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From: "Bill Morgan" <morg1058@chartervt.net>
Subject: {ASSM} NEW from Morgan: BARBARA Part 4 of 6
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 23:10:41 -0500
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<1st attachment, "Barbara 4.txt" begin>

The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual
relationships.  If you feel that it is illegal, immoral, or
otherwise improper for you to read this, then *Don't Read It.*

*  *  *

*_Barbara_ -- Part 4 of 6*

Copyright (c) By Morgan, 1994, 2002.  All Rights Reserved

Please note the original copyright date.  This story was
basically written eight years ago.  As a result, you will likely
find obsolete references.  I'm afraid you'll just have to live
with it; it's too tedious trying to keep up with the latest and
greatest.

This book is part of the Ali Clifford saga and in time follows
Cynthia Martin by about 5 years.  Because of the fact that there
are other stories that overlap in time, some readers may find
references to events they've never heard of.  With luck, you
eventually will.

Incidentally, you will find occasional entries, _word_.  The
reason for this is that MS Word's Auto Format function puts a
word preceded and followed by an underscore in italics; that's my
intent.  Similarly, *word* results in the word appearing in bold
face.  If you use Word's Auto Format, it will take care of
things; if you don't, you at least know why it's there.

More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Morgan/www> 
If you like it -- or if you don't -- please let me know at
<morg105829@aol.com.>  My books are also posted on
<www.storiesonline.net>.

*  *  *

*Chapter 26*

Tom found her as she was making arrangements with the parents to
pick up the children after they had lunch and ice cream.  Leaving
the courtroom with her brood gathered around her, she was stopped
by two young women who she recognized from the night before,
Joyce Collier and Ann Henry from KNBC, Los Angeles.  Bobbie could
see camera crews waiting in the background.  Joyce, the senior of
the two, said, "Mrs. Conroy?  I'm Joyce Collier from KNBC and
this is Ann Henry.  Could you please give us an interview?"

"Not right now," Bobbie replied, "but possibly later."  Then she
smiled warmly and said, "I will make a deal with you, though. 
Why don't you tell your crew to get lost or eat or something. 
Then you can join us for lunch with this crew of imps, and we can
talk.  And I'll even buy.  Is it a deal?"

The two young women immediately agreed and Joyce left to make
arrangements with the crew.  While she was gone Bobbie introduced
Tom to Ann Henry.  He was wearing his blue blazer again and
looked incredibly handsome.  Ann just looked at him and said
softly, "Yum!"

"You don't know the half of it!" Bobbie said with a giggle.  If
you think he looks good now, you should see him naked in bed --
particularly if you're horny the way I always am."

Henry studied Tom and then looked closely at Bobbie.  Although
she had been in the courtroom for much of the previous day, this
was her first chance to see Bobbie up close.  Finally she said,
"If I were a guy naked in bed and saw you standing there naked I
would be afraid my cock would extend to hit the ceiling!  Mrs.
Conroy--"

"Bobbie, please!" Bobbie interrupted.  "I'm certain I'm younger
than you are."

"Bobbie," Ann repeated with a grin, "you're the most magnificent
woman I have ever seen.  I was thinking what a stinking shame
that Tom is taken, but seeing you up close, if you were wearing a
muu-muu covering you from neck to floor and I was bare-assed
naked, Tom wouldn't even see me.  And if you were naked?  No man
alive would see another woman!" Bobbie just grinned.

When Joyce Collier rejoined them, they went to a nearby ice cream
and sandwich shop.  Since it was still before noon, they were
able to get four booths.  When the children were seated -- the
hostess was astonished at the courtesy and manners the children
all displayed -- Ann Henry looked at them and giggled.  "Well, I
guess I know who's who.  Andy and Ken are sitting by themselves.
Then, I guess, we have Mike Morris and Charley Conrad, each with
his own harem."  She smiled very warmly and added, "God, they are
all so cute!"

After they ordered, Ann congratulated Bobbie on the outcome of
the trial and the brilliant accomplishments of the children. 
Meanwhile, Joyce looked like something was on her mind.  When Ann
finished, Joyce asked if, by any chance, they had seen the KNBC
news the night before.

When Bobbie replied with a warm smile that indeed they had, Joyce
returned the smile with a warm one of her own and said, "There
appears to be some trouble."  After looking down at tabletop for
a moment, apparently to gather her thoughts, she said
thoughtfully, "Bobbie, this morning, I think you changed my life.
 You see, I guess I'm what's referred to as a female media
personality."  With a very warm grin she continued, "That's
another term for a reasonably attractive face, good tits and a
trim little ass.  Nothing is expected to be between your ears, of
course, except air.

"We have a whole litany of approved beliefs and positions.  If
you don't learn the litany, you don't survive, let alone advance.
 I guess I learned it all in school and learned it well.  Anyway,
here I am.  Then this morning in court I heard those children
recite the Pledge.  I have never heard it recited that way in my
life before.  Those children know it, they mean it and they _live
it!_

"Walking over here you may have seen me talk to a number of the
children."  To Bobbie's surprise tears appeared in the girl's
eyes as she continued, "Without exception I was greeted with the
most incredible courtesy and manners I have ever encountered in
my life.  I was treated like a lady!  Me!  A pushy media bitch
with the all the ethics and morals of an alley cat!  Hell, I'll
ball _anything_ -- male, female, or uncertain -- if it will get
me another ten seconds of air time.

"Then I look in the eyes of the children.  What do I see? 
Exactly what you said that I _would_ see when you were testifying
this morning: the most incredible level of love, goodness,
intelligence and... and purity... I could imagine.  Bobbie, I
can't tell you how close I came to fleeing back to the station."

While she was talking, Bobbie had reached across the table, taken
the girl's hand and just held it tightly.  When Joyce finished,
she looked directly into Bobbie's eyes.  After studying them for
a few moments the woman began to bawl.

Since Bobbie was sitting on the inside of the booth, Tom
instantly jumped up to let her out.  Gently but firmly he lifted
Ann Henry out of her seat on the outside and seated her where
Bobbie had been, while Bobbie took her former seat.  Taking the
girl into her arms, Bobbie easily overcame her resistance and
pulled her close, settling Joyce's face in her shoulder -- her
head had been buried in the corner of the booth and she didn't
want Bobbie near her, let alone holding her.  As she held her,
she gently stroked the woman's head and shoulders.

For Joyce Collier it was an utterly unbelievable experience.  It
was as if this beautiful woman was literally wiping away the
hurt, the fear and the remorse with her fingertips.  When she
raised her head and looked at Bobbie, her eyes were wide as she
breathed, "Who _are_ you?  You aren't human.  You must be an
angel come to earth!"

Instead of replying, Bobbie turned the woman's head, placed her
lips on hers and poured out her love.  If the effect of Bobbie's
fingers was powerful, it wasn't close to the power of her kiss. 
Collier instantly felt a flood of love and joy pour through her
body with increasing power.  Then everything went black.

When Bobbie felt the woman go limp in her arms she just
positioned Joyce's head back on her shoulder and continued to
hold her.  Glancing across the table at Ann Henry she saw the
girl's eyes gaping wide with amazement.  Bobbie heard sounds of
the woman recovering consciousness.  When she could feel that
Joyce was recovered, she gently let her go.

After breathing deeply with her head down, Joyce sat up and
looked across the table at her partner and said, "Ann Henry, I
take back every cynical comment I have ever made.  When you told
me about the Holy Spirit descending on the class -- Millie
Flaherty's comment from yesterday -- I thought it was a hoot! 
Now, darling, not only is it no longer funny, I recognize it as
the simple truth.  And you're rehired with a raise."

Turning to Bobbie she explained, "I'm the bitch-in-chief at the
station.  I supply the new girls to whichever guy -- or gal --
wants one!  I tell them who they are going sleep with.  When one
of the guys takes an interest in one of the new ones, I just ask
him where he wants her to be and when, as well as what sort of
performance he expects.  The girl performs or she's out.

"We never would have used Ann's material last night except for
the link to Andy, Ken and the tigers.  We _had_ to go with it. 
The reason she was covering the trial yesterday was that she is
the newest in the department."  Looking back at Ann she said,
"There is one condition on your rehiring, though: You're going to
have to beat me as hard as you can for as long as you can with
whatever you can find that will inflict the greatest pain."

Ann just shook her head and said, "Then I guess I can't come
back, Joyce, because I won't do it.  You know that."

Tears started to flood Joyce's eyes again and she just slowly
nodded and said, "Yes, I guess I did know that.  Darling Ann, the
reason these children resonated with you is because you're so
much like them.  Not nearly as good or as pure, but compared to
me, you're Snow White."  Then she extended her hand and said
softly, "Shit, you're rehired anyway."

Joyce took a few more deep breaths, turned back to Bobbie and Ken
and said, "Back to business.  I got off the track.  What I
started to say was that I support all the Politically Correct
positions... or did.  If I really stopped to think about it,
right now I doubt if I support any of them.  But anyway, one of
the 'in' things now is Animal Rights.

"Well, it seems that the Animal-Rights idiots are up in arms over
last night's circus performance.  They claim the whole thing was
a put-up job, that the tigers had been drugged after being
savagely beaten..."  She just shook her head and said, "I don't
need to finish.  I think you can fill in the blanks...  No!  I'm
certain you can, Bobbie, because you're so incredibly smart."

Bobbie saw real pain in the woman's eyes as she asked, "Can we do
anything to stop them?  Gunther Gabel-Williams is truly a fine
person but they are out for his hide -- or his blood, anyway."

To Joyce's amazement, Bobbie replied, "Sure!  And it's going to
be so incredibly easy, it's ridiculous.  But first, Joyce, what
kind of guy is Jack Johnson?  Whose side is he on?"

"Jack Johnson is the exception that proves the rule," Joyce
replied.  "He does it all on sheer talent and hard work.  He
knows what goes on at the station and with the network but
doesn't play any of the games.  At the same time he knows that he
would be wasting his time to go on a one-man crusade against it.

"He's a wonderful guy and has enough sense to recognize me for
the piece of shit I am.  The fact that he wouldn't touch me with
a ten-foot pole says all you need to know about his good
judgment.  He's... he's a bachelor and a truly wonderful person."
 When she looked up Bobbie saw there were tears in the woman's
eyes.

"And you love him, don't you?" Bobbie said softly.

"Of course," Joyce whispered.  Then she threw her head back and
said, "Someday he'll find a fine woman.  Like Ann, here..."

"I agree with your characterization of Jack, Joyce," Ann
interjected.  "On the other hand, he's too old for me and I have
a boyfriend.  Now if I could only learn to cook..."  Then she
said brightly to Bobbie, "But what's your easy solution to the
animal right's problem?"

"We do it again tonight," Bobbie replied, "with all of the idiots
and their flunkies in attendance."  Their food had already been
served so Bobbie looked over her shoulder to see how the children
were making out.  She smiled warmly when she saw Susan nuzzling
Mike while Casey and Karen Chan, the other two girls in his
harem, just smiled at them lovingly.  She also saw that the
children were being exemplary in their behavior and table
manners.  Then she asked, "Ann, what do you think of Susan
Carlson and Mike Morris?"

"I think they are living, breathing dolls," the girl replied. 
"But why do you ask?"

"Take a look over my shoulder and tell me what you think," Bobbie
replied.  Ann did as she was asked and studied the scene for a
few moments.  Then her face fell and she looked so sad it
appeared she was about to cry.  "What's wrong?" Bobbie asked,
alarmed.  "What do you see?"

With a broad grin Ann replied, "I see poor Charley Conrad getting
stuck with _five_ girls!  My God, Bobbie, I know his father was a
Marine fighter pilot and he is about six feet three and 220 or
so.  But still...

"Bobbie Conroy, you're uncaring and unfeeling!  You just sit
there and allow that poor boy to be destroyed just to satisfy the
sexual cravings of five young women!  But such a harem!  Can you
believe it?  A Eurasian, an Oriental, and the most gorgeous black
girl in the world.  And then there's Laura Benson and that
adorable Betsy Clifford--"

"But what a way to go," Tom interjected with a sigh.  "And
besides, my dad was a pilot in the Air Force and I know that
Marine combat pilots have a life expectancy measured in
milliseconds, so what could he expect?  I'm sure Charley and
Ginger will understand."

He shook his head and added, "But can you believe Mike and Susan?
 Fathers with _three_ Medals of Honor between them and about
eight awards of the second-ranking medal?  What will Mike and
Susan's kids be like?"

"The foundation of our nation," Joyce interjected.  "Its bedrock,
along with Ken and Andy's, and most particularly, yours!  Your
children are going to be beyond belief!"  Then glaring at Bobbie
she added, "And for that matter, Mrs. Conroy, what's wrong with
personal production?  I heard something from you this morning
about bellies rounding and feeling a tiny baby growing inside
you.  What's your problem?"

"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Bobbie protested.

Then Joyce continued, "Bobbie, those were the most beautiful
words about motherhood I have ever heard in my life.  It made me
think of myself and the thought disgusted me.  Could you imagine
a poor baby trying to grow in that cesspool of mine that passes
for a uterus?  Could you?  Could you imagine a tiny baby trying
to nurse at tits that have been mangled and abused for years?

"Those exquisite children came from the loins of perfect mothers.
 They were raised from conception in conditions of purity and
love.  No wonder they're so wonderful!  Look at who their parents
are and how they behave!"

"Promise me something, Joyce?" Bobbie asked blandly.

"Of course," the woman replied.  "What?"

"Promise to enroll your and Jack's children in my school when
they're old enough.  And thank you.  I'll remember yourpromise."

Joyce was utterly stunned.  When she recovered she asked, "And
how does that happen?  What do I do?  Talk Jack into contributing
to a sperm bank and then get artificially inseminated?"

Bobbie pretended to look puzzled and replied, "Well, you could do
it that way, I suppose, but why would you want to?  What's wrong
with good old-fashioned fucking?  You know: You're in bed with
your husband, Jack, whom you adore.  When your cunt is so hot
it's about to ignite your pubic hair, he enters you.  When you
pass out from a sensory overload due to the power of your own
orgasm combined with his, the flood of glorious hot semen
spurting into your vagina and uterus produces one of Jack's sperm
that finds your luscious fertile egg that is waiting for its
arrival.  Then nine months later..."

Bobbie's face was so innocent as she concluded, "Isn't it easier
that way?  It's certainly a lot more fun."  When Joyce dissolved
into tears again Bobbie took her in her arms, held her close and
whispered, "Darling Joyce, that's the way it can happen for you.
If you will let me, I can help you make it come true. 
Interested?"

Joyce pulled away and just looked into Bobbie's eyes.  This time
she just kept staring.  Finally she shook her head and said,
"Since you're divine, Bobbie, maybe you can.  If you can make
that come true, there is nothing I will not do for you, ever, for
as long as I live.  And that is a solemn vow!"

Bobbie just grinned and said, "Let's get the show on the road
before the Munchkins get restless.  Ann, are you coming, too?"

"Thank you, no, Bobbie," the girl replied.  "As much as I would
love to, the circus is Joyce's story.  And I have to get back to
the studios anyway to file my story on the trial.  And with that
in mind, is there anything you would like to say?"  Bobbie just
shook her head and said that the trial record and Ann's own notes
should be plenty.

After reuniting the children with their parents, Bobbie obtained
permission from Ali and Connie for the kids to go out to the
circus and participate again, if necessary.  Acting on a hunch,
she asked Ali if Uncle Bill could get tickets for all of the kids
to attend the circus that night.

"Darling," Ali replied, "after what those two imps did last
night, they would give us the whole damned circus if we asked. 
Yes, we will get the tickets and I'm sure the kids will love it."
 Then after studying Bobbie's eyes closely for a few moments she
added, "Why is it that I have the unmistakable feeling that my
newest niece has something on her mind besides glorious golden
hair?"

Bobbie just grinned broadly and dashed off.
Chapter 27

When Bobbie and the children arrived at the circus it was still
early afternoon.  Tom had a couple of calls to make for PHA and
had told Bobbie he would meet her at the circus later.  In
response to a strong suggestion Bobbie made to Joyce Collier, the
woman was planning on making a stop on the way, too.  On being
informed of their arrival by a uniformed security guard, both
Gabel-Williams and the circus general manager came running.  When
Gunther met Bobbie, he just stopped, whistled softly and murmured
fervently, "You are the most beautiful woman alive!"

Bobbie greeted him warmly and gave him a loving kiss that sent
him reeling.  Then she said, "Sir, I have seen photographs of
your wife and children, so I will take your comment as the
highest praise.  Clearly, you are used to sharing your bed with
rare beauty!

Williams was genuinely puzzled.  "Were you... were you raised on
the Continent, by any chance?"

"No sir, I wasn't," she replied.  "In fact, I've never yet had
the opportunity even to visit.  But why do you ask?"

"Because your words are so... polished," he replied.  Bobbie
assured him that they were sincere and was pleased that he took
them as the warm compliment they were intended to be.  Then he
said, "And your kiss: It is like Andy's but with so much more
power and maturity behind it.  Bobbie, when she is your age, she
will be the same."  Bobbie was then introduced to the general
manager, Byron Crosby.

When Gabel and Crosby confirmed to her in detail what Joyce had
told her at lunch, she explained her idea of doing another
special show that evening and inviting as many of the
professional skeptics as they could reach.  Crosby trotted off
towards his office to put the plan into action while Gabel took
Bobbie and the kids to the practice ring where the tigers had
already been released from their individual cages and were
waiting.

Acting on a premonition, Andy Cartwright asked Gabel to be left
alone with the great cats and asked him to send down Miss Collier
and Tom as soon as they arrived.  Although her remark injured his
pride a bit, he had absolutely no compunction about leaving them
alone with the tigers.  He was certain that any friends of the
children would be safe with them.  At the same time, having
experienced Bobbie's incredible kiss, he suspected that the
children wanted to introduce Bobbie to the tigers alone.

Whether from scent, sound, or instinct, the tigers were pacing
their cage in eager anticipation of seeing Andy and Ken.  The
animals knew the children were in the circus and were coming to
see them.  When they appeared, the tigers let out the loudest
roar Bobbie had ever heard or imagined.  The sound was further
intensified by the relatively confined space.

But the strangest thing was that the sound was an incredibly
happy one and she realized that a happy roar was essentially a
contradiction in terms.  As the children headed towards the
cage's door, the animals instantly took up positions in a circle
and sat up catlike with their tails around their forepaws.  As
the children were quickly moving around the circle to
individually greet each of their giant friends, Bobbie moved
closer to the bars to get a better look.

At that point the tiger, Sasha, saw her and let out a loud
scream.  Instantly, the other cats looked up and saw Bobbie, too.
 The next moment the cats had jumped to the edge of the cage as
close to Bobbie as they could get and prostrated themselves
before her.  They even closed their eyes, making themselves truly
defenseless, since the great cats use their extraordinarily acute
eyesight to hunt, rather than the sense of smell or some other
sense.  When the tigers' eyes closed, the two children let
themselves out of the cage, stripped off all of their clothes and
went to Bobbie who was still watching the tigers in utter
amazement.

"Bobbie," Andy whispered, "Please don't get upset or anything,
but take off your clothes and come with us.  Please?"

Without even thinking, she stripped off all of her clothes. 
After her six-month honeymoon spent without ever wearing a
stitch, she was really more comfortable completely bare.  Then
looking at Andy she asked, "What, in Heaven's name, is going on
here?"

"We certainly didn't know it would happen, but it's really no
surprise to Ken or me.  You see, darling Bobbie, you're their
queen!  Now it all makes sense.  Ken is the prince, and I am the
princess.  You're the queen and, of course, Tom is their king. 
Your subjects are waiting to greet you, Majesty," Andy finished
softly.

Then she added, "Bobbie, please do Ken and me a favor?  When you
go into the cage and look at the cats, don't look at the animal.
Look into his eyes and into his brain.  Please?"

Although she had no idea what Andy was talking about, she
followed the children into the cage and Ken barred the door. 
Then Andy announced in an imperious voice, "The Queen awaits the
homage of her subjects!"

Prince was, as usual, the first cat in line.  He sat upright in
front of her and just looked into her eyes.  Since the children
were only about three feet tall, when the tigers were sitting
like cats, their heads were at a level far higher than the
children were tall.  With Bobbie, their heads were nearly on a
level with hers.  Remembering Andy's instructions, Bobbie looked
into the cat's enormous green eyes.

The first thing that registered was that, while every big cat she
had ever seen before -- either live at the circus, in a zoo, or
in photographs -- had green eyes that were as cold as Antarctic
ice, Prince's eyes were warm, loving and... worshipful.  Looking
deeper she could actually hear the animal telling her how much he
loved her and was dedicating the rest of his life to herservice.

"Thank you, dear Prince," Bobbie said softly.  "My name is
Bobbie, and I love you very much.  May I give you a kiss?" 
Bobbie could feel the animal's great heart heave in excitement:
his queen had said that she loved him!  The giant animal was
utterly overcome with emotion.  Moving close, Bobbie wrapped her
arms around his huge neck and kissed him.  As she did, she could
feel his giant chest moving very gently from side to side
exciting her nipples that were in contact with him.  The feeling
was utterly spectacular!

She repeated with each of the other cats and found that she no
longer had to look into their eyes nor even look at them at all
to hear clearly what each was trying to communicate.  It was an
utterly uncanny experience.  After greeting the next-to-last
tiger, Sasha, she looked at him in utter amazement.

With his eyes close to tears he was begging her to be allowed to
lick her glorious slit -- her sex that was so regularly
penetrated by their king; her sex that would soon produce
magnificent children as heirs to the realm!

All she knew about tigers was that their tongues were enormous in
size and felt as rough as coarse-grade sandpaper.  Nonetheless,
she accepted his offer.  First, though, recognizing the
possibility that Sasha's tongue on her sensitive clit could cause
her to pass out, she ordered Prince and Rudy to take positions
beside her.

Instantly she felt the intense pride that Prince and Rudy were
feeling at being so honored to be selected as personal guardians
of the queen!  Prince took a position on her right and Rudy on
her left standing at forty-five degree angles to her.  The tigers
then sat down in a way that permitted her to lean back and be
supported by their backs as if she were in an easy chair.  Both
cats watched Sasha who was still standing in front of her with
his eyes wide.

Bobbie spread her legs wide, held her head up proudly with her
shoulders back, and thrust her full breasts up and out.  Her
nipples were now fully engorged and were vibrating with the
tension she was feeling.  Then with the greatest care, Sasha
extended his tongue like a snake.  First he licked each of her
sensitive labia.  The feeling was remarkable.  It was remarkably
sexy, in fact.  Then his tongue darted out between her legs,
wrapped up beneath her and licked delicately from beyond her anal
opening, under her crotch and then gently parted her vaginal
lips.  When the rough surface of his tongue contacted her
sensitive clit, she let out an involuntary scream of pleasure and
released a small river of her orgasmic cream.

Meanwhile, Andy and Ken were standing well off to the side,
watching.  Although they had slept with Bobbie at school while
she was naked, this was the first time either had seen her
standing proudly naked since she returned from her honeymoon. 
"Oh, Ken!" Andy exclaimed, "I would give anything to look like
that when I grow up!  Isn't she exquisite?  Have you ever seen
anything more beautiful or more primitive?"

Ken had his arm around Andy tightly.  He pulled her close and she
felt the wonderful sensation of his tiny penis against her loins.
 They melted together in a passionate kiss while their bodies
moved to create a wonderfully thrilling friction between them.

When Bobbie released, Sasha carefully licked up every succulent
drop.  Then he dropped flat on the floor and pledged eternal love
and loyalty to his sacred queen.  Having started, Bobbie
continued until each of the animals had feasted on her love
juices.  By the time they finished Bobbie realized that all of
the animals were emotionally overcome.  Their experience of
feasting on her body had been so emotionally overwhelming they
were in a state of shock.

Bobbie herself was close to a physical collapse as well, having
experienced a series of ten incredibly intense orgasms in a very
short space of time.  Recognizing the signs, the children led her
out of the cage, and helped her to a director's chair nearby. 
Once seated, Andy covered her with a white wool blanket while Ken
dressed in a flash and then ran off for coffee.

Bobbie had closed her eyes and was breathing deeply to recover
from her experience.  When she finally opened them again, she
found herself looking into Joyce Collier's tear-reddened eyes.

"Hi," she murmured softly.  "Did you do what I suggested?" 
Having learned that Joyce was a Catholic, Bobbie had urged her to
find a priest and make her confession.

"Barbara Conroy, you idiot!" Joyce exclaimed.  "Can you honestly
look at my eyes and still ask such a stupid question?  Can you?"

Bobbie's strength and youthful resilience, coupled with Joyce's
crack, restored her almost to normal.  "Well, how should I know?
You might have been peeling onions."

Without saying another word Joyce sat down on Bobbie's lap and
proceeded to kiss her.  To Bobbie, this kiss was quite different
from the earlier one at the restaurant.  Now everything about
Joyce Collier was clean and fresh and new.  There was a
remarkable degree of purity, innocence, and grace in the kiss.

When she finally pulled back Bobbie said softly, "I guess it
wasn't from peeling onions, was it?"

"It sure as hell was not!" Joyce exclaimed.  Then her face showed
concern as she asked, "How was it?  Did they hurt you?"

"Joyce, they cannot.  It is impossible.  You see, for some reason
they consider me to be their queen."  Then Bobbie looked deeply
into Joyce's eyes and then smiled.  "You feel a lot better now,
don't you?"  The girl just smiled weakly and nodded.

Then Bobbie said, "Joyce, I have a theory, and it's one reason I
suggested that you go to confession.  The theory is that the
reason these tigers react the way they do to the children -- they
consider them to be their prince and princess, by the way -- is
because they are so clean and pure and close to God.  Anyway,
would you like a story?  In fact, would you like to be in the
story?"

Joyce looked deeply into Bobbie's eyes, saw the incredible love
always shining there, but saw something else, too.  There
appeared to be a deep affection _for her_ rather than just the
normally unfocussed love.

"You mean a real story, don't you?  Rather than my normal
practice of stealing assignments and stealing stories?"  She
shook her head, grinned wryly and said, "Well, I guess there
should be a new professional me to go with the new personal me."
Then she clapped her hands with glee and exclaimed, "Let's do
it!"

"Honey, I think you'll have to start off naked," Bobbie said
softly.  "Can you handle that?"

Cocking her head to one side, Joyce raised an eyebrow and said,
"The girl who would do any filthy thing with anyone, anywhere? 
Bobbie, surely you jest!"

With that she began quickly to shed her clothes.  When she was
naked, she stood up straight and asked, "What do you think?  No
woman can ever be as physically perfect as you are but..."

Joyce Collier was twenty-eight years old, five feet seven inches
tall with tawny gold hair -- almost a match with the basic color
of the tigers' coats -- and emerald-green eyes.  Her body had an
all-over golden tan, and her figure was magnificent with firm,
full breasts, a slim waist that flowed down through trim hips and
magnificent legs.

When Bobbie commented on her tan, the girl just shrugged and said
one of the guys who had been fucking her early on in her career
didn't like strap marks and she had come to like being tanned all
over, too.  After rising from the chair Bobbie just stretched,
revealing her own muscular development.  "I didn't know the half
of it, did I!?" Joyce exclaimed softly.

Then Bobbie moved to the door of the cage, but stopped before
opening it and looked at Joyce.  "Honey, before you march in
there, please recognize the risk you're running.  Remember that
last night, when the imps were performing, there was not a single
professional circus person in the ring.  Not one!  Even after
watching the kids in the afternoon, there was no way any of them
would be close to these cats without heavy bars between them. 
After all, these are the most dangerous wild animals in the world
-- and they _are_ wild.  They are not tame.  Are you really sure
you want to do it?"

"What's the worst thing that could happen?" the girl asked.  "One
of them eats me alive and then gets a bad case of indigestion. 
But I think he would survive.  I doubt if eating me would kill
him.  Let's do it!"

The big cats had gathered in a tight semicircle around the door
with their eyes focused on Bobbie.  She took Joyce in her arms,
pulled the woman's beautiful body close to her own and kissed
her.  She heard contented sounds from the cats and could feel
their approval.  Releasing Joyce, she opened the door and led
Joyce by the hand into the cage.

"Boys," she said, "this is my friend and handmaiden, Joyce
Collier.  I want you all to give an appropriate welcome to an
important member of my court."

Turning to Joyce she said, "Honey, focus on their eyes and try to
see into their brains.  If it works -- and I sure hope it does --
you'll quickly understand what I mean."

Once again, Prince took the lead.  He went up to Joyce, sat on
his haunches and raised his right paw in greeting.  Suppressing
the natural fear she felt at being so close to such dangerous
animals, Joyce moved closer, took his paw in both of her hands
and shook it.  At the same time she was looking into his eyes as
Bobbie had told her to.

When she did, she could see -- happiness!  "I am so happy to meet
you, too, Prince," she said.  Then, after releasing his paw she
went up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his
cheek.  Instantly she could feel the flow of his love for her and
felt the remarkable sensation of her bare body rubbing against
the massive animal's chest.  Joyce decided that the sensation of
his soft fur against her tits was wonderful.

One after another the big cats paid her homage.  As they did,
their thoughts became clearer and clearer. _Good grief!_ she
thought, _I'm actually talking to tigers!_

Finally it was Lester's turn.  After kissing him the way she had
the others, she felt his love but with an overlay of wistfulness.
 Focusing intently she realized that he was declaring his special
love for her and wanted to be her personal protector.

"Are you sure?" she asked him.  "You really can't be serious. 
You want to serve... _me?"_  Lester nodded his head and
communicated that it was exactly what he wanted to do.  She
studied the animal intently.  Then she said, "Bobbie, this animal
wishes to serve me and I gratefully accept his service.  But the
name is wrong -- I see it now.  He has been Lester for several
years, but his original name -- a far more appropriate name, in
fact -- is Rajah.  From now on, you're Rajah!"  At that the
animal roared his approval.

Then he looked at her with wide eyes and a wistful expression. 
"Are you sure, Rajah?" Joyce asked.  "No, you can't," she then
stated firmly.  "I'm not like your queen with loins that are
clean and pure.  Mine are like a cesspool, filled with deposits
of filth.  You'll be sick!  The answer is no!"

Bobbie was standing by the door with her arms around Ken and Andy
holding them close to her body.  "Do you understand what's going
on?" she asked in a whisper.

"Oh, Bobbie, it's so incredibly beautiful!" Andy exclaimed, also
in a whisper.  "Rajah wants to lick her cunt and insists that its
clean and fresh and wonderful.  He's pleading with her!"

Finally, Joyce shook her head, stood up straight, spread her legs
wide and placed her hands on her hips.  "You don't know what
you're doing, Raj," she said, "but don't complain to me when you
get violently ill!"

With her head up straight and her shoulders back, her full tits
were quivering and her nipples were up-thrusting and distended. 
She looked utterly magnificent.  As the animal moved close and
extended his tongue, Joyce remembered that it would be like
sandpaper on the most sensitive part of her body.

The animal worked his tongue on her outer lips and then licked
into her slit, causing a small orgasm when his tongue touched her
clit.  But he kept working on her, occasionally extending his
tongue so that it reached completely under her crotch and up past
her anus.  He just kept at it bringing her to ever more frequent
orgasms each of which triggered a small flood of her vaginal
juices.  In the meantime, Bobbie left the children and came over
to stand behind Joyce to provide her with the support that she
was sure would be needed.

By now sweat was pouring from the woman's body, she was screaming
in ecstasy, but still she stood firmly upright.  Finally, he
penetrated her vagina with the tip of his tongue and triggered a
vaginal orgasm which joined her clitoral ones.  After licking up
the last drop of fluid, he sat back on his haunches.

Although Joyce was visibly reeling by this time, to Bobbie's
amazement, she was still on her feet.  After taking a few deep
breaths she smiled warmly at Rajah, thanked him, but then ordered
him to lie on his back.  "I'm all sweaty," she said, "and it's
your fault.  Since I have to dry myself off with something..."

Instantly and happily Rajah was on his back with his legs
outstretched.  Joyce lay on top of his chest on his silky white
hair.  Then, to Bobbie's amazement and amusement, she languidly
stretched and turned, using his fur to dry off her body.  Then
she rolled over on her back and wriggled to dry it off as well.

Finally, she said with laughter in her voice, "Rajah, don't you
like me?  Aren't you going to hold me tight?"  The tiger lowered
his forepaws and, with the greatest care, put his paw pads on her
full breasts and gently pressed down.  "Oh, you're a tit man,
too, huh?" she asked warmly.  To her utter amazement, his huge
paws felt wonderful on her breasts, but it had given her another
idea.

Sensing her order, he released her and she rolled over.  This
time she raised herself up on her elbows and gently lowered her
tits so that the nipples barely contacted his soft fur.  Then she
slowly rotated her body and used the contact exquisitely to
excite her nipples.  When she looked up at his head she decided
she had never seen a cat look as happy as Rajah did at that
moment.  Stopping, she pulled herself up on his chest, wrapped
her arms around his neck, kissed his cheek and just nuzzled
against it.

As soon as she put her arms around him, he wrapped his forelegs
around her and squeezed her tightly.  "You're wonderful, Raj,"
she said softly, "and I love you very much, too."  They released
each other and she climbed off him.

The others had been watching in amazement.  Since they were
waiting for Tom who had not yet arrived, they decided to wait
outside the cage.  Again to their amusement, Rajah refused to
leave Joyce's side and came out with her.  When she collapsed
into a director's chair, the animal instantly lay down at her
side.  Andy and Ken served coffee that Ken had brought back in a
Thermos bottle to Joyce and Bobbie, while he and Andy sat on the
ground and drank Cokes.

"I hope it wasn't too bad, Joyce," Bobbie said softly.  "I really
don't know how you could take so much without collapsing on the
ground."

"Actually, it was great.  You know all those female complaints
about insensitive men?  Raj is incredibly sensitive!"  Then she
grinned and added, "And, as a matter of fact, that gives me a
story idea.  I think I'll try to get a camera crew out here a
little early tonight.  As it is, we intend to have a crew present
for the whole performance."

Rajah had been trying to communicate with her so she looked down
beside her and then exclaimed, "You want _what?_  What is this,
anyway?  Blackmail?  Just because you were a wonderful fellow..."
 She shook her head and said, "Well, okay.  But it's just this
once!  For damned sure it better not become a habit!"

Turning to Bobbie she said, "Guess what my large friend wants? 
You'll never guess!  I'll bet you ten dollars that you can't!"

Bobbie gripped her hand, then shook her head and said blandly, "I
can't guess that Rajah wants a large pepperoni and sausage pizza
with extra cheese from Domino's?  Why, on earth, wouldn't I? 
It's the obvious thing for a man to want after extended
lovemaking, isn't it?"

Joyce punched Bobbie lightly on the arm, grinned and said, "Damn
you, Conroy, I forgot that you can read his mind, too!"

Then she pretended to glare at Rajah and said, "Now do you see
what you did?  Not only do I have to spring for your dumb pizza,
but it just cost me an additional ten bucks to Bobbie!"  She
grinned and bent over to kiss his head when his reaction to her
words was to appear to laugh.

Meanwhile Bobbie had gone to the cage and was talking to the
other tigers.  She laughed, returned to Joyce and said, "Guess
what?  It seems that the other guys think Rajah has a great idea
so they want pizza at the show tonight.  I'll call Domino's and
see what kind of a deal we can get."  Bobbie called the store and
ordered Rajah's pizza.

When she told the manager about the evening show, she was
referred to the zone office and then to the regional vice
president.  After reaching him and explaining who she was, what
she wanted and why, the man was overjoyed.  He had seen the news
the night before and knew that there would be over 15,000 people
in the Forum for the night's show.  The idea of a Domino's man in
full uniform delivering ten pizzas direct to the floor of the
auditorium for ten tigers represented priceless publicity.  He
was confident that he could get one of Domino's people to make
the delivery, in spite of the fact that the circus people still
refused to be on the floor with the wild tigers.  "Hell," he
concluded, "if I can't get one of our people to do it, I'll do it
myself.  But someone in a Domino's uniform will make that
delivery tonight."

Joyce found that she was feeling great affection for the enormous
cat beside her.  When the pizza was delivered, she teased him
about having to feed it to him, too.  To the animal's great
amusement, she laughed at him and stuck out her tongue when he
objected to her eating a piece of his pizza.  He protested that
it was his lunch.

"But it's a lunch I paid for," she reminded him, "and besides,
this is my favorite pizza, too!"

When Tom arrived, they quickly filled him in on what had happened
and discussed what they would do in the show that night.  They
agreed that Joyce would act as mistress of ceremonies and
narrator.  Finally, Bobbie said, "Darling, it's time for you to
meet your subjects.  You are their king."  From Tom's first
appearance, the tigers had all dropped flat on the floor and
remained there unmoving in his presence.

Joyce's eyes widened when Tom undressed and revealed his perfect
masculine body with its large cock and heavy balls.  He was the
most exquisite man she had ever seen. _The perfect consort for a
woman as perfect as Bobbie,_ she thought.

The greetings the tigers had extended earlier to the children and
then to Bobbie paled into insignificance compared to the way they
greeted Tom.  Their behavior was reverential.  Following Bobbie's
earlier instructions, Tom, too, found that he could easily
communicate with the great cats.

After the initial greeting, Bobbie looked at him and chuckled. 
"Darling," she said, "I guess I was prescient, wasn't I?  How
many times can you take me without stopping?  I'm afraid it's
something we have to do."  The tigers had communicated the need
for Tom to make love to Bobbie while lying on a tiger.  There was
more, but although they did not reveal it, Bobbie thought she
already knew what it was.

While the children stood close to Joyce, who, like Bobbie
earlier, had her arms around them and watched, Prince lay on his
back and extended his legs to the sides as far as they would go.
Bobbie climbed on top, lay on her back and spread her legs.  Tom
lay down on top of her, took her into his arms and their lips
melted together in a kiss of mounting passion.

Meanwhile, Prince had closed his legs to hug them both.  When
Bobbie indicated she was about to wash away with her juices, Tom
moved back and Prince instantly released his hold.  When she
positioned his raging cock, he eased inside and penetrated to his
full depth in a single stroke.  Bobbie gasped in joy at the
so-familiar yet still-so-wonderful feeling.

Wriggling, she felt the marvelous sensation of Prince's soft fur
on her bare back.  The animal seemed completely oblivious to the
fact that he was now supporting almost 350 pounds of moving
humans on his stomach.  Rather, he considered it to be an
incredible privilege to serve as their marriage bed.  However,
recognizing the great pressure on the cat, Bobbie and Tom
coordinated their movements to speed his cuming.

When Bobbie felt the first wonderful spurt, she reached down and
began to squeeze Tom's huge balls in tempo with the contractions
of her vagina, now in violent orgasm, too.  When he had filled
her vagina and uterus with his warm syrupy liquid, they found
that Bobbie's hunch had been correct.  Easing off their warm
furry bed, they stood erect with Tom standing behind Bobbie with
his hands around her waist.

Joyce watched from the corner as Bobbie held her head erect and
thrust out her breasts.  Her legs were spread wide and she leaned
back against Tom's chest while she waited.  To Joyce, it was the
most beautiful and wild sight she had ever seen as Prince rose to
his feet, approached Bobbie and extended his tongue.  Penetrating
her nether lips, he tasted Tom's semen mixed with Bobbie's syrup.
 Then, when he tasted the magnificent mixture, he just collapsed
on the ground in a dead faint.

The Conroys then moved aside away from the unconscious body and
it was repeated with Rudy, Will, and finally Fred.  By this time
all the mixed juices in her vagina were drained, but four cats
were unconscious on the ground.

They used King for their next bout of lovemaking.  After Tom had
cum again, the earlier experience was repeated: three more great
cats were unconscious on the ground.  When King collapsed, Joyce
had quietly gone over to Prince to be sure the animal was all
right.  She nodded to Bobbie and smiled after she felt his great
heart pumping in a very slow but very powerful beat.  Making a
thumbs-up sign she returned to where the children were waiting. 
Both of them were wide-eyed at the wild yet beautiful sight they
were seeing.  All three recognized it was something that likely
had never happened before in all of history.  They finished with
Ferdie, Sasha, and Rajah, then stumbled out of the cage.

This time, recognizing the realities of the situation -- all of
them were safer with these cats than they would be in church --
the cage door was left wide open.

Tom flopped into a chair and Bobbie sat down across his lap.  "My
darling, you were utterly magnificent," she said softly.  "Thank
you for making me the happiest, most satisfied woman on the face
of this earth."  Tom just held her tight and stroked her perfect
body.

When they recovered, Bobbie looked at Joyce who was now kneeling
beside their chair with her weight back on her heels and her back
erect.  "Why don't you do this with Jack?" she asked innocently.
"It really is a lot of fun!"

Joyce tried to grin but it was a weak imitation since tears were
running from her eyes in a small flood.  "It was the most
beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life, Bobbie.  Now I think
I know the difference between lovemaking and fucking, and I have
never made love in my life.  I just fucked."Chapter 28

Later that evening, when Joyce Collier came out to the edge of
the ring and was caught and held in a spotlight, she was wearing
a white halter top, a pair of white short shorts that featured
her beautifully tanned legs and nothing else.  Not only was she
wearing no bra, she was not even wearing a bikini.  Her feet were
bare and her shoulder-length tawny hair was tied back in a
ponytail and held with a big white bow.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls!  Welcome to
the circus!  My name is Joyce Collier, here on loan from KNBC for
this performance.  Tonight we have another surprise for you: 
Last night we featured Andy Cartwright and Ken Clifford who will
be back with us again tonight.  However, tonight we proudly
feature Tom and Bobbie Conroy, the most handsome husband-and-wife
team in the world, along with our great cats.  Let me introduce
them to you.  First, we have Prince."  One after the other the
cats came out, were introduced, bowed to the crowd and took up a
position forming a circle in the center of the ring.

"Finally," Joyce said, "Here is my friend, Rajah."  Looking at
him she said, "Are you going to give me a kiss tonight?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed his soft fur and
then positioned her cheek in front of his huge mouth.  The
audience, watching it in close-up on the Forum's huge
closed-circuit television screens gasped as the animal kissed
her, then opened its huge mouth, extended its tongue and licked
her face.

"Isn't he neat!?" Joyce exclaimed happily.

Then she introduced Bobbie and Tom who came into the spotlight. 
Tom was wearing the smallest imaginable pair of white swim
trunks.  They were scarcely more than a _cache sexe_ for his huge
cock and balls.  Bobbie was wearing the tiniest white bikini they
had been able to find.  It occasionally -- but seldom -- covered
the top of her golden pubic hair.  After extending their arms
wide to acknowledge the welcome from the crowd, they took a few
running steps and then, side-by-side, did a series of incredible
handsprings that took them to the center of the arena.

While they were doing that, Andy and Ken came out and waited for
the spotlight.  They were dressed as they had been the night
before: Ken was wearing only jockey shorts and Andy only a pair
of white cotton panties with a tiny pink bow at each legopening.

When the spotlight came back to her, Joyce introduced Andy and
Ken to wild applause, but then explained that they would
principally be assisting tonight.  When the spotlight swung back
to the center of the ring, the children each took a small
trampoline and positioned them on opposite sides of the arena. 

Joyce announced, "Bobbie and Tom need to limber up a bit first --
sort of work the kinks out -- and I think the cats need a little
exercise, too.  What do you all think?"

Bobbie grinned as the cats got on their feet and again led by
Prince, followed Tom to the side of the big ring.  Once there,
Tom began to trot around the perimeter pacing the cats while
Bobbie paced the sixth cat in line, Charles.  Tom kept
lengthening his stride until he and Bobbie were both running at a
four-minute-mile pace.  The perfection of their bodies and their
running form was apparent to the spectators as they ran by.

After completing a full circuit, Joyce announced, "Bobbie and
Tom, that's fine for you, but the tigers need some exercise, too.
 Why don't you let it out a little?

Bobbie gave a cheery wave of her hand and speeded up while Tom
did, too.  They were now correctly in position and each sprinted
to a trampoline ahead of them took off, came down powerfully on
the trampoline and were catapulted into the air.  Once airborne,
they did perfect double somersaults and came down with their feet
perfectly planted on the back of a tiger: Tom on Prince and
Bobbie on Charles.  Prince seemed totally unaware of Tom's 220
pounds on his back, let alone the shock of his landing, despite
Tom's best efforts to cushion it.

The instant the two had their feet planted, the tigers really
began to run.  Now they were bounding around the perimeter at
nearly thirty miles per hour.  Both Tom and Bobbie seemed
completely unconcerned.  After two circuits at full speed, when
Bobbie approached one of the trampolines set at the center of the
oval, she timed it perfectly.

Jumping off Charles, she landed hard with both feet on the
trampoline and then used her great leg strength to shoot almost
straight up in the air.  She did a triple somersault with a
twist, straightened out and landed perfectly with both feet
together.

After extending her arms to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd
Joyce announced, "She has to be good.  Although I didn't announce
it earlier, Bobbie teaches first grade and Andy and Ken are two
of her pupils.  After all, someone had to teach the children how
to do it.  She really is good, isn't she?"  Her remarks were
greeted with redoubled cheers.

In the meantime, Andy and Ken had brought out two sets of
high-jump bars and positioned them flanking the center of the
arena.  Bobbie and Joyce joined them; what was coming required
all four of them.  Shifting from Prince to Rudy, Tom waited for
Will to come alongside and then he continued to speed around the
ring with one foot on the back of each tiger.  When that was
done, the remaining eight tigers took positions in a row in the
center of the ring and sat down to watch.  With the jump bars set
two feet high and the sets ten feet apart, Tom told the tigers
what he wanted them to do.

Coming around the end the two animals cut over when they reached
the center and in a synchronized pace effortlessly leaped over
the first bar, carried the intervening distance and then cleared
the second.  With the four people resetting the height of the
bars and the spacing between them, they continued until they
cleared a height of four feet and a horizontal distance of
thirty-five feet.  There were gasps from the crowd as they saw
the massive animals bunch their muscles and appear to compress
their bodies.  Leaping, they fully extended their bodies as their
enormously powerful hindquarter muscles shot them into space. 
For his part, Tom was astounded at how smoothly and powerfully
the animals ran and how easy the whole thing was for him.

When he landed, he told the animals what a wonderful thing they
had done and how proud of them he was.  Back at her PA mike Joyce
said, "Folks, on that last leap the bars were four feet high and
the standards were thirty-five feet apart.  Aren't these animals
wonderful?  Have you ever seen such incredibly powerful muscles
at work?  Aren't they just neat?"

The crowd responded with cheers.  While Bobbie and the children
removed the standards, Tom slowly made his way to the center of
the arena, still on the tigers' backs.  When they came to a stop,
instead of Tom jumping off, they lay down in unison so he only
had to step off.

When Tom got off, he signaled to Joyce who said, "For some reason
there are people who think these cats are drugged.  How a drugged
cat can clear thirty-five feet, more than four feet in the air, I
don't know, but I'm not an expert, either.  The two tigers who
just performed were Rudy and Will.  Guys, let the people see the
way big cats behave more often!"

With that the two cats jumped up so they were standing on their
hind paws with their forepaws extended up towards the sky.  With
their massive claws extended they pawed the air and let out
enormous roars that shook the huge auditorium.  Then they calmly
and quietly took their positions between Prince and Fred who had
left an appropriate interval for them.  The stark contrast
between the wild screams and the subsequent docile behavior left
the audience speechless.

"I hope you all got a good look at those claws," Joyce said. 
Then she added, "That reminds me: I'm going to have to give Rajah
a manicure pretty soon."  At her crack the audience howled with
laughter and then cheered again.

Then Joyce said, "You know, we really are kind of concerned about
people thinking that these are not wild animals.  Honest, they
are.  But more than that, there is incredible teamwork here.  Now
we have an idea we want to try.  Okay, guys.  It's time to
entertain the paying customers again."

Responding to instructions given by the four other people, the
tigers paired off and took positions spaced evenly across the
long axis of the Forum.  There the pairs sat facing one another.
Then Joyce said, "Okay, guys.  Let's do it!"

At her order the great cats sat up, then sat on their haunches
and raised their forepaws.  Reaching out, each pair matched their
forepaws, rested on the other, and began to rise, only ending
when their bodies were fully extended to a height of over eight
feet.  In their present position, coupled with the deliberateness
of taking their extended positions, their musculature was
revealed in a way that people normally couldn't see except
through the use of ultra-slow-motion photography.

"Folks," Joyce said quietly over the PA system, "These are _big
cats!_  Although we didn't arrange to measure it, fully extended
the way you see them now, they are reaching upward between eight
and nine feet.  Aren't they just beautiful?"  Again there was an
enormous cheer.

Then Joyce said, "It's now my great pleasure to introduce the
rest of Bobbie Conroy's first-grade class.  She has certainly the
smartest, and I'm sure the most handsome, group of young people
in the world."

One after the other each of the children was introduced.  All of
them were wearing only their underwear shorts, too.  By this time
the tigers were again arranged in their circle in the center of
the ring.  After each child was introduced he or she ran to the
center.  There the Conroys, along with Andy and Ken, introduced
them to each tiger in turn.  When all the introductions had been
made, the tigers lay down flat and a child got on the back of
each one.  Andy made sure to be on Prince, while Ken was on
Sasha's back.

When each child was standing on the back of a tiger, the animals
all smoothly and gracefully rose to their feet.  While still in
their circle, they moved to the edge of the arena floor and then
started to walk around the perimeter.  As they moved they began
to accelerate.  Soon they were running at nearly full speed, yet
still maintaining their perfect circle.

"Now watch this," Joyce announced softly.  I think you'll find it
interesting and fun."

In unison, the children stepped from the back of one tiger to the
next.  They kept on going, while moving faster and faster, until
the children were running around the tigers while the tigers ran
around the ring.  When the children slowed and finally stopped,
they were back on their original animals.

In the meantime, Bobbie and Ken had repositioned the trampolines
closer to the perimeter's edge.  Now the tigers slowed until they
were just trotting.  Timing their approach perfectly, Tom and
Bobbie sprinted to the trampolines, pounded down hard with their
feet, shot into the air in perfectly coordinated somersaults and
came down in the center of the formation of tigers with Tom on
Sasha's back with Ken, while Bobbie was on Prince's back with
Andy.

"Bobbie really isn't in such bad shape for a school teacher, is
she?" Joyce mused over the PA system.  "If she worked on it for a
few years she might be able to do some basic gymnastic moves."

As the people laughed at her comment, Tom and Bobbie hoisted Ken
and Andy up to their shoulders.  As the tigers began to run
again, the children just waved to the audience going by.  At the
conclusion, the other children left the floor, dressed and
returned to their seats.

The final act for the first half was the pyramid of cats.  This
time, though, when it was completed, before taking his bow Prince
stood up on his hind legs, clawed the air and roared.  When he
did, his forepaws were waving from about twenty-five feet above
the floor.  Coming down, he bowed followed by the pair below, the
three below that, and so down to the base.

When they came down and began to take up positions in their
circle, Joyce announced, "You're all familiar with the line, 'If
you're nice to people they will walk all over you?'  Well, guess
what?  It applies to tigers, too.  Last night it was relatively
easy.  The boys had hot dogs and all Andy and Ken had to do was
find out if they wanted mustard, relish, and how much.  Tonight?
No such luck!  This afternoon I was suckered into buying Rajah a
pizza, so tonight they all have to have them.  Would you believe
it?  No two want the same thing!?  It's true."

Just then a spotlight picked out a man in a Domino's Pizza
uniform with a stack of boxes.  He gave one box to Joyce and then
carried the rest to the center of the ring where the animals were
waiting.  The man's eyes widened as Rajah came trotting towards
him but then he relaxed as the tiger just passed him by to join
Joyce.

Meantime, Andy and Ken had left the arena and now returned.  Ken
had two pails while Andy had one along with a stack of large
water dishes.  She put one down beside Joyce, filled it with
lemonade, grinned, and then ran off to join Ken.  While the
Conroys and the children proceeded to feed the other nine, the
spotlight was on Joyce with Rajah.

After he lay down, she sat down on the tanbark and leaned back
against him.  With her head resting on his, she took a piece of
piping-hot pizza from the box and fed it to him.  "Pepperoni and
sausage with extra cheese, would you believe," she said into her
lavaliere mike.  "But he's really very nice, and he provides a
very comfortable back rest."

Now most of the audience was focused on the huge television
monitors which allowed them to see a close-up of Joyce's slender
hand feeding pizza into the enormous mouth.  When he finished the
pizza -- the audience howled when he gave Joyce a dirty look
after she stole a bite -- he drank his lemonade and then just
looked at her with his head cocked.  "Now you have to pay for
it," she said.

Rajah just grinned and lay on his back with his paws
outstretched.  "This is another thing these cats cannot or will
not do, I'm told by the experts," Joyce commented dryly as she
climbed on his belly and then stretched out between his legs. 
She rested her cheek on his furry chest and commented, "This is
heavenly!  Rajah's chest and belly are covered with an incredibly
soft pure-white fur that feels so great!" she exclaimedsleepily.

Then he closed his paws over her and just hugged her tightly. 
Joyce then spoke with her voice muffled because her radio mike
was between her chest and Rajah's.  She said, "Girls, do you ever
feel that your guy is an uncaring creep?  That he cares nothing
about your feelings?  That he can't even keep you warm when
you're chilly, as we women always are?  If so, you need a guy
like Raj, here.  Yum!"  The muffled voice was greeted with
laughter from everyone.

"Okay, Raj," she said softly, "it's time to go back to work."

With that he spread his paws and Joyce got to her feet.  The
spotlight was still on her, as were the closed-circuit cameras. 
The TV screens caught the expression of puzzlement on her face
perfectly.  Then she brightened and said, "Isn't that nice! 
You're going to give me a ride to the center of the ring. 
Great."

Joyce climbed on top of the animal and sat straddling his
shoulders.  As soon as she was settled, he got to his feet.  But,
instead of heading towards the center to join the other tigers,
he headed toward the perimeter and began to move faster.

"Where do you think you're going, young man?" Joyce demanded. 
Now there was some minor static because of her rapid motion. 
"I'm not in this show!  I'm just a moonlighting TV reporter... 
Now come on!" she exclaimed with a note of fear in her voice as
Rajah was now running at nearly full speed.  Then he slowed and
turned his head.  "You're crazy, young man!" she exclaimed. 
"There is absolutely no way you can get me to stand on your
back!"

Then the camera caught a look of chagrin on her face as she said,
"Rajah, you wouldn't dare..."  Then looking fearful she said more
slowly, "You would, wouldn't you."

At that she knelt on his back and then stood up.  As soon as she
was upright, Rajah was running again, but at top speed this time.
 "Darling Rajah," she said, trying sugar instead of threats, "I'm
only a reporter.  I can hardly stand up in heels.  I can't stand
on a running animal!"

At that point Rajah was at the corner of the Forum.  But instead
of continuing in his circle, he cut inside and headed at full
speed for the circle of other tigers with the Conroys and the
children standing inside.  It was about twenty feet in diameter
measured from the tails of the tigers all of whom were facing the
center.

Joyce was still pretending to be fearful and screamed, "Help!"
just as Rajah took off in a great leap with her still standing on
his back.  He landed absorbing the shock, while Joyce just bent
her knees slightly to maintain her balance.  Rajah slowed and
turned his head to look up at her.

"Darling, that was unbelievable!" she cried, now out of her
fearful role-playing.  "Folks, what do you think of my little
boy?  Isn't he neat?" she cried.  There was a standing ovation as
she was carried into the center of the tiger's ring where Rajah
lay down so she could step off.

Unclipping the mike from Joyce's shirt, Bobbie said, "Folks,
could we have a big hand for Joyce Collier?  Isn't she a trooper,
though."  Looking at Joyce she said, "How did you know you could
do it, honey?  You never even rehearsed it."

Taking the mike and reclipping it to her shirt she replied,
"Bobbie, I didn't know that I could, but I was a great tomboy
when I was growing up.  I had forgotten until this minute what
great fun it was!"

Then Joyce went up to Rajah who was now sitting in his usual
position in the tigers' circle.  Putting her arms around his neck
she gave him another kiss.  But this time Rajah raised his right
paw, put it around her waist and pulled her to him tightly.  She
kissed him softly and murmured, "And I love you very much, too."

While the focus was on Joyce, Bobbie whispered to Tom, "What do
you think about Joyce and Rajah?  Isn't it neat?"

"I think I adore my wife," he whispered back, "who appears to
have saved another life -- a life very much worth saving, at
that.  She has been really great in this show.  As far as Rajah
is concerned, she genuinely loves that animal and he absolutely
worships her.  He would give his life for her in an instant!"

With the show underway again, first, riding two tigers apiece,
Tom had Ken on his shoulders, while Bobbie supported Andy, as
they, too, jumped the remaining tigers who maintained their
places in what was left of their circle.

Even as she was jumping, Bobbie could scarcely control her
giggles.  In response to her request, Rajah was lying down with
his head up alertly while Joyce stretched out on his back, put on
a pair of dark sun glasses, produced a book and proceeded to
appear to read it, utterly ignoring the animals with their riders
soaring directly over her head.

When the first round of jumps concluded, Joyce activated her
mike, yawned loudly and said, seemingly to herself, "Well, I
suppose it's only fair.  After all, they're in the show and I'm
not.  They couldn't allow the amateur talent to upstage them, I
suppose."  Her crack triggered a wave of laughter in the
audience.

After changing to a fresh pair of tigers, Tom and Bobbie rode off
together on a single pair.  After a single circuit, he lifted her
to his shoulders.  After the second circuit, she stood on his
shoulders and held her arms out straight.  From that point, the
animals stopped running around the perimeter, but instead cut
across and jumped the circle.  The pair of tigers, with Tom
balanced on their backs and Bobbie balancing on his shoulders,
soared across the circle and landed perfectly.  This brought a
standing ovation as the tigers trotted around the perimeter again
to receive their applause.

Joyce had returned to her original position beside the entrance
and Rajah had walked over beside her.  Suddenly a man wearing a
business suit burst through the curtained entrance and screamed,
"Stop the show!  Stop it at once, I say."  Seeing Joyce standing
nearby, he came up waving a piece of paper in a threatening
manner.  At his first move Rajah positioned himself in front of
his mistress to protect her.

When he got closer, Joyce said casually, "Hi!  I'm Joyce Collier.
 Who are you?"

"My name is Nathan Wiesman, and I am president of the Southern
California Chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals.  You're abusing these poor creatures and we demand that
you stop immediately!  I have a paper here detailing our charges
against you.  If you do not cease immediately, first thing Monday
morning we intend to be in court seeking a permanent injunction
as well as personal actions against all of you for cruelty to
animals!"

"In what way are we being cruel?" Joyce inquired.  Then looking
down at Rajah she asked, "Have I been cruel to you?"  Then she
appeared to punch him lightly and said, "There was, too, enough
pepperoni on your pizza!"  The crowd howled with laughter at her
crack.  "And besides, I don't think that's the cruelty he had in
mind, anyway."

While she was talking, two other tigers, Ferdie and Sasha, had
quietly positioned themselves behind Wiesman.  They were back to
back with their hindquarters touching.  Although he didn't know
it, there was now a wall of tigers more than ten feet wide
immediately behind him.

"Your answer, sir?" Joyce persisted.  "How have we been cruel?"

"You have drugged these animals, abused them..."

"Abused how?" she interjected

"Tearing out their claws!  Extracting all of their teeth! 
Drugging them so they can only stagger around..."  Hearing the
comments, the audience began to howl with laughter.

"No teeth?  Rajah, Honey, do you have any teeth?  Would you show
the nice man, please."  Rajah instantly stood up on his hind
legs, clawed the air and roared.  His perfect set of huge teeth
was immediately apparent.

Wiesman jumped backward to get away from the rampant tiger but
backed into Sasha's side.  When he looked around to see what he
had walked into, he saw Sasha staring at him balefully with his
huge green eyes while baring his teeth.  The pudgy man screamed
in sheer terror and backed up again, this time backing right into
Rajah.  The tiger just gave him a push and Wiesman fell to the
ground.

"I think he's safer there, too, honey," she said to Rajah. 
Wiesman rolled on his back and looked up to find three Bengal
tigers staring down at him.

The man screamed again but, amazingly, did not faint from fright.
 However, Joyce could see his hair was literally standing up on
end.  "You know, Raj, I think he's wearing too many clothes. 
Maybe that's why he seems to be losing control.  Do you think you
could help him off with his clothes?  He doesn't seem to be
functioning too well himself right now."

Rajah placed one paw on the man to hold him down.  Then he
extended the claws on his other paw.  Putting one claw under the
man's collar, he made a quick swipe and ripped all the layers of
cloth from neck to crotch.  Moving down on the man's body he did
the same thing on one pants leg and then the other.  Then he did
the same thing to each of the man's sleeves.

By now Wiesman's teeth were chattering in terror and Joyce could
see that his crotch was wet. _He's probably shit in his pants by
now, too,_ she thought.

At this point Rajah just looked down at the man and licked his
lips hungrily.  Then with a series of fast swipes, with his paw
moving so fast the eye couldn't follow, all of Wiesman's clothes,
now in shredded bits, flew off into the air in all directions. 
In just seconds, he was stark naked.  Fortunately for his modesty
and the sensibilities of the children in the audience, Joyce was
positioned to block the TV camera's view of his genitals.

"Now that you're more relaxed and comfortable, Mr. Wiesman, why
don't you tell me again how we have abused these animals?  And
could you do it a little slower this time, please?  I don't
believe the audience could fully understand what you said the
first time."

The man could no longer speak coherently.  All he could do was
stutter out phrases: "No teeth...  No claws...  Drug them...
can't move..."

"Oh, I see," Joyce replied in her most reasonable tone of voice.
"If Rajah has no teeth, he couldn't possibly eat you, could he? 
And neither could the others."  At that all three tigers
converged on the panic-stricken man.  Joyce realized he was now
literally scared stiff.  He was unable to move as the tigers came
closer with their teeth bared.

Rajah sniffed at the man and then looked up at Joyce plaintively.
 "No, darling, I'm sure you're right.  I don't think he'll taste
nearly as good as your pizza."  Rajah moved toward Wiesman, but
again retreated.  "Oh, Rajah!  You big sissy!  Just because he'll
taste rotten doesn't mean he'll make you sick.  Just try. 
Please?  For me?  Just one little bite?"  Putting her hands on
her hips she glared at the tiger and said, "Well!  If that's all
the thanks I get!  Not even one little bite?  Phooey!"

Again looking down at the terrified man, she said, "Well, you
lucked out that time.  As you saw, Raj and his friends flat
refused.  They all admit that they have eaten some awful-tasting
flesh in their time, but they have to draw the line somewhere,
after all.  Mr. Wiesman, you may be happy to learn that they have
drawn their line at you."

Then she brightened and looked at Rajah again and said, "Raj, the
least you can do is slice him up a little with your claws.  That
won't kill you, will it?"

Rajah looked up at her -- and at the TV camera beyond -- as if to
say, "I don't like it any better, but I do love you and I did
refuse to eat him, so..."  With a smile he put a paw on Wiesman's
chest, and the other two tigers did the same.

"Golly, you're lucky, Mr. Wiesman," Joyce said brightly. 
"They're only going to claw you to death.  They won't even eat a
little piece.  And I'm confident that we'll be able to find all
the pieces -- all of the big ones, anyway -- to put in a box for
burial.  But then, they don't have claws so they can't possibly
hurt you, can they?"  Looking at Rajah and ruffling his thick
neck fur she said, "You don't have any claws, do you, Raj?"

With his paw on the middle of Wiesman's chest Rajah extended his
claws very slowly, exercising a degree of control no one even
knew a tiger had.  The claws reached Wiesman's skin and went just
beyond, pricking the skin at each of the five points.  Then
Ferdie, and finally Sasha, did the same thing.  With his eyes
gaping Wiesman saw a drop of his blood appear under each of the
fifteen claws positioned on his body.

"Now, Mr. Wiesman, I think you owe Rajah, Ferdie, and Sasha a big
apology, don't you?  You said they had no teeth.  That made them
feel very badly because they are really rather proud of their
very strong and full quota of teeth.  They don't even have any
cavities!  Now, will you say you're sorry and admit they have
teeth?  It will make them very happy."

"Teeth!  Have teeth!" the man screamed.  "Big teeth...!  Sharp
teeth...!  Sorry!  So Sorry!"

"There, Honey, wasn't that a nice apology?  You should really let
the man up now.  No?  Oh," she said in a flat tone of voice. 
Then to Wiesman, "I'm sorry, sir, but that wasn't quite good
enough.  It seems you really dug a pit for yourself.  Rajah is
even more proud of his claws than he is of his teeth, you see."

Then she shook her head sadly and said, "But the real killer was
to call him and his friends druggies.  That, sir, I'm afraid, is
unforgivable.  Rajah tells me that the only drug he ever had was
aspirin for a sore paw, and that was over two years ago.  Sir, he
and his friends are terribly upset."

Then she snapped her fingers and said, "I'm terribly sorry to
bother you again, Mr. Wiesman, but could you tell me the name of
your next of kin?  When Rajah... helped you undress... I'm afraid
he got a little carried away.  He was not nearly as neat as he
usually is, so I can't be sure we'll find any of your wallet..."

"Please!" the man screamed.  "Sorry!  Beautiful claws!  Alert! 
No drugs!  Never any drugs!  So sorry!  No abuse!  Beautiful,
beautiful tigers..."

"There, Rajah!" Joyce exclaimed happily.  "Wasn't that a
wonderful apology!  And so heartfelt, too."  Joyce frowned at the
giant tiger and said, "Darling, in Mr. Wiesman's present
condition, I really think that's the best he is able to do."  She
raised an eyebrow and said, "I'll tell him."

Turning back to Wiesman she said, "Rajah and his friends agree
that your apology is the best they can get in view of your
present condition.  However, no later than Monday, they each
expect an individual handwritten apology from you.  That's
reasonable isn't it?"  Wiesman could only babble at this point. 
"Fine, Mr. Wiesman!  Now would you like me to ask Rajah to show
you out?  The Forum is very large and we wouldn't want you to get
lost."

Ferdie and Sasha walked around the man's body and stood beside
Rajah opening a path to the exit.  When he realized he could
escape, the man rolled on his stomach and then fled from the
arena floor as if he had been shot from a cannon.

"Golly," Joyce said thoughtfully, "I hope he doesn't get hurt on
his way out."  Then her attitude changed and she said,
"Seriously, folks, I am sorry to terrify a well-meaning person. 
But _they are so damned dumb, I want to scream!_  Let me ask you
all, and ask you very seriously: Is there a person in the Forum
tonight who thinks any of these animals have been abused?"

She looked completely around the stands and even asked that the
houselights be turned up high to make it easier to see.  With
Rajah pacing at her side, she made a full circuit of the
perimeter.  There was not a single hand raised.

When she returned to her starting point and the houselights had
again been dimmed, she said, "Thank you for your confidence, and
let me explain something to you: These animals are performing for
only one reason.  That reason is love.  It is the reason they
performed the way they did last night, as well.  You see, folks,
we found out something very interesting today.  We found out that
Thomas Conroy is king of the tigers.  Truly, he is.  They serve
him out of love and would cheerfully give their lives for him. 
Bobbie is their queen, Andy is their princess, and Ken is their
prince.  Oh!  I'm the Queen's handmaiden, but for some reason
Rajah loves me, so he's mine.

"Anyway, we were a little worried tonight.  As I said earlier,
When Tom and Bobbie are together, that's about 350 pounds.  That
is a great deal of weight for a 600-pound animal to carry, let
alone leap with.  The tigers believed they could carry out the
stunts and they were certainly right!  They did and did it
beautifully.

"Oh, one more thing.  If I give the impression I am talking to
Rajah sometimes, it's only because I am.  And, believe it or not,
he is truly conversing with me."  Looking down at the tiger she
asked, "Do you still love me?"

This time Rajah sat up on his hind quarters, wrapped both
forepaws around Joyce's body and squeezed.  The sound of his fur
moving against the mike on her chest was clearly audible as was
the sound of two hearts beating now that the mike was in a tight
space between them.  Still holding her, he moved his great head
down and kissed her solidly on her lips, then released his paws
and settled down in a single smooth motion to his seated
position.

Very softly but audibly she said, "I do love you, darlingRajah."

Then addressing the crowd she said, "I don't know for sure, but I
think what Raj just did is an all-time first.  He knows how human
lovers embrace.  Certainly he saw Andy and Ken embracing often
enough last night.  Well, he's not human and certainly knows it,
but he does love me -- the dumb lug -- and wanted to demonstrate
his love in the best way he could think of.  Isn't he great!?"

There was a huge cheer and then it was back to the show.  Because
of the time lost with Mr. Wiesman, Joyce decided to cut right to
the finale.  It was the running pyramid of the night before but
with Tom and Bobbie rather than Ken and Andy.

When they were in position and the four tigers on the bottom
including Rajah began to move, Joyce commented, "Have you ever
seen two more perfect bodies in your lives?  In case you were
wondering how one gets an overall deep golden tan like Bobbie and
Tom, the answer is easy.  You see, these two have only been
married for about nine months.  The first six months were spent
on the most remarkable honeymoon a couple has ever had.  On their
wedding night, they dove off the side of a small boat and swam
naked to a deserted island in the Hawaiian chain.  All they had
were three knives, some fishing line, a few hooks, and a few
matches.  That's all!  No clothes, no nothing.  There they spent
the next six months together.

"I've been thinking," Joyce continued, "and came to the
conclusion that it was a make-or-break honeymoon.  If the couple
truly loved one another and, even after constant intimacy for six
months without another soul to talk to, could still talk to each
other and were still in love, they were set for the rest of their
lives.  Otherwise, I'm afraid, only one of them, at most, would
have come off the island alive."

Then with a broad grin she concluded, "Since they're both alive
and thriving, I have to believe they are deeply, desperately, in
love!  And on them, doesn't it look great!?"

There was a great cheer from the audience and the TV camera went
in tight on Bobbie, now standing on Tom's shoulders as the tigers
ran the circuit at top speed.  Glancing at a monitor to ensure
that the camera was in a tight close-up on her face, she stuck
out her tongue at Joyce while she put her thumbs in her ears and
wiggled her fingers to make certain her meaning was clear.

Joyce cracked up with laughter and then said, "If you think I'm
jealous of you Barbara Bradley Conroy, you're damned right!  You
managed to marry a Greek god!"  She shrugged and added, "Of
course, he got a goddess out of the deal, too, so I guess it's
only fair."

With the tigers still running, Tom helped Bobbie down to Prince's
back, then took her into his arms and kissed her passionately. 
The audience cheered when Prince, feeling the second pair of feet
on his back, turned his head, saw his king and queen in a
passionate embrace, and let out a happy roar.

After the tigers each took his bow, there was a repeat of the
previous night but with Tom and Bobbie hugging while in the
embrace of a big cat, rather than Ken and Andy.

Finally it was over and the three were standing together just
outside the Forum's floor.  "Joyce, you were utterly
sensational," Bobbie said.  "In fact, the whole damned show
consisted of you and the big cats.  I can't thank you enough for
helping out!"

"And I can't thank you enough for letting me," Joyce replied.

While she was talking she stripped off her shorts and top,
seemingly oblivious to being naked in Tom's presence, and quickly
dressed in the clothes she would wear for the Eleven O'clock
News.  After asking them please to try to watch the show, she
dashed out with Rajah bounding after her.  A KNBC helicopter was
standing by on the pad outside the Forum to fly them from
Englewood to the studios in Burbank.

Tom and Bobbie moved quickly but she was not worried.  She had
remembered to set the VCR to record the news show in the event
they were held up in traffic.*Chapter 29*

Bobbie and Tom were delighted to find they had made it home with
five minutes to spare before the eleven o'clock news.  She
decided to let the VCR record the show while she and Tom watched
it from their bed.  Bobbie finished shedding her clothes first,
then pulled the bed clothes down to the end of the bed and
flipped the pillows to the foot.  She was lying with her chin
propped on her hands when Tom joined her on the bed.  They kissed
passionately but broke their kiss when they heard Jack Johnson
announce the news.  The lead story was again the circus.

When the show opened, the camera was in a tight close-up of
Johnson.  He said, "Folks, in tonight's feature story, there is a
small embarrassment for KNBC.  You're going to see our star
reporter and my new co-anchor, Joyce Collier, in a featured role.
 Speaking personally and frankly, I don't know what management is
going to think nor do I care.  I think it's great."

Then he said, "But because Joyce is so much a part of the story,
even though it's hers -- and she did a brilliant job with it, by
the way -- I'm going to handle the narration to spare her some
embarrassment."

The show covered the great leaps and pyramids quickly, but Bobbie
and Tom were both delighted and pleased to see that the real star
of the show was Joyce.  They chuckled at the exchange between
Joyce and Rajah when she fed him his pizza and stole a piece --
it even showed the look of hurt in his eyes.  Then it showed her
riding and leaping while using the tape of her comments while she
did it.

They cracked up with laughter as the audience did at the show. 
"Isn't she wonderful!?" Bobbie exclaimed.  "Her timing is just so
great!"

There was a beautifully cut scene of Wiesman's visit.  When he
said, "No teeth," there was a shot of a tiger with his huge white
teeth gleaming.  With the remark, "No claws", they showed Rajah's
paw on Wiesman's chest with the claws slowly extending.  To the
remark, "the tigers are drugged," there was a montage of the
incredible coordination of the animals working both individually
and as a group.

When the take closed on Tom and Bobbie in passionate embrace,
they cut back to the studio with a two-shot of Jack with Joyce
sitting beside him.  "Partner, that was utterly spectacular!  And
I mean it both as a piece of news film and for your performance.
You were simply marvelous!"  Then he asked her about Wiesman and
possible further trouble.

"Jack," she replied, "I can't answer that.  I can say from
personal knowledge, though, that those animals are working from
love.  They simply adore Bobbie and Tom Conroy, Andy Cartwright
and Ken Clifford.  There is no doubt in my mind that any of those
animals would cheerfully sacrifice his life in an instant to
protect any of them.

"On last night's show, Jack, you made a very perceptive comment
about attending the circus and seeing the wild animal act.  It
was like the people who go to the Indy 500 to see the cars crash:
people are waiting to see a big cat attack its trainer.  The look
in the eyes of those cats is baleful... almost evil.  You feel
that the animals bitterly hate the trainer but fear him.  The
fear outweighs the hate... but just!  Jack, with these animals
it's totally different.  You look in their eyes and see love and
warmth.  Honest, you really do.

"As far as future trouble, I don't know.  I certainly do know,
though, that those cats have all their teeth, all their claws,
and are certainly not drugged in any way.  If there are more
complaints, we'll have to see.  In fact, Jack, the animal-rights
people will be here in our studios tomorrow, so we'll learn what
their complaints are then."

She shook her head sadly and added, "I can see one coming right
now: letting the tigers eat pizza.  I know it's not part of a
tiger's normal diet, but I'll tell you what," she said with a big
grin at Jack.  "I'll let _you_ tell Rajah!  I'm certainly not
going to.  Besides, he's a big baby!  Did you see the film?  The
poor thing almost cried when I had one lousy bite!  And it was a
large pizza, too."

The next segment had Ann Henry talking about the results of the
trial and Jim Perkins' comments, particularly including the
possible need for vouchers if that was what would be needed to
permit students to hear about God in school.  Ann ended her piece
by saying, "Millie Flaherty, who will be the new head of
curriculum in Sacramento starting Monday morning, commented that
the reason these children perform so well is that the Holy Spirit
-- the third person of the Trinity -- literally comes down to
that classroom and inspires those children.  I certainly don't
know.  I _do_ know, however, that I have seen six-year-old
children perform with a level of knowledge and understanding of
our background as a nation that would put a graduate student in
history to shame.

"I also know that on an objective test, developed and controlled
by Educational Testing Service -- the College Board people --
Bobbie Conroy's students went off the scale: a scale developed
for use through college!  And I also know that Bobbie Conroy
personally achieved a perfect score -- every answer was correct.
It is an utterly unprecedented achievement for anyone."

The camera went in close on Ann who closed by saying, "All I can
say is that Bobbie Conroy will be in her classroom Monday morning
and her students will be there with her.  She will be happy, they
will be ecstatic, and I will feel very good about the long-term
future of our republic!"

"Thank you very much," Jack said, "And I do as well.  From what I
have learned, Bobbie Conroy is truly a national asset ranking
with the fathers of her students who are Medal-of-Honor winners!"
 Tom pulled Bobbie close and told her that Johnson sure got that
one right.  Bobbie just snuggled closer.

After a commercial break, Johnson was on camera and said, "And
now we have a special feature from my co-anchor.  I hope you
enjoy it.  I know I certainly did."

The screen went dark for an instant and then opened with a
head-and-shoulders shot of Joyce dressed as she had been at the
Forum: she was wearing white short shorts, a white halter top, a
white ribbon holding back her hair in a pony tail and nothing
else.

The camera came in close on her face and she said, "This feature
is only for the women in our audience.  Would all you men please
go get a beer or... or something... while I speak to the women?

"This is particularly addressed to those of you who, like me, are
single and over twenty-one... _way_ over twenty-one.  I don't
know about you, but speaking for myself, I'm now resigned to
being a spinster for the rest of my life."  With a cute little
grin she added, "Isn't that an awful-sounding word, 'spinster'? 
Couldn't we come up with something with a little more...  Forget
it, you get my point.

"Anyway, once I faced the idea of living alone for the rest of my
life I got... scared!  There are, after all, some things a man
provides: security, for example.  Well, I gave it a lot of
thought and now I think I've found the perfect answer.  My
answer's name is Rajah!"  With that the camera pulled back to a
two-shot with Rajah sitting at Joyce's side with his tail neatly
wrapped around his forelegs.

"This is Rajah!" she said.  Then she looked down at him and said,
"Say hello to all the nice people, honey.  Remember, they pay me
and I feed you, so be extra nice to all of them."

Bobbie squealed as she saw Rajah smile, lift his right forepaw
and wave to the camera.  Then the camera pulled back to bring
Joyce back into the frame.

"As far as vital statistics are concerned, Rajah is a Royal
Bengal tiger.  He weighs a little over 600 pounds -- how much
over depends on how much pizza he ate that day.  He is in his
prime.  If he were human he would have just reached his
eighteenth birthday."  With a sexy little grin she added, "Girls,
wouldn't you really love to have a sexy eighteen-year-old guy for
your very own?  Wouldn't you?  Now be honest!"

Looking at Rajah she said, "I mentioned security.  Darling, show
the people your nice teeth and claws."  Instantly, Rajah was
rearing up on his hind legs with his forepaws clawing the sky. 
His fully-extended claws gleamed in the sunlight.  At the same
instant he let out a mighty roar.  With his huge mouth opened
wide the size and sharpness of his teeth became apparent.  As
quickly as he had leaped up, he was seated again.

"Thank you," Joyce said, giving him a hug.  Then the camera came
in on her as she continued, "Security?  How much do you need? 
Even here in Los Angeles where we have world-class muggers, can
you imagine any of them in his right mind caring to take on
Rajah?  Can you?  I certainly can't.

"How about being at home alone in your apartment at night?  Are
you concerned about security?  Maybe your unit isn't on as high a
floor as you'd like it to be?  Rajah is your answer.  Can you
just imagine a burglar in your apartment?  He has just unplugged
your TV and is lifting it off the table.  Then he feels Rajah's
warm breath on the back of his neck.  Turning, he sees his huge
green eyes gleaming fiercely.  Then what?"

Joyce grinned and answered her own question: "Honestly, I don't
know exactly what would happen then.  But I will
double-your-money-back guarantee you: your TV will still be
there."  Then she added, "Incidentally, although I haven't had
the chance to check it out myself, I understand that a tiger's
eyes glow in the dark.  Now wouldn't that be a wonderful feeling?
 Looking over your shoulder and seeing these huge green eyes
staring at you balefully."

Looking at the cameraman, Joyce said, "Charley, go in tight on
Rajah's head.  I want just a head shot so people can see his
eyes.  Raj, look at me.  Do you love me?"

The camera caught the tiger perfectly and caught the look of
warmth and adoration in his eyes.  Then Joyce said, "Charley,
hold that shot.  Now, Raj, what would you do if you saw a man
threatening me... he was going to hurt me.  What do you do?"

There was an instant change.  Now the eyes were as cold as
Antarctic ice.  Rajah bared his teeth and let out a deep-throated
growl that was frightening in its intensity.  "Thank you,
darling," Joyce said, then to Charley, "You can swing over to me
now, Charley, and thank you."

With the camera now in tight on Joyce she said, "Can you see any
mugger in his right mind ignoring that?  Maybe Rajah can't speak
English, but he certainly can communicate.  Don't you all agree?"
 Then she smiled and added, "You know, I guess it's a good thing
that Los Angeles is so large in area.  Because it is, if any
mugger made a move against me it's really quite likely that all
of his pieces and parts would still end up inside the city
limits!"

The camera pulled back and now Joyce was sitting on the ground
using Rajah's side as a back rest.  "So much for security.  What
else?  Well, personal things...  Admiration, for example."

Turning to the tiger she extended her beautiful leg and asked,
"Raj, do you like my leg?  Is it shapely enough for you?"  The
huge animal nodded his head and grinned.  "Honest?  Are you
really sure?"

This time Rajah got up, came over to Joyce and began to lick her
leg from her toes right up to her crotch, missing not a square
inch.  The sensation on her flesh was exquisite and Joyce sighed
with pleasure.  Then she said, "Guess what?  There's an extra
added attraction.  Don't you absolutely hate to shave your legs?
Isn't it just an awful pain in the butt?  Guess what?"  Feeling
her leg she confirmed what she had sensed and said, "Now it's as
smooth as a baby's bottom -- and it was completely painless.  In
fact, it really felt pretty sexy.

"But it's not all roses.  After all, Rajah is a very big boy and
loves to roam.  He needs his exercise.  You know... like walking
a dog?  But guess what?  He even has advantages there, too."

The camera pulled back and showed Joyce running with a beautiful
long-legged stride while Rajah happily trotted along beside her.
While still running she said, "Now if you're like me, this is
good for 100 yards, maybe.  Two hundred yards on my best days. 
But then what?  That isn't nearly enough exercise for a big boy
like this.  So what do you do?  It's easy."

The scene cut to Rajah bounding along at full speed with Joyce
sitting on his shoulders.  Then it cut to him still running while
she casually stood on his back doing ballet movements.  In the
last cut she was lying on his back with her head resting on the
back of his.  The animal was still running at full speed.

While lying on his back she said, "This is really the way to get
exercise.  Tomorrow, I think I'll bring my sun glasses and a
book.  And just think!  My weight on his back is adding to
Rajah's exercise.  Isn't it neat?"

The camera cut to a tight close-up on Joyce's face.  She was
exquisite with her golden skin, tawny hair and beautiful green
eyes.  "But now let's face it, girls," she said, "there are a few
things to be said for men.  But what?  Well, I guess they're
pretty good on a cold winter's night to keep you warm.  Then,
there are women who love the feel of a man's hairy chest on their
smooth skin.  But you think that's good?"

The camera pulled back and showed Joyce lying on her stomach on
Rajah's chest.  His legs were still in the air.  "A hairy chest?
How about this?  Girls, Rajah's chest is covered with the
silkiest, most luscious tight white fur you can possibly imagine.
 I feel like I'm lying on a mink coat except his chest fur is so
much prettier and softer than mink!

"What else?  Sensitivity.  Men are uniformly insensitive slobs. 
A woman wants to be held and comforted and made to feel secure. 
How about this?"  At that, Rajah wrapped his forepaws around her
body and squeezed her to his chest.  As she writhed on his chest
in ecstasy, the viewer could see her luscious breasts being
mashed flat against his chest.  All Rajah did was softly purr. 
"Isn't this absolutely the greatest?  Could there be anything
better?  Ladies, go find yourself a Rajah.  I've got mine!  Don't
I?" she asked looking into his eyes.

The animal loosened his hold and Joyce was able to squirm
upwards.  The last shot showed her kissing his cheek while his
paws were again holding her tightly.

After going to black, the camera opened on a two-shot of Jack and
Joyce.  Jack asked, "How did you do that, Joyce?  Those were the
finest special effects I've ever seen.  Honestly, I never even
knew we had the capability."

"What special effects, Jack?"

"Well, the tiger waving at the camera in the opening shot... the
way he seemed to be kissing you... many of them," Johnson
replied.

"Oh... I see," she replied.  Then she said, "Raj, why don't you
say hello to all the nice viewers.  Maybe they, like Jack, think
you're a special effect."

Rajah had been lying motionless under the desk through the entire
show.  Now on Joyce's command he smoothly came out from under the
desk, rose, and put his forepaws on the desk-top and was now
standing in the space between them.  Then he raised his right
paw, waved and let out a happy roar.  In the confined space of
the studio the animal's roar almost blew out all themicrophones.

Then he looked at Joyce as she said, "Will you give me a kiss,
now?"  The animal leaned over and kissed her full on the cheek. 
She smiled warmly, kissed him and ruffled the fur on his neck. 
The huge animal purred loudly enough to drown out all the studio
sounds.

In the meantime, Jack Johnson, seated on the other side of the
huge animal was dumbfounded.  "Good grief!" he exclaimed.  "Do
you mean to tell me that what we saw was not optical trickery? 
He's real? _This_ is Rajah!?"

"Raj, Honey," Joyce said softly, "I would like you to meet my
boss, Jack Johnson.  In addition to being the anchor on the late
news, he's also the station's news director, so be very nice to
him.  My job -- and with it, the money to buy you food -- is on
the line.  Now, will you please say hello, _very nicely?"_

The huge animal dropped down to the floor, sat back on his
haunches and raised his huge right paw while he looked into
Jack's eyes with a very friendly expression in his own.  Jack
reached out both hands, took the paw and lightly shook it.  Raj
let out a very quiet roar of welcome and then took up his
preferred position at Joyce's side.

While the news show continued, Bobbie Conroy rolled on her side
and pulled Tom close.  "Darling, isn't she _neat?_  And wasn't
that a wonderful story she did on Rajah?"  Then she frowned,
shook her head and added, "You know, even though she played it
with a very light touch, Joyce was being very serious.  She does
plan on being a spinster."

Then she quickly told Tom about Joyce, how she was wildly in love
with Jack Johnson, but thought of herself as a piece of filth. 
"So, honey," she concluded, "she's created a Catch 22: she can't
stand any of the myriad guys she could have, but feels totally
unworthy of the only guy she will accept."

Tom gently caressed Bobbie's body while he reflected for a few
moments on what she said.  Finally he asked with a tone of
sadness audible in his voice, "Darling, is there any way out of
her trap?"

"Honey, I think his name might be Rajah," Bobbie replied.  They
continued to play with each other while the news show moved to
the other stories of this particular Friday.

After weather and sports, the camera came back on Jack and Joyce
for the closing shot.  Rajah was again standing between them. 
Joyce looked at him and said, "Now, Raj, look at me."  The huge
animal turned his head.  Even in profile it was clear that his
eyes were open wide and concentrating on Joyce's face.  "I'm
going to ask you to do something very important.  You see,
darling, my job depends on lots of people watching the KNBC news.
 And if my job depends on it, your food does, too.  Understand?"

The great head nodded rapidly up and down.  "Great!" she
exclaimed.  "Now here's what I want you to do: I want you to look
right into the camera with the red light showing.  Then I want
you to give the camera your friendliest smile and the friendliest
wave of your paw!  I want the people to begin to think of you as
Rajah, KNBC's friendly tiger."

She looked at him and asked, "Do you think you can do that for
me?"  Again the huge head nodded rapidly.  Joyce wrapped her arms
around his huge neck, gave him a loving kiss and a very warm
smile.  "Okay, Rajah!  Let's do it."

Bobbie and Tom howled with laughter as Rajah squared himself at
the table, formed the friendliest possible look on his face -- it
really did look like a smile -- and gave a cheery wave with his
right paw.  Then he brought the paw to his mouth and blew a kiss
to the camera.  The broad smile was still on his face as the red
camera light went out.  At that the giant cat dropped to the
floor, adopted his house-cat position with his tail wrapped
around his forepaws and looked anxiously at Jack Johnson's face.

Instead of reacting in any way, Jack spoke into the microphone,
still active but now only in the studio, and used it as an
intercom.  "Mac, could you roll the closing again and put it on
the monitor?"

A few moments later there was a tape flash and then it picked up
with Joyce talking to the tiger.  Rajah again stood up with his
paws on the desk to be able to see the TV monitor.  Then he just
stared at the TV image intently, and to Johnson's utter
amazement, he could see concern in the tiger's eyes.  Then the
tape reached the closing, the cheery wave of the paw, the grin
and blowing the kiss.  When the screen went black again, Rajah
dropped off the desk and again stared into Jack's eyes.

Johnson just shook his head and said, "I always thought Tony the
Tiger was the happiest tiger around -- and he's a cartoon
character.  Guess what, Joyce?  Tony now takes a back seat to
Rajah, here, and Rajah is real!"

With that Jack reached out and hugged Rajah around the neck and
said, "Boy, you were unbelievably good!"  Then pulling back he
looked into the tiger's eyes and said, "Do you want to keep
working here?  With Joyce and me?"

Then Jack clearly heard Rajah say, "I sure do, Mr. Johnson!  And
that means I get to help my mistress, too.  This is great!" 
There was a huge smile on the cat's face and his head was nodding
rapidly up and down.

Jack was stunned. _He had communicated with a tiger!_

Then Rajah communicated, "That's because your heart is so pure,
sir.  People like you -- and my mistress, of course -- are the
only ones who can."

Listening to the exchange, Joyce had swivelled her chair around
to face Jack, but now was slumped down in it as if she was trying
to hide.  Jack looked at her and said accusingly, "It was all
real, wasn't it?  Every bit of it.  He... he... he really did
bawl you out for sneaking a bite of his pizza!"  Then Jack
started to howl with laughter.  It was the funniest thing he
could imagine.

When his laughter died down to chuckles, he heard Rajah say, "It
was real, sir, but that was playacting.  You should know, sir,
that my mistress is welcome to eat anything -- including me, if
she should ever want to."

Then Rajah added, "It was all real except for that Nathan Wiesman
idiot.  That was all my mistress.  But it was so clear to my
buddies and me what it was she wanted us to do that we just acted
appropriately.  The fact of the matter is, of course, we could
have made a meal of him, including all the bones, in less than
sixty seconds."

Then he turned to Joyce and communicated, "But you were certainly
right about one thing, Mistress.  He really would have tasted
lousy.  It was all we could do to keep from howling with
laughter.  We have eaten some awful flesh in our time, but _he
would have been the very worst!_  But then you're very
perceptive, aren't you?"

Changing the subject, Joyce said, "Jack, what was that idiocy I
heard about me being co-anchor?  I almost fell off my chair."

"Idiocy?" Johnson said raising an eyebrow.  "Look, Joyce, you're
one of the very best there is.  That story you filed with Rajah
here was one of the finest -- and warmest -- I have ever seen. 
We're entering it in the Emmy Awards competition and it will be
the grand-prize news feature.  It's a certainty."

Tears came to her eyes and she just slowly shook her head.  "I
can't accept the job, Jack, and I would like you to withdraw the
submission.  It's all a fraud."

"What do you mean?" he asked softly.

Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she said, "Jack Johnson, I
am a piece of filth and we both know it.  There is no way I
belong beside you at the anchor desk.  You own the news in Los
Angeles.  You're the very best and you certainly don't need me
screwing up your show."  With her head up proudly, but with her
tears now flowing in twin streams, she said, "I can't do it and I
won't!"

Then she tried to grin despite her tears and added, "Besides, Sol
is going to have me fired, anyway."

"Sol Abrams couldn't fire a gofer," Jack retorted, "but why does
he want you fired?"

"When I came in tonight, he grabbed me and said he wanted to fuck
me after the show -- fuck me in the ass, I think he said.  I told
him I was out of that business permanently and besides, he
couldn't get it up, anyway.  The only way we could do anything
the last few times was with me working on him with my mouth for
hours.  Anyway, that got him so pissed, he grabbed me and was
about to slap me across the face."

Smiling, she continued, "That wasn't the brightest idea he's ever
had in his life.  Rajah was there.  For openers, Raj didn't like
what he said to me one little bit.  But when he saw Sol grab me
and start to move, it was all over."

"What happened?" Jack asked quietly.

"Rajah clobbered him on the right shoulder with his paw. 
Fortunately for Sol, Raj kept his claws sheathed.  If he had used
his claws, swinging as hard as he did, he would have taken the
shoulder off down to his waist."

"Then what?"

Now Joyce giggled, remembering.  Jack thought she was incredibly
beautiful.  He realized suddenly how beautiful she was and that
she was wearing no makeup.  Although her tear tracks showed
clearly, there was no running mascara because there was none to
run.  Moreover, Jack thought, her giggle was the cutest sound he
had ever heard.  "I wonder what color his hair will be when we
see him again?" she wondered.

"What do you mean?"

She grinned and replied, "The force of Rajah's blow not only
broke his shoulder in several places but dropped him to the floor
like a stone.  Anyway, when Sol looks up -- he had landed on his
back -- there is Raj with his forepaw planted in the middle of
his chest.  His fangs were bared, his eyes were like green fire,
and he let out the most deadly-sounding growl I have ever heard.

"Well, Sol looks at this, his eyes glaze and he faints dead away.
 But then as we watched, his hair turned pure white.  For a
moment I thought Raj had frightened the man to death."  Then she
reached out her arms and Rajah came to her.  "That reminds me,
darling, it was so close to air time I didn't have a chance to
thank you properly."  With that she hugged him and gave him the
warmest possible kiss full on his lips.

Jack could feel the impact of the kiss on the tiger and realized
the animal felt he was receiving the highest praise from the
person he loved the most.  Jack, too, could clearly feel the joy
the animal was feeling.  Then she added, "Later, my darling,
there will be more."

"You mean... you mean that I will be able to feast again on your
exquisite cunt?  I'll be able to create joy for you?  It's not
nearly as great as if you were in Jack's arms, of course," the
tiger communicated.  "But then you utterly adore him--"

"She _what?"_ Jack exclaimed.

"Oh, shit!" Joyce exclaimed bitterly.  Glaring at Rajah she said,
"Dummy!  He can hear you, too, you know!  Why couldn't you keep
your big mouth shut!"  Rajah dropped flat on the floor and
covered his head with his paws, showing Joyce the shame he was
feeling.

Then Jack said, "How about if we go back to my office for a few
minutes?  The crew is about to throw us out of here, anyway." 
Reluctantly, Joyce followed Jack out of the studio.  Rajah,
instead of walking proudly at Joyce's side, slunk along behind
with his tail dragging the floor.*Chapter 30*

Reaching the office he had as the station's news director, Jack
closed the door and took a seat on his sofa.  Joyce sat upright
in a small armchair and just looked at him with dead eyes.  When
he looked into her eyes, Jack's heart sank.  Although he knew she
was in great emotional pain, he wanted to confirm some things.

Then he looked at her and said softly, "I love you desperately,
Joyce Collier.  I always have and I always will."

Hearing his words, Joyce's heart leaped.  It was utterly
impossible but it was happening.  She was hearing the words she
dreamed of from the only man she ever wanted to hear them from.

Rajah's demeanor changed dramatically, as well.  Communicating,
he nearly screamed, "He loves you back, Mistress! _He loves you
back!_  Oh, that's so wonderful!  Soon you will be married. 
Then, after endless hours of the most marvelous lovemaking, one
of his sperm will find one of your magnificent eggs.  God will
bless it, and a new soul will have been conceived.  It will grow
and ripen in your glorious womb and then appear as a tiny boy or
girl.  You will love it, cherish it, caress it and, most of all,
nurse it at your breast.

"You will feel the indescribable pleasure of a tiny baby drawing
its perfect food: your gloriously rich, warm, sweet milk directly
from your perfect tit, accompanied by all the love you possess. 
Then you will raise it in a home filled with the incredible love
for each other that you and Jack share.  You will teach it about
God.  You will train it in manners, and courtesy and
consideration for others.

"Then, when it's six years old, you will bring the boy or girl to
our Queen, Bobbie, who will continue to build on the foundations
that you and Jack have created.  Then you will return home to the
child's smaller brothers and sisters.  You will be the finest
mother in the world and you will truly be our Queen's handmaiden.
 After all, what greater service could you perform for your queen
than using your glorious body to produce children to bask in her
love?

"Can you imagine your joy in seven years or so in another circus
when one of the beautiful children skipping across the backs of
myself and my friends is a son or daughter of yours?  A child
filled with the Holy Spirit?  A child who God Himself, acting as
the Holy Spirit, will guide and protect?  What could possibly be
finer?  And it's happening, my darling Mistress, because Jack
loves you as much as you adore him.  Isn't that wonderful?"

By the time Rajah finished his communication Joyce was weeping
uncontrollably.  She was disconsolate because, although the
scenario he described was what she wished for in her wildest
dreams, it could never happen.  Suddenly she felt herself being
lifted out of her chair and taken into Jack's arms.  His lips met
hers and melted.  Although she tried to keep her lips pressed
tightly together, she couldn't.  She felt her lips soften and
then part as he worked his lips on hers.  A flow of love between
them grew in seconds to the volume of a river flowing in two
directions at once.

Moments later, she was consumed by passion and could feel
electricity between them that was overwhelming in its intensity.
Meanwhile, Jack just moved his hands over her back and body
while, involuntarily, she stroked his.  Meantime Rajah had just
seated himself on the floor and watched with the happiness
growing inside him like a flood.

When the two eased apart, he saw new tears in Joyce's eyes as she
said softly, "Jack, how could you?  How could you bear to touch
-- least of all, kiss -- a piece of filth like me?  You're so
pure and I am so rotten..."

"You're a dream come true," he replied softly.  "I said it
before, darling, and I'll say it again: I have loved you from the
first moment I saw you."

"How could you possibly, Jack?" she wailed.  "You saw what I was
and knew what I was doing.  Can you imagine telling a girl, two
days on the payroll, to take Sol in her ass that night or clean
out her desk right then?  Can you?  I did, you know."

"And you made a perfect confession today," Rajah quietly
communicated.  "If God Himself forgave you your sins, can Jack do
any less?  Mistress, God Himself told you, 'Your sins, they are
forgiven.  Go forth and sin no more.'

"Leaving that priest, the Holy Spirit came down upon you.  Right
now you're as clean and pure as Bobbie or Andrea Cartwright." 
Suddenly, Rajah's attitude changed dramatically.  He
communicated, "Now strip off your clothes so Jack can see what he
will be getting and so I can have the reward I earned by
clobbering that idiot, Sol Abrams!  Now!"

"But... but... but Jack will see..."

"What half-a-hundred or so other guys, most of whom you couldn't
stand, have already seen," Rajah interrupted.  "Besides, since
you will not allow him to make love to you until you're married,
prudence suggests that he have a look at the physical perfection
he will have sharing his bed when he does.  Now do it!"

In an instant Joyce was out of her clothes and resting her bare
bottom on the edge of Jack's desk with her legs spread wide. 
When Rajah moved into position, she ruffled the fur on the top of
his head and said softly, "I love you dearly, you big lug!  But
now I find out you're a bully, too."  Then she smiled warmly and
said, "Well?  What are you waiting for?  My cesspool awaits."

Before moving, Rajah looked up at her with enormous love in his
huge green eyes and said, "No, Mistress.  A veritable fountain of
purity!"  With that his tongue darted out and he concentrated on
getting her love juices flowing freely.

Taking advantage of Rajah's preoccupation, Joyce renewed her
objections.  It turned out to be funny as some of her best
speeches were interrupted by her involuntary gasps, shrieks of
ecstasy, or moans of pleasure caused by the tiger's very talented
tongue working on her loins.  "Jack, this is one of the things I
was thinking about but did not include in my story tonight," she
said and shrieked as her loins shook in orgasm.  Catching her
breath she added, "But I can't marry you.  You and I don't agree
on the time of day, let alone anything else."

Jack was still rocking from the sight of Joyce's naked beauty. 
She was everything he had ever thought but so much more besides.
He just shook his head and replied, "That won't work, Joyce.  Two
days ago, maybe.  Tonight, no.  You have packed it in totally
with the PC folks.  If anything, you and Ann Henry are even more
disgusted with the situation than I am."

Finally, her last line of defense: "Jack, I can't marry you.  I
won't hold you back professionally.  They'll want you at the
network in Washington or New York.  I can't leave Los Angeles. 
You see, I solemnly swore to Bobbie that she would have any
children of mine to educate.  As long as she's here, I have to be
here, too.  Not only can you not stay, you shouldn't.  You're the
very best and deserve the professional recognition that's finally
coming your way.  I won't hold you back.  I won't!"

Now Joyce had confirmed what Jack had suspected all along: he was
hearing her last futile efforts before she bowed to the
inevitable and agreed to become his wife.  But playing the game
he looked up at the corner and looked pensive.

Then with a grin he said, "Good try, Joyce, but no sale.  First,
I'll go to Washington when, in the immortal words of a former
Soviet leader, shrimp learn to whistle!  Let's not hold our
breath, shall we?  You say you need to stay in LA.  Well,
darling, I want to.  I want to spend a lot of time with you and
those scrumptious little children that Rajah so eloquently
described."

Looking at her quizzically, he interjected, "Darling, did you
know that Raj could be so eloquent?"  She grinned wryly and just
shook her head, then let out a shriek as her loins convulsed in
another massive orgasm.  "And by the way, are you always this
passionate or are you just showing off?"

"I never had an orgasm in my life before," she gasped, "until my
darling worked on me this afternoon."  There was another quiet
moan as she was hit by another small orgasm and then added, "Now
I think I can get off with you just looking at me."

"But back to your comment," Jack continued.  "First, I don't want
to leave.  Second, we already own the time period and the news in
LA.  And when the rating books come out for this week, they won't
even be able to _find_ our competition in the numbers.  Finally,
with you and Raj at the news desk, we're going to be flying. 
Darling, Los Angeles is a giant market -- the second largest in
the country.  And at the rate New York is dropping, we'll be
number one pretty soon.  The top news show in the top market
isn't shabby.  I'm paid pretty well and you will be, too.  We'll
have more than enough money to buy a big house and start filling
it up with kids."

He looked at her with great love in his eyes and added, "You want
a whole bunch, don't you?  The reason you cracked up when Rajah
made his speech was that he was describing your dream of a
lifetime, wasn't he?"

Joyce was concentrating her attention on Rajah's head and his
tongue still working on her loins. _"Wasn't he?"_ Jack exclaimed.
 "Answer the question!"

"Yes, damn it!  Yes he was."  Cradling her tits in her hands she
said, "Jack, can you imagine the feeling of a baby girl or boy
drawing its sustenance from these breasts?"  Looking up at him
she said, "There's one condition.  I _am not_ a career woman.  My
ideal career is to be your wife and concentrate on making you the
happiest man in the whole world.  My body will be available to
you any time, any place, for any purpose.  Then giving birth and
raising those children Rajah so eloquently described...  I can't
wait."  Then looking at Jack with all the love she could convey
she said softly, "Jack, I give up."

Then she looked down where Rajah was licking up her last
succulent drops.  Again she lovingly tousled his head and asked
softly, "Have you finished drinking at my fountain?  Can we go
home now?"

The great cat looked up at her and worshipfully communicated,
"Mistress, I cannot tell you how happy you have just made me.  I
cannot tell you, believe it or not, the joy you just created in
Heaven!"

But then he grinned and added, "But there is one more thing,
Mistress.  You owe Master Jack -- he will be my master when
you're wed, won't he?  -- one more thing.  He saw the tape and
its closing scene, but not the scene you really wanted to shoot.
Will you show him now?  Please?"

"Oh, you!" she said, feigning exasperation, and then kissing him
quickly on the top of his head.  Then she raised an eyebrow and
added, "I'm waiting."

The huge tiger flipped on his back and spread his legs wide. 
Joyce dove between his legs and landed with a flop on his chest.
His forelegs came together while she moved her tits with their
now-so-sensitive nipples in small circles on his soft white fur.
Rajah used his legs to hold her tight while she pretended to
fight him to have more room for her movements.

Then she gave up, stretched out with her cheek on his chest, and
just savored his wonderful softness and warmth.  "Mmm, mmm," she
murmured.  "My darling Rajah, this is heaven!"

Looking up at a wall clock she saw it was almost two o'clock. 
Suddenly, the effect of the day's physical activity and its
series of emotional shocks hit her like a ton of bricks.  Joyce
was utterly exhausted and close to physical collapse.  Sleepily
she said, "Raj, let's go.  If I don't move this minute, they'll
find me like this, bare-assed, tomorrow morning still in your
arms.  Let's go home, shall we?"

Reluctantly, Rajah released her and she staggered to her feet. 
As she sleepily sorted through her discarded clothing and began
to dress, Jack nodded toward Rajah and said, "But what about him,
Joyce?  Isn't your landlord going to have a bird?  Won't you be
evicted?"

"Nope," she replied with a sleepy grin.  Then she rummaged
through her purse, found a piece of paper which she gave to Jack,
and then continued with her dressing.

Jack looked at it and laughed.  It was a permit to have a cat in
her apartment.  On the line that said, "Cat's name," was written
"Rajah."  On the line asking for "Cat's description" was the
word, "tiger."  He realized that, when Joyce had applied for the
permit and the question of description had been asked, she had
casually replied, "tiger."  The agent naturally assumed that she
was describing a tiger-striped house cat, but notwithstanding, it
was all completely legal.  Moreover, the permit ran with the
duration of the apartment lease and any subsequent renewals.

As he returned the permit to her, he reflected on how naturally
she moved.  When he commented on her grace, Rajah communicated,
"Master Jack, my mistress is an incredibly beautiful woman with a
magnificent body, as you could see.  Believe it or not, she has
embarked on a program to make herself even more perfect for your
eyes.  Sir, I think some work is in order on your part."

With a grin Rajah continued, "Indeed, self-preservation requires
it.  If you do not improve substantially, she might kill you with
her lovemaking, and we certainly can't have that, can we?"

Jack grinned but realized that Rajah was both very serious and
giving very good advice.  He vowed immediately to start making
regular use of the facilities at his health club.

Joyce was now fully dressed, but was literally reeling with
fatigue.  After Jack tenderly kissed her goodnight, Rajah
volunteered to carry her through the sprawling building and out
to her car.  Sleepily, she grinned at Jack and said, "See,
darling, he's even better than a car.  He can move nearly as
fast, but he can also move indoors and even navigate stairs. 
Isn't he neat?"  Then she peered at Rajah owlishly and asked,
"But can you babysit?"

"I cannot nurse a baby," Rajah replied seriously, "But I can
entertain them and -- most certainly -- protect them!"

"I am certain of that!" she replied sleepily.

She was on his back but was now so tired she couldn't even sit
upright.  She looked like a rider asleep in the saddle.  To her
surprise Rajah trotted through the labyrinthine corridors of the
sprawling studio building with no direction from her, in spite of
this being the first time he had ever been in it.  When she
commented on it, he told her that cats had an extraordinary sense
of place and direction.  By this time of night, the building was
nearly empty, or, in view of its 24-hour operation, as empty as
it ever was.

As they passed the guard at the door, she called out sleepily,
"G'night, Charley."

He replied, "Good night, Miss Collier," without looking up from
his newspaper and thus did not see that she was riding on the
back of a Bengal tiger.

Once out the door -- Rajah even handled that himself because it
had a stampede bar -- she got off his back and said that since he
had been such a wonder carrying her all the way out of the
building, she would get the car and come back to pick him up. 
Rajah grinned and sat down on the sidewalk to wait for her.  As
she walked towards her parked car, she was glad that it was a
minivan.  Taking out the second seat allowed Rajah to lie down in
the center of the vehicle and thus spread his considerable weight
among all four wheels.

In spite of the fact that there were only a handful of vehicles
left in the sprawling parking lot, she noticed there was another
car parked close to hers.  They were almost the only pair of
vehicles left.  Because of her fatigue, her brain didn't register
any possible danger lurking in the darkness between the cars. 
She just wanted to get her car moving and get back home.

As she started to unlock the driver's door, a dirty burlap bag
was dropped over her head.  Two men had grabbed her from behind.
One held her tightly while the other held an ether-soaked cloth
to her face.  Although the cloth was outside the burlap bag, the
bag's weave was so coarse that the anaesthetic fumes easily
penetrated.  While trying not to breathe she could hear the men
gloating: They would rape her in any event; if KNBC paid their
ransom, she would be released.  If not, they would keep raping
her until she was dead.

With her face covered tightly with the ether-soaked cloth, Joyce
couldn't make a sound, but she mentally screamed to Rajah to save
her.

The tiger was looking around the area curiously and patiently
waiting when he heard his mistress's mental scream for help.  In
just two bounds he was running at over forty miles per hour
towards her car.  Although Joyce and her assailants were in the
deep shadows between the two cars, with Rajah's superb night
vision they might as well have been standing in the sunlight. 
Once he knew the situation, he changed course and used one of the
cars to conceal his approach.

When he reached the corner of the car, he crouched and sprang. 
This time there was no holding back.  With his enormous claws
fully extended, 600 pounds of furious tiger ripped open the backs
of both men simultaneously.  Having struck, he let out a mighty
roar of rage.  The last mental communication from his mistress
had mentioned rape.  One of the men was on his back on the ground
staring up, petrified with fear, at the blazing green eyes above
him.  There was a quick swipe of Rajah's great paw followed
instantly by an agonized scream from the fallen assailant.  Where
his crotch had been there was now only a large hole with blood
flowing from it in a small river.

The second man was on his face and screaming when Rajah used the
claws of his great paw to flip him over on his back while tearing
off most of his shoulder in the process.  With another swipe of
his paw he ensured that the man, if he lived, could never rape
anyone ever again.

Then, with huge bounds he raced back to the studio entrance and
roared as loudly as he could.  The scream of the enraged tiger
was loud enough to awaken the dead and easily loud enough even to
penetrate the building's soundproofing.  The guard came running
followed by Jack who was leaving the building himself.  Seeing
Jack, Rajah lay down and communicated to him to get on his back
and to tell the guard to call for the police and an ambulance
immediately.

After quickly giving the orders to the guard, Jack got on Rajah's
back while the guard ran back to place the calls.  In just a few
moments they were back to where the three were lying.  By now
there were large pools of blood around each of the two men.

Dropping to his knees, Jack gently removed the bag still over
Joyce's head and held her in his arms.  Although her respiration
was slow, it was strong and regular.  Getting a whiff of ether,
Jack instantly knew what happened.  He just held his love in his
arms and waited.  While he did, he looked around and saw in the
light of a high-mounted floodlight what looked like a small,
bloody sack.  Looking at the men on the ground he realized it was
probably the sex organs of one of them lying on the pavement
where they landed after Rajah's ferocious swipe.

Feeling movement in his arms, he looked down and saw Joyce's eyes
fluttering.  Lifting her up in his arms he placed his lips on
hers and kissed her.  Initially there was no reaction, but then
he tasted her lips and felt her return his kiss with intensity
that increased with each passing moment.  When it was so strong
as almost to knock him out, he gently released her and looked
down at her face.

Joyce's eyes were now open and filled with love.  She murmured,
"It was worth it if an attempted rape always ends like this. 
Does it?"  Then she looked at him with all the love her
expressive eyes could communicate and said, "I adore you, my
darling."  Then she jerked up and said, "Darling, we have to call
the police!  Those men are vicious and need to be stopped..."

Jack just held her tightly, slowly shook his head and said,
"Sweetie, don't worry about a thing.  Rajah has taken care of
that already.  He stopped them... permanently!"

As she tried to look he held her tight and said, "Please don't
look!  Rajah did not... restrain himself... this time.  Honey, he
really made a hell of a mess."  Then he added, "But I'll tell you
one thing: Even if they live -- and I don't think they will --
they will never rape _anyone, ever again.  Ever!"_

"You mean..."  she whispered.

"I mean that Rajah heard you mention rape.  I guess we could
safely say that the rape of his beloved mistress is not his
favorite activity.  Darling, he was very angry."

Then he grinned and added, "See, my darling!  This is what
happens to people who don't watch the late news on KNBC.  If they
had, they might have known what they were getting in for.  As it
is, I think we have the ideal follow-up to last night's story." 
He kissed her solidly and said, "It's yours to do Monday night,
okay?"  She grinned and nodded rapidly.  "And that's an
assignment from the guy who's now your boss, but also soon to
become your lord and master.  What do you say to that, wench?"

Joyce just snuggled in his arms, smiled sleepily and whispered,
"The wench wants to be sure that her lord and master will beat
her regularly.  Purely in the interest of good order and
discipline, of course."

Then with the purest love in her eyes she asked, "Will the lord
and master allow his wife a flour sack to wear?  There will
always be one small child pulling at my skirts, another nursing
at my breast, while a third grows in my belly, but will there be
a skirt for the oldest at home to pull on?  Please?"

"You will maintain it well?  You won't need another for at least
ten years, will you?"  She shook her head while trying to stifle
a grin.  He replied judiciously, "As a sign of the great love I
have for my worthless wife, she may have a flour-sack dress!"

"Oh, Master, you're so good to me!" she exclaimed softly.  "But
you do spoil me so!  Just imagine!  A new one in only ten years."
 Joyce shook her head in feigned amazement.

Then looking up she saw a pair of giant brilliant green eyes
staring at her.  They were, in fact, luminous in the dark.  "Come
here, my darling," she whispered.  Rajah padded over and gently
placed his head on her lap.  "My darling, thank you!"

Then while she was tousling the fur on his head she said, "Damn
it!  I knew I forgot something in that story tonight!  I forgot
to mention our ability to communicate without making a sound. 
Thank you, darling Rajah, for saving my life!"

The huge animal lifted his head and kissed her softly on the
cheek, then communicated, "It is the last time I will ever allow
my mistress to go out into a dark parking lot late at night
alone.  I am mortified that such a thing could happen to my
beloved mistress.  I need to be punished for my negligence,
Mistress, and I shall concentrate on what the most appropriate
punishment might be."

"Your punishment is not up to you, it is up to me," she replied
haughtily.  "And I already know what it shall be."  She put her
hand on his head and said, "Are you prepared to hear your
punishment?"

His eyes were wide as he slowly nodded his head.  "You are
sentenced to work on my filthy cunt with your tongue for thirty
minutes a time at least twice a day, every day until I am
married!  Do you accept your punishment?"

"But Mistress, that is not--"

_"Do you accept your punishment?"_ she demanded imperiously. 
"Yes or no?"

"Yes, of course--"

"Then the subject is closed," she interrupted.  Then in the most
loving tone of voice the tiger had ever heard she said, "Dear
Rajah, you are my protector and my love!"

The sound of approaching sirens had been growing louder.  As a
police car turned into the KNBC parking lot, its siren scream
reached banshee level.  Jack told Rajah to lie down so he could
rest Joyce against him while he went for the police.  She lay
with her back against his shoulder and her head resting against
the animal's neck.  While relaxing against him, she could hear
the incredibly deep purr the animal made reflecting his happiness
at having his mistress so close.

The driver of the first police car to arrive saw Jack waving and
swung over toward him.  Stopping the car, he turned on his
spotlight to illuminate the scene.  What he saw in the bright
light caused him to vomit on the spot: Where the sex organs of
the two men had been were now only two gaping bloody voids. 
There was a pool of blood almost three feet wide and still
spreading around each man.  His partner grabbed the car's
emergency kit and raced to the two men.  A quick check revealed
neither had a pulse -- both were dead.

Taking two paper blankets from the kit, he spread one over each
body.  His eyes widened as he saw a blood stain appear and slowly
spread on the white paper where their groins had been.  A few
moments later, two more police cars appeared along with an
ambulance.  The patrolman who had checked the bodies told the
EMTs that it looked like they needed a morgue wagon, not an
ambulance, but an EMT checked anyway and then just shook his
head.

An EMT came up to Joyce who grinned and said, "Pardon me for not
getting up, but I'm tired and I am too comfortable right here." 
Only then did the woman realize that Joyce's back rest was a
reclining Bengal tiger.  Seeing the girl's eyes widen, Joyce
said, "Please don't be concerned about Rajah, here.  He's really
a very docile fellow, as long as one does not upset him. 
Unfortunately, the two late departed over there did."

Then she told the young woman about the attempted rape and how
Rajah had saved her.  Then she said, "Jack won't let me look, but
he said that even if they lived they would never rape anyone else
again.  Was he right?"

The EMT had recognized her and said, "Miss Collier, a guy would
have one hell of a time committing rape if there was nothing at
all except a bleeding void where the bottom eight or ten inches
of his groin used to be.  Do you get my message?"

Rolling over to rest her cheek on Rajah's jaw, she caressed him
and asked, "Did you lose your temper?  Were you angry?"  The
EMT's eyes widened when the tiger vigorously nodded his head.

"Does... does he understand you?  Really?" she asked.

"He certainly does!"  Then the woman's eyes widened even more
when Joyce told her that her scream for help had been mental. 
With the cloth pressed to her face she couldn't make a sound. 
"But he certainly did hear me."  The woman was pale and then left
suddenly when she realized there was blood and bits of cloth and
skin on both of the tiger's forepaws.

At that point, a detective lieutenant of the Los Angeles Police
Department came over.  After pulling back the blanket covering
each face, he came over to Joyce and introduced himself as
Lieutenant Patrick Collins.

Having checked the bodies, he had recognized them and told Joyce
that each man was out on bail for no less than two separate rapes
each.  Moreover, one of the men had three felony rape convictions
while the other had two.  Then he shook his head, grinned and
said, "I guess it goes to show what happens to people who don't
watch the news on KNBC.  If they had been watching, they would
have known about Rajah.  Is this him?"

Rising to her feet she said, "Rajah, I would like you to meet
Lieutenant Collins of LAPD."  In an incredibly graceful motion
the huge cat changed in an instant from his supine position to a
seated one directly in front of the officer.  While looking at
the officer with friendly eyes, he raised his right paw.

Collins took the huge paw with both of his hands and shook.  As
he did he noted the debris on the ends of Rajah's paws around his
claw sheaths.  "How do you do, Rajah?" he said.  Then he added,
"However, young man, I think you should clean yourself up a bit
now.  Some people might get upset at the... souvenirs... on your
paws."

Then he murmured, "My God!" as Rajah, looking very embarrassed,
dropped to the ground and immediately started licking his paws
clean.  To Joyce he said, "He really understands, doesn't he?"

"Yes, Lieutenant, he certainly does.  And, as you can see, you
embarrassed him.  But, really, it wasn't his fault."  She went on
to tell him what the tiger had been doing every moment since the
attack.  She concluded by saying, "So you see, sir, it was really
my fault.  He considered it to be more important to act as my
back support than to clean himself up."  Then, with a warm smile,
she asked, "Can I interpret your prior comment to mean that you
did see our news show?"  When the officer said that indeed he
had, she said, "There was one important thing I forgot to
mention: I can communicate with Rajah mentally."  Then she
explained how this ability had saved her virtue and probably her
life.

Dropping to a crouch the officer stroked the tiger who was still
absorbed in his cleaning.  "Rajah," he said, "Miss Collier said
tonight that you were a single girl's friend.  Well, young man,
you certainly are!"  Then he apologized for causing Rajah any
embarrassment.  When he dropped down beside him, Rajah had
stopped his washing and attentively looked up.  Now the tiger
responded by smiling happily and then returned to his cleaning.

Checking his watch, Collins realized it was almost three o'clock.
 He asked Joyce if, in spite of the hour, she could come down to
the station so he could fill out some forms and close the case.

"It's the most open-and-shut case I have ever seen," he
concluded.  "Two rapists who should never have been allowed back
on the streets in the first place definitely pick on the wrong
girl."  Sleepily, she agreed.

Getting in her minivan finally, she followed the officer's car to
the station.  Jack insisted on coming along, too, in his own car.
 Entering the station behind the lieutenant at three o'clock on a
Saturday morning, Joyce found that it was full of people wearing
handcuffs, standing around waiting to be booked.  Since most were
decidedly antisocial but, at the same time, knew their
constitutional rights backwards and forwards, they normally
harassed complaining witnesses like Joyce with lewd remarks,
catcalls, and anything else they could think of at the time. 
Because of her overwhelming beauty, the remarks directed at her
were all lewd and obscene.

One big man wearing handcuffs made a particularly obscene remark
before he saw Rajah.  The next thing he knew, he was flat on his
back with both of Rajah's forepaws and over half of his 600-pound
weight pressing on his chest.  If that was not bad enough, Rajah
was peering down at him with baleful eyes, while emitting the
most frightening growl the man had ever heard.  The growl alone
silenced all of the people in the room including those in the
holding cells.

Lieutenant Collins doubled over with laughter.  "Willie," he
said, "it's about time!  You know your rights -- you've been here
so often, you certainly should by now -- but this time you picked
the wrong young woman.  This is Miss Joyce Collier of KNBC, and
the Bengal tiger standing on your chest is named Rajah.

"Willie, I think you should apologize to Miss Collier --
abjectly!  You see, the reason she's here at such an ungodly hour
is that she was attacked tonight.  There were two guys: five
felony rape convictions between them, plus awaiting trial for two
more rapes, _each!_  Willie, they are now on their way to the
morgue.  It really wasn't very pretty, either.

"You see, Rajah heard his mistress mention rape.  Well, sir,
where their sex organs used to be there was only about eight
inches of... nothing!  Nothing except blood that had pooled out
on the pavement about three feet.  Of course, that may not have
been the cause of death.  You see, both guys also had their backs
opened up with five deep gouges -- oh, about three inches deep --
running from their shoulders down to their asses.

Looking thoughtful, Collins ruminated, "You know, I'll bet that
if we measured the width between those gouges it would match up
pretty good with the spread between the five claws on each of
Rajah's forepaws."  Looking down at the man he said harshly,
"Willie, don't you think you should apologize? _While you're
still alive?"_

With Rajah's great weight crushing him, the man could scarcely
speak.  Nonetheless, he managed to gasp, "Ma'am, I'm terribly
sorry!  Never again...  So sorry..."

"Rajah," Joyce said quietly, "I think that was a very polite
apology, don't you?  And besides, he's going to give us a
wonderful written apology by noon Monday that we can read on the
air Monday night.  Isn't that nice of him?"  Then glaring at the
man and speaking with steel in her voice she said, "You are going
to give us an apology _in writing,_ aren't you, Willie?"

Then, looking thoughtful, she added, "And Willie, if you say you
will, you really should.  Rajah has been staring at you for a
while, now.  He has memorized your scent.  Willie, if we do not
receive a lovely written apology at our studios in Burbank by
noon Monday...  Well, I really can't say how safe you would be
within say... 3,000 miles of Los Angeles."

Smiling, she added, "Although Bengal tigers prefer to hunt during
the day, they are extraordinarily capable at night, too. 
Tonight, for example, although those two guys thought they were
hidden in the shadows, to Rajah they might as well have been in
broad daylight."  Again with steel in her voice, she asked, "Will
we see a lovely handwritten apology by noon on Monday, Willie?  A
nice, complete, very sincere one?"

As Rajah lowered his head and sniffed as if to memorize his
scent, Willie, his eyes now wide with sheer terror, stammered,
"Written, sincere...  Yes, ma'am!  For sure!  By noon in
Burbank... KNBC...  Sorry!  So sorry!"

When Joyce softly told Rajah that Willie was going to be good and
he could let him go, the tiger glared at the man, growled, and,
seemingly with the greatest reluctance, got off his chest. 
However, before removing his second paw he drove it downward with
all his strength.  Willie's forced exhale was audible throughout
the large room while his loss of oxygen, on top of the prior
restriction caused him instantly to lose consciousness.

Unconcerned, Rajah padded after Joyce to the Lieutenant's office.
 Meanwhile, the guests awaiting booking just silently looked at
the now-unconscious man in awe.  At that point, when Jack arrived
and asked directions to Lieutenant Collins' office having made a
stop for gas, no one made a sound.

When he reached the office, Joyce had just finished her statement
and signed it.  Tiredly she asked, "Is that all, Lieutenant
Collins?"  When told it was, she slumped and Jack caught her
before she fell on the floor.  Now that the rush of
attack-triggered adrenaline had dissipated, her sheer exhaustion
again hit her with overwhelming force.

The lieutenant arranged for a squad car to follow Jack.  He would
drive Joyce's minivan back to her apartment where they would pick
him up and bring him back to the station to retrieve his own car.
 Rajah followed closely, with worry showing in his eyes, as the
two men carried the unconscious girl out to her van and stretched
her out on the back seat.  Rajah got in immediately to ensure
that she didn't roll off.

Once an officer and Jack got Joyce into her apartment, Jack
assured him he could take it from there.  Once in her bedroom,
Rajah communicated a request that Jack undress her completely
which he willingly did, revealing again the full beauty of her
body.

Then Rajah lay down on his back and Jack gently laid Joyce on top
of him.  As he turned off the lights and prepared to leave, Rajah
assured him it didn't really matter if he locked the door or not.
 Having seen the by-products of Rajah's rage earlier in the
evening, Jack was certain it was true.  When he left the room,
Rajah wrapped his forelegs around his love and went to
sleep.*Chapter 31*

The next morning as Joyce Collier was emerging from a sound
sleep, she stretched luxuriantly on the warmest, softest, most
comfortable bed she had ever slept on in her life.  Sensually,
she moved her breasts on the bed and felt the most luscious
sensation on her sensitive areolas.  Finally, she realized that,
although she was naked, she felt wonderfully snug and warm. 
Dimly she realized it was Saturday, the day she could sleep, so
she just snuggled down against her pillow to go back to sleep. 
Then it began to penetrate her consciousness that there was no
pillow.  She just snuggled down and vaguely pondered the problem:
 _What happened to my pillow?_ she wondered.

Only then did reality begin to dawn: she wasn't in a bed at all.
Then her memory of the day before began to return, slowly at
first, but then with a rush.  She wasn't in bed; she had been
sleeping on Rajah!  Opening her eyes for good this time, she
wriggled up on his chest and whispered, "Hi!  Are you awake?"

The huge tiger, keeping his eyes closed tightly, communicated,
"No!  I'm sound asleep."  Then he opened one eye and
communicated, "Don't you know, Mistress, that tigers need their
sleep?  I'm sleeping."  With that he slammed his eyelid shut and
pretended to sleep.

"Oh, sleeping..." she mused.  "I see..."  With that she began to
tickle the big cat's ribs.  Only moments later, the two were
rolling around the floor with poor Rajah trying to escape Joyce's
furious assaults while at the same time trying to pretend he was
sleeping.  Finally, he gave up.

When he did, she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, kissed
him softly on his cheek and said, "Good morning, darling Rajah. 
Have I told you how much I love you yet this morning?"

Following her kisses, Rajah found he couldn't even pretend to
grump.  Instead he flipped her on her back and proceeded to lick
her beautiful body.  When he did, the events of the preceding
night came back so she reminded him of his "punishment". 
Spreading her legs wide, she raised her hips and said softly,
"Remember, at least twice a day, whether you want to or not, you
have to lick my filthy slut's cunt."

The huge animal, instead of going down on her succulent love box,
stalked over her body so that he covered it completely.  Then he
lowered his head until his huge mouth was only inches above her
face.  "This is _the end!"_ he communicated fiercely.  "You have
the loveliest, sweetest, purest sex in the world.  On your
honeymoon, Jack will drink at your source by the hour.

"Now I will not stand for it, do you hear?  Joyce Collier is kind
and sweet and good and... pure!  You're blessed by the Holy
Spirit, Himself, okay?  That is God Himself, in His third person,
okay?  Now that Jack is going to marry you and create an endless
bliss, do you really want to wreck it?  Do you?" he demanded
fiercely.

"Darling Rajah," she said, "my cunt is flooded with its juices
and is waiting for you.  Please?  It's clean and fragrant and
nice.  I think you'll like it.  Please?"

The tiger bared his teeth, let out a quiet but fierce snarl, and
then to her utter amazement kissed her on the lips.

Then he looked embarrassed and Joyce asked what the trouble was.
"Could... could... could you get me... something to eat?" he
stammered.  Suddenly, she was mortified.  Realizing that the poor
animal had only had two pizzas in the past twenty-four hours, it
was scarcely enough to fuel his 600-pound body.

Jumping up, she grabbed a phone book, looked up the number and
called the Los Angeles Forum.  She reached Byron Crosby, the
general manager of the circus.  After receiving directions to her
apartment, he told her a truck with Rajah's food would be there
in whatever time it took to make the trip.  It would leave at
once.

Before she even had the phone back on its hook, Rajah's great
tongue was working on her slit.  Joyce lay down on the floor and
raised her hips to assist him and then just enjoyed the marvelous
sensations he was creating in her loins.  Glancing down at his
head and darting tongue she realized that she would have to warn
Jack that, in all likelihood, by the time they were married her
pubic area would be completely bare.  In less than twenty-four
hours, she estimated she had lost nearly half of her pubic hair,
and the patch was significantly smaller in area than it had been
at any time since she reached puberty.

After rendering her nearly unconscious with orgasms, Rajah did
not quit.  Instead he began to lick first one leg, then the
other.  When she reached down she realized her legs, which
suffered from what one company referred to as "briar-patch legs,"
were now as smooth as a baby's bottom.  Then he insisted that she
raise an arm and licked first one armpit and then the other.

Just as he finished, the doorbell rang.  Slipping on a terry robe
she opened the door and saw two men standing at the door with a
huge container of raw meat.  Although Rajah was only fed once a
day, that one meal was huge.  Thanking them, she brought the huge
container into the kitchen and set it down on the floor.

Then she made coffee for herself as she watched Rajah tear into
the meat.  Seeing his huge jaws move to masticate it and seeing
his teeth ripping into it, it was all she could do to keep from
laughing, remembering Nathan Wiesman's accusation that the
tiger's teeth had been removed.  She shook her head when Rajah
finished his huge meal in less time than it took her to drink two
cups of coffee.

Slipping into a tiny halter top and a pair of ancient Levi's cut
off at the thighs to make short shorts, she tied her hair back
into a ponytail and left the apartment, still barefooted.  Seeing
that she was not wearing shoes Rajah insisted on carrying her on
his back to the nearby park where she planned to run with him.

When she began to run with her smooth, long-legged stride and had
already covered nearly a mile, the tiger who had been trotting at
her side communicated, "One hundred yards?  Two hundred on your
best day?  Ha!"  She grinned, stuck out her tongue and kept on
running.

The fact was that Joyce really didn't like to run.  To her it was
boring, deadly-dull and lonely.  Rajah trotting by her side
changed all that.  She could tease him and he could tease her
back without her even opening her mouth.  Rajah was a wonderful
companion, she decided.

After slowing and finally coming to a stop, she announced it was
his turn to work.  He grinned as she lay on his back with her
head on his.  For the tiger the joy of being able to run free was
priceless.  Although his stride was so smooth that Joyce actually
dozed on his back, he was moving at over twenty-five miles an
hour and roaring past dozens of runners and joggers out for their
Saturday-morning exercise.

Fortunately, Lieutenant Collins had had the foresight to alert
police communications.  As a result the officers were able to
reassure the dozens of callers: "That's just Miss Collier with
Rajah," they said.  "He's a wonderful animal, and a great friend
of the police!"

After running for ten miles, Rajah felt better than he had in
years.  Since Joyce had fallen sound asleep, the tiger was
standing at the apartment door when he finally communicated with
her.  Slipping off his back, she opened the door, then kissed
him, and thanked him for the great run.

Back in the apartment she checked the time and found it was after
noon.  The meeting with the Animal-Rights activists was scheduled
for the studios at two.  First, she carefully groomed Rajah.  As
she was working on him he told her how much he loved her and how
wonderful it was for him to run free through the big park,
particularly with his beloved mistress on his back.

"And what do I do for the wonderful creature who saved my life?"
she asked.  "The wonderful creature who gave me the love of my
life?  What?"

"A kiss?" he asked diffidently.  "A little one, maybe?"

In an instant she was bare and moving all over him kissing
everything in sight.  Finally, she gave him a kiss full on the
lips and poured all the great love she felt for him into it. 
Remarkably, she felt the same great joy and purity that she
received from Bobbie's kiss.

Pulling away slightly she said softly, "It is the Holy Spirit in
you, isn't it, my darling?  You're an agent of God, aren't you?"
The animal's eyes widened in surprise but then he just nodded
once.

With that she went into the bathroom and showered.  Coming out,
she consulted with Rajah and decided to wear an outfit similar to
what she had just taken off: Levi's with the legs cut off and an
ancient chambray shirt with its sleeves torn off.  With the shirt
tied just below her breasts and the Levi's riding very low on her
hips, there was a vast expanse of beautiful golden skin showing
between.  After tying her hair back in a ponytail, she spun
around toward Rajah and asked, "How do I look?"

With great affection he replied, "Like you're about... oh,
fifteen.  Of course," he communicated with a wide grin, "like one
of those early-developing ones with the big tits."

With a sexy grin she faked slapping his face.  After slipping
into a pair of old moccasins, they left the apartment.  On the
way to the studios Rajah spent most of the time sound asleep. 
When she parked her van and got on his back for a ride to the
studio, she teased him about sleeping all the way.  Pretending to
grump, he reminded her that he was a cat, after all, and cats
spend a lot of their time sleeping.  She giggled merrily at his
reply.

The meeting was scheduled for a seldom-used studio that was kept
set up for news-interview-type programs similar to _Meet The
Press._  To avoid any possible misunderstandings later, the
station management had insisted on its right to tape the entire
meeting, although they assured the Rights people that nothing
other than possible short clips would air without their
permission.

Before entering the studio, Joyce gave Rajah another kiss to
thank him for the nice ride.  Opening the door, she found Jack
sitting in a chair facing three men who, she assumed, were the
Animal-Rights people.  There were eight chairs arranged in a
semicircle: Jack was sitting on one side with two empty chairs to
his right and one empty one to his left.  Across from him three
of the four chairs were occupied.

When she entered the studio, all of the men rose to greet her. 
Rajah was pacing proudly at her side.  Jack made the
introductions: there was Jonathan Crawford, Homer Higgins, and
Dr. Simon Cohen.  He explained that Dr. Cohen claimed to be the
greatest living authority on tigers.

While she was being introduced, Rajah had dropped down into his
house-cat pose and just watched the proceedings with alert but
friendly eyes.  Turning to him she said, "Raj, these gentlemen
are here claiming to protect your rights.  Now greet them nicely,
please."

The huge animal sat in front of each man in turn and held up his
right paw to shake hands.  Instead of taking the proffered paw,
the men backed up with Cohen almost falling over backwards when
he backed into a chair.

Although he had communicated the comment, "What pompous idiots!"
causing Jack, who had heard him clearly, to put his hand over his
face to hide a grin, Rajah looked up at Joyce and pretended that
his feelings had been hurt.

"I really don't know why they didn't want to shake hands,
darling," she said responding to his look.  "But I'm sure they
didn't mean to hurt your feelings.  They are your friends, after
all.  They're here to tell us all the ways you and your friends
have been abused."  Then with her eyes wide she asked, "Rajah,
have you been abused?"

His real response was, "Whatever you want, my darling Mistress,"
but that certainly wasn't what she responded to.

Instead, she stamped her foot like a petulant little girl and
exclaimed furiously, "That's just about enough of that, Rajah
Collier!  I'm sick and tired hearing how Domino's shorted you on
pepperoni.  Besides," she added with a cute shake of her
ponytail, "that's not the cruelty they had in mind."

Looking at the men who were now seated and looking at her with
various degrees of amazement she asked, "It's not, is it? 
Cruelty, I mean?  Getting a large pizza with maybe a couple of
slices of pepperoni fewer than there should have been really
isn't cruelty, is it?"

The men were baffled but Rajah played along perfectly, nodding
his great head and looking triumphant.  She looked at him and
said peevishly, "Oh, okay!  Maybe it was short a slice or two." 
Then she wheeled on him and reiterated, "But it still isn't
cruelty, damn it!  And if I hear one more word about it, you'll
never get another one, either!"

At that point Rajah dropped flat on the floor and looked up at
her with his eyes pleading.  Dropping to her knees, Joyce kissed
the top of his head and said, "Okay, you big baby!  I wouldn't be
that mean.  I know how much you love pizza."

Then she said, "Okay, I'll order.  By the way, darling, do you
remember how Prince and Sasha eat theirs?  They'll be here any
minute with Tom and Bobbie, so I might as well order for them,
too."

She rose and went to a studio phone but then stopped and wheeled
around again.  "Rajah Collier, are you sure!?  You're trying to
tell me that Sasha has _anchovy and peppers?_  A tiger, and he
wants anchovy and peppers?"  She shook her head and added, "If
you're wrong, young man, don't come crying to me for protection
when Sasha goes after your furry hide!"

So far the visitors were utterly baffled.  First, Joyce looked
like a teenager, not like the co-anchor of a major news show. 
Secondly, the whole exchange about pizza completely baffled them,
but finally, it appeared that the beautiful young woman was
actually communicating with a Bengal tiger which was, of course,
utterly impossible.  When she went to the phone, Dr. Cohen
reassured his colleagues of its impossibility.

The episode with the pizza had not ended.  When she called the
local Domino's, she insisted that Rajah's pizza have wall-to-wall
pepperoni.  Then she ordered a sausage and meatball pizza for
Prince and a anchovy and peppers for Sasha.  She was assured
that, like every other Domino's in the region, they had been
alerted to supplying pizza to the tigers and was told it was now
the chain's highest priority.  The manager made no bones about
the fact that Domino's was receiving priceless publicity and
would do anything to maintain its position as the tigers'
preferred pizza supplier.  She concluded the call by asking if
the delivery man could stop at a market and pick up ten gallons
of lemonade and just add it to the bill.  The manager instantly
agreed.

Hanging up the phone, she joined the others in the semicircle. 
Instead of sitting in a chair, though, she asked Rajah to lie
down across the front of it so she could sit on the floor and
lean back against his shoulders.  When he instantly took up the
requested position, she sat down and decided the floor was too
hard.  Getting up, she asked the tiger to turn and lie down
facing the camera, putting his back to the group.  When he did
that, she kicked off her moccasins and lay down on his back. 
Rajah held his head up high to provide a good head rest for her.

"Much better!" she sighed.  Then after rolling over to thank him
with a kiss, she looked at the men attentively and said, "I guess
we might as well get started.  It looks like Bobbie and Tom may
have been held up in traffic.  Now, gentlemen, what exactly are
your complaints?  But, by the way, aren't you missing someone? 
Isn't Mr. Wiesman going to be with us today?  He is your
president, isn't he?"

Cohen was obviously serving as spokesman.  After looking
uncomfortably at his colleagues he replied, "He... he's not
feeling well today.  His doctors feel he needs a complete rest. 
The poor man is so dedicated to animals, of course.  Apparently
he overworked."

"Oh?" Joyce replied with concern.  "Golly!  He seemed fine at the
circus last night.  It must have been very sudden.  What
happened?  How is he feeling?"

Looking even more uncomfortable, Cohen stammered, "It happened
last night.  Poor Nathan could only mutter a few words.  But he
did seem terribly distressed about something.  Unfortunately, he
wasn't very coherent."

Still resting against Rajah, Jack thought she looked incredibly
beautiful as she had pulled up her long tanned legs slightly so
they were bent at the knee.  It was all he could do to keep from
completely breaking down with laughter.  He had never realized
Joyce was as good an actress as she so obviously was.

With her eyes still wide she asked, "Words?  What words?  And
what was he so distressed about?"

Having gone as far as admitting Wiesman's problem, Cohen blurted,
"All he said was, 'Claws! _Big_ claws!', and 'Teeth! _Big_
teeth!'  As for the distress, he was constantly looking for paper
and a pen.  All we could make out were disconnected words.  He
said, 'Apology!  Write apology!'  Does that mean anything to you,
Miss Collier?"

"Well, in honesty, it does ring a few bells.  But we'll get back
to that in a moment.  After all, we're here to talk about the
animals, not Mr. Wiesman.  Now, gentlemen, shall we begin?"

Cohen appeared visibly relieved to change the subject.  Taking
notes from his pocket, he reviewed them to get them in correct
order.  But then he ad-libbed: "Miss Collier, what tranquilizer
are you using on this poor beast?  And where is his keeper? 
Frankly, I am amazed at your bravery, being so close to a wild
animal like that."

At the word "tranquilizer", Rajah responded to an instant
instruction from Joyce.  Unceremoniously dumping her on the
floor, in an instant he was looming over Cohen.  His paws were on
the armrests of Cohen's chair and he glared down at him with
baleful, gleaming eyes.  He drew back his lips exposing his great
teeth and released an utterly terrifying growl.  Cohen turned
white and just stared upward at Rajah who was now acting as
menacing as Cohen believed all tigers should.

Meanwhile, Joyce ignored Cohen and Rajah as she got to her feet,
said, "Ouch," as she rubbed what she pretended to be a bruised
bottom, then carefully brushed the dirt off her shorts.  Going
over to Jack she asked him if her hair was still together.  As
she did, they exchanged winks and Jack whispered, "Rajah is
unbelievably good!"  She just winked back and casually walked
back across the circle to the terrified man.

Putting her hands on her hips she just sadly shook her head. 
"Oh, dear!" she said sadly, "I guess Mr. Wiesman didn't deliver
his message very coherently.  You see, he had a problem last
night.  He said that these tigers had no teeth nor claws.  That
upset Rajah and his friends because they are all very proud young
men -- particularly proud of their appearance and bearing.  Well,
I guess from the comments you heard -- you know: sharp claws,
sharp teeth -- that he was convinced on the point."  She grinned
and added, "No pun intended.

"But anyway, he could have worked around that okay, but then he
really tore it: He said these boys were druggies."

She shook her head sadly and said, "They hate that.  They really
do.  It gets them terribly upset.  And then you go and do it
again today."  Going closer, she casually peered around Rajah's
looming body and asked, "Dr. Cohen, does Rajah _really_ look
tranquilized?  Right now?  Does he really?  Raj, are you
tranquilized?"  This time the tiger let out an earsplitting roar
right in the doctor's face, then changed the sound into the
loudest, most menacing snarl anyone had ever heard.

While he was performing, Joyce was carefully studying her finger
nails.  As Rajah completed his roar she punched him in the side
and complained, "Damn you, Rajah Collier!  When you dumped me
like that, I think you made me crack a fingernail.  Just look!"

At that Rajah ignored Cohen and dropped off the chair back to the
floor.  Instantly taking his house-cat position he looked
intently at Joyce's finger tip.  Looking remorseful and forlorn
he moved his head forward and kissed her finger tip.  "You kissed
it, Raj, but you didn't make it better!  I'm mad at you."  At
that the animal dropped flat on the floor and put his forepaws
over his head covering his eyes.

Dropping down in front of him she communicated, "Darling, you're
utterly magnificent!  This is an Academy-Award performance if
there ever was one!"  Aloud she said, "You big baby!  Okay, I
forgive you.  Now give me a kiss and let's be friends again."

Saying she supposed she could mostly fix her broken nail with an
emery board, she lifted his paw from his head and kissed him. 
Feeling her kiss, Rajah happily put his paws back on the ground
and kissed her full on the lips.  They were positioned so that
the visitors could see the kiss clearly.  The men were utterly
stunned.

Just then, the door opened and Bobbie and Tom arrived,
accompanied by Prince and Sasha.  Joyce jumped up and rushed over
to greet them followed by Jack Johnson and Rajah.  While she was
introducing the Conroys, Rajah was touching noses with each of
his buddies.  Then he led the way over to the semicircle where
the three seated themselves side-by-side in their house-cat
poses.  Before the people moved away from the doorway, the
delivery men from Domino's arrived.  There were three of them in
uniform with one carrying the pizzas in a keep-hot carrier while
the others carried bags containing half-gallon cartons of
lemonade.

The arrival of the pizza recessed the session.  Even though Tom
was wearing a beautifully-cut suit and tie and Bobbie was wearing
a lovely dress, they sat down on the floor with their great cats.
 The animals curved their bodies so their masters could lean back
against them while feeding them their pizza.

When Bobbie confirmed that, indeed, Sasha loved anchovy and
peppers, Rajah caused Joyce to laugh by very cutely sticking out
the tip of his huge tongue.  She admitted he was right,
apologized and kissed him, then continued feeding him his
pepperoni and sausage with extra cheese pizza.  And as usual, he
gave her a very hurt look when she stole a bite.  Water
containers were found, filled with lemonade, and the tigers
rapidly drank it all.

With appetites temporarily satisfied, Bobbie and Tom took seats
beside Jack while Joyce had Rajah resume his supine position so
she could again lie on his back.  The other two tigers took
position on each side sitting up alertly.  When Bobbie teased
Joyce, saying her posture and position were terribly
unprofessional, Joyce looked thoughtful for a moment and then
said, "Unprofessional?  True.  But _very_ comfortable!"  The two
women just giggled.

Then Jack Johnson officially opened the meeting.  He explained to
Bobbie and Tom that the men from Animal Rights had a list of
complaints.  While he was going through his preamble, technicians
were checking the mikes each of the guests was wearing.  Cohen's
had been blown out by Rajah's roar and needed to be replaced. 
Concluding his updating of the Conroys, he turned to the guests
and said, "Gentlemen, we're all ears."

Then looking a bit chagrined he added, "However, I guess it's
only fair to remind you of the recent... incident... involving
Dr. Cohen.  It should be clear to you by now that there are
certain things to which these tigers... react... violently.  I do
hope you will keep that in mind as you phrase your remarks."

Cohen swallowed hard but began by citing his professional
affiliations, university degrees, the titles of his published
papers, and all the places he had visited.  Concluding, he stated
flatly that he was the world's foremost authority on tigers.

"That was very interesting and impressive, Dr. Cohen," Tom Conroy
said in a conciliatory tone.  "But tell me, how many tigers have
you actually met?"

"Why... why... a great many," he replied.

"And how many of those were in the wild or running loose?" Tom
asked quietly.

"Well... why... none," Cohen replied in a flat voice.  But then
he brightened and added, "But I have talked with hunters,
trappers, villagers, tribesmen in their habitat...  I have
studied their spoor, talked with leading zoologists..."

"Have you ever slept on one?" Tom Conroy inquired innocently.

"Are you totally insane!" Cohen exclaimed.  "Of course not!"

Turning to Joyce whose eyes were half-closed as if she were
falling asleep Tom asked, "Joyce, how was it last night?  Was Raj
comfortable?"

Joyce rolled on her side so she could rub her cheek against the
back of Rajah's great head, evoking a delighted purr from him. 
Then she returned to her former position and replied, "Delicious!
 Oh, Tom, it was everything I ever expected it to be and so much
more!  This morning I thought I was waking up on the most
gloriously soft, warm furry bed.  In fact," she said with a grin,
"Before I was fully awake I was wondering what had happened to my
pillow.  It wasn't there, but I was still so wonderfully relaxed
and comfortable.

"But the greatest was Rajah's huge arms around me keeping me warm
and holding me tight."  Then turning to Bobbie she said, "And
darling, rubbing your nipples against his glorious fur...  Yum!"

Turning back to Cohen, Tom said, "She did, Doctor.  And Miss
Collier is anything but insane!"

Looking at him pointedly, Tom continued, "And, Doctor, I would be
very careful in your choice of words.  As Jack Johnson has
already pointed out, there are a number of words and phrases to
which the cats react... somewhat violently.  On the other hand,
there is one thing to which Rajah reacts ferociously.  That is
anything he sees as an attack on, or a derogation of, his
mistress, Joyce Collier, whom he adores more than anything in
this world.

"In fact, there are two somewhat mutilated bodies lying in the
Los Angeles County morgue right now.  You see, two men attacked
Miss Collier very late last night.  It's fair to say that, with
Rajah present, it was truly a fatal error in judgment."  With his
eyes locked on Cohen, Tom concluded quietly, "I do hope I have
made myself clear?"

Hearing Tom's words, Cohen turned white with fear.  Clearly, he
had understood.  Trying to phrase his thoughts with great care he
said, "Am I to understand that Miss Collier spent last night on
that tiger's back?  In the position in which we see her now?"

"Of course not, Doctor," Joyce replied softly, sounding
half-asleep.  Her eyes were again half-closed as she added
sleepily, "I slept on his chest and belly.  That's where the most
wonderfully soft, warm, white fur is.  It's where I can feel the
steady beating of his great heart.  And besides, while cats are
limber, they're not that flexible.  How could he possibly have
his arms around me holding me close when I'm on his back."

"Were... were you dressed like that?" he asked fearfully.

"Don't be silly!" she replied petulantly.  "I was naked.  How
else could I fully enjoy the feeling of his fur?  And besides Raj
would far rather have his arms on my bare skin and feel it on his
body than he would dumb clothes.  Right, darling?"  Not wanting
to move his head and disturb his mistress, he just made a
wonderfully agreeable, happy noise.

"But... but... I don't understand.  How can you control these
wild beasts?" Cohen stammered.

"First of all, Doctor," Tom replied, "you're not the greatest
living authority on tigers.  Miss Collier is.  It is fair to say
that her acquaintance with the animals has been substantially
more... intimate... than yours has ever been.  Spoor, indeed!

"How does she control Rajah?  She does not.  He controls himself.
 Why?  Because for reasons of his own, he utterly adores her.  As
I said earlier, he will do absolutely anything for her, including
gratefully offering up his life to protect her.  There is nothing
-- _absolutely nothing!_ -- that animal will not do for the woman
he adores, Joyce Collier.  As for Joyce, she refers to him as
Rajah Collier:  He is a beloved member of her family.  She loves
him and he knows it.  And he responds to that love.

"For reasons of their own, these cats love us.  They love my
wife, myself, and the ten six-year-old children that my wife
teaches.  It is love, Doctor.  That is all there is to it."

Then turning to the tigers he said, "Prince and Sasha, since
Rajah is... occupied... why don't you do some things for these
gentlemen?  First, I understand there is some question about
teeth and claws.  Would you care to reassure them?"

The two great cats rose smoothly and stalked over to where the
guests were sitting.  Ignoring Cohen -- Rajah had communicated
his experience with the doctor -- they took the same position
Rajah had taken with their forepaws on the arms of the two men's
chairs.  First they growled baring their full sets of teeth. 
Then turning their right paws inward they slowly extended their
claws.  The men watched with the same terrified fascination they
would feel watching a cobra from the same distance.  Fully
extended, the great claws were over three inches long.

"Perhaps we file their claws to dull them," Conroy suggested
quietly.  Do any of you gentlemen question their sharpness?  Dr.
Cohen, I understand you have a list of complaints in your pocket.
 Since you are... more free to move than your colleagues, why
don't you check it?  After all," he said sounding very
reasonable, "since KNBC went to all the trouble of making their
facility available to us, and spent all the money to get a full
crew in at overtime rates on Saturday, it would be tragic if you
left and then found there were problems that you had forgotten to
raise and hence were not discussed.  Please check your list,
Doctor," Tom said with a note of steel in his voice.  "Let's
avoid any future... misunderstandings."

Cohen took the long list from his pocket but didn't even glance
at it.  Instead he just said, speaking very rapidly, "We've
covered all our points.  We're now very satisfied.  Thank you
very much!"

"Doctor, please!" Tom protested.  "I must insist.  That's a very
extensive list, and we've only talked about a couple of the
items."  Then he brightened and said, "Perhaps you're having
trouble reading it.  Even from here I can see that it's typed, so
why don't we ask Jack Johnson to read it.  Jack, would you?"

Before Jack could say a word Cohen fumbled with the sheets in his
rush to put the list away again saying it wasn't necessary.

"But I'm afraid it is," Tom insisted.  Then to the tigers he
said, "Boys, do you think you could persuade the doctor to let
Jack see his list?"

While maintaining their positions straddling Crawford and
Higgins, they turned towards Cohen seated in the middle, put
their heads almost against his terrified face and let out the
fiercest snarls anyone had ever heard.  Cohen's hands were
shaking uncontrollably as he held out the sheets in Jack's
direction, but not very far.  He was so terrified that was as
much movement as he could manage.

Going over to Cohen, Jack retrieved the list, returned to his
chair and began to read it.  As he did they heard Joyce in a
half-asleep voice say, "Tom, please tell the boys to try to keep
the noise down?  They woke me up."  Tom looked at the lovely girl
and grinned.  She was not pretending.  Indeed, she had been sound
asleep.

"Boys," Tom said quietly, "you heard your Queen's handmaiden. 
She's trying to sleep and you woke her up.  Aren't you ashamed?"
With a single paw left on a chair arm for support, the two tigers
both turned inward and put the free paw over their eyes
indicating their shame.  "No, guys, Joyce isn't mad at you.  She
loves you both.  She just wants you to keep it as quiet as you
can from now on.  Okay?"

The two paws came down from their heads, the animals nodded
quickly and happily, and then returned to their former positions
with their paws on the guests' chair arms.

"I don't know, Tom," Jack said quietly.  "After reviewing the
list, we've covered some of it, but most of the items refer, in
one way or another, to drugging the animals and crippling their
claws."  He shook his head sadly as he looked at the visitors and
added, "I'm terribly sorry, gentlemen, but that's what is on the
list.  And it is typed on your letterhead, too."

The three men all screamed at once.  Using different sets of
words, all babbled about how wrong they were about drugs. 
Absolutely no drugs.

"Well," Jack said happily, "I guess we can consider that matter
closed."  Looking at the men with steel in his eyes and in his
voice now, he added, "We will, of course, get a retraction and an
apology, won't we, gentlemen?  In writing?"  The three men all
babbled their agreement.  "I guess that just leaves the claws
problem.  Do you have any ideas, Tom?"

"Jack, I'm afraid it's time for show and tell."  Looking at the
tigers he said, "Boys, you can get down now."

Smoothly the tigers dismounted from the guests' chairs, and
returned to their former locations and sitting positions. 
Shaking his head sadly, he looked at Prince and said, "Prince,
why don't you demonstrate that your claws are, indeed, sharp. 
Since it was Dr. Cohen's list, why don't you use him as your
demonstration subject?"

Then with a warm smile and in a low voice he added, "And Prince?
Remember that Miss Collier is sleeping.  She had a very long
night last night and really needs her sleep, so try to be as
quiet as you can, okay?"

Prince rapidly nodded his head and moved in a flash to a position
in front of Cohen's chair.  Then he sat, cocked his head and
seemed to be studying the problem the way a diamond cutter would
study a raw diamond before making his first cut.  With a small
nod of his great head he extended his right paw with his claws
fully extended.  Cohen's eyes were bulging with fright and his
mouth was open wide in a soundless scream.

After carefully putting his middle claw behind the man's collar
-- Cohen was fully dressed in a jacket and tie -- there was a
flashing movement and Prince was again just sitting with both
paws on the ground.  However, everything Cohen was wearing --
shirt, tie, pants, underwear, and even his expensive leather belt
-- were slit from throat to crotch.

Exchanging quick winks Tom and Jack went over to the man and
looked at him the way archaeologists might look at a newly opened
tomb.  "Good grief!" Johnson exclaimed.  "Such precision!  Tom,
have you ever seen anything like it?  So quick and smooth and
painless?"

"You're right, Jack," Tom agreed, "And just look:  There's just
this tiny red line from neck to groin.  I don't even think it's
bleeding."  Turning to Prince, he patted the animal's head and
said, "Prince, that was outstanding!  I can't tell you how proud
I am!  And you didn't even make a sound.  You were just plain
great.  Now, fellah, how about the right sleeve?  Can you do that
as neatly?"

Prince beamed at the praise from his king and master and nodded
his head.

While he was moving back into position, Bobbie was struggling
valiantly to keep from totally cracking up with laughter.  Then
she realized it was a problem Joyce didn't have because she was
now sleeping so soundly. _She looks so beautiful and innocent and
peaceful,_ Bobbie thought.  As she watched, Joyce wriggled her
bottom on Rajah's back, smiled warmly and relaxed again in her
sleep.

While his colleagues watched in horror and Cohen was paralyzed
with fear, Prince slit one sleeve, then the other, then each
pants leg in turn.  Working on the pants, he even slit the man's
socks and shoes right to the point of their toes.  In each case
it took only a single swipe of his great paw.

While it was going on, after each stroke Jack and Tom carefully
inspected the results.  After his stroke on Cohen's left sleeve,
the two men heard an object hit the floor.  Bending down, Jack
picked up the man's wristwatch and showed it to Tom.  "Now this
is real skill, Tom.  You don't get this from any old tiger.  Just
look!  Even starting all the way up at the collar he maintained
contact good enough to slit the watchband, too!  Boy!" he
exclaimed patting the tiger on the head, "Prince, you're a real
professional!  I have never seen better."

When Prince was finished, he returned to his position beside
Rajah and sat down, while the two men continued their inspection.
 Jack reached out and grabbed the man's right lapel while Tom
took his left.  They just pulled gently and all of the layers of
clothes came off, leaving the man bare.  It was as if he was a
cross-section cutaway: All the clothes were still on his back but
there was nothing at all in front.

Turning towards Bobbie, Tom said with a broad wink, "Bobbie
Conroy, have you no shame?  Shouldn't you go somewhere or do
something... or something?"

She just looked at him with a completely bland look on her face,
although her eyes were dancing with glee and just said in an
utterly flat tone of voice, "No."  Tom almost cracked up.

Looking down at the material Tom said in a tone of some surprise,
"Gee, Jack, the crotch is wet."  Sniffing the air he looked at
Cohen with his eyebrow raised and said, "Dr. Cohen, I thought you
were at least toilet-trained!  The tigers are, after all, so
shouldn't you be?"

Cohen was now in a near-catatonic state and Jack told Tom that he
didn't think the doctor heard him.  Furthermore, he really didn't
appear to be in any condition to agree or disagree to anything.

Tom shook his head but reluctantly agreed that he was probably
correct.

Turning to the others, Tom said, "Gentlemen, it doesn't appear
Dr. Cohen is too coherent right now, so... What do you think?  Do
you think the cat's claws are dull?  That they have been
mutilated?  Anything like that?"

The men were utterly terrified.  Each could see a single red line
running continuously from Cohen's neck, over his shoulder and
down to his wrist.  In spite of their length, on each side there
had been a single stroke of Prince's paw made at blinding speed.
Babbling incoherently they agreed to everything and swore that a
written apology would be delivered by noon on Monday.

Then Jack, taking a cue from what he learned Joyce had done the
night before, said, "You won't forget now, will you?  You must
know that these tigers have fabulous memories and are great
hunters, day or night.  They have heard your commitment and
consider it to be a solemn vow."

He shook his head sadly and continued, "I'm afraid your lives
wouldn't be worth much if -- for any reason whatsoever -- that
letter does not arrive here in the studios by noon, Monday.  You
_do_ understand, don't you?"  They both babbled but their heads
were nodding up and down a mile a minute.

"Wonderful!" Jack replied.  "Now that we've taken care of our
business, may I offer you some refreshment before you leave?"

Instead, the men almost ran out of the studio carrying the limp
and catatonic Cohen between them.

Jack Johnson turned to Tom with an expression of hurt in his eyes
and asked, "Why didn't they stay, do you suppose?  We do have
great refreshments ready."

"Gee, Jack," Tom replied, puzzled.  "I have no idea."  Then he
brightened and said, "Maybe they were late for another
appointment?"

Jack agreed that they probably were.  After all, he reasoned, why
else would they leave?

"And besides," Tom added, "I'm certain that Prince, Sasha, and
Rajah will be very happy to help with the refreshments.  Waste
not, want not, after all."

With the charade finally over, they just cracked up laughing, and
their laughter awakened Joyce.  When she asked where everyone
was, Tom pointed to Cohen's chair and said, "He's not here now,
but you can easily see where he was."

There on the back of the chair was the back half of all of his
clothing.  He had been sweating so much that the moisture had
almost glued the back of his clothes to the chair.*Chapter 32*

With the Animal-Rights people out of the building, the studio
crew came down from their working positions and a lovely buffet
was laid out.  Bobbie teased Joyce and Jack because it was
composed principally of tea sandwiches -- not the tigers'
favorite snack.

When the director came down from the booth, he was shaking his
head.  Expecting what Prince might do, they had the station's
highest-speed, ultra-slow-motion video tape machine rolling.  A
technician turned on a big-screen monitor and they gathered
around to watch.  The scenes were truly incredible because, even
in ultra-slow motion, they could hardly see the tiger's paw in
motion.

Joyce, who had slept through the whole thing, whistled softly in
appreciation.  She gave Prince a warm kiss and thanked him for
being so considerately quiet.

Then Bobbie went to him, kissed him warmly, and said, "Prince,
you were _so good!_  Tom and I are so proud, we want to do
something special for you."  Looking into his eyes she asked,
"Would you like to be our bed for our nightly lovemaking tonight?
 Would you?"

Prince was almost overcome with joy.  The idea of holding his
king and queen on his body while their gorgeous bodies merged was
almost more than he could stand.  He understood it to be an
incredible display of recognition that he felt he did not really
deserve.

With her face close to his, Bobbie said very softly, for his ears
alone, "You realize, darling Prince, that it will be very
different from yesterday?  Yesterday, Tom and I were just trying
to mix his cum with my love juices as quickly as possible. 
Tonight... tonight we will truly make love.  It will probably
take a long time.  We will merge our bodies repeatedly.  Will you
be able to bear all that weight for so long?"

"My beloved Queen," Prince communicated, "if you should crush my
body beneath yours, I would die at the utter height of ecstasy! 
I would have served as a true marriage bed for my most beloved
king and queen."

There was the warmest possible smile on the huge animal's face as
he continued, "Perhaps... perhaps you will be overcome with the
power of your love.  Then you might sleep on my body and I could
wrap my arms around you to keep you warm and safe...  Then I
would truly be in heaven!  And in the morning, when you're still
half asleep and still warm and snugly from my fur, to merge your
bodies yet again..."

He sighed and Bobbie realized he was totally serious.  The
thought of their combined weight moving on his chest in frenzied
lovemaking thrilled him -- it did not concern him in the
slightest.  Bobbie said she would talk to Tom about it.

Rejoining the others, she was delighted to see Jack's arm around
Joyce's waist while her body was as close to his as she could
get.  When she joined the little group of only Jack, Joyce, Tom
and herself, Jack said softly, "This isn't for public consumption
just yet, but I must tell you two something, since you are
Joyce's best friends.  She has consented to become my wife."

Hearing his words, Bobbie shrieked with joy.  Then she took Joyce
in her arms and kissed her, letting the full power of her kiss
with all of its love flow to her.  Joyce was reeling when Tom
repeated it with a kiss of his own containing a tremendous flow
of love and the purest joy.  When he released her, he placed her
in Jack's arms.  Realizing her knees had turned to water, he put
her arms around his neck and melted her with a kiss of his own.

As Joyce's passion mounted, Bobbie squeezed Tom's hand and said,
"Aren't they just beautiful?  You can actually see the love and
passion they feel for each other!"

When they broke their kiss, Joyce just snuggled her face into his
neck and sighed.  Then she looked into Jack's face and said,
"Darling, you're wonderful!  And you're only human -- unlike the
god and goddess here."  Then she grinned and said, "Darling, I'm
about to put your life and all my possible future happiness at
risk.  Jack, would you please give Bobbie a kiss on the occasion
of our engagement?"

After giving her a puzzled frown, he took Bobbie into his arms
and felt her just melt her body to his.  When her most incredible
lips met his, he suddenly felt for the first time what a man in
an electric chair would feel.  But rather than high-voltage
electricity, it was the highest-voltage love coupled with a flood
of pure joy.

When his legs buckled, Bobbie instantly shifted her arms from
around his neck to under his arms to hold him up, but continued
kissing him.  Finally, Jack was a dead weight in her arms.  After
finally ending the kiss, she told Tom that she needed some help.
Jack, at six feet two and 200 pounds, was a little heavy for her
to hold up by herself.  Grinning, Tom grabbed a chair, took Jack
from Bobbie's arms and eased him into it.  Then he held him by
the shoulders to keep him from falling over.

Dropping to her knees, Joyce held him and anxiously looked into
his eyes.  Although his eyes were open, they were unfocused and
just staring blankly.  Gently slapping his face she called,
"Jack?  Jack?  Can you hear me?  Jack?"

Slowly there were signs of recovery as he started to revive. 
Wheeling on Bobbie, Joyce demanded, "Now where in hell is the
Consumer Product Safety Commission when you really need it?  Damn
it, Barbara Bradley Conroy, you should be banned!  You should be
declared illegal!"

"Me?" Bobbie asked with her innocence dripping from the word. 
"Joyce Collier, I'm a very happily married woman. _Whatever_ is
your problem?"  Joyce just stuck her tongue out and laughed
merrily.

Finally Jack looked up, shook his head and murmured, "Wow!"  Then
he looked at Bobbie, nodded his head rapidly and said, "They sure
got it right, didn't they?"

"Who got what right?" Bobbie asked, puzzled by his comment.

"The tigers, silly.  No wonder you are their queen and Tom is
their king, while poor Joyce is only your handmaiden.  Woman,
with what you unloaded in me in just those couple of moments, I
will be spilling joy all over everything for the next six weeks,
at least."  Now that his legs were back in working order he stood
up, took both of Bobbie's hands in his, and said, "Barbara and
Thomas Conroy, I hope you will allow Joyce and me to consider you
our closest and dearest friends.

"Last night, Rajah eloquently described Joyce's role in life: to
give birth to as many children as possible, to nurse them at her
breast, to love them, care for them and teach them the basics. 
Then, when they are six years old, give them over to your care. 
Dear Bobbie, that is exactly what Joyce intends to do: to become
a baby factory manufacturing raw material for you.  Having
experienced just one of your kisses, now I understand why that is
the highest possible goal a woman could set for herself: to
produce children good enough that you would accept them into your
care."

When he finished, tears were slowly flowing from Bobbie's eyes
while she had just been slowly but continuously shaking her head
in negation.  "Jack, I'm just a kid!  The fruit of Joyce's womb
and your seed will be utterly magnificent little creatures..."

"...And possibly even good enough for you," Jack completed.  Then
he smiled warmly and said, "Of course, we do have an inside
track, I guess.  Since Joyce swore to turn all of our children
over to you for their education, that must mean that you're
agreeing in advance to take them."

Turning to Joyce he beamed and said, "But then I knew I was
marrying a brilliant woman!  What a fabulous deal for us you
tricked Bobbie into taking!"

At that point Bobbie had an idea.  Knowing that Saturday was one
of their days off, she asked them if they had any plans for the
evening.  When they just shook their heads, Bobbie said it was
great; they were joining Tom and her for an engagement
celebration!  After ensuring that Jack had a dinner jacket -- as
news director and an anchorman, she was certain that he did --
she picked up the nearest phone and called Ali Clifford.  She
explained the situation to her new Aunt Ali, who squealed with
delight.  Then Bobbie just stared into the silent telephone for a
few minutes, not knowing what was going on.

When Ali came back on the line, all arrangements had been made. 
Bobbie was instructed to take Joyce to Henry Hall's.  Yes, it was
Saturday, but he was coming in and would be at the studio,
waiting, in twenty minutes.  Bobbie was told then to take Joyce
to the best shop of its kind on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.  It
was a shop in a chain, owned by a company which was in turn owned
by a company controlled by the Cliffords.  "And, darling Bobbie,
most of its stock that we don't own, your parents do."  Finally,
they were instructed to appear at the Clifford's suite at the
Beverly Wilshire at six-thirty -- with at least two tigers, one
of whom had to be that marvelous Rajah.

Grinning at the phone, Bobbie said, "Yes, ma'am, Aunt Ali, sir! 
I'll get on it right away!"

After giving Tom and Jack their orders, she told Sasha and Rajah
to join them and dragged Joyce by the hand toward the door.  As
she staggered along like a rag doll being dragged in Bobbie's
wake, she cracked up the men with laughter as she crossed her
eyes and stuck the tip of her tongue out of the corner of her
mouth.

After loading the two tigers into the back of Joyce's van, Bobbie
gave her directions to the Alliance Studios where Henry Hall had
his salon.  After greeting the two tigers and congratulating
Rajah on his great TV appearance, Henry turned his attention to
Joyce.  He pronounced her tawny hair to be utterly magnificent,
and then quickly styled it into an easy-care hairdo that caused
her to gasp with joy.  He told her that he had followed the
normal Clifford & Jamison model: It had to look good when she was
in bed with her man.  She blushed, but then kissed him soundly.

Then they roared from the studio to the designated shop on Rodeo
Drive in Beverly Hills.  After parking the van, they found they
had a significant walk to the store.  Joyce silently blessed
Lieutenant Collins for obviously putting the word out to all
Southern California law-enforcement agencies about Rajah.  A
street patrol officer politely saluted and asked if he could
shake Rajah's paw.  He had heard about Rajah putting two
dangerous felons down -- permanently -- and he wanted to shake
his paw.  The officer cracked up when, after very politely
shaking his hand and feeling so proud hearing his praise, Rajah
brought his right paw up over his right eye in a salute which the
officer meticulously returned with a broad smile.

But the greatest pleasure Rajah and Sasha had was to pace abreast
on the very crowded sidewalk, clearing a path for their queen and
Rajah's beloved mistress.  Joyce squeezed Bobbie's hand, grinned
at her and whispered, "Isn't this neat!  Have you ever seen such
looks on people's faces?"  The looks ranged from awe to sheer
terror, but no one contested the tigers' right to as much of the
sidewalk as they cared to have.

Reaching the shop, it almost instantly became apparent that the
word had not yet reached down from on high.  Seeing Joyce dressed
in cutoff jeans, the manager was about to order them off the
premises when she saw the two huge tigers staring at her and
thought better of it.

When Bobbie introduced herself as Barbara Conroy, the woman gave
her a somewhat imperious, if blank, look as if to say, "So?"

Bobbie just said, "Oh, you will hear about us shortly.  We'll
just wait."  A moment later, a young woman came running up to the
manager with her eyes as wide as saucers.  When Bobbie heard the
girl say "headquarters," she winked at Joyce and started to
giggle when the manager fled back towards her office.

A few minutes later the manager returned.  This time Bobbie could
see that her hands were literally shaking with fear as she said,
"Did you say your name was... Barbara Conroy?"  Noticing the fear
in the woman's eyes, the two tigers moved between her and the
women they would give their lives to protect.

Bobbie replied, "It certainly is.  It's the same name I gave you
a few minutes ago, after all.  What happened?  Did the call from
headquarters change your attitude?  Did they tell you that Uncle
Bill and Aunt Ali own most of this joint, and most of what they
don't own, my parents do?"  With her eyes wide with innocence,
Bobbie repeated, "Did they tell you all of that?"

The woman was so scared she could no longer even speak.  With her
eyes as wide as saucers all she could do was nod.

"That's wonderful!" Bobbie declared.  "Then can I assume that one
of your saleswomen might be able to find a moment to help us?  We
really don't have much time."

Since it was already after four, the woman clapped her hands and
ordered the doors locked to prevent any new customers from
entering while leaving one clerk at the door to unlock it for
customers leaving the store.  Then she ordered all saleswomen not
already waiting on customers to assist in satisfying the store's
most important clients.

Bobbie and Joyce were ushered into the VIP fitting room.  They
giggled together as they saw another nearly-naked customer being
unceremoniously evicted as they approached, clutching an arm-full
of clothing to try to cover her bare breasts.  After stripping to
their pants, they casually awaited the appearance of dresses to
be tried on.  Joyce had a difficult time controlling her giggling
as she saw the eyes of the store staff bulge at the sight of such
incredible beauty.

What followed was the funniest sixty minutes in the history of
women's-wear retailing.  Bobbie told Sasha and Rajah to make
themselves comfortable on the floor.  The two tigers lay down
with their bodies curved comfortably.  As dress after dress was
tried on, the animals made their opinions known: They shook their
heads, or covered their eyes, or growled.

The girls were having a wonderful time teasing the tigers and
frustrating the staff.  Finally, Rajah beamed at Joyce when she
tried on a magnificent green silk dress with a skirt made of
layers of the same shade of silk chiffon.  The green was a
perfect match for the green of her eyes and went beautifully with
her tawny hair.

When that was settled, Bobbie gave some fast instructions to the
manager.  Her eyes widened, but she dashed off to carry out the
instructions.  Minutes later, one of the women appeared with
several jewelry boxes of different sizes.  Bobbie opened each,
glanced at the contents, nodded, and said, "Come on, Joyce. 
Let's blow this dump.  You're the important one, after all.  I'll
just wear my Clifford & Jamison standard."

When Joyce shook her head, Bobbie explained that it was a model
that the firm bought in gross lots.  The size was always the
same; only the colors varied.

When Bobbie asked about payment, the manager said it would be
billed to the Cliffords from corporate headquarters at cost
prices.  Bobbie just nodded blandly at the news.  Suddenly Bobbie
snapped her fingers, asked Joyce her shoe size, and again a clerk
dashed out.  While they were waiting, Joyce was admiring her new
dress and then looked at the tag hanging on it.  The price was
$10,000.  She gasped and said she couldn't keep it -- there was
no way she could afford it.  All Bobbie did was to look at her
quizzically and ask how on earth she could not afford it -- it
was a gift.

When she tried to protest, Bobbie told her to shut up.  When she
continued her protest, Bobbie imperiously ordered Rajah to shut
his mistress up.  Knowing exactly what was going on, the tiger
just backed his mistress into a corner and held her there, while
the dress was carefully wrapped and placed on a hanger in a heavy
clear plastic garment bag to protect it.

Then telling Rajah to bring his mistress along, Bobbie rushed
out.  The tiger took Joyce's hand between his jaws and hauled her
out of the store.

* * *

Promptly at six-thirty, Bobbie rang the bell of Bill and Ali
Clifford's suite and then stepped back from the door.  Bill
opened it and found himself face-to-face with two giant Bengal
tigers.  One had a giant black bow tie around his neck while the
other's tie was white.

After looking at Bill, the animals' eyes widened for an instant
and they dropped flat on the floor with their eyes closed. 
_"Emperor?"_ Bill exclaimed.  "Me?  Young men, get up off that
floor this instant!"

Instantly the two tigers jumped to attention although their eyes
were still wide with awe.  When Ali appeared a moment later, the
poor animals were distraught.  Every instinct said that they
should prostrate themselves at the feet of their empress, but the
emperor had ordered them to stand.

Ali took one look and exclaimed, "You poor darlings!"  Then she
put her arms around Rajah's neck and exclaimed, "Rajah, you are a
wonder!  I adored you when I saw you last night on television. 
And your black bow tie looks so handsome!"  Looking at him
closely she added, "Your mistress loves you so very much, doesn't
she?  She groomed your glorious coat so beautifully, it just
glows!"

Poor Rajah was utterly beside himself with joy.  The Empress had
actually seen him on television, and even noticed how beautifully
his mistress had groomed his coat.  He almost fainted dead away
with the praise.

Turning to the other tiger, Ali wrapped her arms around his neck
and then kissed him lovingly full on the mouth.  The power in her
kiss almost knocked the poor animal over.  Even though he was in
a daze, he heard her say, "Sasha, thank you so much for taking
such good care of my son, Ken.  He loves you so very much!"  Then
she whispered, "He's waiting inside with a grooming brush, hoping
you will allow him to brush your beautiful coat.  I hope you will
allow it.  Will you?"

Sasha could not have said no to any request Ali could make, even
it was to jump out of a ten-story window.  He communicated that
the least wish of his divine Empress was his command.

For Jack Johnson, seeing the tigers' instantaneous reaction to
the Cliffords, and their behavior towards the tigers, told him
all he needed to know about them.  They might be very rich, but
they were assuredly the most pure and loving couple alive.

Then he looked at Ali Clifford and did not believe his eyes.  She
couldn't be younger than her early forties, yet she looked like
she was not yet twenty-five.  Moreover, the closer he looked, the
better she looked, and the same thing was true of Bill Clifford
who had to be well over fifty.

First, Ali greeted her newest niece and nephew with her warmest
kisses.  Then Bobbie said, "Ali, may I present my newest and best
friend, Joyce Collier.  I'm sure you have seen her often on the
news."

"Oh, Joyce!  You look simply exquisite!"  In addition to her
dress she was wearing the most magnificent emerald necklace with
a matching bracelet from Cartier, along with a pair of giant
brilliant-cut emeralds set as ear studs.  Ali just shook her head
and said, "My darling, those jewels fade into insignificance
against your love for Jack that is shining so brilliantly from
your eyes.  May I be your friend, too?  Please?  My son, Ken,
hasn't stopped talking about you yet.  I hope you know he adores
you."  Then she stepped closer and asked, "And may I kiss the
bride-to-be?"

Joyce, too, had learned a great deal about the Cliffords from
watching the behavior of the tigers coupled with her acquaintance
with Kenny.  In spite of that, though, she was overcome by Ali's
sincerely gracious welcome.  Extending her hand she said softly,
"Mrs. Clifford --"

"Kenny," Ali called loudly towards the sitting room,
interrupting.  "Please bring me the large whip from our closet. 
We have another slow learner with us tonight."  She glared at
Joyce and said, "Miss Collier, the name is Ali.  It's short,
simple, and much easier to pronounce than Mrs. Clifford.  Okay? 
Or do I really need to use the whip?"

"Ali, I can't thank you enough for your gracious hospitality and
very warm welcome."  Then her emerald eyes flashed green fire as
she added, "But if I hear the words, Miss Collier, one more time
_I'll_ get the whip!  Okay?"

Ali grinned and very cutely stuck out her tongue.  Then she took
Joyce in her arms and melted her with a kiss.  The power of the
love in that kiss almost flattened the girl.  When she pulled
away slowly she murmured, "Oh God!  Another Bobbie!  I'll be
killed."  Then she glared and said, "You, too, lady.  You should
be declared illegal.  You and your niece, Bobbie, should both be
posted as hazards to navigation or something."

Again Ali stuck out her tongue and said, "I love you, Joyce
Collier.  Once again Bobbie has demonstrated exquisite judgment
in her choice of friends."

After Jack was greeted in a similar vein, they went into the
sitting room.  There they found Ken and Andy Cartwright shyly
waiting for them.  Ken was wearing a handsome short-pants suit,
while Andy was wearing the most exquisite party dress Joyce had
ever seen.

Meanwhile the two tigers were utterly overcome.  They had been
invited into the presence of the finest, purest people on the
face of the earth.  To make it perfect, Andy and Ken immediately
started sneaking the most luscious snacks from the array of hors
d'oeuvres trays and began feeding them.  The animals felt as if
they had already died and gone to heaven.

When little Andy saw Joyce, she made a beautiful curtsy and said,
"Miss Collier, no woman has ever looked more beautiful than you
do tonight!  Yesterday, when I met you at the circus, I thought
you were beautiful.  But tonight...!  Tonight you are so madly,
desperately, beautifully in love!  And your hair...!  And your
dress...!"  The little girl was literally bouncing up and down
with happiness and excitement.

Dropping to her knees Joyce asked, "Do I look pretty enough to
kiss?  Please?"  When Andy kissed her, the power of her love and
purity almost knocked Joyce out.  Suddenly she realized it was
identical to Bobbie's but with not quite the power.

When the little girl backed away, she said softly, "May the good
Lord bless you and keep you.  May He make His light to shine upon
you and bless you and your children and your children's children,
unto the end of time.  Amen."

Joyce was literally stunned.  Andy had called down all the
blessings of God on herself and her posterity, but more than
that, when she said, amen, Joyce was overcome by the most amazing
sense of goodness and well-being she could possibly imagine.

She said softly, "My darling Andy, thank you."  Then she shook
her head and said, "You are so good, so sweet, and so pure,
darling Andy, God listens to you carefully.  I believe I have
just received the blessings from God that you asked Him for. 
Andy, you are truly blessed!"

After kissing Joyce, Ken Clifford was introduced to Jack Johnson.
 When they had shaken hands and Jack had kissed the little boy,
Ken stood and just stared deeply into his eyes with a seemingly
sightless gaze.  When his eyes returned to their normal focus,
Kenny was elated.  "Mr. Johnson, you're going to be so incredibly
happy with Joyce for such a long time...  And your children! 
They will add so much to your happiness.  I am so pleased because
you're such a wonderful couple.

When they were finally all seated, Ali sat up straight, obviously
embarrassed about something.  Finally she blurted out that she
and Bill had invited themselves to the dinner party.  But because
they were crashing, they were paying.  Both younger couples
indicated their delight.  Then Joyce said that since they were on
the subject of paying, to whom did she send a check for the
magnificent clothing and jewels.

"Check?" Ali asked.  "What check?  For what?"  When Joyce
reminded her about the dress and jewels, Ali merely waved it
away.  "The dress, dear, is a gift to you from Bobbie and Tom in
appreciation for the wonderful job you did to make their circus
debut such a success.  And yes, I know it has a big price tag,
but we get it at cost."

Then she frowned and said, "You know, at a store like that the
markups are outrageous.  As for the jewels, dear, they are a very
small gift from Bill and me on the occasion of your engagement. 
I'm so glad they look so beautiful on you, too.  Their color
exactly matches your eyes and dress.  I do so hope you like
them!"  Joyce could only nod her head vigorously.  She was too
choked with emotion even to speak.

The small group continued to converse while drinks were served. 
Joyce thought the two children were the cutest, best-behaved
little people she had ever seen.  They alternated between passing
hors d'oeuvres trays and carefully grooming Sasha's coat.

At seven, Ali glanced at her watch and looked embarrassed.  She
confessed that she had invited a few other people to join the
celebration who should be arriving momentarily.  When the
doorbell rang, Bill went to answer it.  He greeted Ed and Vangie
Bradley who were standing at the door with Kristin behind them.

There were shrieks of pleasure as Bobbie leaped up and hugged and
kissed her parents and her sister.  She was complimented, in
turn, by them on her brilliant job of teaching and her remarkable
performance with Tom the night before at the circus.

Joyce watched in wonder as the two huge cats had risen and now
stood together in front of the Bradleys, utterly overcome.  Now
the poor things were totally baffled.  Tonight they had met their
emperor and empress while in the company of their king and queen.
 But now there appears another couple who are also imperial! 
They did not know what to do.

Seeing the tigers standing with their huge awe-filled eyes,
Vangie rushed over, wrapped her arms around Rajah and kissed him
saying, "Rajah, you're even friendlier in the flesh than you were
on television!  And you were so good!"  Then turning she said,
"And you're Sasha.  I can't tell you how pleased I am to meet
you!"  Ed Bradley also greeted the animals with great affection.

When Kris just remained in the background, Bobbie suspected
something.  After introducing her parents and sister to Joyce and
Jack, she looked at her sister with an eyebrow raised and said,
"And what, might I ask, is going on in my twin sister's head? 
Beyond thoughts of what of mine she might steal this time, of
course?"

Without replying to Bobbie, Kris dropped on her knees in front of
Joyce and said, "Miss Collier, I saw that piece you did last
night.  Fortunately, I had the tape deck running so I was able to
replay it over and over."

With her brilliant near-purple eyes wide she continued, "When you
spoke of unmarried women, you were talking about me!  But I
wanted to confirm a few things.  When you lay on Rajah's chest, I
was certain that you really wanted to be naked.  Was I right?" 
Joyce just smiled and nodded.  "Well," Kris continued, "I guess
you know that I am now recognized on the street because I've done
a little singing.  But now that my film has opened, it's getting
much worse.  I'll be hounded!  Then there are the idiot men..."

Wailing, Kris said, "Miss Collier, I desperately need a tiger! 
Can you possibly help me?  Does Rajah have a friend, maybe,
or..."

"First," Joyce replied, "If you call me Miss Collier one more
time, all your troubles will be over: I'll ask Rajah to please
take off your head!  Understand?"  Kris grinned and nodded.  "As
for a friend..."  Looking at Bobbie, she asked, "Bobbie, there
are only you and Tom, and you have Prince to keep an eye on your
apartment.  Do you really need two?  Could your twin borrow
Sasha, maybe?"

"Oh, Joyce, no!" Bobbie exclaimed with her eyes wide.  "You're
just meeting her for the first time, so you can't know.  Do you
know what you're doing to poor Sasha?  Leaving the poor thing
alone with my twin?  Good heavens, woman, we just got finished
with the animal-rights people today.  Do you really want to give
them some major-league cruelty to scream about?"

But then Bobbie became thoughtful.  Looking at Sasha she asked,
"Sash, how much do you weigh?"  The tiger answered that he was
about 625.  "Well..."  she continued thoughtfully, "Kristin is
certainly a man-eater.  On the other hand she only goes about
120...  And you're 625...  Possibly...  Sasha, could you bear a
trial, perhaps, with my sister?"

Without giving the animal a chance to answer, Kris untied the
tiny silk cord behind her neck that was the only thing supporting
the dress she was wearing and let it drop to the floor.  Now
wearing only a wisp of a lace bikini, she turned to Sasha and
ordered, "On your back, young man!"

The tiger couldn't believe his good fortune.  The instant he laid
eyes on Kristin, his heart had rolled over.  Here was a woman who
was the twin sister of his queen!  In an instant he was on his
back with his legs spread wide.

Climbing on his chest, she stretched out and immediately began to
move her nipples on his incredible fur causing them instantly to
harden.  "Oh my God!" she screamed.  "Oh, Joyce, he is
unbelievable!"

Then she pulled herself up so that her lips were over his,
lowered herself and gently kissed him.  But instead of a peck,
she kept her lips on his and just increased the intensity of her
kiss.

The tiger was almost overcome.  He instantly communicated that
she was now his beloved mistress forever and he swore to protect
her and serve her in any way he possibly could.

Looking deep into his eyes Kris asked softly, "Promise?"  With
his eyes wide Sasha could only nod.  "Anything?  Anything at
all?"  Again the huge head nodded.  "Great!  Now Sasha Bradley,
your first task!  Squeeze me to your chest with your greatarms."

Quickly, she slid back down on the animal and relaxed as his
great arms came around and powerfully, yet so gently, held her
tightly.  When he released her, she kissed him soundly again and
popped to her feet.

As she very casually stepped back into her dress that had been
lying in a heap on the floor, she said, "Mom, that is the most
incredible sensation I have ever had in my whole life!"  Then
with a big grin she added, "Why don't you and Aunt Ali try?"

That was all the invitation the two women needed.  They, too, had
seen Joyce's TV bit and had been fascinated.  Now, having seen
the great pleasure he had obviously given Kris, the two women
shed their dresses as quickly.  Vangie Bradley flopped on Sasha
while Rajah rolled on his back to receive his empress.

Seeing how milk-swollen Ali's tits were, he was very gentle and
didn't squeeze, knowing how painful it would be for her.  When
she kissed him he almost passed out.  Then she whispered, "Rajah
Collier, you are unbelievable!  You know that I am nursing my
baby and my tits are full of my milk, so you were so careful not
to squeeze me hard."  Then she grinned and added, "Well, young
man, I'll be back after my tits have been drained so you can
really squeeze!  Okay?"  Like Sasha, Rajah was so overcome, he
could only nod eagerly.

Meanwhile, Ed Bradley had pulled a chair up close to Joyce and
Jack.  With a warm smile he said, "On behalf of the Bradleys, I
owe you a bunch of apologies.  First, of course, for inviting
ourselves and muscling in on one of the most personal and private
occasions imaginable, your engagement to be married.  Vangie and
I will try to make that up to you both, somehow.  Second, the...
informality... of the female Bradleys.  I suppose you noticed
that it took a full half-a-second each for my wife and daughter
to be bare?  And I'm sure you noticed their innate modesty?  The
way they so cleverly cover their breasts and loins?  For that, I
apologize also.  I hope we are not disturbing you too badly."

Jack was holding Joyce's hand and said, "Speaking for myself --
but I am certain for Joyce, as well -- there is absolutely no
apology called for.  I have been sitting here tonight in utter
amazement.  First, we are guests of possibly the richest family
in the world, and are treated like long-lost relatives.  Then you
appear.  Wealth in the same class as the Cliffords, and now
related to them.  But beyond that, a family with a record of
personal accomplishments, starting with your son, Ken, your
daughter, Cathy, Kristin, here, and now including your daughter,
Bobbie, who's the most gifted teacher on the face of this earth.

"But there is so much more!  First of all, the reaction of the
tigers: Joyce tells me that they are the agents of the Holy
Spirit here on earth.  Your daughter, Bobbie, and her husband,
Tom, are their King and Queen.  Then, when they meet Ali and
Bill, they are meeting their empress and emperor.  When you
appear -- and I know you already know this -- they are beside
themselves because you and your wife are imperial, too!"

Seeing that Jack was about to call him Mr. Bradley, Ed said,
"Jack, the name is Ed!  My wife's name is Vangie.  They are the
only names we answer to, particularly to our closest friends. 
And it would be a great favor to us if we could allow ourselves
to consider you two to be in that category."

Jack just shook his head and continued, "Ed, that is exactly what
I mean.  You know, of course, that to the tigers, your rank in
their hierarchy is a function of pure goodness -- of sanctifying
grace.  The more a person has, the higher he or she ranks.  With
you and the Cliffords, the poor things almost had to create some
special higher categories to put you into.  And you apologize
because your wife and daughter strip!

"My God, if this were a place on Sunset, they could earn
thousands a week exposing those perfect bodies.  Joyce and I have
been hanging on to one another for dear life, just looking. 
Neither Vangie nor Ali look like they have reached the age of
twenty-five, yet we know that both of them have to be well over
forty.  You and Bill Clifford look like you're in your very early
thirties, yet both of you have to be well over fifty!  Frankly,
we cannot imagine a family as good as your two.  We just can't."

Seeing Vangie dressing, Ed said quickly, "I have one great favor
to ask...  Please!  Please don't say anything to Vangie about
having more children.  We have been trying so hard and praying to
God so much...  She sees Ali bearing the most beautiful babies in
the world and wants so desperately to experience the same
thrill...  We're still trying, but until she succeeds...  It is
the only reason she ever weeps -- and now it happens every month
when her period begins.  She is really a wonderful person and I
can't bear ever to see her hurt.  I know you're both news people,
but please?"

"I'll join my prayers with yours that Vangie may succeed," Joyce
said simply but with her tears flowing.  Then with steel in her
voice she continued, "Ed, until just yesterday I was just a slut
-- a piece of filth that you would step over.  But even then, and
having no morals at all, I respected the privacy of my dearest
friends.  Until tonight, not counting Jack, I counted three
adults: Tom and your daughter, Bobbie, and a colleague, Ann
Henry.  Now I am overwhelmed to hear that the Cliffords and the
Bradleys want to be our friends, too."  She smiled warmly and
added, "And, believe it or not, I know you're sincere.  I
couldn't possibly feel more honored than I do right now."

As Vangie approached, there were tears in Ed's eyes as he
murmured his thanks.  When Vangie joined them, she was
ecstatically raving about her marvelous experience to Ed.  Then
she said, "Darling, I felt something different in my loins when I
kissed him, honestly I did!  Joyce, you said they are agents of
the Holy Spirit.  Is there a chance... is it possible... that I
might get... pregnant?"

Joyce jumped out of her chair, went to Vangie and just held her
tightly.  As she did, she whispered that she would pray so hard
for Vangie's prayers to be answered.

While Joyce was comforting Vangie, Bobbie called Sasha over to
her, then told Kris that she wanted her close, too.  It was
important for both of them to hear what she had to say.  First,
to Sasha she said, "My darling Sasha, I am so proud of you! 
You're being so brave to allow my imp twin to be inflicted on
you."  Then with her eyes wide she added, "There is one
consolation for you, though.  You see, Imp is an unpenetrated
virgin.  When you drink at her fountain you will be lapping up
virginal juices!  Will you like that?"

"Oh, my glorious Queen, I am so unworthy!  I have already sworn
my undying loyalty and obedience to your twin.  There are no
words to describe my happiness!"

Then looking at Kris with hope and shyness so obvious in his eyes
he asked, "Is it possible...?  Could you ever... Would you even
consider... sleeping on... on my chest?  Could you?"

"But Sash," Kris replied pretending to be puzzled, "where else
would I ever sleep?  The opportunity to chafe my tits against
your glorious fur?  Do you think I would ever miss that
opportunity?  But what about you, my darling friend?  How will
you get your rest?  I love you so much, already, and I need you
so badly...  I really do."

It was immediately obvious to both girls that the words Sasha was
hearing were so overwhelming in their impact on him, he was
speechless.  Finally, he regained his communication power and
said, "My glorious Mistress, you mean... you mean you... _care...
for *me?*_  Mistress, with your glorious body resting on my chest
I'll sleep in a way I have never slept before.  Just imagine! 
I'll be able to move my arms and feel your body under my paws! 
I'll be in heaven!"

"No, darling Sasha," Kris replied softly.  "I don't care for you.
 I love you!  I adore you!  Now would you please give your
mistress a kiss before I pass out in anticipation?  Please?"

The huge tiger was sitting up straight on the floor in front of
Kris.  He leaned his great head towards her and when she wrapped
her arms around his neck to kiss her, he wrapped his huge
forelegs around her and squeezed her tight.  At the same time he
felt the enormous flow of her pure virginal love while she felt
the incredible love and adoration he felt for her.  When they
eased apart, both Kris and the great tiger were shaking with
emotion.  Each just stared with enormous love into the other's
eyes.

"If I could interrupt this love-fest for a moment," Bobbie said
dryly, "There's something you should know, darling sister.  In
just a few days your lovely golden pubic bush will disappear and
your mound will be bare.  Does that idea upset you?"

Kris blinked to snap the spell of love that had her in its thrall
and thought for a moment.  Then she smiled warmly at Sasha and
said, "My darling Sasha, it will be something of mine that I give
to you with pleasure.  It just means, after all, that if, by some
miracle, I were to meet a real man, fall in love, and marry, my
cunt will be bare and sweet and clean to welcome him inside.  No,
dear Sasha, I won't mind it a bit.  In fact, now that my sister
has told me, I can't wait!  I'm looking forward to my changed
appearance."

Rajah had come up and was sitting alertly watching the exchange.
Then he communicated, "Miss Bradley, there is something else you
should know about Sasha.  It might cause you to change your
decision.  And there are others of us for you to choose from,
after all."  Looking directly into Kris's eyes, with his own eyes
wide, he said, "Miss Bradley, Sasha's favorite pizza is...
anchovy and peppers!"

Her reaction amazed him.  Clapping her hands in glee, she
exclaimed, "That's wonderful!  It's my favorite pizza, too." 
Seeing that Sasha suddenly looked glum, she asked, "What's wrong,
darling Sasha?  We must be among the few creatures on earth that
will eat that pizza, let alone love it.  Now we can share!"

Rajah chuckled and replied for his friend, "That's what's wrong,
Miss Bradley.  You see, the rest of us have been certain that the
reason Sasha developed a taste for anchovy and peppers is that no
one else likes it or will eat it.  Before, no one ever stole a
piece of his the way my mistress always steals mine."

But then he brightened and said, "But maybe that means that you
and Sasha were truly made for each other!  After all, my favorite
pizza is pepperoni and sausage with extra cheese, and it's my
darling mistress's favorite as well.  Maybe liking the same pizza
is the foundation for lasting happiness!"

Just then Connie Cartwright appeared with a baby in her arms,
followed by her husband, Chip, with a little boy by his side who
was holding his hand.  When they entered the room, Ali, who was
about to slip her gown over her head, stopped and reached out her
arms.

The baby, six months old, smiled and reached out her arms to her
mother.  Carrying the gooing baby in her arms she came over to
Joyce, knelt in front of her and said, "Joyce, I would like you
to meet the youngest Clifford, Kristin."  Looking down at the
baby in her arms she said, "Would you like to meet our newest
friends, my darling?"

At that point the baby couldn't care less about her mother's new
friends.  All she knew was that she was only inches away from the
nipple on her glorious tit.  Ali just shrugged at Joyce and
winked and then raised the baby up the necessary few inches. 
With a happy cry the baby's mouth closed on the nipple and she
began to suckle.  While drinking her mother's wonderful milk the
tiny girl just stroked and patted her mother's tit.

To Joyce's surprise, Ali remained kneeling back on her heels
before her.  She said very quietly so as not to disturb the
nursing baby, "I thought you and Jack might like to see a nursing
baby up close.  What do you think?"

"I think you have to be the most perfect mother who ever lived,
is what I think," Joyce replied in a voice scarcely above a
whisper.  Squeezing Jack's hand she asked, "How about you, my
darling?  With help from God, in just a few short months that
will be me.  What do you think?" she asked anxiously.

"I think I can hardly wait, is what I think," he replied in a
voice as quiet as the women's.  Then he took Joyce in his arms
and kissed her slowly and lovingly.  They just held their kiss
while each kept glancing at Ali with her baby.

After changing the baby from her left breast to her right, the
baby continued to nurse but at a slower and slower pace. 
Finally, her mouth stopped moving as she filled herself up and
just went back to sleep.

Connie had been keeping an eye on her mother and saw the baby
fall asleep.  Then she took the little boy by the hand and
brought him to his mother.  The little boy was handsomely dressed
and was three and a half years old.  After giving baby Kristin to
Connie, Ali, still on her knees said, "Miss Collier and Mr.
Johnson, may I present my younger son, Jeffrey?  Jeff, this is
Miss Collier and Mr. Johnson."

In spite of his youth, the little boy extended his hand to Joyce
and said, "Good evening, Miss Collier.  I'm very happy to meet
you.  You are looking so beautiful tonight!"   Then he ad-libbed.
 With his eyes wide he said, "Will you give me a kiss?  Please?"

Joyce scooped the little boy up in her arms and kissed him.  When
she did, she felt the same flow of the purest love that she had
received from his older brother.  In fact, Jeff was a duplicate
of Kenny in a smaller form.  When she released him, his eyes were
wide as he said, "I love you very much, Miss Collier.  Thank you
for that wonderful kiss."  Then introductions were repeated with
Jack.  Again he asked for a kiss and told Jack he loved him,too.

Then Ali told him that she needed his help.  She asked him to
empty her right tit, but reminded him to save a couple of sips
for his brother, Ken.  Joyce and Jack watched wide-eyed as the
little boy lay across his mother's lap, locked his lips over her
nipple and began to suckle.  As he did she crooned softly to him
and told him how proud she was of him and how the way he had
greeted the guests was simply perfect.

When she complimented him, the couple could see the little boy
wriggle with pleasure in his mother's arms.  When he eased away,
he stood up on his sturdy legs and asked, "Mommy, am I being a
good boy?  Am I making you proud?"

At that she unleashed her sunshine smile and the boy simply
glowed.  "Oh, my darling son, you could not be better!  Daddy and
I are so very proud."  Then raising an eyebrow she said softly,
"But are you too old now to give your mommy a kiss?"

The little boy yelped and dove for his mother's arms.  Then he
put his lips against hers and poured all the love he felt for his
mother into his kiss.  For her part Ali concentrated all of the
love she felt for her small son into hers.  The power of her kiss
nearly knocked the little boy out.

As they watched while still holding hands, Joyce whispered,
"Darling, do you see what I see?  That boy is getting Ali's love
at a level of intensity that would kill a grown-up.  Do you
realize what that says about the kind of boy he is?  Can you
believe what we are seeing?"  Jack agreed completely and could
only shake his head.

Then Ali said, "Darling Jeff, we have some other guests with us
tonight."  She called Rajah over and, as the giant cat loomed
over the little boy she asked, "Do you know what this is, Jeff?"

The little boy looked up at Rajah's head and said with excitement
in his voice but without a hint of fear, "He's... he's a tiger! 
He is, Mommy, isn't he?"

"He certainly is, my darling.  He is a Royal Bengal tiger and his
name is Rajah Collier.  Would you like to say hello?"

The little boy was not at all certain how he should greet a
tiger, but he held out his little hand and said, "How do you do,
Mr. Collier.  My name is Jeffrey Clifford and I am delighted to
meet you!"

Rajah dropped flat on the floor to bring himself as close to the
little boy's level as possible.  Then he raised his right paw up
to the level of Jeff's and communicated, "It is an incredible
honor and pleasure for me to meet you, too, Jeffrey.  But because
I am a tiger, you may call me Rajah, and I would truly prefer
it."

The little boy acknowledged the instruction and apparently saw
absolutely nothing strange about communicating directly with the
tiger's mind.  Then Rajah rolled over on his back and said,
"Jeffrey, do you think you could climb up on my chest?  Because
if you can, I think you would like it up here."

The little boy wasted no time.  Using clumps of Rajah's fur for
handholds, he pulled himself up on Rajah's loins, the low point
of his body and then just ran up his body and flopped on his
chest.  Jeff squealed with delight as he ran his arms all over
the soft fur and rubbed his face in it.  Rajah, of course, was
completely oblivious to any pain caused by the boy pulling his
fur or running with his little shoes on his groin and stomach.

Then he looked up at Rajah's face and said, "I love you, Rajah. 
But it's time for me to go to bed now."  With that the little boy
just rested his head on Rajah's great chest and in just moments
was sound asleep.  Occasionally he would wriggle on the tiger's
fur and just sigh with pleasure.

Seeing her son asleep, Ali gently picked him up and carried him
over to where Connie was still waiting.  The girl said, "Mom, I
really don't want to say anything, but... are you sure you want
to go down to the restaurant dressed that way?"

Ali looked down at herself and thanked Connie for mentioning it.
Looking herself over carefully, she decided that Connie was
absolutely correct: wearing her bikini certainly did leave her a
little overdressed.

"Mom," Connie said, "you're too damned much!  But Jeff's screams
of joy woke his baby sister up.  Any ideas?"  The baby was
fussing because, although she was sleepy, having been awakened,
she was uncomfortably between states of sleep and wakefulness.

"As a matter of fact, yes!" Ali declared.  Taking the baby in her
arms she went to Rajah who was now sitting up attentively at
Joyce's side and said, "Could I enlist your aid again?  And could
I introduce you to the youngest Clifford, Kristin?  And could I
apologize for her lack of social graces?  So far we have been
completely unable to teach her to make a curtsy."

Rajah's eyes widened with fright.  "But Empress, what if
something happens?  Good grief!  You would trust me with your
only daughter!?"

Ali just pointed to the floor.  Rajah rolled on his back and
spread his legs wide.  When Ali put the baby down on his chest,
it was as if she were in a wonderful warm, furry playpen.  Gooing
happily now, the tiny girl crawled around the wonderful space,
pausing occasionally to pull at a tuft of fur.  If she moved too
far down or too far up, Rajah positioned a great paw to stop her.
 After a few minutes, though, her sleepiness overtook her. 
Finding what looked like a particularly comfortable spot on his
chest, she curled up and went right to sleep.

When she did, Rajah, moving his arms with the greatest care used
them to cover the tiny body.  Feeling the new warmth, baby
Kristin just snuggled deeper and sighed.

Ali, who had been watching carefully, motioned Rajah to lift his
arms slightly.  He did, and Ali quickly wrapped the baby in her
blanket and whisked her off back to her crib.  When she returned
to the sitting room, still without taking the few moments to
dress, she rushed right over to Rajah, hugged him as tightly as
she could and kissed him with every bit of love she could
possibly convey.

Fortunately, Ali was very athletic and had remarkably quick
reflexes.  She needed them in that instant to jump aside to keep
from being crushed under Rajah's huge body as he fainted dead
away.

"A fine friend you are, Ali Clifford!" Joyce exclaimed.  "Just
look what you did to my friend and protector, Rajah Collier.  I
just hope you're satisfied!  It's true with all you Cliffords,
too.  You have no consideration for others.  You just go around
kissing people and tigers and don't even think for an instant
about all the damage you cause!  You're selfish."  She nodded for
emphasis and repeated, "That's it!  You're selfish.  You're just
so damned full of love, you have to get rid of it somewhere with
no regard for the consequences."

Dropping to her knees beside Rajah and ignoring any possible
damage to her lovely new dress, she lifted his head and moved so
that she could then lower it again and rest it on her lap.  Ali
just stuck out her tongue and began to dress.

A few minutes later, as she felt him start to move, Joyce held
Rajah's great head tightly.  His eyes blinked several times and
then opened.  Realizing he was lying on his dear mistress's lap
and on her brand-new dress, he tried to jerk his head up but she
held it down and stroked his cheek.  Rajah was terribly
embarrassed, but asked what happened.

Joyce whispered softly, "My darling, Ali Clifford happened.  She
was so incredibly happy and pleased with the way you handled her
baby and allowed her to crawl all over you, she forgot herself."
She smiled down warmly and said, "Darling Rajah, what happened
was that you got all of the love that it is possible for her to
communicate, undiluted.  I guess Bill Clifford can take it, and
maybe Kenny can by now, but no one else can -- not even a Bengal
tiger!"  Then she grinned and asked, "Do you feel okay, now? 
Feel like getting up?"

The animal quickly rose, and sensing his unhappiness at her being
on the floor in her new dress, Joyce did, too.  When she sat down
again next to Jack, Rajah sat at her feet and looked up at both
of them.  "Mistress and Master-to-be, I can't tell you how I feel
at this moment.  I now carry a level of love and purity that I
never believed possible."  With his eyes filled with wonder he
continued, "I have been truly blessed."

Then he continued, "But Mistress, it was so wonderful!  Now I
have the merest hint of how happy I'll be with a baby of yours
crawling over my body.  Now I have the confidence that he or she
will enjoy it.  I can be the playpen!  Isn't that wonderful?"

They both agreed that it certainly was.*Chapter 33*

When the group finally adjourned to the Beverly Wilshire's main
dining room, they made a grand entrance.  The group, now nine in
number, was preceded into the room by the pair of immaculately
groomed Bengal tigers.  They paced majestically as they followed
the maitre d'hotel to the Clifford's table which had been set off
by itself.  A space, formerly occupied by three other tables, had
been cleared to make service easier and increase their privacy.

As they moved towards their table Joyce, in a whisper to Jack,
commented on how regal the tigers looked.  He replied softly,
"No, darling, not regal.  Imperial!"

After they all had been seated, beluga caviar was served, along
with Dom Perignon champagne.  After everyone was served -- even
Ali was drinking on the occasion -- Bobbie Conroy raised her
glass in a toast.  She said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I know that
the men customarily offer toasts, but tonight is different. 
First, we live in a more liberated age.  But second, I have known
Joyce Collier longer than any of the rest of you.  At any rate, I
would like to offer a toast.  To Joyce and Jack, along with Rajah
Collier, of course: I would like to wish you the ultimate in
happiness.  I wish you a marriage as filled with love and
blessings as that of our host and hostess tonight, William and
Allison Clifford.  If there is any ingredient missing -- and I
don't think there is -- it can't have any significance for a
successful marriage.  The toast to our guests of honor?  May your
marriage be as successful as Bill and Ali Clifford's!"  With
cheers the toast was drunk by the others.

Then Jack Johnson spoke softly but in a voice that carried to all
the people around the table.  "There are a couple of details that
I guess we should take care of before things go much further." 
Looking at his fiancee, he asked with a voice drowning in love,
"Joyce Collier, will you marry me?  Will you live with me as my
wife?  Will you bear our children, the fruit of our union?  My
darling, I love you with all my heart.  Will you please sayyes?"

"Oh, Jack!  Yes, yes, yes!"  With the warmest, most loving smile
anyone had ever seen she continued, "Yes, I will marry you; yes,
I will live with you as your loving and obedient wife; and oh,
yes!, through the grace of Almighty God, if it be His wish, I
will bear your children!  My darling Jack, I love you so much and
I so desperately want to carry your children, I would delightedly
give birth by myself, unattended, in City Hall Square!  I would
proudly hold up my infant, still wet from my womb, and shout,
'This is Jack Johnson's child!  Isn't he -- or she -- beautiful!'
 Oh, my darling, you have just made me the happiest woman in the
whole world!"

"Then, my darling," Jack asked softly as he reached into his
pocket, "would you wear this ring as a token of my pledge to you
of all my love for as long as I live.  Will you accept it?"  He
reached for her left hand and looked into her eyes for the answer
he knew would be there.

"My darling, I will wear it for the rest of my life -- till death
do us part!"  She could feel him slipping the ring on the third
finger of her left hand.  When he looked up, she looked down --
and gasped!  "But... but... but, Jack!  It is incredible!  I have
never seen a ring like this!  Never!"  The center diamond in the
engagement ring he had slipped on her finger was a perfect
brilliant-cut stone weighing over two-and-a-half carats.

"And, my darling, there has never been a love like this, either!"
 Then he looked at her and tried to communicate his love. 
"Joyce, darling, I am really so glad you like it."  Then he
looked at her with concern showing on his face and said, "You
really do, don't you?  You're... you're not just saying that to
make me feel good?  To avoid hurting my feelings?"

"You silly goose!  It is utterly incredible!"  Then she reached
for him and they melted together in a passionate embrace.  They
were both breathless when they finally parted.

Jack shook his head to clear it and said, "Wow!"  Then looking
around the table he said, "I am now closing out the most
incredible twenty-four hours of my life!"  He looked at his
watch, found it was eight o'clock, and nodded. _"Exactly_
twenty-four hours!  You see, it was at eight o'clock last night
that I saw the tape Joyce made with Rajah.  Incidentally, KNBC is
submitting it for an Emmy award, but that's not the point.

"Viewing the tape, I saw Joyce say that she was planning on being
a spinster.  'How could that be?' I wondered.  Every time I saw
her she was on the arm of another man.  Of course, I fell in love
with Joyce Collier the first instant I laid eyes on her and that
was years ago.  I so wished that I could be charming and debonair
like so many of the men I saw her with.  But then I saw the tape,
and in it she said she planned to be a spinster for life!

"Then, just before our air time, she came into the studio
grinning.  Since I had already decided to make her the co-anchor
on the show and had received the enthusiastic endorsement of
management, I was utterly overwhelmed by her beauty and
liveliness.  But it only confirmed my earlier judgment.  Because
of the time constraints -- the tape came back in the same chopper
that brought her -- I never saw her performance at the circus
until it aired.  Watching it, my heart turned over.  She was so
good, so full of life and full of fun!  I was seeing a side of
Joyce I never knew existed.

"Then we aired her tape with Rajah.  As many of you know, when it
ended, I asked her -- on the air -- about the special effects. 
That was not an act.  I couldn't believe that it could be Joyce
with a real tiger!  Then, as you all know, I met Rajah.  After
the show, we had a discussion about being co-anchor -- she
wouldn't accept it -- and a couple of other things.

"Then I heard Rajah tell her how he was going to express his love
for her, but added it wouldn't be nearly as good as if she were
making love with the love of her life -- me!  When she jumped all
over poor Rajah for blabbing -- she already knew that he could
communicate with me, too -- I told her that I had loved her from
the first moment I saw her.  Then I took her in my arms and
kissed her.  I would like to be able to tell you that our first
kiss was the kiss of my dreams.  I would like to, but I can't.

_"Never_ did I have a dream that good!  Suddenly I was utterly
overwhelmed by her love and her passion, and, I gather, she was
overwhelmed by mine."  He grinned and added, "But never let it be
said that Joyce Collier will disappoint her viewers!  She had
told them that she was going to be a spinster, so, by God, she
was going to be one!  Regardless!

"Anyway, between Rajah and me, we soon wore her down.  She
consented to be my wife."  Then he smiled and said, "I won't bore
you with what happened subsequently, except to say it confirmed
me in my love for her, although at the same time causing me to
wonder about her judgment when she consented to marry a jerk like
me.

"What happened to cause all this to happen?  Two things: Barbara
Conroy and Rajah Collier.  It was Bobbie who, in a matter of a
few minutes, totally changed Joyce's life.  Because of Bobbie,
Joyce renounced all of the idiots and wantons that she formerly
thought of as her friends.

"Believe it or not, as late as eleven o'clock last night, Joyce
believed that the number of her adult friends was down to just
three: Bobbie and Tom Conroy, and Ann Henry, a KNBC reporter. 
Tonight, less than twenty-four hours later, she counts as her
friends Vangie, Ed, and Kris Bradley, and Ali and Bill Clifford.
That's increasing one's friends by a multiple of nearly three in
less than one day!  Isn't my fiancee great?"

Then raising his glass he said, "Joyce and I would like to drink
a toast to you, our newest friends.  There are no words to
express our appreciation for all you have done for us already."

Then to Rajah, who was sitting alertly beside Joyce, he asked,
"Do you agree, Rajah Collier?  Will you join us in the toast?"

"Master Jack, I would proudly join you in your toast, but they
didn't pour us our lemonade.  However, I would like to say that,
in Mistress Joyce you're getting a man's dream come true.  There
are no words powerful enough for me to use to describe her love
for you.  You, in turn, will be the perfect husband for her. 
Then tonight, through Empress Ali, I learned that I could help
with small babies!  I can't tell you how happy I am right now! 
As far as your new friends are concerned, I would drink anything
to support that toast!

"Master Jack, what else could I possibly do when your new friends
include two emperors, two empresses, and another beautiful young
queen?  Sir, your new friends are each worth at least 1,000 of
any others!  Now may Sasha and I have something to drink, so that
we, too, can toast your health and happiness with my mistress,
and toast your magnificent new friends?"

Bill Clifford had already called over the waiter whose eyes
widened when he heard the owner's request, but ran to do his
bidding.  A few moments later, the waiter returned with two
stemmed shallow compote dishes which he filled with champagne and
placed on the table in front of the tigers.  Jack grinned as he
watched the tigers, then raised his glass and said, "To our new
friends!"  He and Joyce drank along with Rajah.  Then Rajah asked
Queen Bobbie if she would repeat her toast to the couple so that
he and Sasha could drink that one, too.  She did and they did,
along with everyone else.

The chefs at the hotel outdid themselves that night.  Knowing
that the food was for the owners personally, and knowing that
they were entertaining very important guests, the dinner was
spectacular.

By the time they finished eating, a band was playing for dancing.
 Jack Johnson had always thought that his ability as a dancer was
nonexistent -- at best.  Nevertheless, given the occasion, he
felt that he had to offer.  To his dismay, Joyce immediately
accepted.  When they moved out on the dance floor Jack found to
his utter amazement that she was like a feather in his arms.

For the first time in his entire life, he actually enjoyed
dancing.  He almost fell over when the set ended and Joyce looked
up at him with stars in her eyes and told him he was the finest
dancer she had ever met.  They stayed on the floor dancing -- and
melting each other with their kisses between numbers -- until the
band took a break.

* * *

The band was new to the hotel and the bandleader never read
anything other than _Variety._  As a result, he did not know that
the large table set off by itself was that of the hotel's owners.
 However, he did recognize Kris Bradley, and he had recognized
Jack Johnson and Joyce Collier dancing together.  Moreover, as
one of the more than one million people who had seen the KNBC
news the night before, he was surprised to see the massive
diamond that Joyce was wearing on the third finger of her left
hand.

When the band returned from its break, instead of starting right
in on the next set, the leader took the microphone and said,
"Ladies and gentlemen: Tonight I see we have with us in the room
the brightest singing star in the country today, and, based on
what I read in the trades, a certain star in films.  If your
applause is persuasive enough, perhaps we can get Kris Bradley to
join us on stage this evening.  What do you think?  If you would
really like to hear her, let her hear you!"

In an instant, everyone else in the large room was on his feet
cheering and applauding wildly.  Recognizing that any damage was
already done, Kris rose to her feet, mentally called to Sasha and
then walked to the stage with the tiger pacing proudly at her
side.  The bandleader helped her up to the stage while the tiger
got up with effortless grace and then proudly sat down on the
stage beside her.

After shaking hands with the bandleader and accepting his kiss,
Kris adjusted the mike and looked out at the crowd.  Then she
said, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.  Thank you so much for
that very warm welcome.  However, before I sing a number, I would
like to introduce my bodyguard, my friend, and my love: Sasha
Bradley!"

Looking at the tiger lovingly she mentally said, "Sasha, I'll bet
you can be friendlier than Rajah was last night.  Let's show
them!"  Then aloud she said, "Sasha, would you like to wave to
the people?"  The huge animal then smiled warmly, waved his paw
and blew a kiss to the people.  Bending over just slightly -- in
his sitting posture he was more than five feet tall -- she hugged
and kissed him and told him he was wonderful.

Then to the mike she said, "Isn't he a wonder?  We'll come back
to him in a moment."  Then she sang her signature number,
followed by two more from her platinum album.

After acknowledging another standing ovation she said, "Thank you
all very much.  But I really think you would like to hear some
good singing.  Well, it happens that the person with the real
singing voice in the Bradley family is here with me tonight: my
baby sister, Barbara.  She is the real singer among the Bradleys
but rather than singing for a living, she is doing something she
thinks is more important than entertaining people: She is
educating children.  Perhaps you might recognize her better by
her married name, Bobbie Conroy."

The cheers and sustained applause indicated that they certainly
knew of the trial and its outcome.  Kris continued, "As I said,
she considers it more important that entertaining people."  After
pausing for a moment she continued, "Well, frankly, so do I! 
And, I understand, there are experts who rate her as easily the
finest teacher alive in the world today and -- possibly -- the
finest teacher who has ever lived.  Please let me hear a great
round of applause, and maybe -- just maybe -- we could get her up
here, too, so you could hear a truly beautiful singing voice. 
Please?"

Again the applause and cheers roared out and did not diminish
until Bobbie rose from her chair.  Joining her sister on the
stage, the first thing Bobbie did was to glare at Kris and say,
_"Twin sister,_ what is this garbage I hear about being your baby
sister?"

"But Bobbie, darling," Kris replied blandly, "I checked the birth
certificates very carefully.  I'm nearly a whole hour older than
you are."

Looking out at the audience Kris added, "That about sums it up
for Bobbie: she started off in life being late and she's been
running late ever since!"

Everyone howled with laughter including Bobbie who, nonetheless,
pretended to strangle Kris.  The two sisters sang several songs
in a patriotic medley and then Bobbie sang a few songs of her
own.  Her singing voice was clear, pure, and very powerful.

When she finished, she was about to flee when Kris said, "Sis, I
know you're an amateur, but I would still think you would know
enough to stick around for the applause."  Looking out at the
audience she said, "Well, do you believe me now?  Don't you agree
that Bobbie Conroy has an extraordinary singing voice?"

There was another standing ovation, the loudest of the night. 
Bobbie blushed when she saw Tom on his feet cheering louder than
anyone else.  Then Kris took Bobbie in her arms and gave her a
wonderfully loving kiss.

When she eased away she said, "And I really do love my baby
sister, even if she does always get so uptight when I borrow one
or two of her dresses..."

_"Borrow?"_ Bobbie exclaimed. _"One or two?_  Good grief, sister,
a few months ago I came back to my room and found half of my
closet missing!  And borrow?  You still have some of my things
you took five years ago!"

The byplay was, of course, a pretend game that Bobbie and Kris
always played together.  It was a form of amusement for them
both, but their enjoyment ultimately depended on their
believability.  The fact was that five years earlier neither knew
the other was even alive.

"Damn!  Bobbie, I think you may be right.  I'll check my closet
first thing in the morning.  If I still have them, I'll be sure
to bring them right back!"  Then, after a perfectly timed pause,
she added, "They don't fit anymore, anyway."

Glancing down she saw Sasha's eyes glinting with amusement.  Kris
realized suddenly that if a tiger could laugh, Sasha would be. 
She winked at him and formed her lips in a kiss.

Then, while Bobbie made her way back to their table, Kris
continued, "At the beginning I said I would come back to Sasha. 
Well, I owe his presence to Joyce Collier's marvelous piece on
the news last night.  In fact, I fortunately had the tape machine
running so I was able to replay that bit over and over.  You see,
Joyce was talking _to me!_  And what she said resonated like a
carillon of bells.

"Single?"  Nodding her head sadly she answered her own question,
"Sure am.  Likely to remain so?"  Again her head nodded but with
even more vehemence, "Sure am!"  Then she shook her head and
said, "Folks, I honestly don't think there is a girl in this
country who has dated more different men than I have.  Frankly,
the experience -- so far, at least -- has been sickening.  I must
have gone out with the world's largest collection of creeps,
dolts, and sex fiends."

Then she looked resigned and continued, "Oh, sure, you can't lose
them all.  Some of the guys were actually pretty nice.  Those I
kissed goodnight -- and never dated again.  Why?  It's simple,
really: no bells, no second date.  So far, no bells.  So anyway,
I am certainly the spinster Joyce was talking to.

"What else?  Well, how about protection?  Boy, do I need that! 
First, I mentioned some of the creeps I've been out with.  Now
I'm relaxed.  Now I can have confidence that, with a guy trying
to paw at my tits, when I say stop, he will stop.  Or at least,
if he doesn't, he'll never again use that hand to paw another
woman -- assuming they're ever able to find the hand, that is. 
But there's more.  Being as objective as possible about myself,
I'm really not the ugliest woman on two feet..."  She stopped and
just shrugged as the howls of laughter and hoots of derision from
the audience drowned her out.

Continuing, "...so I attract a whole bunch of guys on the street.
 Then, since I got very lucky with my record and stupidly allowed
my picture to appear on the jacket, that didn't help much,
either.  And since my movie premiered, it's been utterly
impossible.  Anyway, I'm confident that all of that will change,
and change very quickly."

Looking at Sasha who was sitting alertly by her side she asked,
"Sasha, will you protect me from those creeps?"  The tiger nodded
his head eagerly.  "But darling, what will you do if one of them
is... persistent?"

  Instantly, his huge eyes turned as cold as ice and he drew back
his lips exposing his huge teeth.  Then he let out the most
savage snarl anyone in the audience had ever heard.  It started
softly but just steadily increased in intensity until it was
echoing off the walls.

Kris shook her head and appeared unsure.  Looking out at the
audience she asked, "I'm not really certain.  What do you folks
think?  Do you think Sasha adequately communicated the idea that
he was... displeased?  Do you?  Are you certain the guy would
really get his message?"  Again there were hoots of laughter and
the shouted assurances that anyone who didn't get the message
clearly had a fully-developed death wish.

"Gee, thanks, folks," Kris said.  "You don't know how much more
comfortable that makes me feel.  After all, poor Sasha doesn't
communicate in English -- or at least, not in the normal manner
-- and some people really aren't too good at understanding
nonverbal communication.  But you're all really sure?"  Again
there was laughter and this time she grinned, nodded her head
sharply and said, "I am, too!

"Finally, of course, Joyce mentioned feelings and sensitivity. 
How are these for feelings?"  With that she communicated to Sasha
to face her.  Still sitting attentively, he turned ninety degrees
and looked at her with his eyes wide.  Moving as close to him as
she could get, she mashed her tits against the gloriously soft
fur of his chest and kissed him.  As soon as she did, Sasha sat
up straight on his haunches, wrapped his arms around her and
squeezed her body tightly to his.  The intensity of his kiss
caused Kris's eyes to glaze.  When she broke the kiss she had to
keep her arms around his neck and snuggle her face against it
while she regained her breath.  Feeling her return to normal,
Sasha gently released her and sat down again.

Facing the audience, Kris just took a very deep breath and
murmured, "Wow!"  Then she smiled warmly, shook her head and
said, "If one picture is worth a thousand words, that one kiss is
worth volumes!  Girls, I think I made my point."

When she asked Sasha to wave to the audience, he did in a manner
as cheery as Rajah's and then, overwhelmed with pride and love
for his beautiful mistress, proudly escorted her back to her
seat.  He even pulled out her chair with his paw and seated her.

The bandleader looked over at the table and then said, "I guess
it's only fair.  Since Kris has just been talking about Joyce
Collier's story and her reaction to it, now I see, sitting at the
same table, Joyce herself, of KNBC, Los Angeles, and, I'm pretty
sure the famous Rajah is with her.  Joyce, would you please come
up and say hello?"

Rising gracefully, she went up to the stand preceded by the
tiger.  After being greeted by the bandleader he looked down at
her hand and saw the exquisite diamond on her finger.  "Joyce,"
he said, "like so many others in Los Angeles, I watched your news
show last night and I, too, really enjoyed the feature you did
with Rajah.  But I distinctly remember you starting off by
announcing that you planned on being a spinster for the rest of
your life, the way I gather Kris Bradley does.  Now I see a
diamond on your finger big enough to choke a Bengal tiger the
size of Rajah, here.  What happened?"

Taking the mike she said, "Rajah happened."  Looking around the
room she said, "Folks, Jack and I would consider it a great favor
if things said in this room tonight, stay here.  We would like to
announce our engagement publicly on our show Monday night. 
Please?"

Then turning to the table she said, "Jack, would you join me?" 
Then to the people, as Jack made his way to the stage, she said,
"As many of you know, this is Jack Johnson.  As News Director at
KNBC, he's now my boss.  Beginning on Monday night, for a while
at least, he's my co-anchor.  And beginning as soon as we can
make arrangements, and lasting forever, he will be my lord and
master.  He is and will forever be the love of my life."  After
waving to the crowd and receiving its applause, Jack took Joyce
into his arms and they melted their lips together in a passionate
kiss.

When they broke the kiss, he stood beside her with his arm around
her while Rajah sat attentively at her other side.  Joyce began,
"Folks, what happened, as I said a moment ago, was Rajah.  You
see, last night at the station there was a small... altercation.
Rajah acted and spared me some embarrassment.  Anyway, when the
show ended, I reminded him that, since it had occurred so close
to our air time, I hadn't had the chance to thank him properly. 
Anyway, I gave him a kiss.  Then this big blabbermouth says it
was a wonderful kiss, but I couldn't enjoy it nearly as much as I
would if I were kissing the love of my life... Jack Johnson!

"There were a couple of things I didn't mention in my feature. 
One of them is that I can communicate with Rajah, and he with me,
_mentally!_  I won't bore you with the details, but we had
already learned that Rajah could also communicate with Jack.  So
when Rajah said those words to me, Jack heard them, too.  Then it
was all over!

"You see," she said with tears now flowing down her cheeks,
"until yesterday afternoon, morally I was a piece of filth! 
Moreover, Jack certainly knew that I was.  He had never even
asked me out, and I ascribed that to his judgment and good taste.
 Frankly, when he announced on the air that I was his new
co-anchor, I was stunned.  You see, I was hearing it for the
first time, too.  As his co-anchor I'll be sitting beside him at
the news desk and I didn't think he could bear ever to be that
close to me.

"But back to my feature: the reason I said I was going to be a
spinster was a Catch 22.  I had made a decision to reform myself.
 That meant dumping all of the filth with whom I had always spent
my time.  But it did something else, too.  It reduced the number
of my adult friends to only three -- and Jack certainly wasn't
one of them.

"Moreover, you see, I had fallen madly in love with Jack Johnson
the first instant I laid eyes on him years ago.  So thus the
catch: I could no longer stand even to associate with all the
crud I had dated, and the only man I could ever love had the good
taste to keep as far away from me as he possibly could.  In fact,
I was certain that he wouldn't touch me with fire tongs!  The
result?  Spinster.

"But Rajah, the big blabbermouth, blew it!"

Now showing great anxiety, she cried, "Now what am I going to
tell my viewers?  What can I possibly say to those single women
who believed me?  You tell me: _What?"_  Then she put her arms
around Rajah's neck and put her face right in front of his and
said in an accusing voice, "You did it!  You got me into this! 
Here I was content: I was going to be a spinster, and live with
you, just the two of us.  Was that good enough for you?  Oh, no!
You had to go and wreck it all!"

Then she hugged him tightly and continued in the most loving
voice anyone had ever heard, "You got me together with the love
of my life!  In less than twenty-four hours I have personally
experienced a level of love and passion from Jack Johnson that I
did not believe could exist in this world!  Now I can look
forward to becoming pregnant from his glorious seed, and giving
birth to tiny babies.  I can look forward to nursing them,
nurturing them....  Damn it! _Mothering_ them!"

She kissed him soundly and said, "And it's all you!  Now what do
you have to say for yourself?"

Rajah moved back a short distance on the stage.  It caused
Joyce's back to be partially towards the audience, but it
positioned him so that while Joyce could see him, the audience
could, too.  He stood up, balanced on his hind quarters.  Then he
produced the cheeriest smile anyone could imagine on a tiger's
face, cheerily waved, and then blew a kiss with his paw.  Then he
just held his position, wide-eyed.

By this time Jack was close beside her.  Taking the mike he said,
"Thank you, Rajah.  That was great!"  Turning to face the
audience again while turning Joyce with him he said, "Folks, what
do you think?  Should we be mad at Rajah?"  Then after a pause he
added, "With a cheery smile like that, _could_ we be!?"

There were cheers from the audience and Jack checked his watch. 
Seeing that it was nearly eleven, he shook his head and said,
"Folks, I would like to tell you to get out of here right now, go
home, and watch KNBC's Saturday Night News."

He looked sad as he continued, "But I guess I really can't.  In
the first place, it airs in less than five minutes and most of
you couldn't make it home in time.  In the second place, Joyce
and I are guests tonight of the owners of this hotel.  We
certainly couldn't return their gracious hospitality by telling
their paying customers to please leave."

Then he grinned and said, "As a result, I guess it's only fair
for Joyce and me to fill you in on a couple of stories that you
would otherwise miss.  I'll take the first, reporting on the
meeting at our studios this afternoon with the Animal-Rights
people who she mentioned on our show last night.

"Well, it seems the Animal-Rights folks were convinced that,
first, the tigers were -- Rajah and Sasha, please cover your ears
-- drugged."  To the vast amusement of the audience, the instant
Jack gave his instructions the two huge tigers stood up on their
hindquarters and covered their ears with their paws.  They looked
so cute doing it that even Joyce and Jack laughed.

Then shaking his head, Jack said, "Folks, the reason I asked is
that there are a few things to which these guys react...
violently!  One of them is the word D-R-U-G in juxtaposition with
themselves.  Looking at Rajah again he asked, "Raj, you can't
spell, can you?"

Rajah slowly nodded his head up and down with one of his eyebrows
obviously raised.  At the same time he communicated and then Jack
said, "The answer, folks, as most of you saw, is yes he can. 
However, he told me that he realizes I was just reporting the
news and I certainly know better."

Looking out at the people he said, "He's right about that:  I
certainly do know better.  Drugs?  Utterly ridiculous.  What
controls these huge animals?  Only one thing: love.  There is an
incredible two-way flow of love between these animals and some of
us.  I think it should be obvious, but I'll say it anyway: Joyce
Collier loves Rajah Collier nearly as much as she loves me!  And
I love him every bit as much as she does.  Why he loves us, I
can't say.  Ask him, and he might tell you.  But it is a fact
that Rajah adores his mistress.  What you saw on the tape that
ran on our show last night, and again on the stage here tonight,
was real!  These two adore each other.

"Well, back to our meeting.  Rajah... persuaded... them that
there were no drugs used.  The second allegation was that their
teeth had been extracted.  Well, Sasha and Prince stood over a
couple of the visitors and growled in their faces.  That
certainly made the tigers' teeth clearly visible.  All of them!"

Jack shook his head, seeming to be puzzled.  "I don't really
understand it, though.  Those people seemed...  Well, I have to
say it:  They seemed frightened.  Strange, I admit, but they
really did.  And that was even with my fiancee sleeping on
Rajah's back at the time, too.  Of course, Sasha and Prince were
really embarrassed at waking her up with their loud growls.

"But Prince made it up to her.  Their last complaint had to do
with dulling or in some other way disabling the tigers' claws. 
Well, do you know what Prince did?  It was extraordinary!  He
undressed the expert, Dr. Cohen, that the people brought along
with them."

Jack frowned and shook his head in dismay.  "It was a little hard
on Dr. Cohen's clothes, of course.  You see, in just five swipes
of his paw, Prince had him completely undressed.  And I mean
completely!  I mean even severing the good doctor's watch band
with a single stroke of his paw that began at the man's neck!  I
mean even slicing his socks and his leather shoes right down to
the tips of his toes on a stroke beginning at his crotch!

"Well, it was a little disappointing, really.  Prince's
demonstration convinced them that the tigers' claws are sharp. 
The disappointment came when they carried Dr. Cohen out without
even staying for refreshments.  And Dr. Cohen didn't even say
goodbye."  Jack cocked his head and seemed to think for a moment,
then added, "Of course, he was catatonic at the time, so I guess
he really wasn't capable of saying anything.  We really couldn't
understand why he was, though.  I mean...  There were just these
five neat straight red lines...  And they weren't even bleeding
or anything."

Jack just shook his head and said, "I wonder what happened to the
poor man?"  Then he brightened and said, "Well, it's all over
now.  There will be a very detailed formal letter of apology to
the circus and all the people involved delivered to KNBC before
noon on Monday.  I'm sure of that!"

He grinned and added, "How can I be sure the letter will be
delivered?  It's easy, really.  You see, Prince and Sasha were
standing with their forepaws on the arms of the chairs the two
men were sitting in.  Tom Conroy pointed out to them that their
appearance and their characteristic scent was now fixed in the
tigers' brains.  And the tigers consider that a solemn promise is
sacred -- and they received a solemn promise that the letter of
apology would be delivered before noon on Monday.  All Tom did
was point out that the tigers react... well... violently... to
someone violating such a solemn oath."  Then he brightened and
nodded his head.  "But I'm sure we'll receive the letter, so they
won't have anything to worry about.

"At any rate, while all this was going on Joyce was sleeping
soundly on Rajah's back.  Why was she sleeping?  Well, that's a
part of her story.  Joyce?"

"Jack," she began, "before I start on my story, I would like to
address your question about poor Dr. Cohen: I think the answer is
quite simple, really.  I mean, you and Tom even said it
yourselves:  Not any old tiger could do what Prince did, right? 
I mean... it takes an extraordinary level of coordination and
control, right?  Well, we know any of our boys could have done
it, but they don't know them the way we do, so..."  With eyes
wide she asked, "What do you think?"

Jack snapped his fingers and said, "Damn!  Joyce, I think you hit
it right on the nose!  Of course the poor man would be nervous...
 Joyce, darling, I can't tell you how happy it makes me feel to
be marrying such a brilliant and perceptive woman!  But now your
story..."

"Well," Joyce began, "it goes back to the story we ran last
night.  Folks, I have a confession to make:  It was not
complete."  She nodded her head and looked both sincere and
apologetic as she continued, "That's right.  It was not complete.
 You see, I neglected to mention that Rajah and I communicate
_mentally!_  It's really great fun, too.  This morning, for
example, we were running in the park together, having a fine time
teasing each other... without wasting any breath uttering a
single word!  It was so neat!"

She looked up at the ceiling as if she was reflecting on a point
and then shook her head.  "I guess my omission didn't really
matter, though.  The two guys concerned hadn't watched our show,
anyway, so I guess I shouldn't blame myself.

"You see, we didn't wrap it up at the studio until two o'clock
this morning.  By then, I was so exhausted, Rajah carried me all
the way out from the studios on his back -- and it is a very long
walk.  Well, to thank him I told him to wait at the entrance and
I would get the car and pick him up.  Unfortunately, two men were
lurking in the shadows by my car waiting to kidnap me.  Their
intention was to hold me for ransom.  If the ransom was paid, I
would be released... alive, but not unharmed.  You see, the first
thing they were going to do was to rape me.  They would take
turns and keep it up until they received the money.  If they
didn't get it, they would continue until I was dead."  There were
gasps of shock from the audience and sounds of disbelief.

Shaking her head she said, "I assure you, it was all painfully
true.  The two men were not the nicest people in Greater Los
Angeles, either.  One had three felony rape convictions and the
other had two.  Moreover, they were both out on bail while
awaiting trial on two separate additional felony rape charges,
_each!_

"At any rate, to carry out their plan they dropped a burlap bag
over my head and then covered my mouth and nose with an
ether-soaked rag.  I tried to hold my breath but couldn't
possibly utter a sound.  But I did mentally scream to Rajah for
help.

"The way the police reconstructed it later, Rajah was sitting at
the door patiently waiting for me to get the car and come back to
pick him up, when he heard my mental scream.  I do know one
thing: the car was more than a quarter of a mile from the door,
but Rajah covered the distance in just a few seconds.  Well, he
leaped with his paws out front and with his claws extended.  He
caught each man with a paw and ripped both of their backs with
five huge gouges running from their shoulders through their
buttocks to a depth of about three inches each.  That was
probably lethal.  Take a ruler sometime, measure three inches in
from your back and try to guess how many vital organs would be in
those claw tracks.

"It wasn't over, though.  You see, Rajah had also received my
mental message concerning rape.  Lieutenant Patrick Collins of
LAPD and myself discussed the matter later at his office.  We
concluded that Rajah does not like the idea of rape very much,
and particularly dislikes it if the intended victim is me.  Well,
anyway, again from the police reconstruction, one of the man
landed on his back.  Rajah took a swipe at his groin with his
claws.  The bottom eight inches or so of the man's groin,
including all his sex organs, were detached.  They landed about
100 feet away.

"The other guy apparently landed on his face.  Well, Rajah turned
him over... but not very neatly.  He took a swipe at the man's
shoulder to turn him over and succeeded.  Unfortunately, in the
process most of the man's shoulder was detached.  Then with the
man on his back, Rajah did to him what he had done to the other
guy."

She shook her head sadly and interjected, "I checked with LAPD
about five-thirty this evening.  Although they were still
looking, they still hadn't found the missing parts of the second
man."  Joyce looked concerned and said, "Gee!  I sure hope they
do.  Otherwise, can you imagine some poor soul parking his or her
car, getting out and stepping on..."  Shaking her head again, she
added, "You know, that could really ruin one's day.

"Anyway, when the police arrived the two men were lying in pools
of blood, each about three feet in diameter, and were very dead."
 Then she smiled and said, "Now that is one point I did cover
carefully in last night's story, and it serves those guys right
for not watching KNBC's late news.  And I certainly hope it
serves as a lesson to all of you:  Pay attention!  Listen up! 
You may get important information.  In their case, it might have
saved their lives.

"You remember, I did stress that Rajah was a great bodyguard, and
he even showed the viewers how he would react if I were
threatened.  I mean... they were warned, after all.  We can't be
responsible if they didn't pay attention or -- horror of horrors!
 -- didn't even watch us at all.  Right?"

Turning to Jack she said, "And that's why I was tired and took a
nap at the meeting this afternoon.  Okay?"  At that there was a
standing ovation while Jack again melted his lips to hers.

* * *

Later that night, Kris Bradley opened the door of her suite in
the Beverly Wilshire and ushered Sasha in.  The huge tiger paced
through the sitting room and explored the other rooms, then
quickly returning to her side.  He looked up at her expectantly
as she simultaneously untied the cord supporting her dress,
allowing it to drop in a pile at her feet, while she looked
through the phone book.  Finding the number she was looking for,
Kris called the nearest Domino's and ordered an anchovy and
peppers pizza.  "The pizza is for the tiger, Sasha.

"And by the way, guys, from now on his name is Sasha Bradley.  My
name is Kristin Bradley and he will be living with me from now
on.  I'm staying at the Beverly Wilshire in Suite 1200 and will
expect it, as usual, within thirty minutes.  By the way, could
you please pick up about three gallons of lemonade on the way,
too?  I'm sure you can find some at a convenience store."

Adding the lemonade to the order convinced the duty manager that
the pizza was really for one of the tigers.  Moreover, he checked
a little list that had been faxed in earlier in the day from the
regional office.  It contained the pizza preferences of each of
the ten tigers by name.  Sure enough, there was Sasha listed, and
anchovy and peppers was what he ate.  But the manager was
concerned about his ability to deliver to a hotel.  He pointed
out that they were never allowed to deliver to the guest rooms
because it took business away from the hotel's room service.

Kris assured him that, since her aunt and uncle owned the hotel,
she was certain it would be all right.  As soon as she hung up,
she called the front desk and told the clerk to send up the men
from Domino's as soon as they arrived.

By the time she hung up the phone, Kris had stripped completely
bare.  Now she stepped over the pile of her discarded clothes and
just looked at Sasha.  She could see the love in his eyes, but
clearly he was as uncertain as she was.  He had never encountered
an adult virgin woman before and didn't know what to do.  Kris
leaned back so her bottom was against the edge of a desk set in
the middle of the room.  Then she took her forefinger and ran it
into her slit.  After playing with herself for a few moments she
was rewarded with some of her love juices.  Using them to wet her
finger she held it out to Sasha who gently licked it off.

"Do you like it, darling Sasha?" she asked.  "I have no idea what
it tastes like.  Is it good?"

"My darling Mistress Kristin," he communicated with all the love
he could, "it is nectar!  It is utterly exquisite!  But... but do
you want me to lick you?  The way I did your sister, our queen?"
He looked skeptical and added, "She is, after all, an experienced
married woman.  She regularly takes our King between her thighs,
so...  And Mistress Joyce was experienced with men, too, but
Rajah almost rendered her unconscious.  Might you not be hurt?"

Kris snapped her fingers and then cleared everything hard or
sharp off the top of the desk, including its lamp and ashtrays. 
Then she measured the distance by eye and spread magazines where
she estimated her head would land if she fell over backward. 
Then she spread her legs wide to expose herself as much as
possible, after telling Sasha what she had done, and telling him
that she expected him to cushion her fall if she fell forward. 
When he came close and gently extended his tongue, it made
contact with one of her vaginal lips.  He worked on it, then the
other, and then used his tongue to separate the lips to provide
his tongue access to her clit beyond.  For Kris, who had never
even masturbated, it was the most extraordinary experience of her
life.  Although she had never done more than kiss any boy once,
she thought she was passionate, and so she proved to be.

In moments, her pelvis was involuntarily writhing and she was
moaning with pleasure.  When he triggered her first orgasm, she
screamed and released a flood of love juices.  Sasha was even
able to form the tip of his tongue into a little point to
penetrate the outer limits of her vagina.  Since most of its
nerve endings are close to the mouth, he was able to bring her to
a massive vaginal orgasm, too.

For Kris it was like being in heaven.  Although she constantly
teased her parents, her sisters, and her brother, Ken, about it,
the fact was she was being serious:  Seeing the incredible
passion they generated, she was usually left in an agony of
unsatisfied wanting even after the few times her father or
brother, mother or sisters would work on her cunt with their
mouths.  Never had she achieved a vaginal orgasm in her life. 
Seeing how joyous she appeared when he was able to penetrate her
vaginal opening, that is where Sasha vowed to concentrate his
attention.  Soon her loins were moving by themselves in ecstasy
while Kris was nearly unconscious.  All of her feelings and
sensations were concentrated in her loins.  All she wanted was
for the pleasure never to end.

Seeing that his beloved mistress was about to lose consciousness,
Sasha eased off and concentrated on licking off every drop of
precious fluid he could reach.  When she was dry, he began to
lick her legs and just watched her.

Slowly, Kris revived.  Then she closed her eyes tightly, opened
them again and said softly, "Wow!"  Looking down at Sasha who was
working on her beautiful legs she said softly, "Darling Sasha, I
need to sit down.  Will you sit with me?"

Instead the huge tiger lay on his back and spread his legs wide.
Grinning, she climbed on top of him and just lay with her cheek
against his wonderful chest fur.  As soon as she did, he closed
his forepaws around her and just held her gently.  "Oh, my
darling!  This is so much nicer than just sitting."

They just rested together until the doorbell rang.  Kris got up
like a shot, raced into the bathroom to grab a terry robe,
slipped it on, and raced back to the door.  There were two men
from Domino's waiting.  One had the pizza while the other had a
paper sack with the lemonade and a very large bowl in his hand. 
They brought the bowl, he said because they were afraid there was
nothing in the room to pour Sasha's lemonade into.  When she went
for her purse to pay them, they waved her off saying that the
hotel cashier had already paid them and tipped them quite
generously, too.

After getting a glass for herself, she poured lemonade into
Sasha's bowl and then into her glass.  Then, after shedding her
robe, she lay back against him as he lay curled on the floor and
began to alternately feed a bite to Sasha and take one herself. 
Of course one of Sasha's bites took almost the whole slice. 
After going through half the pizza, and after the tiger had
refreshed himself with lemonade, she just leaned back against him
and wriggled her back against his fur.  Then she leaned over and
kissed him solidly full on the lips.

Again relaxing against him she said softly, "Darling Sasha, this
is absolutely spectacular!"  Then with concern showing in her
face she asked, "Darling, was it all right?  Did you... did you
like drinking at my fountain?"

"Beloved Mistress," he replied, "Nothing could possibly be
better!  You are so warm, incredibly sweet and wonderful!  No
creature that has ever lived has enjoyed an experience such as I
have just had."  Then more softly he said, "Mistress, is my
information correct?  Are you only nineteen years old?"  She said
it was true.  Then he smiled warmly and said, "You see, I am the
equivalent of nineteen, also.  We are like two teenagers after
some very heavy necking, relaxing by sharing a pizza."

Then he looked puzzled and asked, "But shouldn't we be drinking
Coke or..."

Kris leaped over, wrapped her arms around his neck and just
squeezed.  "My darling," she whispered, "I don't know what to
say!"

She paused and continued in an even softer tone of voice, "The
only day to compare with this one was the day I first met my
mother, Vangie Bradley.  You see, I am adopted, as is Bobbie. 
Everything I said tonight was teasing -- I don't think I could
possibly love anyone more than I love her -- but we are, in fact,
almost exactly the same age."

Her voice broke as she described the day she first met her
mother, Vangie.  How, at the age of fourteen, after losing her
parents and brother in a tragic automobile accident and after
having her life saved by Ken and Cathy Bradley, she had stood in
front of her in a christening dress and asked to be her daughter.
 "My darling, I can't tell you how I felt that day!  You have
seen my mother.  You consider her to be an empress, and I can
certainly see why.  Well, Mom took me in her arms and just cried
and cried.  Then she said nothing could possibly give her greater
pleasure than to be my mother."

Kris had to stop for a moment when her tears overcame her as she
remembered the day.  Then she continued in a broken voice,
"Sasha, from that day to this I couldn't receive more love from
her if I had been her natural daughter.  Now I think of her as my
real mother and I know she thinks she is, too."  Then she pulled
back a little to look at him and added, "Until today, that was
the high point of my life.  My darling, I'm not sure that you
have not made today even better!"

After leaning back against him in silence for a few more moments
she continued softly, "Darling Sasha, I think you may be the best
thing that has happened to me since Mom accepted me as her
daughter.  You see, now I'll be able to date men and look at them
objectively, without having a terrible itch in my cunt that I
could never scratch.  Now I'll have you providing daily relief."

Suddenly she spun around to look him straight in the eye and
asked, "But can you drink at my fountain every day?  Is that too
much?  Every week, maybe?"

"Darling Kris..."  With his eyes open wide he looked at her and
appeared close to tears.  Then he stammered, "May I... Could I...
Mistress, you're so young and vibrant and beautiful, I think of
you as Kris or Kristin.  Could..."

"My darling, you may call me anything you wish.  I like Kris
best, but you could call me Kristin, if you prefer, or Hot Cunt,
or Love Fountain, or Sexy Bitch..."

"Kris," he continued, picking up where he had interrupted
himself, "I could drink at your fountain every waking hour.  I
cannot tell you how much I love you, or how much I adore drinking
at your glorious fountain!  All day, every day...  Is that enough
to keep you... satisfied?"

Kris just wriggled with joy.  Then she said softly, "Darling
Sasha, I'm thinking of buying some very full skirts for a change,
and wear them without a bikini.  Then, when you accompany me out
on a date, if he is a drip -- and so many of them are -- I could
just spread my legs wide and you could be under the table
drinking at my fountain and allowing me just to tune the dullard
out!"

She spun around again to look at him and added, "Aren't I
terrible?  But the idea of your drinking at my fountain while we
are out in public excites me so!  It would be so much fun trying
to keep my face impassive while you're causing my loins
repeatedly to spasm in orgasm.  It would be so neat!"

This time it was Sasha who moved.  Swinging his huge head, he
softly kissed Kris full on the mouth.  She was astonished again
to feel the surge of the purest love flow between them.  It was
the same kiss he had given her on the stage, but multiplied in
its intensity.  In its own way it was as thrilling as his tongue
had been while working on her love box.

When he moved away slightly he could see Kris's eyes were glazed
with love.  Then he said softly, "Kris, my darling, can you
imagine what it would be like for me?  To probe your sweetness
with my tongue after parting your skirt and moving between your
glorious legs?  Can you?  Now, my darling, let's finish the
pizza.  Your bed awaits -- and, of course, your bed is me!"

* * *

The next morning, as Bobbie slowly emerged from sleep, she felt
strange.  While for months she had always slept on her back with
her head on Tom's broad shoulder, this morning she realized
sleepily that they were face to face and still locked in their
embrace.  Moreover, the bed felt so different.  Moving slightly,
she realized it was so incredibly soft and warm... and furry! 
Now wide awake, she realized that Prince's fondest dream had come
true: he had served as the marriage bed for his king and queen! 
For Bobbie, the sensation was utterly beyond words.  Here she was
wrapped in her husband's arms while both were tenderly wrapped in
Prince's.

Looking up towards his head she saw that, although Prince had not
moved a muscle, his eyes were open wide and he was just looking
at her lovingly.  "Oh, my dearest Queen," he communicated, "was I
satisfactory?  You and my King certainly seemed to... enjoy
yourselves... last night.  And I was so happy that there was no
holding back nor doing anything at all even to recognize my
existence.  You so wholeheartedly worshiped each other's bodies.

"And then... then my greatest wish came true: you fell asleep in
my arms!  For me it was like dying and going to heaven... and I
am still in heaven right now."

Then he communicated softly so as not to awaken Tom, "And just
think!  There is still your wonderfully slow and luscious morning
lovemaking yet to come!"  He paused and very gently shook his
head but in a way that transmitted no motion at all to his body.
Then he added, "My queen, I have a conundrum.  On the one hand, I
am so eager for your body to be taken again.  On the other hand,
holding you both closely like this is so wonderful, and I can
just savor with anticipation the glorious love that is to come! 
I don't know what to do."

"Anticipate, darling Prince," Bobbie said softly as she snuggled
closer to Tom and went back to sleep.

Prince just lay there with his eyes open while feeling the
marvelous warmth of his king and queen lying on his chest.  Then
he just remained motionless and waited for what he now knew was
certain to come.

To be continued...

* * *

Comments and constructive criticism are sincerely welcome.  Let
me hear from you.  morg105829@aol.com 

*Barbara* (c) 1994, 2001 by Morgan.   morg105829@aol.com  

All rights reserved.  No part may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying,
recording or by any information and retrieval system, without the
written permission of the author.
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