Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 The cats left Number 10 as the summer sun was beginning to fade. They followed their noses through a warren of alleyways down to the river, towards the Sour Saucer. The riverside milk bar (a bit like a human pub) was directly underneath Blackfriars bridge on the north side of the Thames. It was right near the waterline, and almost completely hidden from human eyes. It

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had been there since Victorian times and was the legendary stop off where scores of thirsty animals used to have their final drink before boarding ships bound for lives in the new worlds of America or Australia. All animals were welcome: cats, rats, dogs, you name it. They all drank (and fought) here. It took its name from the beverage that had made the milk bar famous. It was said that if you could drink the sour saucer of milk in one go without turning green, you were worthy of a place on board a ship. If not, you had to walk the plank from the bar, straight out, SPLASH, into the Thames. Toto and Silver could hear fog horns and the sound of seagulls squawking as they

descended the steps to the entrance of the milk bar. The sun had set now and there was a chilly summer fog where the warm air met the cold river. They could just about see the lights from the top of the Shard in one direction and the Houses of Parliament in the other. 'Ok, sis, I'll do the talking, said Silver. 'It's the one thing I know I can do. "That's probably for the best, replied Toto. 'I'll only be able to see this Elias Copinger up close, and me going from cat to cat staring might draw attention to us!' 'Quite right. You stay by the door and let me scope the place. I'll call you over when I've found the guy. Just one thing though, Silver, you can

talk for Italy... Please DON'T talk your way into trouble. Just use the code word for the all important information and then we can get out of here. 'Trust me, Silver said with a wink as he opened the door, and together the cats slipped into the dim room beyond. The packed bar had a low ceiling with wooden beams and it was lit completely by candle light. There were several long tables in the centre of the room and countless booths in the nooks and crannies along the walls where the patrons ate and drank and whispered in the shadows to each other. A band made up of two cats on violins, a Saint Bernard dog on double bass, and a skinny rat on accordion played in the left corner.

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