The Legacy of Lehr (7 page)

“But to let such superstition take control of him,” Shannon said thoughtfully. “Muon is an educated man, Commodore. What does he think the cats are going to do to him?”

“You said it yourself, Doctor, though I don't think you realized how true it was,” Wallis said. “He thinks they're going to eat him. Ta'ai said it, too. So did Muon. I understood enough to catch that much.”

“But that's ridiculous,” Shannon said flatly. “The Lehr cats aren't demons. There's no way they're going to get loose and go on a rampage on this ship.”

They stepped into the elevator, and Mather cocked his head in Shannon's direction as she pushed the button for the cargo level.

“You know that, Doctor, and Wallis and I know that. But we aren't necessarily talking about rational responses, when dealing with the subconscious. And don't forget that Muon is a seer among his own people. They believe he is, and we don't dare discount that belief. As to how he thinks our cats are going to do it, I couldn't even speculate, and I doubt if he could, either.”

“He'd probably say it was magic!” Shannon said with a snort. “What do you mean, he's a seer? That he can see the future?”

“Well, glimpses of future factors, perhaps,” Wallis said. “I know it sounds farfetched, but you must remember that the Aludrans are a semitelepathic race among their own kind, with highly developed skills in several areas that we ordinarily classify as other than ‘science.' Of course, Muon sees in symbols that he then has to translate into language, and Mather might easily misinterpret, especially since he isn't Aludran himself. But even if Muon isn't talking about physical death at all,” Wallis went on, “I'm not certain that mental or psychic death is a great deal more appealing. Why don't we take another look at the cats, just to be sure?”

CHAPTER 4

They heard the cats' screaming long before they reached the hold where the animals were being kept. The sound assailed them from the instant they stepped off the lift at the opposite end of the cargo deck—which was all but deserted, for nonessential personnel had already found pressing reasons to quit that deck in favor of duties elsewhere.

Physically, at least, the cats' hold seemed to be secure enough. Safe behind the double security lock that guarded the only entrance, the animals prowled back and forth restlessly in the plasteel cages that were now reconnected into one long run. But their screams were almost deafening, running a shrill, three-plus octave range that grated even beyond hearing.

“Good God!” Mather said, drawing the Ranger named Perelli into the relative haven of the adjoining security room, while Wallis went to the scanners with Shannon. “How long have they been doing this?”

Perelli grimaced. “Long enough, sir. They started right after we reconnected the cages, and they haven't really stopped since.”

“Well, did someone pinch their tails or something? They sound like they're in pain.”

“If they are, it isn't from anything that shows on a medscan,” the man replied glumly. “They're together, they've got fresh food and water, the cages are clean. We've about decided they just like to hear themselves scream. Peterson even tried singing to them.”

Even Mather had to laugh at that, for Peterson's voice was notably deficient in any quality that might soothe the savage beast. While Wallis ran repeated medscans on each cat, Mather reviewed the security tapes, looking for some anomaly that might account for the change in the cats' behavior—such as some outside visitor who might have stirred them up. But after nearly half an hour, they were forced to conclude that, for want of a better explanation, the cats simply preferred screaming, just now. And whatever had caused Muon's most recent distress, the cats seemed to have had no part in it, at least directly.

“Well, I'm sure
I
haven't any idea what it all means,” Shannon said when it became apparent they were not going to find an easy answer. “Give me human patients, any day—speaking of which, I suppose I ought to get back and see whether any new crises have arisen in the last hour, before I turn in. I'll also look in on Muon. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.”

After a last inspection of the security arrangements in the hold, Mather and Wallis, too, returned to their cabin. Mather was almost fidgeting as he sat down in front of the library console and began tapping in a query, pausing only to open the stiff collar of his dress tunic.

“Mather, we've already read everything in print about Lehr cats,” Wallis said, coming to read over his shoulder as she began taking down her hair. “If it wasn't in the Menkar Banks, I doubt we're going to find it in a starliner's library.”

Mather only nodded and kept on typing. “Maybe not. But we haven't talked to this particular computer before. Maybe it will be able to suggest a new logic pattern for us. The whole thing might be so simple that we're not seeing it.”

“You really think so?”

“No.”

Wallis shook out her hair and began brushing it, watching as the green letters of Mather's query crawled across the screen.

Reference: dominant life forms of Eta Canis Majoris II. Cross-reference parapsychic makeup of principal humanoid species, commonly called Aludrans, with that of dominant life forms of Beta Geminorum III (Il Nuadi), especially species known as Lehr cats. Respond
.

The library's response was almost immediate.

Humanoids of planet Eta Canis Majoris II, hereafter called Aludrans, reported possessed of limited telepathic abilities within own species. A spoken version of the written language persists from pre-telepathic days and has been revived since the advent of contact with other races. (See “Aludran language.”)

Dominant life form of planet Beta Geminorum III (Il Nuadi) is homo sapiens, inhabitants descended from human stock seeded on planet during earth expansion period preceding Cruaxi Sweep. (See “Cruaxi Sweep”; Alien encounters; etc.) Extensive evidence remains of a pre-Cruaxi native race, briefly coexistent with the first human colonists, but no further sign following recontact by the Lawry Expedition in A.I. 42. (See Lawry, Sir Gregory
. The Imperium Expands: An Account of the First Rediscovery Expeditions in the Former Ferrimeyer Consortium.
Menkar: The Imperial Press, A.I. 51. See also Torrell, Vander
. Lost Alien Races.
Ravanah, Hyadum Primus IV: The Dursah Free University Press, A.I. 92.)

Mather's hand hovered over the cancel button as the Torrell citation ticked up the screen, but he restrained the impulse as the reference continued.

Native life forms originating on Il Nuadi display varying degrees of advanced psychic development in area of empathy, especially among carnivorous species. No known contact between Aludrans and life forms of Il Nuadi until recent times
.

The readout continued, but it soon became clear that the information was becoming more general rather than less. Perplexed, Mather cleared the keyboard and glanced at Wallis, but she had stopped her hair brushing to focus elsewhere, apparently grappling with some nuance of possibility suggested by the reference. After a moment of contemplation, Mather hit the query button again and began tapping out another question.

Reference, Lehr cats. Are they included in description just given of native life forms of Beta Geminorum III? Respond
.

The response came back at once.

No further data available on psychic abilities of Lehr cats. Though Lehr cats were first discovered and classified in A.I. 43 by Doctor Samuel Lehr (q.v.), no successful research has been
—

Resignedly, Mather hit the cancel button with his fist and swiveled to glance at Wallis. She had resumed brushing her hair, returned from wherever she had gone on her mind wandering.

“Well, what do you think?” he asked.

“That the cats are screaming telepathically? It
is
possible, I suppose. In fact, it would be a handy talent for a predator whose main source of food is other empathic animals. I've never gotten any readings that would indicate telepathic sensitivity in the cats, but I wasn't looking for it, either. There's a lot we don't understand about the mechanisms of psychic phenomena.”

“That much is certain,” Mather agreed, thinking of his own off-again, on-again psychic abilities. “Is there any way we could find out for sure? About the cats, I mean.”

Wallis thought for a moment, then said, “I could probably rig some kind of testing device and give it a try. We might be able to borrow the necessary equipment from Doctor Shannon. I can't promise any results, though.”

“That's understood.”

“On the other hand,” Wallis continued, “after so many years of watching your hunches turn out to be correct, I'm definitely inclined to follow up. I'll get an equipment list to Shannon first thing in the morning.”

Mather nodded and shut down the console, yawning hugely as he undid the rest of the fastenings on the front of his tunic. “Sounds good to me. Meanwhile, I suppose we ought to get some sleep, while we can. At least we know the cats are secure; and Muon isn't going anywhere for the rest of the night.”

Wallis nodded and yawned in response, slipping her arms around his neck from behind to lay her head wearily against his. “That's the best idea either of us has had all day.”

“Doctor Deller, I think the head steward poisoned me.”

The voice coming from the treatment room next to Shannon's office was strident and irritating, making Shannon very glad that it was not her turn to handle sick call this morning. The all too predictable exchange about to run its course in the next room would be good experience for the younger Deller, but Shannon wanted no part of it other than to eavesdrop through the slightly open door, to see how well Deller handled it. She pretended to be absorbed in updating her medical log as Deller murmured some neutral response. The scenario had been nearly the same every day since Jacob Carvan had come aboard.

“You think I'm joking, don't you, Doctor?” the voice went on. “Well, I'm not. He
has
poisoned me!”

“Now, Mister Carvan, why would Mister Verley do anything like that? I'm sure you just have a hangover.”

“A hangover? Doctor, do you think I don't know what a hangover feels like? I tell you, I was poisoned! I want you to put the medical findings in my records.”

“Drink this, please, Mister Carvan.”

A slight silence. Then: “This isn't going to do any good, you know. I've been poisoned, and I know there isn't any antidote. If I should somehow manage to survive, I intend to press charges against—get him out of here!”

The sound of an outer door closing was followed by the voice of the chief steward himself, not at all amused.

“I found this in his cabin, Doctor Deller. According to the serial number, he bought the bottle from ship's stores only yesterday. If he drank it all last night, no wonder he thinks he's been poisoned.”

“Now, see here, young man!” That was the passenger. “If you're trying to imply that I can't hold my liquor, then you're a liar as well as a poisoner! I felt fine last night until you brought me that Tauci toddy. You tried to poison me, and you can't wiggle out of it that easily!”

“Furudite whiskey and a Tauci toddy?” the steward mumbled under his breath. “Well, no wonder. Doctor, we had no way of knowing he'd be foolish enough to mix the two. He's still not sober.”

“I am as sober as—as …”

Abruptly the voice trailed off, followed by the unmistakable sound of a body slumping to the floor.

“Orderly,” Deller called.

Shaking her head slightly, Shannon leaned back far enough in her chair to peer into the next treatment room, where Deller and the steward were holding up an unconscious Jacob Carvan. A heavyset orderly was bringing in an antigravity floater from the outer corridor.

“Everything all right, Doctor?” Shannon asked, grinning a little as Deller glanced in her direction.

Deller sighed and made a wry face. “When are
you
going to start covering morning sick call again?” he said as he helped lift Carvan onto the floater. “Yesterday, it was Darroweed and Tejat brandy, and he was convinced he was going to dissociate on the spot. Today—well, I guess you heard. And tomorrow, who knows what new combination he'll dream up? One of these days, he
is
going to poison himself.”

“You have to admit, though, it's good training for
you
.”

“Yeah, I get all the luck,” Deller said ruefully, though he started chuckling as he watched the unconscious Carvan taken out of the treatment room. “You don't suppose he
likes
having his stomach pumped, do you?”

Shannon was still considering the amazing ill judgment of some of their passengers a few minutes later, when Mather and Wallis arrived.

“Well, good morning,” she said, switching off her log as she motioned them to seats. “Should I assume, since you're here so early after last night's little escapade, that you've come up with some more ideas about our Aludran friends? You can close the door, if this is apt to get complicated.”

Mather closed the door, but he shook his head. “It isn't complicated, and it isn't even directly about the Aludrans,” he said, taking a seat beside Wallis. “We've come up with a theory we'd like to test on the cats.”

“Well, they're your cats.” Shannon paused a beat, then added, “What kind of a theory?”

“More like a conjecture, actually,” Wallis said, giving Shannon a folded piece of paper from her jumpsuit pocket. “This is a list of equipment we'd like to borrow, if you've got it. Or, if you haven't got some of the things, we may be able to improvise. We think the cats might be slightly telepathic, especially on the sending end. The Aludrans are, you know.”

“Hmmm, I remember reading that,” Shannon said, a little preoccupied as she scanned over the list. “But, I don't see what that has to do with—”