The City Heroes Read Free Page A

married for years. “Valdin, Valdin,” Dr. Pepper managed to croak from the gate.
    The old man pulled his spectacles down and looked over them. Then he put them back up and looked out under them. He seldom looked through them. “How are you, Doctor?” Priest Valdin said as if he were next to God.
    â€œMy noble friend, life is good!” Dr. Pepper replied.
    Valdin looked straight into the eyes of his visitor. There was something odd about him but he could not put his finger on it. “Doctor, what is wrong?” he asked as he offered them seats.
    The bewildered guest sat and straightened his chin, “I have a truckload of misfortune hanging from my neck like an Olympic medal,” Dr. Pepper said.
    The priest dropped his newspaper on the table and signaled his wife to leave. Clearing his throat, he said, “Whatever misfortune weighs upon your poor soul is not the end of life. I have seen men bend the ugliest circumstances to their favor. You can, too. What is your problem?”
    â€œIn such a perilous time as this, can you believe that I share my house with rats? And I have spent so much on the treatment of fever in the last few months… I will soon be swimming in the pool of poverty if all my money must go to such things,” the Doctor explained gravely.
    The priest returned, “That is no problem. Do you have a cat?”
    â€œNo!” the guest replied. “But I need one.”
    â€œI have two cats in my house. But let me speak with my wife before I make any commitment,” the priest said as he again adjusted his spectacles. He rose to his feet and went into the house. Not long after, he returned to the visitors with a cat in a cage. “My wife and I agreed to let you have Blaize!”
    Dr. Pepper was very excited. “Thank you, Valdin. I’m sure he will give those rats a run for their money. Not only that, but my son now has a pet! What did you say is the name of the cat?”
    â€œBlaize!” The priest replied.
    â€œWhat a good name!” Dr. Pepper said. He could not hide his pleasure.
    Valdin lowered his spectacles. “You will enjoy the cat. But do me a favor, Doctor. Take good care of Blaize.”
    â€œAh, I will spoil him with rich meals. He will surely have the best treatment I can provide. Also, with the rats in my house, Blaize will never go hungry.” They all laughed out loud as Dr. Pepper sneezed and announced, “We must leave now.”
    With a broad grin sitting comfortably on his face, Valdin took a deep breath. “Okay. Thanks for coming. And you will never have a dull moment as long as Blaize remains under your roof!”
    Dr. Pepper replied with a smile and moved away.

CHAPTER 4
Dark Path



Blaize had a new lease on life, and the first few days were like a bed of roses. But such comfort was not a true picture of the world. One morning, as the wind blew with vengeance, Blaize was confused to see his meal reduced to half his normal portion. But what could he do? Perhaps the reduction was simply an oversight by the cook. But as his meals grew ever smaller, Blaize was forced to search for complements to what he got from his master’s table. To make matters worse, Baldwin, the little boy that made the home lively, had gained admission to a boarding school, and with the boy’s departure Blaize was kept inside his cage much of the time. What’s more, the home grew silent and sedate.
    One evening, Dr. Pepper rushed hurriedly out of his cottage to face the main building. Shortly after, the frail man got to the corner where Blaize was and threw the cage open. He grabbed the poor cat by the paw and said, “You have a meal in my cottage. Deal decisively with it!” Before Blaize could even blink, he was whisked away to the cottage. Smiling like a half-wit, the old man slammed the door behind him and freed Blaize. “Kill the meal and let God sort it out!” he said. Like every cat with a good