over to the edge of the glacier.
Lying down on the ice she identifies the opening of the kitty tunnel
on the ice shelf itself, then she takes careful aim for the left
side of the tunnel and squeezes the trigger. A soft "pop" sounds,
and a big dart flies out the barrel of the rifle and sticks in the
ice just left of the tunnel mouth. She sights and fires again, and
another dart sticks on the ice just to the right of the tunnel
mouth.]

Francesca: We wazn't able to teleport directly here, since we din't
know the exact coordinates fur da 'porter. An since da ice shelf
moves, da coordinates change wif time. But wif doze 2 beacons I just
installed, we can set da 'porter to go right between dem, and dat
will get us dere. Lars, Zoot, duz you guys want to 'port back to da
main tunnel now?

[Lars and Zoot both shout 'Yes!'

Ranger programs the portable teleporter for the coordinates right
between the 2 beacons, then iondicates that everything is ready.]

Francesca: Ok, guys, we'z set. If you step through dat shimmering
light, you should step out da other side on da main tunnel.

[Lars and Zoot both look kind of uncertain, not being familiar with
teleporters.]

Francesca: Here, watch.

[She steps into the 'porter and disappears. The kitties on the ice
immediately hear a loud whistle from the ice shelf side of the
tunnel. They run to the edge of the iceberg and see Francesca waving
to them from the main tunnel.

As soon as they see it works Lars runs off to gather the rest of the
stranded kitties and Zoot waddles off to gather the rest of the
penguins. They all walk through the 'porter, and a steady procession
of kitties and penguins emerges in the main tunnel through the ice
shelf.]

Cash guides Iowna to the line and along with Daisy-chan, they join the
trip. Lars gives them a startled sniff but can tell they are
friendly. He's not sure what to think of the sloppy kiss he gets
from Iowna but decides to grin. She's just like one of his favorite
aunts but in doggie form.

Clem and Cleo jump out. They havent found a northern home yet so came
along for the ride after escaping the doggie slavers. They see Zoot
and come to a complete awed halt.

"wow" says Clem.

"Awesome" says Cleo!

(whispering to one another, they remember before the slavers stole
them, a show called 'Happy Feet' and wonder if Zoot dances?)

They start tapping feet to a rythem. Iowna's head starts nodding in
time and she joins in... In a few minutes the puppies are air
guitaring a Cat Stevens song "Wild World". Zoot and some penguins
start grining and nodding along as they walk the path to the inner
caves.



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