"No!" Gen squeaked, and held up his hands. Why did he want those flowers so intensely? He tried to focus on something else - anything else - but, he couldn't deny it. He was so, incredibly jealous of what he had. He just wanted those pretty flowers! Which mean he couldn't retreat now.

Even if he wanted to run. Gen looked extremely contrite. "I wouldn't threaten a fly, I assure you! I'm just a humble entertainer. But I know a good deal about flowers, my friend - I don't want your cat to encounter anything dangerous! Please, I'm only concerned."

To save his own neck - or sell a story, which often overlapped - Gen was all too willing to grovel.