Cautiously, I peeked around the corner of the house. All right, I had lost them. I allowed myself a relieved shake. Luckily I was faster and more cunning than those rats.

If they did get me, it could end badly for me. One, yes, no problem. But they always appeared in packs right away. I puffed.

For now I had made it again and could go in search of something to bite. Actually, I preferred to stay away from the city, but sometimes the stalls and stores attracted me with their rich offer.

It had become cooler. I liked that, but it also meant that more from outside were drawn to the city. More competition.

Oh well, heck, it keeps things exciting.

So, one long stretch and off we go.

I fell into a light trot as I moved back toward the busier part of town. There the danger of being discovered was higher, but the potential prey was richer. After all, it was already almost dark and the streets had emptied somewhat. Nevertheless I had to pay attention to cars, mopeds and bicycles, which came constantly shot from somewhere.

Every now and then I squeezed through a gap in a fence to take a shortcut through a yard or garden. The dogs didn't think it was funny, but I was too smart for them, too.

Poor creatures. Boxed in between concrete fronts, often barely a patch of green to sniff or roll around in, constantly exposed to the roar of machinery and crowds of people... Some of them could only watch me through the glass of windows and doors, warning their owners in vain that I was just entering their territory.

Again I puffed, this time in sympathy.

Sometimes I took the pleasure and pranced around a bit in front of them, so that at least they had some variety in their denatured lives. But not today. I was really hungry.

Soon I had reached the alleys behind a row of stores. Jackpot!

I ducked behind a larger dumpster as someone opened the back door to a restaurant. The clink and clatter of busy people in the kitchen was as distinct as the strong smells: bread, cheese, sauces, meat.

Water almost ran off my tongue, and my stomach growled so loudly I worried the man who was emptying leftovers into a garbage can might hear.

I remained motionless. In case of need, I could still run away, but most of the time it wasn't necessary. Mostly people saw only what they wanted to see and were much too busy with themselves.

The man looked up at the sky for a moment, wrapped his arms around himself as if he were freezing, and went back inside.

Perfect, he had left the barrel open.

Carefully I crept up, because unfortunately the door was also still open and someone could come out again at any time.

The food smells, ah, they were just too tempting.

With one leap I jumped onto a cardboard box and peered into the garbage can from there. What they've thrown away there! It was a shame.

Well, good for me.

I streched myself and scratched at the bag that lay on top. Luck again! The bag opened and out rolled half a bun. Immediately I grabbed it and without much chewing, I had no time for that, I gobbled it down. It was followed by some cheese noodles, some pizza crust and, yuck, salad. No, I'd rather not have that. Whoa, there was actually a piece of meat underneath the crappy greens!

As soon as I bit on it, I had to sneeze and cough terribly. Pepper sauce, how mean! I had been too greedy.

It shook me so much that I rolled backwards off the edge of the barrel, making a hell of a racket.

Crap! So much for the feast.

I dashed off before anyone appeared in the doorway, and the roar the man let out told me it had been a good decision.

I didn't have to run far, though. Rats and dogs were clearly more persistent than humans.

Light-footedly, I dodged cars and pedestrians until I reached the park. Here I slowed my steps again, strolling through bushes and along park benches. I avoided the brightest spots, but one or two snacks could be found quite well in the more out-of-the-way places.

At the water of a small pond I was driven away by a sleepy duck family, which almost woke the swans with their quacking. These were bastards I had to be careful of.

Nevertheless, I was satisfied. I had found another boiled egg, only slightly squashed, and a piece of pretzel. All in all, a successful hunt.

I cleaned my snout rolling in the grass, and left a greeting to the neighborhood as good-bye.

I had come to visit and would soon stop by again. But in the long run, city life was too noisy and stressful for me.