Icing Ivy (20 page)

The fact is, there are too many kittens and too few good homes. Animal shelters are overburdened with unwanted animals. Each day tens of thousands of cats are born in the United States alone. At this rate, there are not enough homes for these animals, and millions of healthy cats and kittens are euthanized. Others are abandoned to fend for themselves against automobiles, cruel humans, the elements, and other animals.

Please spay or neuter your cat. Not only will you be stopping this unnecessary suffering, but you will also be doing something good for you and your pet.

Spayed and neutered cats are better, more affectionate companions because they focus their attention on their human families. They are less likely to bite. Unaltered cats often show more behavior and temperament problems than cats that have been spayed or neutered.

Spayed and neutered cats live longer, healthier lives.

Spaying a female eliminates its heat cycle; females in heat often cry incessantly, urinate frequently (sometimes all over the house), exhibit nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male cats. Spaying females eliminates the chance of uterine or ovarian cancer, and significantly reduces the likelihood of breast cancer and of a disease called pyometra.

Neutered males are less likely to spray and mark territory, and to roam in search of a mate, risking injury in traffic and fights with other males. Neutering males reduces the incidence of hernias, perianal tumors, and prostate disease, and eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer.

If you have reservations about spaying or neutering your cat, it may be because you believe one or more of the myths surrounding this practice. Spaying or neutering will not change your cat's personality. Nor will it make your cat fat and lazy—only a poor diet and lack of exercise will do that. Spaying and neutering are neither dangerous nor painful. These low-cost procedures are the most common surgeries performed on cats. With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a few days.

If your cat gives birth, don't wait too long to have her spayed. Wait until two weeks after her kittens start to be weaned—in other words, six to eight weeks after she gives birth. Remember that a surgery appointment may need to be made several weeks ahead.

Remember also that kittens don't need to wait too long to be spayed or neutered. Veterinary societies and shelters have accepted early sterilization as safe. It can be done on cats as young as eight weeks old.

For more information, visit the Web site of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at
http://www.aspca.org
.

Some of the best history is what we don't learn in school. When Jane learns that her friend Ivy has been stabbed with an ice pick, she says, “Like Trotsky . . .” and faints. What's the story behind that?

In 1940, the exiled Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky was living in Mexico City. His greatest enemy, Joseph Stalin, had pursued him across continents via his murderous agents in an effort to assassinate him, but had thus far been unsuccessful.

Ultimately Trotsky's murder would be accomplished by a man named Ramon Mercader. Though Trotsky was protected by bodyguards, Mercader penetrated his defenses by means of a clever ruse. After ingratiating himself with the members of Trotsky's household and gaining their trust and acceptance, he arranged to meet personally with Trotsky on the pretext of discussing an article he had written. They did meet, and Trotsky dismissed the article as banal and without interest.

On the morning of August 20, Mercader showed up at Trotsky's villa and was again allowed to visit with Trotsky alone to discuss the article Mercader had written. Trotsky's wife, Natalia Sedova, later related: “I was in the room next door. There was a terrible piercing cry . . . Lev Davidovich [Trotsky's birth name] appeared, leaning against the door frame. His face was covered with blood, his blue eyes glistening without spectacles and his arms hung limply by his side. . . .”

Mercader had struck Trotsky in the back of the head with an ice pick he had hidden in the pocket of his khaki raincoat. According to Mercader himself, “I put my raincoat on the table so that I could take out the
piolet
[ice pick] in the pocket. When Trotsky started to read my article, I took the ax and, closing my eyes, gave him a tremendous blow on the head. The man screamed in a way that I will never forget—Aaaaaa! . . . very long, infinitely long. He got up like a madman, threw himself at me, and bit my hand—look, you can still see the marks of his teeth. Then I pushed him, so that he fell to the floor.”

Trotsky's bodyguards rushed into the room and began to beat Mercader, who, having never killed before, was stunned at the sight of Trotsky on the floor. The guards wanted to kill Mercader on the spot, but Trotsky intervened: “He must be forced to talk.”

Trotsky was rushed to the hospital. “The doctor declared that the injury was not very serious,” Natalia said. “Lev Davidovich listened to him without emotion, as one would a conventional message of comfort. Pointing to his heart, he said, ‘I feel . . . here . . . that this is the end . . . this time . . . they've succeeded. ' ”

He underwent surgery and survived more than a day. He died twenty-six hours after being attacked, on August 22, 1940.

On some points of this legendary story, people disagree. Some say it was an ice
ax,
not an ice pick.

I immediately found this story fascinating. What mystery writer wouldn't? For my purposes in icing poor Ivy, an ice pick worked best.

Curious about Florence's Curried Cascadura? The cascadura fish—or cascadoo, as it is commonly called—is about as Trinidadian a creature as one could find. This small, primeval fish from the Silurian age, with a scaly, armor-plated shell resembling that of the catfish, lives embedded in the freshwater mudflats of Trinidad's southern coast, as well as in sluggish rivers, ponds, and swamps. Though this strange fish is served in Caribbean restaurants around the world, most of us do not have access to this delicacy. The following recipe, therefore, substitutes snapper for cascadura.

If you
are
fortunate enough to have real cascadura, remember that it must be washed thoroughly and meticulously in fresh water until all the mud on the fish is removed.

Florence's Curried “Cascadoo”

Combine shallot, thyme, parsley, and cilantro in a cup with vinegar. Add salt and pepper. Marinate 4 snapper fillets in herb seasoning and lime juice for at least 2 hours.

Heat oil in a large pot. Add onion, tomatoes, and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Add curry paste and cook for another minute. Add coconut milk and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the marinated fish fillets and coat thoroughly with the curry sauce. Add the pepper, cover, and simmer until fillets are flaky—about 10 to 15 minutes.

 

Remove fillets and serve on a platter covered with the curry sauce. Serve with rice and vegetables.

Intrigued by the drink after which Jennifer Castaneda named her novel? I was. The
Mojito
(pronounced “moe-HEE-toe”), born in Cuba in the 1910s, is a refreshing rum drink popularized by the patrons of Havana's most famous bar, La Bodeguita del Medio—most notably Ernest Hemingway. It's currently making a big comeback. Great with barbecue. Come to think of it, a
Mojito
would be a nice accompaniment to Florence's Curried Cascadura. Here's how to make one just the way “Papa” liked them.
¡Salud!

In a highball glass, stir together the sugar and lime juice. Bruise the mint leaves and drop them into the glass. Fill glass with crushed ice and pour in rum. Pour in soda water to fill the glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

 

I love hearing from readers. If you have a comment about
Icing Ivy
or any of my books, I invite you to e-mail me at [email protected], or write to me at Six Tristam Place, Pine Brook, NJ 07058-9445. I always respond to reader mail. For a free bookmark, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope. Please visit my Web site at
http://www.TheNovelist.com
.

Evan Marshall