The Legacy of Lehr by Katherine Kurtz Read Free Book Online Page A

another visit.”
    If you had come with us , Mather thought bitterly, you could be just concluding another visit — and with the thanks of the emperor, too. As it is, you probably cost us several lives .
    But he said: “Yes, I’ve heard of your work with the lost race of Il Nuadi, Doctor Torrell. In fact, you’re probably the acknowledged authority in that field, aren’t you?”
    â€œIn all modesty, I suspect that I am, Commodore,” Torrell replied smoothly. “Did you know, for example, that there are curious parallels between your Lehr cats and the catlike creatures of at least three other vanished civilizations? Except, of course, that the other cat-creatures were looked upon as ravening demons and soul-eaters, not lunar messengers. A curious distinction, don’t you agree? And I believe that the Aludrans, who are by no means extinct, also share that view.”
    The young woman who had spoken before gasped, her reddened lips agape. “Demons?” She glanced over her shoulder uneasily and shuddered. “You don’t think that the Lehr cats might be—”
    â€œDemons, tod?” Torrell smiled unctuously. “I very much doubt it, dear lady. On the other hand, Commodore Seton never did tell us what happened to Samuel Lehr. You do know, don’t you, Seton? Or you, Doctor Hamilton?”
    Wallis suppressed a sigh, furious at the direction the conversation was taking and all but convinced that Torrell had set out to bait Mather and her from the beginning. She found herself disliking the man even more than she had before. And if he kept up this talk about demons and soul-eaters, he could start a wave of anxiety among the passengers. There was already too much talk about the cats.
    â€œOf course Mather and I know, Doctor Torrell,” Wallis said. “But not everyone here at the table is a trained scientist who can remain dispassionate through the most grisly tale. I simply didn’t think it was something that the young lady would care to discuss over dinner.”
    â€œWhy? Because Lehr was eaten by one of his cats?”
    Wallis lowered her eyes uneasily, acutely sensitive to the effect Torrell’s words were having on an increasing number of those at table. Beside her, visible only from her unique vantage point, Mather had begun methodically crushing the napkin that lay otherwise unseen across his lap.
    â€œOh, come now, Doctor,” Torrell continued. “Animals kill to survive. So do humans, for that matter. Besides, I’m sure that the good Doctor Lehr had taken his toll of the cats. What fate could have been more fitting?”
    A wave of nervous comment rippled around the table much to the dismay of Wallis and Mather. But before they were forced to respond to this latest sortie, rescue of a sort came in the guise of a steward who bent to whisper briefly in Shannon’s ear. The younger physician listened intently for several seconds, conversation dying around her, then put aside her napkin and smiled reassuringly.
    â€œYou must excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, but a doctor is always on call, I’m afraid. Captain, I don’t think it’s anything serious, but I like to be sure.”
    â€œOf course, Doctor. I’ll stop in later for a report.”
    â€œThank you, Captain.”
    As Shannon rose, she glanced at Wallis. “Doctor Hamilton, perhaps you’d care to join me? You might find our medical facility of interest. And Commodore, I can show you those new suspensor units when we’re finished, if you’d like.”
    It must have been obvious to all that Shannon’s invitation went beyond mere professional courtesy, but even Torrell was not rude enough to point that out publicly. When Mather had added his own apologies to Wallis’s, the two of them followed Shannon out of the grand dining salon. Not until they had stepped aboard a staff lift and the doors had closed did Shannon look directly at