Free Cat Karina by Michael Coney Page B

OF EARTH KNOWN TO
MEN AS
“THE GIRL BORN TO
GREATNESS”
     
     

“IN TIME,
OUR TALE WILL CONTINUE
WITH THE GROUP OF STORIES
AND LEGENDS KNOWN AS
“SUMMER’S END”
     
 
    Where True Humans and others
join the happentrack
on which Karina sails towards her destiny,
guided by the handmaiden.
     

Three
     
----
     
Tortugo
     
     
    “ To seek purpose in the millenia of human existence is as futile as asking God the reason for the tortuga. ”
     
    — attr. to Ilos, 115,614C-115,701C
     
    Karina crept through the jungle, following her quarry by scent as much as by sound.
    It was strange to be alone. All her life she’d been used to the strength of the grupo; and now here she was, unprotected, following two True Humans into the secret recesses of the delta.
    Why?
    Because of her stubbornness. Because she was loyal to her people. Because she wanted to prove to her father that she was capable of looking after herself. Because she was sure there was something in the delta which the felinos ought to know about.
    But basically because she was a felina, born to hunt but condemned by her religion to play hunting games — until now.
     
    Tonio halted his horse before a group of mouldering huts near a tall fence of vegetation and spun silk.
    “Wait here, Raoul,” he said, dismounting, “I won’t be long.”
    “Can’t I come?” It was an unpleasant corner of the delta, and Raoul thought he saw monstrous things in those huts. Certainly eyes watched him from the shadows.
    “I said wait. It’s Canton business — no affair of yours.”
    Tonio paddled through the boggy ground, not allowing Raoul to see his own uncertainty and slight fear, and ducked into the largest hut. “Cocodrilo?”
    A supine figure opened an eye, opened a huge mouth in a yawning grimace and hoisted itself off a low bed, standing in a threatening crouch. “Yes?”
    “I’ve come to inspect the crop.”
    “It’s not convenient.”
    “Listen, I’m not going through all that again.” It was the same every year. Of all the humans of the coast, the delta people were the most surly, the most unobliging. But then, they had to be strange, to live in a place like this. “Open up the gate and let me through!”
    Grumbling, Cocodrilo shambled to the gate, brushed away a cluster of black widows with his horny hand, and tugged at the fastenings.
    Suppressing a shudder, Tonio passed through. The black widows looked as big as puppies, and they could kill. He hurried across the farm, seeing Siervo in the distance. His mood changed to pity as he watched the man, emaciated almost to the point of looking skeletal, digging away at an endless dyke like a man possessed. He remembered his own childhood when they’d tested him, breaking the skin and touching the wound with a smear of brownish venom — and he’d been sick for days. It was one of his clearest memories — everyone said the same. A child never forgot his black widow test.…
    “I’ve come to see the crop, Siervo.”
    Siervo hadn’t noticed his approach. He dropped his shovel with a small scream of fear, and stared at him, hollow eyes guilt-ridden. “What’s that? What’s that? What do you want? Who are you?”
    “Sorry — I didn’t mean to startle you. It’s me, Captain Tonio. You remember me — I’m contracted for your crop.”
    “Ah.… Yes.” Pulling himself together, Siervo climbed out of the ditch and led the way to his hut.
    “What are they like this year?”
    “Fine.… Very good-looking animals.”
    “What did you say, Siervo?” Cocodrilo had sidled up, barking the question.
    “An excellent crop. Excellent.”
    Cocodrilo laid a scaly hand on Siervo’s shoulder as they walked among the shells of dead male tortugas. Tonio avoided the shells but it seemed that Cocodrilo took pleasure in stepping on them, crunching them and squeezing out stinking, decaying flesh. “Always remember this, Siervo,” said Cocodrilo softly. “Tortugas are not animals. Not in any shape or