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One dark and gloomy wintry evening in the city, after the fog had descended and wound its way through the system of streets, the Dog and the Cat went out for their evening walk.

“Nice evening for it,” purred the Cat.

“It will do,” replied the Dog, shortly, “it will do.”

As usual, they wandered wherever they wished. Moving easily through the quiet streets, undisturbed by anyone or anything else – only each other and their shadows for company – they prowled the roads, south of the river. Only the occasional passing of a roaring red bus disturbed their night-time sojourn. Their way was lit by the flickering electric glow of yellow streetlamps that was muffled by the fog, and like the slow drip of a tap, they moved steadily and lazily, along street after street after street.

“That looks like a nice chimney,” said the Cat, pointing its black nose towards a nearby house.

“Hmm,” replied the Dog, a little bored.

Suddenly decisive, the Cat called out: “I’m going for a closer look.”

The Dog looked lazily on, nonplussed by the Cat’s new found desire.

“Be my guest, Cat,” answered Dog; though the Cat had already crept off and was gone. The Dog lowered itself gently to the cold ground and watched as the Cat began leaping and diving, jumping and balancing, showing off its supremely lithe and supple body. The Dog’s bored eyes looked on, unblinking and unimpressed.

“I wonder how long I could survive if I abstained from eating meat,” the Dog wondered, its thoughts aimlessly drifting as it blankly viewed the Cat continuing its careful climb.

A roaring red bus rushed past.

The Dog blinked.

The Cat continued to climb.

“I’m there!” called out the Cat, balancing on the top of the narrow brick chimney, “I’ve done it at last!”

The Cat looked down, looking for the Dog, but could see nothing, for the fog had grown thicker and thicker through the course of its ascent. A cloud of white now obscured the view to the road.

“That’s a shame,” thought the Cat, “Dog won’t be able to see how far I’ve climbed! And I can’t even admire the view, either. Now,” mused the Cat, beginning to grow a little concerned, “how to descend?” the Cat wondered, “do I dare? Do I dare?”

The Dog looked up into the gloom, now unable to see past the tall wooden fence that guarded the grand home with the chimney that the Cat had seemed so desperate to climb.

“All that,” thought the Dog, “and Cat won’t even be able to see past its nose.”

The Dog blinked. “Silly Cat.”

“If only there were a stair to descend – how easy that would be. Instead, I have a minor quandary. A minor puzzle to overcome.”

The Cat grew a little panicked. “How on Earth will I be able to clamber down from this blasted chimney? What a very silly idea, Cat, to climb a chimney. What a very silly idea indeed.”

The Cat looked down with eyes of worry seeking help, but all below was obscured by the cloud of fog that was creeping evermore.

Another roaring red bus rushed past - its dirty headlamps ripping through the fog.