Starbridge Read Free

brought you out early, so you're going to feel like you've got a hangover for a couple of hours."
    The younger man grimaced. "Tell me about it."
    Minutes later, the two ship's officers faced the errant ship's physician in the common room and galley over cups of coffee and a plate of sweet rolls.
    Mahree sat in one of the booths across the compartment, eating a sandwich, her history text before her on the table's monitor. She was careful to keep advancing the pages, but her ears strained to catch every word.
    Robert Gable took a cautious swig from the steaming mug Raoul Lamont handed him, then made a face. "I'm so far gone I can't even tell if that's bad or good. At least it's strong."
    Viorst sipped his coffee and scowled. "It's bad, Doc. Your taste buds must still be asleep."
    "All right, Gable, let's have that explanation," Raoul Lamont snapped.
    "Where'd you get the cat, and what do you mean sneaking it aboard my ship?"
    "Right," the doctor said, and sighed. "Sekhmet was a gift from Governor Tumali. 'An informal award for your services to Jolie during the epidemic,' as she put it. I had been called to the Governor's mansion to treat her little girl when she fell out of a parachute tree. When I happened to mention that I was fond of cats, the Governor hands me this one! I was on the spot--how do you turn down a valuable gift from the Governor without seeming churlish?"
    "You say, i'm terribly sorry, but I can't. Thank you anyway, Governor,' "
    Lamont said evenly.
    "Uh, yeah." The doctor cleared his throat. "Anyway, that same afternoon you called, saying your ship's doctor had de
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    cided to get married and stay on Jolie, and offering me the chance to get home months before I thought I'd be able to ... as long as I could leave immediately.
    "I knew that there wasn't time to get clearance for Sekhmet, but the chance to leave early was too good to miss. I'd already been on Jolie a year longer than I'd planned because of the epidemic, so"--he turned his hands palm-up, smiling ruefully-- "so I rigged my unit, then smuggled her in with me. Half of my allotted baggage weight consists of food and supplies for her. She's housebroken, so she won't be any trouble, Captain."
    "Why didn't you ask me?" Lamont growled.
    Gable looked abashed, and very young. "I was afraid you'd say no," he admitted. "I'm sorry, sir."
    "She'll have to go through quarantine when we reach Earth," Viorst warned him.
    "I know. But six weeks won't be so terrible. Sekhmet's young, she'll adjust.
    They'll let me visit her."
    "Well, I guess it's all right," Raoul said, pouring himself another cup of coffee and clamping a lid over the steaming liquid. "But I'm going to have to fine you for disobeying orders, Doc."
    "I figured you would," the younger man said resignedly, stroking the cat.
    Sekhmet was asleep, relaxed trustingly into the hollow of his lap.
    Raoul grunted and picked up his coffee. "Simon, we have work to do." He stood up, slanting a sardonic look down at Gable. "Doctor, you have until tomorrow to officially report for ship's duty. Welcome aboard Desiree."
    "Thank you, sir."
    With a brusque nod, Lamont left, Viorst close on his heels.
    Mahree heard the doctor sigh with relief, then he softly addressed his cat. "I suppose that could have been worse, girl. At least he didn't chuck us out the airlock."
    She glanced covertly at him again, only to find Gable regarding her curiously. Mahree blushed as she turned back to her history text. "Want a cup of coffee?" he called. "There's half a pot of this mud left."
    "All right," she said, surprised, and moved over to take the mug he held out.
    "Sit down," he said, waving her to the chair opposite him. "Here you go, Sekhmet"--he passed the cat to Mahree--"say
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    'thanks' to Ms. Burroughs for rescuing you." He shook his head, smiling. His easy, boyish grin revealed very white, even teeth. "If you hadn't shown such an attachment to her, your uncle might have insisted she go right back into hibernation."
    Mahree