"Norton, Andre - Solar Queen 03- Voodoo Planet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

The medic arose to his feet and smiled politely at the visitor.

"Do I detect in that observation, sir, the suggestion that the tales I have heard were deliberately set to blast
where they would do the most good as deterrents?"

A fleeting grin broke the impassive somberness of the black face.

"I was informed you are a man skilled in `magic,' Medic. You certainly display the traditional sorcerer's
quickness of wit. But this rumor is also truth." The quirk of good humor had gone again, and there was an
edge in the Chief Ranger's voice which cut. "Poachers on Khatka would welcome the Patrol in place of the
attention they now receive."

He came into the mess cabin, Jellico behind him, and Dane pulled down two of the snap seats. He was
holding a mug under the spout of the coffee dispenser as the captain made introductions.

"Thorson--our acting-cargo-master."

"Thorson," the Khatkan acknowledged with a grave nod of his head, and then glanced down to floor level
with a look of surprise. Weaving a pattern about his legs, purring loudly, Sinbad was offering an unusually
fervent welcome of his own. The Ranger went down on one knee, his hand out for Sinbad's inquiring sniff.
Then the cat butted that dark palm, batted at it playfully with claw-sheathed paw.

"A Terran cat! It is of the lion family?"

"Far removed," Jellico supplied. "You'd have to add a lot of bulk to Sinbad to promote him to the lion
class."

"We have only the old tales." Asaki sounded almost wistful as the cat jumped to his knee and clawed for a
hold on his chest belts. "But I do not believe that lions were ever so friendly toward my ancestors."

Dane would have removed the cat, but the Khatkan arose with Sinbad, still purring loudly, resting in the
crook of his arm. The Ranger was smiling with a gentleness which changed the whole arrogant cast of his
countenance.

"Do not bring this one to Khatka with you, Captain, or you will never take him away again. Those who
dwell in the inner courts would not let him vanish from their sight. Ah, so this pleases you, small lion?" He
rubbed Sinbad gently under the throat and the cat stretched his neck, his yellow eyes half closed in bliss.

"Thorson," the Captain turned to Dane, "that arrival report on my desk was the final one from Combine?"

"Yes, sir. There's no hope of the Rover setting down here before that date."

Asaki sat down, still holding the cat. "So you see, Captain, fortune has arranged it all. You have two tens
of days. Four days to go in my cruiser, four days for your return here, and the rest to explore the preserve.
We could not ask for better luck, for I do not know when our paths may cross again. In the normal course
of events I will not have another mission to Xecho for a year, perhaps longer. Also--" He hesitated and
then spoke to Tau. "Medic, Captain Jellico has informed me that you have made a study of magic on many
worlds."