Plague Ship Andre Norton (book recommendations website .TXT) š
- Author: Andre Norton
Book online Ā«Plague Ship Andre Norton (book recommendations website .TXT) šĀ». Author Andre Norton
But to Daneās growing discomfiture the Cargo-master showed no elation as his junior poured out the particulars of his discovery. Instead there were definite signs of displeasure to be read by those who knew Van Rycke well. He heard Dane out and then got to his feet. Tolling the younger man with him by a crooked finger, he went out of his combined officeā āā living quarters to the domain of Medic Craig Tau.
āProblem for you, Craig.ā Van Rycke seated his bulk on the wall jump seat Tau pulled down for him. Dane was left standing just within the door, very sure now that instead of being commended for his discovery of a few minutes before, he was about to suffer some reprimand. And the reason for it still eluded him.
āWhat do you know about that plant Mura grows in the hydroā āthe one called ācatnipā?ā
Tau did not appear surprised at that demandā āthe Medic of a Free Trading spacer was never surprised at anything. He had his surfeit of shocks during his first years of service and after that accepted any occurrence, no matter how weird, as matter-of-fact. In addition Tauās hobby was āmagic,ā the hidden knowledge possessed and used by witch doctors and medicine men on alien worlds. He had a library of recordings, odd scraps of information, of certified results of certain very peculiar experiments. Now and then he wrote a report which was sent into Central Service, read with raised eyebrows by perhaps half a dozen incredulous desk warmers, and filed away to be safely forgotten. But even that had ceased to frustrate him.
āItās an herb of the mint family from Terra,ā he replied. āMura grows it for Sinbadā āhas quite a marked influence on cats. Frankās been trying to keep him anchored to the ship by allowing him to roll in fresh leaves. He does itā āthen continues to sneak out whenever he canā āā
That explained something for Daneā āwhy the Salariki cub wished to enter the Queen tonight. Some of the scent of the plant had clung to Sinbadās fur, had been detected, and the Salarik had wanted to trace it to its source.
āIs it a drug?ā Van Rycke prodded.
āIn the way that all herbs are drugs. Human beings have dosed themselves in the past with a tea made of the dried leaves. It has no great medicinal properties. To felines it is a stimulationā āand they get the same satisfaction from rolling in and eating the leaves as we do from drinkingā āā
āThe Salariki are, in a manner of speaking, felinesā āā Van Rycke mused.
Tau straightened. āThe Salariki have discovered catnip, I take it?ā
Van Rycke nodded at Dane and for the second time the Cargo-master apprentice made his report. When he was done Van Rycke asked a direct question of the medical officer:
āWhat effect would catnip have on a Salarik?ā
It was only then that Dane grasped the enormity of what he had done. They had no way of gauging the influence of an off-world plant on alien metabolism. What if he had introduced to the natives of Sargol a dangerous drugā āstarted that cub on some path of addiction. He was cold inside. Why, he might even have poisoned the child!
Tau picked up his cap, and after a secondās hesitation, his emergency medical kit. He had only one question for Dane.
āAny idea of who the cub isā āwhat clan he belongs to?ā
And Dane, chill with real fear, was forced to answer in the negative. What had he done!
āCan you find him?ā Van Rycke, ignoring Dane, spoke to Tau.
The Medic shrugged. āI can try. I was out scouting this morningā āmet one of the storm priests who handles their medical work. But I wasnāt welcomed. However, under the circumstances, we have to try somethingā āā
In the corridor Van Rycke had an order for Dane. āI suggest that you keep to quarters, Thorson, until we know how matters stand.ā
Dane saluted. That note in his superiorās voice was like a whiplashā āmuch worse to take than the abuse of a lesser man. He swallowed as he shut himself into his own cramped cubby. This might be the end of their venture. And they would be lucky if their charter was not withdrawn. Let I-S get an inkling of his rash action and the Company would have them up before the Board to be stripped of all their rights in the Service. Just because of his own stupidityā āhis pride in being able to break through where Van Rycke and the Captain had faced a stone wall. And, worse than the future which could face the Queen, was the thought that he might have introduced some dangerous drug into Sargol with his gift of those few leaves. When would he learn? He threw himself face down on his bunk and despondently pictured the string of calamities which could and maybe would stem from his thoughtless and hasty action.
Within the Queen night and day were mechanicalā āthe lighting in the cabins did not vary much. Dane did not know how long he lay there forcing his mind to consider his stupid action, making himself face that in the Service there were no shortcuts which endangered othersā ānot unless those taking the risks were Terrans.
āDaneā ā!ā Rip Shannonās voice cut through his self-imposed nightmare. But he refused to answer. āDaneā āVan wants you on the double!ā
Why? To bring him up before Jellico probably. Dane schooled his expression, got up, pulling his tunic straight, still unable to meet Ripās eyes. Shannon was just one of those he had let down so badly. But the other did not notice his mood. āWait ātil you see themā ā! Half Sargol must be here yelling for trade!ā
That comment was so far from what he had been expecting that Dane was startled out of his own gloomy thoughts. Ripās brown face was one wide smile, his black eyes dancedā āit was plain he was honestly elated.
āGet a move on, fire rockets,ā he
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