Cat Karina Read Online Free PDF Page A

time you take it into your heads to attack a True Human, you’ll be making one hell of a mistake. This time, cat-girl, you’ll find us ready and waiting.”
    “Me?” said Karina, while the Little Friends held her in check. “ Me attack a True Human?” Her eyes stared into his.
    Her eyes like hummingbirds, amber and alive.…
    “You people.…” Now he was unsure of himself. “You eat meat. That’s your problem. You use the Examples when they suit you, but you eat meat.” His expression changed as he watched her, and he blinked. He realized he was holding her breast and he let go, ashamed. Suddenly she was a girl — a very lovely young girl, whom he was bullying. He wondered what had got into him; whether some of Captain Herrero was rubbing off on him.
    He turned away and left her standing there. As he went, he mumbled something that sounded very much like sorry.… The Urubu rumbled on down the slope. Karina stood trembling with rage and disgust while the morning sun began to warm the deck. Another crewman approached her and said, “Don’t mind Antrez — he takes his responsibilities seriously. He’s in charge up here. And let’s face it, girl, your father has no love for True Humans. And a lot of sailcars have been raided recently.”
    “The good ones are never attacked.” But the Little Friends were soothing her and this True Human meant well. She tried to smile.
    “That’s better.” He grinned at her. “Friends?”
    Then the voice of Captain Herrero rasped from the pipe.
    “Stand by for South Stage — and if any of those animals try to steal a ride kick them right off the deck. Pay out the mizzen sheet and brake for the curve — now! Watch out for that brute to starboard — looks like he has a rock in his hand. By Agni — it’s El Tigre! Right — haul in all sheets now and away we go!”
    Karina leaped from the deck, rolled in the dirt, and stood.
    The Urubu gathered speed, sailing rapidly away across the coastal plain in the bright morning sunlight.
    “And just where in hell have you been, girl?”
    El Tigre towered above Karina. In one hand he clutched a rock. In the other he held a mule whip, which he slapped ominously against his thigh.
     

Meeting of the revolutionaries.
     
     
    It was a bad morning for El Tigre and it had been a bad night before. He’d called a meeting for sundown in the big community hut at the north end of the camp near the bachelor vampiros. It had not been well attended. He’d suspected this would happen, because people had been avoiding his eyes during the day.
    At sundown he stood alone in the hut, waiting for the others. It was quiet outside, and the last wisps of cooking smoke faded away; nobody can cook in the evening, when the sun is gone. It was a moment of peace which the anticipation of the coming meeting could not destroy. As he stood there. El Tigre thought: I love this place. I love the people and the things, the bright sun and the ever-cooling winds. I love the tall, slow men and the noisy vicious bands of fighting girls. I love the sounds and the peace, the day and the night. I love the women.… His mind dwelt kindly for a moment on the women he’d known; the grupos he’d fathered. There had been Belleza and Tanaril, Amora and Serena.… And others. His musings slowed. Serena, the mother of Teressa, Karina, Runa and Saba. Serena, who was gentle in an unusual way, and very loving, and strangely devoted. Serena, who was dead.…
    And his whole being rose up in a moment of supreme, overpowering hatred for the True Humans, who had killed Serena.
    “El Tigre! Is anything the matter?”
    His lieutenant. Torch, had arrived and was regarding him in concern. El Tigre’s face was corded with veins and his fists were clenched in the air. He looked murderous, and somehow doomed.
    “No, I’m fine.” The voice, after a moment’s pause, was deep and slow. “Where is everybody?”
    “I saw Ligero and Manoso on their way, and others. Maybe,”