I woke with the knowledge that I was not alone. Faint stirrings of fear wound up from my tightening gut as I rolled out of my bunk intent on catching the intruder of guard and I certainly did. Leaping onto the floor by my bunk they moved with lightning speed… one might even say cat-like reflexes. So cat-like in fact they came complete with yellow fur and white stripes.

            I had seen this little furry killer a few weeks ago in the hallway of our ramshackle hangar but back then she was a bit smaller and too scared to come out from behind the water boxes much less make an incursion into my room in order to sleep on my ankles!

            She seemed content to lurk on the other side of the makeshift blanket wall that hangs between my bunk and my buddy’s while I got dressed. I could just she the tips of her paws as she crouched and watched under the edge of the hanging blanket so I ran the tip of one finger along the inside of the “wall” making a ripple… POW! I have never been hit so hard by a cat in my life. This is no domestic tabby used to soft food in a bowl and stupid cat toys but rather a tried and true hunter who was used to snapping the necks of hapless rodents with a single blow. POW! POW! POW! Like a jackhammer she hit and hit again (I am grateful she didn’t bite my finger!).

            I had to leave to go shower and so I regretfully ended the play session there and she whirled off down the hall in search of tastier prey.

            Some of the guys in the barracks have expressed their unreasoning hatred for the cat (common among military guys) but I frankly enjoy both the company and the completely rodent-free living area she polices.

            The cook who works with me here in the TOC has informed me (don’t ask why) that the cat’s name is O.J. I find that appropriate for a psycho killer.