if she’d ever see the moon and stars again. “Come in,” she croaked, shifting on the bed too narrow for both her and Pizi, who lay on her stomach napping.
Nothing happened.
Are you awake in there? came a whisper to her mind.
Levona blinked. She knew that voice, though she hadn’t heard it for a long time – since the first day she’d been in the barrio.
Karida? Levona sent back, then, Come on in!
The mental exchange woke Pizi and she extended her spine in a quick stretch before hopping down to the floor, sitting within petting reach and purring.
Carrying a box, Karida entered as soon as the door retracted into the wall. She stopped at one step and looked around, appalled. Levona gritted her teeth. She hated the narrow room, but would tolerate it – for the whole damn trip, if necessary.
“Hi, Levona.” A false smile until she looked down into the box she carried that rustled like it held a lot of scrunched and old paper shreds. The woman offered Levona a lopsided smile, a sincere one not given to her before. “Since you’re the one who introduced me to the concept of near-telepathic animals —”
Almost as smart as ME! Pizi put in, then licked a patch of fur near her shoulder.
“Almost, but none of the kittens can actually use words like you do to speak,” Karida said with a grave nod at Pizi.
“No,” Levona agreed. “Pizi is a prodigy.”
“Anyway, I — and many of my friends — have been searching the city, all parts of the city, for such animals.” Another smile. “We even found a puppy or two.”
Pizi jumped to her feet, her tongue stuck out. No!
“Yes. I think we’ve rescued them all, and every psi mutant in the city, living in the ghetto or not, will be keeping watch for them. Everyone in the barrio who wanted a pet — an animal companion, has one.”
“Bartek Coval?”
“He received a young tom, a fierce mouser.”
“Good.”
Karida nodded, then her voice became drier. “And some of our wealthiest people” — she paused to stare pointedly at Levona — “like the real Minerva Starshine, received an unrelated male and female pair to breed.” Karida marched over and upended the box, and six small and squeaking kittens tumbled over Levona. “These semi-intelligent animals are now available for adoption by the starship folk.”
Sudden tears overflowed Levona’s eyes, no way could she control them. She sniffed hard, pulled a rag near her pillow to wipe her eyes and nose, and caught one black kitten before it fell off the bed.
“Thank you.”
Karida inclined her head. “Since you first introduced us all to such animals, we of the psi mutant barrio community decided you should be the one to find these kittens new homes.”
“Wonderful.” Levona’s voice sounded even gruffer from throaty tears.
Setting the box down by the bed, under Pizi’s nose — and an odor of cat rose from it — Karida crossed back to the threshold of the open door. She stared at Levona, swept the room with her gaze and the corridor that began to fill with people.
Mentally, she sent, So the ship leaves at dawn, the day after tomorrow.
Yes, Levona confirmed telepathically.
Aloud, Karida said, “We’ll all be providing cover for you, for the ship, milling around. Looking like we’re working on it.” She shrugged. “That will hopefully keep the gov from thinking you’ll be taking off, so you’ll all get away clean.”
“Appreciate it.”
“We psi mutants stick together.” Karida gave Levona a half-salute wave. “Good luck to you, Levona Martinez. May you gain what you wish. Blessed be and go with the Lady and Lord.”
Levona managed to gather the kittens so she could scoot back and sit straighter. “Good luck to you, too, Karida Bonfils. May you gain what you wish.”
“I have.” One corner of Karida’s mouth turned up. “While I was on this animal hunt I met Apollo Starshine and we … clicked. He’s moving into the barrio to be my mate.”
A sharp stab of envy speared Levona, but she summoned a smile. “Good, that’s good to hear. You’ll have children.”
Karida patted her abdomen and grinned. “Oh, yes, we will.”
“Great!” Levona meant it. “Go with the Lady and Lord. Blessed be.”
With a last finger wave, Karida left.
Levona found a line had formed outside her door. More than six. As she continued to try and gather the active kittens in her arms, she knew she didn’t want to give any of them away.
Pizi hopped onto the bed, stared at the people in the hallway and yelled