Catherine
heard a knock on her apartment door. She wasn't expecting a visitor so,
puzzled, she opened it to find Vincent standing
there.
Shocked, she blurted, "I never expected to see you at my
door!"



"There was no time to send a message," her visitor replied, then
stepped aside to reveal a companion, Peter.



Catherine blinked her big green eyes,
baffled.
"Come in!" As they entered, she admitted, "I thought it would be
a beautiful day in Hell before I'd see the
two
of you together, not after your brawl at Winterfest!"



"Only one thing could bring us together after that," her fellow
Helper revealed. "We need to rally everyone to get to the bed
right away."



"It finally sang?" Catherine asked,
resigned.



"Unfortunately, yes. Can you help?" Two sets of pleading eyes
silently begged her to assist them.



Catherine nodded, then grabbed her coat and keys. "Let's go!" />

* * * />

The sun was shining brightly as they neared the problem. All around
them,
colorful in the afternoon light, Catherine saw the others Tunnel
dwellers and
Helpers, converging. People from all walks of life, all shapes, all
sizes,
dressed in all manner of clothing - the scene reminded her of a big
tasty Eggplant. That thought made her
stomach ring,
reminding her she'd missed lunch.



Ignoring her protesting tummy, Catherine surveyed the situation, then
motioned
for silence, calming the crowd. "I know this seems big.
But let's not blow it out of proportion. It's not like it's a theft."



Swiftly her lawyer's mind calculated their options, and she decided upon
the
best person for the job: a priest. At a
nearby phone
booth, she called the first one she found in the Novel.
After quickly explaining the situation, she was assured it could be
handled there.



Relieved, Catherine returned to the concerned group of friends from
Below and
Above and announced, "It'll be taken care of soon. Everyone please
return
to your cave."



Before Vincent could leave, however, she grasped his arm. "Except for
you,
my love," she ordered. Then, in full view of the now astonished crowd,
Catherine stood on tiptoe and placed a lingering kiss upon his lips.
They were
immediately engrossed in each other, so much that they never even
noticed when
the crowd gasped as a Tiger appeared flying
over their heads... />

* * * />