Spider 2019-10-01

LONG TIME AGO, when the

ancient landscape of Japan was dotted

with hundreds of castles and the country

was ruled by the sword, there was a great

samurai warrior who was pestered by

a large rat. Not only did the rat get

into the warrior’s food, it also gnawed

through the floorboards of his house and

even shredded some of his clothes and

belongings. The warrior tried to catch

the rat, but it was too clever and swift

for his traps and his sword.

So the warrior decided to get a cat.

He chose one that was both strong and

quick, but the rodent proved to be faster

than the cat. The cat could not even get

within a foot of the rat, and it just

looked foolish trying.

The warrior then replaced the first

cat with one that was smarter and faster

and had the excellent reputation of

having caught many, many mice. The

rat, however, simply kept out of sight

and only came out when this second

cat was asleep.

Upon hearing of the samurai’s

problem, a Buddhist monk from a nearby

The Fable

of the

Three Cats

Adapted by J.W. Liotta

Art by Julie Kim

Miro, youarea

greatchef!

Your reputation—what buggies

know or say about you—

is well deserved.

Eet was a

group effort.

All made zee pie.