The three brothers stared on in total awe and shock. They couldn't believe what had just happened. Waffle shrieked in terror, wrapping his arms around Gordon's oversized stomach. Mr. Blik stood in his spot, unable to move. He was frozen with fear. "What… just… happened?" he inquired. Gordon forced Waffle off of him, leaving him to whimper in the seat of Gear. "That plane," Gordon answered, "was probably a passenger airliner… I can't bear to think of it…" he glanced at Waffle again, noticing his agony. "You drive," he said.
Blik slowly drove his way through a frenzy of traffic and terrified by-standers. As Waffle crawled into a small ball, Gordon patted him on the back, trying to comfort him. "It'll be alright, lad. I'll be willing to bet that everyone is going to get out alive." Waffle sat up and huddled closer to his brother. "I hope you're right…" he mumbled. The cats were now two blocks away from the Trade Center. Blik parked alongside a small apartment building. They hopped out and made their way closer, pushing past innocent civilians. The looks on every one of their faces made Gordon feel helpless.
"Hang out here, fellas', I'm gonna talk to that officer over their," Mr. Blik pointed to a police deputy staring up at the Towers. As he walked off, Waffle said, "Gordon, I'm scared…" Gordon frowned. "I am too, Waffle. I am, too." Retrieving his cell phone from his fanny pack, Gordon dialed the mansion, hoping to notify Hovis of the terrible destruction. It rang once, and then Hovis picked up. "What's going on? I just turned on the news and saw the World Trade Center on fire! Are you alright, boys?"
This was one of the first signs of sympathy Hovis had ever shown the cats. He had always been sullen and blue, only helping the cats for money to retire. Now, though, he sounded alert and… concerned. "Um, Hovis, we saw everything! A plane, a passenger plane, just hit one of the Towers!" Hovis did not speak for a full minute. Then, he said, "Should I come there?"
"No, Hovis, please don't. We're ok. Blik is a bit on edge and Waffle broke down a little, but we're fine. Honestly!" Gordon had just made a terrible lie. Blik was completely mortified and Waffle had gone into some kind of tragic trance. His voice had also gotten slightly high pitched and squeaky. This happened whenever he was lying for nervous. "Well, then," replied Hovis, "Call me back, boys. Please." Hovis hung up. At that very moment, a high-pitched whining sound had just pierced the mid-morning sky. This sound was way too familiar. It was the sound of an airliner.
Blik had just gotten back from his conversation with the deputy when his brother dragged he and Waffle to the top of the nearby apartment via fire escape. As Gordon had thought, another plane was coming right for them. He now knew for sure that this was no accident. It was intentional. The three cats covered their ears, preparing for the worst. They got more than they bargained for. As the airliner sliced into the South Tower, an explosion of massive proportions rippled through the New York skyline. It was the loudest explosion any of them had ever heard. Bits of molten metal flew in every direction. At the last possible second, Mr. Blik noticed a shard of shrapnel flying at Gordon. He jumped, and the metal pierced through his small chest.
Blik's vision blurred, slowly blackening his gaze. He felt frozen, stiff and cold as ice. Warm blood trickled down his stomach. He heard his brothers crying out for him. My brothers, he thought. My… brothers…