Plague of Memory by S. L. Viehl Read Free Book Online Page A

Chakara."
    The talking cat bared its teeth. "We are old friends, Cherijo."
    "We were?" Now I understood what my daughter had said about not killing things. You could not very well butcher and skin something that could have a conversation with you. "Why?"
    "You helped me when we lived together on K -2. We were both classified as nonsentient." Alunthri's pointed ears flicked back and forth. "I am distressing you, forgive me. I have stayed away so that I would not." It made as if to move closer, but stopped as I flinched. "Fare you well, Cherijo."
    I watched the talking cat stride off. "I had a relationship with that creature?" He nodded. "You were Alunthri's friend and mentor."
    I knew Hawk to be the only other Terran on board the ship beside me, Reever, and Marel. Even so, Reever had explained to me that he was not fully human, but a hybrid, the child of a Terran female and a Taercal male. Hawk had been a special friend of Cherijo's, but then the woman had dozens of those.
    I was beginning to wonder if anyone besides me had ever dared dislike her. Maybe she surrounded herself with beasts for reasons other than companionship. Certainly no one had ever told Teulon they disliked him; his pet jlorra Bsak would have ripped off their heads.
    Hawk was watching me. "Duncan said that you have no memory of anything that happened before Akkabarr. You don't remember me from our time together on Terra."
    "I know of you." I had read a little about him from the journal files. "You sing. You cared for Cherijo's brother. You saved her and Reever. She thought well of you."
    "You speak of yourself as a stranger." Like the others on the ship, he seemed appalled and fascinated. "I did not simply care for Jericho. I loved him."
    Judging by his tone, he was expecting me to react negatively to this declaration. There were some Iisleg men who desired other men instead of women, and the women of the skela had only each other, so his preference did not offend me. One found comfort where one could.
    Or perhaps I was reading him wrong; it could be that he regretted how his relationship with Jericho had ended. "I am sorry that Cherijo killed him."
    "She did not. After he went completely mad, our tribe did." He frowned. "Healer, has no one told you of who you were? I could—"
    "Please." I lifted one hand. "I mean no disrespect, but I have heard enough of what happened in her life." I looked around. "Are there any other talking animals on the ship?"
    "Alunthri is not—" He paused and grimaced. "It may seem like an animal to you, but it is not."
    I moved my shoulders. "If you say so, Kheder."
    "I also apologize for prying," he said. "You must think us all rather obsessed with your past."
    "Cherijo had great value among this tribe. I understand that. I hope I will prove of equal worth someday." I felt a little impatient. "Is there anything else you wish from me?"
    "I had thought I would tell you .. . but no, it is not important." He lifted his hand and touched my arm without warning, and then dropped it when I flinched away. "I won't hurt you." His facial skin darkened and his eyes became angry slits. "What did they do to you on that world?"
    Hawk was not as big as the Jorenian males, but he was still larger and more muscular than me.
    "Men only touch women who do not belong to them to use them or beat them. You have no desire for women." Recalling how Cherijo had written of the man's gentle nature, I felt ashamed of my reaction. "I mean, that is how it was on Akkabarr. Reever has said you ensleg are different, but it is hard to forget such things. Forgive me."
    "Don't apologize." The lines around his mouth disappeared, and he held out his hand. "Come, share a meal with me. I would like to know more about who you are, and what life on Akkabarr is like."
    My eyes stung. It was the kindest thing that had been asked of me since I left my homeworld. "I thank you but I cannot. Reever is expecting me to return to his quarters. He will grow concerned if I do not." I