“Julian transfer three thousand pounds sterling, please.”
There was a slight pause.
“Done.”
“Thanks, Julian. See you soon.”
“I look forward to your return.”
“Three thousand?” Fiona squeaked. “Crawford, you shouldn’t…”
I grinned. “You don’t have to spend it all.”
“As if.” She stood. “Right, ladies, we’ve got Lorca’s, is that right, hair to attend to, then we have to find you some temporary clothes, then we’re going shopping. Little brother’s paying.”
They disappeared upstairs, giggling. I looked up ‘vets’ in the Yellow Pages to find the nearest one to here. I didn’t want to use my normal vet as he would ask lots of embarrassing questions that I wouldn’t be able to answer. The vet was able to fit me in later in the afternoon. I breathed a sigh of relief. I squatted by the cat basket. The doors were open but neither cat seemed eager to leave its protective shelter. I put my hand inside and stroked them. Stardust licked my hand and they both purred. I realised they’d lost a lot of weight.
“It won’t be long, pussy cats. Only a few hours then the vet will make you better. We’ll have fun when you’re well again. You’ll have a whole spaceship to explore. No mice, I’m afraid, though maybe I could import a few for you to catch. Would you like that? To chase a mouse while whizzing through space? Quite something, huh, the only space cats in the entire galaxy… maybe the universe. Beats that silly Russian dog, doesn’t it?”
I was really talking to myself. In my heart of hearts I feared they were too far gone to be cured of whatever was wrong with them. Even if they did get better, would it be fair to drag them back into space? They were hunters; creatures of the twilight and the undergrowth. Perhaps, if all they’d known was the inside of a spaceship, it might be different, but Ziggy and Stardust were used to the open air. They were used to coming and going as they pleased; master and mistress of their own time. The tears slipped silently from my eyes. I sighed and straightened. I’d know in a few hours. As I stood, I caught movement from the corner of my eye and turned to see Triss in the doorway. She had an odd expression on her face. When she realised I had seen her, she whirled and disappeared. Oh, well, I couldn’t worry about her now. Just as long as she behaved herself.
My next call was to a car hire firm. Fiona’s car was too small for six of us and we needed wheels. I was about to start looking for a suitable hotel when the girls came down. Lorca’s hair was now black. Her alienness was less obvious, but the black hair somehow diminished her. Oh, she was still stunning and worth even a third look, but she’d lost the heart-stopping impact the silver had given her.
“No. I don’t like it either,” she said, seeing my expression.
“Now you’re just beautiful. Before you were outstandingly beautiful.”
Fiona had done her best with clothes. Triss still had her red pants, but wore a loose jumper on top. It was several sizes too big and she had the sleeves rolled up. She looked a bit lost in it. Jarmasin, several inches smaller than Fiona, was wearing jeans which were turned up at the bottom so they were, at least, the right length, though the waist had had to be tightly cinched with a belt. She had her own top and a one of Fiona’s jackets with the sleeves tacked up. Lashak’ka was nearest in size to Fiona and was wearing a denim skirt, t-shirt and bomber jacket. The clothes almost fitted her. Lorca was wearing sweat pants and a baggy jumper. Even under that, her magnificent breasts were obvious. Fiona had also done wonders with their make-up. They could just about pass for human, provided you didn’t look too closely.
“Right, we’re off to spend your money,” Fiona said.
“Don’t worry if you go over budget. I’ll make it up later,” I said. “I’ve hired a large car and I’ll call a cab in a moment. I’m taking the cats to the vet later. First, though, I need to find a hotel.”
“You’ll do no such thing. You’ll stay here.”
“We can’t impose on you like this.”
“You’re not imposing. If you remember, I’ve got three bedrooms. We’ll manage fine.”
“Well… if you’re sure.”
In truth, I didn’t want to go to a hotel. Hotels were public and the less the girls were exposed, the better.
“Of course I’m sure. I’ll be most offended if you don’t stay.”
“Do you mind roughing it for a bit?” I asked the girls.
They didn’t. They’d quite taken to Fiona.
“That’s settled, then. We’ll see you later. By the way, are you intending visiting Mum and Dad?” She snapped her fingers. “I forgot. They’re not here. Dad had to go to some conference in London. He took Mum with him and they planned on staying a few days after it.”
“That’s a shame. I thought I might pop over. I did leave in rather a hurry.”
“It’d probably for the best they’re not here. I’m not sure how they’d take the idea that their little boy’s a galactic playboy with a harem.”
I grinned sheepishly. “That might be a problem.”
“On the other hand, I’ll have to explain it.”
“It’ll sound better coming from you.”
She made a rude noise. “Let’s go girls.”
“Have fun.”
“We will. We will.”
Driving round the familiar streets of the city was a strange experience. It had only been three weeks since I abandoned everything to follow the lure Hermes had dangled in front of me yet it felt like a lifetime. I cursed and wished we had Bartimarm’s ibic-controlled traffic system as another black cab did a U-turn in front of me without warning. Yet, was Bartimarm better than here? How could I judge? This was my home and steeped in the history of my country. It had its flaws and it had its attractions but it was my city. Bartimarm was just another foreign place like Paris or Prague or St Petersburg; nice to visit but you wouldn’t want to stay there.
If not Bartimarm, then where? Actually, definitely not Bartimarm. The climate was hostile and so were the natives. I wondered where Flerrionna would like to stay. I missed her and wished she could have come. I was sure she’d have enjoyed seeing my home city and I would have had fun showing it to her. Perhaps we could return sometime. I gave myself a mental shake. Wondering where I would settle was daft. I had the best spaceship ever built and a whole galaxy to explore. There were sights to see, wonders to witness and a myriad of experiences to enjoy before I thought of parking my arse. I laughed aloud.
The vet was not pleased, and made it patently obvious. I trotted out the story I’d concocted, that I was an expert in computer systems of a confidential nature. I had been called away at short notice to a remote site. My regular cat-sitters were unavailable and I hadn’t had time to book them into a cattery. I had forgotten to ensure I had a supply of cat food and had been feeding them whatever I could, mostly reconstituted meat. I suspected they were suffering from some sort of dietary deficiency. I was very sorry and very worried.
He scowled and tutted as he examined them. His face became darker as he did. He spent a long time peering into their eyes and listening to their hearts.
“I’ll be blunt, Mr MacAdam. You have two very sick animals. I suspect taurine deficiency. I’ll know better when I’ve done some tests. I’ll need to keep them here at least overnight. I take it you’ll be around?”
I took a deep breath. “Yes. I’ll be here.”
“Good. In which case it may be best if I keep them until I get the test results; probably the day after tomorrow.”
Although he didn’t say so, I had the distinct impression he wasn't very hopeful.
“Whatever it takes.”
I gave him my mobile phone number then realised, as I was leaving, that my phone was still in my house. Perhaps Julian could patch into it. It could.
“I have been studying your technology,” it added. “Your use of digital technology is quite ingenious. It is presumptuous of me, I know, but I would enjoy studying how you apply it. If it were possible, I
would like to examine the digital machines you employ.”
This was novel; a computer asking me for a favour.
“You want me to bring you a computer and a DVD player?”
“If it isn’t too much trouble. Also a mobile phone, perhaps more than one, and a television and a CD player and an iPod I think you call them, and anything else you can think of.”
I wasn't in the mood for buying toys.
“I’ll see what I can do. I don’t know how much time I’m going to have.” I was a bit short with it.
“I quite understand. You are concerned about your animals.”
It sounded so genuine that I felt guilty about snapping at it.
“I’ll do my best, Julian.”
I was almost back at Fiona’s when my communicator sounded. I almost said, “What is it now, Julian,” before I realised it was Fiona. After enquiring about the cats, she informed me that I was taking them all out to dinner so I needed to buy some better clothes. The last thing I felt like doing was going out to dinner, but she used her ‘she who must be obeyed’ tone so I knew I had no choice. I couldn’t remember when she’d started using it. but it must have been when she was in her early teens. She practiced it on everyone. It worked on Mum, who never seemed to realise she was being bossed around though Dad always grinned when she used it on him. He usually ended up doing what she wanted just the same. She was clever enough not to over-use it, saving it for things she thought were really important, so I acquiesced with as much good grace as I could muster.
The ladies clattered in laden with carrier bags and, giggling excitedly, disappeared upstairs. They’d obviously enjoyed spending my money. When they came down, I forgave them. Fiona had been leading them astray; or perhaps it was Lorca. They weren't dressed to the nines but they were dressed to kill. Triss wore her customary tight pants but these were black with gold lurex thread woven through them. Her top half was clad in a fitted black and gold short-sleeved top, over which she had a designer version of a biker jacket made of soft leather with ostentatious gold zips. Lashak’ka, in keeping with her California-girl looks, had a loose shiny green blouse with a wide collar and large cuffs. It was tucked into a pair of white linen Capri pants, and she had a matching jacket slung over her shoulder. Jarmasin had opted for a dress of deep blue with a bold floral print. It made her look very oriental. Her jacket was cream. Lorca was in a loose, silk dove grey blouse with designer jeans and a long semi-formal jacket. She didn’t need to do much to look spectacular and, in a flash of unusual insight, I realised she’d deliberately dressed down to keep her on a par with the others. Fiona had clearly been influenced by Lorca. My sister was never a great one for dressing up preferring, like me, simple casual clothes. For tonight, though, she had a loose, fluffy green jumper with a large, wide roll neck and three-quarter sleeves, over a pair of wide-bottomed cream trousers. She looked very feminine and good enough to cuddle. All of them except Triss were wearing strappy heeled sandals. I made the appropriately appreciative noises, not just because it was expected, but because I genuinely did appreciate their outfits.
We went to one of the better Chinese restaurants, Fiona having astutely realised that the girls couldn’t read English and, anyway, would have no idea of what the menu meant even if they could. The waiters made a fuss as soon as we walked in the door. I thought it must be because Fiona was a regular or something until I looked round. This was the first time I’d had a direct comparison between my girls and ‘ordinary’ people, and it came as a bit of a shock. Compared with their fellow diners they stood out like beacons. It wasn’t just their exotic colouring or their good looks or their expensive clothing. There was something, a confidence perhaps, about the way they walked, the way they smiled, the tilt of their heads that caused heads to turn. I felt an immense swelling of pride, and not a little degree of wonder, that these beautiful exotic women should have chosen me.
When we were seated and the menus circulated Fiona leaned forward.
“Right. Open your menus and pretend to study them. Crawford and I will do the ordering. This is a Chinese restaurant so the dishes will be put in the middle of the table and you can just help yourselves to whatever you want.”
“Clever,” Jarmasin said admiringly. “I will feel at home here.”
With some consultation with the girls about whether they liked spicy food, seafood, and so on, Fiona and I made our selection.
The chopsticks were fun. Jarmasin got the hang of them immediately and Triss managed okay but Lorca and Lashak’ka gave up after vainly chasing a piece of chicken round their bowls for several minutes. To give the meal added authenticity we had a pot of green tea rather than wine. On the whole the meal was a great success, though Jarmasin took a dislike to mushrooms and Triss to green peppers. The chow mein wasn't nearly as good the one Cherevine and I had enjoyed at Kitchen of the Gods, but the environment was somewhat more relaxing. I refrained from offering the chefs a standing ovation.
We were all in a good mood when we left so Fiona suggested we go to the pub for a drink. It seemed like a good idea. We chose a traditional one with wooden seats and beams and historical prints on the walls. It served real ale, too. It was busy so we had to stand for a while until, luckily, some people left and we were able to commandeer a booth. Busy pubs are hot and loud. The volume of noise in a pub is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed. It’s something you accept and your ears quickly adapt to, tuning out the background noise and focussing on the conversation going on around you. The girls, though, were a bit intimidated for a while and kept looking around them. After a while they began to relax. Jarmasin commented that it reminded her of a way-station on her world. These were communities that grew round the more arable parts of the plains. Naturally, the original caravan routes passed through them and facilities for travellers were provided. Nowadays, with paved roads and mechanised transport, there wasn't the same need for the way-stations but, in most towns, some survived and were popular with both locals and travellers as good places to eat, drink and gossip.
We are good at tuning out distracting background noise but, probably as a legacy from our animal origins, we seem to subconsciously be aware of it and monitor it. If something unexpected happens; voices get particularly loud or there’s an accident and glasses are smashed, for example, we instantly go into alert mode until we determine that the noise as no direct bearing on us.
I had been subliminally aware of the four young men in a nearby booth. They were the sort of men I instantly disliked; arrogant, brash and coarse. You’ve encountered them before; the sort that sit slouched in bus seats, their knees spread wide daring you to make a comment as you perch uncomfortably beside them, your buttocks half off the seat and in danger of falling into the aisle every time the bus goes round a corner. They take their holidays in Benidorm where they drink cheap English lager until 3am then stagger back to their apartment making a lot of noise and disturbing the other residents. From the number of glasses in front of them, they’d had more than a few and I saw their heads swivel as we sat down. Triss had noticed them to and it was taking all her willpower not to watch them.
Two of them went for another round. On the way back they ogled the ladies and make a few rudely suggestive comments. They went into full macho mode; slouching back, one arm draped over the back of the booth, knees spread wide to draw attention to their crotches, and blatantly stared across at us. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
I leant towards Triss and said quietly, “I want you to get up and head for the loo, wait thirty seconds and sit on the outside when you come back. Just a precaution, you understand.”
She flashed me a quick smile which made even my blood run cold, nodded and wriggled out of the booth. When she resumed her seat I patted her on the knee.
“You’re doing great, Triss. I’m proud of you.”
“Do you think…?”
“I’m hoping the bouncers will do their job.”
Nothing happened for a w
hile. The men continued to stare and laugh and joke amongst themselves. From the uncomfortable looks of the group in the booth next to them I assumed they were making crude comments. They swung round and talked earnestly then two of them got up and swaggered over. One leant on the back of the booth and leered at Lorca’s breasts. The other stood slightly behind him, grinning. Lorca glanced up indifferently and returned to her conversation with Fiona.
“Hey, darlin’. I know a party going on. We could have a good time.”
Lorca ignored him. Fiona’s eyes flicked to him then to Triss and me. She was having difficulty concentrating. I pretended to have my attention on the conversation while watching them with peripheral vision.
“I’m talkin’ to you, darlin’,” the drunk said.
Lorca didn’t even blink. The drunk reached out to grab Lorca’s shoulder.
I nodded to Triss and said, “Gently.
Quick as a flash she was at the drunk’s side. I couldn’t see what she was doing but it looked like she took hold of his arm. His face twisted in agony. He tried to pull his arm away but couldn’t.
“Get your jackets, we’re leaving,” I said firmly.
I stood watching the second man. I made my expression as hard as I could, daring him to try something. In his drink-befuddled state he seemed to be unsure of what to do. This scenario wasn't in his script. The ladies slipped out behind me; all except Lorca who swung her knees towards Triss’s captive. Triss obligingly made him take a step back. Lorca stood, smiled sweetly then quite deliberately stood on the man’s foot, putting her weight on the spike of her heel. The man yelped and, at that instant, Triss released him. The man fell forwards across the table sending the glasses flying. That brought the bouncer running.
“Wot’s the trouble?” he demanded.
“No trouble,” I said. “We’re leaving. We won’t be drinking in here again.”
“Whaddaya mean?”
“Better see to your friend.”
He looked over to where Triss’s victim was struggling to stand, aided by his friend. The other two were on their feet and arguing with two of the bar staff who had come to assist. Outside I slumped against the wall and fought to still my thumping heart and get my adrenalin levels back to normal.
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