Andre Norton - The Mark of the Cat

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The Mark of the Cat by Andre Norton.

Introduction to the Outer Regions

THE "OUTER REGIONS" were created by the artist Karen Kuy-kendall, whose book of paintings.The

Cat People , and her justly famous Tarot cards immortalized these fantastic lands and peoples. There

exists among Ms. Kuykendall's records a complete "Travelers' Report" upon which this book is based.

Each of the five queendoms—The Diamond, Vapala; The Sapphire, Kahulawe; The Ruby, Thnossis;

The Topaz, Azhengir; The Emerald, Twahihic—varies greatly. Each is ruled by a Queen, but all pay full

obedience to the Emperor. It is a carefully preserved custom that these rulers come into power not by

inheritance, but through election, the Emperor through a series of severe tests.

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The territory of these queendoms is mostly arid desert, and the harshness of the environment has shaped

both people and cultures. What appears a frightening and barren world to stray travelers from the hardly

known inner regions is accepted as home and a loved one by the five nations, the inhabitants so attuned

to the "essence" of the land that they are unhappy and adrift apart from their roots.

The principal food of four of the queendoms comes mainly from algae beds, for the whole region

contains a vast shallow thermal of briny waters in which live many kinds of these plants. Only in Vapala,

which is a mesa territory, is other vegetation to be found—true plants—though some of these are grown

in the glass-bubble-protected oasis cities of Twahihic. Both people and animals, however, depend mainly

on the algae for food and water.

Kahulawe is a land of slickrock isles which are pitted with caves and crevices, crowned by weirdly

carved sand spurs sheltering the algae pans. Between these (most of which are owned by the settlements

of Houses and clans) lie stretches of barren sand. The weather is very clear and sunny, so much so that

most traveling is done by night. There are periods of death-dealing storms which may last for days. The

people raise herds of oxen-like yaksen and the oryxen used as mounts. They produce fine leatherwork

and jewelry and are a most prosperous and quiet folk. Their independent women are noted traders and

often the leaders of the caravans.

Volcanic Thnossis is in direct contrast to this quiet neighbor. Quake prone, with rocky potholes and

crevices which breathe out steam and gases, it trades in sulphur, pumice, iron, glass, and weaving. There

are many noted smiths in Thnossis. This is the most unstable of queendoms, and its people are fiery of

temper, moody, and fatalistic.

Most desolate of all is Azhengir, for it consists of wide salt flats and baked alkali lands. Its weather is

very hot and clammy near the large salt pans, and as the other countries, it suffers from the sweep of

violent sandstorms. Salt gathering is the main industry, though there is some manufacturing of limestone

and gypsum products and glassware. The people accept their hard life fatalistically and find their main

source of escape in music, singing, and playing on a wide variety of instruments.

Twahihic is known as the sand queendom. The terrain is undulating with great sand dunes. The

glass-dome-protected settlements cover the oases. There is almost no rain. Smothering sandstorms and

tornadic winds are always threatening. The inhabitants provide recreation for tourists from the other

nations. Dune skiing and flying are very popular. Twahihic is also the center for fine glass and ceramics.

Vapala has the distinction of being the formal seat of the Empire. Situated on a huge mesa tableland, it

has orchards, grasslands, and farms. There are two seasons, wet and dry. Farming, some herding,

diamond mining, and the mechanics of solar energy provide work for the inhabitants. A profitable and

stable country with the most advanced technology, its people are arrogant and inclined to consider those

of the other four queendoms to be "barbarians."

Animal life has an important part to play in all five queendoms. The heavy-coated yaksen are both beasts

of burden and sources of wool and meat. Oryxen, much lighter, larger, antelope-like creatures, equipped

with murderous horns, are kept for riding. It is usual to clip the horns, though some expert horsemen and

women are proud of mastering the more wild horned mount. One with clipped horns is known as a

pa-oryxen.

Within almost all homes are kottis, small cats, independent of character. These choose the humans they

wish to associate with and are highly esteemed. To deliberately kill a kotti is considered worse than

murder and the offender is subjected to the death law.

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The royal leopards have long been the symbol of imperial power. In fact, the Blue Leopard of Vapala is

first guard to the Emperor and has a part in selecting those taking the tests for that position.

On the other hand, the larger sandcat is dreaded, as they dispute territories with human settlers. They are

highly intelligent and have customs of their own. This species is distrusted and yet held in awe by the

humans.

However, both sandcat and man have a common enemy in the packs of huge rats which prey upon all

living things, befoul the algae pans, harry the herds, and are a source of death wherever they strike. Their

hunger is never eased and they turn upon their own kind if no other prey is near. They breed continually

and the litters are very large.

As to the customs of the queendoms: There are no formal marriages. Women only accept mates when

they come into heat and not all of them ever do. Children are greatly desired but the birthrate is low. In

Kahulawe, Vapala, and Thnossis a mating partnership is for life. In Twahihic and Azhengir polygamy is

practiced and in those queendoms women who fail to come into heat are treated as servants and

laborers. Children, being relatively few, are cherished and families are close-knit for the most part.

However, unfit children and adults are put to death, since the community at large cannot support the

unproductive. In Kahulawe and Vapala, where the normal deaths are fewer, the population of both

people and animals is carefully monitored by a Minister of Balance and surplus of either humans or

animals can be condemned. It is the quality of life rather than the quantity which is desired.

Belief is in the Cosmic Order and the Essence of the lands. Human sacrifice has been known in times of

great drought. Often a ruler or person of importance volunteers as victim. But organized religion does not

exist.

Only Azhengir practices slavery. In other countries servants have a firm social standing and dignity of

person.

The solo—a rite of passage—is practiced in Kahulawe, Azhengir, and Twahihic. To be successful in this

severe test, a young person must prove his or her ability to be accepted as a full adult.

In Kahulawe, Vapala, and Thnossis the Queens are elected by a council of representatives. The Queen

has absolute power for life. In Azhengir and Twahihic the monarchy is hereditary; a Queen who does not

bear children can be replaced.

Warfare used to be known between the isles of Kahulawe and in struggles between Houses of Vapala

and mining towns of Thnossis. However, there has now been a long period of peace. Warriors still follow

the traditional training but their only duties are the protection of caravans against the periodic raids of

outlaws and the search for travelers lost in the harsh country. However, there is constant intrigue between

the Great Houses of Vapala, with assassination and quiet murder often ridding some lordship of an

enemy.

This then is land and people as they are in the here and now, but there are hints that all is not well and

the future may be clouded as we come to the end of the reign of the Emperor Haban-ji. The waves of

history are known for their rise and fall.

Chapter 1

THE NIGHT SKY of Kahulawe arched over me. I had seated myself some distance away so that I

could no longer see the lamps and torches about my father's house. But I could not close my ears to the

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songs and the drumbeat which inspired the lingering dancers.

There was no small furry body curled beside me, no gentle nudge of head against my arm, no low,

crooning purr to assure me that whatever I might be to my family I did not lack at least one to whom I

came first. There would never be that again.

The raw heat of anger gripped me as it never had before in my life. That I was a disappointment to my

father, an object of disgrace to be bullied by my brother, a servant for my sisters—I had accepted,

fought to accept. Many, many times I had come to this perch on the roof of my own hut with hurt, even

some despair, inside me. Then that which is the very essence of my birth place had rearmed me, encased

me, as a mother might welcome a hurt child to her arms.

I was Klaverel-va-Hynkkel, son to Klaverel-va-Meguiel, the last full commander of the Queen's forces

before the proud regiments of the past shrank to the guards who now patrol the land against those who

would prey along the caravan routes, or seek those gone astray from those same routes. I was his son

and in his eyes I was a nothing. That I had learned to bear—or thought that I had. When I was younger I

dreamed of accomplishing some act which would make my father turn eyes of approbation on me. But

what deed could it be when I was not a bearer of weapons, one of those youths now strutting down

around the house I refused to look at?

My brother Klaverel-va-Kalikku—now he— My nails scratched against the rock blocks fitted together

beneath me as I drew two deep breaths, fighting once more the rising rage which burned me as greatly as

would the sun at full height— My brother was all in my father's reckoning that a son should be. It was he

who skillfully rode the most vicious and hardly tamed oryxen, he who had hours earlier sent arrow and

short spear to the heart of the test target, he who roared out the old war songs and danced the Advance

of the Five Heroes.

had accepted that, to my father, this is what a man is. And what am I? A servant, a caretaker of stock, a

trader who goes to town when necessary, one responsible for things which no warrior considers

needful—not unless all would suddenly cease to be done.

Once more I strove to put aside the unhappiness of others' judgment of me and strove to think of what I

had which was my own. Whereas any oryxen would shy and lower horns to my brother, I could lay hand

to its skin and fear no lash-out of horn or hoof. All our yaksen came to my whistle and made grateful

noises deep in their throats when I groomed them, for none of my father's herd wandered matted of hair

or needful of salve for hoof.

I was able to know with a single glance when those algae beds which supplied the major part of the food

for ourselves and our herds needed to be double trimmed, and usually I was the one who harvested the

major portion of the crop. Though at times my sisters would come with carry trays, to select for drying

those bits which had special properties.

It was I who went to the market to trade yaksen hair to the weavers and select those needs which we

could not supply for ourselves. The market— I shivered and leaned forward, resting my head on the

arms I had folded across my knees.

No longer could I put off facing—and conquering in myself— what I must conquer. Let me then begin at

the beginning, which lies with my sisters.

Melora-Kura— Her mind and her hands were truly filled with the essence of our land. I brought back

for her such turquoise, agates, and other stones of color-life as she could use. She would sit and stare at

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such a piece for sometimes near a day and then her hands appeared to move of themselves, for many

times she still looked only at the stone, to draw upon a sheet of cured skin that which she was moved to

make. Jewelry from designs of Kura was greatly esteemed, so greatly indeed that outer traders from

beyond our own marketplace would bring her commissions. She had never come into heat and I do not

think that she regretted this, for she gave life with her mind and her hands and not her body. Not for her

the wide-known feasting of a choosing such as occupied my younger sister Siggura-Meu this day and

night.

Was Siggura satisfied now that she was engaged in something which Kura did not experience? That she

had envied Kura I knew well. Too many times had I transported lopsided and strangely shaped pots of

her manufacturing—such as she affirmed loudly were indeed works of art of a new kind—to market,

where they were ignored or treated as a matter for laughter. No longer need she try to be as Kura: no,

she would make her choice of those showing their prowess (if she had not already done so) and ride off

to start a household of her own.

The market— No matter how my mind skittered away from the path of memory I would force upon it, I

grimly returned to recall that. There I had always found a manner of acceptance. There was Ravinga, the

far-traveling doll- and image-maker from Vapala.

And there was Mieu— My hand reached out to nothingness and there was a filling in my eyes, a

tightness in my throat which were as painful as would be my father's 'epron whip laid across my

shoulders.

The kottis are our friends, companions, our luck. They are much smaller than the wild sandcats which all

men with reason fear, but they have that proud look about them, that independence of spirit which is

shared by even the Emperor's great Blue Leopard, the very sign of imperial power.

Mieu had chosen me in the market of Meloa. She had but lately left whatever birthing place her dam had

chosen, but there was already showing in her all the pride and intelligence of her kind. She came to me

like a queen, her gleaming white, longish body fur jewel-patched by the black of onyx, the orange of fine

agate. She was a treasure beyond all price and she made me hers.

From that moment we were as blood kin such as the bards sing of—comrades between whom there are

no barriers. She took her place proudly beside what I had to offer in trade, even as she shared my

sleeping mat and my food at home. It had been she—

I raised my head. For the first time I was realizing something I had forgotten, and I held to the scene in

my mind. Yes, it was certain that Mieu had called me with her particular small urgent summons to

Ravinga, running before me to where the dollmaker had her stand.

Ravinga was not in attendance at her sales place. That was occupied by a girl whom I had seen with her

twice. She was very slender and her hair was the white flow of all Vapalans, though her skin was darker

than Ravinga's as if she had spent more time in our hotter land.

Ravinga to one side was running her hands over the head of her great pack yaksen. For the beast was

lowing and shaking its head. Ravinga saw me at once and signaled with upheld hand, stepping aside, for it

was no strange thing that I tend a sickening beast.

It would seem that something plagued this one and I thought perhaps a salsucker had managed to embed

itself in that thick covering of long hair. Such were sometimes to be found around the algae beds where

the yaksen browse and they tortured an animal which could not rid itself from it, jaws gnawing into the

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skin.

I took my curry comb from my pouch and hunted, parting and lifting the hair. However, what I found

was no dark green slug of a parasite—rather what looked like a tiny bag deliberately knotted into several

strands. I changed my comb for a knife and sawed the thing loose. Once separated from the hairs it

opened in my hand and I found myself looking down at a tooth.

The desert rats are the curse of our people and slain wherever they are found. I had killed many from my

childhood on to keep clean the algae beds which they befouled and poisoned. Thus I was well aware

what I saw now was one of the fore fangs of such a creature. It had been scored in several places and

those markings filled with red paint but the lines so formed held no pattern I had ever seen.

I heard a hiss from the girl. But Ravinga struck my hand, knocking the bit of leather and its uncanny

contents to the ground. Then she seized upon two rocks—flat pieces of yellowish stone which appeared

so quickly in her hands that I do not know whence they came. These she clapped sharply on either side

of that fang and ground them around as one would grind for paint powder. There had arisen a furl of

what seemed smoke and a puff of noxious odor. When she pulled the rocks apart there was only a

dead-white dust which she set her foot upon to tread it into the sand.

Having done so she stood looking straight at me. It seemed that there was a question in her eyes. I had

questions also—in plenty. Yet it appeared I could not voice them. Now her hand went to her belt and

she brought out something which gleamed.

"No!" The girl put out a hand. She was frowning and she certainly regarded me with no liking.

"Yes!" Ravinga denied her. She took two steps forward and I now saw that she held a round pendant

swinging from a chain. At her gesture I bowed my head, then the chain was in place about my throat, and

I looked down to see resting on my breast the finely wrought mask head of a sandcat fashioned from that

ancient red gold which we seldom see in these times. I was well aware through Kura of good

workmanship and had heretofore believed that no one could surpass my sister. Yet there was something

in this which I had never seen before. The inset yellow gems forming the eyes almost appeared to have

life.

"To you," Ravinga said. Then she repeated some words I could not understand. Once more breaking

into the common tongue she added:

"This is for you alone and it shall be a key to that which is meant. Do not let it go from you."

When I protested that such a piece was worth a fortune she shook her head.

"It goes where it will. Now it is yours—I think—" She frowned a little. "No, the fate of another is not for

my telling—take it, Hynkkel, and learn."

I had other luck that day, obtaining a very fine piece of turquoise which I knew would delight Kura, and

I returned home, the cat head still on my breast, Mieu croon-purring on the top of my loaded yaksen.

However, I quickly found that I was wrong in believing that Ravinga's unexpected gift was a mark of

good fortune. That I speedily discovered shortly after I reached the rock island which was home for my

House. One travels best by night and certainly never under the full punishment of the sun, and so it was

dawn when I passed the last of the towering carven sentry cats and saw my brother and Kura both

heading towards me as I plodded wearily along.

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Kura I expected, for my sister was always impatient to learn how well her wares had sold and what raw

materials I had bought to build up her store. However, that Kalikku would pay any attention was

certainly new.

As usual he was fighting his mount as he came. To Kalikku any animal must be harshly mastered, and

most of his, so ridden, were so vicious that none other of the family chose to go near them. He felt always

deprived because the days of war when one family or clan turned against another in open battle had

passed, listening eagerly and with close attention to my father's stories of past engagements. Hunting and

forays for caravan raiders were all he might look to, and who would become, he thought, a hero from

such petty trials of strength?

I halted, waiting for them to join me, which they did speedily, Kalikku reining in with a swift cruelty

which made his oryxen rear, sending sand showering. Mieu sat up and growled, turning a very unfriendly

eye upon my brother.

"Foot padder"—that was one of the least cutting of the names my brother could call me and did—"make

haste. Your labors are—" He did not finish; instead he leaned forward and stared, not eye to eye, but

rather at the pendant I still wore.

The oryxen snorted and danced sideways as his rider urged the animal closer to me. "Where got you

that?" my brother demanded. "How much of our father's store money did you lay out for it? Kura," he

said to my sister, "perhaps it was your market profit this one has plundered."

Now he favored me with that ever-present challenge I had seen most of my life, silently urging me to

retort either by fist or voice. And, as ever, I refused to give him the pleasure he had once taken, when we

were very young, of beating me at will.

"It was a gift." Beneath my journey cloak my hands clenched and then by the force of my will loosened

fingers again.

"A gift!" My brother laughed scornfully. "From whom could such as you receive that! Though I wager

you certainly would not have the spirit to take it by any force."

Kura moved closer also. Seeing the interest in her eyes I slipped the pendant from my head and handed

it to her. She turned it round and round, running her fingers over it. "No," she said musingly, "this is not

from the hands of Tupa" (she mentioned one of the greatest artists of our people). "It is too old and also it

is—" She hesitated and then added, "Truly finer work than I have ever seen. Whence did it come,

brother?"

"From Ravinga, the dollmaker of Vapala, whom I have met several times in the market."

My sister held it as if she were caressing the fashioning of stones and metal.

"Whence did she get it, then?"

I shrugged. "That I do not know and—

However, I had no time to finish what I would say, for Kalikku made a snatch for it, one which Kura

was fast enough to avoid. "It is a treasure for a warrior, not for one who labors by his will." He

proclaimed loudly, "Rightly such is mine!"

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"No." For the first time I refused to be bullied. During all the night hours of my travel, that had rested not

far from my heart. A belief had grown stronger in me with every step that it was indeed now a part of me.

I did not really know what it portended nor why I should feel it now so but I did.

"No?" My brother showed his teeth in a grin like that of a sandcat seeing its prey at easy distance from

it. "What is this dollmaker then to you that she gives you a treasure and you would hold it—your mat

mate?"

"Stop it!" Kura seldom raised her voice. Ofttimes she was so intent upon her thoughts and plans for her

work that she hardly seemed to be with us.

She dropped chain and pendant into my hand again. "If Hynkkel says this is a gift, then that is so. And

one does not take gifts except for good reason, nor does one then surrender such to another. Hynkkel, I

would like to look upon it again and perhaps make a drawing of it for my files, if you are willing."

"I am always at your service," I said. Among us we have no slaves—that is for the barbarians of

Azhengir. Our servants are free to come and go as they well please—but usually as a caste they have

their own well-earned positions and a different kind of pride. That I should be as a servant in my father's

house was because I was a failure as a son, a son he thought was worthy of his notice. I was early a

failure at those very things a warrior must know or do.

Bodily my strength was never that of my brother and I disliked all that went to make up his life. Though I

had buried deep within me the pain—I always knew that my father denied me—I was content in other

ways. I worked with our herds, I was careful as a tender of our algae beds, and I was always willing to

go to the market. However, to my father's mind I was no proper one to inherit his name. It is true that I

have always been something of a dreamer. I longed to make beauty with my hands as did Kura—but the

one awkward figure of a cat guardian I chipped from stone was far from any masterpiece, though I

stubbornly set it up beside my door, even as my father and brother had their "battle" standards beside

theirs.

So, there being no middle way, I was a servant and that I tried to take pride in—making sure I served

well. Thus I used a servant's response to my sister.

"You are needed." She drew a little away from me now as if, though she had taken my part, that was

only in fairness and now we were back again in the same relationship we had been for most of my life.

"Siggura has come into heat. We must have the feast of choosing. There is much to be done. Already

messages to other clans have been sent by the drummers."

Kalikku laughed. "Do you not envy her, Kura—the feasting, the coming of many wooers?" His tone was

meant to cut as might the lash of his riding whip.

She laughed in turn but hers was honest laughter. "No, I do not." She lifted her hands and held them out,

letting fall the reins of her well-trained mount. "It is what these can do which gives my life meaning. There

is no envy in me for Siggura."

Thus I had come back to pressure of hurry. Not all of our women are designed to wed. Some never

come into heat. I do not know whether many of them regret that or not. But I did know that Siggura was

one who would make the most of this chance to be the center of feasting and attention which might last

for a week or more, until she was ready to announce her mate choice.

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So it was that I got scanty sleep that day but hurried to oversee the checking of supplies, the dispatching

of the others of our serving people to this or that task. The cat pendant I did not wear—I had no wish to

stir up further comment. Rather I placed it in the small coffer where I kept the few things I truly prized.

To my surprise Mieu, instead of treading at my heels in her usual fashion, established guard there beside

the box. So she remained for most of the time we took to arrange the housing of guests.

Siggura made her choice of the ornaments Kura spread before her, a collar of gold with ruby-eyed kotti

heads, bracelets of fine enamel, and a girdle of shaded agate beads—the very best of her sister's stock,

for she was always greedy. To match these she had new robes fashioned.

I saw very little of her though I offered formal congratulations. Words which she received with the smug

expression of one who had achieved what was due her.

Our guests arrived, in both families and separate companies of youths ready to display their skills and

their persons. There were dome wigs worn by men who had never seen any battle, even with the

raveners of the trade trails, and much time spent showing off trained oryxen, singing and dancing. So our

portion of the land was awakened from its quiet by the pulsing roll of drums, the lilt of flutes, the finer

notes of hand harps.

I was heartily tired of it all on the night before Siggura was to announce her choice, when festivities were

at their height. Also I had had several occasions to know shame, for there had been remarks made within

my hearing about the disappointment I was. There was no brightly colored clothing for me, no jewels.

Even my hair knot was held only by a small silver ring. But I had sense enough not to wear the pendant,

for my showing of such a treasure would be questioned.

Wearily I came to my own small house. There was a glow light on and I expected to hear Mieu's

welcome even though the singing was so loud. She always greeted me so.

Instead I heard a muffled curse and then a cry so full of pain that I threw myself within the door. My

brother stood there. He was nursing his right hand with his other and I could see the blood dripping from

what could only be bites and scratches of some depth.

He turned and saw me, and his face was the mask of a rat as he raised his hand to suck the blood from

his wounds. My casket lay on the floor and—

There was a pitiful whine. I went to my knees and would have caught up that bundle of bloodied fur, yet

was afraid to touch it lest I add to the pain which racked it. The small head raised a fraction and eyes

which were filming with death looked at me. Under that head lay the pendant.

I already had my hand on the hilt of my knife when I swung around. Kalikku was backing out the door.

Before I could move he hissed at me:

"Killer of kottis!"

"You—" My throat nearly burst with what I wanted to shout.

"You—there is but you and me—and who would Father believe?" He reached out his unwounded hand

and caught up a flagon from the shelf near the door to hurl at me. I was not quick enough and it struck

my head.

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There was blackness and I do not know how long that lasted. Then I moved and was aware of the smell

of the potent wine which my father had refused to have served at the feasting lest the drinking of it lead to

quarrels.

I was dizzy and the world swung around me. Then I somehow got as far as my knees, holding to the

stool for support. Still clinging to the stool, I edged about. My companion of little more than a happy year

was only a fur bundle—unmoving.

Tears seemed to wash away the dizziness. I handled the body.

A blow, and then perhaps a kick— I felt my own lips flatten and draw back against my teeth. My tunic

was wet with the wine and I jerked it off, for the fumes seemed to make my head spin the more.

I was able to think straightly again as I bunched together the sodden cloth and hurled it from me. As if it

were as plain as an oft-told ballad, I knew what had happened.

To kill a kotti was death. Yet, for all his known harshness towards animals, my brother's word would be

accepted. The story was very plain—I was drunk—I stank of that very fiery wine which was supposed

to arouse men to the point of insanity. I was drunk and I had killed! Was Kalikku already on his way to

tell his side of the story?

Or maybe he would tell it only if he were openly accused. That I would go into later and face it when I

had to. Now there was something else.

I gathered Mieu to me. That pendant seemed to catch in her matted fur. I worked it loose and would

have hurled it from me for the misfortune it had caused. Yet once it was in my grasp I could not force my

fingers to loose it. Instead I wreathed the chain once more about my neck.

Mieu I rolled carefully into a scarf of green which was striped with copper glitter, a fanciful thing I had

bought for its color on the very first day she had come to me. Then I carried her out under the stars,

speaking in a whisper the while to her essence, even though that might have fled from her. There I laid her

even as she had always curled her own body in sleep, and above her I built a cairn such as we erect for

those furred ones who honor us with their friendship.

Then I climbed to this point on my hut and I tasted hate and found it hot and burning, and I tried to think

what life would hold for me here now, with this thing ever in my mind. While below me the guests

departed and the loneliness I craved in which to order my thoughts seemed not too far away. I watched

the stars and tried to be one with that which is greater than any of us.

Chapter 2

THE MORNING CAME with the rising fierceness of a wind. Afar I caught the warning boom of that

nearest signal drum which was always to be heeded when a storm was imminent to raise the sand with

such a flesh-scouring force that death was the answer if one were caught away from any shelter.

Below my father's spread of house the tall cat riven as a sentinel from the rock which formed our home

territory throbbed in answer. I was shaken out of thought, out of my self-pity, if that was what had

gripped me, and hurried about my duties of seeing the stock sheltered. Even my father joined in this, and

Kura, who has a particular bonding with animals and could soothe and bring to obedience a contrary

oryxen or fear-savaged yaksen, was there with the others of the household all aroused by the need for

haste.

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Andre Norton - The Mark of the Cat

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