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Manning； who was in the front seat of the Packard beside the driver； had retained the leash surreptitiously across the top of it until the very last； at her insistence。 He only passed it to her at the moment of arrival； in time for her to make her sortie。 The livened driver jumped down； ran around； and held the door for her。 She stood up in the car； held the stance just long enough for everyone to get a look at her； then prepared to step down。 There was a momentary； and quickly covered…up； hitch at this point。 It was between her and the door and it wouldn't move for a second； she would have had to step over it to get out。
〃Push it with your foot；〃 Manning said in an undertone。
She nudged its flank gingerly with the toe of her shoe。 Then a second time。 It rose reluctantly； wavered for a moment； then sluiced out upon the pavement like a suddenly released coil of black water； giving her arm an awkward jerk that she managed to cover up only with difficulty。 She descended in its wake with the smiling grace of a VenUs。
It had e into full view of the cafй crowd for the first time。 It had been hidden from sight until now on the floor of the car。 One of those deep； somnolent hums rose that are created when dozens of throats all murmur in astonishment at one and the same time。 Then a spray of excited ment was dashed up。 〃 Mira！ Mira！ Look what she's got with her！〃 was repeated on all sides； from chair to chair and from table to table。 Those farther back stood up in their places to get a better look at it。 Women gave little cries of synthetic fright and dismay。 〃 Ay； que horror！ Que barbaridad！ Is she bringing it right in here？〃 And they prepared to jump up and get out of the way。
Passers…by along the sidwalk began to bunch up； keeping back at a respectful distance。
〃Stay here； don't let him take the car away；〃 she said tautly to Manning； from behind her smiling mask of posure and relaxation。
〃He can't stand right here in front of the place； we're not allowed to park。 We'll be right down there at the end of the street。 Nothing can happen to you； just go over to your table and sit down。〃 Then as the sound of the brakes being taken off seemed to freeze her where she was for a moment； he quickly warned： 〃Don't stand here like that； Kick。 You're onstage。 You're on the air。 They're all looking at you。〃
The car glided treacherously out from in back of her； and she was left to her own resources。 She touched it lightly with the little toy whip he'd provided her with； and it moved forward docilely enough； perhaps attracted by the odors of food ing from the tables。 Those seated nearest at hand edged their chairs cautiously back as it made its way down the narrow center lane left between the tables； its coat all but brushing their legs at times。
The distance she had to cover wasn't far； fortunately。 She reached her customary table； which had been held in reserve for her； paused； and managed to get it to halt also by reining in the leash slightly。 Then she seated herself with an air of lordly indifference upon the reedy wire…backed chair the waiter had drawn out for her。 He prudently took her order from that position； remaining behind her instead of ing out around to the other side of the table。
〃A Martini seco；〃 she said。 She crossed her legs and looked about her with that air of cool indifference fashionable ladies are wont to assume in fashionable places。 A renewed tug or two at the leash； meanwhile； had caused it to sink down on the ground at her feet； after an undecided moment or two。 The spool…like table； however； remained between the two of them。 It remained that way； quiescent； as though overe by supreme lassitude； only its ears twitching sensitively at each taxi…horn bleat that sounded in the street outside。
There was a concerted if tactful drawing away on the part of those in the immediate vicinity。 They moved the adjoining tables wherever possible； or； if not； shifted their chairs around to the other side； so that they were facing it and not sitting with their backs to it。 She was left seated in the midst of a small empty circle。 Even the waiter； when he brought her order； approached circuitously from the rear and put it down over her shoulder。
She would not； however； have been an actress if she had not enjoyed the inordinate amount of attention she was attracting。 People could not take their eyes off her…or rather her appendage； which amounted to the same thing。 She took out a gold…tipped cigarette； pointed it up into empty space with her lips in quest of fire。 The match came acmodatingly down over her shoulder from somewhere behind her。
The press representatives arranged for by Manning now materialized from nowhere； converged upon her。 〃A few words； Seсorita Walker？〃
〃 Si； o no；〃 she said affably。
One of them dipped one knee； sighted a reflector toward her。 〃 Fotуgrafo； Seсorita Walker？〃
〃Yes； you may。〃
The flash had a disconcerting effect on the recumbent brute。 It cowered； edged cravenly closer under the table。
〃What do you call it； Seсorita Walker？〃
〃Big Boy。 That means chamaco in English。〃 This was ad libbing； but she was a performer after all。
〃Have you had it long； Seсorita Walker？〃
〃No； I only got it today。 It was sent to me by a friend。〃
A leer creased the corners of the interviewer's eyes。 〃May we say a special friend； Seсorita Walker？〃
Kiki dropped her eyes； coyly rotated the toothpick thrust through the olive in her glass。 〃Yes； you may；〃 she conceded at last。
〃What do you feed it； Seсorita Walker？〃
She was at a loss only for a moment。 〃Oh； a little bit of this and a little bit of that；〃 her stage presence came to her aid。
It was at this point that it happened。 No two versions were alike afterwards as to what the immediate cause was。 Some said a Pekingese passing in a car along the street just then had gone into a tantrum of barking； arousing it。 Others said somebody at one of the other tables had tossed it a small piece of meat while Kiki was occupied with the interviewers； in a spirit of idle mischief； to see what it would do。 Still others were inclined to believe that the intermittent flashes from the photographic apparatus had finally irritated its nervous system beyond endurance。
At any rate； there was no warning。 Its furled legs suddenly shot up under it like steel springs； a disembodied snarl winged its way along the underside of the awning without seeming to have any source； the lightweight table went over； and Kiki and chair with it； and the circle of interviewers scattered like chaff。
Panic blazed up among the overcrowded tables like fire spreading through straw。 There was a mass stampede to the rear； indoors； where doors could be closed protectively against it； even though they were largely glass。 Women screamed； and this time not for effect； men shouted hoarsely； waiters' trays went crashing down flat with tinny reverberations； tables and chairs toppled on all sides； glasses broke； those in tbe rear stumbled and fell to their hands and knees now and then in their efforts to get through ahead of those before them； finally； even one of the veranda door panes itself shivered and disintegrated in the melee。 No one was quite sure where it was any more； nor what it was doing； and no one stopped to find out。
Kiki； screaming berserkly； couldn't extricate herself for a minute from the position she had fallen into。 She was flat on her back； but the chair seat； upended against her； held her legs helplessly in air。 She had a horrifying glimpse of an infuriated black head looming upon her； ears flat； jaws balefully open in spite of the inadequate muzzle that still clung to them； to reveal a set of needlepointed fangs。
There was no time to do anything。 A thick； blue…glass； mesh…protected siphon of seltzer had rolled unbroken toward her from somebody's table。 She snatched it up； hugged it to her chest； closed her eyes expiringly； and played it madly around her in all directions。 Whether that saved her or the fear…maddened beast had had no intention of attacking her anyway and was only seeking its own escape； is one of those moot points that are never satisfactorily decided afterwards。
Moments later； eyes still tightly shuttered to avoid seeing what she could not escape from and the contents of the siphon beginning to ebb dangerously； she felt herself being hoisted upright again by helping hands that had e back belatedly to rescue her now that the acutest point of danger was past。
〃Where did it go？〃 she shuddered； opening her eyes and looking blankly around at the carnage on all sides of her。
Brakes were screaming hectically out in the middle of the road。 Somebody pointed。 It had managed； almost miraculously； to breast the heavy evening traffic unharmed and get to the other side。 She was just in time to see its loping black form； all the way across the Alameda； turn up into a threadlike little alley； a veritable crack between the buildings； that opened on that side； and disappear in the gloom。
〃How are you going to get it back； seсorita？〃 somebody asked fatuously； fanning her with his hat while a restorative was held to her lips。
Kiki flipped her hands violently