Golden Threads Read Online Free PDF

the day, and had thought a great deal.
    The result was her state of calm, and it was different from that of the last months. She wasn't sure how exactly, but it wasn't a limbo, and even though some part of her longed to feel that mindless peace again, she was ready to begin living once more.
    "Hi," Devon greeted her casually as she opened the door to him.
    "Hello."
    He looked at the big cat in her arms. "Does he have a carrier? I don't know about cats being loose in cars."
    "He has a carrier," Lara admitted, feeling Ching stiffen at the hated word. "But I wouldn't subject you to that."
    "What do you mean?"
    "Within half a block, there'd be a report to the police that you were torturing somebody in your car."
    "Somebody?"
    "Trust me. Ching doesn't sound like a cat when he howls. And he would howl." She smiled a little at Devon's look of amused surprise. Odd, she thought, that her first impression of him had been one of an enigmatic lack of emotion; his lean, handsome face seemed very expressive to her now. "He's well trained," she added. "He’ll behave."
    "A trained cat," Devon murmured, stepping back so she could come out into the hall. "I always thought that was a contradiction in terms."
    "With most cats, it is," she agreed, leaving her apartment and watching him firmly close the door. "Not with Ching."
    A few moments later, Devon had to agree that Lara's cat was well trained. Ching sat on the seat between them, his head as high as Devon's shoulder, since he was sitting up. The cat obviously needed to see where they were going. His front paws dangled, and his pointed face was lively with interest.
    "He looks like a rabbit," Devon said after a glance.
    Ching mumbled something, but didn't look at the man.
    "Did he just swear at me?" Devon asked, startled.
    "Probably. He doesn't like rabbits. Ching, behave!"
    Devon's lips twitched. "Why do I get the feeling he's going to steal every scene?"
    Lara smiled ruefully. "He just might."
    When they reached the theater, it became clear that Ching was going to steal the hearts of almost everyone involved in the production—whether or not he stole scenes from the actors. From the moment Lara carried her cat backstage, he was the center of attention.
    Hardly an indiscriminate cat, Ching developed a different attitude toward each person. He beamed at Nick's wife, Susie, but was politely unresponsive to the director's attempts to charm him. He was somewhat suspicious of Tim, was affable with Pat and Sonia, and hissed at Melanie when she tried to pet him. He took an active dislike to two of the stage crew, including Luke, whose tickle beneath the cat's chin provoked a muttered comment from Ching that was so profane it easily crossed the boundaries of language.
    "Cats usually like me," Luke said in surprise.
    Ching, sitting on one end of the old wooden table, tilted his head to look up at the man through slitted eyes. "Yah!" he said with distinct animosity.
    Luke took a step back, almost comically bewildered. "What'd I ever do to you, cat?"
    "I'm sorry, Luke, Melanie," Lara said helplessly. "He just doesn't take to some people."
    "But will he take to stage direction?" Nick asked, eyeing his newest actor with foreboding.
    Lara nodded reassuringly. "He has a large vocabulary, Nick, and he enjoys participating. He'll be fine."
    "A large vocabulary? Show me," Nick requested.
    As always, and totally unlike most cats, Ching went through his paces flawlessly. He knew all the standard canine obedience commands—though Lara prudently made them requests—and in addition was familiar with an impressive number of commonly used words.
    "How long will he stay in one place once you've told him to?" Nick asked.
    "Until I call him."
    "You're sure?"
    "Unless something's about to fall on him, he'll stay put."
    Susie, who had watched intently, sighed and said, "Lara, I wish you'd tell me your secret. My cat barely knows his name."
    Lara smiled a little. "Sorry, it wasn't my doing, not really. Ching learned